Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-11-12
UTAH'S COMMISSIONERS
Full Text Of Their Report and Re-
concentrations to Secretary
Lamar.
PolygamOus Marriages Nearly SuS.
pended Owing to the Active En-.
forcement Of the Edmunds
Law,
But if the Legislature Will Not Fall
Into Line a Legislative Commits.
sion Should be Appointed.

Sir: We nave the honor to submit bri
history of the transactions and proceedin
of this Commission since our last report
, November 18th, 1884, to secure certain ]
commentators heretofore made, and
present others for additional legislation
the nature of amendments to the existi1
laws for the suppression of polygamy whit
a thorough, continuous and careful invest
cation has commended to our Judgment
The usual annual revisions of the Uta
registration lists for the present year wei
duly and thoroughly made at the time an
in the manner and form prescribed in tt
local registration law by officers appointe
by this Board, and the general election TO
lowing such revisions was held
ON THE 3D. DAY OF AUGUST LAST.
The principal officers chosen at that electio
were Commissioners to locate Universit
Lands, members of the Council and Hous
Of Representatives of the Legislative AS
sembly, also county and precinct officer
| throughout the Territory.
In few election precincts votes were cas-
for the Office of Territorial Superintendent
of District Schools, but were not canvasset
by the canvassing board because in tn
Judgment of the Commission, confirmed b,
the opinion of the Attorney-Genera of thu
United States, the Office can only be filled
by appointment of the Governor, subject tt
confirmation by the Legislative Council. NJ
person living in the practice of polygamy
was allowed to register or vote, nor was any
such person elected or commissioned to any
Office at this nor at any previous election
held under the supervision of the Com.
mission.
This point therefore has been surely
reached that the name of polygamist can
not now be found upon the registration lists
and
NONE OF THIS CLASS ARE HOLDING OFFICE,
Nevertheless, it is true that nearly all the
officers chosen at the last election, as in the
others to which reference is made. are Nor
mons who. while they do not actually live in
polygamy, subscribe to the doctrine of
polygamous marriages as a di-
vine revelatlon-a law unto all-higher and
more binding upon the conscience than any
human law. local or national. One very
notable exception, however, to this general
rule was furnished in the last election in the
county of Summit. In this county the en-
tire non-Mormon ticket was elected, and
among the officers thus chosen was a mem
Der of the House of Representatives of the
Legislative Assembly. He is the first person
not member of the Mormon church, and
opposed to their system, who has been
elected IN many years.
THE SUITS FOR DAMAGES.
In former report we called attention to
the fact that number of suits for damages
were instituted in 1882 against the Commits
sion by certain Mormon citizens whose
names had been excluded from registration,
and who were not permitted to vote. The
District Court decided these cases against
The plaintiffs, and on appeal to the Supreme
court OF the Territory, these decisions were
afhrmed- An appeal having been taken bv
5he plaintiffs to the Supreme Court of the
United States, the decisions of the Court
below were sustained as to the members of
the Commission. While the opinion deliv-
red by the Supreme Court in these cases
somewhat restricted the number of those
Who were excluded from suffrage by the Com
MISSION, yet it proved to be timely and
aluable Interpretation of the law-affirm-
ng the constitutionality of the fact, and
ettl1ng the meaning of several provisions
mich were of doubtful and difficult con-
truction.
NUMBER OF PLURAL MARRIAGES
In our report for 1884 we stated that there |
ad been an increase in the number of nlural |
Marriages during that year, placing the ag- |
regate number of males and females who |
ad entered that relation as nearly as could
ascertained at 459. According to the best
FORMATION we have been able to obtain,
lere have been very few polygamous mar
ages during the present year. It would
OF, however, be prudent to consider this
her than suspension of the practice, re-
lltlng from rigorous enforcement of the I
W IN all Its parts, and not an actual sur
noer occasloned by general and decided
lange OF sentiment regarding the doctrine
self. Indeed, if all operations under the
esent law by the Commission and the
urts should at once cease, or even if a
lung, hesltatlng, uncertain policy should
tive force, it is altogether probable that
ural marrying would again become yery
neral IN Utah. The firm attitude of the
vernment, the faithful and energetic exc {
ton OF the law, the recommendations of
Commission for additional legislation
vanclng step by step as the exigencies of
case seemed to demand, the fearless j
osecutlons OF offenders in the courts. all /
stained and encouraged by an almost |
anlmous public sentiment throughout the j
lntry, nave exerted in the past year re- (
yer before experienced by them since their T
adjustment in Utah. The evidence of this t
mes to US IN many ways. The plea of t
lily entered in /
'ENTEEN CASES OF UNLAWFUL CONTEMPLATION t.
tn the assurance to the court by MANY of i
persons thus arraigned that they would
thereafter offend against the law them
yes, nor advise, counsel aid nor abet in n
way Its violation by others; the con- Il
ntly increasing number of those of hioh
ndlng and influence in the church who
known now to counsel full obedience to o,
laws affecting polygamy; the vehement al
ortatlons by the high priests of the
rich, many of whom are now fugitiyes ri
m justice, addressed to the faithful urging in
m to live their religion at whatever st
rifice; the infiammatory appeals of tbe
'spaper organs of the church to the by
atheism of the radical element of their le
owing in which the officers of iustice
estly and conscientiously administering Co
law are bitterly denounced, while those tn
heir own members who have declared or
+ intentions In the future to obey the law
branded as traitors to their church and AT
people, from whom all fellowship lot
ild De wlthdrawn-all these are evidences Ju
nuch internal agitation, and show that Co
pendent thought and action among the Su
'le are commencing to assert themselves &c
3 and more. fir
us lnclplent contest within the church
ever feeble on the one side and CORES, OPP
iingly strong on the other, is by
NcoURAGING FEATURE OF THE UTAH srTUa- Z
TJoN. OF
the fear of this which has inspired the NE NE
ats of ostracism so freely indulged in by in q
eaders of the church towards all who To-
ire their intention to obey the laws. II IN IN
lie that some who had offended and were Gen Ss.,
and willing when arraigned to give S Sta
'ance to the courts that they would Quo ou"
eforth yield full obedience to the law. p1i
wards succumbed to these assaults, and fra ~
to prison rather than accept liberty at Law
Expense of the withdrawal of all reli i"T
= social and business fellowship. but rr :.
Will be more hereafter who will accept tho
aw and abide by it, and fewer who will t tre
the penitentiary in order to escape the ''i T.
aw is increased by additional leeisla- TIs;
cry step forward by the Government 'n 1s
ave more strength and courage to the mo- -
whose desire is to respect and obey the he =
the adm;n;Ctrot;o,,.' e AZ - ies isia,ion' ness
him, moro shall IL =; sne present law, defe
o. 4