National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-12
THE NATIONAL CANCER.
Mr.. Cullom's Bill for the Entire Eradication Of
MOrmoniSn.
He Directs Congressional Attention to
the Danger Of Delay.
The Plan for Governmental Control Opposed on Con-
stitutional Grounds.
The Senate Passes Bill Tor River Im-
provements.
THE SENATE.

Mr.. Van wyck, from the committee on improve
ment of the Mississippi river, reported joint res
olution making an immediate appropriation OF
81 100000 for the continuance OF the work OIL
proyement already entered upon by the Missis-
sippi river commission.
Mr.. Hoar inquired whether this appropriation
proceeded on the theory of improving the river
ITSELF or Of preserving the land from overflow.
The theory of the recommendation made In the
special message of the President on the subject
proceeded on the idea that some $50 100000 would
ne necessary TO accomplish the object sought,
while the theory adopted by congress in It's subse-
quent legislation did not, however, contemplate
the expenditure of any such sum. Mr.. Hoar
ment OF the river, in accordance with the view OF
congress, but thought 1t should appear which OF
thetwo theories the app. lpriaton proceeded upon.
the appropriation take the form of bill. The
plan OF making appropriations by joint resolu'
mi MIR. I Plumb NIB inquired how much money was to
be appropriated for the purpose during the cur:
rent year aud how much Il was expected would
be required to carry out the Improvements OF
Mir. Jonas explained that the commission hav-
ing the improvements IN charge have asked ior an
provided the work is limited to the two reaches
on which they have been engaged for the past
two years. If the New Madrid section were taken
in they would ask for an additional Sl,OCoQOO.
large amount of valuable plant has been collected
along the river. and II is exposed TO danger OF
river commission BIO complied with.
Mr.. Plumb had no doubt that this question Of
the Mississippi improvement would finally result
in the building of levees, and If levees be built
they can only be maintained in one way, namely
by traversing them by railroad, 1t was capable
of demonstration that railroad could be built
along the bank of the river, and he believed this
method would prove to be the only practicable
method of keeping the levees in repair, and this
the transportation facilities of the Mississippi
valley.
act appropriating any such sum OF money as was
appropriated by this measure. Not that he OBJ
jected to the appropriation i9ei in this case put
to examine should not be pressed &c IN immediate
vote-it was dangerous way OF appropriating
Mr.. Miller, of New York, moved to amend the
resolution By tho addition of the words, "pfoi
vided, that the money hereby appropriated shall
be used solely for the improvement OF the naviga-
ton of the Mississippi river, and no part thereof
shall be expended with the view TO the improve
With this amendment and the change OF the
measure from joint resolution TO bill 1t was
passed.
By Mr.. Call To establish a university OF medi-
Also. to provide for the establishment of a sys.
TEN of postal savings banks in the United States.
BY Mr.. Edmunds For the relief OF the survivors
of the exploring steamer Jeanette and the
widows and children OF those who persisted in
the retreat from the wreck OF that vessel i'll the
4 resolution offered by Mr.. Call instructing the
secretary of the interior TO furnish TO the senate
copies Of all letters, statements and other papers
in the possession of the department, relating to
the grant of land made by the United states to the
Florida railroad or relating to the reservation OF
any OF said lands for the benefit OF assignees OF
| said road.
| then taken up instructng the committee on for
eign relations to inquire into tho expectancy OF
such legislation should enable the executive to
protect American interests against those govern
| ments which have prohibited or restrained the
importation Of bealthful meats from the United
| States.
| MIR. Van wyck moved to amend by adding
Except such governments whose manufactured
goods or products were previously restrained or
| prohibited nom free access to our ports"
At the expiration of the morning hour the mat
| ter went over.
