THE MORMON PROPHET

AND

HIS HAREM;

OR,

AN AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG,

HIS

NUMEROUS WIVES AND CHILDREN
MRS. C V. WAITE,

—------" And with a piece of scripture,

Tell them, — that God bids us do good for evil.

And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With old odd ends, stol'n forth of Holy Writ,

And seem a saint, when most I play the devil."

FIFTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED.

CHICAGO:
J. S. GOODMAN AND COMPANY,

CINCINNATI:
C. F. VENT AND COMPANY,

1867,

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by
Catharine V. Waite,

Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Second
Judicial District of the Territory of Idaho.

RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE:
STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED
H. 0. H0UGHT0N AND COMPANY.

PREFACE.

No apology is offered for presenting to the public
the only authentic account of Brigham 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 not 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 slavery 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

4                                        PREFACE.

statesmen than would be the opposition of so many
mere political traitors.

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.                                       5

and as such 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 religious
impostors now seeking their destruction.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

PAGE

The Birth and Parentage of Brigham Young. — His Brothers and
Sisters. — He embraces Mormonism, and becomes a Leader. — Is
appointed President of the Twelve, and finally placed at the Head
of the Church, to succeed Joseph Smith.—-Establishes the Mor-
mons in Salt-Lake Valley...................................... 1

CHAPTER II.

POLITICAL.

Brigham as Governor of Utah and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. —
Formation of the State of Deseret. — Proceedings of the Utah Legis-
lature.— Brigham's Proclamations. — Difficulties with the Federal
Officers. — Proceedings of the First Judges...................... 11

CHAPTER III.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

Colonel Steptoe 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.................................................. 26

CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. — THE MORMON WAR.

Report of the Secretary of War. — Proclamation of Governor Brigham
Young, declaring Martial Law. — Correspondence. — Sermons of
Young and Kimball. — Proclamation of Governor Cumming. —

8                                      CONTENTS.

PAGE

His Echo Canyon Adventures. — Col. Kane. — The Mormons leave
Salt Lake. — Commissioners appointed by the President. — Peace
restored. ..................................................... 40

CHAPTER V.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

The Mountain Meadow Massacre, and other Crimes of the Mormons. —
Attempts to bring the Perpetrators to Justice. —Doings of Judge
Cradlebaugh. — Governor Cumming and the Military Officers. —
Judge Sinclair's Court. — Governor Dawson and his Misfortunes. —
New Governor and Associate Justices appointed................ 60

CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

Arrival of the New Federal Officers, in July, 1862. — Colonel Connor
arrives with his Command. — The Message 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. ............................ 78

CHAPTER VII.

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

Organization of the Mormon Church. — Functions of the various Offi-
oers. — The Two Priesthoods. —Mode of treating Dissenters or
"Apostates. "—Divisions in the Church. — The Gladdenites. —
History of the Morrisites. — The Josephites. — Return to the True
Mormon Church............................................... 114

CHAPTER VIII.

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

Nature of the Trusteeship. — The Tithing System. —Brigham's Pri-
vate Speculations. —The Emigration Fund. — The Hand-Cart Com-
pany........................................................ 132

CHAPTER IX.

BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR.

Brigham's Position as Head of the Church. — Mormon Theology. —

CONTENTS.                                         9

PAGE

Brigham's Theology, or Utah Mormonism. —Adam as God. -—
Brigham Young as God. — Human Sacrifice. — Introduction of
Polygamy. — Polygamy no part of the Original Mormon Religion.
—The Revelation, or Celestial Marriage. — The Ceremony of Seal-
ing. — Consequences and Incidents of the Doctrine. — Incest. -—
Summary of the Mormon Religion............................. 153

CHAPTER X.

BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM.

Brigham's Block. — The Lion House. — The Tithing-House. —The
Bee-Hive House. Office, etc. — Description of the Harem, — Plan,
Rooms, etc., of each Floor, and who occupies the same. — Life at
the Harem. — Brigham at Home................................ 177

CHAPTER XI.

THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Mary Ann Angell Young, the first wife. — Her Family. —Lucy Decker
Seely, the first wife in Plurality. — More of " My Women ": Clara
Decker, Harriet Cook, Lucy Bigelow, Twiss, Martha Bowker, Har-
riet Barney, Eliza Burgess, Ellen Rockwood, Susan Snively, Jemi-
ma Angell, Margaret Alley, Margaret Pierce, Mrs. Hampton, Mary
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 love. — The Prophet in love the Thirtieth Time........... 191

CHAPTER XII.

POLYGAMY.

Condition of Woman among various Heathen Nations. —Influence
of Christianity. —Mormonism and Woman. —Brigham offers 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. ............................................... 215

CHAPTER XIII.

