Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-07

from God" 1t is unreasonable to believe
that inside of two years the church has re-
canted the doctrine.
1t appears to have escaped the attention
of Mr.. Curtis that the constitutional con-
cession upon which he dwells with such
satisfaction, fixes the maximum fine in
punishment, but not the minimum, which
may thus be made but single dime. The
imprisonment is to be not less than six
months, nor more than three years. But
if polygamous Mormon should be pun
ished under the clause it would be for
marrying wife having another living. If,
after expiating his crime by suffering six
months imprisonment, the offender,
washed white and clean by punishment,
takes up residence again with his several
wives, can he again be held? for it is
marrying" the wives, in which the
essence of the crime resides. Would a
devoted Mormon consider six months re-
TRACY great sacrifice for religious prin-
ciple?
The report of the Utah Commission OPP
posing the proposed Constitution uses this
significant language: "Under the Federal
law unlawful cohabitation is punished by
a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars,
and by imprisonment for term not ex-
| ceeding six months; under the proposed
State this ofiense, which pe'petuate8 the
evils of polygamy against society and pos
terity, is to go unpunishod."
And again: "If Utah is admitted there
will be immediate cessation of all further
prosecutions for polygamy and unlawful
cohabitation under the laws of Congress
No prosecution for polygamy would ever
take place in the State, until the rul-
ing power in the State chose to
do what it now arraigns the Gov
ernment persecute' for a
a crime which is an essential part of their
religion No prosecution
would ever take place for continuing that
crime (polygamy) by living in unlawful
cohabitation, and multiplying its fruits to
the degradation of posterity." Again, as
the Commission argues, if the people OF
Utah cannot be trusted with Statehood
without compact stripping them of the
power TO amend their Constitution, how
can they be trusted to enforce the Consti-
tuition when once invested with State SOW
reignty?
Along with many other reasons for OPP
posing the admission of Utah, we pass the
important points that under the proposed
Constitution conviction for polygamy in
wolves no forfeiture of civil rights; affixes
no stigma, such as in all other States and
civilized countries attends upon a convic-
ton for felony as, also, that other obiec-
ton, that the clause against polygamy is a
blind, because no penalty is provided for
failure to enforce it. With a people who
still declare that it is vital, God-or-
dained and heaven-revealed essential" OF
their religion, polygamy would go unpun-
ished and the constitutional inhibition be-
come dead letter.
Until the Church of Jesus Christ OF
Latter Day Saints repeats the vital prin-
ciple" section of their creed until it OBJ
tains new revelation" from heaven,
abolishing plural marriage; until its
devotees manifest by acts, rather than
hollow constitutional declarations, aband.
onment of the infamy, in truth and
in sincerity, they cannot and should moi
be trusted with State sovereignty If Utah
is admitted now, and there will be made &
strong effort to accomplish it, polygamy
will become in one State of the Union ar
established and central social factor, and
there will exist no power in the Federal
Government to enforce the laws the Nor
mons will suffer TO become dead letters
We shall, as Mr.. Dawes has so well pu,
it, be transferring to body Of law-break-
ers the trust of Furnishing the aselves. A
burglar might as well ask to be tried by q
struck jury of burglars as band of polyga-
mists to be permitted, by the means now
| proposed, to elect themselves the tribunals
in which, and control the instrumental.
ties by which, the crime of polygamy is to
be punished, if punished at all.