Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-18

stead OF the benefciant free schools instituted by
tne fathers, would substitute therefor schools
wherein priests teach the Youthful mind to love and
DS oDss .ne doctrines OF polygamy blood atonement
ana others equally as objectionable. There can be
no true homes in system which introduces polyra
my into the family. 1t robs home of its pane in
every sacred sense OF the word Before such an
intrusion peace dignity, honor and love must flee
Harems cannot be substituted for homes with
any assurance that society will be improved by the
change. II the doctrine Of polygsmy were to be
universally accepted and practiced, history would
simply repeat itself. Women would be sold froo
the auction block, and men would fall to the level
OF the brute Let us move onward with the march
OF CIVILIZATION, taking no steps backward to toy and
daily with the worst of barbarous relics Ii the
Mormon Church cannot survive the loss of this
criminal practice 1t deserves to perish from the face
OF the earth for that which is buded on no surer
nobler foundation than mere Lust has no right
to exist. The people Of Idaho have recently
given expression to their wishes upon this snb
Jeet, and l rejoice in the knowledge that their
sentiments accord with my own. My faith IN the
honor and integrity of the people of Idaho has never
wayered. The verdict returned in the recent cleo
ton shows that my confidence il the people was not
misplaced Their will las been registered They
demand the complete extirpation of polygamy with.
in our borders You here to give effect to their
mandate, and it is with infinite satisfaction that
now suggest the adoption of some such measure as
the following: That the law OF evidence be so
framed that no perscn shall be excluded from testi
Tying in any proceeding ia prosecution for poyga-
my on account OF marriage relations with the de-
iehdant that cohabiiation with than one wife
constitutes continuous offense and that to preach
IN favor OF the doctrine Of polygamy OF publicly or
privately to advise, counsel encourage others to
commit polygamY, or knowingly to aid or assist
others 10 enter into polygamous relations be made
crime, punishable severely as the crime of no
lygamy itself, and that Congress be mem riaized to
amend the pre- en-: anti polygamy laHa to the
end that the welLrecnsnigsd d.fscts in
the same may be remedied, go as 10 rem
der possible the conviction Of the gu lty by giving
the United states and Territorial Courts coordinate
jurisdiction. | irapt att ta,,t;o
Act Of the last session of Congress, known as the
Edmun6s bin. By that Act all poygamsts are dis
franchised and disqualified for Office; but the ma
chiney for enforcing the provisions Of the law apply
to Utah only. 1t is no exaggeration to say that in
two or more c5unti in this Territory peyganigts
vote ana hold otice precisely though such law
was upon the statute books. Tnis is state of aft rs
which requires remedy at your hands The laws
regulating and governing elect. ms are by no means
perfect The power and duties of Canvassinp Boards
should be more specifically defined so that the in
tentlon cf the law in respect theret may be clearly
understood NO door should be left open whereby
members OF Canyessing Boards NAV throw n = a
suthclent number OF votes 10 change the result of
an election and thus BY arbitrary me hods defeat
the will of the people 1t not infreGuenty hapnans
that members OF Cauvrssing Boards are Candidates
for reelection, or for some other Off and Instances
have occurred when this fact has influenced srch
officers to refuse TO count or canvass tbe
votes OF certain precincts, in order to make certain
their own election. The law in this reSpect should
be SO framed that ficrant wrongs OF ihrs nature
could not be peFpetrated aid severe penalties shond
be provided tor all VIII tempt to CT ange the result
OF an election IN this or any other manner | re-
specially recommend the passage Of q law rsouir
ing registration of voters prior to each general
election.
Judge Priekett issued mandate yester
dag, requiring the County Commissioners of
A!turas county to rsclnvass the vo:es They
had arbitrarily refused TO count TIE votes Of
Shoshone precinct, where over ZOO ballots
had tesn cast. which would elect the RsIu5-
lican county ottiGers instead Of D nocratic,
and sdd 800 to Siagisar's majority fer Con-
gress.