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BocanTOH ahd oobpam LiilAtY OF TN£ UMmJBOI 9f iium PREFACE No apology is offered for presenting to the public the only authentic account of Brighara Young, of his polygamous family, and of that complicated and incon- gruous system of social and political machinery, called Mormonism. The only form of religion in this country which re- fuses to conform either to the spirit of progress and im- provement and enlightened humanity which charac- terizes the age in which we live, or to our laws and the genius of our free institutions, — drawing constant- ly from foreign countries hosts of votaries, impelled hither m>t by a love of republicanism, but rather by a desire to exchange a political for a religious mon- archy, — is Mormonism, which presents an antagonism to our Government, and can scarcely fail to result in national trouble. > The elements of a second rebellion are in active pro- gress in Utah, and, as in the case of the slaver}^ rebel- lion, the great danger lies in failing to place a proper estimate upon the power of those elements for mischief, and to take the proper precautions in time. Religious fanaticism is more active, and, when hostile, more dan- gerous, than political ambition ; hence the arrogant and intolerant spirit, and the bitter hostility of the Mor- mons, are more worthy the serious attention of our 2090667 f y^ • ' i| PREFACE. Statesmen than would be the opposition of so many mere political tmitors. Again ; their power for mischief is much increased by the position they occupy upon the great thorough- fare between the eastern and western portions of our country. It is with the view of calling the attention of the Government and of the people of the country to the dangerous character of this monarchy growing up in the midst of the Republic, that the political history of Utah has been written. The chief interest of the work, however, with a large class of readers, will doubtless consist in the in- formation it contains, relative to the family and social relations of the celebrated Mormon leader. These, and all other facts contained in this volume, may be relied upon as true, and many of them are now pub- lished for the first time. The subject of polygamy is treated thoroughly, and as dispassionately as the writer's utter abhorrence of the system will permit. A residence of two years in the midst of this state of society, could not fail to afford me a tolerably good view of its inside workings, and this view I have presented to my readers. Some of the facts narrated in this volume have been furnished by persons in Salt Lake, who are thoroughly conversant with them ; in some cases, by persons who have long been in the service of Young, and know whereof they relate. While I am not at liberty to mention their names, I take this opportunity to return them my thanks for such valuable information. This book is believed to be a desideratum demanded by the social and political well-being of the country, PREFACE. i and as sucli it is presented to the consideration of the people of this country, and especially to my own sex, who are deeply interested in preventing the frame- work of our social system from being broken up and superseded by the customs and maxims of the worst ages of barbarism. To the suffering women of Utah, I especially dedi- cate this result of my labors in their behalf; and I am not without hope that many of them may, upon a pe- rusal of its pages, be induced to retrace their steps, and rescue themselves from the snares of the religioui impostors now seeking their destruction. ■.'-, ■ -• .J CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. KARLY HUTOBT Of BBIGHAM TOUMO. nan The Birth and Parentage of Brigham Young. — His Brothers and Sisters. — He embraces Mormonism, and becomes a Leader. — Is appointed President of tlie Twelve, and finally placed at the Head of the Chun-h, to succeed Joseph Smith. — Establishes the Mor- mons iu Salt-Lake Valley 11 CHAPTER IL ruUTICAL. Brigham as Governor of Utah and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. — Formation of the State of Deseret — Proceedings of the Utah Lefps- lature. — Brighaurs Proclamations. — Difficulties with the Federal Officers. — Proceedings of the First Judges 21 CHAPTER in. rOMTICAL HISTORY CONTINUKP. Colonel Stcptoe and Brigham Young. — Brigham reappointed Gov- ernor. — John F. Kinney. — Western Utah, or Nevada. — Letter of Hon. James M. Crane. — Judge Stiles and the Records. — W. W. Drummond 86 CHAPTER IV. rOUTICAL HI8TOKY COKTIKUED. — THE MORMON WAR. Eeport of the Secretary of War. — Proclamation of Governor Brigham Young, declaring Martial Law. — Correspondence. — Sermons of Young and Kimball. — Proclamation of Governor Cumming. — > CONTENTS. Hk Echo Canyon Adventuru. — Col. Kant.— Th« Momioni laava Salt Lake. — Coinmissionon appointed by the Freeident— Peace nstorad 50 CHAPTER V. TOLITICAI< IIISTOIIY CONTINUKD. The Mountain Bleadow MRAsacre, and otiier Crimes of the Mormons.— Attempts to bring tlie Perpetrators to Jiwtiue. — Doings of Judge Cradlebaugh. — Govenior Cumuiini; and the Military Officers.— Judge Sinclair's Court. — Governor Dawson and his Misfortunes. — New Governor and Associate Justices appointed 70 CHAPTKR VI. ruUTICAL. HMTUKY CO^TI:lt'ED. Airival of the New Federal Officers, in July, 18C2. — Colonel Connor arrives with his Command. — The MesMige of Governor Harding. — The Mormons Indignant. — The Legislature refuse to print the Mes- sage. — Action of the United States Senate thereon. — Forgery in the Mormon Legislature. — Bill of Judge Waite to amend the Or- ganic Act. — Indignation Meeting. — Governor Harding and Judges Waite and Drake requested to leave the Territory. — Their Replies. —Brigham. — The Federal Officers 88 CHAPTER VII. BBIOHAM AS rKESIDBXT OF TUB CHUBCH. Organization of the Mormon Church. — Functions of the various Offi- cers. — The Two Priesthoods. — Mode of treating Dissenters or ** Apostates."— Divisions In the Church.- -The Gladdcnites.— Hieton'of the Morrisites. — The Josephites. — Return to the True Mormon Church 128 CHAPTER Vin. BBIOHAM AS TBVSTEB IB TBU8T FOB THE CHUBCH. Nature of the Trusteeship.— The Tithing System.— Brigham's Pri- vate Speculations. — The Emigration Fund. — The Hand-Cart Com- pany US CHAPTER IX. ^^ BBIOHAM AS PBOPHBT, BBBB, AHD BEVBLATOM. Brigham's Position as Head of the Church. — Mormon Theology.— CONTKNTS. 9 t Brigham'ii Theolngy, or Utah Monnonlnn.— Adam aa 0«d.— Britfhain Youii|r as Uod. — Human Sacriflca. — Introduotion of Polygamy. — I'olygamy no part of tha Original Mormon Religion. — The Kevelation, or Celei>tial Marriage. — The Ceremony of Seal- log. —Consequences and Incidenti of the Doctrine.— Incest — Summary of the Mormon Religion 169 ♦ , CHAPTER X. BRIOHAM At LORD OW THB nARBM. Drigham'a Block The Lion House — The Tithing-Houae.— Tha Bee-Hive House, Office, etc.— Daecription of the Harem,— Plan, Rooms, etc., of each Floor, and who occupies the same.— Liiii at the Harem. — Brigham at Home 195 h '^H n wH r- )8 1. !*^l • 88 ?3 CHAPTER XI. THB WIVEa or BRIOHAM TOI7XO. Maiy Ann Angell Tonng, the first wife. — Her Family. — Lncy Deoker Seely, the first wife in Plurality. — More of •• My Women '* t Clart Pecker, Harriet Cook, Lucy Bigelow, Twiss, Martha Bowker, Har- ^' riet Barney, Eliza Burgess, Ellen Kockwood, Susan Snively, Jemi> ' ' Ba Angell, Margaret Alley, Margaret Pierce, Mrs. Hampton, Maiy Bigelow, Emeline Free, or the Light of the Harem. — Proxy Wo> men; Miss Eliza Roxy Snow, Zina D. Huntington, Amelia Par- tridge, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Smith, Clara Chase, the Maniac.— Amelia, the last tore. — The Prophet iu love the Thirtieth Time 211 CHAPTER XIL POLYOAMY. Condition of Woman among v^arious Heathen Nations.— Inflnenee of Chrintianit}'. — Monnonism and Woman. — Brigham offers to aet the Women Free. — Arguments in Favor of Polygamy. — Tha Argument against it. — Abraham and Sarah. — Appeal to Mormon Women. — Their Unhappy Condition. — Evil Effects of the System. — Illustrations '. 235 CHAPTER XHL THB EKDOWMBirr, A Blormon Drama S34 f 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTKR XIV. rMi BRIGHAM AS GRAND ARCIIKB OP TIIK OKDKR OF TIIK GOD*. Organization of the Order of tlie Archees. — The Grand Archees. — The Archees. — The Danites. -- Organization of Brigham's Celes- tial Kingdom. — Doctrine of Adoption. — Case of Dr. Sprague. — Description of Leading Danites: Bill Hickman* Porter Rockwell, Robert T. Burton. — Affidavits 281 CHAPTER XV. RECENT EVENTS. — CONCLUSION. r^rsonal Appearance and Character of Brigham Young. — His Aims and Purposes. — Solution of the Mormon Question. — New Compli- cations. — Military Reviews of Mormons. — Governor Durkee. — Counteracting Influences. — The Mines and Miners. — Rev. Norman McLeod. — The " Salt Lake Vedette." — Administration of General Connor. — Murder of BruHsfleld. — Order of Young for the £xpul- •ion of the Gentiles. — Order for the Murder of Eighty Men. — Diffi- culties concerning the Public Lands. — Murder of Dr. Robinson. — The Gentiles flee in Terror. — The Government fails to protect its Officers and Citizens. — The Hero of Three Wars of the Republic hunted through the Territory. — Rev. Mr. McLeod warned not to ntum to Utah. — The Reign of Terror commenced. — Tlie Gentiles call for Help •ft; THE MORMON PROPHET. CHAPTER I. EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. The Birth and Parentage of Brigham Young. — His Brotliers and Sisters.— He embraces Morinonism, and becomes a Leader.— Is appointed Presi- dent of the Twelve, and finally placed at the Ucad of the Church to succeed Joseph Smith. — Establishes the Mormons in Suit Lake Valley. Brigham Young was born at Whitingham, Windham County, Vermout, June 1, 1801. A short sketch of the fum- ilj of this noted adventurer may not be uninteresting. The following extract is from his autobiography : — " My grandfather, John Young, was a pliysician and surgeon in the French and Indian war. " My father, John Young, was born March 7, 1 763, in Hopkin> ton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was very circumspect, exemplary and religious, and was, from an early perioil of his life, a member of the Methodiitt Church. At the age of sixteen he eidisted in the American Revolutionary War, and served under General Washington ; he was in three campaigns in his own native State, and in New Jersey. In the year 1 785 he married Nabby Howe, daughter of Phineas and Susannah, whose maiden name was Goddard. *'In January, 1801, he moved from Hopkiuton to Whitingham, Windham County, Vermont, where he remained for three years, opening new farms. "He moved from Vermont to Sherburn, Chenango County, New York, in 1804, where he followed farming, enduring many hardships and privations, incidental to new settlements. ■%- 12 EARLY HISTORY OF BRI6HAM YOUNG. f " My father's family consisted of five sons and six daughter*, viz. : — " Nancy, born in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Augusts, 1786. ** Fanny, born in the same place, November 8, 1787. ** Rhoda, born in Platauva District, New York, September 10, 1789. " John, born in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusettn, May 22, 1791. •* Nabby, born in same place, April 23, 179.3. " Susannah, born in same place, June 7, 1795. " Joseph, born in the same place, April 7, 1797. *' Phineas Howe, born in same place, February 16, 1799. " Brigham, born in Whitingham, Windham County, Vermont, June 1, 1801. ** Louisa, bom in Sherbum, Chenango County, New York, September 25, 1804. ** Lorenzo Dow, born in same place, October 19, 1807.** It is worthy of remark, that all of Brigham's family be- came Monnons. Hi8 father, John Young, was constituted first patriarch of the church, and died at Quincy, Illinois, October 12, 1839. His brothers are all at Salt Lake, and are the devoted followers and satellites of the Prophet. Through the plurality system, the Youngs have formed connections so numerous, that almost half the |)eople at Salt Lake are in some way related to the ruling dynasty. This is striking evidem^ of Brigham's ingenuity in consolidating and perpetuating his power. His early life was that of a farmer's son, but he afterwards acquired the trade of a painter and glazier, which he followed until his conversiion to Mormonism. In 1832, being then thirty-one years of age, he heard and embraced this new religion. He was convinced by Samuel H. Smith, brother (o the prophet Joseph, and was baptized by Eleazer Miller, now living at Salt I^ake. Brigham "gathered" with the saints, at Kirtland, Ohio, and soon became intimate with Joseph Smith. He wm ■i( : EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAH YOUNG. 18 oHained an elder, and began preaching. His shrewdness, and almost intuitive knowledge of character, soon attracted the attention of his brethren, and gave him influence and position in this weak and despised church. They recognized in him a man born to rule and lead the masses. They were attracted by his strong, electrical will ; and from that time his power in the church has been undisputed. In 1835, on the 14th of February, at Kirtland, Brigham Young was ordained one of the newly-organized quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Armed with his new power, and fired with a zeal worthy of a better cause, he went forth, and preached and proselyted with marked success. Thomas B. Marsh having apostatized, Brigham whs cho- sen to succeed him, as President of the Twelve Ajiostles, in 1836. Then came the dark days of Mormonism. Many of the prominent men of the church apostatized. The saints were driven from Kirtland. Smith fled to save his life ; Brig- ham accompanied him, and after many hair-breadth escapes, many trials and hardships, they again planted a new colony, and settled in Far West, Missouri. , ^^\ But the saints were destined again to endure porsccution for their faith. In a few years they were driven from Mis- souri, seeking a home this time in Illinois. During all this time Brigham stood firm, counselling and directing his breth- ren, and, like the rock amid the storms, gathering fresh power of resistance as the waves of persecution increased in fury. In 1839 he was ap(K>inted, with others, to ** open up the gospel " to the inhabitants of the British Isles. They landed at Liverpool on the 6th of April, 1840, and immediately commenced preaching. Brigham siiperintemled affairs, issued an eilition of the " Book of Mormon," and commenced the publication of the '* Millennial Star," a perindieal still livings In 1841 he sailed for New York, having shipped seven hun4 Jred and sixty-nine of the faithful, and leaving many churches, with organizations completed. A.' .. . .i^^tiCi'^'^^ m U EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGIIAM Y0UK6. Brigham was cordially received by Smith, and the saints generally, who appreciated and acknowledged his services, and it was evident that his influence and fame were rapidly increasing. In 1844 the whule aspect of aflfairs was changed. Smith was shot, Nauvoo threatened by a mob, and the Twelve Apostles scattered. Sidney Kigdon assumed the Pre^iideucy, he being Smith's first counsellor. Divisions were numerous, and the church was in imminent danger of falling into hope- less ruin. Brigham, with true Napoleonic foresight, saw his opportu* nity, and was not slow to improve it. He came hurriedly to Nauvoo, denounced Rigdon as an impostor and his revela- tions as emanations from the Devil, cut off both him and his adherents from the true church, cursed Rigdon, and " handed hitn over to the buffetiugs of Satan for a thousand years," and was himself elected President by an overwhelming majority. This exhibition of energy silenced all opposition. Those who did not love, feared him ; and all suffered themselves to be led, because they dared not resist, a man so determined to rule. Thus much accomplished, and visions of future power and aggrandizement, perchance of temporal sovereignty, floated through the brain of this modern Mohammed. He dreamed of the kingly robe and the jewelled crown in some far-off valley of the Rocky Mountains, where gentiles or their laws could not annoy the saints, or hinder the normal develop- ment of Mormonism. How and in what manner these dreams came so near fulfilment, will be seen as the reader peruses these pages. » But he did not lose sight of the present in these glowing visions of the future. He completed the Temple, the Man- sion-House was in a forward state, Nauvoo was increasing rapidly, and with it his power and popularity. Brigham, however, with his usual foresight, saw the storm arising. The saints were again to be driven. So he hur- EARLY HISTORY OF BRIOHAM YOUNG. 15 laws ried the people through their endowments, bound them to him by oaths which made them shudder to recall, aud still, by an art equal to that of Loyola, so inwound himself in their affections that they loved and reverenced him the more. He aroused their deepest hatred toward the " gentiles ; " wrought upon their pride, ambition, and revenge, until they were ready to do and dare anything for their religion and their leader. When his power was thus fully established, he revealed to them " the will of the Lord concerning them." They must leave their beautiful Nauvoo, their sacred tem- ple, their altars and their homes, and follow him as the Moses of the new dispensation, and he would find for them a Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, where the gentiles should never come. This was a trial of their faith. Should they yield to the temptation, and, hankering after the flesh>pots of Egypt, lose their birthright ? They wept, they hesitated, but the strong will and iron nerve of Briglinm con- quered, and ilicy obeyed. In February, 1846, they crossed the Missi.-sippi on the ice, and leaving home, property, and kindred, they took up their line of march for the land of the setting sun. As the long trains rolled by, Brigham comforted, counselled, and blessed the weeping emigrants. Ho told them of the land where they should worship " under their own vine and fig- tree, with none to molest or make them afraid." Alas for their fainting hearts I Little did they suspect that the cruel ambition of their God-man would lead them to a land as barren as the Desert of Sahara, and as devoid of vegetation as the Rock of Gibraltar. They established themselves in winter-quarters at Kanes- ville, now Countil Bluffs, Iowa. Here new difficulties arose The church was poor, and means were needed to supply the current necessities, as well as to defray the expense of the journey to their new Zion. Various schemes were resorted to for the purpose of '« raising the wind." A band of Dan- rtes was sent out to steal cattle and horses, aud convey them I le EARLY HISTORY OF BHIGHAM YOUNG. beyond the jurisdiction of the State authorities. Oihen were detailed to make and circulate counterfeit money. While these little speculations were progressing, Brigham was trying his hand at diplom>icy. He is reported to have sent James C. Little to Washington, to request the privilege of raising a battalion of Mormons for the Mexican war. This movement was prompted by several considerations. First, it was thought necessary for the safety of the church that they should make a show of patriotism ; secondly, these soldiers would draw pay from the government, which Brig* ham could appropriate ; and thirdly, they were to be dis- charged in Mexico, where, at that time, he designed to found bis theocratic monarchy. It has been asserted by some per- sons that Brigham received $20,000 from the government, as a bonus, for raising the battalijn ; but 1 find no evidence to substantiate this as^sertion. The following affidavit will ■how in what manner he was benefited by this transaction : — J "Tehritory of Utah, Great Salt Lake City. " Alexander McCord says that be was mustereil into the U. S. service in the Mormon Battalion, August 16th, 1846. That an advance of $42.50 was issued by the government per man, osten- sibly for the purpose of clothing the command, making a total to the battalion of $22,500. That this amount was received by Parley P. Pratt, and fbrwanled by him to Brigham Young, who proffered to apply the same for the benefit of the families of the battalion, who were in a state of destitutiop. That he, Brigham, informed them he would send to St Louis, purchase goods, and deal them out for the benefit of said families at wholesale prices. Also made a covenant with them, calling upon God and angels to witness the same. That he would transport their families to them in Mexico, now California, even if he had to leave his own family behind ; also would provide houses for them. That in his public address to the battalion, in relation to this subject, he strongly urged the advantages that would accrue to his church by their compliance with this requisition, making it entirely a matter of •^If-interest, with the sole view of accomplishing certain private EABLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. I? ends ; and not in artywise appealing to their loyalty, or setting forth the necessity of rendering assistance to the parent govern- ment. ** That he did not fulAl the promises he bad made. Some few articles were served out to their families at enormous rates, — his (McCord's) wife having to take sole-leather, for which she had no use. That when their wives appealed to him, expecting in good faith to receive according to promise, he laughed, mimicked, and made fun of them on the public stand ; showing how they cried and whined. On the arrival of the money at Council Bluffs, some of the women, being entirely destitute, desired their hus- bands' share, and some cried for the want of it Young ridiculed them, and told them if they insisted upon having the money, they must not look t^ him for support or protection ; thus compelling them to accept of his terms. "Two agents, John D. Lee and Major Egan, followed the battalion to Santa Fe, and there received a draA on Leavenworth, for the first month and a half's pay, with the understanding from the soldiers it was to be paid to their families. The authorities of the church drew the amount, and then took out the tithing for themselves, one tenth. '* One of the inducements held out by the government, was to discharge them, with their arms in Mexico, which was done. When he (McCord) arrived in Utah, October, 1847, he found his family not here, and was prevented by the church authorities from going afler them ; and was not permitted to leave until January following. When he reached his family at Winter Quar- ters, Missouri, he found no preparations made for their being for- warded to Utah, and there were none made afterwards. (Signed,) Alexander McCord. " Territory of Utah, ss. " Alexander McCord, being duly sworn, says that the facts set forth in the foregoing statement by him subscribed, of his own knowledge, are true, and those set forth upon information and belief he verily believes to be true. (Signed,) Alexander McCord." , " Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 4th day of May, 1864 "Thomas J. Drake, **As$ociate Justice U. S. Sup. Court, Utah.'* 2 18 EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAH YOUNG. > t I I ! By this operation, BrigliRm must have renlized the neat little sum of $10,000. This enabled him to fit out an expe- dition to explore the coinitry west of the Rocky Mountain!>. Accordingly, in the spring of 1847, with one hundred and forty-three of his tried adherents, he made the journey to Salt Lake, where they arrived July 24, 1847. A wJony was at once established, and a part of the number left to commence farming openaions. Brigham, with the remain- der, returned to " Winter Quarters." Here he found the people on the point of starvation, while fevers and the cholera were rapidly thinning their ranks. Brigham at once com- menced alleviating their suffering, and in the excess of their gratitude, these poor deluded creatures did not see that he was the cause of all their misery. Young wan now ready to enact another scene in this Mor- mon drama. He was ruling the church in the capacity of President of the Twelve Apo.otles. He desired greater power ; he wished to occupy the place of the Prophet of the Lord. This was the more ditficult, as the people venerated the mem- ory of Joseph Smith, sanctified as it was by the remembrance of his cruel and untimely death. Brigham knew well the extent of this feeling, and that it would be impossible to sup- plant Joseph in their affections, and extremely difficult to occupy his position. But his plans demanded that he should be in form what he was in fact, — the ab.^olute head of the church. He resolved to execute a brilliant coup d'etat, and risk the consequences. On the morning of the 24th of December, 1847, he as- cended the pulpit to preach ; and with that power of mimicry and imitation for which he is so remarkable, aided, doubtle>s, by works of art to enable him to represent the features and personnel of Smith, he so completely assumed the tone and manner, and presented the appearance of Joseph, that the congregation believed that their dead prophet stood before them. The effeck was electrical. Women screamed and fainted ; strong men wept ; the delusion was complete. ** Thi EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 19 mantle of Joseph had fallen upon Brigham ;** he was hence* forth Iheir Prophet, Seer, and Rcvelator, the rightful suc- cessor to the Presidency. One old brother told me that he really believed that Joseph was present in the flesh, so strong was the personal resemblance at the time. As soon as the tumult subsided, the people elected Brigham '* President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in all the world." He appointed Heber C. Kimball and Willard Rich- ards as his counsellors. These three constituted the ** First Pi-esidency." This action was subsequently confirmed, at a conference held April 6, 1848, at the same place. Brigham was now the nominal as well as the real leader of this strange community. A greater trial demanded his forethought. The whole church was to be removed over a thousand miles, through an almost unknown country, full of dangers and difficulties. The following account of the manner in which this difficult undertaking was executed, is from the pen of John Hyde, Jr.: — " Some ability is required to efficiently remove bodies of armed troops over such new and pioneering obstacles: well supplied, equipped, and mounted, it takes a commander's skill; but here were poor, unprovided, feeble men, women, and children, shaking with ague, pale with suffisring, hollow and gaunt with recent hun- ger. Without strife, without discord, almost without a murmur, this heterogeneous mass moved off. Many groaned with anguish, but none with complaint. Brigham's energy inspired them all ; his genius controlled them all. Marking their road with their gravestones, they arrived at Salt Lake Valley, destitute and feeble, in 1848. The desert to which they had come was as cheer- less as their past history. From cruel foes they had fled to as unfeeling a wilderness. Renewed difficulties demanded a renewed effort from Brigham. Everything depended on him. Starvation and nakedness stared in the gloomy faces of the desponding people. Murmurs and complaints were uttered. He quelled everything , scolded, plead, threatened, prophesied, and subdued them. ^\ ith a restless but resistless energy he set them 'to work, and worked himself as their example. He directed theur labors, controlled 20 EARLY HISTORY OF BRIOHAM YOUNG. their domeitic affaini, preached at them, to them, for them. Ha told fooluh anecdotes to make them laugh, encouraged their dano« ing to make them merry, got up theatrical performances to distract their minds, and made them work hard, certain of rendering them contented by-and-by. Feared with a stronger fear, venerated with a more rational veneration, but not loved with the same clinging tenderness that the people still felt for Joseph Smith, Brigham swayed them at his will. They learned to dread his iron hand, and were daunted by his iron heart." * While be was thus consolidating his power, laying plans for the foundation of a monarchy more despotic than that of Austria, im^iortant chaugCA were going on in the political condition of the country. Mexico was conquered, and much of its territory, including Utah, was annexed to the United States, and the Mormons thus again brought within the juris- diction of the Federal Government. From this era in Mormon affairs Brigham appears in »o many different characters that his history can only be fully written by considering him in his various to/m, — as *' Gov- ernor of Utah and Superintendent of Indian Affairs ; " *' Pres- ident of the Church, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator;**'* Trustee in Trust for the Church ;" ** President of the Emigration Com- pany ; " " Lord of the Harem ; " « Eloheim, or Head God ; - and <* Grand Archee of the Order of the Gods." • JUormmism ; it$ Leaden and Detigtu, by John Hyde, Jr. New Toik W. P. FeUridge & Co. 1857. Page 144. m :»it^ ■'.-,* CHAPTER IL POLITICAL. Brigham as Governor of Utah and Superintendent of Indian Affain.— Formation of the Stale of Deseret. — Proceedings of the Utah Legishk> ture. — Brighanrs Proclamations. — Difficulties with the Fedeml Offl> cers. — Proceedings of the first Judges. Bt the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, concluded between the United States and Mexico in 1848, the country now em- braced in the Temiory of Utah was transferred from the jurisdiction of the latter to that of the former, and on the 9th of September, 1850, Congress passed an Act to organize the Territory of Utah. The Mormons arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on the 24th of July, 1847, while the Territory yet belonged to Mexico. When the peace between the United States and Mexico was concluded, the Mormons were left without a government. They took advantage of this opportunity to set up an inde- pendent government. Early in 1849 they met in convention to frame a consti- tution for " the State of Deseret." The following is an ab- stract of the minutes of that convention : — On the loth of March, 1849, the convention appointed the following pei^ons a committee to draft a constitution for the State of Deseret, to wit : Albert Cnrrington, Joseph L. Heywood, William W. Phelps, David P'ullmer, John S. Fullmer, Charles C. Rich, John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, John M. Bernhcisel, and Ernstus Snow. March 18, 1849, Albert Carringtun, chairman of the com- mittee, re|)orted the following constitution, which was read. i i \\ 22 I'OLITICAf. and unnnimuusly ndoptud by the convention : [The preamble only is here given.J ''Constitution op tiik State of Desekbt. *' Whvruas a lar^je number of the citizen!! of the United Stateit, before and since the treaty of peace with the Kepubliu of Mexico, emigrated to and settled in that portion of the territory of the United States lying went of the Rocky Mountains, aneur in Ute fullowing |)ftgi««> The forintitiun of this governnuiit for the State of Deseret was the fir->t effort lo throw off the yoke of the Federal Gov- ernment, — un effort which has been perbisteully persevered in to the precteiit time. ' There never ha^ been a time since Brigham Young crossed the Rocky Mountuiiis, when he has honestly entertained the idfa of being a good and loyal citizen of the United States. The following were the first officers of this infant mon- archy : — Governor, Brioham Youno. Lieutenant-Governor, Heber C. Kimball. Chief Justice, Daniel H. Wells. The Assembly met, and after listening to the Governor's Message, proceeded to frame a code of hiws. This pseudo Slate government remained in force until the 22d of Septem- ber, 1851, when the Territorial Legislature convened. In the mean time Brigham, having been nppuiiited Gov- ernor of the newly organized Territory, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and seeing a fair prospect of lining his fiockets from the treatiury of the United States, concluded to forego ibr a time his ambitious projects, and consented that the new *" State " ^bould be merged into a United States Territory. The federal officers were n[)pojnted during the session of 1850-51, but owing to the difficulty of transportation, did not arrive until July, 1851. Young, who had been appointed Governor, had, on the 3d of February, 1851, taken the oath of office befoi-e Wells, Chief Justice of Deseret. The first session of the Territorial Legislature was con- vened, in pursuance of the proclamation of the Governor, on the '22d day of September, 1851, and continued by adjourn- ment from time to time, until the 18th day of February. 1852. Tins was succeeded by a special ses^ioD, called by 24 POUTldAL. pi-oclamation of the Governor, commencing the following da/, and continuing until the 6th day of Murch, 1852. What there was in the political condition of this community, sub- jected as they were, in almocit all the relations of life, to a complete and comprehensive system of religious government, to require a continuous sessiion of the Territorial Legiskture lor nearly six months, has never yet been explained. The tbliowing is extracted from the published proceedings of the first Legislative Assembly : — - **RBrBBSE2rrATiVEs' Hall, Tuesday, Sept 23, 1859. ** 10 o'clock, A. M. Both houses of the Legislative Assembly met in jdnt session, according to previous arrangement. The President of the Council in the chair. " The committee appointed to that duty appeared, escorting his Excellency Brigham Young, Governor of Utah Tenitory, who was seated immediately in front of the Speaker's chair. ** The joint committee appointed to wait upon the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the Secretary of the Territory, appeared, escorting the Hon. Z. Snow [Mormon], one of said Judges. They reported that they had visited the Hon. Perry E. Broehus, and Mr. Secretary Harris. But the answer returned by them was so vague and indefinite that they did not know whether they would res|)ond to the invitation or not The committee also re|)orted that they did not see the Hon. Judge Brandenburg. The United States District Attorney, Seth M. Blair, Esq., [Mormon,] was also seated within the bar." The hostility to the federal officers had already been ra openly and offensively manifested, that the recpect which these gentlemen owed to tfaijmselves and the government and ptrople whom they represented, would not permit them to be present at the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly. It will be noticed that one of them was not seen at all, and ih^ reply of the other two was not even reported I " The House was called to order by the President of the Coun- cil, who then informed his Excellency the Governor, that the two Houses were now ready to receive any communication he might be pleased to make." POLITICAL. 25 The Governor then presented his Message, as follows : — " Fellow-citizens of the Council and House of Representatives of Utah Territory : — »♦ Having called you from your various avocations to convene in general assembly at an earlier day, and upon shorter notice than may appear desirable, I will proceed without delay to lay before you the chief reason for so doing, as well as such other sug- gestions as to me shall appear necessary and proper, and as shall occur to my nnnd." . . . " Through the munificence of the General Government, we have extended unto us increased facilities for spending our time for the public weal; for, however much the honest pride of gratuitous public service may flatter its humble recipient, yet whilst it im- poverishes all but his honorable name and his country's cause, his anxieties will scarcely be lulled, his daily supplies but rarely re- plenished." He again addressed them, January 5, 1852 : — *' . . The enjoyment of a free and independent people can be accomplished only through this principle : produce what you consume. Draw from the native elements the necessaries of life ; permit no vitiated taste to lead you into expensive luxuries, which can only be obtained by involving yourselves in debt. Let home industry produce every article of home consumption." . . This Legishiture, besides passing a code of laws for the government of the Territory, sent some twenty memorials to Congress, most of them calling for appropriations of public money, and divided up the canyons, ferries, pasture-lands, woodlands, water privileges, and, in fact, all the most valu- able portion of the public domain, among prominent " saints," giving always to Brigham the " lion's " share. To this ho was entitled by his recognized appellation of " the Lion of the Lord." To this day he holds, by virtue of an Act of the Lcfii-la- ture, the most valuable canyon, near Salt Lake, called City Creek, or Brigham's Canyon, — having taken actual posses- sion of the same, by fencing in the mouth of the canyon com- 3 26 POLITICAL. pletely, and thus preventing nil ingress or egress, except upon the payment of toll. General Connor, upon his arrival in Utah, in the fall of 18G2, was justly indignant to find himself fenced out from one of the national thoroughfares, but thought it prudent not to add to the causes of irritation by interfering. During this session Brigham issued eight proclamations. The followuig is the most celebrated of these State Papers : — "Territory op Utah. " A Proclamation for a Day of Praise and Thanksgiving. '* It having pleased the Father of all good to make known his mind and will to the children of men in tliese last days, and through the administration of his angels to restore the holy priest- hood unto the sons of Adam, by which the gospel of bis Son has been proclaimed, and the ordinances of life and salvatio'n are ad- ministered ; and through which medium the Holy Ghost has been communicated to believing, willing, and honest minds; causing faith, wisdom, and intelligence to spring up in the buarts of men, and influencing them to flow together, from the four tpiarters of the earth, to a land of peace and health, rich in mineral and vege- table resources, reserved of old in the councils of eternity for the purposes to which it is now appropriated ; a land choice above all other lands ; far removed from the strife, contentions, divisions, moral and physical commotions, that are disturbing the peace of the nations and kingdoms of the earth, -^ " I, Brigham Young, Governor of the Territory aforesaid, in response to the time-honored custom of our fathers at Plymouth Rock, by the governors of the several States and Territories, and with a heart filled with humiliation and gratitude to the Fountain of all good, for his multiplied munificence to his children, have fnlt desirous to, and Ao^ proclaim Thursday, the 1st day of January, eighteen hundred and fifVy-two, a Day of Praise and Thanks- giving, for the citizens of this our peaceful Territory, In honor of the God of Abraham, who has preserved his children amid all the vicissitudes they have been called to pass ; for his" tender mercies in preserving the nation undivided in which we live ; for causing the gospel of his kingdom to spread and take root upon the earth, beyond the power of men and demons to destroy ; and that he POLITICAL. 27 :sgiving. 3 known his t days, and I holy priest- his Son has lion are ad- lost has been ids; causing jarts of men, r (luarters of i-al and vege- jrnity for the )ice above all ins, divisions, the peace of aforesaid, in at Plymouth irritories, and the Fountain ren, have felt of January, and Thanka- )r, in honor of amid all the endcr mercies 5 ; for causing pon the earth, and that he has promised a day of universal joy and rejoicing to all the inhab- itants who shall remain when the earth shall have been purified by fire, and rest in peace. " And I recommend to all good citizens of Utah, that they ab- stain from everything which is calculated to mar or grieve the spirit of their Heavenly Father on that day ; that they rise early in the morning of the first day of the new year, and wash their bodies with pure water; that all men attend to their flocks and herds with carefulness, and see that no creature in theur charge is hungry, thirsty, or cold ; while the women are preparing the best of food for their households, and their children ready to receive It in cleanliness and cheerfulness ; then let the head of each family with his family, bow down upon his knees before the God of Israel, and acknowledge all his sins, and the sins of his household ; call upon the Father, in the name of Jesus, for every blessing that he desires for himself, his kindred, the Israel of God, the universe of man ; praying with full purpose of heart and united faith that the union of the United States m&y be preserved inviolate, against all the devices of wicked men, until truth shall reign triumphant, and the glory of Jehovah shall fill the earth. Then, in the name of Jesus, ask the Father to bless your food ; and when you have filled the plates of your household, partake with them with rejoic- ing and thanksgiving ; and if you feel to make merry in your hearts, sing a song of thanksgiving ; and lift up your hearts con- tinually, in peace and acknowledgment of the unbounded mercies you are momentarily receiving. " I also request of all good and peaceful citizens, that they ab- stain from all evil thinking, speaking, and acting, on,, that day; that no one be offended by his neighbor ; that all jars and discords cease ; that neighborhood broils may be unknown ; that tattlers and strife may not be remembered ; that evil surmising may be forgot- ten ; that all may learn the truth, and have no need of priests to teach them ; that all may be well, and have no need of doctors ; that all may cease their quarrels, and starve the lawyers ; that all may do as they would be done unto, so that perfect love, which casteth out all fear, may reign triumphant, and there shall be nothing to disturb the quiet of an infant in all the Territory of Utah; that there be no contention in the land; and that the same peace may extend its influence to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, and from thence to the habitation of every man 28 POLITICAL. \ And beast, to the ends of the earth ; till the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and the babe shall lay his hand upon the cockatrice's den, and find peace to its soul. " I further request, that when the day has been spent in doin^; good, in dealing your bread, your butter, your beef and your pork, your turkeys, your molasses, and the choicest of all the products of the valleys of the mountains, at your command, to the poor; that you end the day in the same order, and on the same principle that you commenced it ; that you eat your supper with singleness of heart, as unto the Lord, afler praise and thanksgiv- ing, and songs of rejoicing ; remembering that you cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit, and be preparing for celestial glory, while the meanest menial under your charge or control is in want of the smallest thing which God has given you power to supply ; remembering that it is dependent on you for its comforts, as you are dependent on your God for your constant support. " Retire to your beds early, that you may be refreshed, and rise early again, and so continue, until times and seasons are changed ; or finally, I say unto you, let the same process be con- tinued from day to day, until you arrive unto one of the days of Kolob, [where a day is 1000 of our years,] the planet nearest to the habitation of the Eternal Father ; and if you do not find peace and rest to your souls by that time, in the practice of these things, and no one else shall present himself to offer you better counsel, I will be there, and knowing more, will tell you what you ought to do next " Done at the Executive Office, Great Salt Lake City. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Territory to he aflSxed, this 19th day of December, A. d. 1851, and of the Independence of the United States the seventy-sixth. "By the Governor, BRIGHAM YOUNG. > " W. Richards, Sec. pro tern., appointed by the Governor." Amidst the verbosity of this singular document will be seen expressions of attachment to the Federal Union. 'Ilie sincerity of these professions must be judged of in the light of his contemporaneous acts. The officers appointed by the «- r««AiM] POLITICAL. 29 Greneral Government were then in the States, or at Washing- ton, representing truly the condition of things in Utah, and tlie conduct of Brigham and his associates, which effectually obliged them to leave the Territory, by rendering their pres- ence in Utah not only useless but dangerous. It is for our readers to sny how much weight is to be given to that portion of the fulmination of the Prophet put forth under such cir- cumstances. At this first session of the Legislature, Brigham proceeded to give, in his Message, his views in relation to African slavery, fully indorsing it, and prescribing regulations for its establishment in the Territory. Ilis views upon this subject may be gathered from the following extract : •— '^ Thus while servitude may and should exist, and that too upon those who are naturally designed to occupy the position of servant of servants, yet we should not fall into the other extreme, and make them as beasts of the field, regarding not the humanity that is in the colored race ; nor elevating them, as some seem disposed, to an equality with those whom nature and nature's God has indi- cated to be their masters, their superiors." In accordance with the foregoing suggestions, the Legisla- ture passed a law regulating slavery in the Territory, and it has existed in full force and eflTect to the present time. There are now a considerable number of African slaves in the Territory, and a large number of Indians, " held to service." During the same session, the Legislature memorialized the President, setting forth that the federal officers had aban- doned the Territory ; reciting the formation of the provisional government of Deseret, and complaining that " all the author- ities of the Territory', including the governor and both houses of the Assembly, and marshal, had been set at nnught as exercising their functions illegally and unponslitutionnlly." The causes which led to this petition were as follows : — When the Territory was organized, in the winter of 1850- 61, the following named officers were appointed : — Brigham Young, Governor ; Lemuel C. Brandenburg, Chief Justice ; 80 POLITICAL. Perry E. Brochus and Zcrubbabel Snow, Associate Justioei Seth M. Blair, Attorney General, and B. D. Harris, Secre- tary. These officers did not arrive in Utah until July, 1851. Previous to their arrival, Brighara Young had issued a pro- clamation ordering an election fur delegate to Congress and members of the Legislature, and providing for taking the census. The Secretary considered that Young had exceeded his authority, and on this ground refused to pay over the moneys in his hands for the expenses of the Legislature. The Supreme Court being then in session, Harris applied to the court for an injunction to stay the proceedings of the Legislature, which the court granted. This order, however, was nugatory, as the court had no power to enforce its judg- ments. This, of course, enraged the Mormons ; and the Gov- ernor instructed Blair, the District Attorney, who was a Mormon, to sue out a writ of injunction upon the Secretary, to prevent him from taking the money out of the Territory. The court decided against the injunction, thus again sustain- ing the Secretary. Again, Congress had appropriated $20,000 for the erec- tion of suitable buildings at the capital of the Territory. Brigham and his tools, the members of the Legislature, at- tempted to appropriate this money, and in exchange, palm off upon the government, for $20,000, a building which never cost over $8,000. These circumstances engendered much feeling between the Mormons and the gentile officers ; and this was in nowise lessened by an incident which occurred about this time. Hon. Perry E. Brochus, one of the Supreme Judges, in some remarks made in a Mormon assembly, commented rather severely upon the peculiar institution. He com- menced by addressing the women upon the subject of ; oirlt- ual wife-ism ; pointing out to them its wickedness and the unhappy results that must follow to them and to their chil- dren, if the practice should be persisted in. He said it was POLITICAL. 81 against the laws of man ^d God. Tliis was undoubtedly the first time, at Salt Lake, that a gentile had ever spoken in public against Mormon institutions. The women were excited ; the most of thera were in tears, before he liad spoken many minutes. The men were aston- ished and enragt'd, and one word of encouragement from their leader would have brought on a collision. Brigham, with his usual shrewdness, saw this, and was equal to the occasion. When the Judge sat down, he ros^e, and by one of those strong, nervous appeals, for wliieh he is so famous among his brethren, restored tlie equilibrium of the audi- ence. Tho«e who, but a moment before, were bathed in tears, now responded to his broad sarcasm and keen wit, in screams of laughter ; and having fully restored the spirits of the audience, be turned to the Judge, and administered the following rebuke : " I will kick you," he said, " or any other gentile Judge from this stand, if you or they again attempt to interfere with the affairs of our Zion." The Judge saw that he was beaten, and finding his life threatened and in danger, soon after left the Territory. After his departure, Brigham preached the following ser- mon : — " I am at the defiance of the rulers of the greatest nations on the earth, with the United States all put together, to produce a more loyal people than the Latter Day Saints. Have they, as a people, broken any law ? No, they have not. Have the United States ? Yes. They have trampled the Constitution under their feet with impunity, and ridden recklessly over all law, to perse- cute and drive this people. Admit, for argument's sake, that the Mormon elders have more wives than one, yet our enemies never have proved it. If I had forty wives in the United States, they did not know it, and could not substantiate it ; neither did I ask any lawyer, judge, or magistrate for them. I live above law, and 80 do this people. Do the laws of the United States require us to crouch and bow down to the miserable wretches who violate then*? No! '*I defy the world to prove that we have infringed upon that 82 POLITICAL. *•■ law. Tou may circumscribe the whole earth, and pass through every Christian nation, so called, and what do you find ? If you tell them a * Mormon ' has two wives, they are shocked, and call it dreadful blasphemy. If you whisper such a thing in the ears of a gentile, who ta<£cs a fresh woman every night, he is thunder- struck with the enormity of the crime. .' . . . " Now, let me tell you the great, killing story. ' Governor Young has sixteen wives and fourteen babies.' Now, they did not see that sight, but the circumstance was as follows : I took some of my neighbors into the large carriage, and rode down to Father Chase's to eat watermelons. When driving out of the gate, in the evening. Brother Babbitt walks up, and I invited him into the carriage, and he rode up into the city with me, and I suppose he told the United States officers. That, I believe, is the way the story of the sixteen wives and fourteen children first came into circulation. " But this does not begin to be the extent of my possessions, for I am enlarging on the right hand and on the left ; and shall soon be able, Abraham- 1 ike, to muster the strength of my house, and take my rights, asking no favors of judges or secretaries." At another time he used the following language : — " When the officers returned from this Territory to the States, did we send them away ? We did not. I will tell you %vhat I did, and what I will do again. I did chastise the poor, mean ruffian, — the poor, miserable creatnre who came here by the name of Brochus,— when he arose before this people, to preach to them, and tell them of meanness which he supposed they Avere guilty of, and traduce their characters. " It is true, as it is said in the report of these officers, if I had crooked my little finger he would have been used up. But I did not bend it. If I had, the sisters alone felt indignant enough to have chopped him in pieces. I did not iid drank with them, and was considered a " hail-fellow well met." There was, however, some difficulty between the Judge and the Prophet, the nature of which was not distinctly known. The difficulty increased, and one morning the Judge was found dead in his bed. The heads of the church took great pains to have the affiiir investigated, and came to the conclusion that the Judge had died of some *' disease of the head." He was followed to the grave by a large concourse of people, and preceded by a band of music. Less regard would be paid to these invidious reports, were it not for the fact that Brigham Young's connection with the violent death of divers other persons is too notorious to be denied. To say nothing of the Mountain Meadow maSi^acre, in which he is distinctly implicated by evidence of an over- whelming character, there are other cases in which his agency in causing in some way the death of the party, is scarcely denied by himself. For instance, the death of Almon W. Babbitt, at the hiinds of '' Indiana," on the Plains. In the summer of 18G2, Brigham was referring to this affair, in a tea-table conversa- tion, at which Judge Waite and the writer of this were pres- ent. On that occasion, afler making some remarks to im- press upon the minds of those present the necessity of main- taining friendly relations between the federal officers and the POLITICAL. 85 authorities of the church, he used language substantially af follows: — •• There is no need of any difficulty, and there need bo none, If the officers do their duty, and mind their own affairs. If they do not, if they undertake to interfere in affairs that do not con- cern them, I will not be far off. There was Altnon W. Babbitt. He undertook to quarrel with me, but soon a/lerwards was killed by Indians. He lived like a fool, and died like a fool." People determined to believe only that Brigham Young is a good citizen, and that he and his people are mostly in the right in their difficulties with the federal ofllicers, will doubtless be able to put an innocent construction upon the foregoing language. But to the minds of those who heard it, and who were most interested in its meaning, it never had but one signification, and went far to disclose the dark and damning character of the man. But to return to our narrative. Judge Reed seems to have been more fortunate in his intercourse with these people. The Mormons wished to eradicate fVom his mind all unfavor- able impreiisions created by the sudden departure of his predecessors. They therefore treated him with marked con- sideration. They hoped, through his influence, to reinstate themselves with the authorities at Washington, and they partially succeeded. The Judge formed quite a favorable opinion of the Mormons, though not indorsing the adminis- tration of Brigham Young. He remained in the valley about a year, and then went to the States, intending to re- turn, but died suddenly, while at his home, in Bath, Steuben County, New York. CHAPTER III. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. CoL Steptoe and Brigham Young. — Brigham reappointed Governor. — John F. Kinney. — Western Utah, or Nevada. — Letter of Hon. Jamet M. Crane. — Judge Stiles and the Records. — W. W. Drummond. In 1854 Col. Steptoe, with about 300 men, came to Salt Lake. His command was intended for California and Ore- gon, but spent the winter of 1854-55 at Salt Lake City. About this time John F. Kinney, of Iowa, was appointed Chief Justice, to succeed Reed, and George P. Stiles, Asso- ciate Justice ; Joseph Hollraan, also of Iowa, Attorney-Gen- eral, and Almon W. Babbitt, Secretary. In the spring of 1855, W. W. Drummond, of Illinois, was appointed Asso- ciate Justice. During the winter of 1854-55, news reached Salt Lake that President Pierce had commissioned Col. Steptoe as Governor of Utah. This alarmed the saints exceedingly. The Lion of the Lord was roused. Something must be done. Col. Steptoe had the appointment under consideration for several weeks, and finally rf/used to accept it, and joined with Chief Justice Kinney and others in recommending the continuance in office of Governor Young. The question naturally arises, Why did Col. Steptoe re- fuse to accept the appointment, and recommend Brigham Young ? Mormons would tell you, in confidence, that Brig- ham ** put a hook in his nose," and he was compelled to do as he did. The Prophet of the Lord had said he would be Governor, and no power but the Lord Almighty could hin- der it. r(M^ITICAL HISTOBT CONTINUED. 