New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
UTAH AT THE DOOR:
ASKING ADMISSION TO THE UNION.

STRENUOUS OPPOSITION TO THE RfoHr or STATE
HOOD FOR THE TAINTED TERRITORY
WAsHINGToN Feb 18.-The Senate committee
nm Territories gave hearing to day upon the adj
mission OF Utah as State. Franklin Kichards
of Salt Lake City described the barrenness OF
the country when the settlers first entered, ana
the wonderful productivcness, prosperity ana
wealth which have resulted from their diligence
and enterprise This WAS Utah's fifth petition
for admission and as the oldest OF the Territories
1t was hoped that her appeal would be needed
She had reached a point beyond which progress
under Territorial government was Impossible
II had been objected that the Mormons were
polygamists AS a matter Of fact not more thA3
per cent Of them ever were polygamlsts, ana
less than 1-2 per cent were polygsmnls.ts now
Time was rapidly solving the problem The mem
beers of the Constitutional Convention took oaths
against poly gamy aud adopted CONSTITUTION
which made polygamy or bigamy crime;
AS the speaker read the paragraph Of the con-
stitution providing that the anti-poly gamous sec.
tions shall never be repealed or changed w1thont
the assent Of Congress and the President. Senator
Butler quercd
You don't expect Congress to act favorably
upon such proposition az y Gmr not i Sotc one for
don't believe Congress or the President mas any
thing to do with changing q State ConstiIp9iuon.
Senator Stewart, asserting sald ne olo nTo
think Congress had a right to make treaty with
" Mr.. Richards said that whatever might be the
opinion Of the committee the PROVISION a. Sd ho
framed the constitution to do all in their power.
il permitted, to do away with poiygamy' ne
sketched the cases of the Mormons who nave oeeh
convicted. and showed by what he declared in
disputable facts that the parties were Innocent
of the charges brought against them
Members Of the committee asked i the stories ores
rs Mr. Richards related them embodied facts when
were conceded by the prosecution.
Mr. Richards could not say what would be CON
coded, but said he stated what he-havns Deen
the truth.
It was proposed by Senator llatt and others
that the names Of the prosecuting officers be
taken. with view TO inquire of them as to their
version OF the matter. and with this UNDERSTANDING
the witness proceeded Touching the marriage
reason Of a confusion of the term celestial with
plural, marriage lie explained the difference at
great length and read the Mormon revelations on
point celestial marriage might, or mlght NOT
he plural marriage Under both, however, CO
habtation with more than ono wife was permitted
The celestial marriage was made for time and
for eternity.
Ex-senator Mcdonald followed Mr.. Richards.
discussing the legal features Of the case and arg-
ing that the power of Congress TO compel sub
mission to any regulations with regard TO maria &c
relations was not impaired by the admission OF
Utah State.
Delegate Caine and Judge jeremiah Wilson adj
dressed the committee on the same side OF the
question
Delegate Dubois, of Idaho. addressed the com
mittpe briefly in opposition to the petitioners Tor
admission. He admitted the Formulation Of Utah
to he 90 900. and sufficient so far as numbers go
to entitlc the Territory to Statehood but declared
that this population was mainly imported direct
from Europe by the Mormon Church. Even with
an insufficient police force, he said the number
Of arrests for crime enormously dsnroDOr-
tonate to the population. and vast majority OF
the persons arrested were convicted. The new
constitution half trick half a lie. and those
who presented il did not come as free men TO free
mon. hut with BRINGING and cOwardice proposcd to
bind themselves for the future in way which was
required Of no other State. The Territory could
NOT come in under this constitution as an equal,
and the provision against the amendment Of her
Constitution was therefore either entirely nuGatorv
or entirely wrong. The GNntileS Of the Territory
did not believe two years cf Statehood would elarse
before the constitution would be changed to meet
| the views Of the Church.
Mr. Richards asked leave TO rcpv to Mr.. Dubois
| but Senator Paddock mot member Of the com
mittNe. but present on Interested partvl stated
| that the opponents of the petition would want a
further opportunity to present their ease and the
| committee therefore adjourned for the dav
| tn" Subcommittee Of the House Committee on
rreparotion OF the OmrihuS- bin to enable the
Territories Of Dakota Montana Washington and
| Arizona TO secure RECOGNITION as States. was husv
| engaged i'm framing that measure today. Chair.
man Springer IS honcfu that the measure can lie
| CONNECTED by Tuesday next so that the fnll com
mlttce can then take it up.