A.T. Jones before U.S. Senator Blair:
"I should have come to that, even though you had not asked the question. But as you have introduced it, I will notice it now. My argument throughout is that the civil government can never have anything to do with men's duties under the first four of the ten commandments; and this is the argument embodied in Washington's words.
These duties pertain solely to God.
Now polygamy is adultery.
But adultery is not a duty that men owe to God, in any way, much less does it come under any of the first four commandments. .jpg)
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This comes within the inhibitions of the second table of the law of God - the commandments embracing duty to our neighbor.
--How men should conduct themselves toward their fellow-men, civil government must decide; that is the very purpose of its existence. Consequently, the practice of polygamy lying wholly within this realm, is properly subject to the jurisdiction of civil government.
My argument does not in the least degree countenance the principles of Mormonism, nor can it fairly be made to do so.
--I know that is is offered a s very ready objection; but those who offer it as an objection and as an argument against the principles upon which we stand, thereby make adultery a religious practice.
But against all such objection and argument, I maintain that adultery is not in any sense a religious practice.
--It is not only highly irreligious, but it is essentially uncivil; and because it is uncivil, the civil power has as much right to blot it out as it has to punish murder, or thieving, or perjury, or any other uncivil thing.
Moreover, we deny that honest occupations on any day of the week, or at any time whatever, can ever properly be classed with adultery.
It is every man's right in this country, or anywhere else, to worship an idol if he chooses. That idol embodies his conviction of what God is. He can worship only according to his convictions. It matters not what form his idol may have, he has the right to worship it anywhere in the world, therefore in the United States.
It is every man's right in this country, or anywhere else, to worship an idol if he chooses. That idol embodies his conviction of what God is. He can worship only according to his convictions. It matters not what form his idol may have, he has the right to worship it anywhere in the world, therefore in the United States.
*But suppose that in the worship of that god he attempts to take the life of one of his fellow-men, and offer it as a human sacrifice.
*The civil government exists for the protection of life. liberty, property, etc., and it must punish that man for his attempt upon the life of his fellow-man.
*The civil law protects man's life from such exercise of any one's religion, but in punishing the offender, the State does not consider the question of his religion at all.
It would punish him just the same if he made no pretensions to worship or to religion.
It punishes him for his incivility, for his attempt at murder, not for his irreligion. I repeat, the question is not considered by the State; the sole question is, Did he threaten the life of his fellow-man? Civil government must protect its citizens. This is strictly within Caesar's jurisdiction; it comes within the line of duties which the Scripture show to pertain to our neighbor, and with it Caesar has to do."
A.T. Jones