87 Daring and anscrupulous as a brigand, having the meani at his commanrr and the ingenuity to use them, why should he not outwit the government and deceive the people of the United States ? He was determined not to relinquish, with- out an effort to retain them, the power and emoluments of his position. The following narrative of the manner in which he accomplished his purposes, has been furnbhed by a Mormon who was re^f^iding in Salt Lake City at the time, and the employment of similar appliances on more than ouo occasion afterward, gives the coloring of truth to the story. There were in Suit Lake City, at that time, two beautiful and fascinating women, one of whom was by marriage nearly related to the Prophet; the other was an actress in the church theatre. Their husbands were both " on a mission." These ladies were a great deal iu the society of Col. Steptoe and his officei'S. Much attention M'as paid to the military officers, and it would be but natural that these men should be both pleased and flattered by the attention of sisters occu- pying so high a place in the hierarchy. According to report, however, the character of these women was not such as their exalted position in the church would seem to require. One evening Brigliam called *Hhe girls" to him, and ex- plained that he had a plan in which he needed their assist- ance. They at once consented to do anything he might de- sire. The plan was soon agreed upon. He placed his Dan- ites at a convenient distance around the Colonel's olilce, and calmly awaited developments. In a short time one of the ^ police " came to the Prophet, and signified that it was time for him to appear on the field. He went immediately down to the Colonel's office, which was on Main Street, and knocked for admittance. For some time no one responded, but the knocking continuing violently, Col. Steptoe asked who was there. " Brigham Young," said the angry Prophet ; " and I want to come in, and I will come in." At this Steptoe opened the door, and Brigham entered the front office. He seemed excited, and without being seated, asked if Mary 38 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Ill and Mrs. were there ; adding, — "I want the girls." I Steptoe denied their presence ; but could a prophet be de- ceived ? "I know better," said he ; "I know they are here ; ** at the same time walking into the back office. There, on the sofa, sat two young gentlemen dre. ernmental organizations. One thing is inevitable, — the Mormons and Anti-Mormons will never, and can never live together in peace, under one government. The conflicts which took place between them in Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa, and which are now going on in Utah, ought to convince any intelligent man of the justice and truth of this declaration. Indeed, the Mormons themselves acknowledge it ; and so long as they adhere to their belief, — a belief founded upon their own scriptures, — that an absolute theocracy is the only government under which they can and should live, they never will be loyal to our government and countrymen, and hence their hostility to our institutions and peo- ple, and their inflexible devotion to their own. *■ 44 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. " In every State where the Mormons have lived, it has cost the loyal people of the State thousaiida of dollars, as well as the loss of many lives, to compel them to obey the laws. In every instance they have resisted our laws, and in every State necessity demanded their expulsion. "In Utah, while they were charged with the administration of the government and execution of the laws, they proved them- selves not only traitors to our people, but treaclierous to the gov- ernment, and openly rebelled against them and defied their author- ity, and it cost the Federal Government millions to conquer them. They have still control of the Territory, and they are inflexibly bent upon subduing the Anti -Mormons of Western Utah; and if the latter are not separated from them, and protected by law, it will require the expenditure of millions more to restore order in Utah. Congress can count the cost in this matter, while we will have the melancholy duty of burying our dead. Tlie people of Nevada will never be conquered, — never be ruled by the Mor- mons. Come what will, they will resist to the bitter end. They prefer death to dishonor, and the government may choose which of these shall be meted out to them. ** In addition to the above considerations, which should, I be- lieve, present conclusive and imposing evidence, sufficiently satis- factory to induce Congress to organize the Territory of Nevada, I may likewise mention others. " While the people of Western Utah have, in the Mormons, open and avowed enemies, they have likewise the savage tribes to defend themselves against. Some of these tribes are professed Mormons, while others are under their influence. Many conflicts have taken place between the Christians and some of these tribes, as well as between the emigrants, while crossing the Plains to the North Pacifle, and the aforesaid savages ; and there is no hope of establishing amicable relations with these Indian tribes, until they are brought under other and better relations with the Anti-Mor- mons of Utah. Peace docs not reign in Utah, and never will, under the present order of things *' When our common country shall call forth her sons to defimd her rights, the people of Nevada will come forth. They will be ready and willing to meet the enemy, on the beach and on the frontier, with a sword in one hand and a torch in the other. They will dispute every inch of ground, burn every blade of grass, and POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 45 the last Intrenchment of liberty vrill become their graves, rather than permit a foruign enemy to contaminate the soil of our coun< try. Can this be said of the Mormons ? I think not. If we can protect our countrymen abroad, why sliould we not, on' our own soil? " Very respectfully, yours, *' James M. Cranr, " Delegate elect from Nevada, "ToHon.Wm. Smith." " Having read the above statement of Judge Crane, delegate from the proposed Territory of Nevada, I will state from my own observation, having resided in the Territory of Utah for over three years, for a portion of which tin)e I was in Carson Valley, that I heartily concur with him, and fully indorse his statement in rela- tion to the condition of things in Western Utah, and seriously believe that the wants and necessities of the people of that por- tion of the Territory demand its immediate organization. *' Gkokoe p. Stiles, ' ^^ Late Associate Justice /or Utah." Nevada was erected into a Territory, and has roade rapid and gigantic strides in all the essentials of a high civiliza- tion. Her mines are celebrated throughout the world, i 'id she annually adds millions of dollars to the circulation of the country. Already are her valleys teeming with the life of the hus- bandman, and her soil yielding up its rich harvests of golden grain, for the sustenance of her brave and patriotic sons. She has sent several hundred men into the field, and with uuskaken loyalty stands ready to send more, if the cause of her country calls, — thus literally fulfilling the promise of Judge Crane made in the foregoing letter. Mark the con- trast between loyal and Christian Nevada, and disloyal and Mohammedan Utah ! One rushing on to a glorious and happy de-tiny, and the other falling rapidly back into the habits and customs of heathen nations. The genius of Lib- erty sits enthroned among the mountains of free Nevada, while despotbm of the most hideous character clanks her ^4« 46 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. cfiains in Utnh. May iUe day of deliverance for the op- pressed thousands of Utah sooti dawn. Then will she take her place among her sisters in the family of States, and the hand of oppression be no more felt in all her fair borders. When Brigliain Young found that the gentile element v.as gaining groimd rapidly in Carson County, his Legislature attached it to Great Salt Lake County, for judicial and other purposes. A large number of Mormons were sent on to colonize, and if pu.-sible to retain, the fertile Valley of Ne- vada. These missionaries were recalled in 1857, as well as many others, who were settling in different parts of Cali- fornia. Slowly and sullenly they relinquished their hold upon this rich and prosperous poilion of the Republic. It rapidly ad- vanced in population, and not only prospered as a Territory, as already mentioned, but has lately been admitted as one of the States of the Union. The admission of Nevada, carved out of Utah, while the mother Territory still remains out in the cold, ought to be a sufficient hint that Congress and the people of the United States are not yet prepared for the establishment in their midst of a polygamic monarchy. Judge Stiles returned to Salt Lake City, and there held several courts. In the fall of I806 a conflict arose, in regard to the juris- diction of the United States Marshal. Heretofore this officer had acted with the Mormons, and all had passed off smoothly. But a real gentile was now appointed, and this was the sig- nal for Mormon opposition. The Mormons claimed that the Territorial Marshal, instead of the United States Marshal, should act in the United States courts when doing territorial business. The United States Marshal contended that he should officiate in all business transacted in the United States courts, whether sitting as federal or territorial courts. Judge Stiles issued certain writs, directed to the officer, which he found it impossible to serve. The people, instigated by the Mormon leaders, refused to obey the precepts of the court, POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 47 and set at naught its authoriiy, proclaiming that the time had come when their laws, and none others, sliould be en t'urced in Utah. Tlio question of jurisdiction was brought before (he court, and James Ferguson, Uosea Stuut, and J. C. Little, Mormon lawyers, loudly demanded that the Judge should decide in their favor. Ferguson, backed by au armed mob, told Judge Stiles, in open court, that if he dared to decide contrary to their wishes, be '* would take him from the bench d — d quick " ; that the boys were there to do it, and he, with others, by threats and intimidations, finally compelled the Judge to adjourn bis court. Judge Stiles then appealed to Brigham Young, as Gov- ernor of the Tenitory, to sustain hiui, und protect him in the discharge of h.s duties. In reply, he was coolly told that " the courts had already cost liim [Brigham] too much trouble ; (hat the boys had got their spunk up, and he would not interfere." He advised him, *^ if he could not sustain and enforce their [the United States] laws and institutions, the sooner he adjourned bis court the better." These proceedings had a tendency to bring the Judge into disrepute with the Mormons. Thomas Williams, a lawyer, had his otHce with Judge Stiles, on Muhi Street. Williams, though a Mormon, was an independent man, and had openly opposed Brigham on some question of politics, lie hod also denounced some prominent murders, and was becoming obnoxious, and even dangerous, to Brigham and his com- peers. The Prophet once said to Williams's father and mother: **If Tom don't behave himself better, and stop cau^ing me trouble, I must attend to him." Soon after, Williams apostatized, and started for California, intending to remain, and send back for his family. He met the fate of Babbitt. He was waylaid and killed by '* Indians " on the Plains. It is well understood at Salt Lake that these were white Indians, and that Williams was put to death by order of the church authorities. 48 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. The records of the United States District Courts were in Judge Stiles's office. He, and Williams also, had a goud many law buoki«, which weie private piopurty. Brigham asserted tliat the records were sufl'ered to *' lie around loose," and suggested to tiie boys that tliey had better be cared for. This was suiHcient, and "the boys" proceeded to "'tend to it." James Ferguson, Hiram B. Cluwson, and several others, re- paired to the office of tlie Judge when he was absent, and stationing one of the number to watch, they gathered up the records of the courts, first of all, and conveyed them to a fire-aud*burglar-proof-tiafe, belonging to Young, and under the control of Clawson, who was his confidential clerk and son-in-law. Having deposited them safely, they returned, and taking some of the Judge's papers, tore them in pieces, and scat- tered them over the floor, and in the direction of an outhouse. About the same time a large number of the law books found their way into the houses of certain Mormon lawyers, where they have ever since remained. They then took some of the books from the office, and placed them in the outhouse, set fire to the building, and burned it to the ground. When Judge Stiles returned he found the office robbed, and the books and papers, as he su|)posed, burned. Thus all business was suspended, and the records of the United States Courts and government property burned and stolen from the custody of the legal auiboriiies. Judge Stiles left Utah in the spring of 1857, and when in Washington, made affidavit to the foregoing facts. It may be well here to state that Judge S. was entirely conscientious in making his affidavit, and the prevailing impression in the community was that the records had been destroyed. In the summer of 1855 W. W. Drummond, of Illinois, arrived in Utah, as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Mormons allege that he deserted his wife, and brought with him a mistress. This caused much righteous indigna- tion among the saints ! The Judge al-^o professed to be a POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 49 jre in many serted '» and ', ThU to a:* urs, re- nt, and up tlie m to a 1 under lerk and 1 taking nd seat- )UthoU8C. )k8 found rs, where me of the house, set ;e ro ibbed, rds of the rned and warm friend and advocate of Senator Douglas, whom the Mormons hate. When Drummond was about to hold court, be intimated that he would set aside all judgments rendered by probate Judges, and annul all their proceedings, except such as per- tained to the usual and legitimate business of the probate courts. Here was a direct issue, and a conflict was inevit- able. The court being about to be held in Fillmore, a Jew waa hired for $25 to quarrel with Drummond. As a part of the programme, also, he was to strike the Judge. The Jew played his part, except the blow, which, for want of opportu- nity or courage, was omitted. Instead of this he sent to the Judge an insulting message, by the hands of a colored " boy " belonging to Drummond. The boy was sent back with a raw hide, and instructions to " lay on " the same to the back of the Israelite, which Cutfy obeyed with much spirit. G)m- plaint was made by the Jew to a local magistrate. A war- rant was issued, and Drummond and his negro were both arn'sted. Tlie result of this emeute was a sort of compromise, in which it was understood that the Judge should not interfere with the probate courts, and he was set at liberty. After adjourning his court at Fillmore, Drummond located in Utah County in the winter of 1856. The following sum- mer he went to Carson to hold court forjudge Stiles. Thence he proceeded to California and to the States, and as the Mor- mons allege " contributed largely to the getting up of Bu- thanan's crusade." 6 CHAPTER IV. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. — THE MORMON WAR. Report of the S(*cretary of War. — rroclaination of Gov. Bri^^ham Young declaring Martial Law> — CorrcHpondcnce. — Sermons uf Young and Kimball. — Proclamution of Gov. Cuniming. — His Kclio Canyon Ad- ventures. — Col. Kane. — The Mormons leave Salt Lake. — Commis- sioncrs appointed by the President. — Peace restored. Br these and similar outrages the Mormons had succeeded in ridding themselves of all the federal authoritiet), and were really in open rebellion against the Federal Govern- ment. As Congress was not in session, the matter was taken in hand by Floyd, Secretary of War, and President Buchanan. After due consultation it was deemed advisable to appoint new men to all the civil offices of the Territory, and to ac- company them with a military force sufficient for their pro- tection and the enforcement of the laws. Accordingly, Pres- ident Buchanan, during the summer of 1857, made the fol- lowing appointments for Utah : — Governor, A. Cumming ; Chief Justice, D. R. Eckels ; Associate Justices, John Cra- dlebaugh and Charles E. Sinclair; Secretary, John Hart- nett. An army of about 3000 men was aimed and equipped, and ordered to march for Utah, early in the fall of 1857. Brevet Brigadier-General W. S. Harney was originally named as commander of this force, but it was subsequently deemed inadvisable to detach that otficer from the special duties of his department in Kansas, and the troops sent to Utah were placed under the orders of Col. A. S. Johnson. THE MORMON WAR. 61 f WAR. im Young roung w»d Janyon Atl- succeeded rUiea, and il Govern- 9 ttiken in BucUanft"' to appoint ^ and to ac- ,r t\»eir pro- ingly, Pres- [ade the fol- . Camming; [:>, John Cra- Jo\m Hart- The Secretary of War, in his report, dated December 5 1867, says : — •* The Territory of Utah is peopled almost exclusively by the religious sect known as Mormons. . . . They have substituted for tho laws of the laud a theocracy, having for its head an indi- vidual whom they profess to believe a prophet of God. "This Prophet demands obedience, and receives it implicitly from his people, in virtue of what he assures them to be authority derived from revelations received by him from Heaven. When- ever he finds it convenient to exercise any special command, these opportune revelations of a higher law come to his aid. From his decrees there is no appeal ; against his will there is no resist- ance. . • . *' From the first hour they fixed themselves in that remote and almost inaccessible region of our territory, from which they are now sending defiance to tho sovereign power, their whole plan has been to prepare for a successful secession from the authority of the United States, and a permanent establishment of their own. . . . "This Mormon brotherhood has scarcely preserved the sem- blance of obedience to the authority of the United States for some years past ; not at all indeed, except as it might confer some direct benefit upon themselves, or contribute to circulate public money in their community. ... I need not here recite the many instances in their conduct and history on which these general allegations are founded, especially the conduct they have adopted within the last twelve months towards the civil authorities of the United States. " It has, nevertheless, always been the policy and desire of the Federal Government to avoid collision with this Mormon commu- nity. It has borne with the insubordination they have exhibited, under circumstances when respect for its own authority has fre- quently counselled harsh measures of discipline. And this forbear* ance might still be prolonged, and the evils rife among them be al- lowed to work out their own cure, if this community occupied any other theatre, isolated and remote from the seats of civilization, than the one they now possess. " But, unfortunately for these views, their settlements lie in the great pathway which leads from the Atlantic States to the new and flourishing communities growing up upon the Pacific seaboard. / 52 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. They stand a lion io the path ; not only themselves defying the civil and military authorities of the government, but encouraging, if not exciting, the nomad savages who roam over the vast, unoc- cupied regions of the continent, to the pillage and massacre of peaceful and helpless emigrant families traversing the solitudes of the wilderness. The rapid settlement of our Pacific possessions ; the rights, in those regions, of emigrants, unable to afford the heavy expenses of transit by water and the Isthmus ; the facility and safety of military, political, and social intercommunication between our eastern and western populations and States, — all de- pend upon the prompt, absolute, and thorough removal of a hostile power besetting this path, midway of its route, at a point where succor and provisions ^should always be found, rather than obstruc- tion, privation, and outrage. . . . **From all the circumstances surrounding this subject at the time, it was thought expedient, during the past summer, to send a body of troops to Utah, with the civil officers recently appointed to that Territory. . . . Great care has been taken, in preparing for the march to Utah, that nothing should seem to excite apprehen- sion of any action on the part of the army in the least conflict- ing with the fixed principle of our institutions, by which the mil- itary is strictly subordinate to the civil authority. The instruc- tions of the commanding officer were deliberately considered, and carefully drawn, and he was charged not to allow any conflict to take place between the troops and the people of the Territqiy, except only in case he should be called upon by the Governor for soldiers to act as a posse comitatus in enforcing obedience to the laws. " In conformity with this sentiment, and to assure these people of the real intention of the movement, an active, discreet officer was sent in advance of the army to Utah, for the purpose of pur- chasing provisions for it, and of assuring the people of the Terri- tory of the peaceful intentions of the Government. This officer found, upon entering the Territory, that these deluded people had already, in advance of his arrival, or of any information, except as to the march of the column, determined to resist their approach, and prevent, if possible, and by force, the entrance of the army into the Valley of Salt Lake. Supplies of every sort were refused him. ^' The day aller his departure from the city, on his ^ay back THE MORMON WAR. 63 ig tbe aging, , unoc- icre of idea of 288ions ; ord the facility nicatioa -all de- ft hostile it where obstruc- ;t at the >, to send ippwnted paring for apprehen- t conflict- 1 the mil- le instruc- lered, and conflict to Territ(fy, )vernor for nee to the lese people reet officer ose of pur- the Terri- Thia officer people had tion, except ir approach, ^f the army (vere refused Brigham issued his Proclamation, substantially declaring war ai^ainst the United States, and at the same time putting the Terri- tory under martial law." The following is a copy of this celebrated document : — "PROCLAMATION ««0f Governor Brioham Young. " Citizens of Utah, — We are invaded by a hostile force, who are evidently assailing us to accomplish our overthrow and destruc- tion. For the last twenty-five years we have trusted officials of the Government, fi'om constables and justices, to judges, govern- ors, and presidents, only to be scorned, held in derision, insulted, and betrayed. Our houses have been plundered and then burned, our fields laid waste, our principal men butchered, while under the pledged faith of the Government for their safety ; and our families driven from their homes, to find that shelter in the barren ' wilderness, and that protection among hostile savages, which were denied them in the boasted abodes of Christianity and civilization. " The Constitution of our common country guarantees unto us all that we do now, or have ever claimed. If the constitutional rights which pertain unto us as American citizens were extended to Utah, acconling to the spirit and meaning thereof, and fairly and impartially administered, it is all that we could ask, — all that we have ever asked. " Our opponents have availed themselves of prejudice existing against us, because of our religious faith, to send out a formidable host to accompliiih our destruction. We have had no privilege or opportunity of defending ourselves from the false, foul, and unjust aspersions agiunstus, before the nation. " The Government has not condescended to cause an investi- gating committee, or other persons, to be sent to inquire and as- certain the truth, as is customary in such cases. We know those aspersions to be false, but that avails us nothing. We are con- ilemned unheard, and forced to an issue with an armed, merce- nary mob, which has been sent against us at the instigation of anonymous letter-writers, ashamed to father the base, slanderous falsehoods which they have given to the public ; of corrupt offi- cials, who have brought false accusations against us, t^ screen tliomselves in their own infamy ; and of hireling priests and howl- ing editors, who prostitute the truth for filthy lucre's sake. *■ 54 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. " The issue -which has thus been forced upon us compels m to resort to the first great law of self-preservation, and stand in onr own self-defence, — a right guaranteed to us by the genius of the institutions of our country, and upon which the Government is based. Our duty to ourselves — to our families — requires us not to tamely submit to be driven and slain, without an attempt to preserve ourselves. Our duty to our country — our holy religion — our God — to freedom and liberty, requires that we should not quietly stand still, and see those fetters forging around us, which arf calculated to enslave and bring us in subjection to an unlaw- ful military despotism, such as can only emanate, in a country of constitutional law, from usurpation, tyranny, and oppression. " Therefore, I, Brigham Young, Governor and Superintendent of Indian AiTairs for the Territory of Utah, in the name of the people of the United States in the Territory of Utah, forbid, — *' First. All armed forces, of whatever description, from coming into this Territory, under any pretence whatever. *' Second. That all the forces in said Territory hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice, to repel aqy and all such invasion. " Third. Martial law is hereby declared to exist in this Terri- tory, from and after the publication of this proclamation ; and no person shall be allowed to pass or repass, into, or through, or from this Territory, without a permit from the proper officer. *' Given under my hand and seal, at Great Salt Lake City, Territory of Utah, this fifteenth day of September, A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-second. "Brigham Young." This proclamation was forwarded to the commander of the United States forces, then on the Plains. It was accom- panied by the following letter : — " Fonx Bridobr, September 3, 185T. ' '^ *• Sir, — I have the honor to forward you the accompanying letter from his Excellency Governor Young, together with two copies of his proclamation, and a copy of the Laws of Utah, 185, chap. TjContaining the Organic Act of the Territory. " ItVlky be proper to add, that I am here to aid in carrying out the instructions of Governor Young. General Robinson will de* I '^ THE MORMON WAR. 65 liver these papers to you, and receive such communication as you may wish to make. *' Trusting that your answer and action will be dictated by a proper respect for the rights and liberties of American citizens, I remain, " Very respectfully, "Daniel H. Wells, " LieuL-General commanding Nauvoo Legion" as accom- " Governor's Office, t^tah Territory, Great Salt Lakb City, September 29, 1857. " Sir, — By reference to the Act of Congress, passed Septem- ber 9, 1850, organizing the Territory of Utah, published in a copy of the Laws of Utah, herewith, p. 146, chap. 7, you will find the following : — *' ■ ;?w.c. 2. And be it further enacted, That the executive power in v;M 't' said Territory of Utah shall be vested in a governor, wht li ;i! hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The governor shall reside within said Ter- ritory, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia thereof,' &c., &c. "I am still the Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for this Territory, no successor having been appointed and quali- fied, as provided by law, nor have I been removed by the Presi- dent of the United States. " By virtue of the authoritji thus vested in me, I have issued and forwarded you a copy of my proclamation, forbidding the entrance of armed forces into this Territory. This you have dis- regarded. I now further direct that you retire forthwith from the Territory by the same route you entered. Should you deem this impracticable, and prefer to remain until spring in the vicinity of your present encampment. Black Fork, or Green River, you can do so in peace, and unmolested, on condition that you deposit your arms and ammunition with Lewis Robinson, Quartermaster-Gen- eral of the Territory, and leave in the spring, as soon as the con- dition of the roads will permit you to march. And should you fall short of provisions, they can be furnished you by making the proper applications therefor. 56 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. " Gen. D. H. Wells will forward this, and receive any commu- nications yon may have to make. " Very respectfully, "BuiGHAM Young, " Governor and Superintendent of Indian Ajff'airs, Utah Territory '* To the Officer commanding the Forces now invading Utah Territory." The legitimate result of this violent and treasonable proc- lamation, as might be supposed, was to incite the people to revenge and bloodshed. Every man who could bear arms was at once taken from his usual avocation and trained in the art of war. Clothing was at this time very scarce, as no trains of goods had arrived from the States. The '' sis- ters" were called upon to make up every article which they could pos!*ibly spare into uniforms for the troops. Accord- ingly the "brethren" appeared arrayed in pieces of bed- quilts, carpets, and old clo' made over, and presented to the eye as motley and miserable a crew as those of " the right valiant Sir John Falstaff." If we look at the leaders of these classical armies, however, the parallel fails. The chivalric Jack had at lea>t the courage to march at the head of his soldiers ; while Brighum, who acknowlele well understood it. As it was certain death to resist his will, they vied with each other in seeming to render a willing obedience to a tyrant whom many hated, and all feared. They fortified Echo Can} on, a narrow pa^^s, about eij^hteen miles in length, eastward from the city. Fdes of huge stones were heaped up along the borders of the preci})ice8, ready to be dashed against the troops, as they should es^^ay to pass the gorge. Intrenchments were thrown up, and such other warlike preparations made as their facilities afforded. The United States troops had entered the Territory of Utah, and were encamped in Green River County, near Fort Bridger, a distance of 118 miles from Salt Lake City. From this place Governor Gumming issued the following procla- mation:— " Green River County, near Fort Bridger, | Utah Territory, 21st November, 1857. ) " To die People of Utah Territory : — " On the 11th day of July, 1857, the President appointed me to preside over the executive department of the government of this Territory. I arrived at this point on the 1 7th of this month, and shall probably be detained some time, in consefjuence of the loss of animals during the recent snow-storm. I will proceed at this point to make the preliminary arrangements for the tempo- rary organization of the territorial government. Many treasona- ble acts of violence have recently been committed by lawless indi- viduals, supposed to have been commanded by the late executive. Such persons are in a state of rebellion. " Proceedings will be instituted against them in a court organ- ized by Chief Justice Eckels, held in this county, which court will supersede the necessity of appointing military commissions for the trial of such offenders. " It is my duty to enforce unconditional obedience to the Con- stitutbn, and the organic law of this Territory, and to all the other laws of Congress applicable to you. m' THE M0BM0S7 WAB. 61 " To enable me to effect this object, I will, in the event of re- Mutance, rely first upon a posse comUalus of the well-disposed por- tion of the inhabitants of this Territory, and will only resort to a military posse in case of necessity. I trust this necessity will not occur. I have come among you with no prejudices or enmities ; and by the exercise of a just and firm administration I hope to command your confidence. " Freedom of conscience, and the use of your own peculiar mode of serving God, are sacred rights, the exercise of which is guaranteed by the Constitution, and with which it is not the prov- uice of the Government or the dispoation of its representatives in this Territory to interfere. In virtue of my authority as com- mander-in-chief of the military of this Territory, I hereby com- mand all armed bodies of individuals, by whomsoever organized, to disband, and return to their respective homes. *' The penalty of disobedience to this command will subject the offenders to the punishment due to traitors. * "A. CUMMINO, *^ Governor of Utah Territory." During this time the Mormon troops were busy stealing stock, burning supply-trains, and in every way weakening and embarraiising the United States forces. Being familiar with the country, they had greatly the advantage ; and could break suddenly upon a herding party, from some bide can- yon, capture their stock, and before the alarm could be given, be safely ensconced in their own quarters. Much valuable stock was acquired in this way. "Forts Bridger and Supply were vacated and burned down. Orders were issued by Daniel H. Wells (Lieut-General Njiuvoo Legion,) to stampede the animals of the United States troops on their march, to set fire to their trains, to burn the grass and the whole country before them and on their flanks, to keep them from sleeping by night surprises, and to block the roads by felling trees, and destroying the fords of rivers. " On the 4th of October, 1857, the Mormons, under Capt. Lot Smith, captured and burned, on Green River, three of our supply drains, consisting of seventy-five wagons, loaded with provisions and tents for the army, and carried away several hundred animals ** 62 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Late in the fall of 1857 "the Army of Utah" arrived at Bridger, and made an encampment) which was called Camp Scott. As the winter was severe, and the snow very deep, little progress was made by the army in quelling the Mormon re- bellion, while much suffering was endured by the soldiers. Some time during the winter of 1857-58 Col. Kane set out for Utah, to ascertain, if possible, the exact state of affairs in that Territoiy. He was not sent as the agent of the Gov- ernment, as is generally supposed, but his mission was ap- proved by Pres^ident Buchanan, and the War Department. He went incognito, and by the southern route, and arrived in Utah in the month of January. He was accompanied by a servant only, and while on the desert to the south of Salt Lake City, was taken sick, and came near losing his life. Amasa Lyman and others were out exploring, with a view of ascertaining whether the Mormons could be attacked from the south. They found Col. Kane and his man on the desert. Lyman took him into his carriage, " laid hands on him, and administered unto him." Kane still remained un- known to him, but told him that he had business of impor- tance to transact at Salt Lake, — important both to the Mor- mons and to the nation. He was immediately taken to Salt Lake, where, for the first time, he made known h^ business and his name. Brigham was agreeably surprised to find an old friend and quasi Mormon in his guest, and of course treated him with the greatest consideration. It was well understood at Salt Lake that Col. Kane was baptized by the Elders some years before, while on a tour of exploration to the Rocky Moun- tains.* How much of Mormonism he imbibed is not known, but certain it is, that the saints rely on his aid and influence, under all circumstances. • John Hyde, Jr., in his work on Mormoniain, page 146, says: "Fill- more, by the advice and interccsHJon of Col. Kane, who had emh'aced Mor* vumitm in Iowa, appointed Brigham as the Governor of Utah." 't po -1- Ec ** y ■\ Ro i esc ■ ab( THE MORMON WAR. The negotiations were of the most friendly character, and Kane proceeded soon after, in his character as pacificator, to the " Head-quarters of the Army of Utah," at Fort Bridger. He was escorted by Porter Bockwell and Daniel Kimball past the limits of the Mormon camp. He held interviews with the officers of the army and with Governor Gumming, and succeeded in inducing the Governor to accompany him to Salt Lake. Of this journey Governor Gumming says : — •' I left camp on the 6th, en route for this city, accompanied by Col. Kane, as guide, and two servants. ... I was escorted from Bear River Valley to the western end of Eclio Canyon, — the journey through the canyon being performed, for the most part, in the night; it was about eleven o'clock when I amved at Weber Station. " I have been everywhere recognized as the Governor of Utah, and, so far from having encountered insults and indignities, I am gratified in being able to state that, in passing through the settle- ments, I have been universally greeted with such respectful atten- tions as aro due to the representative of the executive authority of the United States. . . . " When it was arranged with the Mormon officer in command of my escort that I should pass through Echo Canyon in the night, I inferred that it was with the object of concealing the bar- ricades and other defences. I was therefore agreeably surprised by an illumination in honor to me. The bonfires kindled by the soldiers, from the base to the summit of the hills, completely illu- minated the valley, and disclosed the snow-covered mountains which surrounded us." The following is the Mormon account of the entree of Governor Gumming into the Valley of Salt Lake, and may go to explain to him why the journey was made through Echo Ganyon in the night. Upen entering the Mormon lines they were rejoined by Rockwell and Kimball, who commanded the Governor's escort to Salt Lake Gity. Echo Ganyon is a narrow pass, about eighteen miles in length, and commands the entrance 64 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. . ' - to Salt Lake Valley from the east. The Mormons had fo^ tified this canyon at several points. They also had four camps, or places of rendezvous, at convenient distances. Upon arriving at Cache Cave, the first '* post," the party of the Governor came to a half. His Excellency was escorted into camp with due honor, and an ox was slain to celebrate the occasion. After partaking of a sumptuous repast, the troops were orden-d out for the Governor to review. About 150 men were "drawn up," and after the review, the Gov- ernor " made a speech.'* He complimented " the boys ** on their order, di.^cipline, and skill. Col. Kimball then proceeded to rend various orders to the troops. Various imaginary companies were ordered to relieve various other imaginary companies. Several new posts were ordered to be established, and others abandoned. Meanwhile, the Governor, not to be deceived, was noting down the differ- ent companies as they were called. This done, they again took the road. It was now about sundown ; and as they passed the stations, the troops were arranged on each side of the road, to salute the Governor, and be reviewed by him. Everything passed off smoothly until they reached the third station, when it suddenly occurred to Col. Kimball that the pickets at that post had not been apprised of their coming. He remarked, on nearing the camp, that " he saw no pickets, and he guessed the boys were in ambush." He tlierefore mounted a horse, and telling the driver to be sure and " halt " as soon as he heard the word, i*ode off. In a moment more, the guard shouted, " Halt ! who goes there ? " — and before a reply could be jiiven, the crack of a rifle was heard. The Governor, trembling with fright, cried out, "I am your friend, the Governor of Utah ; don't fire, boys ; for God's sake, don't fire ! " "I know nothing about Governors, nor anybody else," replied the picket ; " I must do my -duty. This way. Sergeant of the Guard." By this time quite a com pany rode up, and, as the Governor supposed, he was about to be taken prisoner. Col. Kimball now appeared, explained THE MORMON WAR. e6 (he whole matter, and relieved hb Excellency from his em- barrassing position. But the Governor was entirely innocent of the joke, and believes, to this day, that he had a hair- bi'cadth escape. They then padded on to the mouth of Echo Canyon, where the troops were again reviewed ; and as the party bivouacked for the night, hundreds of camp-fires gleamed along the rug- ged sides of the canyon, furnishing incontestable evidence of the great number of the Mormon soldiers. There were at this time about 150 men, all told, in the canyon, and these Vi$ Governor had reviewed at every station. The next morning the Governor proceeded on his jour- ney, prepared to as:>ert that the Mormons had from two to three thousand men under arms in and near Echo Canyon. When the company arrived at Sessions, ten miles from Salt Lake City, they were met by a large concourse of citizen soldiery, preceded by a band of music, accompanied by the roaring of cannon. The Echo Canyon boys were also there, to see the fuu. The Governor was quite bewildered by all this parade, and made up his mind that the Mormons were very numerous, and both ready and willing to " wipe out " the handful of Government soldiers, whenever they could get permission from their leader. Upon arriving at the " Holy City," the best lodgings and the best brandy were provided for his Excellency. Brigham called in due time, and paid his compliments ; invited Gov- ernor Curaming to his office, and tendered to him '* the hos- pitidities of the city." Governor Cumming was delighted, and in a few days called at the office of Governor Young. This wily personage put on one of his blandest smiles, re- signed his office of Governor, turned over the papers and documents of the office to his legal successor, and, to crown all, produced the records of the courtSf in the highest state of preservation. Governor Cumming was perfectly amazed. Was it possi- not deceive him? Were these the veritable m *j eyes 6 66 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. recordb about which so much had been said ? They were ; and the Mormons had been belied, and the Government de- ceived. He immediately wrote to the President and to Col. Johnson, and exphiined how matters stood. The gifted and accomplished Col. Kane was the bearer of these documents to his venerable friend James Buchanan, who read with delight these " signs of repentance " on the part of his dear children, and immediately commenced writ- ing their pardon. It has been supposed by many that Col. Kane was, at that time, acting as the agent of the United States Govern- ment. But the following extract from a letter to him, writ- ten by President Buchanan, dated December 31, 1857, will at once determine the position which the Colonel occupied : — " My dear Sir, — You furnish the strongest evidence of your desire to serve the Mormons, by abandoning the comforts of friends, family, and home, and voluntarily encountering the perils and dangers of a journey to Utah, at the present inclement season of the year, at your own expense, and without official position. . . . Nothing but pure philanthropy, and a strong desire to serve the Mormon people, could have dictated a course so much at war with your private interests." While the President was penning his proclamation of par- don, the Mormons weie leaving their property and homes, and taking up their line of march for the South. Governor Cumming was unable to control the movements of Col. John- son, who was acting under instructions from the Secretary of War. Hence (Jumming could not save to Brigham, however much he might feel disposed to do so, the humiliation of see- ing the streets of the city filled with the federal soldiers, against whom he had been hurling his anathemas. Finding this catastrophe could not possibly be averted, he promul- gated an order, purporting to emanate from the Almighty, commanding the people to leave their homes and start for the South. This order was prompted partly by the fact that the '* President of the Church ** was committed to this course by THE MORMON WAB. 67 his repeated decrlarations, and partly by the wish on his part to test his power over " this people." It was readily and im- plicitly obeyed by his deluded followers. They knew not where they were going. Many believed they were destined lor Sonora. They only knew the Prophet of the Lord had bpoken, and they must obey. On the 6th of April, 1858, their long trains moved south- ward, taking with tliem their household gods, and provisions for the journey. Brighnm, Heber, and the principal men, also removed their families from their comfortable homes, again to encounter the toils and privations incident to life on the Plains. They went to Piovo, 50 miles from the city, and there halted. The snow was still on the ground, and the pilgrims suffered much from the inclemency of the weather. On the 12th of April, Mr. Buchanan appointed L. W. Powell, of Kentucky, and Ben McCulloch, of Texas, Com- missioners to Utah, and by them sent on his proclamation of pardon. They reached Salt Lake on the 7th of June, and immediately made known their business to the Mormon au- thorities. They were instructed to say to the Mormons, in the language of the proclamation, " If you obey the laws, keep the peace, and respect the just rights of others, you will be perfectly secure, and may live in your present faith, or change it for another at your pleasure. Every intelligent man among you knows very well that the Government has never, directly or indirectly, sought to molest you in your worship, to control you in your ecclesiastical affairs, or even to influence you in your religious opinions." The following extracts from the report of the Commission- ers will serve to show the result of their mission : — " We stated that we wished a free conference with them, and were ready to bear what they had to say. Ex-Governor Brigham Young, Lieut-Governor Wells, and others, spoke. They expressed their gratification that the President had sent commissioners to Utah. They stated that they were attached to the Constitution and the Government of the United States ; they spoke harshly of 68 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. many of the officials who had held office in the Territory ; they spoke of the wrongs and injuries hitherto done them ; they said they desired to live in peace, under the Constitution of the United States. They denied that they had ever driven any officials from Utah, or prevented any civil officer from entering the Territory. They admitted that they burned the army trains, and drove off the cattle from the army last fall, and for that act they accepted the President's pardon. All the charges that had been made against them, except the one last named, they denied. . . . We are pleased to state that the conference resulted in their agreeing to receive, quietly and peaceably, all the civil officers of the Govern- ment, and not to resist tliem in the execution of the duties of their offices ; and to yield obedience to the authorities and laws of the United States. "That they would offer no resistance to the army; that the officers of the army would not be resisted in the execution of their orders within the Territory. In short, they agreed that the offi- cers, civil and military, of the United States, should enter the Territory without i-esistance, and exercise, peaceably and unmo- lested, all the functions of their various offices." The Mormons, on their part, stipulated that the army should not be encamped within forty miles of the city ; that they should protect private property ; that they should march directly through the city, without halting ; and should not encamp until they crossed the Jordan. These conditions yreve substantially complied with. " On the 2Cth of June General Johnson marched the army under his command through Salt Lake City, and encamped on the banks of the river Jordan, just without the city limits. The place (^elected for a permanent camp was in Cedar Valley, about forty miles south of Great Salt Lake City, and known as Camp Floyd, now Fort Crittenden." On the 5th of July, 1858, the Mormon refugees received orders to return to their homes. With joy and alacrity they prepared to obey the welcome summons. Governor Camming had frequently urged them to return, without avail. But when the ** mighty man of God " sent forth his mandate, each man sprang to his feet as if by magic, THE MORMON WAR. 69 niAhcd to his teams, and before the morning sun gilded the eastern hills, '' the i'uithful " were again returning to their Mecca. A company of United States troops wei-e stationed on what was called "the Dug Out," to prevent collision with the Mormons on their return to Salt Lake. The othcer com- manding related to me the following incident : — '* I witnessed the mosf extreme destitution amons the returning emigrants. I saw a number of women cooking around a camp- fire, and their clothing was extremely scanty. The supply of a family of fourteen persons could have been compressed into a small-sized trunk. One evening I saw two or three women cook- ing supper, and observing that they had neither tea nor cotTee, I (]uestioncd them, and they replied they had had none for two or three years. At this time, according to report, it took a four-mule team to draw the Prophet's gold and silver, besides some that went in other conveyances." The saints again entered into possession of their deserted homes, and began, as well as the lateness of the season would permit, to cultivate their farms and gardens. Thus ended this crusade against the modern Mohammed and his followers. 11 I CHAPTER V. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. The Mountain Meadow Massacre and other Crimes of the Mormons. — Attempts to bring the Perpetrators to Justice. — Doings of Jud^e Cra- diebaugh. — Governor Cumming and the Military Officers. — Judge Sin* clair's Court. — Governor Dawson and his Misfortunes. — New Gov- ernor and Associate Justices appointed. The darkest chapter of Mormon history is now before us. It becomeft my duty to relate one of the most perfiJious acts of cruelty and wholesale butchery to be found in tlie annals of this or any other country. In doing so, free use will be made of the statements of Judge Cradlebaugh and others who were thoroughly conversant with all the facts. The following is from the able speech of Judge Cradle- baugh, delivered in the House of Representatives on the 7th of February, 1863: — " As one of the Associate Justices of the Territory of Utah, in the month of April, 1859, 1 commenced and held a term of the District Court for the Second Judicial District, in the city of Provo, about si.xty miles south of Salt Lake City. Upon my requisition. Gen. A. S. Johnson, in command of the military de- partment, furnished a small military force for the purpose of pro- tecting the court. A grand jury was empanelled, and their atten- tion was pointedly and specifically called to a great number of crimes that had been committed in the immediate vicinity, — cases of public notoriety, both as to the offence and the persons who had perpetrated the same ; (for none of these things had " been done in a corner"). Their perpetrators had scorned alike con- cealment or apology, before the arrival of the American forces. The jury thus instructed, though kept in sesaon two weeks, utterly POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 71 refused to do anything, and were finally discharged, as an evi- dently useless appendage of a court of justice. But the court was determined to try a last resource, to bring to light and to punish- ment those guilty of the atrocious crimes which confessedly had been committed in the Territory, and the session continued. Bench warrants, based upon sworn information, were issued against the alleged criminals, and United States Marshal Dotson, a most excellent and reliable officer, aided by a military posne, procured on his own request, had succeeded iii making a few arrests. A general stampede immediately took place among the Mormons, and what I wish to call your attention to, as particularly noticeable, is the fact that this occurred more especially among the church officials and civil officers. . . . '* Sitting as a committing magistrate, complaint after complaint was made before me of murders and robberies. Among these I may mention, as peculiarly and shockingly prominent, the murder of Forbes, the assassination of the Parrishes and Potter, of Jones and his mother, of the Aiken party, of which there were six in all ; and, worst and darkest in the appalling catalogue of blood, the cowardly, cold-blooded butchery and robbery at the Moun- tain Meadows. At that time there still lay, all ghastly, under the sun of Utah, the unburied skeletons of one hundred and nineteen men, women, and children, the hapless, hopeless victims of the Mormon creed. . . . '* The scene of this horrible massacre at the Mountain Mead- ows is situate about three hundred and twenty miles west of south from Great Salt Lake City, on the road leading to Los Angelos, in California. I was the first federal Judge in that part of the Territory afler the occurrence, — my district extending from a short distance below Salt Lake City to the south end of the Territory. I determined to visit that part of my district, anons, without the express or implieu sanction of him who sat at the head of the commuuiiy, controlling ifa every action ? And if such a thing can be supposed possible, would no; the perpetrators be immediately called to account for as-^um- ing so much responsibility ? Reason and evidence all point one way ; and add this to the many other acts which stamp Brigham Young as a murderer of the deepest dye, — adding to the guilt of homicide that of blasphemy and hypoc- risy. What was the motive which prompted the act? Partly revenge. These emign.nts were from Missouri and Arkan- sas, the scenes of the alleged injuries and persecutions of the Mormons. It was soon after the killing of Parley P. Pratt, in Arkansas, by McLane, whose wife Pratt had abducted. It was at the time, too, when the United States troops were marching to Utah, and a feeling of revenge and retaliation was prevalent, and was, as has been shown, fostered and encouraged by Brigham in his sermons. But the principal motive was plunder. The train was a very wealthy one. The spoil of the gcniile was before them, «nd it must be appropriated by the Lord's people. A great portion of the property was taken to Cedar City, that COIIStl erectj Btoiiel tweiij day ( puiiitl nionii Uuti POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 81 deposited in the tithing office, and there sold out. Forney says, in the Annual Report already quoted I'rom, — " Whoever may have bean the perpetrators of this horrible deed, no doubt exists in my mind that they were influenced chiefly by a determination to acquire wealth by robbery." * It is not within the scope of this work to enter into a relation of the many other murders and outrages committed by the authority or connivance of the Mormon Church. This is given as the most notable one, — ** ex uno disce omnes." Those who wish to examine into these crimes more fully, are referred to the appendix to the printed speech of Judge Cradlebaugh. The " Mormon War " having closed, the federal officers, as soon as practicable, assumed their functions, and proceeded to transact business. Federal courts were held, and the au- thority of the United States again, at least nominally, estab- lished in Utah. In October, 1858, Judge Sinclair opened hU court in Salt Liike City. Efforts were made to bring several noted crim- inals to justice, but everything failed. In the grand jury- room no indictments were found, and murderers and thieves were allowed to go " scot free." At this term of court a motion was made to expel James Ferguson from the bar, for contempt of court Ferguson offered to retire from the bar, which was not accepted. He then proposed to plead guilty ; but the Judge said, as it was alleged that a Judge of the United States had been insulted * Several years after the massacre, Major, now General Carlton, visited that region and erected a monument to the memory of the slain. " It was constructed by raising a large pile of rock, in the centre of which was erected a beam, some twelve or fitlteen feet in height. Upon one of the stones he caused to be engraved, ' Here lie the bones of one hundred and twenty men, women, and children, from Arltansas, murdered on the 10th day of September, 1857.' Upon a cross-tree, on tiie beam, he caused to be painted: 'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will repay it.' Thif monument is said to have been destroyed the flrst time Brigham visited that part of the Territory." I * 82 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. and intimidated, when in the discharge of his official duty, it was important that the country be put in possession of the facts, and no plea of crimination or stultification should pre- vent an exposure. The grand jury did, finally, in this case, make the follow- ing presentment : — " The grand jury find, that James Ferguson, of G. S. L. City, U. T., did use language and threats calculated to intimidate Judge George P. Stiles, U. S. District Judge, while in the discharge of his official duties, and presiding as Judge of this District Court, at the February Terra, 1857 " Eleazer Miller, Foreman.