Bigamy and Polygamy. Review of the Opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States, Rendered at the October Term, 1878, in the Case of George Reynolds, Plaintiff in Error, vs The United States, Defendant in Error.
. S.N., 1878. First Edition. Soft Cover. Good. Item #2174276
Some loss along wrapper edges and split along front wrapper edge, two crude repairs on front wrapper, chip from bottom margin corner of last few pages, faint stain along base. Bound into Coverbind protective cover at binding edge.
33 pp. Blue printed wrappers. A pro-Mormon review of the ruling from the first freedom of religion case to come before the United States Supreme Court, focusing on the Mormon practices of bigamy and polygamy. George Reynolds, the plaintiff, was secretary to the First Presidency of the LDS Church under Brigham Young. This court case was a response to prosecution attempts under the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862. Mormons planned to prove that the act was unconstitutional, but needed a 'test defendant' to bring the matter before the courts; this led to Reynolds being indicted and found guilty in two trials held in lower courts. Ultimately the appeal to the Supreme Court was unsuccessful, and the prison sentence assessed for Reynolds's original conviction held. He was released from prison in 1881, and continued his involvement with the Mormons, publishing a number of related books. Henry Reed, the 'old lawyer' who wrote this review, concludes that the Supreme Court's ruling was unjust, stating that, "it was, in fact, Mormonism and its domestic relations that were on trial; and when the Act of 1862 was passed, the judgments against them was foreordained... The court has done its work... but they have not done justice. They have won a round of applause of a number of fanatical men and silly women, whose fanaticism and silliness so far as lies in their power, they have made the law of the land." Scarce - none in trade, no auction records in last 50 years.
Price: $450.00 save 30% $315.00