The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-03-15

proposition which would cure this
crying evil against society,
religion and good morals. He was
opposed to the bill because it au-
thorized the President to dicker
with the MOrmons, anC grant them
amnesty under certain conditions.
The President might want a con-
tract for half dozen wives himself.
Was it not indelicate to confer such
power on the President, as that he
should impose conditions on those
to whom he extended amnesty.
Converse, of Ohio, opposed the
bill, which he asserted would legis-
late OUT of Office all minor officers of
the territory and organize anarchy
instead of law.
Carlisle inquired whether, when
the offices were vacant, there was
any means provided for filling the
vacancies? The Legislature could
not assemble for two years, and dur
ing all that time the offices would
be vacant.
Haskell-The Governor can fill
the offices.
Carlisle contended that the Gov
ernOr could not, and quoted from
The statutes of Utah to show that
the power rested with the Legisla-
ture and county courts. Was there
any law Of Congress, he inquired,
repeating these statutes? By this
bill, the county judges, by. whom
vacancies are to be filled, were them
selves legislated out of Office, and
there would be not man left to
probate wills, settle estates, keep
records, or execute processes. Does
the gentleman (HaskelD say this
bill is prospective merely in its
operation?
Haskill-There is power in the
governor, under the Organic Act,
that cannot be repealed w legis-
lative enactment. TO appoint every
one of them. More, l say, it is the
intention of this bill, and the friends
of this bill, to legislate out of Office
every one of this infamous Mormon
| priesthood, and give an opportunity
TO put in honest men. (Applause.)
Carlisle-That is what l under
stood, and I am not Directing to the
provision that legislates them out of
office. but l ana objeeting to the
crude and imperfect section which
legislates them out of office and
puts no one else in and leaves the
/ territory in a state Of the utmost
confusion.
Haskill-Do you hold that the
territorial legislature can repeal the
Organic Act?
Carlisle-The territorial legisla-
| ture has not attempted to repeal the
act. but it has 7egislated on this
subject, ami its law is the only one
now in force.
Robinson c0nteu"ed thnt the bill
was progressive In It's provisions,
! holding II - be a maxim of law
that an act was not retroactive I'm,
less so expressed directly.
Carl sic agreed that that was a
correct construction of the law, tut
asserted that Haskell had just an
nOuncrd that the purpose Of the bill
J was to legislate out of Office imme
diately, every mali who WAS amen
able to its provisions.
HASKELL did not say 'immedi
: ately," | mean by process of law.
, Carlisle-The bill provides no pro
cess of law for the purpose Of ascer
taing whether the p ople are guilty
of the offenses. 1t simply SAYS the,
shall not be competent TO hold Otfic6
= Converse. OF Ohio, endorsed al
said by Carlisl =. rhe bill in hi:
Judgment. organized disorder 10 con
2 Uinue for the next TWO years il
l Utah. There could be no dOub
: about It.
I Williams of Wisconsin, said tina
!. secret vice, however prevalent an
e deplorable, could never be justics
] ton for fragrant and open YiolatiO
of public morals and public Law
. M0rmonl M, with its adjunct polys
4 amy, robbed vice Of its hideousneSS
: and demanded that it should no
2 only be sanctioned by public Law
but deiied by the divine approval c
God. Thus entrenched, it cha
S lenged criticism and deied attacl
) 1t disrupted and destroyed th
: family, it lOOSened the foundation G
: civil government, removed the yer
7 corner stone of republican institI
S lions, and in turn it controlled tn
f ballot box, commanded the courts
g and if entitled to its demand,
might command the nation, ma
f ships, march armies, and exercis
all powers in its defense. While
: would give the widest liberty t
e conscience and religion, he wOul
I say to oriental paganism. with il
customs and demands, Thus ia
i. and no farther; where the clea
l waters Of the Pacific kiss the pur
1 sands Of our western shore, theT
: you shall pause IN the presence {
the majestic power Of the ciYilizi
e ton of the MONDAY Of the world
, (Applause).
S Robson replied to the argumen
e that this bill was a blow agains
4 free government.
= Burrows stated that he woul
: vote for the bill, though he believe
: it would disappoint the expectation
| of its friends; yet it was wort
e trying and he trusted Congress
: would rise TO the high position d,
: manded by the American peopl
and pass some efficient measuI
{ that would eradicate this evil {