*' The right of trial by jury is one guaranteed by the Con- stitution, and with which it would be highly dangerous to interfere, except in cases of extreme necessity, involving the safety of a whole people or community. Tlie Mormons, with their usual shrewdness, take advantage of this, and manage to control the United States Courts tlirough the grand and petit juries. The following extracts will show how it is done. March 2d, 1856, in his remarks, made in the Tabernacle, Jedediah M. Grant, then one of the " President's " coun- sellors, said : — *' Last Sunday, the President chastised some of the Apostles and Bishops, who were on the grand jury. Did he fully succeed in clearing away the fog which surrounded them, and in removing blindness from their eyes ? No, for they could go to their room and again disagree ; though to their credit it must be admitted that a brief explanation made them unanimous in their action." Again, in the same connection, Grant, speaking of a trial- jury, continues, — <* Several have got into the fog, to suck and eat the filth of a gentile court ; ostensibly a court in Utah." Here is the highest evidence of the direct interference of POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 88 Brigliam Young with the right of trial by jury, and the pros- titution of the jury-box to the accomplishment of his schemes. How could he strike a more fatal blow at our free institu- tions, or at the rights and liberties of American citizens who may happen to live within the sphere of l.is influence? For this alone he should be hurled from the defiant position he occupies, and brought to the bar of impartial justice. Though the evidence was perfectly plain and conclusive in the case of Ferguson, he was acquitted. Comment is un- necessary. The Judge, finding all efforts to bring criminals to justice unavailing, adjourned his court sine die. The Mormon Legislature had never made provision for defraying the expenses of the United States Courts, while doing territorial business, though their attention had fre- quently been called to the necessity of so doing. Their object was to throw all the business into the probate courts ; and in this they eventually succeeded, except in the court presided over by Judge Kinney, — the only one, after the " war," which acted simply as an adjunct and instrument of the church authorities. " During the sitting of Judge Sinclair's court, the Mormon grand jury promptly found a bill of indictment against one Ralph Pike, a sergeant in Company I, of the 10th Infantry, United States Army, for an assault with intent to kill, committed upon one How- ard Spencer, the son of a Mormon bishop, at the military reserve, in Rush Valley. Upon capias issued, Pike was arrested, and brought to Great Salt Lake City. The day following, August 11, 1858, about twelve o'clock, M., as Pike was entering the Salt Lake House, on Main Street, Spencer stepped up to him from behind, saying, • Are you the man that struck me in Rush Val- ley ? ' at the same time, drawing his pistol, shot him through the side, i.jflictlng a mortal wound. Spencer ran across the street, mounted his horse, and rode off", accompanied by several noted ♦ Danites.' Pike lingered in dreadful agony, two days, before he died. The • Deseret News,' in its next issue, lauded young Spen- cer for his courage and bravery. I r I-, I V 1 ; ; "Jli ill; i 84 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. " A man by the name of Drown, brought suit upon a promia* sory note for $480, against the Danite captain, ]3ill Hickman Tiie case being submitted to the court. Drown obtained a judg- ment. A few days afterwards. Drown and a companion named Arnold were stopping at the house of a friend in Salt Lake City, when Hickman, with some seven or eight of his band, rode up to the house, and called for Drown to come out. Drown, suspecting foul play, refused to do so, and locked the doors. Tiie Danites thereupon dismounted from their horses, broke down the doors, and shot down both Drown and Arnold. Drown died of his wounds next morning, and Arnold a few days afterwards. Hick- man and his band rode oS* unmolested. " Thus, during a single term of the court, held in a Mormon community, the warm life-blood of three human victims is shed upon the very threshold of the court; and although the grand jury is in session, no prosecution is attempted, and not one of the offend- ers brought to justice." Judge Cradlebaugh was assigned to the Second Judicial District, and held bis first term of court in Prove City, com- mencing April 8th, 18o9. An account of his efibrts to bring to justice the Mountain Meadow and other murderers has already been given in his own language. The following notice of this bold and energetic man is from the "Nevada Teiritorial Enterprise": — " Judge Cradlebaugh, of the United States Court of Utah, is making his mark in that Territory, if half that is written of him is true. .... Satisfied that many of the leading Mormons had taken part in or instigated the Mountain Meadow massacre, and the murder of Jones, Potter, Forbes, Parrish, and a dozen others, he determined to bring them to punishment He spoke and acted with the fearlessness and resolution of a Jackson ; but the jury failed to indict, or even report on the charges, while threats of violence were heard in every quarter, and an attack on the troops intimated, if he persisted in his course. " Finding that nothing could be done with thu juries, they were discharged, with a scathing rebuke from the Judge. Sitting as a uommitting magistrate, he commenced liis task alone. He ex- Muined witnesses, made arrests in every quarter, and cre&tcd » POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 85 consteination in the camps of the saints, greater even than was occasioned by the arrival of the troops within the walls of Zion. At last accounts, terrified elders and bishops were decamping to save their necks ; and developments of the most startling character were being made, implicating the highest church dignitaries in the many murders and robberies committed upon the gentiles during the past eight years." Grovemor Gumming did not sustain Judge Cradlebaugh, but, under the pretence of impartiality, sought to screen the Mormons from the demands of justice. Hence various differences between Gumming on one side, and Johnson and Gradlebaugh on the other ; and on one oc- casion the Governor went so far as to publish his protest against the use of the troops in aid of Gradiebaugh's pro- ceedings. Gumming was a native of Georgia. He had married a daughter of one of the mast distinguished physiciars of Bos- ton, a lady of many accomplishments, who accompanied bim to Utah. During the dreadful reign of the cholera in 1836 he was Mayor of Augusta, Ga., and is said to have rendered efficient service in saving the lives of the citizens. For some years he was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. At the commencement of the Mexican war he was at Point Isabel, and afterwards on the Southern line, attached to General Scott's staff. Subsequently he was de- tailed by the Government to visit several tribes of Indians in the far West. He had performed some service to the country, and was t man of many good qualities ; but was very vain, and fond of attention, and was unable to withstand the seductive influ- ences which the Mormons know so well how to bring to bear upon persons of his organization. Gradlebaugh, finding he was not supported by Buchanan's administnition, left Utah, and settled in the Territory of Ne vuda ; whence he has been twice sent as delegate to Congress, ;■ I K ■ 86 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. and we look to see him, at no distant day, represent the new State of Nevada in the Senate of the United States. In 1860 John F. Kinney was reappointed Chief Justice, succeeding Judge Eckels ; and Judges Crosby and Flenniken were appointed Associate Justices, to succeed Sinclair and Cradlebaugh. Judge Cradlebaugh did not resign, and not recognizing the right of the President to remove the Judges, he continued to perform the duties of his office for some time afterward. On the 3d of October, 1861, John W. Dawson, of Indiana, was appointed by President Lincoln Governor of Utah, to succeed Cumming, who had left the Territory some months previous. In the appointment of Dawson, Lincoln, to use his own language, was " imposed on." The Senate relieved him from the imposition, by refusing to confirm the appointment. The Mormons, however, anticipated the action of the Sen- ate, and speedily ejected Dawson from the governorship. The history of this emeute is briefly as follows : — Dawson arrived at Salt Lake about the commencement of the session of the Legislature. Having some notions of his own concerning legislative affairs, and not yielding, like his predecessor, to all the views of Brigham Young, he soon became involved in difficulties from which he was unable to extricate himself. He had not the nerve and ability to sus- tain himself in his position. Tlie Mormons saw this, and at once resolved upon, planned, and accomplished a brilliant coup d'etaty similar to that practised upon Steptoe. Without going into details, the plan may be seen by the result ; which was the affidavit of a widow woman named Williams, to the effect that Dawson had insulted her, by making improper advances, which, of course, she had scornfully repelled and rejected. The indignation of the Mormons was aroused to the highest pitch by this base attempt upon Mormon virtue. Threats were made so freely, that the Governor became POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 87 very much alarmed, and precipitately fled the Territory. Not satisfied with this, the " boys " waylaid him at one of the stations, and gave him a severe beating. In contemplating this serio-comic affair, one hardly knows which most to condemn, the lawless spirit which prompted such treatment, or the timidity and ineakness which would submit to it. About the 1st of February, 1862, Judges Flenniken and Crosby left Salt Lake City, and the federal officers there immediately advised the President of the fact by telegraph, and recommended the appointment of their successors. Ac- cordingly on the 3d of February, 1862, Thomas J. Drake, of Michigan, and Charles B. Waite, of Illinois, were ap- pointed Associate Justices, and on the 31st of March follow- ing, Stephen S. Harding, of Indiana, was appointed Gov- emor, to succeed Dawson. 'liwP* i. If ii I 11 I CHAPTER VI. POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Arriral of the New Federal Officers in July, 1862. — Colonel Connor ar- rives with his Command. — The Message of Guv. Harding. — The Mor- mons Indignant. — The Legislature refuse to print the Message. — Ac- tion of the United States Senate, thereon. — Forgery in the Mormon Legislature. — Bill of Judge VVaite to amend the Organic Act. — Indig- nation Meeting. — Governor Harding and Judges Waite and Drake re- quested to leave the Territory. — Their Replies. — Brigham. — The Fed- eral Officers. Judges Drake and Waite arrived in Salt Lake City on the 11th of July, 1862. Governor Harding had arrived a few days previous. For several months everything passed off smoothly, and Brigham was more than once heard to say the officers now in the Territory were " good men." No circumstances occurred to develop any differences, and it was hoped by the federal officers themselves that none would arise. In the mean time, in October of the same year. Colonel (now General) Connor marched into and through Salt Lake City with his command, and established his camp on the " bench," or high land, about three miles east of the city. His forces at that time consisted of the Third Regiment of Infantry, California Volunteers, and the Second Regiment of Cavalry, under command of Col. George S. Evans. Some little excitement was caused by the entrance of the troops, and rumors were rife of threats having been made by the Mormons that the volunteers should never " cross the Jordan," a stream a few miles south of the city, and which was directly on their line of march. But the Jordan was crossed, the camp established, and everything went on as happil wan tit Btitutic the sai "Ai mere aggresi ing ide isso p to be t; lows; 'm POLITICAL HISTORT CONTINUED. 89 usual, until the meeting of the Territorial Legislature in December. Then the pent-up fires began to break forth. The first pretext used by the Mormons fur indulging in wordi^ and acts of hostility was the Messuage of Guvernor Harding to the Legislature. Therein he called the attention of the peo« pi"* through their representatives, to the practice of polyg- amy in their raid:>t, to the anomalous state of society it tended to establish, to its incompatibility with our free institutions, and especially to its violation of an Act of Congress recently passed. The following are the portions of the Message which gave most ofience : -— " Polygamy, " It would be disingenuous if I were not to advert to a question which, although seemingly it has nothing to do in the premises, yet is one of vast importance to you as a people, and which can- not be ignored. I mean that institution which is not only com- mended but encouraged by you, and which, to say the least of it, is an anomaly throughout Christendom. I mean polygamy, or, if you prefer the term, plurality of wives. In approaching this •tlelicate subject, I desire to do so in no unkind or offensive spirit ; yet the institution, founded upon no written statute of your Terri- tory, but upon custom alone, exists. . . . ** I lay it down as a sound proposition, that no community can happily exist with an institution so important as that of marriage wanting in all those qualities that make it homogeneal with in- stitutions and laws of neighboring civilized communities having the same object " Anomalies in the moral world cannot long exist in a state of mere abeyance ; they must, from the very nature of things, become aggressive, oi they will soon disappear, from the force of conflict- ing ideas. *' This proposition is st^pported by the history of our race, and is so plain that it may be set down as an axiom. If we grant this to be true, wo may sum up the conclusion of the argument as fol- lows : either the laws and opinions of the communities by which you are surrounded must become subordinate to your customs and 8 1 1 r 90 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. opinions, or, on the other hand, yours must yield to theirs. The conflict is irrepressible. *^ But no matter whether this anomaly sliall disappear or remain amongst you, it is your duty at least to guard it against flagrant abuses. That plurality of wives is tolerated and believed to be right, may not appear so struu^'e; but that a mother and her daughters are allowed to fulfil the duties oftvives to the same hus- band, or that a man could be found in all Christendom who could be induced to take upon himself such a relationship, is, perhaps,* no less a marvel in morals than in matters of taste. *' The bare fact that such practices are tolerated amongst you is suflicient evidence that the human passions, whether excited by religious fanaticism or otherwise, must be restrained and subjected to laws, to which all must yield obedience. No community can long exist, without absolute social anarchy, unless so important an institution as that of marriage is regulated by law. It is the basis of our civilization, and in it the whole question of the descent and distributioa of real and personal estate is involved. *' Much to my astonishment, I have not been able to find any law upon the statutes of this Territory regulating marriage. I earnestly recommend to your early consideration the passage of some law that will meet the exigencies of the people. " Act of Congress against Polygamy. " T respectfully call your attention to an Act of Congress, passed the 1st day of July, 1862, entitled ^ An Act to punish and prevent the practice of polygamy in the Territories of the United States, and in other places, and disapproving and annulling certain Acta of the legislative assembly of Utah,' (chap, cxxvii. of the Statutes at Large of the last session of Congress, page 501.) I am aware that there is a prevailing opinion here that said Act is unconstitu- tional, and therefore it is recommended by those in high authority that no regard whatever should be paid to the same ; and still more to be regretted, if I am rightly informed, in somejnstances it has been recommended that it be openly disregarded and defied, merely to defy the same. ''I take this occasion to warn the people of this Territoi*y against such dangerous and disloyal counsels. Whether such Act is unconstitutional or not, is not necessary for me either to affirm or deny. The individual citizen, under no circumstances what not dw We ma we wiir when rd the cor whetheil POLITICAL IIISTOUY CONTINUED. 91 erer, has the right to defy any law or statute of tho United Statei with impunity. In doing no he takes upon himself the risk of the penalties of that statute, be they what they may, in case his judg- ment should be in error. '* The Constitution has amply provided how and where all such questions of doubt are submitted and settled, namely, in tho courts constituted for that purpose. To forcibly resist the execution of that Act would be, to say the least, a high misdemeanor ; and if a whole community should become involved in such resistance, would call down upon it the consequences of insurrection and re- bellion. " I hope and trust that no such rash counsel will prevail. If, unhappily, I am mistaken in this, I choose to shut my eyes to the consequences. *^ Liberty of Conscience. " Amongst the most cherished and sacred rights secured to the citizen of the United States, is the right to worship God according to the dictateri of conscience. . . . *' Religion was left a matter between man and his Maker, and not between man and the Government. " But here arises a most important question, — a (Question per- haps that has never yet been asked or fully answered in this coun- try, — How far does the right of conscience extend? Is there any limit to this right ? — and if so, where shall the line of de- marcation be drawn, designating that which is not forbidden from that which is ? This is, indeed, a most important question, and, from the tendency of the times, must sooner or later be answered. I cannot, and will not, on this occasion, pretend to answer this question ; but will venture the suggestion, that when it is an- swered, the same rules will be adopted as if the freedom of speech and of the press were involved in the argument. . . . '* There can be no limit beyond which the mind may not dwell, and our thoughts soar in our aspirations after truth. We may think what we will, believe what we will, and speak what we will, on all subjects of speculative theology. . . . But when religious opinions assume new manifestations, and pass from the condition of mere sentiment into overt acts, — no matter whether they be acts of faith or not, — they must not outrage the 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 ■ii|2£ MIS ■u Hi 12.2 £ US 12.0 IL25 m 1.4 Hiotographic Sciences Corporalion ^ \ k*^' L1>' <^ 23 WIST MAIN STRHT WIBSTIR,N.Y. 14SM (716)«72-4S03 4^ ^ <\ ^>^ U 92 POLITICAL HISTORY CO-rriNUED. opinions of the civilized T^orld, but, on the other hand, must con* form to those usages established by law, and which are believed to underlie our very civilization." In the same Message, the Governor, after giving his views upon the national topics of the day, fully sustaining the Ad- ministration and the war, proceeded to discuss all the more prominent subjects of local interest in the TeiTitory. He refeiTed to the attempts to procure the admission of the State of Deseret into the Union, — giving it as his opinion that those attempts were premature. He referred to provisions of the Organic Act, and claimed the right to nominate to the Council all general territorial officera. These had formerly been elected by the Legislature. He recommended a thorough revision and codification of the statutes ; a change in the mode of voting ; referred to the financial condition of the Territory; adverted to the Indian troubles; advised the organization of a commoii- Bchool system, and closed by assuring them of his willingness and desire to work with them for the common good and wel- fare of the people of the Territory. The question of polygamy was boldly met and temper- ately discussed in this Message, and the people warned against the consequences of disobedience to the Act of Con- gress. Anything less than this on the part of the Governor would have been simply a neglect of duty. Yet the Mormons were very indignant, and professed to look upon that portion of the Message as exceedingly hostile and offensive in its character. Their religion had been at^ tacked by the federal authorities I It may be well here to remark, for the benefit of the ten- der-footed upon this subject, that polygamy is no part of the Mormon religion, so far as the same has any history, and can be distinguished from the personal edicts of Brigham Young. It is not only not permitted but explicitly condemned in the <* Book of Mormon ** and the " Book of Doctrines and Cove- nants," which are the Old and New Testaments of Mormon- POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 98 isin. This subject is more fully examined in another chapter of this work. From the d6livery of this Message, the treatment which the Governor received at the hands of the Mormons was en- tirely changed. From respect it was immediately changed to disrespect and contumely. No contemptuous treatment was too marked, no indignity was too great, to be heaped upon him, for this simple peifoimance of his duty as a sworn officer of the United States Government. The Message was never printed by the Legislature. The Journals did not even show that the Governor ever appeared before that body for any purpose whatever. The fact that the Message was not published having been communicated to Washington, a resolution was introduced into the Senate of the United States on the 1 6th of January, 1863, instructing the Committee on Territories to inquire and repoit whether the publication of the Message of the Governor of the Territory of Utah to the Territorial Legis- lature had been suppressed, and if so by what causes, and what was the Message. In response to this resolution Mr. Wade, chairman of the Committee, on the 13th of February, submitted a Report, accompanied by a resolution, which was adopted, that one thousand copies of the Message be printed, and sent to the Governor for distribution. This Report of the Committee was less complimentary to the Mormons than the Message itself. The following extracts will indicate the character of the document:-— *' In pursuance of the instruction contained in this resolution, your committee have the honor to report, that they have collected all the facts, and taken all the testimony within their reach, — the substance of which, together with a copy of the Message, is here- with presented. '* These sources of information disclose the fact, that the customt which have prevailed in all our other Territories in the govern* **!■ 94 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. ! ment of public afTaira have had but little toleration in the Terri tory of Utah ; but in their stead there appears to be, overriding all other influences, a sort of Jewish theocracy, graduated to the condition of that Territory. . ^ . '* This theocracy, having a supreme head who governs and guides every affair of importance in the Church, and, practically, in the Territory, is the only real power acknowledged here, and to the extension of whose interests every person in the Territory must directly or indirectly conduce. . . . " We have here the first exhibition, within the limits of the United States, of a Church ruling the State. . . . '^ Another opinion — the subject of both public and private teaching — is, that the Government of the United States will not and ought not to stand. They make a difference between the Constitution and the Government of the United States; to the Constitution they claim to be very loyal. . . . '' Because the Governor, in his Message, has animad- verted upon some of the customs of the Mormons, and has recom- mended that steps be taken to Americanize the same, he has given offence, and has had his Message suppressed. " Polygamy of the mo^t unlimited character, sanctioning the co- habitation of a man with the mother and her daughters indis- criminately, is not the only un-American thing among them. ..." The Message, on examination, is found to contain nothing that should give offence to any legislature willing to bo governed by the laws of morality. " It is the opinion of your Committee that the Message is an able exposition of the manners and customs of the people in that Territory, and as such, brought down the censure of the leaders of the Mormon Church, and were it not for the animadversions therein contained, it would not have been suppressed." The printing and distribution of the Message is then rec- ommended. During the session of the Legislature an event occurred which caused much indignation among the federal officers, and served to render somewhat mutual the feelings of hos- tility which the leading saints already entertained. This was nothing less than a forgery committed in the Legislature upon a bill relating to the termii of one of the District Courts. cour May hold thei bill. S< anoti forti POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 95 The facts were as follows : — The Territory was divided into three judicial distri'^tf. The First, sometimes called the Prove District, comprised & number of counties carved out of the centre of the Territory. This had been assigned to Judge Drake. The Second, called the " Cotton District," was assigned to Judge Waite, and consisted of the three southernmost countie!), Beaver, Iron, and Washington. The Third District, Chief Justice Kin- ney's, comprised the northern part of the Territory, includ- ing Salt Lake City. On the 14(h of January, 1863, the Legislature passed a bill, which was signed by the Governor, changing the county seat of Washington County from Washington to St. George, and in the same bill it was provided that the United States Court for the transaction of territorial business, should be held at St. George, on the third Monday of May. This time was the same as that provided by the law previously in force. This was before the assignment of the Judges had been made. *' After Judge Waite had been assigned to the Second Dis- trict [in which many murders had been committed, and the murderers still at large], the Legislature concluded they did not want court held in that district until fall. They accord- ingly passed a bill, providing, among other things, for hold ing the court at St. George on the third Monday of October. But as they had already passed a bill fixitig the term of court in May, and as the Judge preferred to hold the term in May, that being near the time when he was intending to hold court for the transaction of United States business in the same district, the Governor declined signing the second bill. Soon after, having occasion to examine the first bill for another purpose, he went to tlie Secretary's ofiice and called for the bill, and behold, the word May had been erasedj and ^e word October inserted instead ! It appeared to hav«> ,*■ I' 1 96 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. been done by the same hand which had penned the body of the bill. This had been written by one of the clerks of the House of Representatives. The Governor, after signing the bill, had inadvertently returned it to the Legislature, and it had been sent from that body to the Secretary's office^ where it should have been sent by the Governor. It had been recorded in that office before the forgery was discov- ered. The Grovemor immediately caused the record to be cor- rected, changed the bill back from October to May, by eras- ing the word " October " and interlining the word " May.** He then made a statement of the forgery and its detection, over his own signature, on the margin of the bill. He then sent a special Message to the Legislature, calling their attention to the fact that a forgery had been committed; but, instead of taking steps to ferret out the guilty party, the Legislature made an issue of fact with the Governor, and en- deavored to make out that it was all the time October, and that no forgery had been committed. When the matter was up in the House the second time, one member actually pro- duced a paper which he averred was the original draft, and v'hich had October in it. And this iu the face of the fact, that five persons had seen the bill in the Governor's office when the word May was in it, and that the bill showed plainly, upon inspection, that it had been changed ; the out- line of the letter ** y," in the word erased, being distinctly visible. Thus the Legislature, by their collective action, implicated themselves all in the forgery. On the 16th of January the Legislature adjourned, without printing the Grovernor's Message, or sending any appropria- tion bills for his signature. The day following, " the Legislature of the State of Deseret " met, and commenced doing business under Brig- ham Young, as Governor. A Message was delivered, and all the forms of legislation gone through with ; iu reality, this POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. t? de facto government was the only one for which tlie Mor* nions maintained even the show of respect. ■ ^ The judicial systum of the Territory was manifestly very defective, and as constituted under the Organic Act of 1850, as the same had been construed by the Federal Judges, was inadequate to the administration of justice. The greatest difficulty was experienced in the formation of juries, and in the extraordinary jurisdiction assumed by the Probate Judges, all of whom were Mormons. The jurisdiction of the Probate Court, in the words of. the Organic Act, was to be " as prescribed by law." Under this provision several of the United States Judges had held that it was competent in the Legislature to confer upon the Piobate Courts any jurisdiction they pleased. The Mor- mons, never behind in availing themselves of all dvantages, had accordingly granted to the Probate Courts concurrent jurisdiction with the District Courts, in all cases civil and criminal. Again ; the juries had been selected by these courts acting with other county authorities, and it was contended that the United States Courts could only try causes before juries thus selected. To remedy these defects, and to remove all doubt as to the.ee ' complicated questions, a bill was drawn by Judge Waite, for an Act of Congress amendatory of the Organic Act of 1850. It provided for the selection of United States juries by the Marshal, under the direction of the court, as in other district and territorial courts of the United States. The que-tion of jurisdiction was to be settled by an ex- press provision that the Probate Court should have no juris- diction to try any civil action whatsoever. It was to do the usual probate business, and have a limited criminal jurisdic- tion, subject to appeal to the District Court. The bill also provided for an organization of the militia of the Territory, under the Governor, and contained several o'her wholesome End salutary provisions. 9 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. The bill was carefully drawn, and was submitted to the inspection of lils associate, Judg/e Drake, and of Governor Harding, — Judge Kinney beiug absent from the Territory. It received the unquulifitd approval of Drake and Harding, and, with tlieir indorsement U[)Ou it, was sent to Washing- ton. In due time it was introduced in Congress by Senate** Browning, and referred to the proper committee. The introduction of this bill was the signnl for another outbreak. The news was telegraplied to Salt Lake, and im- mediately Brighan) called a meef 'ng at the Tabernacle. The meeting was held on the 6d of March, 1863. No- tice having beeii extensively circulated, some two or three thousand peisons assembled, excited by exaggerated state- ments concerning attempts upon the part of the federal otiicers to " interfere with their rights." Speeches of the most inflammatory character were made at this meeting, and the resentment and indignation of the ignorant masses of the people were excited to the highest pitch. The following will serve as a specimen of these harangues. Elder John Taylor said : — "It has already been stated that these documents speak for themselves. They come frbni those who are ostensibly our guardians, and the guardians of car rights. They come from men who ought to be actuated by the strictest principles of honor, truth, virtue, integrity, and honesty, and whose high official posi- tion ought to elevate them above suspicion, — yet what are the results ? '* In relation to the Governor's Message, enough, perhaps, has already been said. . . " We had a right to look for a friend in our Governor, who would, at least, fairly represent us. Instead, we have had a most insidious foe, who, through misrepresentations, base insinuations, and falsehood, is seeking with all his power, privately as well as officially, not only to injure us before the Government, but as well to sap the very foundations of our civil and religious liberties ; he is, in fact, in the furtherance of his unhallowed schemes, seeking ^ POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 99 e e 90 las to promote anarchy and rebellion, and dabbling in your blood. [Cries of ♦ hear, hear.'] Such, it would seem, were the Gover- nor's feelings and intentions when he concocted his Message, and such his purposes when he read it before the Legislature. TLaT. document was not hastily written, as it shows upon Its face that it had been well digested, and every word and sentence carefully weighed. i . . . " That he is the most vindictive enemy we have, ia shown by the statement of our representatives at Washington. *' He is the only man, it would seem, who is industriously striv- ing to sap the interests of our people, and to injure their reputa- tion, and yet, as our Governor, he professes to feel a deep interest in our welfare, and to represent our wishes. ** Let us, for a short time, investigate the results of his acts, should his purposes be successful, leaving the allegations of treason from our consideration. [It was contended that the Governor and Judges had committed Treason against the Territory."] " We have thought that we were living under a republican form of government, and had the right of franchise ; that we had the privilege of voting for whom we pleased, and of thus saying whom we would have represent us ; but it may be that we are laboring under a mistake, and that it is but a political illusion. We have likewise thought that if any one among us was accused of crimes, it was his privilege to be tried by a jury of his peers, among whom be had lived, who would undoubtedly be the best judges of his actions. " We have further been of the opinion that while acting ir i military capacity, when called into service to stand in defence of' our country's rights, we had the right of selecting our own officers. We have always had this privilege, in accordance with republican usage ; but we can do so no longer should the plotting of Gov- ernor Harding and our Honorable Judges be carried Into effect. We shall be deprived of franchise, of the right of trial by an im- partial jury, and shall be placed, in a military capacity, under the creatures of Governor Harding, or of his successors. In other words, we shall be forever deprived of all the rights of freemen, and placed under a military despotism ; such would be the result of the passage of this Act. •* Again, in regard to juries, already referred to, you know whafti V regards this matter, the usi^e has always been. The Governor 100 POLITICAL HI8T0RY CONTINUED. and Judges want to place the power in the hands of the UnittMi States Marshal of selecting such jurors as he pleases, and that, too, without reference as to who they are, or whence they come. This is what is attempted to be done by our honorable Judges and Governor. Your rights as freemen;, and your liberties, are aimed at ; and you are to be disfranchised, and your liberties trampled under foot, by strangers, and you will have blacklegs and cut* throats sit upon your juries. Mr. Harding wants to select his own military, and have officers of his own selection to lead them, and then if you do not submit, he will have the authority to say, * I will make you.' [Uproarious applause, and cries all over the house of * Can't do it.'] We all know he can't do it, but this is what he is aiming at. [Clapping of hands, and great cheering.] When these rights are taken away, what rights have we left ? [Cries of •None.'] " It can scarcely be credited or believed, that any man in his position could so far degrade himself as to introduce such infamous principles, and it is equally a lamentable fact to reflect upon, that men holding the high and responsible position of United States Judges could so far forget themselves as to descend to such depravity, corruption, and injustice. [Applause.] These things are so palpable, that * he that runneth may read,' and any man with five grains of common sense can readily comprehend them. It is for you to say whether you are willing to sustain such men in the capacity they act in, or not." [Loud clapping of hands, and a universal and emphatic cry of '^ No 1 " on the part of the audience.] Briohah Young's Speech. At the close of Elder Taylor's speech Brigham arose, anct on advancing to the speaker's desk was greeted with vocifer- ous applause, and immediatiely proceeded to address the assemblage as follows : — ** I have no intention of delivering a lengthy address, but while I am speaking I desire the audience to remain quiet. I know well your feelings, but much prefer that you should suppress any demonstrations of applause to other times and places, when you may have less business and greater leisure. " You have just heard read the Message of Govenior Harding, POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 101 delivered to the last Legislative Assembly of this Territory. You will readily perceive that the bread is buttered, but there is poison underneath. When be came to Utah last July, the Governor sought to ingratiate himself into the esteem of our prominent citi- Eens, with whom he had early intercourse, and professed great friendship and attachment for the people of the Territory. Ho was then full of their praises, and said he was ready to dcclaro that he would stand in the defence of polygamy, or that he should have to deny the Bible ; and stated that he had told the President, prior to leaving Washington, that if he wore called upon to discuss the question, he would have to take the side of polygamy, or to renounce the authority of the Scriptures. '* In the face of all these professions, what has been his course ? While being fair of speech, and specious of promise, and lavish in his expressions of good-will toward us, he has been insidiously at woric to prejudice the General Government against us, and in the secrecy of his private room has concocted measures which he urged upon Congress to pass, which, if successful, would deprive us of the dearest rights of freemen, and render us the abject sub- jects of this man, who has been sent here to govern the Territory. Man, did I say ? — thing, I mean, — a nigger- worshipper, — a black-hearted abolitionist is what he is, and what he represents ; and that I do naturally despise. He wants to have the telegraph torn down, and tlte mails stopped and turned by the way of Pan- ama. Do you acknowledge (his man Harding for your Governor ? [Voices all through the audience responded, *No, you are our Governor.'] Yes, I am your Governor ; and I will let him know that I am Governor ; and if he attempts to interfere in my affairs, ' Woe, woe unto him ! ' [Shaking his uplifted fist in a very excited manner, which was responded to with loud applause, and cries of ♦ Yes, you are our Governor.*] ^ Will you allow such a man to remain in the Territory? [Voices, * No ; put him out.'] Yes, I say put him out Judges Waite and Drake are perfect fools, and the tools of Governor Harding, and they too must leave. If all three do not resign, or if the President does not remove them, the people must attend to it. " If they could get the power, as they want to do, to have the Marshal choose jurors of cut-throats, blacklegs, soldiers, and des- peradoes from California, and inre are to be tried by such men, what would become of us ? 102 POLITICAL HISTORY COMTINUED. ** In regard to the war now desolating the country, '.t is but tbe fulfilment of tbu prophecies of Joseph Smith, which he told mo thirty years ago. Brother Joseph said that the South would liso against the North, and the North against the South, and that they would fight until both parties were destroyed ; and for my part I give it God speed ; for they have spilt the blood of the Prophet [To which the audience responded vociferously, • Amen I '] " I would like to live in peace with the Government of the United States, but have no desire to live with the people who have brought ruin and disgrace upon their own heads. 1 do not wish to live in, or have anything to do with the United States ; I will have a free and independent government for myself, where I may live and enjoy my civil and religious liberties. [Loud cries of ' Amen,' and * Yes, yes,' on the part of the entire assemblage.] " When our rights, and the protection of our liberties are taken from us, what is there remaining ? [Voices, ' Nothing,' * Noth- ing.'] Yes, service to despots, — service to tyrants." Brigham also said that money had been appropriated for the purpose of turning the mail by the way of Panama ; and the.se men were not above taking money for such a purpose, under pretence of other business. The injustice and falsity of the.^e statements concerning the bill introduced into Congress, ^nd which was the imme- diate cause of this outbreak, will be manifest, when it is stated that so far from authorizing soldiers to sit as jurymen, it was expressly prohibited in the bill itself. Again ; the ri;;ht of suffrage was actually extended by the bill, because, while by one section the militia officers were to be appointed by the Governor, the bill in other sections provided that nearly all civil ofBcers of the Territory, who were before elected by the Legislature, should be elected by the people. The effect of the bill would have been, to enable the peo- ple, when they became generally dissatisfied with the spirit- ual tyranny to which they were submitting, as many of them were already, to throw off* the yoke of despotism, by having every question that might arise fairly and impartially a^ju- all Offic( annf DrakJ sacreJ ciplcsl the fel it ij made I OS as POLITICAL HISTOnY CONTINUED. 103 dicated upon in the courts. This was foreseen by Brighnm. Ilti saw that he was about to lose the powerful enginery of the judicial system of the Territory, then under his control. Hence the demonstration. Tiiere are but two ways in which this theocratic despotism can be met nud overthrown. One is, by the people of the Territory, aided by some 8ucli legislation as that proposed. The other is by the strong arm of military power. The for- mer would be more congenial to our institutions. Time only can determine which must be resorted to. Doubt- loss the employment of force will become necessary in either case, — as the course taken by Young and his associates on this occasion shows that a peaceable remedy will be forcibly resisted. After listening to such speeches, the audience were, of course, ready to adopt or approve of anything; and the fol- lowing resolutions, prepared ibr the occasion, were passed without a dissenting voice : —• " ReMhed, That we consider the attack made upon us by His Excellency Governor Harding, wherein our loyalty is impugned, as base, wicked, unjust, and false ; and he knew it to be so when uttered. '^ Jtesolvedy That we consider the attempt to possess himself of all military authority and dictation, by appointing all the militia officers, is a strettth of military despotism, hitherto unknown in the annals of our Republic. " Resolved, That we consider his attempt to control the selection of juries as so base, unjust, and tyrannical, as to deserve the con tempt of all free men. '* Resolved, That we consider the action of Judges Waite and Drake, in assisting the Governor to pervert justice, and violate the sacred palladium of the people's rights, as subversive of the prin- ciples of justice, degrading to their high calling, and repulsive to the feelings of honest men. ^* Resolved, That we consider that a serious attack has been made upon the liberties of this people, and that it not only affects lis as a Territory, but is a direct assault upon Republican princi- 104 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. pies in our own nation and throughout the world ; and that we cannot either tamely submit to be disfranchised ourselves, ny such means. ** It is mean and contemptible. On your part, 'J^AyloTf a f POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. loa eignCr, it is impudence unequalled ; and Pratt, a citizen, ought to know better than to trample on the rights of a citizen by engaging in such a dirty enterprise. Your resolutions are false, and those who drafted them knew them to be so ; and I am informed that in the meeting at the Tabernacle, Brigham Young called me a fool, and a tool of the Governor. [Here Taylor admitted that such was the fact.] *' Go back to Brigham Young, your master, — that embodiment of sin and shame and disgust, — and tell him that I neither fear him, nor love himj nor hate him, — that I utterly despise him. Tell him, whose tools and tricksters you are, that I did not come here by his permission, and that I will not go away at his desire, or by his directions. I have given no cause of offence to any one. I have not entered a Mormon's house since I came here ; your wives and daughters have not been disturbed by me, and I have not even looked upon your concubines and lewd women. " I am no skulk from the punishment of crimes. I tell you, if you, or the man whom you so faithfully serve, attempt to interfere with my lawful business, you will meet with trouble of a character you do not expect. " A horse-thief or a murderer has, when arrested, a right to speak in court ; and unless in such capacity, or under such cir- cumstances, don't you ever dare to speak to me again." The Committee rose to depart, and one of them said, " We have our opinions." " Yes," replied the Judge, ** thieves and murderers can have opinions ; " and thus closed the in- terview. The Committee then proceeded to call on Judge Waite at his residence, where they were received politely and with due consideration. In answer to their request for his resig- nation and withdrawal from the Territory, be replied as fol> lows: — " To comply with your wishes, gentlemen, under such circum- stances, would be to admit, impliedly at least, one of two things, — either that I was sensible of having done something wrong, ot that I was afraid to remain at my post and perform my duty. *' I am not conscious either of guilt or fear. I must therefore respectfully decline to accede to your request." no POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. These replies were published in California, and in the Eastern papers, and gave general satisfaction. The people rejoiced that at lost the Government had representatives in Utah who could neither be wheedled nor bullied out of their rights, nor fiightened from the performance of their duty. In Utah the excitement for a time ran high, and doubtless nothing but the presence of the military saved the federal officers from personal violence. The state of popular feeling there is well shown by the following extracts from the correspondence of the " Chicago Tribune": — " Excitement ran high, and groups of men were to be seen on the corners of the various streets, busily engaged in canvassing the subject, their earnest gestures and eager attitudes portraying the depth and intensity of the frenzied feeling which actuated them. *' One of the Judges sought to be ostracised (Judge Waite) was accosted, while passing quietly along the sidewalk, by a group of excited men, and threats of an alarming character made use of to intimidate him. . . . ♦' The few • gentiles ' resident here were also to be ob- ser\'ed In earnest discussion of the question, and with compressed lip and countenance, on which ' thought sat sedate,' awaited, cold and determined, the approach of coming events. I opine that many a bowie and revolver were hastily examined and adjusted, of which the passer-by had no thought or knowledge, which, in an emergency, might have been made useful. *'■ It was a spectacle of true courage to see these federal officers, clothed with important duties, stand up and assert their rights, when they knew but too well that this * request ' upon the part of the meeting and the Committee had a far more grave signifi- cance, if that request were not complied with. " They have been called on by a number of citizens and gentle- men since the visit of tlie Committee, and have received but one expression of opinion as to what has passed; and that Is, that the proceedings throughout were an outrage, and only Intended to get rid of men who cannot be used against the interest of the General Government, and whose fidelity to duty makes them alike hated and fcanid by the Mormon leaders." ,€" POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Ill The following, from the snine correspondence, will show the conduct of Young during this emergency : — ** While the objects of all this wrath pursue the even tenor of their way, and sleep soundly, with scarce a casement barred, uu- mlndlul of the threatened storm without, yet not so with him, ' the Lord's Anointed,' who appears to dream dreams and see visions, that to his distempered fancy seem to foreshadow the ^handwriting on the wall,' at the great day of his judgment which is to come. Like unto the great magician, the famous Fakir, who upon a time, by his incantation, raised a demon which he could not control, which would not * lay ' at the ccnqueror's command, and from which he fled in dismay ; so, in the present instance, the * Lion of the Lord ' is sorely ati'righted at the hideous aspect of the devil (' of a muss') he has raised, which, he has the sagacity to sec, may not ' down ' at his biddiug, but may return to plague the in- ventor. <* There is abundant evidence to show that he is alarmed at his own creation, and foreseeing that he has provoked justice, in- censed mercy, seeks to guard against the retribution which ho knows the offended majesty of loyalty and law should visit upon him. " The night succeeding the action of the mass meeting, some fifty armed sentinels or guards were on duty, in and about Brig- ham's premises, which number has since been augmented to sev- eral hundreds, a portion of whom serve as pickets, or night-patrol, on the different streets leading toward Camp Douglas. It has been currently reported that orders have been issued to arrest Brigham and his counsellors, and hence these precautionary meas- ures to guard against any sudden inroad of troops from Col. Con- r.or's command. . . . '* On the 8th inst., the Sabbath succeeding the date of the mass meeting, Brigham delivered a very treasonable and violent ha- rangue in the Tabernacle, to an immense audience, which filled almost to suffocation that capacious structure. . . . ^ We have always,' he said, ' done everything in our power to show our loy- alty. Is there anything that could be asked that we would not do ? Yes ;' let the present Administration ask us for a thousand Bien, or even five hundred, and I 'd see them damned first, and then thev could n't have them ! What do you think of that ? 112 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. [Loud cries of '* Good, good ! " and great applause.] We hnre liars, murderers, and thieves among us, who are watching us, to report something against our loyalty. Their object is to send another army here to " wipe us out " ; but let me tell them that cannot be done ; " they can't come it," — putting his thumb to his nose, and making the peculiar gyrating movement with the fin- gers, so very expressive among rowdies and shoulder-hitters. At this antic, a long, and loud, and universal shout and laughter went up from all parts of the house, joined with clapping of bands, and stamping of the feet, in one general din and uproar. *' * It was said that we were disloyal because we burned some seventy government wagons, at the time Johnston's army came here. Well, let me ask, what the devil were they doing out here t Coming here to destroy, and Wipe us from the face of the earth ; and we only took and destroyed some of their good things, so that they had to gnattt mulesf hdnen^ and eat cattle which had frozen to death ; that 's what they did. *' * I swear some, my brethren and sisters ; but it is always in the pulpit, — never anywhere else.' " Following Brigham came * brother Heber,' a large, gross man, bald-lieaded^ and with a harsh and disagreeable voice, and appar- ently fast approaching the age of * the lean and slippered panta- loon.' His remarks were in the main but a re-hash of those made by Brigham, save in one or two noticeable points, as follows : — *• They say I am a secessionist, hut that 's a lie. Then they say I have more than one wife ; well, I have several wives, and lots of children, and by the help of the Lord I '11 have many more of them ! ' *' Speaking about anticipated trouble with the General Govern- ment, he said : — * The entire power of the United States cannot destroy us, for the Lord will fight our battles.