THE ENDOWMENT,

A Mormon Drama................................................ 244

10                                   CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER XIV.

BRIGHAM AS GRAND ARCHEE OF THE ORDER OF THE GODS.

Organization of the Order of the 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.................................261

CHAPTER XV.

RECENT EVENTS. — CONCLUSION.

Personal 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 Brassfield. — Order of Young for the Expul-
sion 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
return to Utah. — The Reign of Terror commenced. — The Gentiles
call for Help. .................................................. 273

THE MORMON PROPHET,

CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

The Birth and Parentage of Brigham Young. —His Brothers and Sisters. —
He embraces Mormonism, and becomes a Leader. —Is appointed Presi-
dent of the Twelve, and finally placed at the Head of the Church to
succeed Joseph Smith. — Establishes the Mormons in Salt Lake Valley.

Brigham Young was bora at Whitingham, Windham
County, Vermont, June 1, 1801. A short sketch of the fam-
ily of this noted adventurer may not be uninteresting. The
following extract is from his autobiography: —

" My grandfather, John Young, was a physician and surgeon
in the French and Indian war.

"My father, John Young, was born March 7, 1763, in Hopkin-
ton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was very circumspect,
exemplary and religious, and was, from an early period of his life,
a member of the Methodist Church. At the age of sixteen he
enlisted 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 1785 he married Nabby
Howe, daughter of Phineas and Susannah, whose maiden name
was Goddard.

"In January, 1801, he moved from Hopkinton 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 BRIGHAM YOUNG.

" My father's family consisted of five sons and six daughters,
viz.: —

" Nancy, born in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts,
August 6, 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, Massachusetts,
May 22, 1791.

" Nabby, born in same place, April 23,. 1793.

" 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, born in Sherburn, 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 Mormons. His 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 people at Salt
Lake are in some way related to the ruling dynasty. This
is striking evidence 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 conversion 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
to the prophet Joseph, and was baptized by Eleazer Miller,
now living at Salt Lake.

Brigham " gathered" with the saints, at Kirtland, Ohio,
and soon became intimate with Joseph Smith. He was

EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.              13

ordained 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 was cho-
sen to succeed him, as President of the Twelve Apostles, in
18??

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 persecution
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 appointed, 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 superintended affairs, issued
an edition of the " Book of Mormon, " and commenced the
publication of the " Millennial Star, " a periodical still living.
In 1841 he sailed for New York, having shipped seven hun-
dred and sixty-nine of the faithful, and leaving many
churches, with organizations completed.

14           EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

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 whole aspect of affairs was changed. Smith
was shot, Nauvoo threatened by a mob, and the Twelve
Apostles scattered. Sidney Rigdon assumed the Presidency,
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
him over to the buffetings 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 BRIGHAM YOUNG.              15

ried the people through their endowments, bound them to
him by oaths which made them shudder to recall, and 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 Brigham con-
quered, and they obeyed.

In February, 1846, they crossed the Mississippi 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. He 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 ! 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 Council 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-
ites was sent out to steal cattle and horses, and convey them

16           EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

beyond the jurisdiction of the State authorities. Others
were detailed to make and circulate counterfeit money.
While these little speculations were progressing, Brigham
was trying his hand at diplomacy. He is reported to, have
sent James G. 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
his theocratic monarchy. It has been asserted by some per-
sons that Brigham received $20, 000 from the government,
as a bonus, for raising the battalion; but I find no evidence
to substantiate this assertion. The following affidavit will
show in what manner he was benefited by this transaction: —

" Territory of Utah,

Great Salt Lake City.

" Alexander McCord says that he was mustered 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 forwarded 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 destitution. 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
self-interest, with the sole view of accomplishing certain private

EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.             17

ends; and not in anywise appealing to their loyalty, or setting
forth the necessity of rendering assistance to the parent govern-
ment.

" That he did not fulfil the promises he had 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 to 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 draft 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 after 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,
" Associate Justice U. S. Sup. Court, Utah"

18            EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

By this operation, Brigham must have realized the neat
little sum of $10, 000. This enabled him to fit out an expe-
dition to explore the country west of the Rocky Mountains.
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 colony
was at once established, and a part of. the number left to
commence farming operations. 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 was now ready to enact another scene in this Mor-
mon drama. He was ruling the church in the capacity of
President of the Twelve Apostles. He desired greater power;
he wished to occupy the place of the Prophet of the Lord.
This was the more difficult, 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 absolute 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, doubtless,
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 effect was electrical. Women screamed and
fainted; strong men wept; the delusion was complete. " The

EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.              19

mantle of Joseph had fallen upon Brigham; " he was hence-
forth their Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, 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
Presidency. " 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 suffering, 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. With
a restless" but resistless energy he set them to work, and worked
himself as their example. He directed their labors, controlled

20            EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

their domestic affairs, preached at them, to them, for them. He
told foolish anecdotes to make them laugh, encouraged their danc-
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 he was thus consolidating his power, laying plans
for the foundation of a monarchy more despotic than that of
Austria, important changes 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 so
many different characters that his history can only be fully
written by considering him in his various roles, — 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. "

* Mormonism; its Leaders and Designs, by John Hyde, Jr. New York
W. P. Fetridge & Co. 1857. Page 144.

