Speech #510091607

Tihe hill which has been considered by the committee is similar to the enabling act reported by the committee at thle last session of Congress in its provisions relating to the disposition of public lands and courts. And the convention heretofore referred to. in framing its constitution. complied with the provisions of the act as to the compaet between the proposed State and the United States. Section 3 of Article VI of the proposed constitution is as follows: I INo person is permitted to vote. serve as a juror. or hold any civil office who is under guardianship. idotic. or insane. or who has at any place been convicted of treason. felony. embezzlement of the public funds. bartering or selling or offering to barter orsell his vote. or purchasing or offering to purchase the vote of another. or other infamous crime. and who has not been restored to the rights of citizenship. or who. at the tiue of such election. is confined in prison on conviction of a criminal offense. or who is a bigamist or polygamist. or is living in what Is known as patriarchal. plural. or celestial marriage. or in violation of any law of this State or of the United States forbidding any such crime. or who. in any manner. teaches. advises. counsels. aids. or encourages any person to enter Into bigamy. polygamy. or such patriarchal. plural. or celestial marriage. or to live in violation of any such law. or to commit any such crime. or who is a member of or contributes to the support. aid. or encouragement of any order. organization. association. corporation. or society. which teaches. advises. consents. encourages. or aids any person to enter nto bigamy. polygamy. or such patriarchal or plural marriage. or which teaches or advises that the laws of this Slate prescribing rules of civil conduct are net the supreme law of the State. nor shall Chinese or persons of Mongolian descent. not born in the United States. nor Indians. not taxed. who have not severed their tribal relations and adopted the habits of civilization. either vote. serve as jurors. or hold any civil office." Strenuous opposition was made to the admission of Idaho under its propsed constitution by the representatives of the M~ormons residing in said Territory because of the section above quoted. About 20.000 Mormons reside in Idaho Territory. mostly in thecfour southeastern counties. They were represented before the committee by counsel and by Mr.