Speech #490145982

I am satisfied that they have been very grave. and that they have struggled with them to the very best of their ability. but it does seem to me that the provisions of this measure which have been pointed out by the Senator from Missouri and the Senator from Florida are so clearly a violation of the principles of the Constitution regarding private and personal right of religious opinion and of the rights of property that I can not sustain it. There are very summary measures authorized to be instituted by the AttorneyGeneral of the United States for the purpose of disposing of certain corporations described in the bill. For instance. there is an emigration society specified. There is nothing upon the face of the act itself which indicates that that is a Mormon institution. The bill goes to the extent of absolutely prohibiting the Territorial Legislature of Utah at any time from granting authority to anybody. whether Christian. Mormon. or otherwise. from organizing an emigration society in that Territory. I see by section 1850 of the Revised StatutesthatAll laws passed by the Legislative Assembly and governor of any Territory. except in the Territories of Colorado. Dakota.