CHAPTER II.

POLITICAL.

Brigham as Governor of Utah and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. —
Formation of the State of Deseret. — Proceedings of the Utah Legisla-
ture. — Brigham's Proclamations. — Difficulties with the Federal Offi-
cers. — Proceedings of the first Judges.

By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, concluded between
the United States and Mexico in 1848, the country now em-
braced in the Territory 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 persons a committee to draft a constitution for
the State of Deseret, to wit: Albert Carrington, Joseph L.
Heywood, William W. Phelps, David Fullmer, John S.
Fullmer, Charles C. Rich, John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt,
John M. Bernheisel, and Erastus Snow.

March 18, 1849, Albert Carrington, chairman of the com-
mittee, reported the following constitution, which was read,

22                                POLITICAL.

and unanimously adopted by the convention: [The preamble
only is here given. ]

"Constitution of the State of Deseret.

" Whereas a large number of the citizens of the United States,
before and since the treaty of peace with the Republic of Mexico,
emigrated to and settled in that portion of the territory of the
United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains, and in the
great interior basin of Upper California; and whereas, by reason
of said treaty, all civil organization originating from the Republic
of Mexico became abrogated; and whereas the Congress of the
United States has failed to provide a form of civil government for
the territory so acquired, or any portion thereof; and whereas civil
government and law are necessary for the security, peace, and
prosperity of society; and whereas it is a fundamental principle in
all republican governments that all political power is inherent in
the people, and governments instituted for their protection, secu-
rity, and benefit, should emanate from the same:

" Therefore your committee beg leave to recommend the adop-
tion of the following Constitution, until the Congress of the United
States shall otherwise provide for the government of the Territory
hereinafter named and described, by admitting us into the Union.

" We, the people, grateful to the Supreme Being for the bless-
ings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a
continuance of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and
Independent Government, by the name of the State of Deseret;
including all the territory of the United States within the follow-
ing boundaries, to wit: [Here follow the boundaries of the pro-
posed new State. ]

It will be noticed by the phraseology of the foregoing pre-
amble that this government was to be " free and indepen-
dent, " and was intended to remain such until the new State,
thus constituted, should he admitted into the Union. In other
words, they intended, through the machinery of this inde-
pendent State, to harass and annoy the government, and the
gentiles, until the "saints" could force themselves into the
Union upon their own terms. This theory is fully sustained
by the subsequent history of this inchoate State. The very

POLITICAL.                                  23

first steps taken were independent of, and in hostility to, the
officers appointed by the Government of the United States,
as will more fully appear in the following pages.

The formation of this government for the State of Deseret
was the first effort to throw off the yoke of the Federal Gov-
ernment, — an effort which has been persistently persevered
in to the present time.

There never has been a time since Brigham Young crossed
the Rocky Mountains, when he has honestly entertained the
idea of being a good and loyal citizen of the United States.

The following were the first officers of this infant mon-
archy: —

Governor, Brigham Young.

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 laws. This pseudo
State government remained in force until the 22d of Septem-
ber, 1851, when the Territorial Legislature convened.

In the mean time Brigham, having been appointed Gov-
ernor of the newly organized Territory, and Superintendent
of Indian Affairs, and seeing a fair prospect of lining his
pockets from the treasury of the United States, concluded
to forego for a time his ambitious projects, and consented
that the new "State " should be merged into a United States
Territory.

The federal officers were appointed 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 before 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. This was succeeded by a special session, called by

24                                 POLITICAL.

proclamation of the Governor, commencing the following day,
and continuing until the 6th day of March, 1852. What
there was in the political condition of this community, sub-
jected as they were, in almost all the relations of life, to a
complete and comprehensive system of religious government,
to require a continuous session of the Territorial Legislature
for nearly six months, has never yet been explained.

The following is extracted from the published proceedings
of the first Legislative Assembly: —

" Representatives' Hall, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 1852.

" 10 o'clock, A. m. Both houses of the Legislative Assembly
met in joint 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 Territory, 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. Brochus, and
Mr. Secretary Harris. But the answer returned by them was so
vague and indefinite that they did not know whether they would
respond to the invitation or not. The committee also reported 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 so
openly and offensively manifested, that the respect which
these gentlemen owed to themselves and the government and
people 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 the
reply of the other two was not even reported !

" 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 Ms 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 mind. "...

