The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-04
THE THIRD SECTION.
Judge Shows Views in Re
gard Thereto.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
He Says; "Better Look to Facts and
Figures and Take the Con-
sequences
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
SALT LAKE CRY, May 81, 1882.

In your issue of the 30th instant
find letter written by Mr.. George T.
Curtis, relating to the case in the Su-
preme Court Of the United States OF
Lore. 70 Snow, who was indicted under
the third section Of the Edmunds Act,
30 called. In this letter find the fol
lowing: The third section of the Ed
mnnds Act is now without any con-
,truction whatever by the Supreme
Court of the United States in reference
TO new crime recently ere
ated by a statute which affects
thousands of persons in Territory.
wa r poly gamy in a period OF thirty
nv years grew up, under, at least. the
iact permission Il the people and the
government OF the United . ates.''
THIS called TO my mind a few things
which nave turned a matter OF history
with us. Is -
In 1912, IN the State of Illinois.
the doctrine OF polyg my, as il is now
called. was believed by many members
OF the church 10 which Mr.. Snow be-
longs. The rea on for thus belief is not
n W the QUESTION TO be discussed, but !
add. Mary, the mother of Our Savior.
n.w universally allied the blessed vir
gin. was "A polygamOus wife This be-
lief was made known to only few.
Joseph smith, Brigham Young, and a
few others who might be named were
among the number. these in thar
State entered intoit. There were also
few statesmen who, IS / understand
lt knew II. Among the number were
Mr.. Douglas. of Illinois; Mr. Cass. OF
Michigan and Mr.. Buchanan, of Penn
sylyanla.
In 1874 Joseph Smith was murdered
in Carthage Jail, in Illinois His
brother Hyrum was also murdered. and
John Taylor. the present President OF
this Church, there received a gunshot
wound. the ball Of which is now, ! am
told. in his body.
In.1s47 the Pioneers. Brigham Young
among the number. arrived ia this val
ley. and onened the way for the settle
ment here. During that and the sue
cseding year, many of the members OF
tie Church came here and settled.
brigham You. brought with him his
wife and his plural wives. and the plural
wives of Joseph SmIth. A very consid-
cradle number of other men, with their
wives and plural wives. also came and
se.ued here
In 1850, the organic law Of the Terri
tory was passed. According TO MY
memory. Mr.. Douglas and Mr.. Sass
were then members of the Senate. and
Mr.. Fillmore the President of the
United S ates. Mr.. Babbitt and Mr.
Bernheisel were IN Was hington TO
represent the people of Utah. Dir.
Fillmore by and with the advice and
consent OF the Senate, appointed
Brigham Young the Governor of the
Territory. Is It possible that the Presi-
dent and Senate could have been misled
Did they not know that Brigham
Young was blgamist7
In 1851. the revelation on the subject
OF marriage, founl now in the Doctrine
and Covenants, was published.
Between that time and 1856, Orson
Pratt, thea one of The travelling Twelve
/ 4 Apostles, went East and preached.
/ When in Washington City be published
la paper on the subject Of plural mar
rlase.
In 1857, the United States, for reasons
satisfactory to the officers in power,
sent an a nav to Utah which in that
winter remained at Bridger and Green
River
On the 9th of April, 1883, the men,
bers of tue Church met IN conference in
Sail Lake City. Brigham Young ~ the
head, and voted TO leave their homes
aud lee 10 the mountains, leaving the
valleys as they found them. in a state
OF dssolatiOn so thst If the army at
Bi.dger came in they would find the
/ valleys empty and fdssslate as the
Church found them in lS47 I...f
AT the same time. April 9Th, 1858. the
Cabinet at Washington City met,
knowing what was going on here.
issued a proc amation. " hich is 10 be
fonnd n the statutes at large of the
/ United safes VOLUME IL, p. 796. This
proclamation, after Teeiting a few things
which the government said were true.
continued: the Constitution and laws
Of the United States can take no notice
/ If Your creed. whether il be true or
/ false; that Is 8 question between your
/ God and yourselves, in which disclaim
~ right 10 interfere il y0u bey the
laws. keep the peace, aud p pect the
I iust rights OF others. You viii b. per
fectly secure and usay live GA in
your pre- snt faitt, or NAV change
4 for dnothsr al your pleasure.
I Eve-y intelligent man among you
/ knows very well that this government
/ has never. directly or indirectly.
sought 70 modest you in your worship,
OF - control you in your ecclesiastical
affairs or even 70 influence you IN your
religious opinions"
I After The vote above referred to, was
3 tSsen. and before the people here
knew o. the existence of this proclama-
I ton they y to ,liS lett the northern
part Of this Territory with their
personal effects. and started south,
leaving all parts of the Territory north
OF the southern portion of salt Lake
County empty.
The pro llmat;on being issued, 8 con.
mission from Washington City was sent
with it, and on the committee arriving
here they found the condition of affairs
above stated TO exist
The people here denied every charge
alleged against them. except that they
had resisted the United states army
from coming here and had kept il IT
bnoger. This matter was settled and
the people returned In their possess ons.
The army came in and was stationed at
Camp Floyd.
rne important point in this pro-
ciamhtion is this. the Govern
ment OF the United States dis
Claimed all right OF interference
With The religion If -ba r,anrfa hara ann