The age-herald., 1900-01-24

Tn matters of rnatrdmony the laws of Mo- ses arc not revoked or c0ntradieted by the gospels
 'fYet we buflt monuments to Luther not wfthstandang ahis toleration and defense of that form of marriage. Now I say all these things not for the purpose of arguing here upon fhe rights of polygamy, but do say what have here remarked for the purpose of fixing 1t ln the minds of members, that it is merely crime because prohibited by law. say that the United States had the night to make that law if they wished to. The states have the right to make it. Utah had the right to make it the Jaw of that state and has done so. Consequently, it is outside of the realm of discussion further than dn this incidental way
 MT. Rodents then explained the Mormon belief in polygamy, and said the church thought their creed this point came within the constitutional irthlbition against laws prohibiting the free eercdse of relig- fous belef He then continued:
 '1n 1876, desiring to put the matter to a test, and not to be under tine edium of vio- 1ating the constitution of ehe laws of the country, and being cpnfidet tina the courts would sueaan tine views that l5hey had held the Mormon chunch themselves, furnished a case, furnished the evidence and wit nesses and brought that case before the courts, carrying 1t from one court to an- other until In 1878 tlne Jaw against this form of marriage was sustained.
 People Continue to Maintain It
 'It has been recjted as the chief offense both of the people of the member from Utah. that notwithstanding this decision, sRle people still continued to maintain the nghtfulness of that institution. The in- ference seems to be that as soon as the de- cAsion od the supreme court was rendered L1hn<sa enno thair hands and inSstanty conhormed to the law of the land. Limited indeed must have been Hine reading of that man who would suppose shat controversies of ftflis character would be so easily disposed of and that a great religious conviction would be imme- diately given up on the decision of a court Worthy of all respect as the supreme court ot the United Sta tes unqueaionabiy is and held an hdgh eStteem amounting alfost to Venerauon by my people, still we could not forget the fact that the court was still hu- man and Eab ble to falibilfties. We could not forget the fact that this supreme court of ours. high and exalted as it is freauently reverses itself. We remkmber that it had sGs'aadned the conStituionality of the fu- g1tfVe slave Jaw, and that dts decisions had peen overturned by tine people by revolu- tions in tenets well as revolutions in ai1ns. l see upon the floor of this house a man belonging to a race who if absolute suDmlssivenietSs to the decisions of the su- pfeme court was to be the last of contro- Neisy, would have been but a piece of goods and chatte,s in this country instead of be- ing gentleman of the house of representa- tives
 50 we thought,' said Mir Roberts ''be- heVinS as We did in the righteousness of our doctrine. We hoped there might spring up sentiment which would lead to a re- VersaI of opinion. But it did not come" ana MT. Roberts, with arms outstretched appealed to the country not to be too hard on the people of Utah.
 The conG. ton Which Existed
 He described the condition that existed fa Utah dn 1882 as a reign of terror. The feder- al cQurts were being used, he said, to drive women into exile. A man was brought be- fore the court He was told that he need not go to prison if he would give up poly gamy.
 But then" said MT. Roberts dramaticai- ly. Il fe't it would have been deserting the cause of God to have agreed"
 A scattering wave of applause passed over the gallaries at this utterance but it was quickly drowned with misses.
 l had rather had my flesh hewn from my limbs than to have been untrue to my people. It was this feeling that was the incentive to the lawiessness, such as at was." -. -....
 But" he continued, "the time came when the Mormons of Utah were obliged to submit, and they did submit Since then there had been not a plural marriage in Utah. The plural relatioas had been broken up in many cases. Death had Kindly solved the problem for some of the heartaches 1t left for some, and others wish the same had come for them.' He insisted that the compact with the United. States had been observed; that polyganny had practically ceased, and that the Mormon church had given up polygamy in good faith. MT Roberts said he had been in public service for twenty years. and was not driven to the defense of his moral charac- ter. He was not here representing the Mormon church. He had received a greater number of votes from Gen'1iles than Nor mons.
 "I have lived with a good conscience until this day and am sensible of no act of shame upon my part. You can brand me with shame and send me forth but I shall leave with head erect and brow undaunted, and walk the earth angels walk the clouds. If you violate the constitution all the shame will be with you.' There was a great outburst of applause in the galleries when MT Roberts con cluded. Many of the ladies in the galleries were especially demonstrative. At 5:30 D. m. the house adjourned until Il o'clock tomorrow morning.
 DAUGHTERS OF FCONFEDERACY