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


from Washington full, true and correct
copy of the Utah bill recentlytintroduced
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 wiping out
of existing evils here, should be thor
oughly weighed and understood, and in
view Of possible concerted action of the
Gentle masses in the matter Of forward
ing to Washington suggestions as to the
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 fine
and imprisonment, and by disqualifying
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 crime, punishable with equal sever
ity; and
WHEREAS There exists in Utah, and other
Territories of the United States 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
ganlzatlon, and as a sacramental, or felig-
ious rite, the right and duty of its members
to commit and practice said 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 offenses 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 |
many thousands of the members |
of said organization have been induced to |
commit said ofenses, and are now living |
and cohabiting with plurality of so-calIed |
wives and concubines, but escape punish |
ment for said offenses by secret intrigue and |
the various corrupt influences which the |
possession of political majorities enable the |
leaders of said organization to exercise, all of |
which brings the laws and authority of the
United States into disgrace and contempt,
and renders the same of no effect.
Therefore, Be it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives of the United
States OF america in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. That no person who shall
hereafter, directly or Indirectly, counsel,
encourage or advise others to marry, have,
,onsort or cohabit with any person other
5han his or her lawful wife or husband-as
'he case may be-or who is a member or
shall contribute to the support of any organ
cation or association of any description
whatever, which authorizes. counsels en-
'ourages or permits any of its members to
marry, have, consort or cohabit with more
nan one woman at one and the same time
hall vote at any election held in any Terri
ory of the United States, or be eligible for
lection, or appointment to, or be entitled
o hold any office or place of public trust,
lonor or emolument IN, under, or for any
Territory of the United States of America;
Y under the United States in either of said
territories; nor shall any such person be
ntltled to locate, or make settlement upon,
r acquire title to, any of the lands of pub
lc domain of the United States of America,
r be eligible to serve as juror in or for anv
ourt In either of said Territories.
SECTION 2. That no person in either of the
territories of the United States, shall be
egistered as a voter, or vote. at any election,
'ho upon being challenged, upon either of
ne grounds set forth in Section l of this
ct shall refuse to take and subscribe, the
blowing oath: l, -, do solemnly swear
lat (if mani do not cohabit with more
ian one woman, or (if a woman) that do
ot cohabit with a man having more than
ne living and undivorced wife, and that 1
not, directly, or indirectly, counsel, aid,
lcourage, or advise others to marrys have,
'nsort, or cohabit with, more than, one
oman, atone and the same time, and that
am not member, and do not contribute
the support, of any organization, or asso-
alton, which authorizes, counsels, en- y
'urages, or permits, any of its members to
AIRY, have. consort, or cohabit, with more
AN one woman, at one and the same time.
lder any form, name or pretence whatso-
er, so help me God
SECTION 3. That if any person who shall
ke the oath set forth in Section of this
t, either to qualify as a voter, Juror, to
I'D office, or to locate upon the public
nds, shall swear falsely, such person shall
guilty of perjury, and on conviction N
ereof, shall be punished by fine not ex- III
edlng one thousand dollars, and be i'm
lSoned for term not exceeding fourteen
ars, nor less than six months.
SECTION 4. That every person elected. OF
pointed to any Office or place of public
lst, honor or emolument in, under or f.,
y Territory of the United States. o.. 80
United States in either of the Cold Ta.; T..ui
1es, less shall before stgfng upon the duties
'. y! - o1;o o15aoeNin oeN addition to the usual oath
office-take and subscribe the oath set
rth in Section 2 of this act
SECTION 5. That every person who shall &
reafter locate or make settlement upon
y of the lands of the public domain or
TX to acquire title thereto, shall take and
oscribe the oath set forth in Section of
IS act, before the proper officer of the Es
neral Land Department in the district in u
ich such lands may be situated
SECTION 6. That all poll or registry lists m
lstlng or kept under the laws of any of the w
rrltories of the United States prior hereto.
!. hereby declared void, and the proper
slstratlon boards, commissioners, super
ors or ofhcers of election in the several
rrltorles are hereby empowered and di-
,ted, before any general election shall be
ID IN their respective Territories or cleo ! hi