Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-05-03
THE POLYGAMY QUESTION


The following Is the argument III
brief of Hon. S. H. Miller, member IN
Congress for this district, made during
the discu ssion of the contested election
case of Cannon and Campbell, for
seat in the House from Utah:
Mr.. Miller. In the limited time al
lowed me it is impossible for meto dis
cuss the questions that have been pre-
sented in this debate in order to demon
strate that polygamy and the practices
under it are dangerous to the civil as
well as the religious institutions OF thus
country. 1t is not necessary that IL
should be done. AS early as the
Fortieth Congress committee appoint
ed by the House, and which consider
ed that question, said:
Polygamy is synonymous with biga'
nv. Bigamy is, under our law, a crime,
and polygamy is monstrous blgamy
1t further said:
Polygamy prevails in spite OF ex
press laws of the United States, IL
open outrage Of the sacred family tie
controlling the social organisation o.
the community, and shaming the sense
of propriety so long and we'll establish
ed among all races of Europeans Oh
this continent.
1t said further, having asked tht
question whether or not this power hao
been hostile to the Government:
Your committee believe that 1t ID
and has been hostile rather from. the
inherent spirit of its creation than from
any design on the Part Of that people
They add:
That by reason of polygamy In Utai
great crimes have been committed ant
have been let 60 unwhipped of justice
Open violation OF the authority of thi
Government has frequently occurred
| The sancity of the ermine has beel
profaned, the course of justice obstruct
ed. Organized assassination has beel
frequently perpetrated.
1t is also fact, as.appears by tn
records of the Judicial proceedings Q
this country, that the Mountai
Meadow massacre ives traced dlrectl.
, to the Mormon Church, and that twep
ty years after the commission of tha
crime, one who stood high In tha
church-Stephen d. Lee-was tried
convicted, and executed for participatlo
in it. 1t appeared in that trial tina
the Mormon Church not only winke
at but melted the massacre.
If all these things be tree, MI
Speaker, il that institution ID entire
publican, If it threatens the safety q
this nation, why should it not b
stamped out? Why should any on
holding to these opinions and practit
ing these tenets be admitted to a sea
jp this House? Is there no law o
authority to prevent this? Isitpossi
BILE that o man who is member of
political-religious assoGistio1 which
hostile, not only to the spirit of on
laws but also to the letter Of tn
American laws and Constitution, ca
claim as right under that CoDstitr
tion seat in the House?
Here the danger which threatens tn
public safety is impending. The pea
pic of Utah and the contestant himsel
DEFY our laws. They scoff at the de
cisions of the Supreme Court of tn
United States. In the language of tn
late President Garfield in his matches
inaugural address:
The Territories of the United State
are subject to the direct Legislative
authority of Congress; and hence tn
General Government is responsible TO
any violation of the Constitution i
any of them. II is, therefore, re
proach to the Government that in tn
most populous of the Territories th
constitutional guarantee is not enjoye'
by the people and the authority G
Congress is set at naught. The MOI
mon Church not only offends the mora
sense of manhood by sanctioning poly
gamy, but prevents the administrator
Of justice through ordinary instrnmen
talitiss of lay.
| In my judgment it is tie Duty 0
Congress, while respecting to the uttes
most the CONSCIENTIOUS convictions ant
religious scruples of every citizen, t.
prohibit within its jurisdiction allcrim
inal practices, especially of that clas
which destroy the family relations ant
endanger social order. Nor cen any
ecclesiastical organization be safely per
mitted to usurp in the smallest degre'
the functions and powers of the nationa
Government,
contend. therefore, Mr.. Speaker
that the public safety calls upon US t.
| shut the door and refuse admission t
any Delegate from the Territory o
Utah until it sends representative TO
law. maker who is not a notoriou
law-breaker."
Who Will Pay the Piper ?
Controller Speer has declined per