* • " Brigham fears Arrest. " Yesterday Col. Connor rode into the city, and called on Judge Waite at his residence, and made a stay of perhaps an hour or so. Immediately afler his departure, a signal of distress was hastily thrown to the breeze, from a small flag-stafT on Brigham's * Lion House.' . . . Immediately a commotion wa<« seen, and soon armed men besran to pour alonir the diflTer'^nt streets, and the report was carried, as on the wings of lightning, co the uttf^nnost POLITICAL HISTORY C0NT1NU£D. lU ptrto of the city, that an order was being made out for the arrest «f Urigham and his counsellors, and that Col. Connor had been dowa to make arrangements for enforcing the writ. Men with muskotg and rifles, — some (ew with antiquated swords, — of all ages, from the brawny youth to the old white-haired sexagenarian, came pouring along, singly and in groups, by twos, by threes, and the half-dozen or more, pressing hurriedly on towards Brigham's premises, zealous, and ready to yield up life, if need be, in de- fence of the ' Prophet of the Lord.' Altogether some two thou- sand 'citizen soldiery' collected, and stood guard during the watches of the night, over the beloved Brigham and his harem. Verily, * The wicked flee when no man pursueth.' " That Brigham really feared arrest at this time, and bo- lieved that a movement was on foot for that purpose, is evi- dent from the following, taken from the " Latter Day Saints' Millennial Star," published in London. It is a portion of a letter written for that magazine by David O. Calder, a clerk in the titliing-office : — " Amekica. Great Salt Lake City, March 13th, 1863. " President G. Q. Cannon : " Dear Brother, — You of course have learned through the New York press of our * expected collision between the military and citizens of Utah,' and will learn through Capt. Hooper, (he being just informed by telegraph to write to you,) that compara- tive peace is restored. I shall now give you some details of the trouble. " As you are aware, we have been of the opinion that the mission of i he troops despatched from California last year was not altogether to be confined to the guarding of the mail and tele- graph lines, and the protection of the California emigration, and consequently have been watchful of their proceedings ; the more BO, that they made their winter-quarters within the city limits, and on one of the most commanding benches above the city, instead of being distributed at the several posts along the line of travel. " We also have been made acquainted with the doings of Gov- trnor Harding, and Judges Waite and Drake ; that they were corresponding with the authorities at Washington, and moving •verything that could be moved to bring the army her« in ooa- 10 114 POLITICAL UISTOBT CONTINUED. tact with the people, and to have the War Department send on two or three thousand more troops. " These and other movements compelled the citizens to be on their guard, and prepared for any emergency. On Monday last, a reliable person 'overheard Colonel Connor and Judge Waite in conversation. The Colonel says, * These three men must be sur- prised.' The Judge replied, * Colonel, you know your duty.' In half an hour annor also remains, and, considering the small force at his command, had accompliiihed wonders. By his bold and fearlesis vindication of the rights and interests of the Govertiment, guided, at the same time, in all his acts by great di.ocretion and moderation, he has compelled some show of respect for the federal authority. Neither Gen. Connor nor Judge Wuite had the slightest intention of arresting Brigham Young at the time alluded to in March, 1863. The astute leader of the Mormons had a spy listening to the conversation of those gentlemen, and the spy aforesaid heard some things, and thought he heard others. He reported to headquarters the supposed result of his discoveries, and it must be admitted that those who had been placed under this insulting espionage took no great pains to correct the impression which prevailed, and which 80 quickly and so thoroughly developed the disloyal senti- ments which the people had imbibed under the infamous teachings of Brigham and his corrupt priests, apostles, and bishops. Mark the language used by Mr. Caller. " On Monday last, a reliable person overheard," &c Here the infamous system of espionage maintained over the federal officers by Young, stands plainly confessed. But (he fact was well known, and he reaped no great benefit from it. So thoroughly was he frightened, that, to save himself the ignominy and humiliation of a public and forcible arrest, he went privately to his friend. Chief Justice Kinney, and gave his bonds for his appearance at Kinney's court, to answer to any indictment that might he found against him for polygamy. The grand jury, of course, found no indictment, and the incident is only worth mentioning as curiously illustrative of the extent to which he was operated on by his fears on that occasion. - A biief notice of the federal officers stationed and resid- ing in Utah, while the writer was living in that Territory^ will close the present chapter. •>■ le m lat # -• V ♦ • >p«S JM V :W* ■»f^ #;^ :i' ^(^ a^x^,^^/^/( 7 II ^#' -t i>' ^^ •^ » fc. # v^r^' %■ f - 4 was I vat the >'«ar appt ID t| (ho last - * *v * POLITICAL HIST05Y CONTINUED. 119 « Hon. Stephen S. Harding, who was Governor from the B),r ^: i"" m. -»*■ J * 0e » ±24 * - A,. POLITICAL mSTOKY CONTLNUED. least to avoid any open diflferences, aud thus kept up the uppcarauce of fiicudahip with all. IIo enjoyed for a long time the confidence and apparent respect of Brighanj, to a greater degree, perhaps, than Kin- ney himself. From Salt Lake he went to San Francisco, where he en- giiged in dealing in mining stocks. From the time of Dawson's hasty departure in the fall of 1861, until Governor Harding's arrival in July, 1862, he acted as Governor of the Territory, and his administration gave general satisfaction to the Mormons. Amos Reed, Esq., who succeeded Dr. Fuller as Secretary m 1863, and who now holds that position, came into the Ter- ritory with Governor Doty from Wisconsin. During the winter of 1863-64, while Governor Doty was absent in Washington, Beed was the acting Governor, and as such evinced a high order .of administrative talent. The affairs of the Territory were, during that time, conducted wiih much discretion and judgment, and so far as was in his power, the rights and interests of all classes were respected. General P. Edward Connor was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and migrated to the United States, with his parents, at a very early period of life. Having reached the age of manhood, he enlisted in the regular army of the United States, and served an honorable term, as private, for five years, on the frontier. At the breaking out of the Mexican War, he raised a company of Texas Volunteers, and as captain, led them with distinguished success and heroism at the battle of Buena Vista. He was mentioned in oflicial dispatches, with high encomiums for bravery. At this battle he was severely wounded, and received a pension from the Government. At the close of the war he settled upon the Pacific coast. ^ Captain Connor resided in Stockton, California, for ten years, prior to the rebellion, engaged in private businessi wherein he attained a handsome competence. w- m ^ ■^ 4 Ifh '^ % ^ *»« ■-£. >,;, .'^ ^ •^.. « t ^, .^ Mt POUTICAF. IlISTOUY CONTINUED. 127 * <% He was married at Stockton, and now has two children living. During his residence in Stockton, Captain Connor took an active interest iu military affairs, and commanded a uniform company. At the breaking out of the present rebellion, he was ten- dered the appointment of Colonel of the Third Regiment of i#>' Infantry, California Volunteers. With the expectation that his regiment was to be sent East, he promptly raided and organized it. The exigencies of the service, however, required his pres- ence in Utah, and in the summer of 1862 he led the 3d Infantry, and part of the 2d Cavalry, Cal. Vol., across the Plains, in a most successful, though arduous march, and es- tablished his camp where it would command the City of the Saints. Amid the snows and storms of the winter of 18P>2-63, he planned and pro.^ecuted a successful campaign against hostile Indians, and on the 29th of January, 1863, fougiit the hard battle of Bear River, defeating and almost annihilating the savages, under the leadership of Bear Hunter and Lehigh. For the brilliancy of this action, Col. Connor was pro- moted by the President to be Brigadier- General of United States Volunteers, which rank he now retains. He is a man of strong common sense, excellent and quick judgment, invincible energy and determination, firmness almost amounting to obstinacy, and the strictest integrity. His administration in Utah has been eminently snccessfirU By Brigham Young he is at once hated and feared. He is but little past forty years of age. « ^ % i ;- # ^■ uv *■ CHAPTER Vn. BBIOHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHUBCH. Oiganlsation of the Mormon Church. — Functions of the various Offlcera. Tho Two Priesthoods. — Mode of Treating Dissenters or ** Apostates.*'— Divisions .in the Church. — The Gladdenites. — History of tlie Morris- ites. — The Joseptutes. — Return to the true Mormon Church. In his capacity as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Brigham Young possesses and wields despotic power over ** this people," and rules them bj his single will, in all their affairs, both spiritual and tem- poral. This is owing, not to any peculiarity in the churcL organ- ization. Any organization which should recognize him as the absolute head of the church, and dispense with every system of checks and balances, would answer the same pur- pose. Once admit the necessity of a spiritual head, and fail to require from him any responsibility, and all that remains is, to establish a grade of agents and mediums for the trans- mission of his will and wishes to the masses, and the system is complete. Such a grade is fully established under the Mormon sys- tem. First, — TTie First Presidency. This consists of three, chosen from those who hold the high-priesthood and apostle- ship, and its office is to preside over and direct the affairs of the whole church. It consists of a President and two Coun- eellors. The President is also Seer, Rovelator, Translator, and Prophet. He rules in all spuntual and temporal affairs. BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 129 Secondly, — The Apostlet, These are to build op, organ- ize, and preside over churciies, adminiister the ordinunces, etc. Thirdly, — The Seventies. The Quorums of the Sevenliua are to travel in all the world, preach the goiipel, and admin- ister its ordinances and blessinqs. There is, also, tlie Pa- triarch, whose duty is to blesa the fatherless, to prophesy what shall befaU them, etc. Fourthly, — High-Priests and Elders, The High-Priest is to administer the ordinances, and preside over the Stakes of the church ; that is, over the churches established abroad. Tlie Elders are to preach and to baptize ; to onlain other Elders, also Priei^ts, Teachers, and Deacons. All the fore- going officers are of the Melchisedec Priesthood. Fifthly, — The Aaronic Priesthood^ which includes the offices of Bishop, Priest, Teacher, and Deacon. The Bishop presides over all the lesser offices of the Aaronic Priesthood, ministers in outward ordinances, con- duuts the temporal business of the church, and sits in judg- ment on transgressors. The Priest is to preach, bar<,ize, administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and visit and exhort the saints. The Teaclter is to watch over and strengthen the church, ete. The Deacon is to assist the Teacher. There is also a High Council, consisting of Twelve High- Priests, with a President. The office of the Council is to settle all important difficulties. The Priesthood comes direct from Heaven, and was lost to man, until the keys of both orders of the Priesthood were given to Joseph Smith, by an angel from Heaven, in 1829. After the death of Smith, they came into the hands of Brig- ham Young. From this resum4 of the church organization, it will be seen that it is sufficient for the purpose. AH these officers are but mediums for the transmission of the will of tne Prefr. ident Nor is it confined to spiritual affairs. Under the I 180 BRIOHAM AS PRESIDENT OF TUE CHUKCa. form of a church organization, this system absorbs not onlj the religious, but uil the civil and political liberty of the in- dividual member. The High Council forms an apparent check on the power of the President ; but when it is consid- ered that this body is composed of persons nearest the Pres- ident, and under his immediate- influence and control, in other relations in the same organization, — as High-Priests, etc., — it will be seen that the check is only nominal, and forms no real protection to the rights of the people. The ordera of the Priesthood, to which these officers aro respectively attached, are thus distinguished:-^ The Melchisedec Priesthood hold the right of Presidency, receive revelations from Heaven, for the guidance of the church, and hold the keys of all its spiritual blessings. The Aaronic Priesthood hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and have the right to administer in outward ordi- nances. This Priesthood must be filled by lineal descendants of Aaron. It will be seen that the mission of all the officers of tho Melchisedi'C Priesthood — the Apostles, High-Priests, Sev- enties, and Elders — is to propagate the gospel, and make converts ; while the government of the church and of the people is committed to the Aaronic Priesthood. Of these the chief is the Bishop, who is accordingly the civil and religious magistrate of the ward in which he re sides. There are other civil magistrates, whose duties are bu little more than nominal, except in Salt Lake City, where the occasional large influx of " gentiles " who will not sub- mit to this spiritual government, renders necessary an ap proximation to the forms of civil proceedings to which they have been accustomed. The " saints " themselves are not expected to go before other than the ecclesiastical magistrates. When brought unwillingly before a civil magistrate, the same being a Mor* iui>n, the case receives a favorable consideration. BRIGIIAM AS PRKSIDENT OF THE CIIUKCII. 131 "Rare exceptums may bo cited when", fmm motivfts of policy, tliiii rule i» relaxed oi* departed fVoiii. Fur iuHtance, in the winter of I "^03-04, Jusoii Luce, u Munnori, was tried, convicted, and slioi, for the murder of u gentile iu Salt Lake City. But tlu) murder was of the most cruel and unpro- voked character, the crime was perpetrated on the street, and the evidence was open and abundant. Much indignation existed among the miners, many of whom were congregated in Salt ^iake City at the time. If this had not been the first instance in the history of Utah of the execution of a Mormon, under judgment of a Mormon court, for the murder of a gentile, it might be taken as evidence of an intention to do justice to all. As it is, it should be marked to their credit ; and it is only to be hoped that subsequent events may not prove it to have been an act of policy merely. The machinery of the Mormon Church, through which the people are governed in all their affairs, civil as well m religious, is well described in the following extract from the Salt Lake Correspondence of the '* Chicago Tribune " of May, 18G3: — " The machinery of the church consists of Brigham, who is greatly pleased and flattered by the blasphemous title of tho * Lord's Anointed,' the Second and Third Presidents, College of Twelve Apostles, Patriarchs, Quorums of Seventies, Counsellors, Presidents of * Stakes,' Bishops, Elders, and Teachers ; and last but not least, tho Danites, or * Destroying Angels,' who are scat- tered throughout the Territory, and who superintend the temporal and spiritual affairs of tho people in every city, village, ' stake,' and hamlet in the same. " These various organiications and persons, from tho Second President to the red-haired Danite, who is simply the employed Assassin of the Great Head, are the shafls, driving-wheel, cog and ipur-wheels, belts and pulleys of the great machine called t^n Church, and as such are made to perform their various functions Mith a precision and fitness of things that is wonderful indeed. . . . '* Brigham, like a skilful engineer, stands on the plat* 132 BRIGIIAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. form of his locomotive, with hand placed upon the lever, sheltered in the caboose, with petjp-holes in front, on the right and on the left, and the crook of whose finger causes the whole train to move forward or back, or to switch off on the track of some new dogma, to which he lures on the unsuspecting passengers and precious freight, with the catchpenny whistle of * Revelation ! ' which ia most persistently sounded when he hears the restive murnmrings of those who may catch but a premonitory glimpse of the awful precipice to which he is hurrying them on, as to a terrible and eternal destruction." The motive-power is religious delusion, which is con- stantly applied by Brigham, .vho thus drives along the whole combination with fearful power. ** And in that train may be found all that makes up the hopes and fears, the joys and sorrows, the love and hatred, of that ' moral and physical phenomenon,' the Mormon Church, — not only here, but scattered throughout all Europe, and the * Isles of the Seas,* who have ventured their all — their lives and fortunes, their bo, and said if he remained in the city, he (Young) would not be respon- sible fur hid personal safety. Hriggs declined to avail hiin- Relf of this polite hint to leave ; and notwithstanding these thunders from the Vatican, he went boldly to work, and " daily ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." lie talked with the people, visited them at their houses, prayed with them, and sang with them. * The effect was electrical. Singly, by dozens, and by scores, the people began to fall off from the great apostasy, and to return to the mother-church. Persecution commenced from the first day of his labors. He and IMcCord were for- bidden all the houses of the city, by an order of Brigham which none dared to disobey. One house, that of a gentile, was still open to them, and there they held their meetings, which were well attended. Before spring their numbers had increased to over three hundred. About half of that number returned across the Plains in the spring of 1864, and so strong was the excite- ment, and so bitter the persecution and enmity of the '* saints " toward this comparatively handful of seceders from Brig- ham's authority and dominions, that Gen. Connor deemed it necessary and advisable to send a strong escort with them as far as Green River, about 145 miles. Besides this number who departed for the region of the rising sun, large numbers of the westward-bound emigration were stopped, and having their eyes opened by missionaries of the same stamp, were induced to withhold their steps, at least until another season. The Josephites in Salt Lake, although the subjects of bitter and unrelenting persecution from the Mormons, found favor and protection from Gen. Connor and the military under his command. They will doubtless continue to flourish and increase, and it is possible that in this way Utah may be brought to loyalty Itnd good citizenship, without bloodshed or commotion. It is 10 1 -. »S'- w- -• m ■:^- 146 BRIQHAM AS PRESIDENT OF TUE CHURCH. but a possibility, however, as Brigham will not see himself thus undermined without de.^perate efforts to prevent it. In Europe whole churches have already changed, or " gone over," from the apostasy of Brigham to the old church, with Joseph at its head. Briggs is President of the Twelve Apostles, and is admi- rably fitted for the work before him. He is a man of great energy and heroism, and takes hold of his mighty task as though it were but the work of a summer day. Nowhere can be found a better exemplificution of the self-sacrifice and sublime heroism of the Christians of the MiJdle Ages. The following are the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, under the presidency of jA)seph Smith, son of Joseph the Martyr : — " We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and his Son Jeaus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. ** We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions. '* We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of thb gospel. ' *' We believe that these ordinances are : 1st. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; 2d. Ilepcntance ; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins ; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gifl of the Holy Spirit ; 6th. The Lord's Supper. **■ We believe that men must be called of God, by inspiration, and by laying on of hands by those who arc duly commissioned to preach the gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof. '^ We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz. : Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, &c. " We believe in the powers and gifts of the everlasting gospel, ▼iz., the gift of faith, discoursing of spirits, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, tongues and the intrepretation of tongues, wis- dom, charity, brotherly love,, &c. " We believe the word of God recorded in the Bible ; we also believe the word of God recorded in the HorA. of Mormon, and in all other good books. *i BRIGUAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 147 " We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many more great and important things, pertaining to the kingdom of God and Messiah's second coming. " We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the resto- ration of the ten tribes ; that Zion will be established upon the Western Continent ; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth a thousand yeais; and that th» earth will be renewed, and receive its paradisaical glory; " We believe in the literal resurrection of the body ; that the dead in Christ will rise first, and that the rest of the dead do not live again until the thousand years are expired. •' We believe in being subject to kings, queops, presidents, rulers, and magistrates ; in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the taw. " We believe In being virtuous, chaste, temperate, benevolent, and in doing good to all men. " We believe that the church in Utah, under the presidency of Brigham Young, have apostatized from the true order of the goS' pel. ♦' We believe that the doctrines of polygamy, human sacrifice^ or killing men to save them, Adam being God, Utah being Zion, or the gathering place for the saints, are doctrines of devils, instituted by wicked men, for the accomplishment of their own lustful desires, and with a view to their personal i^grandizement ** We believe in being true and loyal to the Government of the United States, and have no sympathy or fellowship for the treason- able practices or wicked aboaiiiiations indorsed by Brigham Young and his foUowera.** .1 CHAPTER VIII. BRIG HAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. Nfature of the Trusteeship. — The Tithing System. — Brigliam's Private Speculations. — The Emigration Fund. — The Hand-Cart Company. — " Ho was a man Who stole the liverj' of tlie Court of Heaven To serve the Devil in; in virtue's guise Devoured the widow's house and orphan's bread ; In holy phrase, transacted villanics That common sinners durst not meddle with." As Trustee in Trust for the Church, Brigham Young is in his element. Here his genius shines preeminent, giving him the character, at home and abroad, of a good, as he cer- tainly is a successful, financier. But here, upon the outset, let no one be misled by the words employed to designate the capacity in which he han- dles and manages the funds of the church. It is called a *' trust" becau.-^e he is supposed to use the money for the benefit of the church. But this Trust is very general and indefinite in its charac- ter. It has no prescribed duties or conditions. It has no guards or limits. Jt has no prescribed nor acknowledged mode of accountability. Many years ago, attempts were made at the General Con- ferences, to exhibit a balance-sheet of receipts and disburse- ments. These were confused and unsatisfactory ; and lest they should be too closely examined, they have of late years been entirely abandoned, — the increasing faith of the saints in their leader rendering it entirely unnecessary that anj explanation should be made of the disposal of their funds. BRIGIIAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 149 Again : a corps of clerks are employed in the tithing-oflice, and are paid out of the public tithing-fund salaries ranging from $1000 upwards. They are supposed to keep a com- plete system of accounts, showing all the receipts from this net-work of fiscal veins, and all the disbursements through the various arteries of the religious body. But beyond the receipt and deposit of moneys, and the keeping of the tith- ing account with individual members of the church, the duties of these clerks are merely nominal. Each has an other part to perform. The reader will smile to be informed that these clerks are really the principal stock actors in the Salt Lake Theatre. Having but little office business, their time is thus turned to a good account, reading novelettes and newspapers, a plentiful supply of which may be found in their several offices. The theatre is the private property of Brighr :.. and the proceeds go into his own pocket, discon- nectesi is any real or imaginary embarrassment arising from ? •" ation of Trustee. Hence it will be seen to be good " financiering" for the tithing-clerks, under pay of" the church," to perform for the benefit of " Brother Brigliam." Should they fail to comply with his wishes, he has only, as "Trustee in Trust," to dispense with their services. This may be mentioned as a notable instance of the " shrewd financiering " of Brigham Young. These clerks simply keep the accounts with individuals, and receive and deposit the money and property paid in 'to the tithing-fund. They also keep the accounts of laborers on the tem[)le and other public works. It is needless to say they are entirely under the control of Brigham. According to the Mormon creed, the temporal affiiirs of the kingdoca should be entirely directed and con- trolled by the Aaronic Priesthood. The presiding Bishops of this priesthood are agents to perform the will of the head of ihe order, who is the President himself. To keep the public mind quiet and satisfied, it is stated from the pulpit that the accounts of Brigham Young, as an 150 BRIGEIAM AS TRUST£E IN TKUST FOR THE ClIURCa individual, and those which he keeps as trustee for the church, are entirely separate and di^«tinct, and that not a dollar of church money goes to the private use of the President or his family, without being duly charged and accounted fur. But these public declarations are all the assurance the people have that such is the fact. The system of book-keepiitg by double entry is entirely ignored as an invention of the gen- tiles ; and if an investigation of the accounts should be in.sti- tutcd, it would be conducteu under great disadvantages, and could have no certainty in its results. Notwithstanding these protestations so frequently made from tlie pulpit, there is a growing conviction among the masses that the increasing evidences of the individual wealth of Brigham, notwithstanding his immense oiithtys, can only be accounted for in one way, — by the gradual absorption and assimilation of the funds of the church with his own private moneys. Indeed he does not hesitate to affirm, boldly, that if he wishes to build a grist or a saw-mill, or to engage in any other enterprise, he boriows from the tithing or other public funds the necessary means, paying it back by instalments when convenient, or turning in some other property that he has no immediate use for. In these private arrangements and trades, between himself in propria persona and himself in his fiduciary capacity, it is not to be supposed that he would make them to his own disadvantage, or that he* would voluntarily assume losses which he could just as well throw upon the church at large. With this sci^)e-goat upon which to throw his unfortunate speculations, and with a large revenue derived from legislative gifts, in the shape of timber canyons, herding-grounds, ferries, and other fran- chises, it is not strange that his worldly store should be con- stantly and largely augmented. He boasts that he takes no thought how to make money or get rich, and yet riches con- stantly flow to him. He has said, he can '' drop dollar for dollar with any monarch in Europe." He looks after the Lord's interests, and the Lord looks aAer his interasts I BRIGIUM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 151 The following are some of the principal Legislative Acts in favor of Brigham Young, passed by the Legislative Assem- bly of Utah: — An Act in relation to City Creek Canyon, approved De- cember 9, 1850. This gave Young the sole control of City Creek and Canyon, for which he was required to pay into the treasury the sum of $500. Under this grant Brigham exacts from those getting wood in the canyon, every third load ; and as this is the only wood within fifteen miles of the city, this alone is the source of an immense revenue. Be- sides, he has built upon City Creek two or three mills, — he having the exclusive use of the water. It is estimated that Young's income from this canyon alone is $10,000 per annum. An Act passed February bth, 1852, granting to Brigham Young the waters from the channel of Mill Creek. January 20, 1854. An Act providing that all property left by any deceased or absconding person, to which there is no claimant, shall pass into the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Brigham is President of this Society, and custodian of the fund. This A.ct adds largely to the income of the Trustee President. January 19, 1855. An Act appropriating to Brigham Young $2500 for building an Academy in Salt Lake City. The Academy was never built. December 18, 1855. An Act granting to Brigham Young exclusive right of hord-ground known as Kansas Prairie. Same date. An Act granting to Brigham Young the whole of Cache Valley for a herd-ground. This valley is fifty miles long, and more than ten miles in width, and the richest and most productive valley in the Territory. Decembev 27, 1855. An Act granting to Brigham Young all of Rush Valley, except the United States Reserve, for a herd-ground. Another extensive tract of country. January 4, 1856. An Act granting to Brigham Young exclusive right to establish a ferry over Bear River. 13 152 BBIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. January 5, 1856. An Act granting to Brigham Young a ranch and herd-ground in Lone Rock Valley. January 12, 1856. An Act granting to Brigham Young exclusive right to control the road and coal-beds in Coal Canyon, San Pete County. Same date. An Act making an appropriation to Bri^am Young of $1000 from the 7'erritorial Treasury^ to enable him to pay for a share in the Deseret Iron Company. " January 22, 1864. An Act authorizing Brigham Young to establish a toll on the Tooele Road. After reading all these donations and munificent fran- chises, one can appreciate the point of the joke perpetrated by Brigiiam, when he says " he takes no thought how to get rich, and yer< riciies constantly flow to him." The Tithing System. The object of tithing, as stated in the " Book of Doctrines and CovenantV is to exalt the poor, and humble the rich, — taking from where it is not wanted the surplus property of the church, and placing it where it is needed. The law of tithing, as originally instituted, calls for one tenth of the an- nual increase and gains, after providing for the wants of the family. When the poor were amply supplied, the residue was to be used for purchasing inheritances for the saints, building houses for public worship, etc. Of late years, however, tithing assumes an entirely differ- ent form, and is much more comprehensive in its scope and exacting in its demands. The " saints " in Utah, Europe, and throughout the world, are required to pay one tenth of their income, without any reference to their ability to meet the demand. Thus the laboring man in Utah, who receives but one dollar and fifty cents per day, — not enough to support his family comfortably, — is assessed tithing to the amount of about forty-five dollars per annum. But this is not all. Every emise. Tlie good lady, upon arriv> ing in Utah, found tliat the famous temple, in which she had purchased a •eat, was scarcely above its foundations. ^M i;.;- ^'^M' * 160 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IS TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. prove many opportunities that are offered for private spec- ulations. These he is not slow to perceive, nor does ho permit any advantage of that kind to escape him. A very common speculation is to send a brother who is doing well, and accumulating a handsome property, upon a foreign mis- sion. The call to go upon a mission is considered a trial of the brother's faith, and he is not expected to decline. Should he desire to sell his house or other possessions, rather than to leave them in the hands of agents, brother Brigham stands ready to purchase them at a reduced price. In this way a large amount of property falls into his hands. If the mission- ary returns at all, he comes nearly impoverished, and com- mences anew to acquire property. In 1862 there were two distilleries in Salt Lake City, the owners of which. Moon & Bradley, were rapidly increasing in wealth. Brigham professed much indignation, telling them " they should welter in hell for manufacturing the in- toxicating draught to destroy their brethren." As a sort of expiatory act for their offence he sent them upon a mission to raise cotton in Southern Utah. As soon as they were gone, he opened a distillery himself, in the name and under the sanction of the city council, under pretence of regulating the traffic by law. I'hus he managed to monopolize the large profits from the manufacture of ardent spirits, an immense quantity of whidi is used in Salt Lake City and throughout the Territory. Among the various inducements held out to the poor saints in Europe, has been the promise to each of a city lot in Salt Lake, of one acre and a quarter, upon the payment of the cost of survey, $1.25. On their arrival, they find to their astonishment, although there are plenty of vacant and un- fenced lots, that they have to pay to Young or Kimball $100 or $150 for a lot. On one occasion a poor Dane having purchased a lot upon credit, built a small house upon it, but his wife falling sick he was unable to pay for the lot at the time agreed upon. Kimball compelled him to pull down the BBIQHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 161 hou>« and remove the material ; and the Dune was obliged, in consequence, to pass the winter, with his family, in his covered wagon. Fortunately the winter was a mild one, or they might have perished. The saints are fond of dancing, and in the winter season social parties for that purpose are numerous. Each ward has a commodious house, built by taxation, which is used for schools and public meetings. But for dancing their use is forbidden, and the people are obliged to pay Brigham $100 per night for a building called the " Social Hall." Yet this hall was built from the proceeds of tithing paid in by the very people who are thus obliged to pay fur the rent of it I Mr. Taussig, a simple and unpretending man, had suc- ceeded in establishing a substantial tanneiy well stocked with leather. By some designing persons he was induced to re- fuse the payment of his taxes, on the ground that they were exorbitant, and the Territorial Collector sold the property, which was bought by one of Brigham's agents, and the poor man reduced to poverty. In the fall of 1857, Brigham called a mass meeting in the Tabernacle, and after dilating upon the disadvantages the people were laboring under in being without a currency, established a bank, calling upon the faithful to bring in all their gold and silver, and receive the new paper currency in exchange. This was done. In a few months the bank was suspended, and depositors were paid in labor tithing, for the currency held by them, in exchange for their gold and silver. One Mr. Tennant, a gentleman residing in Lancashire, England, embraced Mormonism. His property was estimated at over $70,000. He was soon marked as a victim. By appliances and ^representations brought to bear with much assiduity, he was induced to purchase of Brigham Young a house in Salt Lake, which he had never seen, and pay for the same the sum of $20,000 ; about four times its value. In addition to this, large sums of moitey were obtained from him by the Elders, under pretence of his becoming a sliai'e> k 162 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. holder and partner with Young in grist-mills, sugiir machin- ery, iron-works, &c., solemnly assuring him in relation to its safe investment and future profits. Mr. Tennatit died while cro-ising the Plains, leaving a wife, with a young child. On arriving in Salt Lake, Mrs. Tennant, instead of being com- fortably installed in the house purchased by her husband, found herself placed in lodgings, the carriage, horses, and other property seized upon, and herself placed under the con- trol of a guardian. This, together with the loss of her hus- band, so worked upon her mind, that she became insane. Afterward Brighara gave her in marriage to Daniel Spencer, as his fourth or fifth wife, and thus completed the wrongs for which the poor woman will call him to account in the day of judgment She now lives upon a miserable pittance doled out from the tithing-ofiice. A Mr. Williams, well known to the writer, became a Mormon in England. He was a man of considerable prop- erty, and while on his way crossing the Phiins, was induced to invest $15,0(T0 in an iron company formed for working the iron mines in Southern Utah. The money was paid over, and invested by the Elders, in goods, in St. Louis. The goods were duly transported across the Plains, and unloaded within the enclosure of Young, in Salt Lake City. Mr. Williams received, in St. Louis, a receipt for his money, stating that the same> would entitle him, upon his arrival in Utah, to cer- tificates of stock in the company. But he never was able to get any stock or other equivalent for his money, nor any state- ment of the affairs of the company. Indeed, the dignitaries of the church, afler one or two conversations upon the sub- ject, refused to converse with him further in relation to it. Soon after, the Legislature of Utah, composed in good part of the same men, repealed the Act incorporating the company, and thus the whole thing "vanished into thin air." In 1862, which was several years after the money had been paid, Mr. Williams took legal advice, and was told he could file a bill in chancery, against all persons implicated in the transaction, BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 163 requiring them to answer under oath. He hesitated to do so, giving as a reason that he thought " the ^ime had not yet come," and that such a course would imperi his life. This mode of getting money by the Elders from the wealthy saints, and the retaining the same, is not only ex- cused, but openly justified and encouraged by Brighara. The following extract from one of his published sermons will show his views upon these questions, and the character of his morality and financial integrity : — " I wish to impress another thing on your minds. An Elder who is willing to preach the gospel, borrows a hundred or a thousand from you, and you never breathe a word of complaint against him, until you come home to this valley ; but afler you have been here for a few days, you follow me round and fill my cars with com- plaints against this brother, and ask me what he has done with your money V I say ♦ I do not know.' Thus you are distressed, and in misery all the day long, to get it back a^ain. If an Elder has borrowed from you, and you find he is going to ai)ostatize, then }ou may tighten the screws upon him; but if he is willing to preach the gospel without purse or scrip, it is none of your business what he Joes voiih the money he has borrowed from you. If you murmur against that Elder^ it will prove your damnation. . . . " No man need judge me. You know nothing about it, whether I am sent or not ; furthermore, it is none of your business, only to listen with open ears to what is taught you, and serve God with an undivided heart." * Stephen Goddard owned a store on Main Street, Salt Lake City, which he desired to sell. He was offered its value by a gentile, but before selling, consulted " Brother Brigham.** The President said he wanted the store, and would give him $8,000 for it. To this Goddard demurred, as the sum was li-ss than half what he had been offered. Young said when the Lord wanted his property, that should be the end of it, and the price was none of his business. Goddard and Bishop Woolley, who was present, retired outside and talked the matter over. The Bishop remarked, " He thought when a ♦ Jour, of Z)«., Vol. I. p. 340. B? M Il 164 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. man hud worked hard to accumulate property for the benefit of his family, he should be permitted to sell it for a &ir price." This was overheard by a spy, and reported to head- quarters. The Bishop was sent for and sharply reprimanded. He WHS told that he was in a spirit of apostasy. Goddard, afraid to do otherwise, sold the store to Young for $8,000. Besides the property acquired through the machinery of the tithing system, a large amount is obtained under the *' law of consecration." Under this law, those saints who can be induced to do so, place their whole property in the hands of the President, as trustee in trust fur the church, to be used when the necessities of the church require it. The object is to guard against apostasy. Brigham Young says :^ ** The rulers of Great Britain have tried to make every capital- ist identify his interest with the Government that has sustained the kingdom. Brethren, do you wish this heavenly kingdom to stand ? . . . Imitate the policy of that earthly kingdom ; iden- tify our interest with the kingdom of God, so that if our hearts should ever be weaned from loyalty to the sovereign, all our earthly interest is bound up there, and cannot be taken away. . . . ** If a man has the purse in his pocket, and he apostatizes, he takes it with him ; but if his worldly interest is firmly united to the kingdom of God, when he arises to go away, he finds the calf is bound, and, like the cow, he is unwilling to forsake it If his calf is bound up iiere, he will be inclined to stay." * The Emigration Fund. The publi.shed object and design of this fund is to emigrate the poor saints from Europe and other foreign countries to Utah, the Zion of the church. In those foreign countries there is a continual weekly subscription paid in for that pur- pose. Every emigration season, each Conference is permitted to send persons at the rate of one for every £10 sterling so subscribed. Each one so emigrating, is required to enter into obligations, before leaving Liverpool, for the repayment * Jour, of Dis. Vol. I. p. 202. BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 165 of the same, as soon as possible after his arrival in Salt Lake Citjr. Parties in Utah, also, wishing their relations brought over, must pay the required amount, before they are sent for, unless in some special cases, where notes are accepted in payment. The sum of £4 lOs. is required to pay the transportation of each person to the first American port, and the remaining £5 10s. thence to Salt Lake City. The emi- grants are stowed away like cattle, on the freight cars and on the decks of the boats and vessels, and thus by having them conveyed in the cheapest manner possible, considerable of the amount paid for transportation is saved, making a large sum in the aggregate, all of which goes into that "treas- ury of the church," — the pocket of Brigham Young. Again: as aU are obliged to pay their passage-money, cither in advance or after their ari-ival in Utah, and as a large portion of the sum is previously raised by contribution, of course the amount, in thousands of cases, is duplicated, and paid twice into the same treasury. The transportation across the Plains costs the church nothing at all, except a slight diminution of the tithing-fund prospective. The teams are furnished, so many from each ward and settlement, and the owners are given credit for the use of the same in tithing account. Large quantities of pro- visions are furnished and sent out to meet the incoming saints, but these, although donated and sent by their friends, are all charged to them by the careful priests and elders. Before starting across the Plains, meetings are held, and the saints are counselled to give up all their money and valu- ables, so that they may be preserved on their journey. One man, in obedience to this " counsel," gave up iiis money, to- gether with a valuable gold watch and chain. Afterwards, remembering that he had not provided any tobacco for the journey, he asked for a dollar back, to purchase some, which was infused him. Much cruelty is exercised on the Plains for the slightest disobedience. A young man, brother of Walter Sanders, of 166 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN. TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 11 Salt Lake, was whipped nearly to death for being unable to travel as required. Several years since, Brigham, with the view of saving still more from the emigration fund, projected the plan of bring- ing the saints jro.>s the Plains in hand-cart companies. Under this arrangement, every person, male and female, was expected to assist in drawing a hand-cart ; each cart being drawn by three persons, and containing a certain quantity of provisions, clothing, &c. One of the companies, under the lead of Franklin D. Richards, was detained on the frontiers until common pru- dence should have dictated their remaining until another year. In consequence of the lateness of the season, before the journey was half performed, winter was upon them, and their sufferings beggar all description. Mrs. Chapman, a very intelligent English lady, who crossed the Plains in tliis company, related to me many inci- dents of this dreadful journey. They started from the frontier very late, sometime in Oc- tober, I think ; and to allay the fears and forebodings of the saints, Richards prophesied, in the name of Israel's God, that the elements should be controlled ; and that the winds and snows of winter should be stayed until the faithful arrived in Zion. Entirely unacquainted with the country and the route before them, they were reassured, and went boldly forward, trusting in their leader. In order to lighten their loads and facilitate their prog- ress, every article of clothing that they could possibly spare, was left behind ; barely sufficient being taken to prevent them from freezing. It may be supposed that only the very poor were subjected to this terrible ordeal. Not so. Many families of means made the journey in this way, being assured that this sacri- fice would add to their exaltation in the eternal world. They had not proceeded far when the snow began to fall, ' and many became sick from want and exposure. When a BRIQHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 1G7 river was to be crossed, they were driven into tlie water,— men, women, and children, — and were told, if th)'y had suf- ficient faith, they should, like the Israelites of old, go over dry shod. Many of the men carried their wives and children over the streams, as long as they were able. If iiny were unable longer to drag their cart^, they were obliged to lighten them by throwing away clothing, cooking utensils, and even provisions, -^ thus necessitating a reduction from their daily allowance of food. Fuel was scaice, and it was often neces- sary to go into the snow, wai^t•deep, to procure it. Mrs. Chapman's husband, a strong, athletic man, formerly a mem- ber of the Queen's Guards, from constant exertion and ex- posure, at length fell sick, and though there were a few wag- ons for the sick and feeble to ride in, tTley were nut admitted into them so long as they were able to walk. The poor man continued to grow worse, and it soon became evident that he must die. One morning, whin the train was ready to start, the Captain came to the tent of the si k man, and finding him dying, said to Mrs. Chapman, '' Your hus- band must die ; leave him in the hands of God, and proceed on your journey." " What 1 " said the heart-stricken woman, *' leave my husband on this barren waste, a prey to wolves ? No ; while there is breath in his body, I shall nmain by his side, and share his fate. Leave us if you will, for the wild beasts of the desert cannot be more cruel thiin you have been." In five minutes more, he breathed his last ; and throwing him into a hole dug in the sand, they dragged the weeping wife and children frora all they held dear on earth. In a few days the same woman left her baby, too, on the sands of the desert, a prey to wolves. She says, *' I never see Franklin D. Richards, but I feel hand-carts from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet " One day, as they approached their l\Eecca, an old white- haired saint said to the Captain, in a weak voii'C, — " Captain, I feel as if I should die, drawing in this hand-cart ; can't I ride a little while ?" — "Draw till you die then," replied the 14 1^1 II : 168 BRIGHAM AS TRUSl-EE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. bard-hearted wretch, " for I '11 be d d if you can ride.** ** Oh, well," said the old man, " I suppose I shall draw till I die." He took out his watch. " A quarter of four. It will soon be over. Ten minutes. Oh dear ; oh, my God 1 Five minutes to four, — four ; " — and the old man fell down in his place, — he was dead. Every day witnessed the death of large numbers by cold and starvation. Those who survived were more like walk- ing skeletons than human beings. They were covered with vermin, and loathsome to behold. Some were so badly frozen that their flesh fell from their bones. Many remained dis- abled for life. "Oh Religion ! what crimes are perpetrated in thy name ! " When Mormons speak of the hand-cart company, tht^y shud- der and grow pale. All this suffering was the result of an attempt, on the part of the leaders of the church, to save a still larger sum from the emigration fund. It was a specubi- tive experiment, which was never repeated. The-se people bought their carts with their own money ; but on their ar- rival in Salt Lake, the carts were claimed by Brigham, in behalf of the church, and were afterwards sold from the tithing-ofBce at five dollars each. ' }i CHAPTER IX. BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. Brigham's Position as Head of the CInirch. — Mormon Theology. — Brig< ham's Theology, or Utah Monnonism. — Adam as Gud. — Brigham Young as God. — Human Sacrifice. — Introduction of Polygamy. — Po- lygamy no part of the original Mormon Religion. — The Revelation, or Celestial Marriage. — The Ceremony of Sealing. — Consequences and Incidents of the Doctrine. — Incest. — Summary of the Mormon Religion. Not only is Brigham Young the temporal head of tlie church, its chief business agent, and the sole custodian of its funds, but he is the spiritual head, the established fountain, in whom is gathered from on high all spiritual blessings, and from whom they are expected to flow through the various officers of the priesthood, and thus be distributed to the faithful among the masses. Standing in this capacity between the people and the Supreme Being, he is at once Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. As Prophet and Seer, he sees and foretells to the people what is to befall them, as the result of certain courses of action. As Revelator, he reveals and translates, to the comprehension of the people, the hidden will of God concerning them. An acknowledgment of this relationship of Brigham with the Divine Being is made a test of fellowship ; as in the case of the Morrisites, who, although they admitted his right to preside over the church as its temporal head, denied him the attributes of prophet and revelator. Hence they were cut off from the church. Acting in this capacity, he not only prescribes a course of conduct for his followers, but promulgates, from time to time. \ I 170 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. doctrines, to be received, believed, and advocated. Thus the theology or creed of the church changes, from time to time, to suit the changing opinions, the whims and caprices, or the paiisious and lusts, of its head and leader. What is ht lo said, therelore, of the Mormi)n religion, must be understood in reference to tiie received doctrines and tenets of the churcli in former years, — many of which tlill remain, hut incorporated with new dogmas, and imy part or all of which are liable at any time to be changed, modified, or entirely overthrown. Mormon Tiieoloot. There are many Gods, and they are of both sexes. But to us there is but one God, — the Father of mankind, and the Ci'eator of the earth. Men and women are literally the sons and daughters of God, — our spirits having been literally begotten by G(.d, in the heavenly world, and having been afterwards sent to the earth, and invested with these tabernacles. God is in the form of man. He has a body, composed of spiritual matter. There is no difTcrence between matter and spirit, except in quality. Spirit is matter refined. God is omnipotent, but not personally omnipresent He is everywhere present by his Holy Spirit. His per'onality is generally expressed by the phrase, " He has body, parts, and passions." He resides in the centre of the universe, near the planet Kolob. This planet revolves on its axis once in a thousand of our years, and one revolution of Kolob is a day to the Almighty. Jesus Christ was the Son of God, literally begotten by the Father, and had the Spirit of God in the body of a man. After his resurrection, he had a body of flesh and bones only, typical of man's resurrected body. He difll'ers in nothing from the Father, except in age and authority, — the Father having the seniority, and consequently the right to pieside. The Holy Spirit is a subtle fluid, like electiicity. It is BBIGUAM AS rKOrilET, SEEK, AND UEVELATOK. 171 the subtlest form of mutter, and pcrva les all space, liy its agency all miracles, so called, are perforined. Miracles are simply the effects of the operation of uatural laws. Dut tht y are laws of a hi^iher characier than iho-e with which we are acquainted. This Holy Spirit is cominunicateil l»y ihe laying-on of hands by one of the properly authorized priesthood, and the recipient is then enabled to perform wonderful things, ac(X>rding to his gift, — some having tho gift of prophecy, some of healing, some of speaking in un- known tongues, etc There are three heavens, — the telcstial, the terrestrial, and the celestial. The telestial and terrestrial heavens are to be occupied by the various classes of persons who have nei;h('r obeyed nor rejected the gospel. The telestial is typified by the stars, — the terre>tral, by the moon. The celestial, or highest heaven, has for its type the sun, and is reserved for those who received tho testimony of Jesus, and believed on His name, and were bapti/ed by one having authority from Him, and who afterwards lived a holy life. The earth, as purified and refined, after the second coming of Christ, is to be the final habitation of those entitled to the ghu'ies of the celestial kingdom. Jerusalem is to bo rebuilt, and Zion, or the New Jerusalem, is to be built in Jackson County, Missouri, whence the saints were expelled in 18.33. There is a fourth class of persons, not entitled to either of these heavens. They are those who sin against the Holy Ghost ; that is, those who apostatize after receiving the Holy Spirit. These go into everlasting punishment, to re- main with the devil and his angels. The gospel, which people are called upon to obey, in order to gain a pUice in the celestial kingdom, is, — Firsts They must believe in Jesus Christ as the Sun of God, and in His authorized priesthood. Secondly, They must repent of their sins ; Thirdy, They must be baptized by immereiou V r i l\ a Ji i k { 172 BRIGIIAM AS PKOPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. II I' i for the remission of tlieir sins ; and, Fourthly, They must re* oeive the hiying-on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. God, having become nearly lost to man, revived Ilis work, by revealing himself to Joseph Smith, and conferring upon him the keys of the everlasting Priesthood, — thus making him the mediator of a New Dispensation, which is immedi- ately to precede the second coming of Christ. All those who recognize the divine authority of Smith, and are baptized by one having authority, are the chosen people of God, who are to introduce the Millennium, and to reign with Christ, on earth, a thousand years. Previous to the year 1852, it was also an orthodox prin- ciple of the Mormun religion, that a man should have but one wife, to whom he should be true and faithful. Those who have any curiosity to pursue the subject fur- ther, will find these views and doctrines fully explained and illustrated in the religious writings of the Mormons, — of which the following are some of the principal : Book of Mormon ; Book of Doctrine and Covenants ; Works of Or- son Pratt; Key to Theology, by P. P. Pratt; The Only Way to be Saved, etc., by L. Snow ; Pearl of Great Price ; Voice of Warning, by P. P. Pratt ; Catechism for Children, by John Jaques; Deseret News, 14 vols.; Journal of Dis- courses, 6 vols. ; Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, London, 26 volumes. BrigharrCi Theology ; or Utah Mormonism. The doctrines taught and practised by the present head of the Mormon Church differ so much from the previously es- tablished tenets of the church, that they require a separate consideration. One of the most important innovations upon the estab- lished doctrines of the church, is in relation to the Godhead. In April, 1852, Brigham put forth the startling doctrine that Adam is God, and to be recognized and honored as such I This announcement created some consternation among the BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 178 Mormon theologians, and some of them had the courage to oppose it. Tlie following is the " Revelator's " own expo- sition of this doctrine : — •• When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father ? He w the first of the human family; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacle of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Fa'Q. . . . It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely : Elohim, Yahovah, and Michael, [Adam;] these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organized element perfectly represented in the Deity, aa Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. " When our Father Adam came into the ganlen of Eden, he canie with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days. He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do. . . . Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same charac- ter that was in the garden of £dcn, and who is our Father in heaven." * It is manifest that Young is not so much at home in theol- ogy as when engaged in financial schemes and money spec- ulations. So disgusting and blasphemous are these idea?, and so unacceptable were they, even to Mormons, who were not prepared to see the basis of their religion thus rudely overthrown, that Brigham finally felt compelled to caution the Elders not to preach the new doctrines concerning Deity, until the people should be better prepared to receive them. Mahomet is the great exemplar and prototype whom Brigham Young aims to imitate, and doubtless he took from the Koran his ideas about the deity of Adam. Thus in chapter two of the Koran, we have the following : — " And when we said unto the angels, ' worship Adam,' they all worshipped him, except Eblis, [Lucifer,] who refused." From the following affidavit of John Stiles, father of Judge « Jour, of Dia. Vol. I. p. 60 Is -I [ Ml 174 BRIGIIAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND BEVELATOR. I J ti. Stiles, formerly one of the United States Judges in Utah, a man of much probity of character, and well known in Salt Lake City as " Father Stiles," it appears that the bla»plje- mous pretensions of Brigham Young do not stop with Adum, but that, among the brethren, he has encouraged a doctrine, which he dare not put in print ; — no less than to arrogate to himself the attribtites 0/ Deity. " Tekritort of Utah, Great Salt Lake City. *'In the spring of 1856," John Stiles says, ** I resided in the 11th Ward of Great Salt Lake City, in the Territory of Utah. I was appointed by the quorum to which I then belonged, as a Mission- ary High-Priest for the said Wanl. My duty was to look after the morals of the people of the Ward, and especially to see that there was no false doctrine taught there. I subsequently found that there were not only immoralities, but also false doctrines among some of t'.ie people, as I supi>osed at the time. Many peo- ple belie<'ca and taught the doctrine, that Brigham Young was all the God that we were amenable to. I found by opposing that doctrine, that I gave oifence to the authorities of the Ward, and Wiis consequently called to answer for my opposition before the Bishop of the Ward, although he had no jurisdiction over me. As a High-Priest I was amenable to a higher authority, but not to him. " In a public assembly he wished me to state my views on the question, whether if Brigham Young was not God, who was f I told him I would do so. I rose and stated that my idea of the being of (rod was express ad in a passage of Scripture, and I need only repeat the passage to explain the idea. The passage was : To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.' I subsequently, in explanation, cited this pas- sage of Scripture : ♦ This is life eternal, that we might know thee, the only living and true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' I then sat down, and the Bishop rose and said : ^ Brethren, we perceive that Father Stiles runs round Brigham.' I replied, ' Yes ; I do not mention Bngham Young on the same day with God, as of the same Godhead.' His (the Bishop's) First Counsellor, then moved that Father Stiles bo cut oflf from the church. This DRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 175 WW neconded by tli6 Second Counsellor. This was proposed to the assembly as a question by the Bishop, and I was cut oflf ac- cordingly. I subsequently discovered that by my opposition and explanation, I gave offence to the authorities of the Mormon Church, and was cut off from the church and dismissed from the place of Missionary High-Priost of that Ward. I have never been restored as Missionary High-Priest. (Signed,) John Stiles. " Sworn to and subscribed before me at Great Salt Lake City, this April 26th, 1864. "John Titus, " Ch. Justice of Utah.'* Another doctrine of a startling character, promulgated by one of Young's counsellors and endorsed by him, is that of human sacrifice for the remission of sins. It was first announced by Jedediah M. Grant, Second Counsellor to the President, in the following language : — " Brethren and sisters, we want you to repent and forsake your sins. And you who have committed sins that cannot be forgiven through baptism, let your hloo i be shed, and let the smoke ascend^ that the incense thereof may come up before God as an atonement for your sins, and that the sinners in Zion may be afraid." * Again : — " We have been trying long enough with this people, and I go in for letting the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed, not only in tcord, but in deed." "f In accordance with such bloody teaching, it is said that an altar of sacrifice was actually built by Grant, in the temple block, upon which these human sacrifices were to be made. On the 21st of September, 1856, Grant said: — ** I say there are men and women here that I w(»uld advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a com- mittee to attend to their case ; and then let a plar^e be selected, and let that committee shed their blood." X • Deseret News, October 1, 1856. X Ibid. \'o\. VI. p. 2a5. 15 \mi. i 176 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. Tiiis horrible proposal to immolate upon the altar of sacri- fice the erring saints, was fully endorsed by Brigham Young as follows : — " There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come ; and if they liad their eyes open to see their condition, they would he perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke tliereof might ascend to Heaven as an offering for their sins, and the smoking incense would atone for their sins; whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them, and remain upon them in the spirit-world. " I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting peo- ]ile off from the earth, that yoil consider it is strong doctrine. It is to save them, not to destroy them. I will say further, I have had men come to me, and offer their lives to atone for their sins. It is true that the blotxl of the Son of God was shed for sins, through the fall, and those committed by man, yet men can com- mit sins which it can never remit. As it was in ancient days, so it is in our day; and though the principles are taught publicly from this stand, still the people do not understand them ; yet the Ijaw is precisely the same. There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon the altar, as in ancient days, and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle-doves cannot remit, hut they must be atoned for by the blood of the man. That is the reason why men talk to you as they do from this stand. They understand the doctrine, and throw out a few words about it."* But tho greatest change of all in the Mormon religion, made by Brigham Young, was the introduction and estab- lishment of polygamy. This was no part of the Mormon system of religion as originally established. On the contrary, it was expressly repudiated by all the Mormon writers and speakers, previous to 1852, and in Europe for some years afterward. The Mormon religion was founded by Joseph Smith and bis coadjutors, and the principles and doctrines of the religion • Sfirmoa by Brigham Young, pubjhhed In the Deseret News, Octolter let, 1850. I if 1. BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 177 were, in the first instance, such as they established. The Book of Mormon is the historical foundation, corresponding with the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Afterward, a volume of revelations to Smith and others was collected and published, called the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. This corresponds to the Christian's Ne^r Testament. It may be safely asserted, therefore, that previous to the innovations of Young, the Mormon religion was embodied in these two volumes. Their authority in the church is universal and mi questioned. Let us examine these volumes, and see whether they teach or countenance polygamy. The Book of Mormon nowhere contains a word in favor of it. On the contrary all of its principal cha''aclers were monogamists. Such was Lehi, the patriarch of Mormon history. Such also were Ishmael and Nephi.* That the people of Zarahemla were monogamists, is evident from what is said concerning them on page 146. But we are not left to inference as to the testimony of this volume concerning this pra«tice. On page 119 we have the following : — ^ " Behold the Lamanites, your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursings which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you ; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our fathers, that they should have, save it were one wife ; and concubines they should have none ; and there should not be whoredoms committed among them. And now, this commandment they observe to keep ; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this command- ment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them ; and one day they shall become a blessed people." f Again : — " And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and concubines, and did lay that upon men's shoulders which was • Book oJ^Mortnon, pp. 3, 12, 33, 43. f Iljkl. p. " 19. 178 BRIGHAH AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REYELATOR. grievous to be borne ; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes ; and with the taxes he did build many spacious buildings." * And again : — " And he [Noah] did not walk in the ways of his father. [Ze- niff.] For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and to do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness. And he laid a tax of one fiflh part of all they possessed." ..." All this did he take to support himself, and his wives and his concubines ; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines ; thus he had changed the affairs of the kingdom." f " And it came to pass that he placed bis heart upon his riches, and he spent his time in riotous living, with his wives and his con- cubines; and so did also his priests spend their time with har- lots." t As if to place this matter beyond any question, we have the following still more explicit testimony, on pages 1 15 and 118:—- '* And now it came to pass that the people of Ncphi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old, desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon his son." . . . *' The word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord, this people begin to wax in iniq- uity ; they understand not the Scriptures ; for they seek to ex- cuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Bo- hold David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord ; wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land * Book of Mormon, p. 535. Sth sec. of 4tb chap, of Book of Ether, f Book of Moitnon, p. J,67. I /few/, p. 168. BRI6HAM AS PROPHET, SEEK, AND REVELATOB. 179 of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins o^ Joseph. Wherefore, I the Lord God, will not suffer that tliis people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord ; for there shall not any man among you have, save it be one wife ; and concubines he shall have none ; for I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me ; thus saith the Lord of Hosts."* Here it is stated as coming from God himself, that the polygamy and concubinage of David and Solomon were abominable before the Lord. And yet we every day hear Daviu and Solomon, as well as Abraham, Jacob, and others, cited by those practising polygamy, as their illustrious [>roto* types, whose example is worthy of all imitation. Orson Pratt, the ablest writer on Mormon theology, is compelled to admit that the Book of Mormou is opposed to polygamy. He says : — " Do you believe that the Book of Mormon is a divine revela- tion ? We do. Does that book teach the doctrine of plurality of wives ? It does not Docs the Lord in that book forbid the plurality doctrine ? He forbid the ancient Ncphites to have any more than one wife." f Elder Pratt then endeavors to blunt the force of this testi- mony in the following manner : — ** Why were the ancient Nephites restricted to the one-wife system ? Because, first, the number of males and females among them, at the time the command was given, was about equal. Sec- ondly, there was no probability that judgments, wars, or any other calamities which were to befall their nation, would produce a dis- proportionate number of males and females. Thirdly, this small remantof the tribe of Joseph, were, at that time, about equally righteous ; and one was about as capable of raising up a family in * Book of Mormon, pp. 116, 118. Ist and 2d chapters of the Book of Jacob, t ArticlQ on Celestial Mivrriaset io ^''*< ^^*^t Vol. I. p. 30. i . 180 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. righteousness as another. And, lastly, the Lord himself informs them, in the same connection with the quotation which I have just made, that if He would have them practise difl'urently from vrhat He had previously taught them, it must be by His com- mand."* Thus, in the attempt to weaken the force of the evidence furnished by the Book of Mormon against polygamy, Pratt acknowledges, in the most explicit manner, the validity of the argument against it, founded upon the equality in the numbers of each sex. Two of the four reasons why the Nephites were to retain monogamy, relate to the equality in the numbers of the sexes. But there is a substantial equal- ity in the numbers of the sexes, not only in the United States, but in Utah Territory. (See U. S. Census.) Let us now turn to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and see if we can find in that volume any authority for polygamy. The following passages will determine the ques- tion : — " Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her, and none else ; and he that looketh upon a woman to lust af\er her, shall deny the faith, and shall not have the spirit ; and if he repents not he shall be cast out" f Again. In 1845, the year after Smith's death, an Appen- dix was authoritatively added to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, containing the following, which is extracted from the section entitled " Marriage" : — " 2. Marriage should be celebrated with prayer and thanks- giving ; and at the solemnization, the persons to be married stand- ing together," etc., " be [the person officiating] shall say, callinnr each by their names, 'you both mutually agree to bo each other's companion, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition ; that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during your lives.' And when they have an- • The Seer, Vol. I. p. 30. t Doctrine and CovenanU, p. 125. BRIGHAM A3 PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 181 •wered ' yes/ he shall pronounce them ' husband and wife,' in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the laws of the country, and authority vested in him. . . . "4. . . . Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been re- proached with the crime of fornication and polygamy ; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again." * Can anything be more explicit than this? Polygamy is not only expressly repudiated by the church, but is classed by the side of fornication as a crime. Thus we find that polygamy is contrary to both books of the Mormon Bible. That it is, in fact, strongly condemned in those volumes. It is, therefore, no part of the Mormon religion, as given to the world by Joseph Smith. But polygamy is practised in Utah. Whence did it arise, and upon what foundation does it rest ? Like slavery, and all other great social evils, it had ils origin, doubtless, in an abuse of the passions of man. It was first publicly announced and recommended in Utah Territory on the 29th of August, 1852, by Orson Pratt and Brigham Young, at a politico-religious meeting, held in Great Salt Lake City. On that occasion, President Young said : — " You heard Brother Pratt state, this morning, that a Revela- tion would be read this afternoon, which was given previous to Joseph's death. It contains a doctrine a small portion of tht; world is opposed to ; but I can deliver a prophecy upon it. Though that doctrine has not been pveachcd by the Elders, this people have believed in it for years. " The original copy of this Revelation was burnt up. William Clayton was the man who wrote it from the mouth of the Prophet. In the mean time it was in Bishop Whitney's possession. He wished the privilege to copy it, which Brother Joseph granted. Sbter Emma (wife of Joseph Smith) burnt the original. The rea- • Book of Doctrine and Covenants, pp. 330, 3S1. J 182 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. ion I mention this is, because tliat the people who did know of the Revelation, suppose it was not now in existence. " The Revelation will be read to you. The principle spoken upon by Brother Pratt this morning, we believe in. . . . ^* Many others are of the same mind. They are not ignorant of what we are doing in our social capacity. They have cried out proclaim it ; but it would not do a few years ago ; every- thing must come in its time, as there is a time to all things. I am DOW ready to proclaim it. " This Revelation has been in my possession many years ; and who has known it ? None but those who should know it. I keep a patent lock on my desk, and there does not anything leak out that should not." * The Revelation, so called, which was read at the close of this sermon, purpoits to have been given to Joseph Smith, July 12, 1843. It is very lengthy, consisting of twenty-five sections or paragraphs. It is published in full, in Burton's " City of the Saints," and in various other publications. The following synopsis exhibits all that is essential of this extra- ordinary Revelation. THE REVELATION. Section 1. "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, Da- vid, and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines: Be- hold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter." [The balance of this section is prefatory, declaring that a new law and everla>ting covenant is about to be revealed, and that he who abides not that cov- enant shall be damned.] Sec. 2. All covenants, contracts, vows, etc., not made and * Sermon of Brigham Young, published in the Dettrtt Newt, Extia, of September 14, 1852. B sealed BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 183 lealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed (Jo^^cph Smith) both as well for time and for all eternity, are of no efficacy or force after the resurrection. Sec. 3 represents the necessity of having everything sanc- tioned by the Almighty. Secs. 4 and 5. Persons married for life only, or for time and eternity, but not by the proper authority, not bound to each other after this life. Sec. 6 provides that if a mnn marry a wife by the law of God, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and if they abide in the covenant, and do not shed innocent blood, then the covenant shall be binding throughout time and eternity, " and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things." Sec. 7 declares that such shall be gods in the eternal world. Sec. 8 states that none can receive such exaltation except tho^e who receive and abide the law of Grud. Sec. 9. " Verily, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphe- mies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed inno- cent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation, but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God." Sec. 10 explains that shedding innocent blood, and assent- ing unto the death of Christ, is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in tlie world nor out of the world. Srcs. 11 and 12 refer to Abraham as the father of the faithful, and him to whom the promises were made. ** This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham." " Go ye, therefore, and 1)'' |! 184 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. do tlio works of Abraham ; and enter ye into my law, and ye shall be saved." Sec. 13 intimates that Sarah acted in accordance with the command of God in giving Hagar to Abraham. Sec. 14 refers to the concubines which Abraham received, and says, " they bare him children, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness." The latter part of the section is as follows : " David also received many wives and concubines, as also Solomon, and Moses my servant ; and also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time ; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me." Sec. 15. " David's wives and concubines were given unto him, of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power ; and in none of these things did he sin against me, save in the case of Uriah and his wife ; and therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion ; and he shall not inherit them out of the world ; for I gave them unto another, saith the "Lord." Sec. 16 prescribes certain regulations concerning those who commit adultery, and provides that in mse the husband commits adultery, and the wife is innocent, and the fact is revealed by God to Joseph, the wife shall be given by Smith to one who has not committed adultery, '^but hath been faithful, for he shall be made ruler over many." Sec. 17. "And verily, verily I say unto you, that what- soever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens ; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens ; and whosesoever sins ye retain on earth shall be retained in heaven." - , - Sec. 18. "And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless, and whomsoever you cnrse I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God." ,. : . „; I I BRIGIIAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 185 Sec. 19. "And again, verily I say unto you, my servnnt Joseph, that whatsoever you give on earth, and to whomso- ever you give any one on earth, by my word, and according to my law, it shall be visited with blessings, and not cursings, and with my power, saith the Lord, and shall be without condemnation, on earth and in heaven." Then follows a dec- laration to the effect that Smith has found favor with God, and that he will forgive his sins, etc. Sec. 20 commands Emma Smith "that she stay herself, and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her ; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all," etc., and continues as follows : " And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my ser- vant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me ; and those who are not pure, and have said they are pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God ; for I am the Lord thy God," etc. Sec. 21 commands Emma Smith, wife of Joseph, to abide and cleave unto Joseph and none else, under penalty of de- struction. She is also exhorted to forgive Joseph his tres- passes. Sec. 22 forbids Joseph putting his property out of his hands. Sec. 23 touches upon the law of the priesthood, and says of any one who is called of God, as was Aaron, " if he do anything in my name, and according to my law, and by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will justify him." Jo- seph is to be justified, etc. The last two sections are as follows : — Sec. 24. " And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood : if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to es- pouse another, and the first gives her consent; and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to Qo other man, then he is justified ; he cannot commit adul- teiy, for they are given unto him ; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto them, and to none . ! IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) Y :/. 4^ 1.0 1.1 11.25 UIZS 121 ■tt Uii 12.2 m u 140 1.4 Photographic Scmies Corporation •N? :\ ^^1 a.1^ WMT MAIN tTRMT WIIITIR,N.Y. 14SM (7l*)S7a-4S03 v\ 186 BBIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOH. el^ ; and if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commif adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him ; therefore is he justified. But if one, or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be de- stroyed ; for they are given unto him to multiply and replen- ish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foun- dation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men ; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified." Sec. 25. ** And again, verily, verily I say unto you, if any man have a wife who holds the keys of this- power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe, and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God ; for I will destroy her ; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law. Therefore it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord his God, will give unto him, becaiise she did not believe and administer unto him, according to my word ; and she then beomies the transgressor, and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who administered unto Abraham according to the law, when I commanded Abraham to take Ilagar to wife. And now, as pertaining to this law : Verily, verily I say unto you, I will reveal more unto you hereafter ; therefore let this suffice for the present. Behold, I am Alpha and Omega. Amen." Such is the foundation upon which is built the superstruct- ure of Utah polygamy. And the system itself, whirt is it in its theory and practical application ? The mode of its insti- tution has been shown. Its ceremonials, and many facts illustrative of its tendency and effects, will be given ; and it is for our readers to determine how much it is better than promiscuous intercourse, and to discover, if they can, its BRIOHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 187 redeeming features, as distinguished from such a state of society. No man who has a wife already, has any right to make plvpositions of marriage to a lady, until he has consulted the President of the whole church, and through him obtained a revelation from God upon the subject. If the revelation be favorable, he must next obtain the approbation of the parents, and thirdly^ he is to consult the lady herself. It is also necessary that the first wife be consulted. If she refuses her consent, however, the lover husband may take an Hppefd to the President ; and unless the wife can give to the President Mtisfactory reasons why her consent is withheld, the husband may proceed to introduce another wife into the family, against her will. The plnn is, either to divorce the first wife, and damn her eternally, or to torment her daily, until, with a broken heart and a crushed spirit, (^he goes to the altar, and there gives another to her husband. Thus the semblance of her approbation is obtained. The exquisite cruelty of this abominable practice will ap- pear most vividly from the marriage ceremony. " When the day set apart for the solemnization of the marriage ceremnny has arrived, the bridegroom and the roife^ and also the hide, together with their relations, afid such other guests as may be invited, assemble at the place which they have appointed. The scribe then proceeds to take the names, ages, native towns, coan- tiea, States, and countries of the parties to be married, vhich he carefully enters on record. The President, who is the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator over the whole church, throughout the whole world, and who alone holds the keys of authority in this solemn ordinance, calls upon the bridegroom and his wife, and the hride^ to arise, which they do, fronting the President. The wife stands on the left hand of her husband, while the bride stands on her lefV. The President then puts this question to the wife : ' Are you willing to give this woman to your husband, to he his lawful and wedded wife, for time and all eternity? If you are, yOu will manifest it by placing her right hand within the right hand of your husband.' The right hands of the bridegroom and the bride 188 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REYELATOR. being thus joined, the wife takes her husband by the left ann, as if in the attitude of walking. The President then proceeds to ask the following questions of-the man : * Do you, brother, (calling him by name) take sister (calling the bride by name) by the right hand, to receive her unto yourself, to be your lawful and wedded wife, and you to be her lawful and wedded husband, for time and for all eternity, with a covenant and promise on your part, that you fulfil all the laws, rites, and ordinances pertaining to this holy matrimony, in the new and everlasting covenant, — doing this in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses, of your own free will and choice ? ' The bridegroom answers, ' Yes.' The President then puts the question to the bride : * Do you, sister, (calling her by name) take brother (calling him by name) by the right hand, and give yourself to him to be his lawful and wedded wife, for time and for all eternity, with a covenant and promise, on your part, that you will fulfil all the laws, rites, and ordinances pertain- ing to this holy matrimony, in the new and everlasting covenant, — doing this in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses, of your own free will and choice ? ' The bride answers, ♦ Yes.* The President then says : * In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I pronounce you legally and lawfully husband and wife, for time and all eternity ; and I seal upon you the blessings of the holy rcsuiTCction, with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed with glory, im- mortality, and eternal lives ; and I seal upon you the blessings of thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and powers, and exal- tations ; together with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; and say unto you, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity, in the day of the Lord Jesus. All these blessings, together with all other blessings, pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, I seal upon your heads, and enjoin your faithfulness unto the end, by the authority of the Holy Priesthood, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost Amen.' " The scribe then enters the marriage on the records, and the parties retire. The wedding is then celebrated with a feast at the husband's house, and a " Mormon dance." The new wife is assigned a room, — if indeed the happy husband's domicil contains two rooms. — and her exper'ence in "plu- rality " begins. BRIOHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REYELATOR. 189 In well-regulated Mormon families, the firsfc wife stands at the head of domestic concerns. She carries the keys of the storehouse, makes the purchases for the family, and deals them out to the plural wives, in much the same manner as other housekeepers do to their cooks. The husband's will is law, and from it there is no appeal, except in extreme cases, when the Bishop may be consulted. If a husband has lost his wife by death, before he had the opportunity of attending to this holy ordinance, and securing her as his lawful wife for eternity, then it is the duty of the second wife, first, to be sealed or npnrried to the husband, for and in the name of the deceased wife, for all eternity ; and, secondly, to be married for time and eternity hcD?elf, to the same man. Thus, by this holy ordinance, both the dead and the living wjfe will be his in the eternal worlds. But if, pre- vious to marriage for eternity, a woman lose her husband by death, and marry a second, and if her first husband was a good man, then it is the duty of the second husband to be married to her for eternity, not for himself, but in the name of her deceased husband, while he himself can only be mar- ried to her for time ; and he is obliged to enter into a cov- enant to deliver her up, and all her children, to her deceased husband, in the morning of the first resurrection. Thus, by these refinements, a religious veil, captivating to the fancy, is thrown over the institution to hide its deformity. The same distinctions are carried through all the various re- lations of life ; hence in case a widow is married to a wid- ower, three ceremonies are necessary, in order fully to estab- lish the eternal relations of all the parties. Incest is the practical result of some of the branches of this new-fangled system of sealing and marriage. It has already been shown, by the report of the Committee on Territories in the United States Senate, and the Message of Grov. Harding, that a mother and her daughters (by a former husband) all live together, as wives of the same husband.* * The marriage of brothers and si«tcr8 was at one time openly encour- i 100 BRIGUAH AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. A still more revolting relation is sometimes maintained. It is called '* heirship/' and is plainly enough sanctioned by Toung, as follows : -— ** The text is, the right of heirship. I will, however, make an addition to the scripture, before I proceed further with my re- marks, and say, * the right of heirship in the Priesthood.' " After asserting that the right of heirship belongs to the first-born son, he says : — " There are sisters in the church that have been bereaved of their husbands, who died full of faith in the Holy Gospel, and full of hope for a glorious resurrection to eternal life. One of them is visited by a High Priest, of whom she seeks information touching her situation, and that of her husband. At the same time the woman has a son, twenty-five years of age, who is an Elder in one of the Quorums of the Seventies, and faithful in all the duties connected with his calling. She has also other sons and daugh- ters. She asks this High-Priest what she shall do for her husband, and he very religiously says to her, * You must be sealed to me, and I will bring up your husband, stand as proxy for him, receive his endowments, and all the sealing, keys, and blessinjzs, and Eter- nal Priesthood for him, and be the father of your children.' Hear it, ye mothers! She mother that does that, barters away the sacred right of her son. Does she know it ? ^o. But you that will hear, and be made -to understand the true principles that gov- ern this matter, go from this place, and do hereafter as has been done in by-gone days; instead of the children being robbed of their just rights, the woman shall lose her children, and they shall yet stand in their place, and be put in possession of their rights. Let mothers honor their children. If a woman has a son, let her houor that son." * aged by President Brigham Yonng. George D. Watt, reporter for the Df- eret Ntw§, married his half-sister, and lived with her as a wife, for about twelve years. She paMed as the wife of Toung, for veveral years, owing to the presence of gentiles and the pnjudices of the saints. She has since been convinced of her error, and joined the ** new organization," and with her three children returned to the States. • April 8, 1853, Deaertt Kewt, Vol. III. No. 12. BRIGHAM A3 PfiOPHET, SEEB, AKD BETELATOR. 191 Bat we will not pureae these disgasting details further. Capt Robert Burton, ihe famous Engliish traveller, thus epitomizes the Mormon faith : — ** In the Tessarakm De^ogae above quoted, we find syncre> tiaed the Shemitic Monotheism, the Persian Dualism, and the Tri- ads and Trinities of the Egyptians and the Hindoos. The Hebrews also have a personal Theos ; the Buddhists, avataras and incamar tions ; the Brahmins, self-apotheosis of man by prayer and pen- ance ; and the East generally holds to quietosm, — a belief that re- pose is the only happiness, and to a vast complication of states, in the world to be. ** The Mormons are like the Pythagoreans, in their procreation, transmigration, and exaltation of souls ; like the followers of Leu- cippus and Democritus in their atomic materialism ; like the Epi- cureans in their pure atomic theories, their gummum bonum^ and theu* sensuous speculations; and like the Platonists and Gnos- tics in their belief of the .£on, of ideas, and of moving principles in element. They are Fetichists in their ghostly fancies, their evestra, which became souls and spirits. They are Jews in their theocracy, their ideas of angels, their hatred of gentiles, and their utter segregation from the great brotherhood of mankind. They are Christians, inasmuch as they base their faith upon the fiible, and hold to the divinity of Christ, the fall of man, the atonement, and the regeneration. They are Arians, inasmuch as they hold Christ to be ' the firrt of God's creatures,' a * perfect creature, but still a creature.' " They are Moslems in their views of the inferior status of wo- mankind, in their polygamy, and in their resurrection of the mate- rial body. Like the followers of the Arabian Prophet, they hardly fear death, because they have elaborated * continuation.' They take no leap in the dark ; they spring from this sublunary stage into a known, not into an unknown world ; hence also their wor^ ship is eminently secular, their sermons are political Or commercial, and — religion being with them not a thing apart, but a portion and parcel of every-day life — the intervention of the Lord in their material aflfiurs becomes natural, and only to be expected. ** Their visicms, prophecies, and miracles are those o^ the Illumi- nati ; their mysticism that of the Druses, and their belief in the Millennium is a completion of the dreams of the Apocalyptic sects. 16 192 BKIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. Masonry has evidently entered into their scheme ; the Demiurgus whom they worship is * as good at mechanical inventions as at any other business.' " With their later theories, Methodism, Swedenborgianism, — especially in its view of the future state, — and Transcendental- ism are curiously intermingled. And, finally, we can* easily di»- cem, in their doctrine of affinity of minds and sympathy of souls, the leaven of that faith which, beginning with the Mesmer, and progresung through the Rochester Rappers, and the Poughkeep- sie Seer, threatens to extend wherever the susceptible nervous temperament becomes the characteristic of the race." * According to this learned author, Mormonism is a con- glomeration of all the isms from Adam to the present time. The predominant characteristics of Mormonism are, the concentration of power in one individual, — the entire unity of church and state, — and the united efforts of the people and their leaders to establish and maintain a kingdom, spiritual and temporal, which shall spread over the whole earth, and result in the complete subjugation and subordination of all other kingdoms, principalities, and powers. The establishment of polygamy among such a people, was no difficult matter. It was but an easy step from mHteriali:»m to sensualism. Here the passions and lusts harmonize with the love of power and dominion. The following toasts were given at a celebration on the 24th of July ,t 1856. Therein the Mormons speak for them- selves. " Mormonism. A plurality of worlds, a plurality of gods, and a plurality of wives, with all truth in all eternity." " President Brigham Young. With the keys of heaven and earth to open and shut, and all Israel to sanction." • City of the Saintt, pp. 397, 398. t The S4th of July, 1847, wu the day when the first Moimons arrived in Salt Lake Valley. The a4th of July is therefore celebrated by them m the 4th if by gentiles. N' 4;^K:^Sk *>f:, \\ g » ^ CHAPTER X. BRIQHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. Briglu»n*8 Block. — The Lion House.— The Tithing-Houae. — The Bm* hive House, Office, etc. — Description of the Harem. — Plan, Rooms, etc., of each Floor, and who occupies the same. — Life at the Harem.— Brigbam at Home. Brioham's Block consists of about twenty acres, situ- ated in the northern part of the city, and on the ''first bench.** These ''benches" are level plateau.<4, or ridges running along at the base, and parallel with the mountain sides, and rising one above another, in regular succession. They are supposed to have been formed by the action of water, which doubtless at one time, covered the whole country, half way to the mountain tops. These benches overlook the city, which is mostly built on the flats, or bottom lands of the Jordan River. From Brigham's Bench the view is particularly beautiful, including the lake spread out in all its grandeur to the west- ward, with mountains rising in and beyond it, and mountains bounding the horizon in every other direction. The grounds are surrounded by a wall from eight to ten feet in height, built of pebble-stones, cemented with mortar, and strengthened and supported by semicircular buttressed, at equal distances. The main entrance faces south, and the gateway is surmounted by a huge eagle carved in stone, which sits in a very uncomfortable position, and looks as though desirous of soaring to his native hills, or of making a descent upon some of the denizens of earth. His business is to watch and see who enters this sacred precinct, and to see that every third load of wood brought from City Creek (or J 196 BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. Brigham'g) Canyon, which lendi into thia enclo-^ure from the north, is deposited at the Prophet's door. The only entrance into thifl canyon is through this gate, and the canyon itself contains the only wood within fifteen miles of the city. The gold also, wliich it is well understood lies embedded in City Creek Canyon, is thus pretty well guarded. The grounds are regularly laid out by William C. Staines, one of Brigham's adopted sons. The Prophet himself is very fond of fruit, and hns carried its culture to a considera- ble degree of perfection. Large numbers of apple, pear, peach, and apricot trees, have been set out, and are producing every year. Grape culture also has not been neglected. It is a custom here to present the President with a specimen of every new variety of fruit nnd vegetable raised, and he receives very graciously anything presented, from a barrel of brandy to an umbrella, and is sure to tliink more of the donor, ever afterward. Everything bears the mark of utility, and nothing is ex- pended for show, or merely to gratify taste. No expensive flower-garden or greert-house is to be seen, and this is per« fectly characteristic of the Prophet, who is thoroughly utili- tarian in all his views and tendencies. On the southwei>t corner, and fronting the temple block, stands the tithing-store and office, and the Deseret printing- office. A description of the tithing-office and store, with its concomitant system, is given elsewhere. Back of the tithing- office, is a cattle-yard and bam, and numerous other build- ings connected with tithing operations. Alsp a long row of buildings for various mechanical purposes: a car|)enter*s shop, shoe-shop, etc, with a blacksmith's shop in the rear. A number of small tenements are scattered over the premises, in which some of the employees reside. The next large building, east of the Deseret store and printing-office, is the " Lion House," or Harem. Further to the east, and connected with the Harem by a oovered passage-way, is Brigham's general business office. BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE IIARRIf. 197 This is a large room, with three deiiks on either side ; thow to the left on enterinpf, beln^ Rppropriiited to the clerks of ** BrighHin Young, Trustee in 'iVu!«t tor the Church," and those to the right, used by the clerks of '* H. Young & G>." At the end opposite the door is a hirgo platform railed off, and a gallery runs round the upper wtill. The booHcases are of the yellow box elder-wood, highly polislu'd. A busi- ness-like air pervades the room, and ull is neiit and clean. Still further east and connected by another passnge-way, is the private office of the " President." This is a phiin, neat room, about twenty-five feet square. A large writing-desk and money-safe, ttible^, sofan, and chairs, and a " store " carpet, make up the furniture of the room. Back of, and adjoining this, is the sanctum sanctorum ; the Prophet's own private bedroom. Few, even of the family, are pertnitted to enter this room without special invitation. Here is the " veil," behind which the Prophet receives his " revelations." Here he consults on his most private and im|M>rtant matters. He usually occupies this room alone, and when he desires the company of one of his wives, sends a message to that effect. When he is sick, he designates one of them to attend upon him. The next building to the eastward is the Bee-Hive House, so named from models of bee-hives, on the top and in front of it The honey-bee is the Mormon symbol, as according to ** RefoVmed Egyptian," Deseret means ** the honey-bee." As yet, however, the term applies only by faith, to Utah, as that industrious insect is almost an utter stranger to her borders. The Bee-Hive House is a large, handsome adobe building, excellently plastered on the outside, and dazzlingly white. It is a two-storied tenement, and balconied from ground to roof. On the top is an observatory, surmounted by a bee- hive. Its cost was about $65,000, and it is the best edifice in the Territory. Eastward still, and farther back from the road, stands the •chool-house, a white building, with green blinds, and a cu- 198 BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HARE&I. pola. Here the children of the Prophet, about fidy in num- ber, are educated. Though not an educated man himself, nor a patron of learning, among the people he employs good teachers, and takes considerable pains in the education of his children. Farther to the right, upon an eminence, stands the " White House," occupied by Mrs. Young, tb^ first wife, and her children. This is a very lonesome-looking old house, just such a one as you might fancy to be haunted. It w(kS the first one built by Youn;;;, and glass being then very expen- sive, the windows are few and small. These, with other smaller buildings, make up the improve- ments on the Prophet's Block, and constitute a small town of themselves. The Harem. The " Lion House " is a three-storied building. First, a basement, built of stone ; then the main building, of wood, with peaked gable, and narrow-pointed Gothic windows, and steep roof. This house cost over $30,000, and would have cost more, but for the economy of the owner. It was com- pleted, ready for the shingles, and the shingles were waiting. At a meeting in the Tabernacle on Sunday, he announced that he had a mission for all the carpenters, and asked if they would accept it. They raised their hands, and were then coolly told to '* shingle the Lion House in the name of the Lord, and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood." A large lion, carved in stone, is placed upon a pillared portico^ in front of this edifice, *' resting, but watchful." The following is the inside plan of the Lion House : — Principal J^ory. — No. 1. Parlor. You enter the parlor from the left, and find a long, narrow room, with a large window in front, and four on the side, all heavily curtained. A beautiful Brussels carpet — design, a large bouquet of flow- ers, a rose, surrounded with other flowers and leaves, with a light ground — covers the floor. Two centre-tables, of solid J ' # PLANS OF THE LION HOUSE. BASEMENT STORY. East. I I Bull Hall. No. U. No. 18. CoMb- ■DMl'l No. IT. WmtIdc Rocm. No. la. 28. I OenonI 0«Uu. No. 14. Main Hall. No. ». BaMmont. School Room. No. 30. Wuh Room. No. 31. Kltshtn. No. 23. DUi Room, 38. IHuing Room. No. 94. s I 02 feet. West PRINCIPAL STORY. East. West. UPPER STORY. But. u ' •A Rlr«4 Holp. No. MaiganI Piotoe. No. 37. Room. Ho. at. EUia Snow. No. a&. Mn. WutOB. No. 94. Haniot Oook. No. 33. Mri. Hamptoa. Mo. 3J. leading to Portt- 00. No. SI. No. at). TwiH. No. IB. Main HalL No. 48. Snaan Bnifely. No. 48. Blou Rookwood. No. 47. No. 4«. i^a- Bpan No. 45. Martha Bowkor. No. 44. Zina D. Hoallng. too. No. 41. OhatiotU Oobb. No. 41. Hanht BoaUj. No. 41. Eliia Barfed. No. 40. Harriet Bame;. No. 30. Portleo. s I West. BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. 201 mahogany, are placed at equal distances from the ends of the room. An elegant rose- wood piuno sits at the lower end of the room. Between the windows hangs a large mirror, under which is a melodeon. A large £iofa, upholstered with dark crimson velvet, occupies the oppos^ite side, and near this is a bureau, with silver candlesticks and other ornaments. The chairs are painted to represent mahogany, and gilded. The room is painted and gilded in the same manner. A large stove in thQ corner, near the door, completes the furniture of the drawing-room of the Harem. The family meet in this room, every morning and evening, at the ringing of the bell, to attend family prayers. The favorite wives, Emeline, Lucy, and Clara Decker, receive their company in the parlor, while the less favored ones en- tertain theirs in their rooms. There are said to be underground passages from Brigham's houses to Kimball's on the north, and Wells's on the south. Also apartments under the Lion House, where he secretes his wealth and punishes his refractory wives. 1 cannot vouch for the truth of this assertion, but give it as a rumor. I am credibly informed, however, that all the carpenters and ma- sons who worked on the lower story of this building have disappeared. The three favorite wives before named, receive and en- tertain the friends of the Prophet, who visit at the Lion House. He very seldom introduces here any outside the church. Gentile visitors are usually entertained at the Bee- Hive. No. 2 is Emcline*s room, just back of the drawing-room. She formerly occupied No. 4, but was removed to No. 2, because Brigham, in going to her room, was obliged to pass several other rooms, thus creating remark and jealousy among the other women. He tlierefore had a hall. No. 8, prepared, leading from his office to No. 2, to which room he removed his favorite wife. Here be formerly spent much of his time. She dressed his artificial curls, petted and caressed •-■^!^^ 202 BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. him, and worshipped liim aTtemately as her God. The fur* niture in finidiue's room consists of a three-ply carpet, mostly red, a high post bedstead, with white and red curtains, sofa, table, chairs painted to resemble oak, a large square mirror, oil-shades, wardrobe, and fireplace. .'. No. 3. Mrs. Cobb formerly occupied this room, but now resides in a neat cottage outside the walls. A three-ply car- pet, red and yellow, common bedstead, standing in a recess, fall-leaf table, chairs painted oak, oil-shades with white cur- tains, a small mirror, also a small closet and a fireplace, con- stitute the furniture of this room. This was the home of a woman who had lived in a comfortable and commodious house in Boston, as its mistress and head, with a large and interesting family around her. All this she left for the ridic- ulous delusion called Mormonism. To what extremes will not religious fanaticism and mistaken zeal lead its devotees ! No. 4 is a lar visions, are kept in this place. No. 19. Back Hall. No. 20 was formerly occupied as a school-room and dan- cing academy for the Youngs. No. 21. Wash-room. No. 22. Kitchen. No. 23. Dish-room. * Na 24. The Dining-room is about fifteen by forty feet. Two tables extend its whole length, allowing only a passage- way at each end. A third table extends two thirds of the length of the room. Also a side-table, and chairs of difierent sizes, to accommodate the various ages of the family group. Each wife has her seat at the table, and her children sit with her. The wives who have children are seated at the lieads of the tables in the order in which they came into the family, — they taking the preference over those who have no children. This is the case in every well-regulated Mor- mon family. Among Mormons, the title of mother includes BRI6HAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. 205 that of queen, and is consequently the highest distinction a woman can attain. If a woman has no children, she is mis« erable, and her position in society a very unpleasant one. She can only redeem herself by urging her husband to take moro wives. Many women do this, and afterward labor incessantly for the new mistresses and their children. Lucy Decker, the first " plurality " woman, presides at one of the long tables. At the head of the short table. Brig- ham always presides, when he takes his meals at the Harem. On his right sits Clara Decker, with her children, and on the left, Emeline, with hers. This order is strictly observed. This preference causes much unhappiness on the part of other wives less favored. No. 25. Main Hall. r ► Nos. 26 and 27 are staircases. - ' No. 28. Small side Hall. Third Story. — This floor is divided in the centre by a wide hall, and ranged on either side are ten small rooms, of nearly uniform size, with one door and window each. These rooms are about twelve by fifteen feet, and are occupied principally by those of "the women" who have no children. The windows are of the Gothic style. No. 29 is occupied by " Twbs," and has a carpet, common bedstead, three oak chairs, a little toilet-stand, small mirror, and plain white curtains. All these rooms are similarly furnished. All are neat and clean. Harriet Cook, Ellen Rockwood, and Twiss, display more taste than the others in the arrangement of their little cages. In addition to these articles, Harriet Cook has mahogany chairs, instead of oak, and a large cupboard, painted to rep- resent mahogany. All the rooms are furnished with stoves, except three, which have fireplaces. No books, except the Book of Mormon, Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and Mormon Hymn-Book, will be seen in any room except Eliza Snow's ; she being a woman of con- 206 BBIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREH. aideraUe literaiy taste, and withal a writer, •— baviug made a number of contributiona to Mormon literature, —• her room is iadicative of the same, being well supplied with books and papers. What the Women do. The internal arrangement of affairs at the Harem is very similar to that of a young ladies' boarding-schooL Each woman having her own room, her affairs are all centred there. The culinary department is under the control of such of the wives as Brigliam from time to time appoints. She ii the stewardess, and carries the keys. A cook is employed, — generally a man, — and several servants besides, who are all under the control of the stewardess. When the meals are prepared and ready, the bell rings, and each woman, with her children, if she have any, flies down to the dinner-table, and is seated as before stated. Each, on rii«ing, has her children to attend to, and get ready for breakfitst ; this over, she commences the businesa of the day, arranges her rooms, and sits down to her sewing or other work, as the ease may be. A sewing-machine is brought into requisition, and one of the number appointed to use it. For the benefit of those who want a sewing-machine, it may be well to state how this one was procured. One day a man from St Ix>ui8 came to offer one fur sale, stating that his price was ninety dollars. Brigham bought it, promising to pay the man whenever he should call. He being poor, called in -a few days. He did not get his pay. He called again, a number of times, with the same result One of the wives became quite indignant, and said, -i— " If I was in his place, I never would ask it from one so high in the priesthood. He had better give it to him than to ask pay of him." The poor man never received his money, and as soon as he could get the means, left the Territory. Tliis is the manner in which the Prophet becomes possessed of much of his property. i » BRIOHAM AS LOBD OF TUS HAREM. 