Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-03-23
T HE REPORTER.
Official County Paper.
Grand Rapids, Mch. IS, 'S2.
IN CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 18th. Is

petitions and bills have been presented
by the Wisconsin representatives in
Congress.
By Senator Cameron, petition of
the citizens of Waukesha, Wisconsin,
protesting against the existence of
polygamy in Utah and praying for
legislation for its suppression.
Also the joint resolution Of the
legislature of the state Of Wisconsin
in relation TO the establishment of a
United States Court of Appeals.
By Hon. FL. L. Humphrey (for
Mr.. Pound) bill granting . pension
to Mrs Amelia r. Webster.
Also, the memorial of the Legisla-
ture of the State of Wisconsin, for a
harbor of refuge on Lake Pepin near
Stockholm in the State of Wisconsin.
Also the memorial of the Legisla-
ture of the State of Wisconsin, for
the improvement of the Mississippi
River and its tributaries.
The resolutions adopted by the
Grand Army Of the Republic Of Wis
consin, relative to equalizing bouaties
and amending the pension laws
Hon. G. G. Williams, the resolutions
adopted by the citizens of Waukesha,
Wisconsin and vicinity for the sup
preston of polygamy.
Hon. T. G. Pound the petition Of
the citizens of Superior. Wisconsin,
for an adequate appropriation for i'm
proving the harbor at that place.
On Thursday last Senator Sawyer
submitted the following resolution via:
RESOLVED, that the Secretary Of
War be, and he is hereby, instructed
to ascertain and report to Congress at
its next session the cost of construct
ing the Sturgeon Bay and Lake
Michigan Ship-Canal in the State of
Wisconsin, and by whom said ship
canal was constructed: also to ascer-
tain the amount of money realized from
the sale Of lands granted by Congress
to the State of Wisconsin to aid in the
construction of said ship-canal: said
information being required for the
purpose of considering the question of
opening said ship-canal free to the
commerce of the lakes, which by
unanimous consent was considered and
agreed to.
Day before yesterday the bill for
the suppression of polygamy passed
the House just as it was passed by the
Senate and will be the law of the land
as soon as it is engrossed and receives
the Presidents signature.
All praise to Republican Congress
for the passage of this righteous law
as it was, passed in face of the deter
mined opposition of the Democracy in
efforts to amend the bill, the effect of
which amendments would have been to
have placed its consideration, after its
return from the Senate, beyond reach,
in the regular course of business. dur
ing the present session of Congress.
Nearly all of the Democrats who
sustained the amendments offered were
afraid to go on the record as against
the suppression of polygamy as there
were but AZ votes against the bill 81
of which were from the old slave
State. 1t is not strange that person
brought under the influences of slavery
should look with favor upon its twin
sister in iniquity, polygamy.
Hon. Chas. G. Williams being
given two minutes by Hon D. G.
Haskell, said: 1.-TWO mintes are about
long enough to pronounce the benedic-
tion."
Mr.. Speaker secret vice, however
prevalent and deplorable, can never be
a justification for the fragrant and
open violation of public morals and
public law. Human nature has its
foibles, charity its grandeur and phari-
seeism has been under ban since the
morning of time. But mormonism,
with its adjunct polygamy, would rob
vice of its hideousness, clothe it in
virtues robes. sanetify it by the name
Of religion, and invoke upon it the
blessing of the Almighty. Thus in
trenched, it challenges criticism and
.defes attack Why, Sir, I speak not
of its innocent victims or votaries.
[ speak not of persons or individuals
at all, but of institutions. IF there
be one form of blasphemy more rank
than another, what can be more BIAS
phemous than this? But it is not in
the realms of morals or religion that
lit works its most pernicious curse. It