The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-01-05
MOhINUNS PAnDONED.
Granted Conditional Amnesty by
the President.
PROVISIONS OF THE MANIFESTO.

Who Have Not Since Nov. 1, 1890, In
fringed tho Laws Against Mormonism.
The Proclamation.
WAsHINGToN Jan. 5-President Harri-
son has Just issued the following procla-
nation:
Whereas, Congress, by statute ap-
proved March ~, 1882, and by statutes in
furtherance and amendment thereof, de-
fined the crimes of bgamy, polygamy aud
unlawful cohabitation in the territories
and other places within the exclusive jur.
tsdiction Of the United Sites and PIE.
--strfled penalty for such crimes and
Whereas, On or about the 9Th day OF
October, 1890, the church Of the Latter
Day Saints, commonly known a. the Nor.
mon church, through its president. issued
q manifesto proclaiming the purpose OF
said church to no longer sanction the prac'
tice OF polygamous marriages, and calling
upon all members and adherents OF SAID
church to obey the laws Of the United
States In reference to said subject matter.
and
Whereas it IS represented that since the
date of said declaration the members and
adherents of said church have generally
obeyed said laws and have abstained from
plural marriages and polygamous oohabi.
tation; and.
Whereas, Bya petition dated Dec 10, 1891,
the officials of said church, pled5ing the
membership thereafter to n faithful obe.
6ience to the laws against plural marriage
and unlawful cohabitation, have applied
to me to grant amnesty for past offenses
against said laws, which request very
large number of influential non Mormons,
residing in the territories, have also
strongly urged; and,
Whereas, The Utah commission, In their
report bearing date Sept. Is, 1892, recon-
mend that said petition be granted, and
said amnesty proclaimed under proper
conditions as to the future observance of
the law, with view to the encouragement
of those now disposed to become Law abid-
ing citizens; and,
Amnesty Granted in Individual Cases.
Whereas during the past two years such
amnesty has been granted to individual
applicants in u very large number OF cases,
conditioned upon the faithful observance
OF the laws of the United States against
unlawful cohabiJation, and there are now
pending many more such applications.
Now, therefore, /, Benjamin Harrison,
president of the United States, by virtue
ofthe powers in me vested do hereby declare
and grant a full amnesty and purdeu to all
persons liable to said act, by reason Of un.
lawful cohabitation under the color OF
since Nov. |, 1890, abstainsd from such un
unlawful cohabitation, but upon the
express condition that they shall, in the
future, faithfully obey the laws of the
United States hereinLefore named and not
otherwise Those who shall fail to avail
themselves of the clemency hereby Offered
will be vigorously prosecuted
In witness whereof have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal Of the United
Gates TO be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this 4tl
day OF January, in the year of our Lort
One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety
three, and of the independence Of tn,
United States the One Hundred and Seven
tenth BENJAMIN HARRISON.
BY the president,
joHN W, FOSTER, Secretary of State.
The Action strongly Recommended.
The presidents proclamation granting
amnesty to offending Mormons is baset
upon the considerations briefly set forth il
the document itself. The question ha
been long and carefully considered, ant
finally dceid ed in favor OF the action recon-
/ nlended by the members of the Utah com
mission, the governor of the territory, ant
by n large number of prominent and infu
ental citizens, many OF them non Mon
mons, not only of Utah, but Of other state
= aud territories.
1t has heen customary when whole com
muniliea have been involved in an atfens
against the law 10 grant amnesty upon tn
application of those under penalty, an
upon the assurance that they will In til
future observe the laws that have been il
frnged. In this case amnesty Y is eondttione
epon these premises; that tie otlense ha
.Aoi been committed since November, ls9t
Hi that the Law against polvpamons maj
rage and noha kitation shall be hereafte
faithfully observed
The Mormon church, officially has d,
claled that such marriages will not herr
after ha entered Into, while, individuall,
pledge of observance of the law is give
by tho recipients of amnesty. If the la
shall be disobeyed in any given ease vigo
Gus prosecution will follow.
The amnesty is granted upon these col
fffions because it is represented and b
ieped that tine localities affected will |
largely benefited in a material way an
that a great stimulus will be given to Il
faithful and general observance of Il
laws of the United States 1t should al.
be said that large number of individu
amnesties have already been granted, an
that many more applications are pendin
In the department OF Justice.