207 Most of the women spin and make their every-day cloth- ing, doing their own coloring. They are quite proud of. the quantity of cloth manufactured in their establishment every year. All work hard, and take but very little out-of-door exercise. Parties and the theatre are the favorite amuse- ments, ikb the theatre, Brigham and one or two of the fa- vored wives sit together in " the King's box," but the remain- der of the women and the children sit in what is called ** Brig- ham's corral." This is in the parquette, about the centre of the area. The Prophet goes down once or twice during the evening to the corral, and chats for a few moments with one and another, but in a short time he can be seen beside his ** dear Amelia " again. At the Mormon parties, much gayety prevails. Appear- ances are maintained, somewhat, by paying more respectful deference to the first wives, on such occasions. Gentiles, with whom the saints are on good terms, are well received and kindly entertained at these parties, and all join in giving themselves up to the influences of mirth and festivity. Danc- ing is not only a favorite amusement, it is more ; it is culti- vated to such an extent that it becomes a passion. Brigham*s women, though better clothed than formerly, still work very hard. They are infatuated with their relig- ion, and devoted to their husband. If they cannot obtain his love, they content themselves with his kindness, and endeavor to think themselves happy. As religion is their only solace, they try to make it their only object. If it does not elevate their minds, it deadens their susceptibilities, and as they are not permitted to be women, they try to convince themselves that it is God's will they should be tlare$, A music-master, a dancing-master, and a teacher of the ordinary branches of an English education, are employed in the family school. Also a teacher of French. His children have much better advantages than any other in the Territory. Dancing and music are the leading accomplishments, and sverything else is made subordinate to these. 208 BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. Brigham cU Home. Much interest naturally attaches to the inner life of saoh a man as Biigham Young. His time is much occupied. He rises early, calls the whole family together; they sing a hymn ; he prays fervently, and they separate for the duties of the day. In past times, he ate at the Harem. His fare is very simple, usually consisting of a bowl of milk, covered with cream, and dry toast or bread. His next duty used to be, to <* see the women folks," (o whom he was friendly and kind, but no more. He is not Brigham the husband, but Brigham the Prophet and Seer. The women fear and reverence him as their God, watch his countenance as he gives them counsel, and look upon every word he utters as the ** key " to some great mystery. He pays much less attention to them now than formerly, but is kind and considerate in his conduct toward them. This duty done, he next proceeds to his office, to receive his visitors, and to transact any business that may be there awaiting his attention. His counsel is sought upon all sub- jects, even in the minutest domestic affairs of the people. So numerous are these applications for advice and assistance, that many are turned away with a very brief answer, while some are denied access entirely. Theoretically, no one but he can ^^seal" or give plural wives in marriage, and such at first was the practice. But in later years, this power has been delegated to Kimball and others, and to the Bishops of distant wards. The divorces of such can only come from him ; and from this source alone he derives a handsojne revenue. He once said from the pul- pit to the people, that ** the divorce money which he received through their d— d foolery, furnished him with plenty of spending money." No speculations are entered upon, no enterprises begun, without consulting " Brother Brigham." This he encourages and commands. ** If you do not know what to do^ in order BRIQHAM AS LORD OF THE HARK.M. 209 to do right, come to me at any time, and I will give you the word of the Lord on the subject." This mode of directing the people, though laborious and perplexing, has its advantage:*. Their secret thoughts and plans are thus laid open to his view, and facts are sometimes brought to his knowledge very important and essential to be known, having a direct bearing upon the permanent mainte- nance of his rule and authority. The people, too, by such frequent consultations, are led to believe that their prospei^ ity, happiness, and safety, are all dependent upon the favor and assistance of their lender. If any one becomes contu- macious and troublesome, he has the earliest information of the fact, and soon devises means to be rid of the annoyance. It is a common expression among the people at Salt Lake, ** When I obey counsel, I am prospered in everything ; when I neglect it, I prosper in nothing." Years ago, Brigham was kind and fatherly toward his followers. If he met one of them in the street, he gave him a cordial greeting and a hearty shake of the hand, with an inquiry concerning his family and prospects. But of late, the Prophet, having become rich, has grown haughty and proud, and as he rides along in his fine carriage, surrounded by his courtiers and sycophants, the toiling, hard-handed brethren, who receive no friendly recognition, sometimes shake their heads and mutter sentiments strangely discord- ant with those generally expressed in convers^ation. The feeling of dissatisfaction at the distance placed by the Prophet between himself and his followers, has grown, as that distance became more perceptible, until it has become quite universal among the poorer classes. The poverty- stricken saint, as he takes home upon his back or his wheel- barrow a sack of flour, or piece of m^gat, obtained with diffi- culty by his daily toil, beholds his Pi^phet, his spiritual guide, clothed in fine raiment, seated in a splendid carriage, by his side a courtesan, a so-called wife. He sees the smile and kind word, which should be given to his suffering and 210 BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM. down-trodden people, lavished upon a harlot He turns in disgust, and with a weary and troubled spirit, seuks tempo- rary rest in his own humble home. Here kind poverty has protected him from the vices of his leaders, and he thanks God inwardly, after all, that he has not yet abandoned the wife of his youth. To such, the new preachers sent by the ** Josephites,** to bring the people back to virtue, to loyalty, and to the original Mormon religion, appear as angels from heaven, and hence the ready assent given to their teachings, and the rapid defection from the established church. i- CHAPTER XI. TUB WIVES OF BRIOHAM YOUNO. Mary Ann Angell Tonng, the first wife. — Her Family.— Loej DeeKar Seelj, the flrtt wife in Plurality. — More of **Jdy Women "t Clarm Decker, Harriet Cook, Lucy Bigelow, Twin, Martha Bowker, Harriet Barney, Eliza Burgess, Ellen Rockwood, Susan Snively, Jemima An- gell, Margaret Alley, Margaret Pierce, Mrs. Hampton, Mary Bigelow, Emeline Free, or the Light of the Harem.— Proxy Women: Miss Elisa Boxy Snow, Zina D. Huntington, Amelia Partridge, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Smith, Clan Chase, the Maniac.— Amelia, the last love, — The Prophet in Love the Thirtieth Time. Mrs, Mary Ann Angell Young, This lady is the first living and legal wife of the Prophet She is a native of New York, and is a fine-looking, intelligent woman. She is large, portly, and dignified. Her hair is well sprinkled with the frosts of age ; her clear, hazel eyes and melancholy countenance indicate a soul where sorrow reigns supreme. She has been very much attached to her hushand, and his infidelity has made deep inroads upon her mind. Her deep-seated melancholy often produces flights of insanity, which increase with her declining years. Bereft of her husband's society, she naturally clings to her children, of whom she has five : Joseph, Brigham A., John, Alice, and Luna. They all reside with her. She formerly occupied ^ the Bee-Hive House," but as the number of her husband's wives increased, it became necessary that additional accommodations should be fumLxhed the '* plural " portion of the family. The first wife was obliged to vacate her resi- dence foi' the benefit of new comers. Site was removed to It great bam*like house on the hill. This buihiing looks more 212 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. like a penitentiary than anything else. It was the first house built upon tlie premises, and, as before stated, is very deficient in the number and size of its windows. Mrs. Young seldom receives guests, and her husband him- self scarcely ever pays her a visit. When I looked upon this poor, suffering woman, as she sat at church, surrounded by her husband's mistresses, I seemed for the first time fully to realize the true character of that " institution " which has crushed the hearts of many noble women. She is very kind to her children and dependents, and is much beloved by them. She has not succeeded so well in gaining the affection of " the wives.** "With them she is very unpopular, and by some of them she is often mocked and up- braided. It is said, "one hates whom he has injured." This may account for much of this feeling tunong the " plurals." Joseph, or "Joe Young," as he is familiarly known in Utah, is a fast young man. He has been on a " mission," travelled in Europe, smokes, chews, gets drunk, swears, preaches the gospel, has three wives whom he whips and otherwise shamefully abuses, and is a good Mormon, in full fellowship in the church. While at a fashionable watering- place, at Great Salt Lake, in the summer of 1863, he insulted a gentile lady. The gentleman who accompanied her, being an officor, promptly knocked him down, and this not seeming to be satisfactory, afterwards challenged him. Joseph's friends interfered, and obtained a settlement of the difficulty. Brigham A. is moie respectable. He has also been on a *' mission." This is equivalent to saying that he has been wild and reckless, as it is the Mormon custom to send all who are unruly and hard to manage, or who have committed crimes, on a mission. It is thought that by '' bearing the pure vessels of the Lord " to such poor wicked wretches as the gentiles, they will perchance themselves become purified. John, being the youngest, has not developed his tastes so fully. He seems inclined to seek after the loaves and fishei K THE WIVES OF BRIGHAil YOUNQ. 213 of office. He was Sergeant-at-Arms of the Council in the winter of 1863-64, and will doubtless be one of its members when he is old enough, should his father then reign in Utah. Mrs. Alice Clawson is the oldest daughter. Rather amia- ble, with fair hair, blue eyes, and of petite stature. She is one of the performers in her father's theatre. As an artiste she is '' flat, stale, and unprofitable." But being Brigham's daughter, and good looking, she is applauded to the echo. She is one of three wives of Hiram B. Clawson, who is the Prophet's chief business agent and manager. Quick, f^hrewd, and unscrupulous, he is a fit instrument with which to accom- plish the purposes of such a man. In the year 1851, a Mr. Tobin came to Salt Lake with Capt Stansbury. While there, he met Miss Alice, fell in love with her, and they were engaged to be married. Mr. T. had occasion to leave Salt Lake on business, and did not return until 1856. He then renewed his engagement with Alice, but afterward, for reasons satisfactory to himself, broke it. This subjected him to the vengeance of her father, which never slumbers. Tobin and his party were followed, attacked in the night, on Santa Clara River, 370 miles south of Salt Lake City. Several of the party were severely wounded. They lost six horses, and were compelled to abandon their baggage, which was completely riddled by bullets. During Tobin's absence, Alice had been engaged to another, who had been sent off to the Sandwich Islands, by her watchful father. Hiram B. Cluwson, the confidential clerk of the President, next appeared as a candidate for the young lady's hand. He had already one wife, but was anxious to secure a second. A little incident in their courtship, will illustrate the man- ner of obtaining No. 2. '* Good-morning, sister dawson** said a young friend whom she met in walking. " What do you wish me to understand ? " said Alice. « Nothing more than that your father gave his consent n m \ » 214 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAU TOUNO. this morning, in my presence, to yonr marriage with Hiram Clawson." " There, Alice," said brother Clawson, who at this moment made his appearanoe, ^ did I not tell you ? Tou would not believe me.** ** This matter begins to be serious," said Alice, *' now that my father has given me away to a man that hits one wife already, and is courting another beside me, both of them much handsomer than I am." Hiram was nettled, for it was true that he was courting a third wife, and of the three Alice was the least beautiful. She then proposed, playfully, to elope with an old gentleman, a firiend of the family. ** I Would do so," she said, ^ before I would be given away like an old mule, to a man who already has one wife, and is seeking for others." ' #' Yet Alice, though doubtless giving expression at this time to the sentiments of her hearty was afterward prevailed upon» and consented to become Na 2 in the harem of Hiram B. Clawson. Hiram^ having commenced at a much earlier age than his father-in-law, may, if unchecked in his ctreer, yet rival him in the number of his wives and the extent and magnificence of his ^ plural " establishment. Luna Young is a character. She is very wilful and head- strong. She always governed her sister AKce, and even her father could not control this wayward child. She is the fourth daughter, by the first wife, two having died. She has light hair, blue eye-s and a fair complexion. She is very haughty and beautiful. Slender as the gazelle, and free and joyous as a bird, brooking no eontrol, she was the light, and often the annoyance of her father's house in her girlish days. She is now married, and very likely will become amiable and docile, under Mormon discipline. Lucy Decker Sedy. This is the first wife in « plurality i" — or the leoond 'woman.' n * THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG^ 215 Lucy Decker was married to Isaac Seely, and had two I'hildren. She afterward became a Mormon, and went to Nhuvoo to reside. Her husband, Seely, was somewhat dis- sipated, but treated her well. She, however, saw Brother Brigham, and loved him. He visited her, told her that Seely could never give her an " exaltation " in the eternal world ; that he, being " high in the priesthood," could make; her a queen, in the first reiturrection. She yielded to these inducements and the promptings of her inclination, left her husband, and was " sealed " to Brig- ham Young. Lucy Decker has brown hair, dark eyes, small features, a fair skin, and of short stature ; but quite «n bon point* She would strongly remind you of a New-England housewife, ** fat, fiiir, and forty." In common with nearly all the inmates of the Harem, she is of very ordinary intellect, and limited education. ^9^ * Her first child, after marrying Young, was named Brig- ham Heber, and was the first-born in Mormon polygamy. He is now a lad of about eighteen years of age. Lucy Decker is still one of the iavorite wives. She lives in tlie *' Bee-Hive," and keeps a sort of boarding-house for the work-hands. She has had eight children by Brigham, all of whom are living. A story is told wliich illustrates well the disposition and character of these polygamous chil- dren. " Brigham Heber " was in the habit of playing while the family were at breakfast. One morning, atter breakfast was over, this boy, then only ten or twelve years of age, went into the kitchen, and undertook to help himself to any- thing he could find. Mr. Smith, the cook, would not permit it. Brigham Heber seized a fork, and with oaths that would put a pirate to shame, swore he would stab the cook. Smith caught him, wrenched the fork from his hand, and pushed him into the hall. He and Oscar, son of Harriet Cook, swore they would kill Smith |he first time they should catch aim out. ^ ■sgi •#■ * M % *v 216 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM T0UN6. ^. Moreof"Mtf Women" ' «. Clara Decker^ sister of Lucy Decker, is a short, thick-«el person, very much like Lucy in appearance. She is much more intelligent and agreeable than her sister, and in every way her superior. She is also quite a favorite with the Prophet ; has three or four children, and is much attached to her *' husband." Harriet CooJc was early in plurality ; having been sealed to Brighain, at '* Winter Quarters," on the Missouri River, while the Mormons were on their way to Utah. This was five years before polygamy was publicly proclaimed in Utah as a divine institution. Harriet is very tall, has light hair, blue eyes, a fair complexion, and sharp nose. She is rather slender, but has much power of endurance, and a look of de- termination. When all is going on smoothly, she is as calm and serene as a May morning ; but let Brigham or any one else in the establishment cross her path, and the blue eyes at once light up, and give evidence of a coming storm. When irritated and aroused, she denounces the whole Mormon religion, in- cluding polygamy, and says, " the whole thing is a humbug, and may go to the devil for aught she cares." Brigham, though a stern disciplinarian, makes good his escape, at such times, and the '* women " all keep at a respectful dis- tance. When she is in a religious mood, which is seldom the case, she says : ^ I don't profess to know much, but there is one thing I do undersitand, and that is Mormonism. When- ever Brother Brigham (all the wives call him Brother) goes behind the veil, I make him tell me what he sees and hears there. I mean to know all about it." She is the " smartest " of all the women. She has one son in plurality, named \ Oscar. He is a wild, ugly boy, and curses his mother ad libitum, Brigham cares nothing for this woman, and avoids her as much as possible. ' .** .* THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 217 Lucy Bigehw is of middling stature, has dark brown hair, blue eyes, aquiline nose, and a pretty mouth, and is very pleasant and affable. She is very pretty and ladylike in the ball-room, but does not appear to so good advantage in the nursery and kitchen. She is the one who was the subject of a well-turned repartee at the anniversary ball in Salt Lake City, on the 24th of July, 1863. Governor Harding, on that occasion, having danced with several of the wives of *' Governor " Young, became somewhat enthusiastic and ex- travagant in his compliments. Among other fine sayings, he remarked to one of the wives, upon leading her on to the floor, — '* The Pret^ident has introduced several of his wives to me as * Mrs. Young,' ' Mrs. Young,* ♦ Mrs. Young.' As well might the astronomer point me to the stars of heaven, with- out giving me their names." "Governor, I understand your compliment, and appreciate it. The name of this par- ticular star is Lucy." She has but little influence over Brigham, and he seldom visits her. Twiss has sandy hair, inclined to curl, round features, blue eyes, low forehead, complexion fair, face somewhat freckled. She is short and stout. This woman makes a good servant, and is always ready to wait on her lord and master. She prepares his linen, and is content. She has no children. Martha Bowher is low in stature, with black hair and eyes. ' She is very quiet. Is plain and sensible ; neither showy nor interesting. Very neat in dress, very ordinary in intellect and acquirements. She is of few words, and rather quick- tempered. Very little influence over the Prophet, Harriet Barney. — This lady is tall, slender, and graceful. She has hazel eyes, light-brown hair, mild, sweet expression of countenance, and is indeed a beautiful woman. Her char- acter is as lovely as her face, and the suffering and sorrowing always find a friend in her. She is patient and forbearing, and would rather suffer wrong than do wrong. Her kind 218 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAH YOUNG. i;* and sympathetic nature, and excellent character, place hei far above all the oiher inmates of the Harem. Believing in polygamy, she left her husband, and became one of the plural wives of the President of the church in which ahe believed. She loves, with all the intensity of her nature, him for whom she has sacrificed everything. Of course, she deeply feels his neglect, but, like a true woman, complains not. Having sacrificed her happiness upon the altar of her faith, she continues to love, to endure, and to suffer. She had three children by her first husband ; none since. Eliza Burgess, — Her parents resided in Manchester England, and came to Nauvoo in the early days of Mormon* ism. Soon after, they both died, leaving Eliza an orphan. She was thrown upon the cold charities of the world, and Brother Brigham, ever the friend of yotUh and beauty^ took her into his family. She served seven years, and then de- sired to marry another. She applied to Young for his con- sent, but the Prophet had other projects inconsistent in their nature with the proposed marriage. '* Eliza," he said, ** you have been so long in the family, that I need you. I wish to marry you myself. Will you not be my wife ? Brother S. is a very good man, but I can give you a greater exaltation. I can make you a queen." This argument was conclusive) and Eliza gave up her lover, and mai'ried Brigham Young. in person Eliza is small, with large dark eyes, dark hair, and dark complexion. She is quick-tempered, and is of the class — English serving-girl. She is the only one of the Prophet's women who is not American. She has several children. Ellen Rochwood is of medium size, slender, with light hair, light-brown eyes, and fair complexion. She is the daughter of the warden of the penitentiary, who is a " regu- lar down-east Yankee." Ellen is rather quiet, even-tempered, but quite narrow-minded. Her health is poor, and she spends most of her time in embroidery and needle-work. She has no children, and, per consequence, very little influence with THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 219 her husband. He calls upon her in her little room, al>out once in six months. Susan Snively. — A middle-aged woman, of medium size, dark hair, light eyes, dark complexion, and expressionless face ; the plainest of all the women. She is good and kind in her nature, quiet and retiring. She spins and colors yarn, and is a good housewife, of the type — New-England farmer's wife. Having no children, she adds nothing to the kingdom and glory of her husband, and is estimated accordingly. Jemima Angell is the sister of Mary Ann, the lawful wife. She is an elderly lady, with dark hair, gray eyes, and pensive countenance. Of low stature, but quite robust. Her first husband died out of the church, and she is merely sealed to Young, for her exaltation in another state. She lives in a little house by herself, and seldom receives a visit from her spiritual husband. Margaret AUey. — Short and small ; light hair and eyes, rather lengthened features, but mild expression of counte- nance. Being much neglected by her husband, she became very melancholy. She died in 1853, leaving two children. Margaret Pierce. — Of medium height, light hair, and blue eyes, sharp nose, and very variable in temper. She has several children, but not much influence with her hus- band. Mr$. Hampton. — This woman is very tall, and noble in appearance, has round features, large lustrous eyes, dark hair, and fair complexion. She was early married to Mr. Hampton, by whom she had six children. They removed to Nauvoo, where Hampton died. Mrs. Hampton was after- ward sealed to Young. When the Mormons were driven from Nauvoo, Mrs. Hampton was, for some reason, left behind. She then mar- ried a Mr. Cole, by whom she had one daughter, named Vi- late. When this child was about four years old, Colo went to California. Young then sent for Mrs. Hampton to come and live with him. She obeyed, and became, a second time, 18 220 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. # one of his plural wives. During this time Cole wrote letten frequently, and sent her his likeness. About this time, Feramorz Little, one of Young's nephews, married Julia Hampton, daughter of Mrs. H., and half sister to Vilate Cole. Mrs. Hampton lived at the Harem about eight years, and superintenaed the culinary department. Some misunderstanding having arisen between her and the Prophet, he again cast her off. It is said that she was un- willing to be sealed over the altar for eternity to Young, preferring her first husband in the eternal world. Her son, Nephi Hampton, provided a house for her at Ogden, a pleas- ant town forty miles north of Salt Lake, where she now resides. Vilate is now about fourteen years of age, beautiful and accomplished. She and Brigham Heber, now about twenty years old, were engaged to be married, but his father dis- approved the match, and laid a plan to defeat it In the fall of 1863, Feramorz Little sent for Vilate to come down to the city, and proposed to have her board with him and attend school. His real object was to secure her for his fourth wife and at the same time prevent her marrying the son of the President. During all this time the girl frequently inquired, with much anxiety, about her father. In 1863 Cole enlisted in the 2d Regiment of In&ntry, Nevada Volunteers, and came to Salt Lake City expressly for the purpose of finding his daughter. After much inquiry he ascertained where his wife and child were living, and wrote a letter to Vilate. The mother received the letter, read it, and put it in the fire. Thus the matter rested, until Vilate came to the city. One day she said to her sister Julia, (Mrs. Little,) " Would it not be strange if my father was among the soldiers ? "* Said Julia, " He is. Did n*t you know it? Nephi told me all about it." This gave her new courage, and thenceforth she made every effort to see her &ther. For some time she was closely watched, and Cole, who had found where she was, was denied admission to her ; THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 221 but the girl's resolution remaining firm, Little, fearing she would leave him, finally permitted an interview. The happy meeting of the father with his only child, aAcr an absence of eleven years, who shall describe? Cole still remains in Utah, devoted to his daughter, whom he visfts frequently, and is not without hope of getting her away from her unfor- tunate associations. The task is a delicate and difficult one, and in his efforts to accomplish it, he has the sympathy of every father. Mary Bigelow. — I can give no description of this woman. She was sealed to Young at " Winter Quarters," and came on with him to Utah. After a time she left the Harem, and what became of her is unknown to me. Emeline Freet or the Light ofAe Harem, " Nourmahal ! Thou loveliest, dearest of them all; The one whose smile shone out alone Amidst a world, the only one Whose light, among so many lights. Was like that star, on starry nights. The seaman singles ftom the sky, — To steer his bark forever by 1 " Emeline is tall and graceful ; with mild, violet eyes, fair hair, inclined to curl. She has long been the favorite of the Prophet, — the light of his eyes, and the joy of hit heart Mr. and Mrs. Free, her father and mother, were opposed to polygamy, and Brigham went one day to convince them of their error. The beautiful Emeline was the fii*st he sough! to win, and he argued and expounded the new doctrine with wonderful zeal and fervor. At length the parents were con- vinced. The Prophet of the Lord stepped up to Emeline, laid his saintly hand upon her shoulder, and said, in fervid accents, " Emeline, will you be my wife ? " " Yes, sir," was the reply. This was their courtship. She at once became »he favorite, and many a heart grew sad when she became an inmate of the Harem. ^"''" 222 THE WrVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. ,,. Brigham distinguished her in every way; gave her better rooms than the rest, and servants to wait upon her. She grew to love him, and obtaitied a powerful influence over him. There is no weapon so powerful as a woman's teara. This Emeline believed, and often acted upon, to bring back her truant lover, when she thought too much attention was paid to others. Finally, so great became the jealousy of the other wives, that the husband of these contending fair ones constructed a private hall leading from his office to Emeliue's room, that he might visit her without observation or con- straint. He devoted himself to her exclusively, and she reigned supreme over the sisters. She received her company in the grand saloon ; she occupied the seat of honor at the table, at the right hand of her husband. In short, she was the mistress of the Harem. At that time the most of the women did their own work, and stayed in their ow^n rooms, so that there was but little communication with each other. She has eight children, but is still a young-looking woman. But, alas I " the course of true love never did run smooth," and Emeline was doomed to have a rival. When the Propheii *' took " Amelia, his last love, poor Emeline was heart-bro- ken. She was taken very sick, and her life was, for a long time, despaired of. From her ** sisters" she received no sympathy. The bitter cup which they had been obliged to drink, was now commended to her own lips. From the con- fiding and happy wife, she has become the rejected and suf- fering mistress, and must now drag out the remainder of her days a faded, cast-off woman. And Amelia, the present queen, what of her ? She too, will soon take her place by the side of Emeline and Mary Ann. Other and younger women will take the place she now occupies, and in their turn be cast off, to suffer with her. "^ Proxy Women.** This 18 a very common term in Utah, and signifies that a woman is married to one man for ''time," and sealed to THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM TOUKG. 223 tnotlier for oternity. AH her children belong to the man to whom she b sealed, no matter which may be their father, or whether the mother ever married the celestial husband **■ in time." Thin is a refinement upon the Jewii^h doctrine, which required a man to ''raise up children to his dead brother." Of this class of women Brigham Young haa four, all of whom, while they live with him for *'■ time," are sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity, and to Joseph must they be deliv- ered over, with their children, in the first resurrection. " Mbs " Eliza Boxy Snow is of middling stature, dark hair, well silvered with gray ; dark eyes, noble intelligent countenance, and quiet and dignified in manner. She is the most intellectual of the women. Her literary taste and acquirements are good, and she has composed some very creditable hymns for the church of which i>he is a conscientious and devoted member. A volume of her poems has also been published, some of which evince genius of a high order. She is quite exclusive in her tiuites, and associates but little with the " women." She occupies a small room on the third fioor of the Harem, about twelve by fifleen feet in size. A neat carpet covers the floor ; a common bedstead occu- pies one corner. There are some oak chairs grained, with crochet covers, wliite window-curtains and bed-spread, her ** own handiwork." Behind the door is a neat little ward- robe. On a shelf over the window, stands a va^^e of artifi- cial flowers. A stand, covered with books, usually occupies the centre of the room, and these articles, with a neat little stove, make up the furniture. This is the home of " the sweet singer of Israel." She has cast the charm of her genius over the rude materials, and there is an air of neatness, comfort, and refinement about her little sanctum which is not apparent in any other por- tion of the house. Here she receives and entertains her company. She occupies her time chiefly in writing, and in needle-work. She is highly respected by the fitmily, who .^ 224 THE WIVES OF BKIGHAM YOUNG. call her " one of the nobles of the earth." When tired of writing and study, she walks out and visits her friends. If any one is sick in tlie house she looks afler the invalid, and shows every kindness and attention. She soothes the afflicted, and cares for the infirm and aged. She and Zina D. Hunting- ton are the most lady-like and accomplished of the wives. The following verses, written by Miss Eliza R. Snow, will show her style as well as the religious fervor and fanati- cbm for which she is remarkable. [For the Deseret Nett$.] *< TJte Ladies of Utah to the Ladies of the United States Caay, im a Crusade against the Mormons, BT MISS B. R. SNOW. Why are you in these mountains, Exposed to frosts and snows ? Far from your sheltering houses, From comfort and repose ? Has cruel persecution, With unrelenting hand, Thrust you from home and kindred. And from your native land ? Have you been robbed and plunderedf mi you are penniless. And then in destitution Driven to the wilderness ? No, no ; you 've joined a crusade Against the peace of those Driven to these distant valleys By cruel, murderous foes. Amid the dreary desert, Where hideous red men roam ; Where beasts of prey were howUlDg^ We 've made ourselves a home. f ,«< * • , 1 • 1 THE WIVES OF BRIQHAM TOUNO 225 Can woman's htt«rt be calloua, And made of flint and steel 7 Perhaps you *ll l«arn to pity, When you ar*^ made to /eel. Should sickness prey upon you, And children cry for bread. * 1 i With bitter self-reproaches You '11 rue the path you tread. 1 We love with purest feelings, Our husbands, children, friends ; We 've learned to prize the blessingi Which God in mercy sends. We have the ancient order To us by prophets given ; And here we have the pattern As things exist in Heaven. We 'd fain from human sufiering Each barbed arrow draw, But yet self-preservation Is GkKl's and Nature's law. The Scnptures are fulfilling. The spoiler 's being spoiled ; All Satan's foul devices 'GMUst Zion will be foiled. Great Salt Lake CUy^ Oct. 18, 1867." This is given not as a fair specimen of her poetry, for she has written much better, but to illustrate how completely she was devoted to the interests of her people at that excitirg period of their history. Zina D. Huntington Jac6b» is of large form, well propor- tioned, high forehead, with light hair and eyes. She is of a melancholy temperament, as is plainly indicated by the ex- pression of her countenance. She has three children, and has charge of the children of Clara Chase. r ■MP •P 226 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. Zina has some literary ability, and sometimes writes poetry. She has a special office in the family, which is to act as gov< erness for all the young ladies, accompanying them in their attendance to singing-schools and other public places. Zina came to Utah with her husband, Dr. Jacobs. Young became attached to her, sent the Doctor on a mission, and in his ab- sence appropriated to himself the wife and children. Dr. Jacobs is still in California, and is an " apostate." . Zina stands in great awe of Brigham, who treats her with marked coldness and neglect. Amelia Partridge is rather tall, with a fine form, black hair, dark eyet:, dark complexion, sweet expression of coun- tenance, and very mild and amiable in disposition. She and her sister Eliza had been servants in the family of Joseph Smith, in Nauvoo. Amelia has four children, to whom she is devotedly at- tached. She is a kind and gentle mother, patient and for- giving, — one of the excellent ones^f earth. She takes but little interest in family matters, outside of the circle of her own children. Mrs. Augusta Cobb is a native of Massachusetts, and for- merly resided in Boston. She is a large, fine-looking person, — dark hair, gray eyes, and clear complexion. She is very stylish in appearance, and of dignified demeanor. She was converted to Mormonism at Boston, fifteen years ago, left her husband and a very interesting family of children, and with one little girl, Charlotte, came to Utah, and took up her residence at the Harem, as a plural wife of Brigham Young. She is high-spirited and imperious. She once returned to her family in Boston, and remained two years, but was too deeply involved in the meshes of Mormonism to be satisfied away from Zion, and again returned to Salt Lake. She now lives in a neat little cottage near the Lion House, and is sup. ported by Young. Her son, James Cobb, after finishing his course of study in the East, came to Salt Lake, and after tome years, through the influence of his mother, joined th« % THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 227 church. Previous to becoming a Mormon, he expressed much anxiety about his mother and sister Charlotte, — now an interesting young lady, — and used many arguments and entreaties to induce them to leave, but finally himself yielded to the seductive influences which surrounded him. Charlotte at one time enjoyed the proud title of " the belle of Salt Lake." She has steadfastly opposed polygamy, and hence has remained unmarried. Mrs. Smith is an elderly woman, who admired Brother Brigham very much, and desired to be sealed to him, to in- sure her salvation. Young did not reciprocate her senti- ments toward him, but compromised the matter by sealing her to Joseph Smith for eternity, and to himself for time. After this ceremony had been performed, he committed her to the care of the Bishop of the ward, directing him to sup- port her. There are many of this class of women in the Territory. Clara Chase^ the Maniac. This woman was of medium height, dark hair and eyes, rather sullen expression of countenance, low forehead, and her features indicative of deep-seated melancholy. When Young married her, he treated her with marked considera- tion. He assigned to her an elegant apartment, in which hung the only oil-painting of himself. She from the first distrusted the principle of polygamy, and had many misgiv- ings of conscience in regard to her course in marrying the Prophet. For a time she lived in this way, in a strait between two opinions. When her husband treated her kindly, she tried to be happy, but when he was cold and unfeeling toward her, she was driven welUnigh to desperation. In the mean time she had four children, two of whom are now living. They are bright and intelligent girls, fourteen and sixteen years of age. As she approached her fourth confinement, her fits of 19 #* 228 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. remorse became more frequent and more terrible. She re* proached herself with having committed the unpardonable sin. Her condition was truly pitiable. During her sickness Brigham treated her with such coldness and neglect, that she became actually insane, and raved incessantly. — " Oh, J hMve committed the unpardonable sin I Oh, warn my poor children not to follow my bad example. I am going to hell. Brigham has caused it. He has cursed me, and I shall soon be there. Oh ! do not any of you go into polygamy. It will curse you, and damn your souls eternally." When her hus- band appeared, she cursed him as the author of her destruc- tion. The "President'* and his two "counsellors" "laid hands** on her, but all of no avail. Dr. Sprague, the family phy- sician, was sent for ; but her poor wrecked spirit would no longer abide where it had suffered so much, and she died a raving maniac. Amelia, or the Last Love. Amelia Folsom is a native of Portsmouth, N. H. She is tall, and well formed, with light hair and gray eyes, and regular features. She is quite pale, owing to ill health. Has but little reHnement of manner. When at the theatre, sitting in the King's box, with her husband, the observed of all observers, she may be seen eating apples, throwing the skins about, chatting with Brigham, and occasionally level- ling her glass at some one in the assembly. ^ She plays and sings, but with indifferent skill and taste. She was, for a long time, unwilling to marry the President, but he continued his suit with a pertinaeity worthy a better cause, and by repeated promises of advancement made to herself and her parents, finally succeeded. For several months he had urged his suit, during which time his carriage might be seen, almost any day, standing at her father's door, for hours at a time. He told her she was created expres^-ly for himself, and could marry no one else on pain of everlast- THE WIVES OF BRIQHAM TOUNO. 229 i ing destraction. She plead, protested, and wept, but ho per- severed, and at length, when all other arguments failed, he told her he had received a special revelation from Heaven on the subject. She had always believed in Mormonism, and had been taught to have faith in revelation. " Amelia," he said, " you must be my wife ; Gk>d has revealed it to me. You cannot be saved by any one else. If you will marry me, I will save you, and exalt you to be a queen in the celestial world, but if you refuse, you will be destroyed, both soul and body." The poor girl believed this hellish impostor, and yielding to his wishes, became his wife. For several months after her marriage, Amelia was sad and dejected, but of late she has rallied, and now appears the gayest of the gay. This marriage took place on the 29th day of January, 1863,— more than six months after the passage by Congress of the snti-polygamy law, — and was public and notorious. Here was perpetrated in one act, the double crime of destroying forever the happiness of a young lady and setting before hin people the example of an open violation of a law of the land. Yet for both crimes he '^oes unpunished, and con- tinues to sit in his chair of state, clothed in authority and power, not only the wonder, but the admiration, of thousands outside of the Mormon Church ! Amelia is evidently living under constraint, and acting an assumed character. She is playing the role of a happy wife, with a breaking heart. At the time of her marriage, her heart had been given to another, lo whom she should have been married. That she compromised her character, in marrying Young under the circumstances, is a fact too noto- rious to be concealed, — and this connection has brought more odium upon polygamy than any the ** President " ever formed. Nevertheless, Amelia stands the recognized Queen of the Harem. She leads the ton, and is the model woman for the saints. Thousands bow low as she passes, and think them- I'll 230 THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. selves happy to receive her passing recognition. She is now a queen, and is to be a goddess in the celestial world. The new wife sometimes becomes restive and impatient, and treats her liege lord rather shabbily. She is at times notional and imperious, and somewhat coquettish, — to all of which her husband submits with good grace for the pres- ent, and pets her as a child. The Bee-Hive House, formerly occupied by Mrs. Young and her family, has been vacated for Amelia. Servants are at her disposal, and her esttiblishment is extensive and im- posing. Brigham spends much of his time with his new wife, and often dines with her. One evening a friend was taking tea with the newly-married couple. Amelia behaved quite naughtily toward her lord. After tea was finished, they remained at the table, eating nuts and confectioneries. Amelia threw her shells through an open window, on the opposite side of the room. Her husband said, "Amelia, don't do that; put your shells by your plate." "I sha'n't do it," replied the fair one ; " I '11 throw them where I please." Young was silent for a time, but became so an- noyed that he again said : " Amelia, I wish you would n't do that any more." " I don't care," replied the spouse, pet- tishly, '' I '11 throw the shells where I please, and I '11 do as I please, and you may help yourself." And pulling her guest by the dress, she said : " Come, let 's go up-stairs, and let him grvnt it out." The theatre wns dedicated by prayer and a grand ball. This was in the winter of 1862-63. Brigham led off in the dance with Amelia, and all was smiles and sunshine. On another occasion, he honored another one of ** the women " with his hand for the first cotillon. This so displeased Amelia, that she refused to dance with him at all. He coaxed, she shrugged her shoulders, and shook her head. It was only after much condescension and solicitation on his part that she granted her forgiveness, and consented to dance with him. THE WIVES OF BRIQHAM YOUNG. 231 This gay Lothario of sixty-three then led forth his blushing mistress, and " all went merry as a marriage-bell." Amelia has lovers still, for one of whom she entertains considerable feeling. He was sent to " Dixie," or the Cotton District, in Southern Utah, on a mission. He soon returned, however, to Salt Lake, and by his presence in the city, causes the Prophet considerable anxiety. Amelia is tyrannical, and rules the women of the Harem with a strong hand. Poor Emeline is quite broken-hearted. Naturally very sensitive, this blow prostrated her upon a bed of sickness, from which it was feared she would never re- cover. But she lives to drag out a miserable life, — neither wife nor mistress, but a castaway. In fact all the women are miserable and unhappy. A common remark, in reply to the usual salutation, is, " Oh, I 've got the blues to-day." The Prs should scold, I should have a great advantage, — 1 could not understand her. Then her name, — Selimal How poetical. None of my wives have such a poetical name. With her in my Harem, I could rival the Sultan himself. Yes, sweet, adored Selima, you shall be mine. You shall bo the high priestess of my affections, and all my common women shall serve you.** The Prophet plead his suit, but Selima was like stone. He had a young man in his employ who dared to love Selima. The rival lovers met face to face. The Prophet was furious, — ** She is not for you, sir, she U not for you. Leave my service, and never dare to aspire to that young lady's hand agam. Alas, that love so devoted, so pure and disinterested as Brigham's, should fail to be rewarded by the object of its choice. But no sooner had the poor singing-master, for such he was, left the Territory for California, than an- other rival appeared iu the field, — a California volunteer, — a dangerous rival; one who would not fear to follow up any advantage he might gain over his spiritual com- petitor. To destroy the romance of the whole story, Selima, cbarm- \i 234 THE WIVES OF BRIGUAM YOUNa. ing but sensible Sclima, becoming disgusted with the whole affair, soon after left for Switzerland again, leaving her lov- ers to settle the matter among themselves. For once in his life, Brigham Young was foiled, and that by a woman. CHAPTER XII. POLYGAMY. Condition of Woman among varioun Heathen Nations. — Influence of Christianity. — Mormonism and Woman. — Brigham ofTers to set the Women Free. — Arguments in Favor of Polygamy. — The Argument against it. — Abraham and Sarah. — Appeal to Mormon Women.— Their Unhappy Condition. — Evil Effects of the System. — Illustrations. Woman is looked upon and treated by all heathen nations as an inferior being, created for the convenience and comfort of man. " According to the ancient Rabbis, the rib which had been taken from Adam, was laid dow'n for a moment, and in that mo- ment a monkey came and stole it, and ran off with it, full speed. An angel pursued, and though not in league with the monkey, he could have been no good angel ; for, overtaking him, he caught him by the tail, brought it maliciously back instead of the rib, and out of that tail was woman made. What became of the rib with which the monkey got clear off * was never to mortal known.' ** The Hungarians think it infamous to be governed by a woman, — and when the crown fell to a female, they called her King Mary instead of Queen. " Aristotle calls woman a monster, and Plato makes it a ques* tion whether she ought not to be ranked among irrational crea tures. ** Mahomet, too, was not the only person who has supposed that women have no souls. Among the Afghans, twelve young women were given as compensation for the slaughter of one man. Six for cutting off a hand, an^ ear, or a nose ; three for breaking a tooth, and one for a wound of the scalp. By the laws of the Vene- tians, and of certain other Oriental people, the testimony of two women was made equivalent to that of one man. 236 POLYGAMY. " According to the Brahmins, the widow who burns herself with the body of her husband, will, in her next state, be born a male ; but the widow who refuses to make the self-sacrifice, will never bo anything better than a woman, let her be born again as often as she may." The Jew begins his public prayer with a thanksgiving to his Maker for not having made him a woman. The Moors do not allow women to enter their mosques or places of worislnp. Mussulmen hold that there is a separate paradise for wo* men, considering them unworthy to occupy the same as the men, except such beautiful women as are assigned to the male occupants as a reward fur a virtuous and religious life on earth. " Sit not in the midst of women," said the son of Sirach, in his wisdom ; ** for from garments cometh a moth, and from wouicn wickedness." ^ It is a bad thing," said Au;];ustine, " to look upon a wo- man, a worse to speak to her, and to touch her, worst of all." John Bunyan thanked God that he had made him shy of the women. *^ The common salutation of women, I abhor," said he, ** their company alone, I cannot away with." " Look at the very name woman," says another author, " it evidently means woe to man, because by woman was woe brought into the world." The Turk does not exclude woman from his heaven, but she is there only to minis^ter to his passions and wants. She bears to his lips the golden goblet, filled with the nectar of the gods. The Indian hunter believes his squaw, as well as his faith- ful dog, will bear him company to those shadowy hunting- grounds beyond the dark river. Amon<; all these heathen and degraded nations, polygamy has prevailed. Among them all, woman has been but the slave of the stronger eex. Her feelings have been outraged, her spirit crushed, and her heart braken ; or, which is still worse, her nature has become imbruted and insensible to all the finer feelings and nobler impulses of her sex. POLYGAMY. 287 But behold the day-star from on high, Ihe lowly Jesus. He came to bring deliverance to the captive, to let the op- pressed go free. No longer is woman to be degraded and de^pided. The holy covenant of marriage which Moses, by reason of the hardness of their hearts, permitted the Jews to break, was henceforth to be kept inviolate. " It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife^ let him give her a writing of divorcement. But I say unto you, that whosoever shrJl put away hi$ toifey saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery ; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced, committeth adultery." And again, — ** For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife ; and thet/ twain shall be one flesh.'* The position of woman, and her duties in life, are well defined in the New Testament Scriptures. If married, she b to direct her household affairs, rai^te up children, be subject unto her husband, and use all due benevolence toward him ; but his duties are equally well defined. He must love his wife, even as Christ loved his church and gave himself for it ; and the fourth verse of the seventh chapter of Corinthi- ans distinctly states that the rights and duties of the marriage relation should be reciprocal, granting no exclusive privilege to either. Is not this reciprocity necessarily and entirely destroyed, when the husband brings other wives into the family ? In the face of the direct and positive teachings of Jesui and his Apostles, the" Latter-Day Saints" of Utah, or rather their leaders, have instituted the heathenish and horrible practice of polygamy. And to add to the blasphemy of the scheme, it is all done in the name of the Lord. In this nineteenth century, they have reduced women to the heathen and Jewish standard. Foremost in the ranks of their oppressors stands Brigham Toung. Following in the footsteps of Mohammed, he declares that women have no souls, — that they are not responsible beings, that they cannot save themselves, nor be saved, ez- --#* 238 rOLYGAMY. J^ sept through man's intervention. To he saved, a woman ' must be " sealed " to a good man, — he can save her ; or, if he does not, her sins will be upon his lioad. Under this 8ys« tem, woman was created expressly for the glory of man ; hence the more women and children a man has, the more glory. Thid doctrine is openly put forth in the most disgusting form. Said Brigham, in a public discourse, Sept. 20th, 1856,— *' It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can ; hence if my women leave, I will go and search up others who will abide the celestial law, - and let all I now have go where they please." And in accordance with the same view, he publicly pro- claimed that after a certain day which he named, all of his women who were dissatisfied should be free to leave him. Tlie following is his language : — " Now for my proposition : it is more particularly for my sisters, as it is frequently happening that women say that they are unhappy. Men will say, — *My wife, though a most excellent woman, has not seen a happy day since I took my second wife.' * No, not a happy day for a year,' says one ; and another has not seen a happy day for five years. It is said that women are tied down and abused ; that they are misused, and have not the liberty that they ought to have ; that many of them are wading through a perfect flood of tears, because of the conduct of some men, together with their own folly. ** I wish my own women to understand that what I am going to say is for them as well as others, and I want those who are here to tell their sisters, — yes, all the women of this community, — and then write it back to the States, and do as you please with it. I am going to give you from this time to the €th day of October next (the day the semi-annual Conference was to meet) for reflec- tion, that you may determine whether you wish to stay with your husbands or not, and then I am going to set every woman at lib- erty, and say to them, ' Now go your way, — my women with the rest, — go your way.' And my wives have got to do one of two POLYGAMY. 239 tfiings : either round up thoir shoulders to endure the afflictions of this world, and live their religion, or they may leave, for I will not have them about me. I will go into heaven alone, rather than have scratching and fighting around me. I will set all at liberty. * What, first wife too ? ' Yes, I will liberate you all. I know what my women will say. They will say, ' You can have as many women as you please, Brigham.' But I want to go some* where, and do something to get rid of the whiners." * It does not appear that these unhappy women availed themselves of thif* opportunity of getting rid of their misery, by being cast off upon the world, in an Indian country, nearly a thousand miles from civilization. It may seem very strange, that so many women are led into the snare of polygnmy. The most specious arguments are advanced, and inducements held out, by the wicked and designing leaders of the Mormon Church, to blind and de- ceive unsuspecting and simple-minded women. They are tuld that " the laws of Clni-^tendom differ widely from those of the other three fourths of the whole family of man ; " that they aro the laws and practices of '* a wicked and perverse generation," and differ also from the doctrines taught in the Bible. It is a noticeable fact that the Bible is only quoted on the subject of polygamy. On all other topics, the books of Mormonism are used. These being, as already shown, adverse to their favorite institution, resort is had to the Old Testament Scriptures. Abraham is constantly cited as tho great exemplar and pattern. It is urged that the family order observed by him is the order established among celestial beings, in the celes- tial world. That God sanctioned the practice, and is himself a polygamist. That many virtuous and high-minded women should infi- nitely prefer to unite their fortunes to one good man, rather than to have each a wicked husband who could bring her no exultation in another world. " Shall such virtuous and inno- eent females, though they may be poor, and low in the scale * Deseret News, October 1, 1850. 