" 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 Legislature, 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 he
was entitled by his recognized appellation of " the Lion of
the Lord. "

To this day he holds, by virtue of an Act of the Legisla-
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-

26                                 POLITICAL.

pletely, and thus preventing all ingress or egress, except
upon the payment of toll. General Connor, upon his arrival
in Utah, in the fall of 1862, 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 following is the most celebrated of these State Papers: —

" Territory of 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 these 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 his Son has
been proclaimed, and the ordinances of life and salvation 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 hearts of men,
and influencing them to flow together, from the four quarters 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 Slates 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 felt
desirous to, and do, proclaim Thursday, the 1st day of January,
eighteen hundred and fifty-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

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 their 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 may 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 doing
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, after 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,
1 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 be
affixed, 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
Been expressions of attachment to the Federal Union. The
sincerity of these professions must be judged of in the light
of his contemporaneous acts. The officers appointed by the

POLITICAL.                                  29

General Government were then in the States, or at Washing-
ton, representing truly the condition of things in Utah, and
the 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 say 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. His 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 effect 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 naught as
exercising their functions illegally and unconstitutionally. "

The causes which led to this petition were as follows: —-

When the Territory was organized, in the winter of 1850—
51, the following named officers were appointed: — Brigham
Young, Governor; Lemuel C. Brandenburg, Chief Justice;

30                                POLITICAL.

Perry E, Brochus and Zerubbabel Snow, Associate Justices
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, Brigham Young had issued a pro-
clamation ordering an election for 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 spirit-
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.                                      31

against the laws of man and God. This 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 them were in tears,
before he had spoken many minutes. The men were aston-
ished and enraged, 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 rose, and by one
of those strong, nervous appeals, for which he is so famous
among his brethren, restored the equilibrium of the audi-
ence. Those 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: —

"lam 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
so do this people. Do the laws of the United States require us
to crouch and bow down to the miserable wretches who violate
them ? No!

" I defy the world to prove that we have infringed upon that

32                                   POLITICAL.

law. You 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 takes 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-like, 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 what I
did, and what I will do again. I did chastise the poor, mean
ruffian, — the poor, miserable creature 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 were 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 do it, however, but suffered
him to fill up the measure of his shame and iniquity, until his cup
is running over.

" I have no fears whatever of Franklin Pierce excusing me
from office, and saying that another man shall be the Governor of
this Territory. At the beginning of our settlements, when we
sent Almon W. Babbitt to Washington with our constitution for a
State government, and to ask leave to adopt it, he requested that

POLITICAL.                                   33

I should not sign my name to it as Governor; ' for, ' said he, ' if
you do, it will thwart all our plans. ' I said, 'My name will go as
it is in that document, and stay there, from. this time henceforth
and forever. Now, ' I continued, ' if you do not believe it, you
may go to Washington, and give those papers to Dr. Bernheisel,
and operate against him, and against our getting a State govern-
ment, and you cannot hinder it. '

" I will be Governor still, after you have done everything you
possibly can to prevent it. We have got a Territorial Govern-
ment, and I am and will be Governor, and no power can hinder it,
until the Lord Almighty says, 'Brigham, you need not be Gov-
ernor any longer; ' and then I am willing to yield to another
Governor. "

This " sermon " was preached at Great Salt Lake City,
June 19, 1853, and is published in the "Journal of Dis-
courses, " vol. i. p. 188.

Brigham had appointed his second counsellor, Willard
Richards, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the departure of
Secretary Harris. So the saints had fairly succeeded in
ridding themselves of the obnoxious officials, — the remaining
Judge, and the District Attorney, being Mormons in good
standing.

The Hon. Z. Snow then proceeded to hold his court, un-
molested by gentile law or judges. He tried and convicted
several Spaniards of buying Indian children for slaves, took
the children from the Spaniards, and turned them over to
the " brethren. "

The Indians now began to be hostile, and the brethren
were obliged to cease pursuing the gentiles, and prepare to
defend themselves against the " Lamanites. " During the
years 1852-53-54, more or less disturbances prevailed.

In October, 1852, Judge Shaver arrived, as successor to
Judge Brochus; and Lazarus H. Reed, of New York, was
appointed Chief Justice, to succeed Judge Brandenburg.
Judge Reed arrived in the Territory in June, 1853. Of
these, Brigham said, —

" One of our judges, Judge Shaver, has been here during the

34                                POLITICAL.

winter, and, as far as he is known, he is a straightforward, judi-
cious, upright man, and a good adjudicator in the law. He and
Judge Reed, who has lately arrived, I believe will do the best
they can, and all is right. "

Judge Snow continued to hold his office until succeeded
by Judge Stiles, in the fall of 1854.

