Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-11
A CORRECT COPY.

copy of the Utah bill recently introduced
by Mr. Woodburn in the House OF Rep
resentatives. AS heretofore printed in
the DEMOCRAT and other local papers, the |
bill contained numerous errors, which in |
some instances materially altered the |
sense of words and must have created |
erroneous impressions as to the true |
meaning OF its provisions as set
forth below. 1t is highly impor-
tant that the measures which this |
bill proposes for the wiplng ont
OF existing evils here, should be thor
oughly weighed and understood, and in
view of possible concerted action oi the
Gentle masses in the matter OF forward
ing to Washington suggestions as to the
most efiicacious methods to be employed
in ridding the country OF this politico-
ecclesiastical monstrosity, we deem it
well to republish the bill, without errors
OF commission or omission, and just as it
was introduced in the House,
WHEREAS, The statutes of the United States
expressly prohibit the offenses of bigamy,
| polygamy and unlawful cohabitation, in the
Territories of the United States, and provide
| for the punishment of said offenses, by line
| and imprisonment, and by disquaifying
persons guilty of said offenses to vote at any
election, or to hold any office of public trust,
honor or emolument in order, or for, any of
said Territories; and
WHEREAS, The act of giving aid, counsel,
advice or encouragement, and thereby pro-
curing, or seeking to procure, the commits
sion of said offenses by others should be
made a crime, punishable with equal sever
ity; and
WHEREAS, There exists in Utah, and other
Territories of the United States, n sect, or
organization of people, who denominate
themselves the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints" or Mormons, which said
Sect or organization, in its creed, or articles
of pretended belief, holds and enunciates as
one of the fundamental principles of its or
ganization, and as sacramental, or relig-
ious rite, the right and duty of its members
to commit and practice sid offenses of big
amy, polygamy and unlawful cohabitation;
and the so-called High Priests, leaders and
members of said organization, pretending to
be inspired by, and acting in obedience to,
authority superior to the laws of the United
States, do openly and publicly counsel, ad-
wise and command the members of said sect,
or organization, to commit said otfenses OF
bigamy, polygamy and unlawful cohabita-
tion, in open and professed defiance and
contempt of the laws of the United
!. States; and by reason of such trea..
sonable and immoral counsel, advice and
command many thousands of the members
of said organization have been induced tc
commit said offenses, and are now living
and cohabiting with plurality of so-callet
{ wives and concubines, but escape punish
ment for said offenses by secret intrigue ant
the various corrupt influences which th
n possession of political maiorities enable tn,
: leaders of said organization to exercise, all o
which brings the laws and authority of tn
: United States into disgrace and contempt
r and renders the same OF no effect.
4 Therefore,, BE 10 enacted by the Senate dn
"a House of Representatives. Of the Unite
It States of America in Congress assembled:
J. SECTION l. That no person who shal
:, hereafter, directly or indirectly, counse
y encourage or advise others to marry, hav,
e consort or cohabit with any person othe
~ than his or her lawful wife or husband-a
r. shall contribute to the support of any organ
he ization or association of any descriptio
whatever, which authorizes, counsels, eI
U courages or permits any of its members
marry, have, consort or cohabit. with MOI
4, than one woman at one and the same tim
ie shall vote Mt any election held i'll any Terr
le tory of the United States or be eligible fC
In election, or appointment to, or be entitle
- to hold any office or place of public trus
n honor or emolument in, under, or for ar
a Territory of the United States of Americ
or under the United States in either of sa
of Territories; nor shall any such person
,r- entitled to locate, or make settlement upo
i, or acquire title to, any of the lands of pu
III lie domain OF the United States of Americ
or be eligible to serve as juror in or for M
IN court in either of said Territories
w SECTION 2. That no person in either of ii
,y Territories of the United States, shall
is registered as voter, or vote, at any electio
10 who upon being challenged, upon either
ch act shall refuse to take and subscribe, Il
:, following oath: /, -, do solemnly swe
ou that (if n man) do not cohabit with mo
ch than one woman, or Cif woman) that |
AZ, not cohabit with man having more th
70 one living and undiyorced wife, and that
re do not, directly, or indirectly, counsel, nj
M encourage, or advise others to marry, ha'
~ consort, or cohabit with, more than o
no woman, at one and the same time, and tn
he l am not n member, and do not contribr
,d to the support, of any organization, or ass
iu' citation, which authorizes, counsels, c
ing courages, or permits, any of its members
,d,, marry, have, consort, or cohabit, with me
'us than one woman, at one and the same tin
to under any form, name or pretence whats
in ever, so help me God.
- SECTION g. That if any person who sh
ls; take the oath set forth i'll Section of Il
do act, either to qualify as voter, juror,
hold Office, or to locate upon the pub
me lands, shall swear falsely, such person sh
the be guilty of perjury, and on convict
oss thereof shall be punished by fine not
"se ceeding one thousand dollars, and be i
Sui prlSoned Tor term not exceeding fourte
non years, nor less than six months.
' SECTION 4. That every person elected,
appointed to any Office or place of pub
trust, honor or emolument in, under, or
any Territory of the United States, or un,
the United States in either of the said Tel
tories, shall before entering upon the dut
ned of such oilice-in addition to the usual OF
,,o. of office-take and subscribe the oath
~ forth in Section of this act.
h a SECTION 3. That every person who sll
we hereafter locate or make settlement NJ
W. any of the lands of the public domain,
'ea- seek to acquire title thereto, shall take q
for subscribe the oath set forth in Section .
- this act, before the proper officer of
GUS General Land Department in the district
lay, which such lands may be situated.
40. SECTION 6. That all poll or registry d
''o existing or kept under the laws of any of
'uld Territories of the United States prior here
| nj are hereby declared void, and the pro
registration boards, commissioners, SUI
or's visors or officers of election in the sevt
and Territories are hereby empowered and
a. rected, before any general election shall
the held in their respective Territories or e
nd5 ton districts, to prepare new lists cont;
ava ing the names only of persons eligible
ave vote or hold Office under the provisions
this act