Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-24

I cannot protest when one takes many
wives. for It does not contradict the
Scriptures
And again in his letter to Philip
landgrave Of Hesse, remarking upon
the fact that Philip had taken second
wife, his first wife being sun living, ne
said: In matter OF motrlmony tie laws
OF Moses are not revoked or contradict
ed by the gospels
yet we build monuments 10 Luther
Notwithstanding his liberation and de.
Tense OF tina, form OF marriage. Now.
say all these things not for the purpose
Of arguing here upon the rights OF po'
lygamy, but do say what | have here
remarked for the purpose of fixing II IN
the minds OF members that II is merely
a crime because prohibited by law.
say that the United States had the right
TO make that law II they wished to. The
States have the right TO make IT, Utah
had the right 10 make II the law Of that
State. and has done so. Consequently II
is outside Of the realm Of discussion
further than In this Incidental way
Mr.. Roberts then explained the Nor
mon belief In polygamy and said the
Church thought their creed on this point
came within the constitutional inhihi-
t.af agaInss Jaws prohibiting the free
exercise OF religious belief. He then
continued:
I'm 1876, desiring to put the matter
to test and not to be under the odiun
OF violating the Constitution or the laws
Of the country, and being confident that
the courts would sustain the Views that
they had held, the Mormon Church
themselves furnished case, furnished
the evidence and witnesses, and brought
that case before the courts, carrying II
from one court TO another untll in 1915
the law against this form OF marriage
was sustained.
1T has been recited as the chief Of
Tense both Of the people and OF the
member from Utah that, notwithstand-
ing this decision, the people still con-
tlnued to maintain the rlghtfulness OF
that institution. The inference seems
10 be that as soon as the decision of the
Supreme court was rendered, they
should have dropped their hands and
instantly conformed to the law OF the
land. Limited, indeed, must have been
the reading Of that man who would
suppose that controversies OF this char
acter would be so instantly disposed OF,
and that a great religious conviction
would be Immediately given upon the
decision OF court.
Worthy OF all respect as the SUI
preme court Of the United States UNI
questionably Is and held In high esteem
amounting almost 10 veneration by my
people. stlll we could not forget the fact
that the court was still human and
liable to liabilities. We could not for
get the fact that this court OF ours, high
ard exalted as It is, frequently reverses
Itself. We remember that Il had sus-
aimed the constitutionallty Of the fugi-
tive slave law and that It's decisions had
been overturned by the people by revo-
lutlons In tenets as we'll as revolutions
In arms.
II see upon the floor Of this House a
man belonging 20 race who, II abso-
Lutte submissiveness TO the decisions Of
the Supreme court was TO be the last
OF controversy, would have been but a
piece Of goods and chattels In this coun-
try Instead Of being a member Of the
House Of Representatives"
80 We thought said Mr.. Roberts
believing as we did in the righteous
ness Of our doctrine. We hoped there
might spring up sentiment which
would lead 10 a reversal OF opinion. But
II did not come" and Mr.. Roberts with
arms outstretched appealed to the