Speaker Blaine and Brigham Young.
The following is an account of the interview between Mr. Blaine and Mr. Young. Brigham wanted to impress the Speaker with the idea that Congress had no right whatever to interfere with the local affairs of the government of the Territory; that any attempt at interference was a break of faith, and said they should be left just as the organic laws left them, and have full power to do all legislation without let or hindrance. The Speaker remarked to Brigham that the Presidential contest of 1861, was fought on the distinct issue of the right of Congress to control the domestic institu tiones of the Territories, and that Mr. Lincoln was chosen on that ground.
The Congress had exercised its power by abolishing the relation of master and slave, and that its authority was plenary in the premises, and the extent of its exercise, a matter of discretion that the organic act of Utah was, by its terms subject to amendment, alteration, repeal, and that no enactment of the territorial Legislature was of the slightest validity if Congress chooses to anul it.
Brigham said, "If that is your decision our interests and rights demand that we be admitted as a State; we have a rsquisite pop ulation, resources and wealth.
"It may be true, Mr. Young,” the Speaker replied, "that you have the necessary population and wealth, but speaking to you with the frankness with which I should speak were I on the floor of Congress, I must say that Utah can never be admitted as a State so long as the institution of polygamy is upheld and practiced by the Mor-man church, and as I understand by the great mass of your people.
This remark seemed to nettle Brigham considerably, but he kept his temyer, and proceeded to a long dissertation relative to the purity of the morals of Eastern cities in comparison with the morals of Utah, con tending that the superiority was on the side of the latter.
"But, Mr. Young," rejoined the Speaker, “what you denounce in the East is done against the law, clandestinely, and is admit ted to be wrong even by those who indulge in it. What you do in Utah is not only done by sanction of the law, but it has the appro val and command of the church."
During the trial of a contested land case in the probate court of Salt Lake County, Tues day, the defendant, Courser, testified that she was a polgyamist widow of one Win chester, whose first wife was Mrs. Winches ter, his own mother. The parties in the ac tion are all Mormons, and the testimony of the woman has not been doubted nor any attempt made to suspect her.
