The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-20

The House being in committee Of the
whole, and having under consideration
the bill Oh. r. 352) to enable the people
of Utah to form constitution and
state government and to be admitted
into the Union on an equal footing with
the original states
Mr.. RaWlins said:
Mr.. Chairman: Congress. under the
Constitution, may admit new states
ana shall guarantee to every state a
republican form of government 1t is
not required to undertake for the in
teIHgence, the morality, the sobriety,
the peace or good order. and much less
the religion, of the people of a state.
The trainers OF the constitution absolv-
ed the Congress from any such respon-
sibiiity. The territorial form of govern
Ynents is maintained largely at the ma
tional expense. In every case 1t is in
tended TO be but temporary. and exist
only until the territory attains such
population and such wealth that the
people are able to conduct their cwn
affairs and defray the expenses which
are entailed in the administration of
the state government.
The experience. since 1889, In the ad-
mission of new states indicates fairly
wen what population, what wealth a
territory should possess in order to fit
it for admission to the dignity Of state
hood The actual as distinguished from
the potential wealth and population
has usually bel disregarded. Any
thing like d religious test has been pre-
cluded as contrary to the Constitution
and the genius of our institutions. So
far Congress has not found it neces-
sary to devise a method by which to
measure the intelligence, morality, or
generally the quality of the population
knocking at the door for admission into
the Union Under some circumstances
1t may not be unreasonable to suppose
that the forty-four states, embracing
people who have good opinions of them
selves. would display some taste as
TO the qualities and characteristics of
the population whom they would be
willing 10 admit into the select circle
constituting the sisterhood Of the Re
public.
As for the people of Utah, L want
to say that they shrink from no test
not violative of the fundamental prin-
ClplcS uppH WHICH our INSTITUTIONS rest,
which even the most fastidious or ex-
acting can see fit to apply. / propose
to dem nstrate in every respect the fit
ness of the territory represent for adj
mission into the Union. In population
in wealth, in resources. in knowledge
Of our institutions. in standard educa-
ton, and in all the qualities that make
intelligent and progressive citizens the
people of Utah are fit for association
with The proudest and best OF the MEM
bers of the Federal Union. And after
having Investigated the Characters
tics and quality of the people of Utah,
and made comparisons of them with
the people living in other states ard
territories, aye, In the state Of Massa-
chusetts, 1 rise possessed Of knowledge
which fills my heart with a just pride
in the people whom 1 have the honor
here to represent
Cause OF Opposition.
There have been. believe, six appli-
cations made by the territory of Utah
for admission into the Union The
last of these applications was made in
1888. Ia every former instance those
applying we're members, generally, of
the Mormon church, and there came,
opposing The admission Of the terri