Judge Shaver lived among the saints until his death, and
was " buried with the faithful. "

It is currently reported, and believed by many, that
Judge Shaver died from the effects of poison, administered
by the hands of a Mormon. He was a Southerner by birth,
agreed very well with the Mormons, gave suppers, and
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 affair 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 massacre,
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
hands of " Indians, " on the Plains. In the summer of 1862,
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, after 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.                                    35

authorities of the church, he used language substantially as
follows: —

" There is no need of any difficulty, and there need be 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 Almon W. Babbitt.
He undertook to quarrel with me, but soon afterwards 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 officers, 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 from his mind all unfavor-
able impressions 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. James
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 Hollman, 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 refused 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.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                   37

Daring and unscrupulous as a brigand, having the means
at his command, 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 furnished by
a Mormon who was residing in Salt Lake City at the time,
and the employment of similar appliances on more than one
occasion afterward, gives the coloring of truth to the story.

There were in Salt 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 in the society of Col. Steptoe
and his officers. Much attention was 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 Brigham called " the 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 office, 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.

and Mrs. ------ were there; adding, — " I want the girls. "

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 dressed in the highest style, but
wearing their hats. Brigham advanced, lifted the hats of
the fancy gentlemen, and the ladies he was seeking sat before
him. Of course, the righteous indignation of the Prophet
knew no bounds. He threatened Steptoe with exposure and
prosecution, and told him his life would not be safe if the
friends of the ladies came to hear of the affair. He cen-
sured the girls, and told them to go home, and finally calmed
down, and left the office.

Steptoe was greatly alarmed, and, as a compromise, offered
to recommend Brigham for the appointment which had just
been tendered to himself. With ill-concealed satisfaction on
the part of Brigham and his friends, the proposition was ac-
cepted, and " the matter arranged. "

Soon after, a petition was sent to the President, dated
December 30, 1854, and asking for the reappointment of
Young as Governor. This was signed by Col. Steptoe and
most of his officers, and by all the federal officers then in
Utah.

This array of gentile names was not to be disregarded,
and Brigham Young was reappointed Governor of Utah.

In 1854 John F. Kinney was appointed, by Franklin
Pierce, Chief Justice of Utah, and came to the valley with
his family and a large stock of goods the same year. He
was known in Iowa as a "Jack Mormon, " and subsequent
events have proven that he was such. He sold goods and
kept a boarding-house; and at once entered into favor with
the Mormon administration. He was pecuniarily interested
in keeping the good-will of his trading customers; and this
fact, together with his undoubted sympathy with the church,
will satisfactorily account for the course pursued by him in
the complicated condition of the Territory.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                   39

It is not our purpose to detract from the merits of any one
We desire to do justice to all. But the impartial truth of
history requires us to say that the uniform course of Judge
Kinney has been to aid and abet Brigham Young in his
ambitious schemes, with but little regard to the advancement
of the interests of the whole country, or the requirements of
indiscriminate justice.

As to his merits as a jurist, the writer of these pages
cannot undertake to decide. But it would seem, to one un-
initiated, that a Judge cannot be very profound who will try,
convict, and sentence men not within the jurisdiction of his
court, and even men not in the land of the living. This was
done by Judge Kinney, in the case of the Morrisites, — dis-
senters or apostates from the Mormon Church.

In the spring of 1863 a large number of these men were
tried, convicted, and fined $100 each. Many of them were
out of the Territory at the time, and one was dead. This
statement is fully substantiated by affidavits which were
taken at the time. Over ninety were tried and convicted,
about twenty of whom were out of the Territory, and one
had died before the trial commenced.

When the cases were called on for trial, it was stated that
some of the accused were absent. The Judge remarked, it
made no difference; he was gratified that so many had made
their appearance, and directed the trial to proceed. All
were found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of $100 each,
except a few of the leaders, who were sentenced to the peni-
tentiary, — one of them for fifteen years.

These men were accused of resisting the Mormon officers
who came to arrest them. Robert T. Burton, the sheriff of
Salt Lake County, who was the principal one thus " resisted, "
had shot Morris, their Prophet, in cold blood, after he and his
party had surrendered; and yet, while the Morrisites were so
severely punished, Burton went scot free. The grand jury
of Salt Lake County would not even find a bill of indictment
against him. Burton stands high in the community, and was
afterwards appointed Collector of Internal Revenue,

40               POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

But this is not all. Not only were all of the accused tried
and convicted, but the bonds of those absent were declared
by the clerk to be forfeited, and execution was issued against
those resident in Utah, to collect the penalty of the bonds.
At the same time, the records showed no judgments against
the delinquents. One of these Morrisites, named Abraham
Taylor, found his property, worth $2500, suddenly levied
upon, under one of these executions. There being no gen-
tile lawyer at Salt Lake, he applied to Judge Waite, who
investigated the matter, and found there was no judgment of
record. He then advised Mr. Taylor to apply to Judge
Kinney for an injunction against the officer. This was done;
but the application was refused by Judge K. on the ground
that if there was no judgment he could render one, as the
court had not permanently adjourned, but only to meet on his
own motion. This response to the application of a suitor is
a sufficient indication of the ability of Judge Kinney, and of
his desire to administer impartial justice.

