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

difference in the registered vote of the
population?
Mr.. RawIins-Not at all.
Mr.. Van Voorhis of New Xork-May
1 ask the gentleman question?
Mr. enthusiastically
Sentiment of tho People.
Mr.. Van Voorhis Of New York
Suppose the amendment of the gentle
man from Vermont is put into the bill,
could il be enforced without legisla-
ton on the part of the legislature? In
uther words. would the constitution
itself be penal statute: the. violation
IF which could be punished without
an act cf the legislature?
Mr.. enthusiastically not.
Mr.. Van Voorhis of New York
Therefore, any prohibition of that kind
would be dependent on the state leglS-
lature and its action afterwards.
Mr. RaWlinS-After ali, no matter
what you require to be inserted IN the
constitution respecting polyganiy, you
have got TO depend on the sentiment or
the people of the territory OF Utah TO
prevent the revival Of the practice
Mr.. Bowers of California-Just the
same as any other state.
MIR. Boen--I would Ike 10 ask the
gentleman a question.
Mr.. Rawlins--T yield for that FUR
pose.
Mr.. Boen-I have heard il stated
that the opposition to polygamy IS
more prevalent amongst the women
than the men in Utah. Is that trueE
Mr. RawIins-I have nothing on that
question that would be of service to
the House.
Upon the suggestion OF the gentle
man from Vermont (dr. Powers
would Ike to add this other answer.
that his amendment would be irreY-
ocable under the provisions of this
enabling act without the consent of
the United States and the people of
said state
Mr.. Washington-Wil the gentleman
allow me TO ask him a question
Mr.. RaNlins-Yes
Mr.. Washington-Bu is not the state
ment YOU made still true that no mat
fer what clause is put in the enabling
act. IN regard 20 the practice of polyg-
amy. its enforcement must depend en-
tirely upon the people in the end upon
the legislation enacted by the legiSla-
ture after the territory shall become
state and the judges elected by the
people of that state after II is stateg
Is it not true that the enforcement of
the law must depend entirely upon the
Judges and upon the sentiment of the
people backing up the administration
Of the law?
Mr.. Raviins-Oh, yes; il must depend
upon the sentiment of the people
Mr.. Northumberland therefore this
Is unnecessary
Mr.. RawlIns-AIy contention is that
II is unnecessary l am not going to
admit the unfitness Of the people /
represent to be admitted TO the union
by saving that il is necessary. If | be-
lieVed that il were necessary. | am free
to confess / would not stand here ad-
vOcating the admission of the territory
into the union. It is not necessary
The sentiment out there contravenes it.
People of Utah.
Now. the people of Utah have more
at stake upon this question than gen
tlenen who represent other consutu-
encies. I have travelled among those
people met them in every locality,
discussed questions with them, civil
and political I know them as well as
any man can know a people, because
l have been with them all my life. 1
think I understand the sentiment which
prevails among those who are upper
most in the councils Of the political
parties in the territory, and who would
likely dominate its affairs in case it be
admitted as a state. and ] am prepared
TO say upon my conscience that I be-
lieve those people can be safely IN
trusted with the full measure of self
government which would be accorded
under statehood.
formed as to the character, the educa- |
ton, and the Intelligence of the people |
of Utah have in mind more than q |
hundred young men, born and edu- |
Gated. in that territory who would |
grace the administration Of any state
in this union on account Of their abil- |
ity. their learning, and their integrity. !
this act. BY the admission of the ter
ritory Of Utah I believe her people
240, Gee in number today, and probably
in three or four years with statehood |
soc, 000--will send 10 these halls men
who will not only do credit to the
Of service in the affairs of this great |
nation
For forty-threes years l have lived |
under territorial form Of government |
] have icnged fer the conditions to come |
when those people could be admitted |
within the union OF the states and be |
permitted to participate in the affairs |
OF the nation.
Generations have passed away under |
the territorial form of government. !
Men who do not live under that form |
Of government little know the disad- |
Vantages under which the people labor /
Men are sent TO them to rule over |
them who oWe them no responsibility. |
and who little understand their charac- |
Ter Or their situation, and however |
bao may be the conduct of these rul- |
ers. II is indeed difficult TO make !
men 1900 miles away understand or I
appreciate the situation. How little Of |
government Is possessed today BY |
the people of Utah is disclosed in a !
memorial, the statements of which, as |
they are drafted by myself, I know to |
be accurate
Territorial Government
can attention to some of the state /
ments contained in this memorial:
The governor, the secretary. the
members of the judiciary, except JUS
tiees OF IL peace, the marshal, the
public prosecutor and his assistants,
point registration and election officers
and control the elections. are selected |
BY a distant appointing power and are
utterly unaccountable TO the people for
the manner in which they perform the /
duties Of their offices.
the governor dominates the auditor
OF public accounts, the treasurer the I
lions such as the university, aerieuI
tuTal college, reform school and insane /
asylum. Thus the people have no |
voice in the selection of persons to
manage the public fund ana the insti- /
buttons created and maintained at their
expense.
's1lhe territorial school commissioner
is selected. by the supreme court. and |
owes no responsibility 60 the people.
Clerks selected by the district irdges /
and the probate judges appointed by
the president, by and with the advice /
OF the Senate select the regular nan I
els for jurorss The regular panel is