Letter to the Secretary of the Interior on the Affairs of Utah, Polygamy, "cohabitation," & Cauthor, 1866 - 32 pages |
Other editions - View all
Letter to the Secretary of the Interior on the Affairs of Utah, Polygamy ... George Ticknor Curtis No preview available - 2016 |
Letter to the Secretary of the Interior on the Affairs of Utah, Polygamy ... George Ticknor Curtis No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
3d section aid the civil amendment Apostle Snow appellate jurisdiction attitude of defiance bigamists cern citizens civil power Congress to prohibit Constitution convicted of bigamy courts of Utah dictated district attorney dwelling Edmunds act enacted eternity fact of sexual fanatics free exercise Governor West Higher Law hold immigration imprisonment indictments judicial interpretation legislative authority legislative definition legislative power ligious marriage relation means militia monogamous moral duty Mormon Church obedience obey the laws offence perfectly polyg polygamists polygamy bigamy population of Utah preme Court promise to obey prosecuted punish question reason relations of husband religion religious and moral religious belief religious convictions religious freedom religious liberty religious rights Secretary separate table sexual intercourse sexual relations slave property slavery social and civil specting subject of polygamy Supreme Court torial courts Union United unlawful cohabitation violate visited the penitentiary welfare whole wife woman women word cohabit writs of error
Popular passages
Page 6 - ... Constitution ; of their right and religious duty to continue in violation of the law their polygamous relations, and they deny the authority of Congress to regulate and interpose any restrictions as to the marital relation ; that the obedience which they owe and will cheerfully render to a power higher than any earthly power compels them to exercise their religious rights and privileges in the...
Page 6 - They maintain publicly through their leaders and teachers, in their houses of worship, through their press, and privately in social and business circles, that the law is infamous, an interference with and a denial to them of that religious freedom guaranteed to all by the Constitution ; of their right and religious duty to continue in violation of the law their polygamous relations, and they deny the authority of Congress to regulate and interpose any restrictions as to the marital relation...
Page 7 - While vigor has been shown in the prosecution of offenders, it has been and continues to be the custom of the court, after conviction, to suspend the judgment and allow the convicted party to go free upon his simple promise that he will in the future obey the laws. Of the number convicted up to the 30th of June, 1886, but 7 have given the promise and accepted freedom. "Seven days after assuming office in the Territory, on the 13th day of May, after consultation with...
Page 6 - The all-absorbing question in this Territory, dominating all others, hurtfully affecting its prosperity, impeding its advancement, and disturbing the quiet and happiness of its people, and the one question of the utmost concern and solicitude to the whole country, is the attitude of defiance assumed and maintained by the Mormon people, who probably are five-sixths of the whole population, to the law of Congress for the suppression of polygamy, known as the
Page 6 - In all questions affecting the Mormon Church and people, the polygamous and monogamous Mormons make common cause, stand together, and are united. They maintain publicly through their leaders and teachers, in their houses of worship, through their press, and privately in social and business circles, that the law is infamous, an interference with and a denial to them of that religious freedom guaranteed to all by the Constitution; of their right and religious duty to continue in violation of the law...
Page 6 - ... their religious rights and privileges in the place of and in violation of the law; that they are prepared to, and will if required of them, sacrifice their personal comfort, their property, suffer indefinite imprisonment, and surrender life itself rather than yield and promise obedience to the law and forego the privileges they claim. The Government can have and hold but one position towards this people, which is of easy statement : Its authority must be respected, its laws must be obeyed.
Page 7 - In the year 1884 a determined move was inaugurated for the enforcement of the law against polygamy, and since that time the territorial officers of Federal appointment charged with the duty have been and continue vigilant and diligent in their efforts to that end. The district and supreme courts have been open and promptly disposing of business before them. While vigor has been shown in the prosecution of offenders, it has...
Page 6 - ... restrictions as to the marital relation ; that the obedience which they owe and will cheerfully render to a power higher than any earthly power compels them to exercise their religious rights and privileges in the place of and in violation of the law; that they are prepared to, and will if required of them, sacrifice their personal comfort, their property, suffer indefinite imprisonment, and surrender life itself rather than yield and promise obedience to the law and forego the privileges they...
Page 7 - Dickson, they approving and concurring, I visited the penitentiary, where about 50 of those convicted under the law were imprisoned, and proposed to all who would promise to obey the laws in the future our united efforts to secure from the President their pardon. Not one of them availed himself of this tender, but sent me a respectfully worded communication, signed by all, declining to do so.
Page 1 - It concerns a matter of the utmost importance to the people of the United States, and to that portion of their affairs which is under your official charge.