The result of the whole matter was, that the homestead
of Mr. Taylor was sold under the execution, to the clerk of
Judge Kinney's court, for $200; the family of Taylor im-
poverished, and literally turned into the street. After
remaining out of doors, in front of the house, for a day or
two, they took refuge at the camp of Gen. Connor.

In his personal appearance Judge Kinney is pompous and
conceited. He is of the medium size, rather stout, with dark
complexion. Brusque and ready in conversation, and never
declining to drink when invited, he is well adapted to the
country in which he resides, and is immensely popular in the
community in which he was placed " to administer the law, "
and which he now represents in Congress. He is an open
apologist and advocate of polygamy.

Mrs. Kinney is a sister of Judge Hall, of Iowa, and an
accomplished lady. She was utterly disgusted with Mormon
society, and returned, with her daughters, to the States.

Judge Kinney remained in Utah until 1856. In 1860 he

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 41

was reappointed. Thus he was absent from the Territory
during all the exciting scenes of 1857-8 and 9, and returned
after something like harmony had been restored in the affairs
of the Territory. He managed, however, by having his
leave of absence extended from time to time, to retain the
office and its emoluments until 1858. Since 1860 he has
been back and forth, spending about half his time in either
portion of the country, but retaining his position as Chief
Justice, until elected to Congress in 1863.

Judge Stiles, who was appointed to succeed Snow, was
assigned to the third, or Carson District. He immediately
proceeded to his district, and held a term of court.

The present Territory of Nevada was included mostly in
the third judicial district, and much difficulty occurred be-
tween Mormons and the miners in that section.

A full account of the proceedings which go to make up the
history of this part of Utah, will be found in a letter from
the Hon. James M. Crane to Hon. William Smith, published
in 1859.

This letter is so complete and truthful in its statements,
and presents such a correct view of the character and tenden-
cies of Mormonism, that we insert it, nearly entire: —

" Washington, January 17, 1859.
"Dear Sir, —

" As you may need some facts not reported at length in the
memorial and other documents, relating to the proposed Territory
of Nevada, I herewith submit them.

" The Mormons and Anti-Mormons began the settlement of
Western Utah in the latter part of 1854. The former, however,
succeeded, in 1855, in obtaining a numerical majority; and the
Legislature of Utah, on being informed of this fact, organized the
whole western part of the Territory, under the name of Carson
County, and Governor Young appointed Orson Hyde, the Presi-
dent of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, its Probate Judge. Soon
after the Judge arrived, adventurers from California, as well as
from the Atlantic States, settled in Carson and other valleys on
the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, for the purpose of mining,

42                 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

farming, and raising stock. As they increased very fast, the
Mormons became alarmed, and determined to expel them.

" They therefore ordered them to leave the country. Of course
the Christians, or Anti-Mormons refused to do so. The Mormons
then assembled their forces, and attempted to expel them, vi et
armis. The Anti-Mormons also organized, and fortified them-
selves, with a view of defending their lives and property against
their assailants.

" For two weeks their armies camped nearly in sight of each
other, without coming to a direct battle.

" By this time, news had reached the miners in California of this
state of affairs, and a large number had determined to cross the
mountains, and afford protection to the Anti-Mormons. On hear-
ing this, the Mormons became satisfied that, unless they retraced
their steps, they would be driven themselves from the country,
instead of the Anti-Mormons. They therefore proposed a truce,
and agreed that all should enjoy a common heritage in that part
of the Territory.

" The Mormons now became satisfied that the Christians not
only could, but would occupy these fertile valleys, on the ground
that they were the common property of the United States. When
the Legislature of Utah heard of this affair, that body, in viola-
tion of every constitutional right, repealed the county organiza-
tion, recalled the Probate Judge, and removed all the county and
court records to Salt Lake City, where they have ever since
remained. Amongst these records were several indictments
against certain persons for high crimes and misdemeanors. By
this flagrant violation of all sacred, individual, collective, and
constitutional rights, the people of Western Utah were not only
denied all legal protection to life and property, but they were dis-
franchised. They have ever been unrepresented in the Legisla-
ture and in Congress. The history of our country presents no
such a record of open defiance of law, and such cruelties to men
under the form of laws.

" For years the Anti-Mormons have been applying, both to the
Territorial Legislature and to Congress, for protection, without
success.

