History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

LEGISLATION AGAINST POLYGAMY. 607
ordinance incorporating the church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, passed in 1851, and reenacted in
1855, whereby all members of the church were included
in the body corporate, trustees being appointed
to control the church property, and the church em-
It
powered to make laws with regard to marriage. 6
was further provided by the same act of congress
that no corporation or association for religious purposes
should hold real estate in any of the territories
of a greater value than $50,000. 7
In other respects the proceedings of the Utah legislature
at this period and for many years afterward
contained few objectionable features, most of them
relating to municipal affairs, as did those of previous
sessions. In 1854 and 1855 acts were passed providing
for the construction of canals between Utah
Lake, Big Cottonwood Creek, and Great Salt Lake. 8
6 And regulations as to solemnities, sacraments, ceremonies, consecrations,
endowments, tithings, fellowship, and all matters relating to ' the religious
duties of man to his maker.' Utah Acts Legist, (ed. 1855), 104.
7 A copy of the act will be found in Cong. Globe, 1861-2, app. 3S5.
In 1S55 a bill was introduced for the suppression of polygamy and in the
debates which ensued Morrill took an active part. It was referred to a committee
of the whole. See Cong. Globe, 1855-6, pp. 895, 1491, 1501. In
1859 a bill passed the representatives. Id., 1859-60, pp. 1559. For other
measures and discussions in congress between 1853 and 1862, relating to
roads, surveys, mails, appropriations, boundaries, public buildings, Indian
troubles and other matters, see Cong. Globe, 1853-4, pp. 2S6, 1437, 1440,
1472, 1621, 1701, 2236-9, passim; Id., 1854-5, pp. 5, 341, 540, passim; 1855-6,
pp. 19, 39, 1451-2, 1473, 1491, 1495, 1497; 1856-7, pp. 284, 392, 408, 418,
608; 1857-8, pp. 553, 564, 572-3, passim; 1858-9, pp. 119, 335,341, 658, 1066;
1859-60, pp. 187-98, 474, 486, 500; 1860-1, pp. 326, 336, 840, 1132, 1159,
1195, 1197, 1288, 1302; Sen. Jour., 33d Cong., 1st Sess., 1003; Id., 33d Cong.,
2d Sess., 574-5; 34th Cong., 2d Sess., 943; 34th Cong., 3d Sess., 63; 35th Cong.,
2d Sess., 450, 590, 660; 36th Cong., 1st Sess., 1041, 1045-6; 37th Cong., 2d
Sess., 1161; H. Jour., 33d Cong., 1st Sess., 1563; Id. , 33d Cong. , 2d Sess., 723;
34th Cong., 1st Sess., 1837; 34th Cong., 3d Sess., 376; 35th Cong., 1st Sess.,
1325, 1366; 35th Cong., 2d Sess., 323, 745, 759, 761; 36th Cong., 1st Sess.,
1410, 1455-6; 36th Cong., 2d Sess., 580; 37th Cong., 2d Sess., 1271, 1318-19.
In H. Misc. Doc, 100, 35th Cong., 1st Sess., is a memorial stating the
grievances of the Mormons, and asking that they be allowed a voice in the
selection of their rulers. In the senate, resolutions were submitted that
committees should inquire into the propriety of the Mormons electing their
own officials and no longer submitting their enactments to congress. Sen.
Misc. Doc, 12, 36th Cong., 1st Sess. The committees reported adversely.
8 The first was to commence above the rapids of the Jordan, where a dam
was to be built, and thence following the base of the mountains, on the east
of G. S. Lake Valley, to S. L. City, with depth sufficient for boats drawing
two and a half feet of water. Utah Acts Legisl. (ed. 1866), 175-6. The