Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-02-15
APPLICATION FOR AMNESTY.

day, In reference 20 the "HOme HUE
bill, Judge Judd spoke Of a peti-
ton for general amnesty signed by
the leaders Of the "Mormon" Church
and endorsed by Governor Thomas,
Chief Justice zanc, Judges Miner,
Blackburn and Andefs1n, four mem
hers ofthc Utah Commission and q. T..
Goodwin, editor u the salt Lake
Tri5imc. Mention was made Of this
enlargement evidently Tor the purpose
ofshowlng tho folly ani incoualste ucy
off, statements said 10 be made by
some ofthese persons that polygamy Is
shll praciicoi In Utah. OF course BY
signlag their names 70 the document ac'
complnying the petition they virtually
admit the truth of the statements cot
forth In the latter. Here IL the fol
text Of the petition;
SALT LAKr, Dec. ~. 1891.
awe, the Fin.t Presidency and
Apostles o the Church Of Josus Christ
Of Latter.day Saints, leg respectfully
TO represent % yOur Excgllency the
following faols:
1--WE formerly tnught to our people
that p0lygnmy, Of celestial marriage,
~ commauded by G0d through Joseph
smith, was right; TINT 1t was ncccs.
sity To mans highest exaltatiOn In the
life to come.
'rhat doctrine was publicly promul-
gated by our President, the late Brig.
ham Young, forty years ngo, and was
steadily taught anu impressed up.
on tue Latter.dny Saints up 20
IA short time before September,
1890. Our people are deyont and sim
cere, aud they accepted the doctrine,
and many personally embraced ana
practicsd polygumy.
"When the Government sought 10
stamp the practice out, our people,
almost without exception, remained
firm, Tor they, while having no desire
TO oppose the Government IN any.
thing, still felt that their lives nnd
their honor as men were pledged 10 q
vindlcAtlon Of their faith; and that
their duty towards those whose lives
were part Of their own was a par
amount one, ~ iulnll which they had
no right 10 count anything, not even
their own lives, as standing In the
way. Following this conviction
hundreds endured arrest, trial, fine
and imprisonment, and the immensur.
able suffering borne BY the faithful
people, no language eau describe.
That suffering, Ia abaied form, still
rontlnuea.
"Nloro, the Government added die.
itnnchlsement to H. punishmenis
Tor those who chung b tncir faith aud
UTILIZED its covenants.
according 10 our filth the head oi
cur Church receives, from time 10
time, revelations for the religious guild
nnce of his people.
"ln September, 1890, the present
head u the Church, la anguish anC
prayer, cried 10 God for help for hli
flock. and received tho permission &
advise the members " the Church oil
Jesus Christ Of Lattof-1sy Saints, that
the law commanding polygamy was
heuoeiofih suspended.
cat tho great soml.annual con
ference which was held few day
later this was submitted 10 the people
numbering many Thousands, aud re
presenting every community Of Ia,
people IN Utah, and was by thou "
the most solemn manner accepted ~
the future rule OF their lives,
"rhey have sinoe boon faithful I,
the covenant made that day.
eat the late October conference, ailol
ayear had passed by, the matter WA
once more submitted 10 the thousand
OF people gathered together, and thcy
again In the most potential manner
ratified the solemn covenant.
"rhis being the true situation AZ,
believing that the object Of the govern
ment was simply tho vindication Of It
own authority aud 10 compel obedience
TO IT. lnwa, aud that IA takes no plcasur
In persecution, We respectfully pray
that fall amnesty may be extended &
all who are under disabilities because
Of tho operation Of tho so-called Ed
munds anu Edmunds.Tuckcr laws
Our people are scattered; hUmCH ~
made desolsle. many are slill impri.
oned; others are bnbished or In hiding
Our hearts bleed for these. In tho pa.
they followed our cOunsels, and Will
they are thus afflicted our souls arc IL
sackcloih and nshea.
ave believe there are nowhere In tn
Union n more loyal people than thi
Latter'day Saints. They know u,
other country except this. They ex
pect 10 live ami die on this soil.
"Nhon the men Of the South, VIII
were In rebellion against the govern
ment, In 1855, threw down their arm
and asked Tor recognition along the oil
lines Of citizenship, the Government
hastoued 90 grant their prayer.
"ro be at pace with the Glyernmer
and In harmony with their fellow cit
zens who are OF u their faith, and /
share In the confidence of the igOverI
ment ant people, our people have vol
UNFAIRLY put aside something which al
their lives they have believed to be-
sacred principle.
"Have they mol the Right 10 asi. f.
such clcmeucy 90 COMES when IN
claims u both law and Justice hay
been fully llquiia,ed2
Gas shepherds Vi n patient aud 81
fering people, We ask amnesty Tor then
and pledge our faith and honor {
their future.
And your petitioners VIII ever pray.
WLFOWn WOonWuFF,
GEuHGE q, CANNOS,
lusEpH f.. SMIru,
LORENIO SNOw,
FkANlN.tN ID, RICHARDS,
Mlsrs llIATCnEu,
FRANCIS NJ. LYMAN,
II. J., GRANT,
joins HENRY SMITH,
joins W. TAYLOR,
NJ. w. MERRtLL,
ANTHoN Il. LuND,
ABRAHAM II. CANNu.u
Tina .yas ncenmnnuisI bv the N