Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1894 — AMNESTY TO SAINTS. [ARTICLE]

AMNESTY TO SAINTS.

?olygamons Mormons Pardoned by the President President Cleveland, Sept 27, issued the following proclamation: <■ Whereas, Congress, by statute approved March 22,1882, and by statutes in furtherince and amendment thereof, defined the trime of bigamy, polygamy and unlawful :ohabi,tation in the Territories and other places within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, and prescribed a penilty for such crimes; and Whereas, On or about the 6th day of! October, 1890, the church Of the Latter-* lay Saints, commonly known as the Mor-i mon Church, through its president, issued t manifesto proclaiming the purpose ofj >aid church no longer to sanction tha practice of polygamous marriages, ami :alling upon all members and adherents of said church to obey the laws of the United States in reference to said subject matter; ind

Whereas, On the 4th day of January, A. D., 1893, Benjamin Harrison, then President of the United States, did declare and rrant full pardon and amnesty to certain Offenders under said acts, upon condition, pf future obedience to their requirements, is is fully set forth in said proclamation )f amnesty and pardon" and Whereas, Upon the evidence now ftiraished me,l am satisfied - that the members" ind adherents of said church generally abstain from plural marriages and poly"g<, imous cohabitation, and are now living in obedience to the laws, and that the time has now arrived when the interests of public justice and morality will be promoted by the granting of amnesty and pardon to all such offenders as haye complied with the conditions of said proclamation, including such of said offenders is have been convicted under the provisions of said acts; Now,* therefore, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, by virtue’ )f the powers in me vested, do hereby deilare and grant full amnesty and pardon to all persons who have in violation of said acts committed either of the offenses )f polygamy, bigamy, adultery or unlawful cohabitation under the color of polygimous or plural marriages, or who, having been convicted of violations of said lets, are now suffering deprivation of :ivil rights in consequence of .the same, jxoepting all persons who have not complied with the conditions contained in said executive proclamation of Jan. 4, 1893.