240 POLTGAMT. < of fortune's partial smiles, — shall they he denied the right to choose the ohjects of their love ? Must they, through the operation of hideously contracted laws, be virtually doomed to resort to infamous prostitution, entailing disease, infamy, and death upon themselves and their offspring, or to marry an inferior grade of corrupt, vicious men, — debauchees, gluttons, drunkards, and idlers, — or remain in perpetual celibacy, and frustrate the designs of tlieir creation, and vio- late the first and foremost command of God, — to multiply and replenish the eartli ? " They are pointed to Jacob, also, who had several wives, and who was the father of the twelve patriarchs, after whom all the tribes of Israel were named. From one of these wives, Christ himself lineally descended. Various other in- stances are cited from the Jewish Scriptures, — especially the fact that the Lord gave unto David some of the wives of Saul. " Hereby we learn that God himself gives many wives to those who are faithful, and takes them away from transgressors*' The faith of Abraham was indorsed by Christ and his Apostles, and those who have the same faith are called heirs of the promise. Hence an effort is made to bring the New Testament also to the support of polygamy, notwithstanding it is so plainly condemned in that volume. Indeed, it is unblushingly asserted that not only the Apostles but Christ himself practised polygamy ! ^ The grand rea- son,** said J. M. Grant, one of the First Presidency, in a discourse delivered in the Tabernacle in Great Salt Lake City, ^ why the gentiles and philosophers of that school per- secuted Jesus Christ, was because he had so many wives. There were Elizabeth and Mary, and a host of others, who followed him." > To Abraham and Sarah was the promise made •— *' In thee and in thy seed, shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ** The sisters are called upon to follow the example of Sarah, and to give plural wives to their husbands, even as Sarah gave Hagar unto Abraham. "If you suffer with her (Sarah) 1. POLYGAMY. 241 you shall reign with her. Tou shall be heirs of the same promise, and crowned with glory in the celestial world." By these specious arguments and falsehoods, are thonsanda lured on to their destruction. Oh I could this volume reach the eye of all such, — as it surely will of many, — to them I appeal to examine carefully the foundation of the system to which they are committing themsel\7es. To them I re- spectfully and earnestly submit some considerations and facts worthy of their serious attention, befoi'e they enter irretriev- ably upon their own ruin. Polygamy, or plurality, so called, is not only contrary to the laws of our country, which we are all in duty bound to uphold and obey, but it is adverse to the genius of our free institutions, and is, moreover, contrary to the laws and in- stincts of our nature, and to the suggestions of a sound reason. In the first place, is polygamy rea:«onable or natural ? In pursuing this inquiry, the first fact that stares us in the face is the equality in the numbers of the male and female sexes, in all countries, and in all ages of the world. If polygamy were the natural relation between the sexes, the number of females bom into the world would far exceed the number of males. So far from that being the case, there is a larger number of males, and the excess about equal to the greater loss of life, among males, by wars and accidents; thus leaving a substantial equality in the numbers of those living. The following figures will show the number of males and females in the United States, at the close of each of the lasl five decades: — KxeMHof Psreent. TMur. Malea. Femalfls. Malea. of EzCMfl 1820 4,898,127 4,740,004 158,128 8.8 1880 6,529,696 6,336,824 193,372 8 1840 8,688,532 8,880,921 807,611 8.5 1850 11,837,061 11,354,215 483,446 4.1 1860 16,086,059 15,359,021 727,038 4.5 m « 242 POLYGAMY. Thus it will be seen, that nature has made no provision for the practice of polygamy in this country. On the con- trary, there has continually been an exces^s of the male pop- ulation. This fact is owing, in part, to the large excess of males in the immigration from foreign countries. Let us pursue this subject a little farther. In 1851, the population of Great Britain and Ireland was, — males, 13,- 537,052 ; females, 14,082,814. Excess of females, 3 per cent. But emigration, and the heavy wars in which that country had been engaged, had been draining off the male population for many years previous. In Prussia, in 1 849, there were then living, — males, 8,162, 805; females, 8,162,382. The mortality of males is greater than that of females. To compensate for this, more males are born. In England, the excess of male births is 5 per cent. ; in France and Russia, 6 per cent. ; in the United States, from 5 to 12 per cent., according to the locality. If, now, we turn our attention to the Territory of Utah, we shall find a similar state of facts. By reference to tho United States Census of 1850, it will appear that there was, at that time, an excess of males in every county in the Ter-. ritory, amounting, in the aggregate, to 712; the total num- ber of males being 6,046, and of females, 5,334. The na- tional census of 1860 shows the following result: males, 20,255, — females, 20,018. There has always been in this Territory, as there is in every new country, a scarcity of females. No person, there- fore, could take more than one wife, without, as a necessary consequence, compelling some other person to live without any. This subject is placed in a still stronger light, by reference to the report of the Territorial Superintendent of Common Schools, dated January 14, 1863, and published in the^ Des- eret News," Vol. XII. No. 31. By that report it appears that the number of boys between POLYGAMY. 243 the ages of six and eighteen, is greater than the number of girls between four and sixteen, in every county in the Terri- tory but one. The total, so far as the Superintendent had been able to obtain reports, is as follows : — Number of boys between six and eifshteen S950 Number of girls between four and sixteen 3662 Showing an excess of boys, to the number of. 288 The thanks of the public are due to Mr. Campbell, for bringing to light facts having so important a beaiing on this subject. Thus it will be seen that in this Territory, as well as in all other parts of the country, has nature failed to make any provision for the practice of polygamy. On the con- trary, ever trre to herself, even now, after polygamy has been practised ovcx t«%n years, during which time it has been openly ene < c', nature is reestablishing her own laws, and maintain;*.^ the substantial equality in the numbei-s of the sexes; thus placing the seal of condemnation on this practice, and saying, in the plainest language, ** Let every man have his ow^n wife, and let every woman have her own husband." In considering whether polygamy is reasonable or natural, other arguments present themselves. This practice tends necessarily to the degradation of woman. Instead of being a companion of man, socially his equal, sym- pathizing with his moral and intellectual nature, and sharing in all his pursuits and enjoyments, she becomes, under this system, merely the minister to his passions and physical com- fort, or the servant to assist in the increase of his worldly store. It is impossible that several women should live on terms of such intimacy with the same man, all at the same time on a social equality with him and with each other. The idea of plurality necessitates that of subordination and inferiority. Rules must be established and observed, to insure even the 20 244 POLYGAMY. appearance of harmony. But this necessary assumption of superiority and power, on the part of the man, at once mars, if it does not de.stroy, all the finer and holier of the marriage relations. The husband loses re.^pect for her who sits at his feet, rather than by his side. A full and perfect communion of thought and feeling ceases to exist. A sense of inferiority on the part of the wife blunts her pride and ambition, and renders her careless of intellectual and moral progress, and insensible to many of the highest and noblest duties of her sex. She gradually conforms herself to her position, how- ever hard it may be at first to do t>o, and thus her place in the social scale is lowered. It need scarcely be asked whether this is an evil. Both reason and hi^d bride, and falsely admit that she gives her consent, when asked if she " is willing to give this woman to her husband to be his lawful and wedded wife, for time and for all eternity." The result of such a state of things is what might be ex- • 77ie iSeer,,Vol. I. p. 41. 246 POLTGAMT. pected. Jealousies, strifes, and heart-bnmings arise, result* ing in most cases in the breaking-up of the family, or the casting'off of the less congenial elements. It is useless to deny these results. Ttie facts are too patent to admit of any dispute. The alarming frequency, and I may say recklessness, with which divorces are applied for and granted, is a fact familiar to all, and can only be traced to the causes just stated, unless, indeed, we should — as I am unwilling to do — impute it to the promptings of caprice and passion. Having resided in the Territory nearly two years, it would be impossible for me, unless I had, in the mean time, shut my eyes to what was going on around me, to be ignorant of the state of things to which I have briefly alluded. It has been urged as an argument in favor of polygamy, that it tends to lessen the evils of prostitution. Even if this were true, the argument would have no validity, if at the same time that this evil is abated or suppressed, others are introduced, more serious, lasting, and wide-spread in their influence upon society, our country, and the world. But it never has been clearly shown that polygamy has such an effect. The argument is made by comparing the most favor- able localities where polyga|;ny prevails with the most un- favorable monogamic districts ; for instance, with the large cities of the United States. But it remains to be seen what condition any one of those cities would be in, with polygamy in full blast ; and until it be shown that its condition would be improved, the argument remains of but little force. Another argument in favor of polygamy, perhaps worthy of notice, is, that it tends to a more rapid increase of popula- tion. Admitting the object is a desirable one, it has not been shown that it can be attained in that way. As has been remarked by an able writer, the question is, not whether ten men would not have more children by forty women than by ten ; but whether the forty women would not have more ehildren, each woman having " her own husband." POLTGAMT. 247 Some other reasons have been g^ven in justification of po> lygamy, which I consider too absurd to require even a pass- ing notice. In a former chapter, the so-called Revelation on Celestial Marriage has been given, and it was there shown that po< lygamy was an innovation upon the Mormon religion. I desire now to call the attention of the women of Utah to a few observations on the nature of this pretended revela- tion, and the circumstances under which it was given to tlio world. 1. It was, even if given as assumed, kept secret for nine years. Polygamy was privately practised by the leaders of the church for several years, during which time, according to Brigham's admission, it was not " preached by the Elders," and was therefore studiously concealed from new converts. Indeed, not only was it ** not preached," but it was strongly denounced during the same period. On the first of February, 1844, the following notice ap- peared in the " Times and Seasons/' the church organ, pub- lished at Nauvoo. • /^- "NOTICE. " As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the County of Lapeer, and State of Michigan : " This is to notify him and the church in general, that he has been cut off from the church for his iniquity ; and he is further notified to appear at the Special Conference, on the 6 th of April next, to make answer to these charges "JosKPH Smith, "Hyrum Smith, ** Presidents of the Church:** This was seven months after the time when, according to Brigham Young and his associates, the Revelation concerning Celestial Marriage had been given to Smith. But here both • TVniM atMf SeaMNM, Vol. V. p. tt3. 248 POLYGAMY. Joseph and Hyrura Smith call polygamy a ** false and corrupt doctrine.*' Can any true follower of Smith, or believer in hi.s divine mission, believe for a moment, in the face of this dec* luration, that Smith had received any revelation on the 12th of July, 1843, sanctioning polygamy ? Again, six weeks later, Hyrum Smith wrote as follows: — " Nacvoo, March 15, 1844. " To the Brethren of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, living on China Creek, in Hancock County, Greeting : ** Whereas, Brother Richard Hewett has called on me to-day, to know my views concerning some doctrines that are preached in your place, and states to me that some of your Elders say, that a man having a certain priesthood, may have as many wives as he pleases, and that doctrine is taught here ; I say unto you, that that man te&chea false doctrine, for there is no such doctrine taught here, neither is there any such thing practised here ; and any man that is found teaching privately or publicly any such doctrine, is culpa- ble, and will stand a chance to be brought before the High Council, and lose his license and membership also ; therefore he had better beware what he is about." * Polygamy was condemned at the General Conferences of the European churches, in England, during the year 1846, and subsequently. In July, 1845, Parley P. Pratt, in the « Millennial Star," published at Liverpool, had denounced the " Spiritual- Wife doctrine of J. C. Bennett," — which was one of the earliest manifestations of polygamy in the church, — as a '^doctrine of devils " and of ** seducing spiiits," using this language : '' Tt is but another name for whoredom, wicked and unlawful con- nection, and every kind of confusion, corruption, and abomi- nation." t In May, 1848, Orson Spencer, then editor of the " Star,' used the following language : — *' In all ages of the church truth has been turned into a lie, and • Times and Seatoru, Vol. V. p. 474. t MitUnnial Star, Vol. VI. p. 9S. POLYGAMY. 249 tlie grace of God converted into lasciviousness, by men who bav* ■ought to make ' a gain ' of godliness, and feed their lusts on the credulity of the righteous and unsuspicious. . . . Next to the long-hackneyed and bugaboo whisperings of polygism, is another abomination that sometimes shows its serpentine crests, which we shall call sexual resurrectioniam. . . . The doctrines of coiTupt spirits are always in close affinity with each other, whether they consist in spiritual wife-ism, sexual resurrection, gross lascivious- ness, or the unavoidable separation of husbands and wives, or the communism of property." * In July, 1850, at a discussion held at Boulogne, France, John Taylor, a well-known Mormon Apostle, when charged with the belief and practice of this doctrine, said: — "We are accused lieie of polygamy, and actions the most indeli- cate, obscene, and disgusting, such that none but a corrupt and depraved heart could have contrived. These things are too outrageous to a<'' 't of belief. Therefore, leaving the sisters of the ' White Veil,' the < Black Veil,' and all the other veils, with those gentlemen to dispose of, together with their authors, as they think best, I shall content myself by reading our views of chastity and marriage, from a work published by us, containing some of the articles of our faith." f He then read from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, the article on marriage, already quoted from. Here we have the following facts : — In 1830 the Mormon Church organized, and the Book of Mormon was published, in which polygamy is strongly con- demned. In 1831, the same doctrine condemned, in a revelation to Joseph Smith, which was afterward published in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. In July, 1843, the revelation in favor of polygamy, said to have been given to Joseph Smith. In February, 1844, polygamy publicly denounced by Joseph and Hyrum Smith. • mUentdal Star, Yo\.X. p. ItfT. t Taylor'» Diaduiion at Boulogne, p. 8. 250 POLYGAMY. In March, 1844, the same practice again denounced bj Hyrum Smith. In June, 1844, the death of Smith. In 1845, the publio^iion of the article on Marriage, in the Appendix to tlie Book of Doctrine and Covenants, in which polygamy is called a " crime," and is again strongly con* demned and repudiated. Tlie same year the Spiritual-Wife doctrine of J. C. Bennett, denounced by P. P. Pratt, in England. In 1846, polygamy condemned at the Conferences of the European Mormon churches in England. In 1848, " polygism ** and " sexual resurrectionism '* se- verely denounced in the ** Millennial Star,*' published in Liverpool. In 1850, polygamy denounced and repudiated by Apostle John Taylor, in France. And yet, in the face of all these facts, in 1852, we have the same doctrine publicly given to the church, accompanied by the announcement, that it had been believed and prac- tised by the church for many years. Kow, it will not be pretended by any one, that polygamy was any part of the Mormon religion previous to 1843. Take, then, the period from 1843 to 1852. How was it during those nine years ? Which shall be taken as evidence of what was the teaching of the Mormon religion, on that subject, during that time ? The Book of Doctrine and Cov- enants, the Notices published by Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the declarations of Pratt and Spencer, the action of the churches in England, and the assertions of Taylor in France, or the announcement made in Great Salt Lake City in 1852 ? Are we not, at least, as much authorized to take the former as the latter ? If the Book of Doctrine and Covenant?, the writings of Joseph and Hyrum, the continued and persistent declarations of the Mormon leaders, and the action of the Mormon churches be taken, then polygamy was no part of Mormon- POLYGAMY. 251 um up to 1852. And if not previous to thnt time, it was not afterward, for Young did not prrtcnd to give it at that time as a new revelation, but rested the doctrine entirely on tlie revelation said to have been given to Joseph in 1843. 2. A singular feature of this revelation is, that in it God is made expressly to contradict what he is represented as having said in the Book of^ Mormon. According to the Book of Mormon, as already quoted, God said tlie polygamy and concubinage of David and Solo- mon were abominable before him. The following is the lan- guage : *^ Behold David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubineis, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord." This was the testimony of the Almighty, as to the man- ner in which he viewed the conduct of David and Solomon, up to July, 1843, when he is represented in this revelation as indorsing those very acts which, in the Book of Mormon, he had so strongly condemned. 8. Again: This revelation classes Isaac and Moses with Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon, as polygamists ; when in fact neither Isaac nor Moses ever practised polygamy. How could the All-wise Being make such a mistake ? 4. The most remarkable circumstance connected with this revelation remains to be considered, — It was in direct con- tradiction to the laws of the land. At that time, July 12, 1843, Smith resided at Nauvoo, Illinois, and was, of course, together with all the other inhab- itants of that city, amenable to the laws of Illinois. The following statute was then in force in that State, the same having been passed February 12, 1833 : — " Sec 121. Bigamy consists in the having of two wives or two husbands at one and the same time, knowing that the former hus- band or wife is still alive. If any person or persons within this State, being married, or who shall hereafter marry, do at any time marry any person or persons, the former husband or wife being alive, the person so offending shall, on conviction thereof, be pun- 21 252 POITGAMT. {■hed by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprwHi* ment in the penitentiary not exceeding two years." [The remain- der of this section relates to evidence, and prescribes certain ex« emptions.] " Skc. 122. If any man or woman, being unmarried, shall knowingly marry the husband or wife of another, such man or woman shall, on conviction, be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than one year." * In the face of this law, which wns then in full force, the revelation to Smith declares : *^ If any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent ; and if he espouse the secon'") and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified." f Thus justi- fying the violation of both sections of the law. People may well hesitate, before believing in the authenticity of such a revelation. Here, again, Go. , . ^ POLTOAMT. 2r>8 nlitj of wives in any of the States or Territories, or nations, where such practices are prohibited by the laws of man ? Wo answer. No ; it would not be right *, for we are commanded to be subject to the powers that be." * Since, then, it was not right to violate the laws of the land, then in force in Illinois on this subject, how came God to give a revelation sanctioning such a violation of the State law ? And that too, without making, in the revelation, the least allusion to the law which was to be so grossly violated ? Again : Who was authorized to keep this revelation secret, no secrecy being enjoined in the revelation itself? But enough concerning this extraordinary document. It seems strange, indeed, that any reasonable man or woman can look upon this so-called revelation, announced under such suspicious circumstances, and involved in so many contradic- tions, as a sufficient authority or excuse for the establishment of a custom which would overturn our mo^t cherished social institutions, and throw us at once back thousands of years in civilization. The conclusion would not be changed if it were admitted that the doctrine of celestial marriage is a part of the Mor- mon religion ; for that has nothing to do with polygamy. On the contrary, this doctrine is expressly founded upon the rehition between Adam and Eve before the falL The follow- ing is the language : — **The first marriage we have on record is that of our first parents. . . . Here was a marriage in which the Lord in person officiated, — a marriajje between two immortal beings. . . . He joined them in one, as one flesh, to be indissolubly united, while eternal ages should roll on, or God himself endure. . . . Did d(Bath tear asunder husband and wife, divorce that wliich God aad joined together as * one flesh,' immortal and eterr.a! in its nature ? The atonement of Christ will repair the breach, will restore the immortal Eve to the immortal Adam, will join them again as one flesh, never more to be separated, and will again let the lawful husband enjoy the society of his lawful wife. • • • • The Seer, Vol. I. p. IH. 254 POLTGAMT. ** Therefore, if the children have been married for eternity, ai well as for time, by the authority of God, the same as their first parents were, they will, with them, raise up, after the resurrec- tion, an endless posterity of immortal beings. . . . But those who do not, in this life, enter into the eternal covenant of mar- riage, after the pattern set by the first immortal pair, can never obey the first great command." * The foregoing extracts convey a very intelligible idea of this doctrine ; and from them it will be seen it is founded entirely upon the relation between Adam and Eve. Those who would enjoy the blessings of celestial marriage, must, ^'in this life, enter into the eternal covenant of marringe, after the pattern set by the first immortal pair." What was that pattern? Adam and Eve were monogamists. Adam lived with the wife of his youth, and had no other, for nine hundred and thirty years, and according to Pratt, he is to live with the same woman, in the same capacity, throughout all the ages of eternity. Surely he must be very astute who can discover in this ** pattern " any sanction for polygamy. I might enlarge, indefinitely, upon the arguments against polygamy. I might go into the Jewish and Chri:stian Scrip- tures, and show that it had been, in many ways, condemned by the Almighty. That not only had Adam been limited to one wife at the creation, but when the world was destroyed by a flood, one wife only to each man was taken into the ark; — that God blessed Abraham's posterity through the issue of his first and la'vful wife, and in order to do that, worked a miracle upon Sarah ; thus sanctioning monogamy in the strongest manner possible. I might refer to the warning of Malachi : ** Take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.** I might refer to the fact that Lamech, the first polygamlst, was a murderer ; and that the most prominent polygamists of old were men guilty of the most heinous crimes. And turn- ing from the Old Testament to the New, I might quote th« • 7%e Sele thore. I '11 send them to you. Do you hear?" "Ybs, sir." On the following evening, when the brother returned home, he foimd two women sitting there. His first wife said : " Brother Taussig," (all the women call their hui^bands " brother,") " these are the sisters Piatt." They were two widows of Parley P. Pratt POLYQAMT. 259 One of the ladies^ Sarah, then said : " Brother Taussig, Brother Kimball told us to call on you, and you know what for." " Yes, ladies,*' replied Brother Taussig, " but it is a very hard ta.«k for me to marry two." The other remarked, <' Brother Kimball told us that you were doing a very good business, and could support more women." Sarah then took up the conversation : " Well, Brother Taussig, I want to get mar- ried, anyhow." The good brother replied, " Well, ladies, I will see what I can do, and let you know." The next day. Brother Taussig visited the Bishop, and effected a compromise. By marrying Sarah he was released from the other. After he had lived awhile with the three wives, Sarah became dissatisfied, and applied to Brother Brigham for a divorce. Brother Taussig was summoned before the President, and made but feeble resistance to the application, admitting that he could not properly maintain more than two wives. The divorce was granted, and Brother Taussig was called upon by the clerk for $10. For not having the money, he received a cursing from the clerk, and Sarah was retained in the royal presence, with the as- surance that it was ^ no divorce," until the money was brought in. Brother Taussig went on to the street, borrowed it, and brought it into the ofilce, — and thus ended this disgusting serio-comic conjugal farce.* Other incidents are more serious in their nature. One of them, which came to my knowledge, would be too horrible to relate, were not the facts well authenticated. An old man, a brewer by occupation, married a young girl, as a second wife. The husband and the first wife abused her .shamefully. Finally, after a long course of ill- treatment, the husband descended to the level of the brute. On one occasion, which was but a few days after her confine- * To explain the part which Brother Kimball acted in this affair, it after- ward appeared that he was anxious to have Sarah provided for because ht wanted the house that Sarah lived in, for his daughter, who was about tc manr}' a son of Parley P. Pratt 260 POLYGAMY. #■ ment, exasperatrd by her refusal to yield to his wishes, he di'agged her out of bed by the hair, took her down cellar, and kept her there se^' 'ral days and nights, upon bread and water, until her crie^t a:< .. entreaties were overheard by per- sons in the Overland Stage-Office, which was near by. Tlie matter was investigated, and the poor and almost dying woman released from the clutches of the fiend. She was taken violently ill, and soon aHer lost her reason entirely. No notice was taken of this transaction by the church authorities, and the inhuman husband went unpunished. Wife-whipping is by no means uncommon in Utah. Many names might be mentioned of men of high standing in the church, who make no scruple of using personal violence to keep their wives in due subordination. It is a common say- ing, that a man who is good at managing cattle, will be able to manage his women. One would suppose that it would be very difficult to induce women to go into "plurality" under such circumstances. On the contrary, so infatuated are they with the religious view of the subject, that many of them look upon it as a duty to be performed, and a cross to be borne, no matter at what saerifice. One of the sisters, in conversation with me, expressed her views upon polygamy as follows : " Oh, it is hard," she said, " very hard ; but no matter, we must bear it. It is a correct principle, and there is no salvation without it. We had one, (meaning a plural wife,) but it was so hard, both for my hus- band and myself, that we could not endure it, and she left us at the end of seven months. She had been with us as a ser- vant, several months, and was a good girl ; but. as soon as she was made a wife, she became insolent, and told me she had as good a right to the house and things as I had, and you know," she said, " that did n't suit very well. But," continued she, " I wish we had kept her, and I had boine everything, for we have got to have one, and don't you think it would be pleasanter to have one you had known, than a P0LT6AMT. 261 stranger?" I told her I thought it would, if it had to he done, but I hoped my husband would not take one. She said, *py, but says it is a part of her religion, and she believes it would be her duty to submit. It is known that Brigham urges Captain H. to take a second wife, and it is thought the Captain will be forced into it by the absolute power, whose behests he must obey, no matter how contrary to his own inclinations it may be. He wcs once seen to come out of the President's office with tears in his eyes, afler having had a conversation upon the subject T. B. H. Stenhouse, an active, intelligent man, holding the office of Postmaster at Salt Lake, under the Federal Government, has a beautiful and accomplished wife, and an interesting family of eight children. For a long time afler arriving in Utah, he remained true to his wife. She lived in constant apprehension that her husband would ** go into polygamy,** and so much was she opposed to it, that she once sdd to me in his presence, that if he did, she could not and would not live with him longer. Mr. Cook, the Superintendent and AssUitant Treasttl«r of the Overland Stage Company, who was accidentally killed in California, was, during his lifetime, on intimate terms with Stenhouse, and is supposed to have exercised considerable in- fluence to prevent him from embracing the pernicious sys- tem. It is known that on one occasion. Cook, hearing that Stenhouse contemplated something of the kind, threatened him with a prosecution under the Anti-Polygamy Law of Congress. Cook was killed, as stated, and soon aflef, -Stenhouse, fVeed from any restraint except the church and his own pliable conscience, married Cclia, daughter of Parley P. Pratt, a pert little miss, fourteen years of age, and took her into his POLTGAMT. 263 famfly, with his eight children and the wife with whom he had lived so many yeaw. And this too, in open violation of a hiw of the United States, under the government of which he holds a lucrative* oommissioa 1 H - CFIAPTER XIII. THE ENDOWMENT. Dramatis Persona, EliOiiEiM, or Head God, Brigbam Young. Jehovah, Heber C. Kimball. Jk8U8, Daniel H. Wells. Michael, or Adam, W. C. Staines. Satan, W. W. Phelps. Apostle Pktek, Orson Pratt. Apostle James, John Taylor. Apostle John, Erastus Snow. Washek, Dr. Sprague. Clebk, David O. Calder. Eve, Miss Kliza R. Snow. Timothy Buoadui!IM, a Quaker, Wilford Woodruff. Deacon Smith, a Mtthodiat, Orson Hyde. Pakson Peauody, a Pretbyttriany Franklin D. Richafdf. Elder Long-Face, a BiptUt, Phineas H. Young. Father Boniface, a Catholic, George A. Smith. Bkotheb and Sister Jonks, Brother and Sister White, Sister Maky Brown, to be uakd [ Endjwees, to Brother White, Severed other Candidates^ ACT I. ScBHS L [Enter CaiuHdaUa, CUrh Grood-morning, brethren and sisters. Be seated. Brother White, please state the time and place of your birth, date of your marriage, and the time when you were baptized into the church. Bro. W. I was born November 3d, 1801, in the town of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire. I was married January lst| 1824, and was baptized into the church April 1st, 1860. THE ENDOWMENT. 265 Clerk, Have you pnid your tithing punctually? If MS produce your receipts. [These nre read, and handed back.] That is 6uffici(3iit. You are entitled to receive your endow- ments. Sister White, will you state when and where you were bom, and when you became a member of the church ? Sister W. I was born September 18th, 1815, in the State of New York, and became a member of the church in 1852. CUrk. Sister Mary Brown, please state when and where you were born, and when yuu became a member of the church. Sister Mary. I was born June 20th, 1849, in Great Salt Lake City, and was baptized into the church in 18G0. [The Clerk propounds the same questions to all the candi- dates, and enters their answers in the reconl.] Clerk, You will now proceed to the washing-room, the brethren on the right, and the sisters on the lefl. Apostle Peter. You will remove your shoes, that the dust of earth may not pollute the holy ground on which you are about to tread. [The candidates are then washed in tepid water, and each member blessed with a blessing peculiar to each. They are then pronounced clean from the blood of this generation, and a new name is given to each by the Apostle Peter. They then return to the waiting-room, where the brethren are anointed with oil, the sisters receiving their anointing in their own washing-room. This ceremony consists in pouring olive-oil upon the head of each, well rubbed into the hair, nose, eyes, and mouth, and allowed to nm down over the person. It is accompanied by a blessing, similar to that received at the washing. Brain to be strong, ears to be quick to hear the words of God's ser- vants, eyes to be sharp to perceive, and feet to be swift to run in the ways of righteousness. This is the anointing ad- ministered pre|)aratory to being ordained a ^ King and Priest onto Grod and the Lamb." 266 THE ENDOWMENT. Thus greased and blessed, the " garments " are put on. A dress of muslin or linen is worn next to the skin, reaching from the neck to the uukles and wrists, and in t^hape like a little child's sleeping garment. Over this a shirt, then a robe, made of fine linen, crossing and gathered up in plaits on one shoulder, reaching to the ground before and behind, and tied araund the waist. Over this is fastened a small, square apron, similar in size and shape to a masonic apron, made of white linen or silk, with imitation of fig-leaves painted or worked upon it. A cap made from a square yard of linen, and gathered into a band to fit the head, and white linen or ootton shoes, complete the dress of the candidates.] SCENE IL CaiATioa, Moheimf seated upon hit Throne. [Enter Jehovah, Jesus, and Michakl. Moheim. " Ye powers of Heaven 1 " This day hath Satan, our rebellious foe, been vanquished. Lest he again presumptuous rise, let us create new worlds, and people them with beings who by slow degrees shall rise and fill the place of those by him deceived. Go forth, ye heavenly messen- gers ; examine well the boundless realms of space, and bring report from thence back to the Eternal Throne. Jehovah^ Jesus, and Michael, [all]. Eternal father I Great Eloheim, Maker and King of the celestitd worlds. Joyful we go, thy mandates to fulfil. [Exeunt Jkhovah, Jesus, and Micharu Eloheim. Far into chaos proudly ride my messengers. Winds bear them onward, o'er the deep profound. \Reiitier Jehovah, Jesus, and Michael. JehovahfJesuSfandMichaely[a3X]. Almighty Ruler. The way is clear. Send forth thy Word abne, and worlds will rise, and circle into space, obedient to thy call. Mo. "Silence, ye troubled waves 1 your discord end. Thus iar extend, thus far thy bounds. This be thy circum- ference, O world!" THE ENDOWMENT. 267 Jeh. Behold the Earth. "Matter unformed and roidt darkness profound covers the abyfv.** Mich* But see, " the Spirit of God outspread, and vital vir- tue infused, and vital warmth throughout the fluid mass. Like things to like ! The rest to several place disparted." And in the air, ** the Earth, self-balanced, on her centre liangs." Eh, " Let there bo light." Jeiut, '^Haill Holy light. Offspring of Heaven, first bom." Elo, The light is good. Let darkness flee into the shades of night, and light make up the dHy. Mich. Hark 1 '* the celestial choirs, when orient light, ex- haling first fi'om darkness, they behold, — birthday of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout, the hollow, universal orb they fill" EXo. ** Let there be a firmament amid the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." Jeh, ** Behold the firmament, •— expanse of liquid, pure, transparent, elemental air, diffused in circuit to the uttermost convex ; partition firm and sure, the waters underneath from those above dividing." Jenu, The water still doth compass all the Earth, mould- ing the plastic mass, and doth implant, within her genial breast, the seeds of various life. Elo, ** Be gathered, now, ye waters under Heaven, into ««e place, and let dry land appear." Land, freed from your prison-house, arise, and be called Earth. Ye waters,-^ seas. Now ** let the Earth put foith the verdant grass, herb yield- ing seed, and fruit4ree yielding fruit after her kind, whoee seed is in herself, upon the Earth." Mich, Oh, sight sublime I The' Earth, till now, barren and fruitless was; ** her universal face" now clothed in ** pleasant green.'* Listen, ye Gods! The morning stars, which in the vast expanse of Heaven, circle their rounds, together sing. The smis of Ghid, swifWinged angeb, shout for joy. 22 \ ^ 268 THE ENDOWMENT. JSlo. " Let there be lights, high in the expanse of Heaven, to divide the day from the night ; and let them be for signs, for seasons and for days, and circling years ; and let them be for lights, as I ordain their office, in the firmament of Heaven, to give light on the Earth." " Two great lights, — great for their use to man, — the greater to have rule by d&y, the less by night ; the stars I also set in the high firma- ment, to illuminate the Earth, and rule the day in their vicissitude, and rule the night, and light from darkness to divide." Jeh. Behold, "the thousand, thousand stars, that now appear, spangling tlie hemisphere," the luminaries bright, that rise and set, and crown th'j glory of the fourth new day. JUlo. " Let the waters generate reptile, with spawn abun- dant; living soul; pr.a let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings displayed, on the open firmament of Heaven, and the great «v!jales, and each soul living, each that creeps, and in the waters generate, and each bird of its kind, — let each be blessed ; " " be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas and lakes, and running streams, the waters fill: and let the fov.^ be multiplied." Jesus. Let Heaven rejoice, let Earth be glad, and hail the dawning of the fifth new day. £lo. Tliis is the sixth and last morn of creation. Let every creature for'h, from his genial mother, cattle and creeping thing, and beast of eaith, each of his kind. All, all is good, and ploasing in my sight. Jesus. " Now Heaven in all her glory shines. Earth, in her rich attire, consummate, lovely, smiles ; air, water, earth, fowl, flsh, and beast are here, and yet there wants the master work of all yet done ; a creature endned with reason, which erect may stand, and self-acknowledged, govern all the rest" Hlo. ^ Let us make man, in our own image, man in our similitude, and let them rule over the fish and fowl of sea and air, beast of the field, and over all the earth, and every creeping thing, that creeps the ground." Thou art created THE ENDOWMENT. 269 male and female, in the form and likeness of the Gods. Go forth, be blessed; ''be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, subdue it, and throughout dominion hold " over all, all else that breathes upon its bosom. Now all is fmished, all com- plete and perfect. Immortal Gods, let us to our high seat ascend, that from our lofty throne our perfect" works we may behold. [To represent the creation of man, Jehovah, Jesus, and Michael stroke each candidate separately, pretending to form ; and by blowing into tlieir laces, pretend to vivify them. They are then supposed to be as Adam, newly made, and perfectly ductile in the hands of their makers. A deep sleep then falls upon the new Adam, and ribs are extracted, out of which, in another apartment, their wives are formed. They are then commanded to awake, and their wives are introduced to them ; after which they file by twos into the gardeu.3 SCENE ni. Garden of Eden. [Enter Adam and Eve, and Endowees. M^e. " Well may we labor, still to dress this garden, — still to tend plant, herb and flower, our pleasant task en- joined." " Let us divide our labors," each where seemeth good ; and thus, as night draws on, our task will be aroom- plished. Adam. " Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond compare, above all living creatures dear ! A doubt possesses me, lest harm befall thee, severed from me ; for thou knowest what hath been warned us, what malicious foe envies our happi- ness." £ve. « Offspring of Heaven, and all Earth's Lord I That such an enemy we have, who seeks our ruin, both by thee informed, and from the parting angel overhead ; but that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt, to God or thee, because we have a foe may tempt it, I expected not to hear." Adam. "Daughter of God and man, immortal Eve,— 270 THE ENDOWMENT. for i^uch thou art ; from sin and blame entire ; T, from the influence of thy looks, receive access in every virtue. Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel when I am present, and thy trial choose with me, — best witness of thy virtue tried." Eve. " If this be our condition, thus to d^ell in narrow circuit, straitened by a foe, how are we happy still, in fear of harm?" Adam. "^ woman, best are all things as the will of God ordains them ; therefore go ; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more." Eve. " With thy permission then, and thus forewarned,** I go. [Enter Satan, in the form of a serpent, half man, half snake. He discovers Eve in a bower of roecs, and watches her at a distance.] Satan. "Thoughts, whither have ye led me? — what hither brought us ? Hate, not love, but all pleasure to de- stroy." [He approaches Eve.] " Wonder not, sovran mis- tress, fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, at my appear- ance, half man, half beast, but approach and view this goodly tree, the fruit of wliieh such wondei-s work." Eve. " Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither," for " of this tree we may not taste or touch ; thus hath our God commanded." Satan. *' Indeed ! Hath God then said, that of the fruit of uU these garden trees ye shall not eat, yet lords declared of all in earth or air ? " Eve. " Of the fruit of each tree in the garden we may eat, but of the fruit of this fair tree, amidst the ganlen, God hath said, ' Ye shall not eat thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' " Satan. " sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant ; mother of science 1 Now I feel thy power within me clear, not only to difcern things in their causes, but to trace the ways of highest agents, deemed however wise. Queen of this Uni* THE ENDOWMENT. 271 verse t Do not believe these rigid threats of dealh; — ye Bhatt not die." Your tyrant ruler knows full well, that in the day ye eat thereof, ye shall be as God:?, and good from evil know. " Goddess humane, reach then, an(^ freely taSte." [Satan plucks the fruit and presents it Eve receives it, and after considerable hesitation, tastes, and finally eats it. Adum soon after entera.] Eve. " Hast thou not wondered at my stay ? Thee have I missed ; " for I have tasted of the tree to us forbidden, and such delight till now have nevelr felt. Ta^te thou, [ofil'rs him the fruit,] and be a God. [Adam stands amazed and sorrowful, dropping a garland from his hand.] Adam. " O fairest of creation I Some cursed fraud of enemy hath beguiled thee, and me with thee hath ruined ; for with thee certain my resolution is to die." [He eats.] Oh, fruit delicious, fit indeed for Gods. From us withheld, lest being Gods, we cease to obey our tyrant Lord. [They soon begin to see their true condition. They re- proach each other. They di.-cover their nakedness, make aprons of fig-leaves, and wear them. The voice of Eioheim is hoard in another part of the garden.] Elo. ** Adam, where art thou ? Why hast thou fied and hid thyself? What hast thou done ? " Adam. O Lord, my Maker and Prtjserver ! Thy voice I heard, when thou didst walk amid the trees, but being naked, I did fear to see thy face. Confusion dire and shame filled all my soul. Mo. ** Who told thee thou wast naked ? Hast thou t^en eaten of that tree, to thee forbidden ? ** Adam. The woman whom thou gavest me did give this fruit unto my lips ; and I did cat. Elo. O woman, fair but frail Why hast thou done this deed of sin ? Eve. " The serpent me beguiled, and I did eat" Elo. "Becanse thou hast done this, thou art accursed 272 THE ENDOWMENT. above all cattle, each beast of the field. Upon thy belly grovelling thou shalt go, and dust shalt eat, all the days of thj life. Between thee and the woman I will put enmity, and between thine and her seed : her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel." And thou, O Eve, " thy sorrow I will greatly multiply by thy conception : children aiou shalt bring in sorrow forth, and to thy husband's will thine shall submit ; he over thee shall rule." And thou, O Adam, " because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and eaten of the tree concerning which I charged thee, saying, ' Thou shalt not eat thereof; ' cursed is the ground for thy sake ; thou in sorrow shalt eat thereof all the days of thy life ; thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth unbid ; and thou shalt eat the herb uf the field ; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground ; for thou out of the ground wast taken; know thy birth; for dust thou art, and shalt to dust return." Mo. [To Jehovah, Jesus, and Michael.] "Behold the man is become as one of us, knowing good from evil ; and now, lest he in some unguarded hour put forth his hand, take of the tree of life, and live forever, we must forth from hence expel him." We will place from Eden eastward cher- ubims, and flaming sword, turning which way soever he may attempt an entrance. Adam. " O miserable of happy ! Is this the end of this new, glorious world ? — and me, so late the glory of that glory ? Accursed of blessed, hide me from the face of God, M'hom to behold was once my height of happiness." Eve. " O unexpected stroke, worse than of death \ Must I thus leave thee, Paradise ? — thus leave thee, native soil, — these happy walks and shades, fit haunt of Gods, where I had hoped to spend, quiet though sad, the respite of that day that must be mortal to us both ? O flowers ! that never will in other climate grow, my earliest visitation and my last «t even, which I bred up with tender hand, frum the first opening bud, and gave ye names 1 Who now shall rear ye THE ENDOWMENT. 273 to the sun, or rank your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount ? Thee, lastly, nuptial bower ! by me adorned with what to sight or smell was sweet ! From thee, how shall I part, and whither wander, down into a world, to this ob- scure and wild? How shall we breathe in other air, less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits ? ** Elo, O man, thy cries of penitence and woe have reached my ears. I will a plan unfold, obedience to which, rendered with deep humility, shall by degrees redeem and bring you back to Heaven. My holy priesthood I henceforth establish upon Earth. To those endowed with that high calling, as unto me, shalt thou with reference bow. Their power supreme, con;mands in- disputable, in my stead, I appoint them unto you. They are to act henceforth as I myself. [Here oaths of inviolable secrecy, with the penr'.ty of throat-cutting, are administered to the awe-stricken and in- timidated neophytes. They are sworn to render implicit obedience to the priesthood, and to depend upon them for everything ; especially not to touch any woman, unless given through the priesthood. A sign, a grip, and a key-word are given to the endowees, and the First Degree of the A aronic Priesthood is conferred.] Elo. You are now endowed with one law of purity, one key of truth, and one power of priesthood. Go forth into the world, ye fallen ones, and seek for truth. Obey the voice of God and his holy priesthood, and I will send to Earth a Saviour, that through faith and obedience you shall again inherit your lost estate, again enjoy the ambrosial fruits in the celestial kingdom of the Gk)ds. [Exewnt aU. SCENE IV. Thk World. " " [fti^er Adam, Eve, Endowees, and Sectflu ins. THmothy Broadbrim. I feel the movement of the Spirit to speak unto thee. Thou knowest that the M'orld is lost in 18 ' 2U THB ENDOWMENT. #' iin atid wickednes^i. But ye shoald "resist kidt «vil>** bat ** overcome evil with good." " If a man take away thy ulouk, give him thy coat also." Raisd uot thy hand to harm a fel- low-creature. " Charity suffereth long and is kind ! " See that no brother be in want ; look ye after the widow and the fatherless. • - Deacon Smith. Brethren and Sisters, — I rise to addk*es3 you a few words, founded upon the following passage of Scripture: — "And there shall be weeping and Wailing, and gnashing of teeth." Oh, this is a fearful doom. Oh, yo sinners, hear. There is a lake which burns with fire and brimstone ; you arc on the very brink ; do you not see thou- sands of the damned welterit^ in its burning waves ? You are, as it were, on a greased plank, sliding, and sliding, as swift as the wheels of Time can roll, down to this awful gulf. [Sisters begin to shriek and faint.] Flee from the wrath to come ; fly to Jesus ; come to the mourners' bench ; cry mightily to God for help. He alone can save you. Come, come, come to Josus. Brethren and sisters, sing, — ^ " Where shall tlie guilty soul find rest? " etc. Parson Peahody [speaking through his nose]. My dear hearers, this is a fallen world. We are all in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Satan, the great enemy of mankind, is ever seeking our destruction. Let us close our hearts against his wiles, and come to Jesus, and i^ we are of the elect, foreordained from before the creation of the world, we shall be saved ; and if not, we shall be lost. We can do nothing of ourselves. We are in the bands of a just and wise God, who doeth all things well. In the language of the divine poet, — "If you can, if you can't; . If you will, if you won't; You 'II be damned if you do, You '1! be damned if von don't** liCt the brethren remember then* covenants, and let them bring tlieir ofispring U> the altar, and there consecrate them "^ THE ENDOWMENT. 275 to God, through the ordinance of sprinkling ; and if they are to be saved, they will be saved. Otherwise, though not a span long, they will go down to the bottomless pit. Elder Longface. Brethren, — The subject of my discourse will be found in the following text: "Whom he did predes- tinate," &c. We learn from this, — 1st, That we are sinners. 2d, We need a Saviour. 3d, That we must be baptized by immer- sion. 4th, That we should exclude from the communion- table all such as are not immersed. 5th, That many are called, but few chosen. 6th, That those who are chosen will be saved, without their own action in the matter. 7th, That those who are not chosen will be damned, no matter what they do, in and of their own strength ; and lastly, in order to have the least opportunity to be saved, you must join the Baptist Church. * The Lord grant that many may embrace the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and unite with " our church," and be saved. The brethren will sing, — ''^ " O, when shall we see Jesus," fcc.. Father Boniface [with pages, robes, candles, &e.]. Ts Deum laudamus. [They sing.] O Divine Queen of the skies, Holy Mother of God, to thee we lift up our voices. Grant us thy divine intercession with thy dear Son, that we, through his precious blood, may be made clean. Bless thy believing children, make them faithful to their Holy Father the Pope, diligent in counting their beads, and saying their matins and vespers. O Holy Mother, keep them from all sin ; especially grant them grace to eat no meat on Friday, and we will ever adore and bless thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Let the choir sing Ave Maria. Benedicite. [Enter Satan. Satan. Good-morning, brethren. I love you all; you are my friends. I am gratilied to find you so faithful in 23 276 THE ENDOWMENT. assisting me to build up xny kingdom. Rest assured, yaa shall be rewarded. You shall be kings and princes when I succeed in setting up my throne upon the Earth. lEtUer Apostk* Peter, James, and Jonir. Peter, Why dost thou tempt the children of men, and lie in wait to deceive them ? Satan. " Let me alone. What have I to do with thee," thou follower of Jesus ? I know thou hast the holy priest- hood of God, — Peter, JameSj and John, [all.] And in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the holy priesthood, we command you to depart from hence. [The Devil foams, hisses, and rushes out, chased by the Apostle Peter.] James. My children, hearken now unto my voice. When in these last days God saw the lost condition of mankind, his heart was moved with pity, and He sent with me Peter and John, and commanded us, saying, " Go ye to Earth, and seek me a good man, of the lineage of Joseph, who was carried away into Egypt, and of the lineage of the prophets, even Joseph Smith." Restore to him the lost priesthood. Be- stow upon him the keys of power ; make him Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and let him reestablish my church upon the Earth." Behold, this was done, and the same power and au- thority has now descended from Joseph to Brigliam. Hear ye him, the representative of God on Earth. Him reverence and obey, and ye shall advance toward the kingdom of Heaven. [An oath, penalty, the heart to be plucked out, with ago- nizing details, is administered. The utmost secrecy is im- pressed, and the Second Degree of the Aaronic Priesthood is conferred, with signs, grips, &c.] ACT II. Scene I. Room with an altar in the centre. [Enitr Apostlea Petek, James, and John, with the candidates Tor endoW' mont. / Wr. Dearly beloved, you are now in the way of salva- THE ENDOWMENT. 277 tfon. Be faithful to each other, and all year brethren. Betraj not the secret things of Zion to the ungodly gentiles. Think not with your own thoughts, but come to the prii^st- hood. They are the mediators between Grod and man. Obey, without murmuring, whatever they command, though it may seem to you unjust or unreasonable. Your hearts are not so fully sanctified as to enable you to judge as to the merit of their acts. Be ever ready and willing to forsake father or mother, husband or wife, houses or lands, for the glory of Zion, and the upbuilding of God's kingdom on the Earth. And more especially, brethren, as you value your eternal salvation and temporal welfare, speak no evil of the Lord's anointed. [An oath is now administered, with particulars the most disgusting and revolting, Another sign, key-word, and grip, are communicated, and the Firtt Degree of the Melchisedee Priesthood is conferred.] SCENE II. Another room with an tzltar in the centre ; on it the BiUe^ Book of Mormon, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Jehovah in the room, and Elokeim in the next, looking on. 7%e candidates are ranged round the altar. The Apostles are also present. Peter. You are now in a saved condition, and acceptable in the sight of God. You are to enter on the work of the Lord, in truth and sincerity. " Behold now," saith the Lord, " the wicked and ungodly gentiles ; they have slain the Prophet Joseph, persecuted the saints, and mocked at my priesthood. Therefore, O Israel, arise in thy strength, go forth and revenge the wrongs of my people on this perverse generation. They have spilled the blood of the saints, and wasted their substance. There- fore let their blood be spilled, and let their substance be wasted -im^ 278 THE ENDOWMENT. Let the curse of God rest on this nation and Government. Let wars and famine, and cruel pestilence overtake them, and let the Church of God, in its glory and power, rule over all the nations, and fill the wliole earth. Therefore, brethren, be ye vigilant , and let no opportunity pass to vindicate the name of your God ; and if you cannot do it, teach it to your children. Let them take it from their mother's breast. Teach it to them from your bed of death, and leave it for an inheritance, that all people may know that the God of Israel has set his hand to gather his people, and to destroy the wicked from off the face of the earth. [Here another oath is administered, binding the endowee to revenge the death of Joseph Smith on this generation ; to cherish constant enmity toward the United States Govern- ment, doing all in his power for its overthrow ; to baffle its designs, to refuse submission and renounce all allegiance, and to obey the church authorities, and no other. Curses the most frightful, penalties the most barbarous), accompany the obligation, to add to its binding efficacy, and to insure secrecy. A new sign, grip, &c., complete the Second Degree of the Melchisedec Pnesthood."] John. You are the children of the Most High, endued with powers and blessings. Your robes of righteousness, which you must henceforth wear, in token of your covenants, are on the wrong shoulder, and none but God's priesthood can set them right. [The robes are changed to the otfier shoulder, and the candidates are stationed in a circle, around the altar.] Peter. Little children, you are now chosen of God to carry on his mighty work, and He, through his servant, will teach you how to pray, that your supplications may reach the eter- nal throne, and call down an immediate ans\ver. [Peter kneels on his right knee, takes hold of the hand of one of the standing brethren, all of whom are united by a fantastic intertwining of hands, and prays slowly, all repeat- ing his words after him :] THE ENDOWMENT. 