New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-05
AMNESTY FOR MORMONS.
PRESIDENT PROCLAINiS PARDON TO
THOSE LIABLE FOR POLYGAMY.

ox CONDITION THAT THE LAWS SHALL BE
oBEYED HEREAFTER.
.,,,rto, Ian. 4-Prcsident Harrison to-day
VA tho following proclamation
~u Washington. Jan. 4. 1903.
oos Congress- by statute approved March d.
WE hv statutes In furtherance and amendment
w. defined the crimes OF bgamy, poygamy and
pat ,, cohabtatiJn In the Territories and other
ra within the exclusive jurisdiction OF the United
Ps and prescribed penalty for such crimes ana
h~ os On or about the sixth day OF October,
" ,hs church OF the Latter Day saints, commonly
issV ,be Mormon Church. through Its president,
w. manifesto proclaimlng the purpose OF SAID
fu no longer to sanction the practice OF poly
N's marriages. and calling upon all members and
p.,sr,s of said church TO obey the laws OF the
S,.,es I'm reference to said subject matter; and
~. sss II is represented that since the date OF
" ac,aration the members ana adherents of said
~ have generally obeyed said laws and have ab
'h frm plural marriages and pOlygamous CO.
mbtston; anu n., ~ 700,
aMc.sls OF said church, pledging the membership
~, 10 a faithful obedience to the laws against
~, marriages and unlawful cOhabiiatlon. have APP
- "a me to grant amnesty for past offences against
a., ,aus which request very large number Of the
~ non Mormons. residing in the Territories,
,.,. also strongly urged; and
whereas, The Utah Commission in their report bear
-, date september Is, 1892. recommend that said
r,ou be granted and said amnesty proclaimed, under
,sr conditions as 10 the future observance Of the
,.r with view to the encouragement OF those now
d.,osed to become aw-ablding citizens; and
whereas. During the past two years amnesty has
,.n granted 10 individual applicants in very large
ru,ey OF cases. conditioned upon the faithful OBJ
..v,pce Of the laws of the United States against I'M
1i,er
more such appllcat ohs;
Now. therefore, |. Benjamin Harrison. President
a, N. United States. by virtue of tie powers in me
,..,sd do hereby declare and grant full amnesty
end pardon TO all persons liable 10 the penalties of
,sn act By reason Of unlawful cohabtauon under the
eor Of poly gamous plural marriage who have since
November /, 1890, abStaned from such unlawful CO.
hshta,ion but upon the express condition that they
hal in the future faithfully obey the laws Of the United
s.,.s hereinbeforc named. and not oher"i o. Those
who shall fail TO avail Themselves OF the clemency
Aeresy offered VIII be vigorously prosecuted
In witness whereof. l have hereunto set my hand
end caused the seal of the United States TO be
affixed.
Done st tie city Of WASHINGTON, this fourth day of
January In the year Of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and nlnety-three. and of the Independence
Of the United States the one hundred and seven
tenth. BENJAMIN HARRISON
BY the President, JOIN W. FbSlER, secretary OF
State.
The question settled in the proclamation has
been long and carefully considered. and finally
decided in favor OF the action recommended by
the members OF the Utah Commission, the Gov
.rnor of the Territory, and by "a large number Of
prominent and influential citizens, many of them
lon-Mormons, not only Of Utah, but OF other
EtateS and Territories. ii has beer customary
when whole communities have been involved in
On offence against the law u grant amnesty upon
the application Of those under penalty, and upon
the assurance that they will in the future Oh
serve the laws that have been intringcd. In ms
case amnesty is conditioned upon these premises
That the offence has not been cOnnaitted since
November, 1890, and thot the law against poiyg-
ANGUS marriage and cohabitation shall be here
after faithfully observed. The Mormon Church
officially has declared that such marriages VIII
not hereafter be entered into, while lnolVlduaii!
Q pledge of observance OF the law is given by inc
recipients of amnesty. If the law shall DE as
ubeyed in any given case vigorous prosecution
will follow. 80.
lhe amnesty is granted upon these conditions
because il is represented and believed that the
places affected will be largely benefited In
material way, and that great stimulus VIII De
lyen 10 the faithful and general observance OF
lie laws of the United States 1t should also
be said that O. large number of individual amncs-
tes have alreacy been granted, and that many
more applications pending in the Department
Of Justice.