" Their situation has ever been, and still is, peculiarly unsafe
and annoying. Recently a Probate Judge was surreptitiously
appointed for Carson Valley, with a view of reorganizing the

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 43

county of Carson, and thus extend over the people there the
Mormon statutes of the Territory.

" The Judge, soon after he received his commission, undertook
to force on an election of county officers. Enough of the Anti-
Mormons, however, turned out, to defeat his purpose, by the
election of an opposite ticket, who, on being elected, refused to
qualify, because they were required to obey the Mormon statutes.
The Judge has been notified that if he undertakes to enforce the
Mormon statutes he will be resisted, — peaceably if they can, forci-
bly if they must.

" They will not introduce, nor permit others to introduce among
them, the vices of that wicked, perverse, and adulterous genera-
tion, who have so long wielded the sceptre of authority in the
Great Basin. They will not allow, with impunity, their wives and
daughters to be kidnapped, dishonored, and defiled; nor submit
to laws made by such a people, nor allow themselves to be ruled
by men who practise and uphold vices and crimes so revolting to
the moral sense of the world; and if the Mormons persist in their
present course, blood will flow.

" The only loyal people of Utah are oppressed, annoyed, and
scandalized, by a government intended by Congress to secure
them in their rights, and to protect them in their property; and
while the present Territorial organization exists, the Mormons,
"who have control of the Legislature, will never ' let up on the
gentiles. '

" The only remedy for this unnatural war, now raging between
the Mormons and the Anti-Mormons in Utah, is to be found in
the immediate separation of these people under two distinct gov-
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 thousands 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 treacherous 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. The 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 Pacific, 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 does not reign in Utah, and never will,
under the present order of things.....

" When our common country shall call forth her sons to defend
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 will become their graves, rather
than permit a foreign 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 should we not, on our own
soil ?

" Very respectfully, yours,

" James M. Crane,

" Delegate elect from Nevada.
" To Hon. 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 time 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.

" George P. Stiles,

" Late Associate Justice for Utah"

Nevada was erected into a Territory, and has made rapid
and gigantic strides in all the essentials of a high civiliza-
tion. Her mines are celebrated throughout the world, and
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
unskaken 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 destiny, 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 despotism of the most hideous character clanks her

46                  POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

chains in Utah. May the day of deliverance for the op-
pressed thousands of Utah soon 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 Brigham Young found that the gentile element was
gaining ground 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 possible 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 portion 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 1856 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 authority, proclaiming that the time
had come when their laws, and none others, should be en
forced in Utah.

The question of jurisdiction was brought before the court,
and James Ferguson, Hosea Stout, and J. C. Little, Mormon
lawyers, loudly demanded that the Judge should decide in
their favor. Ferguson, backed by an armed mob, told Judge
Stiles, in open court, that if he dared to decide contrary to
their wishes, he "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 his court.

Judge Stiles then appealed to Brigham Young, as Gov-
ernor of the Territory, to sustain him, and protect him in
the discharge of his duties. In reply, he was coolly told
that " the courts had already cost him [Brigham] too much
trouble; that 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 his court the better. "

These proceedings had a tendency to bring the Judge into
disrepute with the Mormons. Thomas Williams, a lawyer,
had his office with Judge Stiles, on Main Street. Williams,
though a Mormon, was an independent man, and had openly
opposed Brigham on some question of politics. He had
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
causing 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 good many
law books, which were private property. Brigham asserted
that the records were suffered to "lie around loose, " and
suggested to the boys that they had better be cared for. This
was sufficient, and "the boys" proceeded to "'tend to it. "
James Ferguson, Hiram B. Clawson, and several others, re-
paired to the office of the 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-and-burglar-proof-safe, 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 supposed, 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 authorities.

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 also professed to be a

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                   49

warm friend and advocate of Senator Douglas, whom the
Mormons hate.

When Drummond was about to hold court, he 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 was
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 Cuffy obeyed with much spirit. Com-
plaint was made by the Jew to a local magistrate. A war-
rant was issued, and Drummond and his negro were both
arrested.

The 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 for Judge Stiles. Thence
he proceeded to California and to the States, and as the Mor-
mons allege " contributed largely to the getting up of Bu-
chanan's crusade. "

CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. — THE MORMON WAR.

Report of the Secretary of War. — Proclamation of Gov. Brigham Young
declaring Martial Law. — Correspondence. — Sermons of Young and
Kimball. — Proclamation, of Gov. Cumming. — His Echo Canyon Ad-
ventures. — Col. Kane. — The Mormons leave Salt Lake. — Commis-
sioners appointed by the President. — Peace restored.

