The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-10
AMORM0N IN A CORNER
DELICATE CANNON OF UTAH SPIKED.
III. Spiritual Marriage. D.n,.d-Lav, Again.
psesHsJ Which lie Had to Admit Utah Had
S'''r Passed = Driven late . Cor
n'r bJ Tsry Close Qu.stisnlnT.

WARRINGTON, February 9.-The hearin
given by the Judiciary Committee Of IL
House Of Representatives on the Ual
contested election case to Mr.. George Q
Cannon, the heretofore polygamous Repre-
sentative from that Territory in Congress
was probably one Of the most remarkable
exhibitions ever had before that gray,
tribunal. It was not supposed that an,
members Of the press were present anc
the result was fire OF questions upor
Cannon which enabled the committee h
get ut the full scope and indecency Of tht
polygamous creed, OF which Cannon hai
formally. proclaimed himself the advocate
in his contest against Campbell.
Some OF the replies were wholly unfit fol
publication, but among the points ELECTED
may be enumerated Cannon's statement
that spiritual marriage meant this: That nc
woman could secure exaltation in heaven
unless united in marriage to Latter Day
Saint ot the Mormon ChuaCh on earth.
In reply 10 further questions Of the com.
mittee as towhether the rising generation
OF Utah was not growing up in strong op.
position to polYgamy, he said there were
many cases where young married couples
were opposed to It, sometimes because the
first vile objected and sometimes because
the husband did not feel himself equal 70
the pecnniary support OF two wives. But
he believed the general tendency OF the
present ontcry was to solidiythe sentiment
in Utah in mvor Of polygamy, as IL was be.
lieved to be revelation from God. He
frankly avowed such to be his opinion and
that eventually the principles OF the Nor.
mon ohurch would spread over the whole
earth, because they were true.
The reference to the first wife obiecting
to her husband taking plural wives called
further inquiries from the committee, in
answer to which Mr.. Cannon said (again
with some qualification) that the practice
was Tor the tist wife to take thesubseouent
wives by the hand in the Endowment
House and formally give them to her hus.
At this point Mr.. Converse, Of Ohio. in.
terposed. and said the object OF calling Mr..
Cannon before them was not to PRIV into
tho secrets OF Mormondom, but to hear
from Mr. Cannon q statement Of the reasons
why the bill now before them, being the
Shallenberger bill, to prevent ali poly.
gamlsis from voting or holding Office,
should not be fayorably reported, and he
asKeu MI: cannon 10 come back 10 that
point. Mr.. Cannon replied that the bill
ought TO be made general, and so amended
as to include not only polygamy, but also
fornication and adultery.
II
Mr.. Robinson, Of Massachusetts, asked
whether iornication, adultery, or even in
cest, was a crime under the laws passed
by the Mormon Legislature Of Utah.
Mr. Cannon hestated, stammered, and
finally said he did not know.
MI: Robinson-ls it not a iact that your
Legislature has wiped out all these ofIenses
from its criminal calendar?
Mr. Cannon-t don't exactly remember.
You must bear in mind that Utah is in this
peculiar position in regard to legislation,
tnat ali acts are subject to the absolute veto
OF the Governor.
Mr. Ko6lnson-Has your Legislature ever
passed bill and submitted L to the Gov
ern0r Tor approval, making fornication, or
adultery, or incest crime?
Mr. Cannon-I don't remember. can't
say that they have.
A desultory discussion ensued, in the
course OF which Mr.. Cannon stated that he
thought before Congress undertook to reg.
ulate the morality OF Utah there were mat
ters nearer home which required attention.
For instance, he had read only recently in
the Washington newspapers Of babes left
to die in corner lots. lie thought there was
q condition Of affairs in the District Of
Columbia which required the attention Of
the Committee on Judiciary more than did
the Territory OF Utah. To which Mr..
Reed, OF Maine, chairman Of the committee,
somewhat sharply responded: "Yes, but
we do MT defend the placing OF babes in
corner lots, and there is law against it"
MI. Campbell and his counsel, Judge J..
r. Mcbride, were present. by invitation Of
the subcommittee, to reply to Mr.. Can.
mons argument, il reply was needed, but
none was thought to be called for.