National Republican., 1883-10-31

suppression OF polygamy. 1t is asserted and gem
ernlly believed by non Mormons In TINS territory
secret, We would recommend that congress enact
a law declaring all future marriages IN thls
territory null and void unless they are Sonttao.su
and evidenced in the manner provided by the
act.
For example, that all marriages shall be sol;
emnized in certain public places, and witnessed
by such persons, and registered in such public
Offices as to make the proof OF marriage m0lnly
certain, providing also that the person ohoia',ng
In the marriage ceremony, together WIN VIZ
parties and witnesses, shall make their athuaVlls
against poygamy, and set forth the time ana
place, and other particulars relating TO the mar
private, but With the like guarantees OF registra-
tion, affdavts, witnesses &C., and in either case
OF the persons concerned therein In making tnls
suggestion we omit the details, which can reaolly
be supplied by reference to the marriage acts Of
most OF the states. IN our former report we adj
verled to the law of this territory comforting OH
women the right Of suffrage. This law was en-
acted by the territorial legislature some twelve
years ago OF course IL Is competent for congress
TO repeal or annul this law. Without expressing
any opinion ON the question Of woman suffrage IN
general, we are satisfied that, owing to the pecu
liar state of affairs in Utah, this law is an obstruc;
ton TO the speedy solution of the vexed question:
| In the prosecution of poygamy cases here, ~ IS
difficult 10 prove the first or legal marriage. We
would suggest as remedy, that the flrst OF legal
! wife be declared by act of congress competent
| witness I'm such prosecutions
Under the act Of congress, by virtue Of whose
| provisions this commission was appointed, the
| people of Utoh appear TO be put upon probation
until a legislative assembly, elected under the
provisions of the act, shall meet aud pass the re-
| quiste laws concerning registration and elec-
| ton.
IT. however, the next session OF the legislative
assembly, elected under the act of congress- shall
fail to respond to the will of the nation congress
should have no hesitation in using extraordinary
measurest to compel the people of this territory to
obey the laws Of the land, Thep cnt Legislature.
chosen at the August election, Il CON scd wholly
| OF MOrmons--none OF whom, howe L, live IN
polygamy. This legislature will convene in
January next. 1t will be their duty, under the
act of 1882 to adopt measures in conformity with
polygamy.
| may not properly be discussed by us in advance
OF the opportunity given them by the law TO DO
So. II they shall fail In this respect when , me
time comes for them to act, this commission will
be prepared to recommend and congress certainly
will not delay, the adoption of the most stringent
measures compatible with the limitations OF the
constitution that may be considered necessary
for the suppression of this great evil In view OF
the fact that this contingency might come, we
have already given the subject of such further
legislation much study and reflection, and VIII be
ready at the proper time If the case requires, to
Of the President and congress. In the interim
between the November election for delegate
TO congress and the general election in August,
| 1885, municipal elections were held in
number of cities and towns under rules and Or
ders Of this board. But the most important cleo
tion was that of Aug 6, 1883 general election fol
judges clerks of the county courts, assessors and
collectors, county recorders, sheris, county treas
urers, county superintendents of district schools
and other county officers. and many precinct OF.
fcers, numbering In all 960 that were elected, al
OF whom, as well as all the voters, are mono
gamists.
In June, prior to the election, the commission
caused revision of the registration to be made Il
all the precincts of the territory excluding al
polygamiss from the lists, an abstract of which
marked A, is hereto appended.
The election was conducted in general in {
m m IA
votes cast was 2 96l against 81 923 at the last No
vember election. The principal falling off in thu
vote was on the part of the gentiles or libera
party. In November the total vote of the people
Tor Mormon) party was 23039 liberal, 4,SA. II
August, 1883, the total vote of the peoples part!
was 205O8; liberal, 1853, from which 1t appear
that large numbers of the liberals rtfrained from
voting fact much to be regretted. for the reasoi
that II is believed that by proper effort and gooC
management one or more non-Mormons nigh
have been elected to the legislative assembly, witt
would have the opportunity of putting the ma
In pursuance of the ninth section of the act o
congress, the commission appointed a board o
tion, except those for members Of the legislativ
mbly, which, under the act are to be can
vassed by this commission.
| Alter public notice In the newspapers, the salt
board of canvassers assembled, with the member
Of this commission. at Salt Lake City, and tn
election returns were canvassed. the result ascer
tanned, and certificates of election were awarded
Recently, some ten suits were instituted in tn
third district court OF Utah by Mormons agains
|
that they had been iunjustly deprived of the rgh
, to register and vote. These are understood to b
test cases, designed TO contest the constitution
ality Of the "Edmunds yaet." as well as the lega
construction which we put upon It's provisions
These suits are still undecided, and are likely
be appealed TO the supreme court OF the Unite
States.
/ 1t has been asserted that polygamic marriage
? have Increased since the passage of the Edmund
act; on the contrary,we have the opinion of man
Mornlons and non- Mormons tha' they have CON
paratiyely decreased since the passage Of said act
After diligent inquiry, we believe the latter con
clusion is correct. II the Utah legislature will
have the opportunity of satisfying the country o
! this particular subject by passing such publ
marriage act as that which we have suggested t
congress-
BY this and such other legislation as we hav
indicated, they will give the government assur
ance of their loyalty and patriotism, and avert
contest that cannot but result in their discom
future.
} In concluding this report, we consider 1t prope
to commend the zeal of the governor of Utah in h
efforts to enforce the laws. ALEX. RAMSEY,
A. S. PADDOCK,
q. l.. GODFREY,
A. b. CARLTON,
j. r. PErTIGREw.
, To the Hon. II. NJ. TELLER,
Secretary of the Interior.