The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-05
Proclamation By the President Pardon
ing Those Convicted of Polygamy.
All Are Pm! on Their Good Behavior, However,
Must obey the Laws and Must Not 90 Into
the Harem business Again.
Senator Allis0n's Reasons for Resigning
His Monetary CommiSsiODership.
Views of congressman on the Relations of the
United States and the Panama Railroad
and Canal-Doings Of Congress.
MORMONS GRANTED AMNESTY.

All Who Have Been Convicted of Poiygamous
Marriages Pardoned by the President.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4-The President to-
day issued q proclamation granting AM
nesty to offending Mormons. Ii is based
upon the considerations briefly set forth in
the document itself. which is given below.
The question has been long and carefully
considered, and finally decided in favor Of
tho action recommended by the members of
the Utah Commission. the Governor of the
Territory and by a large number of proml-
Dent and influential citizens. many of them
non-MOrmons. not only OF Utah. but Of
other States and Territories. Ii has been
customary. when whole communities have
been involved in al offense against the law.
to grant amnesty upon the application Of
those under penalty, and upon the assur-
ance that they will In the future observe
the laws that have been infringed. In
this case amnesty Is conditioned up
on these PROMISES: That the Offense
has not been committed since November,
1880. and that the law against po~lygamous
marriage and cohabitation shall be here
inter ldltUIullV OUSeTt6u. lH6 MOImOu
Church., officially, has declard that such
marriages Will not hereafter be entered
into. while, individually. "a pledge of OBJ
servance of the law Is given by the recipl-
ents OF amnesty. II the law shall be dis
Obeyed, IN any given case, vigorous prose-
cution Will follow. The amnesty Is granted
upon these conditions. because 1t is repre-
sented and believed that the localities af-
fected Will be largely benefited in a ma
terial way. and that a great stimulus VIII
hA iva On eb. M nnrn oh
servance OF the laws of the United States.
Ii should also be said that a large mum ber
CT individual amnesties have already been
granted. and that many more applications
are pending in the Department of Justice.
The proclamation follows:
Whereas, Congress, by q statute approved
March %. 1852, and by statutes In furtherance
and amendment thereof. defined the crimes
OF bigamy. poiygamy and unlawful Capitalization
In the Territories and other places within the
exclusive jurisdiction OF the United States. and
prescribed a penalty for such crimes; and,
Whereas, on or about tho 9Th day OF October.
1890. the Church of the Latter-day saints. com
monty known as the Mormon Church., through
Its president, Issued a manifesto proclaiming the
purpose of said church no longer to sanction the
practice OF polyCamous marriages, and calling
upon all members and adherents of said church
10 obey the laws OF the United states In refer
cnce to said subject-matter; and,
whereas, 1t Is represented that since the date
o. said declaration the members and adherents
of said church have generally obeyed said laws;
and have abstained from plural marriages and
p~Olygamous cohabitat1on; and,
Whereas, By a petition dated Dec. 10, 1871,
the officials or said church. pledging the mem
bership thereof 10 faithful obedience OF laws
against plural marriages and unlawful cOhabi-
tation. have applied 10 me to grant amnesty for
past offenses against said laws, which request a
very large number OF influential non-MornOns
residing III the Territories have also strongly
urged; and,
Whereas. The Utah Commission, in their re-
port bearing date OF Sept. Is, 1892, recommend
that said petition be granted, and said amnesty
proclaimed, under proper conditions as 20 the
future observance of tho law, with a view to the
encouragement of those now disposed to be-
come iaw-abiding citizens; and,
Whereas. During the past two years such am
nesty has been granted to individual applicants
in q very large number of cases, conditioned
upon tue faithful observance OF the laws OF the
United States against unlawful cOhabitatiOn;
and there are now pending many more sucn ap'
plications;
Now, therefore, I. Benjamin Harrison, Presi-
dent OF the United States, 10y virtue of the pow
ers in me vest d. do hereby declare and grant
full amnesty and pardon to all persons liable to
the penalties OF sHch act, by reason OF unlawful
cOliabitatiOn under the color OF pOlyganous or
plural marriage, who have, since Nov. i, 1890,
abstained from such unlawful cohahitatfon. but
upon the express condition that they shall, In
the future, faithfully obey the laws OF the United
States hereinbefOre named, and not otherwise.
Those who shall fail 10 avail themselves of the
clemency hereby offered will he vigorously pros
ecuted. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
By the President:
JOHN w. FOSTER, Secretary of State.