South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-05-01
Our Washington Letter.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WAsnIxareu. u. G.. April o.


A step In the direction oil squeich-
ing rolyga,ny in this country has been
taken by the Supfsme Court Of tho
United States in the Clawfon case,
wherein the court decides that the ex-
slus'on Of polygamists FROM the jury
box is not ouly lawful but is absolute
ly demanded, 10 make the admins.
tratiou ofjus;ice in Utah anything but
a legal farce. To admit to the panel
for the trial of prisoner charged with
pol, gamy, u set Of men who believe
that the crime committed 10 justified
by Divine decree, and that 1t is 10
offence at all, is the highest absurdity
and travssty upon the system OF tri-
al by jury. This man CIaueon was
convicted and sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary for q term OF .our years, and
the case came up before tho United
States Supreme Court on appeal bas-
cd upon the assigned error OF exclud-
ing polyganic jurors. The decision
paves the way for more convictions
OF the came sort, but the Mormons
declare that the enforcement of the
law against poIygamy shsll be resisted
even to q resOrt to arms. because all
such prosecutors are nothing more nor
less than an infrin cement upon that
religious liberty which the Constitu-
ton guarantees to all the citizens of
the United States, Utah included.
Now that the cancer that Gen. Grant
never had is expected to get we'll, it
may not be out Of place to make re-
ference to the unbosoming of James
D. Fisk, who promises to make
somewhat pr otracted visit to New
York peultentiary, for tie hand
be took ia the downfall OF the late
Marine Bank. Fish declares that
Grant was privy to every one OF
Wards rascally transactions, bocauseit
was utterly Impossible for him to have
bsen imposed upon in the way that
he pretspds that he was, fer no man
in his right mind could have conceiv-
ed the legitimacy Of transactions up
on which Ward made such snorm.
Gus returns where so small an amount
OF capital was invested. Besides this
did not Grant sign the guaranty to the
genuineness of Government contracts
and did be not permit Ward to use
his name to accomplish successfully
many very Infamous transactions, e.
ven after the bank had demonstrated
it's inability to keep it's head above wa
teri When the excitement over Gen.
Grants illness dies out, Fish promi-
ees to furnish some moro interesting
chapters concerning this great public
crime.
The last Congress, under a pres
sure Of public sentiment that it could
not longer bear up against,
passed an act prohibiting the fencing
In of the public domain, and requiring
the removal of all feuces now exis-
ting that enclose the lands belonging
to the Government Of course the
law will not enforce itself, and there
fore the same pressure that bore upon
Congress has now been transferred TO
the Preaident, who has issued HE
proclamation announcing that the
law must DO enforced, and that all
persons companies or corporations who
are maintaining fences upon the public
lands OF the U. States must remove
Thorn at once, in default Of which the
President will take such measures 40
shall be necessary under the law to
remove or destroy them. BY the fifth
section Of the law a sweeping author
ity is conferred upon the President,
to employ both civil and military
force sufficient to wipe out the last
vsstige Of these unlawful Enclosures.
The people Of the country will hail
with eminent satisfaction the tidings
that the executive has made up his
mind to enforce the statute.
DIfnNn