The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-24

males ana females VOUeu, IOuuQ UuaG Guert
were IL, 900 persons of both sexes who were
or had been, in polygamous relations. OF
those who had been, but were not then ii
polygamy, there were 5000, leaving 9,0OC
men and women then QSS2) in polygamy
How many of these were men and how
many women can only be estimated. The
estimate has been made that there were OF
an average three women to one man, anC
this is probably low estimate, and woulC
show that there were not more than 2,25(
men in polygamy in 1882, and probably les:
than that number.
1t is asserted by Mormons who should
know that they have no knowledge thai
there have been any polygamous marriages
for several years. There is no evidence
that there have been any in the past three
wears. but it should be also stated that the
-Mormons allege that the absence Of
evidence to the contrary is because suct
marriages are secret. But the fact, never
theless. is that there is no evidence that
such marriages have been solemnized since
that time. The probabilities are, in the
light of the stringent legislation by Con
gress and the active prosecutions. that
there have not been.
If that be true, then the number in polyg
amy, through death and otherwise, must
have been greatly reduced since 1882, and
must be comparatively small now.
The only additional evidence on the sub
ject is found in Elk. Doc. No AL, first ses
sion F'iftieth Congress, a report by the at
torney-general of the convictions for polyg
amy and unlawful cohabitation under the
auti-polygamy acts of 1882 and the amend
ment of 1887.
An examination of these acts will show
that Congress went as far as was reason
ably possible in granting power to prOsecu
ting officers and the courts to ferret out
and convict persons who were in polygam
Gus relations.
The result, as stated in that report, has
been that there were convictions as fol
lows:
For polygamy since November, 1884, Il
persons were convicted.
For unlawful cohabitation between April
1895, and September, 1883, 453 persons were
convicted.
This indicates very strongly that the fact
is, as claimed, that polygamy is rapidly
disappearing, and that, compared with the
whole population, but small portion, not
as much as l per cent, are men who ever
were in polygamy; and not to exceed per
cent. of the present adult male Mormon
population are in polygamous relations.
If it is thus rapidly disappearing, and
becomes absolutely extinct as fact, as the
indications certainly are that it soon will
be, Congress will be brought face to face
with the question, whether territory will
be excluded for opinions entertained by &
majority of the people.
The facts above stated are given to the
end that the House may determine whether
the violations of the law in this regard are
sufficiently numerous:to justify rejection OF
this application to be admitted.
OTHER CONVENTIONS.
In connection with the existence of poly
gamy as fact, there are other contentious
which will be here stated.
The parties advocating admission insist
that less than per cent of the population
are men in polygamy; that the doctrines OF
their church do not command polygamy,
but only permit it; that while by the creed
of the church it is permissible, it is only
permissible when there is no law Of the
state to the contrary, and they propose to
make law by a constitutional provision
whereby it is forever prohibited; and they
have placed such provision in the consti-
tuition which will be hereafter noticed.
On the other hand, it is claimed that it is
not permissive merely, but obligatory; and
that this offer to prohibit it forever is only
a device to secure admission and that after
being admitted the state will amend that
constitution, and then Congress will be
without power to restrain or control.
1ACSC dlC LuC lCo pOSIlfC SOAISSIleAOAof tAL4d
we now proceed to state what has been Of
ferred in support of them, respectively:
The Mormons present their church
creed as it is taught in their churches and
Sunday schools, for the purpose of showing
that obedience to the laws enacted by
the state is enioined by the church.
THE articles of faith are here given in
full
They also present the following "On
L.
in their Book of Doctrine and Covenants:
THE article named is here presented.
(2) To show that pOlygamy is not obi
gatory, but only permissive when not pro
hibited by the laws of the state, they pre-
sent paragraphs 81 and e. of the revelation
in relation to celestial marriage, which are
as follows:
81. And again, as pertaining TO the law
of the priesthood: If a man espouse vir-
gin and desire to espouse another, and the
first give her consent, and ifuhe espouse the
second and they are virgins and have
vowed to no other man. then he is justified
he cannot commit adultery, for they are
given unto him; for he cannot commit
adultery with that that belongeth unto hin
and to no one else.
g. And if he have ten virgins given unto
him by this law he can not commit adultery
for they belong to him, and they are given
unto him, therefore he is justified.
81 Further, to show that polygamy is
not commanded, and that they may, there
fore, without any conflict with their duties
as members of that church, in good faith
and in entire harmC y with their belief
prohibit it as proposed, they present and
urge the fact, heretofore mentioned, that a
very large majority of the adult males
never did enter into polygamy, and they
urge this fact as conclusive that the
doctrines of the church do not require it.
a. They further present the fact that a
law has been enacted by the Utah legisla-
ture prohibiting such marriages, and infict
ing penalties on any person who shall
solemnize them.
The other side, to support their conten-
ton, to wit that the church does command
p)lygamy, produce extracts from the same
revelation above quoted from. But the
portions thus cited relate to celestial
marriage" which is the marriage Of a man
and a woman for time and eternity, and
does not necessarily include polygamy.
All of this revelation will be found in the
printed report of the hearing.
Your committee do not feel called upon to
give an opinion as to the true interpretation
of this document, as each member of the
House will form his own Judgment upon his
own analysis of it; it being the purpose of
the committee in this report not to express
opinions as to the meaning of church
creeds, but to deal only with such matters,
outside of mere belief or opinion, as affect
the subject under consideration.
The Mormons say they do not believe
polygamy is obligatory
The non Mormons say they do so believe.
The Mormons say they do not believe the
church is superior to the state. The non
Mormons assert that they dosso believe.
The Mormons say that their church ten
cts require them to obey the laws enacted
by the state, notwithstanding any teaching