279 ** O, God, ruler of the celestial world, we have this day taken upon ourselves covenants and powers from thy hand. ^Jake us faithful to those covenants ; and if we obey not thy commands, let thy curses descend upon our heads. Make us quick to hear and obey Gud's servants in the holy priest- hood, and if we ever divulge anything tiiat we have received, let the curses this day pronounced, fall upon our heads. Make us faitliful in Zion and in the upbuilding of her cause, and at last receive us into thy celestial kingdom, with all tlie gifts, powers, and blessings this day pronounced upon the faithful in Israel. Amen. Peter, Brethren, you are now members of the holy orders of God's priesthood. Henceforth you are entitled to all the blessings and privileges of the same. [The enduwees, fitted for Heaven and celestial glory, pa-^s *' behind the vail," n new name is whispered very softly and quickly to each ; certain marks, resembling the Masotiic square and compass, are cut in the under garment, on the left breast ; also a similar one on the knee. The candidates are then ushered into the full light and glory of the celestial kingdom. The brethren turn back to the vail, and admit their wives, whose garments are marked in a similar manner.] SCENE III. The Celestial Kingdom. Jn the centre of this apartment is an altar, nicely cushioned^ with a cushioned ledge to kneel upon. The men kneel upon one side and the women upon the other, each brother hold' ing the hand of his wife, also of the woman to whom he is to be sealed, with the patriarchal grip. The ceremony of sealing for eternity then commences. Eloheim. Children of Earth, you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and the power of my holy priesthood You have been faithful unto the end, and shall now receive a crown of glory. In like manner as I gave Eve unto your father Adam, while he was yet pure and holy, I give unto IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // O ^ .^, # A* ^ 4(s 4^ ^ 1.0 I.I ut lU 12.2 £ Lfi 12.0 Uft • m\^^ ^ 6" ^ Photographic Sdences CorpoTEition 33 WBT MAM STHIT WI1STII,N.Y. USM (n*)S72-4S03 ^/ 280 THE ENDOWMENT. you wives and children, that you may be Gods in your soason, and that worlds may be peopled by your posterity. [Each candidate is asked the usual question:^, and after the answers have been received, Eloheim proceeds :] Because of your faithfulness in all these things, I seal upon you the blessings of the Holy Resurrection, with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, tflothed with glory, immortality, and eternal lives ; and I seal upon you the blessings of thrones and dominions, and principali- des, and powers, and exaltations ; together with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and say unto you, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity, in the day of the Lord Jesus. All these blessings, together with all other blessings pertain- ing to the new and everlasting covenant, I seal upon your heads, and enjoin your faithfulness unto the end. [The candidates dress, get a lunch, and return to the *' celestial kingdom " to hear a lecture by Kimball, explanatory of the whole scheme. The signs, tokens, marks, and idetu are many of them taken from the Masonic Order. " The in tention of the mystery is to teach unlimited obedience to Brigham, and treason against the country."] It CHAPTER XIV. tRIGHAM AS GRAND ARGIIEE OF THE ORDER OF THE GODS. Organization of the Order of the Archees.— The Grand Archees. — The Archees. — The Duuites. — Organissntion of Bri^hain's Celestial King dom. — Doctrine of Adoption. — Case of Dr. Sprague. — Description of Leading Danites: Bill Hickinun, Porter Rockwell, Robert T. Burton. — Affidavits. — Recent Attacks on Emigrant Trains. " There on that throne, to which the blind belief Of millions raised him, sat the Prophet Chief. On either side, with ready hearts and hands, His chosen guard of bold believers, stands; Young fire-eyed disputants, who deem their swords On points of faith more eloquent jthan words; And such their zeal, there 's not a youth with brand Uplifted there, but, at the Chief's command, Would make his own devoted heart its sheath. And bless the lips that doom'd so dear a death." The Order of the Danites has been, for many years, an established institution in the Mormon Church. Brigham and his two Counsellors form the First Pres- idency of this Order, under the style of Gods, or Grand Archees. Tiiese are, at present, Young, Kimball, and Wells, A few, also, of the Apostles, hold the rank of Grand Archees. These have the power of life and death. Next in importance, is a body of men called Archees. They are entitled to sit in Council with the Gods or Grand Archees, in n^atters relating to the taking of life. This " Quorum," as it is called, also includes some of the Bishops and Presidents of other quorums in the church. Their office is to examine cases of offenders thought to require a sum- mary disposal, and submit the result of such examination to 282 BRIGHAM AS GRAND ARCHEE tlio Grand Arcliees. In some cases, where the utmost dis- cretion is required, they act as agents and swift- winged mes- sengers, to carry into effect the decrees of the Gods. The Archees have discretionary and independent power over the lives of all gentiles and " apostates." Next in rank are the Danites, whose office is to assist the Archees in the execution of their bloody deeds. These are formed into bands of fifty men each. One band, at least, belongs to each Archee, they serving under him as minute- men. These " Danite Bands " are generally composed of inferior officers and teachers, constables, and policemen, and those wlio, having committed heinous crimes, as murder, thett, adultery, &c., would sooner be sworn to serve in this bloody office, than have their deeds exposed and receive their justly merited punishment. The officers in all these grades are solemnly sworn to secrecy, and to the duties of their respective offices, on pain of instant death. Where the danger of discovery is imminent, and the matter in hand too important to be trusted to the Danites, the Archees meet and perform the dirty work themselves; as in the case of Secretary Babbett, Brewer, and the unlucky attempt on Dr. Hurt. In other cases, the Danites are called upon ; instance the Parishes, Potter, Bowman, Mountain Meadows, &c The Danites are also expected to act as spies upon the federal officers and other gentiles ; to watch the feelings and spirits of the saints, and to report the first indications of disaffection. Such cases are at once attended to, and if they are deemed of a dangerous character, are summarily disposed of. The spoil is divided, one half going to the Grand Archees, and the other half to the Archees and Danites who are em- ployed in the commission of the crime. When Judge Cradlebaugh attempted to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mountain-Meadow Massaci'e, and OF THE ORDER OF THE GODS. 283 various other crimes, several bishops and many other lead* mg Mormons fled to the mountains, where they remained 8everal weeks. Their place of refuge they named " Mount Kolob," which means " the residence of the Gods." The remark is frequently made in Utah, — " Brigham is the only God I care ad — about." The deep meaning of this is only to be explained by reference to this organized system of crime, taken in connection with the organization of the *♦ celestial kingdom." The theory is, that Brigham Young is a God in embryo. That he is laying the foundation here for a celestial king- dom. That there will be created for him a world, which his posterity will inhabit, and of which he will be the King and God. Hb kingdom will be constituted as follows : — > 1st. Himself as God. 2d. His wives as Goddesses and Queens, each ruling her own posterity, with Brigham as husband and God. Sd. His sons and their families. 4th. The daughters, by the celestial law, would, when married, pass out of their father's kingdom, and be added to the husbands'. To obviate this diffic^ulty, every man who marries one of the President's daughters, is obliged to be adopted by and sealed to his father-in-law. The daughter is thus retained to augment her father's kingdom, by the addition of her family. This is one reason why female chil- dren are so lightly esteemed in Utah. They cannot add to the father's glory, but must go to glorify others. 5th. Many young men who have no families, and there- fore no kingdoms, are sealed to Brigham, to add to his celes- tial glory, — in some instances, also, men of families, who have not ambition enough to a'«pire to kingdoms of their own. This relationship pertains to this world as well as to the next. Brigham heiromes a father to them here, supports them if necessary, and demands their respect and obe- dience. 284 BRIGHAM AS GRAND ARCHEE A case recently occurred in Salt Lake, which fully illna- trates the power which Young exercises over this class of his subjects. Dr. Sprague, an Eastern man, has been at Salt Lake about twelve years. During most of that time he has officiated in the Endowment House, in the washings and anointings. He ha$ also had charge of the Tabernacle, and acted as family physician to the inmates of the Harem. He has a wife and two children. His son is on a mission, and the daughter, a little girl of thirteen, is an invalid. Mrs. Sprague is a model New-England housewife. She has toiled early and late to procure the comforts, and some of the luxuries of life. By the most persevering eifort, they at length succeeded in building a beautiful house, and Doctor Sprague's garden is the prettiest in Salt Lake. The family removed to their new residence in the fall of 1862, and had but just furnished it. By the Mormon law of adoption, the property of the adopted child belongs to the father, or is under his control. Dr. Sprague is the adopted son of Brigham Young. His whole property is worth not less than $10,000. Mrs. Emeline Free Young has been very melancholy since Brigham married Amelia. Her health continued to decline until it was thought advisable to remove her from the Lion House, the scene of her joys and sorrow, and situate her more pleasantly. Accordingly one day Brigham called on Dr. Sprague and wife, and coolly told them that he wanted their place for three or four years, for Emeline, until he could build her one. At the end of that time they could have it again, and in the mean time they could live in the house for- merly occupied by J. M. Grant, which he would have re- paired for their use. The husband and wife were astonished and confounded at this request, and Mrs. Sprague, under the first impulse of her indignation, said " she did not relish the idea of giving up her house to people who read novels every day." " Very 80. OF THE ORDER OF THE GODS. 285 well,** replied the Prophet, ** if you prefer to incur my dis- pleasure rather than to let me have your home, you can do 80.'* With tins he left them. « The Doctor and hia wife began thinking the matter over. It would never do to incur the displeasure of Brother Brig- ham. He was their father in this world, and their God in the celestial kingdom. Then the Doctor was advancing in years, and should he lose his situation in the Endowment House and Tabernacle, where would be (he support for him- self and family in his declining years ? He had served hi tates preached from the pulpit, particularly during the year 185C, when, for several months, I scarcely attended meeting without hearing such preaching. Tliey would say, * If you find a man with his throat cut, pay no attention to it.' " At one time, my life was threatened by a Danitc, and his in- tention to take my life was sanctioned at a meeting, by the Bishop and authorities. No cause was alleged, except a trivial remark made by my wife, reflecting slightly on one of the First Presidents. The remark hud been exaggerated and attributed to me, and «. OF THE ORDER OF THE GODS. 289 although it was fully explained, I was followed and threatened for over a year. At that time my wife and myself were members of the Mormon Church, in good standing. " In December, 1857, Bishop Abiah Wadsworth, of East Weber Ward, gave permission to his friends to steal cattle for beef, from gentile merchants, and aided them in so doing. In caiTying on these operations, they took cattle belonging to Mormons who had purchased them of gentile merchants. Having the brand of those merchants upon them, it was supposed they belonged to gentiles. The taking of the Mormon cattle gave rise to a church meeting to investigate the affair. I was present at that meeting. The result was, that those who had taken cattle which were proved to belong to Mormons, should pay for them. It was also determined at the same meeting, that those who had taken cattle belonging nt about three miles. There we struck the old California Road, which passes by the City of Rocks. Just before reaching the road, we came to a large camping-ground, or corral, covering about an acre. " Here we saw rifle-pits and entrenchments, and some half a dozen ox-yokes, — also bones of cattle. We then proceeded east, on the same road, some three or four miles, where we found a wagon-bed, — also a letter written by a man named Bradley, and directed to Indianola, Warren County, Iowa. About half a mile farther, we found a small provision-box. [This statement was made at a camp on Snake River, a few days after Veatch and his party had passed the scene of the massacre.] We also found a Bible, a copy of Wesley's Sermons, and a large Testament. These books were pretty well decayed. Some of them we still hKn» Also a volume entitled • The VVide, Wide World.' " About seventy-five yards farther, we found two graves of grown persons ; no names on them. They had the appearance of being last year's graves. AVe then drove four or fivo miles, and camped near a creek emptying into Rafl River. " Next morning, afler going about two mill's, we came to where five or six wagons had been corralled. Here featlicr-beds had been opened, and feathers scattered; many were still matted on the ground. There was an old chair or two partly burned ; also a chest, with the hinges torn off, and the lock broken open. Also several books ; a spelling-book, Bible, melodeon note-books, etc. Also 'The Journeyings of the Children of Israel.' The name of James H. Smith was in the Bible and another book ; that of Caro- line Smith in another. [Some of these books are now in the writer's possession.] " There were also the bones of twelve or fifteen head of cattle, which must have been killed last summer. The^c were signs of men having been there within a few days. There is no emigra* tion on the road this season ; but there were the fresh tracks of three wagons, — mule and horse teams. " About three fourths of a mile beyond this place, we crostsed the creek. There I saw three or four skull-bones. Others of the company saw more of them. At this place a skeleton was found, nearly complete. A little farther on, we found a cust-Iron cook- OF THE ORDER OF THE QODS. 291 ing stove, broken in pieces. Men had lately been at this place. A handful of buckshot vras found. " Near the junction of this with the Oregon road, we saw two graves, — one of a man from Keokuk, Iowa, buried in Au«!ust, 1862; the other, of a lady 23 years of age, named k. J. Adams, and marked, * Shot by Indians on the 9tb, and died on the 12th of August, 1862.' ** Fourteen wagon-tires and a twelve-pound cannon-ball were found at this place. We carried the ball to our camping-ground, and there left it. " Two young men, Francis Kelsey and Harrison Edwards, told as, that when they went down, about five weeks ago, they saw two wagons nearly complete, at the place where we noticed the wagon-bed, but when we passed, they were gone. *' I know that a train went from Newbern, Iowa, starting about the llth of May, 1862, bound for Oregon. George Leeper, from that train, was killed by Indians. A train from Indianola, Iowa, wai attacked by Indians last summer, their property taken, and leveral of their number killed and wounded. The survivors were assisted back to Salt Lake City, by the Mormons. John Gamble, of Knoxville, Iowa, can give further information concerning this matter; also Kev. Joseph Howard, Newbern, Marion County, Iowa." Statement of W. F. Lawrence. " I am from Appanoose County, Iowa. At our first camp, after striking the Oregon Koad, I saw three wagons approaching ; they were going eastward. A man from the wagons came to our camp. He was a short, thick-set person, with light complexion, light hair, and full, round face, considerably freckled ; downcast look. He said he was from the outside settlements of Salt Lake, near Love- lands, and was out here gathering up old irons. Said they came to a place on Snake River, where they could walk across on the rocks, but did not dare to go farther, for fear the Indians would steal their horses. Said his party consisted of three white men and one Ute Indian, whom they had brought along to recover their horses, should the Indians steal them. ** He asked if they could camp with us ; and being told they could, said he would go up and drive the wagons down ; but in- stead of doing so, the party went off* in a direction which would be twenty miles to water, — and this was near sundown. 24 292 BBIGHAM AS GRAND AKCHEE. " The night before, a man had been amon'r our cattle anrl »!.-.. .»r guide cried • H.1. . • h. „„ .ff U,w.rd*.hT,S^» •^'Ji:^ CHAPTER XV. RECENT EVENTS. — CONCLUSION. Personal Appearance and Character of Brigham Young. — Hia Aims and Purposes. — Solution of tlie Mormon Question. — New Complications. — Military Reviews of Mormons. — Governor Durkee. — Counteracting In- fluences. — The Minos and Miners. — Rev. Norman McLeod. — The "Salt Lake Vedette." — Administration of General Connor. — Murder of Brassfield. — Order of Young for the Expulsion of the Gentiles. — Order for the ISIurder of Eighty Men. — Difficulties concerning the Public Lands. — Murder of Dr. Robinson. — The Gentiles flee in Terror. — The Government fails to protect its Officers and Citizens. — The Hero of Three Wars of the Republic hunted through the Territory'. — Rev. Mr. McLeod warned not to return to Utah. — The Reign of Terror com- menced. — The Gentiles call for Help. Brigham Young is a man of medium hei;;ht, compact frame, with a manner deliberate and impressive. There is less of ostentation, however, in his bearing toward strangers than might be expected in a religious pretender. His hair is sandy, and inclined to curl ; features regular, and expres- sive of great determination. In converiiation he is pleasant and affable, but is restive under the slightest contradiction or opposition. Strangers are favorably impressed with the first visit to his office. They go to see and hear, and Brigham looks well and is a good talker. He has talent, and is not destitute of genius ; when, therefore, he is master of the field, and has the choice of topics, ho never fails to make himself interesting, if so disposed. Indeed, is it not in itself interesting to see and hear the Mohammed of America ? His early education was very limited, and his sermons are illiterate. But in that most important of all fields of educa- tion, a knowledge of mankind and of human nature, he is III 294 RECENT EVENTS. proficient. It is true, that even herft he Fometimes grossly errs in Iiis estimate of men. This is because his experience is mostly confined to certain phases of human nature. In those pliases he is an adept. Outside of them, he brings to bear a strong judgment, upon a limited range of facts, and if he misses the conclusion, he has tlie tact to retrieve his error as speedily as possible. He has no pride of consistency, which conflicts in the slightest degree with the accomplishment of his purposes. If necessary to attain his ends, he is one thing to- day, and another to-morrow, and all in the name of the Lord ! Much has been* said as to his sincerity in his religious pro- fessions and belief. In his younger days he may have been sincere ; doubtless Avas. The character of his religion, and the degree of his sincerity, at the present time, may be in- ferred from the following incident. A physician at Salt Lake was urged by Brigham to join the church. He had lived in the city several yeare, and was doing a good business, and it was pressed upon him as a re- ciprocal duty. The Doctor, like too many of his profession, was tainted with infidtdity. " I would n't mind joining your church," said he, " but I don't believe in your religion. In fact," he added, with emphasis, " I don't believe in anj) religion." " Oh," replied Brigham, " that don't make any difference. Come and be baptized, and it will all be right ! " The Doctor tons baptized, and became a good enough Mor- mon. He received as his reward, from the hand of Brigham, a beautiful young lady as a "second wife." Young's talent is all of a practical character, — hi<* shrewd- ness is ever ready to extricate him from any ditiiculty or emergency. As a financial and political leader, he is far superior to Joseph Smith. As a relgious leader, he is much his inferior. Smith was bravo ; Young is cowardly. Smith was enthusiastic and impetuous, while Young is cool and ctil- culating. Brigham is a good speaker. Oratory, however, lie usea as a means to accomplish certain ends ; and he seldom, even when most excited, says anything that has not its object. CONCLUSION. 205 His manner in the pulpit U imprf ssive nnd authoritativo ; and he sometimes ri^^es to a high degree of eloquence. His illustrations ai'e apt, liis sentences frequently pungent and sarcastic. He is lamentably deficient in moral sense. No falsehood stajTgers him, no blasphemy shocks hini. Why, then, should he hesitate at the perpetration of any crime which will con- dutre to the accomplishment of his life-purpose. Even the traveller Burton, his admirer and panngyrist, thus frankly expresses his doubts as to this phase of his character : " I cannot pronounce about his scrupulousness ; all the world over, the sincerest religious belief, and the practice of devo- tion, are sometimes compatible not only with the most dis> orderly life, but with thw most terrible crimes; for mankind mostly bidleves that '7/ est avec le ceil des accomodements* He has been called hypocrite, swindler, forger, murderer. No one looks it less." This is, perhaps, true ; but therein lies his hypocrisy. We have already shown that polygamy originated in the pas>ions and lusts of himself and followers, and was after- ward reduced to a system and promulgated as part of the Mormon religion. So with other phases of the system. The Cele^^tial Kingdom, the Grand Archee, the Prophet, the Seer, the Revelator, — all tend to stdf and self-aggrandizement. Everything must yield and become subservient to the pur- poses of his unholy ambition. Principles, conscience, the moral sense, Christianity, the divine brotherhood of man, human liberty and republican institutions, the sa- cred associations of the home-fireside and of the family altar, all the thrilling sentiment and ennobling effect of love, the purity and fidelity of the marrisige relation, all the rights of property and life, all the relations of man to God, — yea, God himself, with all the machinery of Heaven and the spiritual world, including angels, spirits, and demons, — are brought under contribution to this one man, and made to revolve about him, — a confused constellation of chaotic ele- ments from the mental and moral world. Neither social nor 296 RECENT EVENTS. political restraint does he recognize. Setting himself above all law, human and divine, he becomes a law to himself and his deluded followers. How long this state of things is to last, how big this God- defying creature is yet to swell ere he is checked in his tyrannical and blasphemous career, how long this; theocratic monarchy is to stand in the centre of the Republic, remains to be seen. But the question will be asked, " Is there any remedy other than by the strong hand? And would not that increase rather than diminish the number of his followers ? Whether there can be any peaceful solution of the question is doubt- ful. Inflamed by power, blinded by ambition, he will not tamely submit to the laws and the constituted authorities, so long as he has thousands of obedient followers around him, ready to move as a single man at his word of command. The only hope of a peaceful result lies in the gradual as- similation of the "gentile" with the Mormon element. A wonderful change is already in progress in this respect, Ciiused by the presence of United States volunteers, the influx of miners, and the preaching of true religion. Tliis is seen by Young, who already trembles, as he turns his thoughts into the future. Fearful that the migration of miners into the Territory would tend to lessen his power, and desirous of removing the government troops from Camp Douglas, he spent several months in the spring of 1864, in inducing the farmers to unite in raising the price of their produce, and enlisting the people generally in favor of a combination against the gen- tiles. To the same end he has been laboring for years. On Monday, the 8th of August, 1864, a Convention of Delegates from the several Wards in the Territory assem- bled, in accordance with this scheme and by direction of the " President," at the Tabernacle, in Great Salt Lake City, to adopt measures for the establishment of the prices of produce upon a gold basis. The scheme signally failed. Temporarily, supplies for the I CONCLUSION. 297 troops were brought across the Plains, and were purchased as they could be had. But General Connor more than hint- ed that if this plan should be persisted in, what supplies he could not purchase at a fair price with the currency of the country, he would take. This had the desired effect, and after some further spasmodic efforts, this attempt to lay an embargo upon the traffic of the people with the Government, was abandoned. This meeting, like every other in Utah, merely gave ex- pression to the preconceived views and preconcerted meas- ures of the leader.s. No steps were taken to raise the wages of the mechanic or laborer. Brigham denounced the me- chanics bitterly, because they were opposed to raising the price of produce, calling them a parcel of thieves and rascals. Ho indulged in a tirade of abuse and vulgar language, unfit for publication. This may be cited as one of the instances in which he misjudged human nature. By espousing the interests of one class against those of the other, instead of attempting to reconcile them, he introduced a new element of discord into his already inharmonious kingdom. Two of the delegates at the meeting had sufRcieut manly dignity and moral courage to plead the cause of the mechanic and laborer ; also of the poorer class generally ; showing the amount of misery and suffering that would be entailed upon tliem by the adoption of the proposed measures. To which Young replied, in a tone of sarcasm and contempt, that even if he were to build houses for the poor, and provide them with all the necessaries and comforts of life, they would not be satisfied unless they had free admission to his house and the privilege of listening to his daughters playing on the piano. The fact that leading Mormons were found to vindicate the people, notwithstanding the degraded condition which such language implies, and openly to oppose Young's measures in a public meeting, is a hopeful one, and of deep significance. In pursuance of the same policy of segregation of the 298 RECENT EVENTS. faithful, and preparatory to the accomplishment of his am- bitious schemes, Young has established a system of militia training and reviews, uouBiied exolu -lively to Mormons. This system he sedulously fo!>ters and muiiitains, commanding the Mormon militia as Governor of the State of Deseret. On the 2d of November, 1865, such a review was held on the plains of Salt Lake Valley, near the Jordan River. On that occasion Governor Durkee, who had lately arrived in the Territory as the successor of the lamented Doty, visited the Mormon troops and marched in a procession headed by Brigham Young. The Organic Act of Utah makes the Governor the Comraander-in-Ciiief of the Militia, and it would seem to have been more consonant with the spirit of that provision, and more conservative of the dignity of his position, to have headed tlie procession, or if not permitted to do so, to have dispersed it as an illegal assemblage. General Connor, who has lately returned to Salt Lake from a brilliant Indian campaign, is the military commander of the Department of Utah. He does not look with favor upon the marshalling of military forces composed exclusively of Mormons, and considers such gatherings but little better than displays of rebels in arms. The progress of events will soon determine whether the military organization of the Mormon militia is conducive to loyalty and good order, or to anarchy and rebellion. Notwithstanding these attempts to organize and national- ize his followers, there are, within the dominions of Brigham Young, and among the masses of his adherents, various con- flicting elements, furnishing hopeful indications to the states- man and the lover of his country. It may reasonably be expected that Young will soon appear to the deluded people in his true character; not as a branch of the Divinity, but as a selfish, corrupt, ambitious, and very dangerous man. To this end, every attempt to enlighten and disabuse them, should be encouraged, and such changes in the Organic Act should be made as may be necessary to protect the rights of CONCLUSION. 299 gentiles resident in the Territory. The extraordinary juris- diction now exercised by the Probate Courts should be taken away and limited to the District Courts. The Governor should not only be authorized, but required to take the leader- ship and control of the militia of the Territory. The laws of Congress against polygamy should be rigidly enforced. Mor« mon postmasters and other Mormon federal officers should )H removed. These and kindred measures should be adopted ind enforced, until the authority of the Federal Government ihall be fully vindicated and acknowledged. Among the agencies already at work to accomplish this desirable end, and to redeem Utah from her enthralment, may be mentioned the discovery of mines of precious metals, and the large influx of miners, — the preaching not only of a purer Mormon faith, under the auspices of Joseph Smith Jr., but the promulgation of the Gospel itself, and of the principles of Christianity in their purity, by Rev. Norman McLeod, a Congregational minister of great boldness and talent, who is now firmly established in the Territory, — the extended and controlling influence of the " Union Vedette," a daily and weekly paper published at Salt Lake City, and edited with ^n ability which is but a synonym for immense moral, intellectual, and political power, — and above all, the military administration of General Connor, who, by the dis- creet but firm hand with which he has held a check upon the movements of unprincipled church leaders, by the establish- ment and support of the journal just mentioned, and by the encouragement given to gentiles and disaffected Mormons, hrts done more to undermine and overthrow the whole system of Mormonism than all other influences combined ! Much is to be expected from the discovery of valuable mines of gold, silver, and copper, in various locsilitles in Utah. Already mining camps have been established, mining com- panies formed, and villages and settlements of miners ai'e sprintving up in different directions. In Rush Valley, west of the Oquirrh, or West Mountain, altout forty miles southwest 25 800 RECENT EVENTS. from Salt Lake City, is a flourishing mining town called Sto 'kton, which has been built entirely since the winter of 18f»3-4. The mines in this valley are good, and are attract- ing much attention abroad. Over fifty ledges have been dis- covered, which pro'pect well in gold and silver. In Cotton- wood Canyon copper mines have been discovered yiehling 75 per cent, of pure ore. Extensive arrangements have bten made for bringing on machinery, building mills &c. It has steadily been the policy of Brigham to discourage prospecting, and to'prevent, if possible, the opening of these mines to the gentile public. It has long been known that Buch mines existed, not only from the whisperings and tra- ditions of dissatisfied saints, but by the boastings of Young himself, whose vanity would not permit him to be entirely silent upon a subject so well calculated to magnify his own importance. On one occasion he said to Bishop Simpson, ''I can stand in my door and see plenty of gold and silver." These hidden riches, thank God, have been brought to light. Minera are flocking in by thousands, and their rights will be protected, if necessary, by the strong arm of a strong government. Morraonism must soon give way before the advancing tide of American civilization. Brigham Young, with his band of desperadoes, may not much longer despise and trample upon our laws, and outrage the rights of our people. If he is to be permitted to continue his system of heathen polygamy, ho will be obliged to leave the Republic he has discarded and would have overthrown, and fleeing from the scenes of his impieties and his crimes, set up his kingdom in some new refuge, — perchance in the Sandwich Islands, which have long been one Of the stakes of Zion. The events of the la>t two years have not been of a char- acter to inspire confidence either in Young and his associates, or in the policy, or rather want of policy, of the government, in coinu.etion with the iiffiir.s of that Territory. The same CONCLUSION. 801 Kpirit of lawlessness and violence which has marked the eniire history of the Territory still prevails. Partially re- pressed for a few years, and kept in check by the determina- tion and known bravery of General G)nnor and his officers, it has now, since their retirement from the service and the withdn. 'ill of nearly all the military stationed at Camp Douglas, broken out more fiercely than ever. The disbanding of the volunteers was immediately followed by denunciations of the gentiles, and threats and warnings of every description. A letter containing the representation of a bloody hand was sent to the " Vedette " office. Anonymous communications were frequently received by leading gentile citizens. Fiery and vehement declamation was indulged in from the rostrum ; and the prophecy was frequently made that in a few months not a gentile would be left in the Territory. Yet that class of proscribed citi- zens kept on in the even tenor of their way ; the " Vedette " appeared as usual, always bold and determined in its opposi- tion to the wrong and injustice prevailing around it. There was danger that the prophets would be brought into disrepute and contempt. At this juncture, it having been determined " in council ** that a blow should be struck, the community was startled by the announcement of one of the most atrocious murders re- corded in history. On the evening of the second of April, 1865, Squire Newton Brassfield, a resident of Austin, Nevada, temporarily residing in Salt Lake, was shot down in the streets while in the company of the United States Mar.-hal. and under his protection. The particulars, as well as the pretext for this bloody murder, are fully given in the following editorials taken from the " Salt Lake Vedette," of April 4th, 1865 : — " Wo are called upon this morning to chronicle one of the most cold-blooded and inhuman murders that has ever fallen under our notice — unparalleled even in the blDo«ly record of Utah's foulest crimes. The victim of this last exhibition of the hellish doctrine ■ % 802 RECENT EVENTS. of * blood atonement,' promulgated by these fiends of hell fWrni the rostrum of their Tabernacle, is Squire Newton Brassfield, late a resident of Austin, Nevada, by business a freighter, and aged about thirty years. The circumstances which led to his murder are briefly as follows : — *' On the evening of the 27th ult. Mr. Brassfield was married by Judge McCurdy, of the Supreme Court, to Mary, second wife of A. N. Hill, a Mormon missionary now in Europe. A short time afler the marriage, Brassfild went with his wife to her late residence to get her clothes and household goods which had been packed up ready for removal. While there he was arrested by the city police, charged with resisting an officer^ and lodged all night in the county jail. The next morning he was taken before the Probate Court to answer the charge, and bound over in the sum of five hundred dollars to await the action of the Grand Jury. The next day two indictments were brought against him, one on the charge above named, and the other for lan^eny, — for being present and assisting in taking away his wife's goo<]s and clothing. He gave bail in the sum of one thousand dollars. On Monday last his counsel, Major C. H. Hempstead, quashed the indictment for resisting an officer, and proceeded to trial 6n the charge of larceny. The trial was not concluded when the court adjourned on Mon- day, and was to have been continued on the following day. **■ The wife had two children, one nine and the other five years of age. About these children a contest was evident — Mrs. Brass- field claiming them, and the friends of Hill being determined to keep them from her. The mother obtained a writ of habeas cor- pus from Judge McCurdy, and the Hill party from the Probate Court, each claiming the right to the custody of the children. The writ of Judge McCurdy was firat executed, and a hearing held by him last Saturday night. Major Hempstead argued the case for the petitioner, and claimed that as Hill. had a wife living at the time of his alleged marriage with Mrs. Brassfield, it was illegal and void, and that, as there was no legal father, the mother was entitled to the custody of the minor children. Thus the legality of polygamous marriages was made a direct issue in the case. Judge Snow appeari>d ngainst the petitioner and in the capacity of Deputy Attorney-General of the Territory, and desired further time to prepare the case of the defendant, and the hearing waa continued until Monday evening at seven o'clock. CONCLUSION. 803 " At that hour the house was crowded, the friends of both parties being present in large numbers. AAer a few preliminary remarks and tlie filing of some papers by Judge Snow, the hear- ing was again adjourned until Wednesday morning at ten o'clock. The children in the mean time had been committed to the custody of the United States Marshal, Hosmer, until further orders of the court, and on Monday the writ fram the Probate Court watt served on him, when he appeared before Judge Smith and stated that he held the children by order of Judge McCurdy, and de- clined to produce them in that court, when he was threatened with an attachment for contempt, and warned that unless he pro- duced the children he would be imprisoned in the county Jail ! The Probate Court of Salt Lake, imprisoning a United States Marshal, for obeying an order of the Supreme Court! Our readers can make their own comments. " Thus stood the several phases of the case at the adjournment of Judge McCurdy's court on Monday evening. The court ad- journed at about half-past eight o'clock, and on his way home, and while in company with the United States Marshal, Hosmer, Mr. Brassfield was shot and killed ; adding another to the long list of victims of Mormon ' law ' and Mormon * justice.' " " STATEMENT OF MARSHAL HOSMER. " About half-past eight o'clock on Monday evening, the second instant, I was accompanying Mr. Brassfield home to the National Hotel from Independence Hall. As we turned the corner by the small building west of the hotel, a man who stood between the bay-window and door of that building advanced one step from the comer and fired at Mr. Brassfield, the shot taking effect in his arm and side ; four buck-shot entered the arm, one striking the elbow joint and breaking the arm. The fifth shot, which was much larger than the others, entered his right side. When the gun was fired Mr. Brassfield fell, and said, ' O my God ! I am shot ! ' He was carried into the International Hotel, where he lingered in agony about forty-five minutes and then expired. The assassin, after firing, ran across the street, and turning the corner by the theatre, continued in a northerly direction. As he passed the St. Charles Restaurant, he was fired at twice by a policeman. I lost sight of him as he turned the corner of the theatre." 804 RECENT EVENTS. "THK FERLINO AMONG TIIR PROPLK. **It would be useless to deny the fuct that in the opinion of tho gentile community of this city, the killing of Mr. Brossfield was a deliberately planned scheme, concocted and advised by men high in authonty in the Mormon Church. It is a reminder of the days that were, and a foretaste of what will be again * when the troops are removed.' The community is struck dumb at the appalling audacity of the affair. Men say but little, but the lowering brows anrritory during the last four years, whence I have recently arrived in your city. While en route, and since my arrival in 'America' — for so the gentiles are aeuustomed to call the Eastern States — I have ob- served a great and universal interest existing on all hands con- cerning affairs amonj; the Mormons. " As early as last spring threats were made by the Mormon au- thorities toward certain parties, not Mormons, then doing busi- ness of one kind or another in Salt Lake City, looking to the forcible entry of their premises and the destruction of property without due process of law. These threats were of a general character, and it was believed that, under cover of breaking up certain places where disreputable business was carried on, it was the intention to destroy other establishments of a different charac- ter, but interfering: with certain monopolies of the city and chureh patriarchs. To prevent this, the local military commander, under constructive orders from (xen. Sherman, called upon Brigham Young to exact a promise that no violence should be done to pri- vate property without due process of law, which, at\er some husi- N CONCLUSION. 307 tation, was obtained. Matters progressed smoothly until the ad- journment of Congress, for, fearing the effect on that body of any violent measures inaugurated against gentiles, Brigham kept his promise strictly. But no sooner did the telegraph flash across the continent the announcement of the adjournment of Congress, than his pent-up wrath broke forth, and he oiienly urged the policy of violence toward the gentiles. With regard to the public lands, he said repeatedly that he owned land, and plenty of it, and any man who attempted to 'jump' the same should have *a pre- emption title which would last till the resurrection.' This was called forth by the fact that a number of locations had already been made by discharged soldiers and others upon unoccupied land lying along the west bank of the Jordan Uiver, contiguous to Salt Lake City, and there was considerable talk of many others following in the same course, induced by the prospective coming of the Pacific Railroad, and a desire to obtain as eligible situations for homes convenient thereto as possible. But the idea of allow- ing gentiles to settle in any considerable numbers in the vicinity of Mormon communities is totally at variance with the well-un- derstood policy of the leaders, and must, therefore, be prevented by every possible means — else, what would become of polygamy ? Hence the hostility of Brigham Young to any such scheme as they contemplated, for in it he scented danger to his favorite in- stitution, and hence, too, his threat of death to ' land jumpers.' " Now the fact is that there has never been, to my knowledge, one foot of land ^jumped* in Utah; in other words, no loca- tions whatever have been made or attempted by gentiles except upon totally unoccupied lands. But, in violation of the Territo- rial organic act, the Legislative Assembly of Utah has, from time to time, granted away to Brigham Young, and others, certain val- uable timber and tracts of arable lands for a nominal considera- tion, and it is to protect these from gentile intrusion, as well as for reasons already stated, that a reign of terror has been inaugu- rated. ** As earlv as last August, the writer of this article called atten- tion, in the columns of the ' Salt Lake Vedette,' to the threats being made by the Mormon Head Centre to inflame the passions' of hia followers, predicting the result which has already been reached, and putting his language on record, that it might be known who should be held responsible when the event transpired. 808 RECENT EVENTS. " On the niglit of Septouiber 24th occurred the Jordan outragOt in which a number of land preemptors were atta(;ked about mid- niglit by a gang of some forty or fiity ruffians, disguised and armed, and flagrantly abused, their houses destroyed, tiieinselves thrown into the river, and their lives only saved by a promise to leave the Territory within forty-eight hours. One in attempting to get away, was fired upon and wounded, but eifected his escape — very fortunately for the entire party beyond a doubt, for there can be little question that the original purpose was to put them all out of the way, which would certainly have been accomplished had any of the forty or fifty shots fired at the fugitive taken fatal effect. The better nature of some of the party prevailed over the malig- nant influence of the master whom they served, and a greater degree of vigilance and energy ? ♦' 2. Would the attention of the 4000 people who assembled at the * Tabernacle ' (where secular aflfairs are oi^en discussed) on the succeeding Sabbath have been called to the crime and ex- horted to use every eifort to ferret out the assassins ? " 3. Could any prominent Mormon be murdered under the same circumstances and no clew whatever found to the murderer ? '^ 4. Would any portion of the five hundred special police have been called into requisition or ordered on duty ? '* 5. Would any of the numerous witnesses who saw the assas- sins fleeing from their bloody work, have been able to recognize and name them ? ♦* 6. Have we not utterly failed to prove, afVer full investigation, that Dr. Robinson had a personal enemy in the world, and have we not proved that he had had difUculties with none except the city authorities? " 7. Is there any evidence that he had done anything to make personal enemies, unless it was having the Chief of Police and two others bound over to answer a charge of riot ? " 8. Would lie have been murdered if he had not by his land claim raised a question as to the validity of the city charter ? •' J). Would the ten-pin alley have been destroyed if it had not 1x>en his property, and that he had a suit pending against the city? " 10. Would the Mayor of the city have orderoil him out of his house two days before he was murdered, if he had not under- stooil that h»i claimed damages from the city for the wanton de- struction of his property ? 'Ml. Is it not remarkable that a gang of men could go to a bowling alley, nearly surrounded by houses, within sixty stt^ps of the moat public street in the city, between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock at night, demolish the windows and break up with axes and sledges the alley, and no witnesses found to identify the men or who knew anything whatever about the perpetrators of the act? CONCLUSION. 815 " 12. Arc not the jury satisfied that some witnesses have with- held evidence calculated to fasten guilt upon certain parties, be- cause they feared personal violence ? " IS. Is there not an organized influence hero which prevents the detection and punishment of men who commit acts of vio- lence upon the persons or property of gentiles ? " 14. If a Mormon of good standing had been murdered, would the Mayor, to whom the Chief of Police reports, have been informed of the act before ten o'clock the next day V " 15. Would the Chief of Police have gone to bed as soon as ho heard of the crime, and waited three days before he visited the scene of the murder ? "16. Was the murder committed for the purpose of striking terror into the gentiles and preventing them from settling in this Territory ? " 1 7. Is it the settled policy of the authorities here to prevent citizens of the United States, not Mormons, from asserting their claims to a portion of the public domain in the regularly organ- ized judicial tribunals of the country ? '* 18. Are all legal questions which may arise in this city be- tween Mormons and gentiles to be settled by brute force ? " 19. Do the public teachings of the Tabernacle lead the people to respect and obey the laws of the country, or do they lead to violence and bloodshed V ' " He then referred to the practices and teachings of the Mor- mons and the natural results that flowed from them : — " • Whilst following the practices of some of the patriarchs of old they have also adopted the creed, " An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.** What has been the result of these teachings upon society here ? There are a number of respectable men in this city, some of whom have families, who dare not go upon your streets at night I Nor are they men who are afraid of shadows. They have shown their courage upon the field of battle in defence of the hftnor of the country, and would not shrink from meeting any of them single-handed in the light of day. But they do not choose to meet an organized band of assassins at midnight. They dare not go to your theatre or other public places of amusement. Is it not hard that here, in an American Territory, supposed to be under the protection of our national flag, citizens who have perilled their lives to sustain the supremacy of our laws and the 26 \' 816 RECENT EVENTS. integrity of the "[ovemment, are compelled to remain in their houses at night to escape the hands of murderers ? men who have violated no law, trespassed upon the right of no one, but have simply incurred the displeasure of the dominant party ? Can this state of things be tolerated on American soil ? A' govern- ment which habitually fails to give protection to its people must soon cease to command their confidence or respect. But I do not choose to pursue thi^ subject further. " In this connection, however, I feel called upon to notice the extraordinary efforts wliich have been made and are still being made at the Tabernacle, as well as by the press, to destroy the confidence of the people in the courts established by the Federal Government in this Territory. Judges selected by the govern- ment, because of their lr>gal attainments and sterling integrity, have been sent out here to administer the laws and preserve the peace and order of society. If, in the faithful discharge of their duties under the oath they have taken, they make a decision in conflict with the interests or the opinions of the dominant party, they are bitterly denounced and every effort made to impair their power and lessen their influence. To effect this, slander and rid- icule are generally employed. If a Federal Judge will decide every question which arises between a Mormon and gentile in favor of the former, he can have an easy and quiet time. He can have as much fulsome praise as he deserves. But if he de- cides in favor of the latter, *' uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.'" The murder of Dr. Robinson, following so closely upon that of Brasgfield, and the outrages upon Williamson and his companions, quite unsettled the nerves of those gentiles wlio Jiad had the hardihood to remain, and they now fled in terror from before the face of the infuriated fanatics, to whose ten- der mercies they had been turned over by that government which should have afforded them the fullest protection. The garrison stationed at Camp Douglas, instead of being strengthened as it should have been, had been disbanded and withdrawn, till scarcely a corporal's guard remained; not enough to inspire the least respect for the government or ita representatives. General Connor, whose name had been a CONCLUSION. 817 terror to the ofTender for three years, now found himself an outcast and a refugee, in the land which had so hitely been under his control. Finding his life constantly in danger in Salt Lake City, he removed with his family, a few months after the assassination of Robinson, to Stockton, in Rush Valley, forty miles west of Salt Lake, where he now resides. He is engaged in mining operations, and having considerable capital invested in developing the silver mines in that locality, cannot well leave without much financial sacrifice. His life is in constant danger, as well as that of every anti-Mormon resident of the Territory. The following extract from a letter of General Connor, dated Salt Lake, December 26, 1866, written just before his removal to Stockton, will give some idea of the condition of the Territory at that time : — " Matters are getting worse here. You will see by the * Vedette,* that the merchants have addressed a card to Brigbam Young, in reference to his action in not permitting the people to trade with gentile merchants. Several gentiles established themselves in busi- ness in the outer settlements. Some of them have been ordered to close their stores, and are doing so, and are glad to get away with their lives. '* Of the hundreds who came here to spend the winter, all or nearly all have lefl, and many of the old gentile inhabitants are leaving, or preparing to do so in the spring, if nothing is done for us by Congress or the Administration." The Rev. Mr. McLeod who, previous to the murder of Robinson, had made a visit to the States, was cautioned by his friends, by telegraph, not to return, as his life was in danger.* Many fled the Territory. But a small number remained; 1 Rev. William Roberts, also one of the ablest ministers on the Pacifio coast, was deputed, at the last annual Methodist Conference of Oregon, to act as a missionary at Salt Lake. He proceeded to execute the mission, but after a short stay, returned to his former charge in Idaho, there to remain till such time as American citizens in Utah should be protected in their lives and property. 818 RECENT EVENTS. And from that Spartan band the cry now comes up for Md and protection. Will that cry be heeded by the government of their country ? Or will that same masterly inactivity which hns hitherto characterized the course of the' Federal Government on this subject, still prevail ? This is a question which now demands the serious atten- tion of Congress and of the country. If the Mormons are to remain in the country, it would seem to be time that some system were adopted to enforce the execution of the laws among them. I am aware that the subject is one of some difficulty, but one would suppose that among all those who have been grappling with the great ques- tions of Southern reconstruction, enough statesmanship might be found to devise some efficient mode of protecting life and property in Utah. Let us at least hope the attempt will be made. Am/ TUB warn, ; •« * ft* I J' ^- i.",-