Mr.. Cullom then, according to notice heretofore
given, addressed the senate with regard to his bill
| TO reorganize the legislative power of Utah. 1t
| provides that tho government of Utah shall con-
| sist Of governor and council of nine members,
| to be appointed by the President and conf rmed
by the senate, and they shall be citizens and quail
ni If NOT checked, Mr.. Caiiom said in the course
of long speech, the Mormons will soon control
five or six Of the states and territories west of the
foot all laws of the United s ates. In the present
condition Of things the United States government
has utterly failed to use Its powers to punish
the crime Of polygamy. The act of congress Gre
| ating q commission has done some good, but II IL
not adequate. II would be a mercy TO these mis-
| guided people to adopt such measures US may be
necessary to release them from the domination of
| their priesthood. We do not desire war, but II
the Mormon question Is not settled soon 1t viii
! end in war The first thing to be DONE Mr.. Gull
lom said, Is to take from the MormOns all legisla
tive power and place 1t In the hands of council,
the Resident and Confined BY the ps senate. Il
will 10 of no use for the government to deal with
| this question while leaving political power to the
Mormons. Every judge and every county officer
OF the territory is a member of the church, which
church is u governmental despotism. His bill, he
said, was onIy u temporary measure, as all bills
| n n
sarily BIO. The people of the territory should,
when this evil had been eradicated, have control
| of their own affairs. Meanwhile, let the United
States government take tho management of Utah
| into its own hands, discharge the incompetent
and reasonable agents of the Mormons who are
code every vestise OF ecoIesiistical polity.
Mr.. Brown followed Mr.. Cullom in opposition
to the bill on constitutional grounds. He re-
Viewed the decisions OF the courts OF the different
states affecting test oaths, and argued that from
those decisions 1t is clear that the test oath APP
piled by the Utah commissioners under the Ed :
| mund's act was not in any sense due process Of
law" He defined bills of attainder and OK post
iacto laws, ana argued that the exclusion from
office OF men who had been polygamist but were
so no longer, was substantial attainder, and the
variouslaws relating topolygamy, which provided
| remedies or punishments not contemplated by
law at the time the polygamy was committed us
ex post facto laws, and so unconstitutional
Referring to the question ofthe right of congress
| to destroy the territorial government Mr.. Brown
said. If congress could do 1t In one territory Il
could in all the territories and II the new condi-
llOu luSL OHc yeHIi COulu lusL
| for one hundred years, and there was therefore,
| nothing TO prevent congress from making OF the
territories satrapies or provinces to be plundcred
! at will by the men in power. lie could never
subscribe to the doctrine that citizens OF the
eral states, who go to Utah. and abandon their
| citizenship III other states, should lose their
rights as citizens under an arbitrary and tyranni-
cal system such as that recommended by the
bill or that of the Utah commission,
the United States Us the citizens OF any
other part OF the country and are entitled 10 tho
equal protection of the laws, 1t would hardly do
| to punish the 49, 900 persons of Utah, who were
polygansts, though Mormons, in order to reach
the Il, 900 who may be such. And II congress pro-
posed TO stamp out one religious sect, might 1t
not, when that is done begin on another sect, and
Christian church was the true medium u deal
with the Mormon question, Millions OF dollars
are sent yearly TO convert the polygamists of India
and China TO Christianity; some OF this money
spent at home, among people who speak our
| language might result IN producing Il great change
in the position OF the Mormon problem. The real
trouble with that problem IL that the Mormons
are not as good republicans as the leaders OF the
republican party would wish them To be,
without exeusing polygamy, Mr. Brown, In con-
clusion, animadverted severely upon the laxity Of
morals prevailing in portions Of the country out
side of Utah, aud thought much of the thought
and effort expended upon Utah might we'll be di.
rected TO social evils nearer home.
Mr. Garland had always thought the Edmund'
bill for the Utah trouble very much like pre-,
scrbng corn plaster for consumption, but he
preme court had laid down the doctrine that peo'
pie could not shelter themselves from the conse
quences of crime by pleading the requirements o.
religion.