The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-12-10
POLYGAMY.
The Rerort of the Utah Commission
Says Their Duties Have Been
Faithfully Performed.
Three-Fourths of the Mormon Adults
Have Never Entered Into Polygamy,
Yet tho Orthodox Members
Believe in IL.

REPORT OF THE UTAH COMMISSION.
WASHINGTON, December 3.-The report
of the Utah Commission, EX-Secretary Of
War Ramsey, chairman, was made public
yesterday. The Commission say that their
duties have been faithfully and successfully
performed, with results showing that at the
recent election for Delegate to Congress and
other elections of county officials, held
under their supervision, all Polygamists
were excluded from voting and holding
office. The Utah Delegate.elect to Con-
gress, Mr.. John. T. Cain, is Mormon, but
he does not now live and never has lived
in polygamy, and is therefore eligible under
the law.
The report says that for year or more
after the efforts to enforce the law were in
itiated, polygamic teachings from the pulpit
were rarely heard, and there were Observa-
bic indications that the practice Of polyg-
amy might measurably decline, but during
the present year there appears to have been
q polygamlc revival. The institution Is
boldly and defantly defended by spiritual
teachers and plural marriages are reported
on the increase. Three-fourths of the
Mormon adults, male and female, have
never entered into the poygamic relations,
yet every orthodox Mormon, every member
in good standing in the church, believes In
polygamy. AS an illustration of the "one-
ness" of faith among the Mormons respect
ing polygamy, attention is called to an i'm
portant polygamy case recently tried in
Salt Lake City, where every Mormon on
lao f,r In Ia ha
DO you believe II right for a man TO have
more than one living and undivorced wife
at the same tlmeT' answered unhesitatng-
ly, "Yes SIR"
The trial of the case caused profound
sensation throughout the Territory. The
defendant, Rudger Clawson (the son OF a
Bishop and his two wives, belonged to the
better class OF Mormon society Although
his polygamic marriage had been notorious
in the community for months, no direct
evidence of 1t was disclosed until given by
his second wife after short Imprisonment
for contempt OF court, she having refused
10 testify. Other witnesses were examined,
and there were many, including the imme-
dlate relatives Of the parties, the priest and
other high officers of the Church, every one
except the second wife disclaiming all
knowledge OF the marriage. Mr.. Clawson
was convicted, and before sentence was
passed, declared that judgment should not
be passed against him because the laws of
his country were in conflict with the laws
of God The Constitution, he said, ex.
pressly states that Congress shall make no
| law respecting the establishment OF re-
| lgion or prohibiting the free exercise Of 1t
Polygamous marriage, he said, when sane
tiORed by religious rites and ceremonies Is
| the establishment Of religion, and the
anti-polygamy laws were designed to Oper-
ate against such marriages, and were, there
| fore, unconstitutional.
This view, expressed by Mr.. Clawson,
the report says, is In conformity with the
uniform sentiment of all the Mormon peo
pie, but while this Is their creed, many
hnrmons are relurtsnt 10 enter into the
polygamc relation, so the trial and convlc
tion Of Mr. Clawson will probably have q
restraining influence upon the young Nor
mons. The Commission urge a vigorous en-
forcement Of tile present laws. The Gov
eminent has 10 deal with people wonder
fully superstitious and fanatically devoted
TO their religion, and the sudden overthrow
Of pOlygamy, as result of the enforce
ment of the present ant-polygamy laws, IL
not TO be expected. They recommend adj
ditional legislation In the nature OF amend
mnnts to existing laws which they think
will greatly strengthen the hands OF boil
the Commission and the courts. They ex
press the opinion that II is not unlikely the
Federal Government will finally find II nee
essary to take into its own hands all civil
power In Utah.