The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-12-08
THE LEGISLATURE.

body when discussing Utah affairs
and the probable conduct Of Con
gress. Nothing will be done b.
the nation until after the Legisla
.ture adjourns, when, if that bod.
has done nothing, we may expec
something startling and severe.
THE Legislature has power to stoI
all this row, by passing laws thaI
will satisfy Congress and the coun
try" "Now let the Legislature
come out and end this trouble by
passing laws that will suppress
polygamy." If one stops to talk
five minutes upon the chief topic of
discussion, he is!certain to have these
declarations thrust at him. They
are employed as clinchers to every
argument, and are thrown in just as
if there were some merit in them
Perhaps not one in a hundred of the
persons who are laying so much inn
por:ance upon the Legislature, has
ever thought beyond the assertion
that all lies with the Legislature. It
is possible that the territorial law
makers, when they meet next
month, will be able to do something
to drive back the storm, aDd shed
peace and happiness over the land;
it is probable they will do all they
can IN that direction. But for the
enlightenment Of the members and
the information of the public
generally, we would like some
of these wiseacres to say |
what the legislators can do and |
direct them how they should 60 |
about it. We opine the first steps |
recommended would be the passing
of law against polygamy, and the
next and all subsequent suggestions
could be condensed into the single
sentence. "pass a law against
polygamy." This is the balm
that has been recommended, the
salve for tue ugly Utah wound and
it is put forth just as if the laws
were silent in the matter of polyg-
amy. There is law upon the stat
ute books declaring polygamy to be
In offense, and providing severe
penalties for those convicted of
the law. It is United
States statute,an has been declared
and binding by the
tribunal that has the final say in
,he matter. Is anyone so verdant
IS to the respective powers of Con-
yress and the local Legislature, as to
suppose that the latter could pass
aw that would supersede the one
Ilready in existence? Whatever
.cts the local Legislature pass on
he subject must not only not con-
lict with the acts of Congress, but
,e in harmony with them. In illds
tration-the United States law pro-
rides as the extreme penalty that
IAN be imposed upon man or
II woman who has wife or hus-
,and living and who marries another
a fine of not more than $500 and
for term of not
more than five years" now, the
legislature could not increase the
INIT to $1,000 and ten years inn.
any more than it could
'eduee the penalty TO fine not ex-
feeding 500 and Imprisonment not
n excess of one year. Congress has
llso declared certain persons shall
neither vote nor hold office, and the
legislature is pow erless to change
,he decree in any particular. Con-
yress provides the machinery for
carrying its acts into effect, and
hese modes and rules may not be
nterfered with by the local law
makers.
Now, in view of all the facts, and
n the light of reason, if it be polyg-
my that all this cry is made about
md only suppression of the prac-
ice will appease Ongress and the
country, what can the Legislature
10? Congress'bas taken it out of
he power of the local lawmakers
o do anything, however much the
after may have been disposed to
vet.
THE HERALD realizes that the
coming Legislature will be placed in |
IN unenviable position. All eyes
will be turned upon it and much
will be expected from it: and while
he tnoughtIess are doomed to disap-
continent, the legislators them