The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-19
UTAH'S STATEHOOD.
The Senate Committee on
Territories
LISIEN TO THE ARGUMENTS
of Delegate Game, Ex-senator Nc
Donald, Judge Jeremiah wilson
and f. S. Richards Esq.
Utah,s Appeal for Statehood j..

UtahS Appeal IOE StbCShOOu'
WASHINGTON, February 1S.-The SEN
ate committee on Territories gave a
hearing to-day, upon the admission of
Utah as q State, to Franklin S. Rich
ards. of Salt Lake City. He described
the barrenness when the settlers first
enter. d, and the wonderful productive
ness, prosperity and wealth which have
resulted from their diligence and enter
prise. This was Utah's fifth petition
for admission, and as the oldest of the
Territories, it was hoped her appeal
would be needed. She had reached q
point beyond which progress under
Territorial government was Impossible.
1t had been objected that the Mormons
were polygamistS. As matter of fact,
not more than 2 per cent. of them
ever were polygamists. Now, time
was rapidly solving the problem. Mem
bers of the constitutional convention
took oaths against polygamy, and
adopted q con Institution which made
polyamy or bigamy a crime. AS the
speaker read the passages OF the con-
stitution providing that the anti
polysamous sections shall never be re-
pealeG or changed without the assent
of Congress and the President, Senator
Butler qu:eried:. You don't expecJ
Congress 10 act taVorably on such pro-
position, do you? l, for one. say
frankly and emphatically, l will not
vote for it. | do not believe Congress
or the President has anything to co
with changing the Constitution"
Senator Stewart, assenting SAID he
did not think Congress had the right
to make treaty with Stale or Ter
ritory.
Richards said that whatever might
be the opinion of the committee, the
provision at least demonstrated the
good faith of the men who framed
the constitution to do all in their
power, if permitted, to bring Utah
into harmony with the country.
The people of Utah recognized that
the country required, and they wished
TO me It tue requirements. Ther, how
ever, proposed to accomplish it by
more humane methods than those pro-
posed by the present laws. He sketched
cases of Mormons who had been tried
and convicted by the courts and showed
by what be declared to be indisputable
facts that parties were illegally con-
victed of the charges brought against
them. The prosecution and courts,
unable to bring proofs of unlawful CO.
habitation, in TACT, had invented con-
structive cohabitation, and convicted
and punished offenders for this.
Members of the committee asked if
the stories, as Richards related them,
embodied the facts which were con-
coded by the prosecution.
Richards could not say what he con-
sidered, but said he stated what he,
having been present as counsel tor the
defense. knew to be the truth.
1t was proposed by Senator Platt and
others that the names of the prosecut-
ing Ulcers be taken, with the view to
inquire of them as % their version of
the matter. and with this understand
ing the witness proceeded. AS to the
marriage relation he said much mis-
apprehension existed, by reason of the |
confusion of the term celestial" with |
plural marriages. He explained the |
difference at great length, and read |
Mormon revelations on the roint. & |
celestial marriage might, CT might |
not, be a plural marriage. Under |
both, however, cohRbiration with more
than one wife was permitted.
Gel, stial maIriate WAS made for time |
and for eternity. 1t was not true that |
plural celestial marriage was enjoined |
upon the mormons, the fact being that
IL was only merely permitted. There
was no union OF church and State. The
tithing features OF the Mormon revela-
tions were originally for t5e govern
ment of the community in Missouri
They were, however, held by many |
Mormons TO be binding now, but there
was now no legal requirement that
tithes be paid. Contributions were ell
tirely voluntary.
Answering the charge that Utah was
governed by hierarchy, ne said that
there was no such thing IN the sense
named. He read from the Doctrine
and Covenants Of the Church, ii declar-
alton avowing the complete distinction
between the civil and religious author
ity. and went on 10 show that the
church government went no further
than the withdrawal of fellowship for
-transgression. TIE kingdom of God
was only TO rule ou earth when Christ
should reign supreme.
Ex-senator Mcdonald followed Rich
ards, discussing the legal features of
the case, and arguing that the power of {
Congress 60 compel submission to any E,
regulations. with regard 10 mar ]
rage relations, was not impaired j
by admission as State. He
cited the case of Louisiana, where |
it was required that civil liberty should
be secured as a condition of her ad-
mission. He argued that Congress had {
the right to protect our civilization |
The provision against polygamy and
bigamy had been incorporated IN the {
constitution and the history of the !
past showed that provisions so fixed
were effective. He claimed that Con- {
gress had no right TO keep the Terri I
its people had fulfilled the conditions {
and complied with the requirements :
prescribed for its admission. I
Senator Butler. conceding the pro- '
priety ofincorporating any prohibitlon :
of polygamy and bigamy in the State t
yet claimed that under the
present national constitution, govern ]
ment had no right thereafter TO con-
troll the matter. He admitted that if &
Territory were to come in with the {
present provision in its constitution, t
a., 4