The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-03

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authority was not in the act. unless
they read it between the lines. He
spoke of them as government officers
and not as individuals for they were
amiable gentlemen but what confidence
could the people place in them in their
public capacity after these acts : (Cries
of "Nonel Nonel' and applause) Mr..
Richards reviewed the marriage rela-
ton" clause in the oath and its being
dropped out after the Supreme Court
decision.
The court here has recently decided
that the provisions of the Edmunds
law which provide for the punish
ment of ANY male person who
cohabits with more than one
woman" applies only to men
hold them out to the world as wives.
that the law is not the great moral
measure which it was claimed to be,
striking at immortality and sexual vice
in every form, but that, while it pro-
hibits cohabitation with more than one
woman in the marriage relation, wheth-
er actual or only such in appearance, it
does not in any way interfere with
immoral practices outside of that rela-
| ton. From this construction we now
appeal to the great American people
and ask them if they wish it to be re-
corded in history that this law was en-
acted for the sole purpose of destroying
Mormon homes and families, and
not to condemn lasciviousness and ina
morality. He could not believe
they would sustain such a construction.
| .(Applause). Whatever may be the re-
suit of this movement, whether we OBJ
tain immediate redress or not, history
will do US Justice and time will fully
vindicate our action to-day in the adOp-
ton of this declaration and protest.
loud Applause.)
Prof. Daynes performed Governor
Wright's March on the organ in an Of
fective manner.
B. H. ROBERTS, of Davis county, was
the next speaker, and spoke in the fol-
lowing strain, though the subjoined is
only brief report of his remarks. He
said, We are to-day doing the
duties of freemen. (Applause) For
whenever oppression shall rear its head,
it became the duty of every freeman to
resist the hand of tyranny, (Applause.)
We cannot afford to sit idly by while
one class of citizens was being asss;i,o
Every mans liberty must Be assured rcd
(Applause.( Efforts were being made
to curse the Territory with political
serfdom and religious bondage. Gan
plause.) The grievances OF the people
had been rehearsed by the previous
speakers. Those who had been sent to
govern and execute the laws had allied
themselves with political Adventures.
With few honorable exceptions had the
governors sent here sought to gain the
confidence of the people or identified
themselves with their interests. Is it
not time we had change? (Applause.)
Mary, Queen of England, said, if her
heart could be seen, the word Calais"
would be found written upon it. The
present Governor should be branded in
his conscience, and on his front, so that
he could not be mistaken. for try
ing to defeat the express will of
the people. (Applause.) This, to-
gether with trying to snatch certain
officers from the gift of the peo-
pie were wrongs never to be forgotten.
designed, were to be dispensed with on
the Legislature providing for certain
emergencies, and on the Legislature
enacting such a measure, the present
Governor vetoed it. 1t was time we
protested against such measures as
these. (Applause.) The Edmunds act.
passed March %, 1882, provided for the
punishment of polygamy, was inter-
preted to mean Furnishing men who CO.
habited with more than one woman,
whether inside or outside the marriage
relation, It was being interpreted to
affect the Mormons and the Mormons
alone. 1t had been thought it had been
enacted in the interests of NOR
atty, but that was found to be
a mistake (Applause). Women of
chastity and purity had entered into the
marriage relation, believing they were
doing Gods will. (Applause.) The
homes of the Mormons were dear to
them; they were not such as prevailed
in the world; they were centres
where Christian principles were
taught and revered. (Applause.) Is it
not time we protested against such un-
hallowed proceedings as invaded those
homes2 (Cries of Yes and applause.)
The undignifed actions of the mini
ons of the law in spying and spotting he
denounced as infamous. (Applause).
spoil homes and incarcerate good men,
harlots and whoremongers must not be
touched by the Federal officials
here. Unhallowed measures never
changed the consciences of mankind.
Persecution had failed of that IN olden
times; the rack, the gibbet had been
used against the old reformers who had
maintained their belief in what had
been revealed from God. (Applause.)
The oppressive measures instituted
against the Mormons and their doc
trines would not accomplish the ends
for which they were intended. Gap
plause.) We are eontending for our
homes, privileges and rights guaranteed
to all citizens of the United States,
and we were willing to grant the
same to all mankind. cloud ap-
plause.) The undertaking was noble
one. They did not propose to rebel
against the institutions of the country |
but to uphold them. We will not be
torn from those pillars of liberty, unless
they drag the pillars with us. (Thun- |
ders of applause.) In the name of a
free people, contending for our just |
rights we should give our votes to sus-
tain this declaration of our rights and
protest. loud and continued applause.) |
Mr.. Game said, if the audience were |
satisfied with the discussion, he would |
put the adoption of the Declaration and
Protest to vote. IS a
The sea of hands that went up was a
moving solid mass, and the AYE ac-
fbo Y,nIiftfnn ohc0-