The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-08

washington, March 5.-Admissions
drawn from Joseph F. Smith, president
of the Mormon church. respecting ms
continued violations of the law forpio-
ding polygamOus cohabitalon again
constituted the feature Of the proceed
Sngs today before the Senate committee |
on privileges and elections against
Senator Reed SmOOt. of Utah The VIII
ness. angered by the persistent enorts
of some members of the committee 10
obtain from him every detail OF ms
remission in obeying the law, turned
upon Congress and charged that oody
with interfering. without authority, IN
his private domestic affairs and usurp-
ing the powers of the Utah courts
which alone. he said, possessed the right
to hold him to account for his conduct.
While the witness had been taken in
hand by the defense for purposes or
cross examination, the members or the
committee in reality, cOnsummed the
greater portion of the time and matters
were brought out along the line follow
ed by the prosecution in the three frSt
days of the hearing Some OF the tes
timony proved highly sensational.
At the beginning of tOday's session.
Mr. smith gave figures showing the
proportion of polygamists IN the Mor-
mon population, saying the numDer OF
poIygamists originally excluded from
voting was 1000. Mr.. Smith said mat
in 1902 only S97 were still living.
Referring to Senator Baileys ques-
tions yes sterday in regard TO the man.
festo, Mr.. Worthington read from .
sermon of President Woodruff delivered
a year after the manifesto against p.u-
N
Woodruff declared that he was
moved, and 10000 Latter Day
Saints were moved by the spirit o. Goa
to abandon the practice OF plural mar
riage.
Senator Bailey contended that 1t was
in obedience to the demands OF the
law. or fear-of the consequences or the
law. that provoked the revelation
Continuing. he said:
For my part, L don't have rnucr
faith in a doctrine that does not get
revelation commencing chanee o.
conduct until there is q statute compeiI-
ing it,
when the laws were passed. whic!
were not in harmony with the teecnlnS'
ne o11r church" said, Mr.. Smith, I'VE
aeId that they were unconstitutional
OF course our own rules commando,
that we obey the constitution OF IN
land but VS. fought the VandltJ OF tn
new laws from the lowest to the hlgh
est court and when it was settled d
the Supreme court of the United state
that mural marriages could not lonSe
be INDUCED in, of course we were In
clined to obey.
..Rut we had O revelation on our oV
statute books in regard to plural mar
riages and il was necessary 70 ooe
that in order to obtain certain blessing
that could not be received W1thou
obeying it, Whether we should oCe
the law OF the land or continue 90 prat
tice the law OF the church was seriou
question
1--WE hold that the president or IN
church is entitled to receive revelation
spspired by the Almighty God. Pres
dent woodruff sought guidance frol
the Lord and the Lord made II HlaniIeS
no him that it was his duty to SIC
MURAL marriage He proclaimed thS
REVELATION and it was submitted to tt
entire church and accepted by "a
church and thus it became binding, at
from that day to this. the law OF u
fand has been kept. SO far as plur
marriages are concerned. but IAere
a great difference between taxing
MURAL wife contrary to law ana
taking care of the wives taken oefo
1T was q violation OF the law. won
not desert my wives. Woaia
abandon my children. Will run
risks before the law
President Smiths voice shook wi
emotion. He showed more feeling tn
he had at any previous time exhibit
as he leaned forward and SAID:
But 1t is to the laws OF Utah II
7 am ansuerabIe. il is the law OF 7
state that has the right to punish II
The courts of Utah are OF coihPohe
i,-isdiction Congress has no bOslnt
90 interfere with my private aiIai
If the courts of my state do not see
10 call me to account for my coRcu
r cannot help it Congress has no rig
10 interfere-it has no right to pry II
NV marriage relations and call ne
account %
Chairman Burrows at this POI
questioned the witness He asked:
You say you would not aDanG
your wives or your children :"
do YOU consider it necessary TO na
issue from your plural wives in on
70 clothe and care for your chiICI
that had been born before uniaW
cohabitation became a crime 2
Because my wives are like aii o
er women. Tt is necessary TO ma
.eaip peace, harmony and good '