The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-01-13
GENERAL.


osanted {" heretofore P~oiygamous Nor
mons On the Cypress Condition that
They Hereafter Refrain from Violation
OF the Law In Respect TO P~ciygamous
Marriages or uniawfn, Capitalization
WAsmfNcToN. Jan. A.-President Har-
rison yesterday issued the following
proclamation:
wAsHISoro~. n. G.. Jan. 4. iSoa
WHEREAS Congress-. by a statute approved
March -. ltss. aud Dy statutes ia furtheraAce
md amendment thereof. defined the crimes az
htgamy. polk gamy and unlawful cohah tation
IN the territories and IA other places within
the exclusive jurisdiction Of the United States
and prescribed n penalty for such crimes: and,
WHEREAS. ON or about the 9TH day Of Octo-
Der. ls'l. the Church OF the Latter Day Saints.
commonly known A. the Mormon church.
through its president. issued a manifesto pro.
claiming the purpose ~ said church no longer
20 sanction the practice OF polygamous mar
uages. and calling upon all members and af-
herents ~ sal church b. obey the laws 81 the
United States in reference 10 said subj Ct mat.
ter. and.
WHEREAS. IL IL represented that since the
date OF said declaration the members and adj
herents OF said church have generally obeyed
said laws AMI have abstainej from polygamous
rehabilitation; and.
~ ~ lNAAtNiu A-Af4 bHN-llAtfN "
1891. the officials Of said church. pledging the
membership thereof 10 a faithful obedien-e ~
the laws against plural marriages and unlaw-
full cohabitation. have applied 10 me to grant
amnesty for past cfenses against said laws.
which request a very large number OF induen-
tial non NJ )rmons residing in the territories
have also strongly urged; and.
WHEREAS. The Utah commission. In their re-
port bearing date september Is, ls9,. recon-
mend that said petition be granted and said
amnesty proclaimed. under proper conditions
rs TO the future observance Of the law. nth .
view to the encouragement OF those now dis
Tos-d to become law abiding citizens: and,
WHEREAS. During the past two years such
amnesty has been granted to individual appli-
cants in a very large number OF cases. condi-
toned uron the faithful observance of the laws
OF the United States against unlawful cohabi-
cation. and there are now pending many more
such applications:
Now. therefore. |. Benjamin Harrison. presi.
dent or the United states. by virtue Of the
powers In me vested. do hereby declare and
grant a full amnesty and pardon 10 all persons
liable to the penalties OF said act by reason OF
unlawful rehabilitation under the color OF po-
Iygarnous or plural marriage. W no have since
November |. ls9. ahstained from such unlaw-
ful cohabitatior; but upon the express condi-
ton that they shall IN rhe future faithfully
obey the laws ~ the Urited States hereinbe-
fore named. and not otherwise Those who
shall fail 70 avail them elves Of the clemency
hereby offered viii be vigorously prosecuted.
In witness whereof have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal Of the United States
10 be affixed.
Done Mt the city OF Washington. this fourth
day OF January. in the year OF our Lord ono
thousand eight hundred and ninety. three. and
of the Independence of the United States the
hundred and seventeenth.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Done nv the president.
JOHN w Foster. Secretary % State.
The presidents proclamation issued
yesterday granting amnesty to Offend
Ing Mormons. is based upon tho con
.siderations briefly set forth in the
Itself. The question has
been long and carefully considered.
and finally decided in favor Of the -
lion recommended ~ che members OF
Utah commission. the governors
d. the territory. and by q large num-
Der OF prominent and influential citi-
scns, many of them non-Normons. not
,nly of Utah, but of other
states and territories. II has
,een customary when whole commune
les have been involved in an nfferse
b"'hoN Nht Jaw, ~ grant amnesty upon
ne application II those under penalty,
md upon the assurance that they will
n the future observe the laws hat
AVE been infringed. In this css. a-.-
'esty is conditioned upon these prem
That the ofense has not besn (,
since November, 1870. and A.;
hat the law against polygamous mar +,
iagc and cohabitation shall be here !
tier faithfully observed. The Nor J
.on church. officially. has declared :
hat such maria yes will not hereafter :
x entered into. while individually a .
ledge of Observance Of the law is given :
the recipients Of amnesty. III the !.
aw shall be disobeyed in any given !;
ase vigorous prosecution will follow. :
The amnesty Is granted upon these :
because ii Is represented :,
believed that the localities affect !
. will he largely benefited in a mate :
way. and that a great stimulus :
NIL BE- given TO the faithful and gem !.
raj observance OF the laws of the !
nitcd states. II shou'1 also be said :
hat a large number of Individual am :
estes have already been granted. and !
hat more applications ire pending. !
I