The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-29

aker, Shafer. Seavy, Taylor, Thomp-
son of Sanpete, Thompson of Willard.
| Total, IS.
Absent, 10.
THE DEBATE.
In the debate which occurred on the
bill Mr.. CritchloW said. IF we adopt
the majority report and passed the bill
as amended we viii say to the world
that the people of Utah were sincere
when they declared their intention to
| give UP the practice of polygamy; We
will say to the world that the mani
festo issued October /, 1890, by the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints has been faithfully observed;
out if we adopt the minority report
and pass this bill as it came to US
from the senate, it will virtually be an
| admission to the world that that man
ifesto has not been observed and that
polygamy has been practiced since
1890 in violation Of both the law and
the decree of the church, and the peo-
pie of the east. who have always been
tabooing polygamy, will say, as they
have already said, that the manifesto
was only ruse to secure statehood. L
say we should in our action on this
measure allow no ground for SUCH con-
illusions, but should convince the world
that we were sincere as we ourselves
know we were and are.
1T is true, as the governor says.
that some hearts cannot change in
a day, but they were given year
to change and if they still continued
to practice polygamy after that time
they knew they violated the law of the
land, and that they committed crime
against the church. l do not wish to
visit the sins of the father upon the
children to the third and fourth gener-
atoms but l submit that if we are go
ing to legitimate the children born in
polygany after October /, 1891, we
should extend the same boon to the IL
legitimate children of other parentage
than the church. You will say these
children are not responsible for their
parents sins, l say neither are the
offspring that result from any other
illegal rehabilitation. Those children
are just as innocent as these and |
am in favor Of legitimiZing them all
or of combining ourselves to those born
prior to October 1, 1891.
Mr.. Snedaker echoed the sentiments
of Mr.. Critchlow. Il am a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints" said he, and have been
honest in obeying the decree of the
manifesto. l believe the great ma
jorjty of the members of the church
have been equally as honest and hope
no such reflection as this will be cast
upon the faithful among the church
membership.
Nh. Howard had hoped the discus
sion would not prolong itself. He had
submitted the minority report that the
house might act as it deemed proper.
Personally he favored the minority re-
port and hoped it would be adopted
Mr.. Beard thought Mr.. Critchlow's
position accurately taken but thought
the legislature could afford to show
mercy to the erring ones. The presi-
dent Of the United States had shown
great mercy i'm pardoning polygamous
offenders and he thought the legisla-
ture, if it erred at all could afford to
err in favor of the same kind of mercy
He did not believe the act would oper-
ate as a reflection against the sincerity
of the people.
Mr.. Nye said: Since the manifesto
was issued, / have believed and have
gone on the stump and so stated, that
the people We're sincere in their de-
claration of intention to live up to the
manifesto and 1 believe in the main
the people have been and are just so
sincere. There may be isolated cases
wherein the promise to the United
believe there are many such cases.
Are we then, to controdict ourselves
and pass law that will say we have
not been sincere? Because the COVER
nor has recommended it and the SEN
ate has passed it, is no reason why
we should stultify ourselves That is
why we have two branches of the leg
islature, that we may act Independently
of one another. l hope the majority
report will prevail"
DR.. Condor, speaking in the same
strain, said it would be an injustice
to the members of the church who
have lived up to the manifesto to pass
the bill as it came from the senate.
end that it would likewise be an inius-
tice to the non-members who have be-
lieved in the sincerity of the church
people.
Mr.. Nebeker of Salt Lake, as a mem
Der of the church, said: Il believe the
adoption Of the minority report would
be an injustice to the members of the
church to which 1 belong. If l voted
for this bill as it passed the senate
should feel [ was a party to SANDER
ing the members of the church who
have been as sincere in their observ-
ance of the manifesto of 1890 as 1 have
BEEN
Mr.. Cazier favored the minority re-
port. The manifesto" said he, "ap-
piled to the peCpe of the United States
only. Some of the people of the church !
have gone away and practiced their |
fa1hh elsewhere and have had children |
born to them and have now returned !
to Utah to live. 1 believe the bill
should pass for 'thsir benefit"
Mr.. Vaughan was in favor of adopt |
ing the minority report He thought |
the members had no need to be asham-
ed of their work if they passed the |
bill, ard was not afraid that it would !
serve notice that the manifesto had not |
been observed.
Mr. Howard, speaking again, said
that in passing the bill the house
would but be following the example of /
congress, which had legitimatized the
ssue of polygamous marriages up to |
october l, 1891. He thought the legis-
ature of Utah could afford to be as
nerciful to its own people as was con-
yress to them.
Mr.. Harris referred to Mr.. Nye's re-
marks. The gentleman had expressed
he belief said he, that there are
My isolated cases affected by this bill
nd that the people as a whole have
zen sincere. That is the admission we
would make by passing the senate bill
t would not indicate any insincerity
n the part of the people as a whole,
ut simply that we were disposed to be
lerciful"
Mr. Critchlow interposed the query.
Don't you think a man doubly guilty
Tho has violated the law of the land
nd disregarded the command of the
hurch he has sworn to SUSTAIN"
Replying, Mr.. Harris said: II don't