The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-07

anything, not even their own lives as
standing in the way.
/ Following this conviction, hundreds
endured arrest, trial, fine and impris-
onment, and the unreasonable suffer
/ ings borne by the faithful people no
I language can describe. That suffering
in abated form still continues.
More the government. added disfran-
/ chisement to its other punishment for
those who chung TO their faith and full
4 filed its covenants.
According to our creed, the head of
the church receives from time to time
! revelations for the religious guidance
( Of his people. In September 1850, the
! present head of the church in anguish
and prayer cried to God for help for his
flock. and received permission to advise
the members of the Church of Jesus
/ Christ of Latter-day Saints that the
/ law commanding polyganny was hence
forth suspended.
/ At the great semi-annual conference
which was held q few days later, this
was submitted to the people-number-
4 ing many thousands and representing
every community of people in Utah
and was by them in the most solemn
manner accepted as the future rule of
their lives. They have since been
faithful to the covenant made that
day.
At the late October. conference, after
year had passed by, the matter was
once more submitted to the thousands
of people gathered together. and they
again in the most potential manner
ratified the solemn covenant.
This being the true situation, and
believing that the object of the govern
ment was simply the Vindication of its
own authority ana to compel obedi-
ence TO its laws, and that it takes no
pleasure in persecution. we respectfully
pray that full amnesty may be extend-
ed TO all who are under disabilities be
cause of the operation Of the so-called
Edmunds-Tucl1er law.
our people are scattered; homes are
made desolate; many are still iInpris-
oned: others are banished or in hiding.
Our hearts bleed for these. In the past
they followed our counsels, and while
they are thus afflicted our souls are in
sackcloth and ashes.
We believe that there is nowhere in
the Union a more loyal people than the
Latter-day Saints. They know no other
country except this; they expect TO i've
and die on this soil
When the men OF the south Who were
in rebellion against the government IN
1865, threw down their arms and asked
for recognition along the ola lines OF
citizenship the government FASTENED to
grant their prayer.
To be at peace with the government
and in harmony with their fellow citi-
zens who are not OF their faith, and to
share in the confidence of the govern
ment and people, our people have vol
unfairly put aside something which all
their lives they have believed to be
sacred principle.
Have they not the right to ask for
such clemeucy as comes when the
claims of both law and justice have
been fully liquidated?
As shepherds of a patient and surfer
ing people, we ask amnesty for them
ana pledge our faith and honor for
their future.
And your petitioners will ever pray.
Salt Lake City, December, 1891.
AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.
President Harrison's proclamation:
Washington, D. c., Jan. 4, 1893.
Whereas, Congress. by a statute APP
proved March % 1882, and by statutes
in furtherance and amendment there
to, defined the crimes OF bigamy, polyg-
amy. and unlawful cohabitation in the
territories and other places within the
exclusive Jurisdiction of the United
States. and prescribed penalties Tor
such crimes; and,
whereas. On or about the 9Th day of
October, $780, the Church of Latter-day
Saints, commonly known as the Nor
mon church" through its president, is
sued a manifesto proclaiming the pur-
poses of said church no longer to sane
ton the practice Of polygamous mar
riages, and calling upon all members
and adherents of said church to obey
the laws Of the United States in refer
ence to said subject matter; and,
Whereas, It is represented that since
the date of said declaration the mem
bers and adherents of said church gen
orally obey said laws, and abstained
from plural marriages and polygamous
cohabitatfon; and
Whereas, By a petition dated Dec. 10,
1887, the officials Of said church, pledg-
ing the membership thereof to the
faithful obeyance Of the laws against
plural marriages and unlawful cohabi-
tation. applied to me to grant amnesty
for past Offenses against said laws,
which request a very large number of
| influential non Mormon residents of
territories also strongly urged; and,
Whereas, The Utah commissioners, in
their report bearing date of Sept. 10,
1872, recommended that said petition be
granted. and said amnesty proclaimed
under the proper conditions as to the
future observance of the law, with a
view to the encouragement OF those
now disposed to become law-abiding
citizens; and,
y
such amnesty has been granted indi-
vidual applicants in a very large num-
Der Of cases, conditioned upon THE
FAITHFUL OBSERVANCE OF THE
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
AGAINST UNLAWFUL COHABITA-
TION, and there are now pending more
such applications; now, therefore, l.
Benjamin Harrison. president of the
United States, by virtue of the power in
me vested, do hereby declare and grant
full amnesty and pardon to all persons
liable to the penalties of said act, by
reason Of unlawful cohabitation under
the color of polygamous or plural mar
rage, who, since Nov. l, 1890 HAVE
AI3STAINED FROM SUCH IJNLAW-
FUL COHABITATION, BUT UPON
THE EXPRESS CONDITION THAT
THEY SHALL IN FUTURE obey the
laws Of the United States hereinbefore
named, and not otherwise. Those who
shall fail to avail themselves of the
clemency hereby offered viii be Vigor-
ously prosecuted.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
By the president
JOHN W. FOSTER,
Secretary OF state.
On Sept. ., 1884. President Cleveland
issued proclamation, wherein, after
reciting the facts contained in the
proclamation of President Harrison. he
concludes as follows:
Whereas, Upon the evidence now fur
nisned, 1 am satisfied that the mem
! berS and adnerentS Of said church gem
orally abstain from plural marriages
and polyganous cohabitasion, and are
now living in obedience to the laws.
and the time has now arrived when
/ the interests Of public justice and NOR
ality win be promoted by the granting
/ Of amnesty and pardon to all such Of
! tenders as complied with the conditions
Of said proclamation, including such of
said offenders as have been convicted