By these and similar outrages the Mormons had succeeded
in ridding themselves of all the federal authorities, 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 armed 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 officer 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.                            51

The Secretary of War, in his report, dated December 5,

1857, says: —

" The Territory of Utah is peopled almost exclusively by the
religious sect known as Mormons.... They have substituted
for the laws of the land 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 the 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 in 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, Territory,
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 after his departure from the city, on his way back)

THE MORMON WAR.                            53

Brigham issued his Proclamation, substantially declaring war
against 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

" Of Governor Brigham 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, from 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, according 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 accomplish our destruction. We have had no privilege
or opportunity of defending ourselves from the false, foul, and
unjust aspersions against us, 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-
demned 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, to screen
themselves 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 us to
resort to the first great law of self-preservation, and stand in our
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
are 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 Affairs 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 any 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: —

" Fort Bridger, September 3, 1857.

" 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. 7, containing the Organic Act of the Territory.

" It may be proper to add, that I am. here to aid in carrying out
the instructions of Governor Young. General Robinson will de-

THE MORMON WAR.                            55

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,
"Lieuut. -General commanding Nauvoo Legion"

" Governor's Office, Utah Territory,

Great Salt Lake 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: —

" ' Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the executive power
in and over said Territory of Utah shall be vested in a governor,
who shall hold his office for four years, and until Ms 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 authority 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 you may have to make.

" Very respectfully,

"Brigham Young,
" Governor and Superintendent of

Indian Affairs, 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 possibly 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 least the courage to march at the head of his
soldiers; while Brigham, who acknowledges himself to be a
natural coward, preferred to remain snugly ensconced among
his numerous wives and children. The Lion of the Lord,
though seemingly aroused, only shook himself and roared
loudly several times. He then quietly lay down, and re-
mained thenceforth couchant during the war. With all the
assurance and assumption of Joseph Smith, he lacked his
personal courage and manly daring.

But the rank and file of these " warriors of the Lord "
lacked neither courage nor enthusiasm. Their Zion was
threatened, — their institutions in danger, — and with the
fire of revenge burning in their hearts, at the remembrance
of former injuries, they rushed forth, to conquer or to die.

Many joined their brethren in Echo Canyon, without even

THE MORMON WAR.                            57

shoes to their feet, wading through snows several feet deep.
Such devotion and heroism were worthy of a better cause.

The feeling and determination of the people cannot be
better expressed than by extracts from the sermons of their
leaders at this critical period.

Sunday morning, September 16, 1857, Brigham Young, in
his public discourse, said: —

" This people are free; they are not in bondage to any govern-
ment on God's footstool. We have transgressed no law, and we
have no occasion to do so, neither do we intend; but as for any
nation's coming to destroy this people, God Almighty being my
helper, they cannot come here. [The congregation responded a
loud ' Amen. ']...

" We have borne enough of their oppression and hellish abuse,
and we will not bear any more of it, for there is no just law re-
quiring further forbearance on our part. And I am not going to
have troops here to protect the priests and hellish rabble in efforts
to drive us from the land we possess; for the Lord does not want
us to be driven, and has said, ' If you will assert your rights, and
keep my commandments, you shall never again be brought into
bondage by your enemies. '...

" They say that their army is legal; and I say that such a state-
ment is as false as hell, and that they are as rotten as an old
pumpkin that has been frozen seven times, and then melted in a
harvest sun. Come on with your thousands of illegally ordered
troops, and I will promise you, in the name of Israel's God, that
you shall melt away as the snow before a July sun....

" You might as well tell me that you can make hell into a pow-
der-house, as to tell me that you could let an army in here, and
have peace; and I intend to tell them, and show them this, if they
do not stay away.... And I say our enemies shall not slip
the bow on old 'Bright's neck' again. God bless you. Amen. "

In the afternoon of the same day, the " lion " again roars, as
follows: —

" There cannot be a more damnable, dastardly order issued,
than was issued by the Administration to this people, while they
were in an Indian country in 1846. Before we left Nauvoo, not
less than two United States Senators came to receive a pledge

58                POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

from us that we would leave the United States; and then, while
we were doing our best to leave their borders, the poor, low, de-
graded curses sent a requisition for five hundred men to go and
fight their battles! That was President Polk; and he is now
weltering in hell, with old Zachary Taylor, where the present
Administration will soon be, if they do not repent.

" Liars have reported that this people have committed treason,
and upon their lies the President has ordered out troops to aid in
officering this Territory; and if those officers are like many who
have previously been sent here, — and we have reason to believe
that they are, or they would not come where they know they are
not wanted, — they are poor, miserable blacklegs, broken down
political hacks, robbers and whoremongers; men that are not fit
for civilized society; so they must dragoon them upon us for offi-
cers. I feel that I won't bear such cursed treatment, and that is
enough to say, — for we are just as free as the mountain air...

" I have told you that if this people will live their religion, all
will be well; and I have told you that if there is any man or
woman who is not willing to destroy anything or everything of
their property that would be of use to an enemy if left, I wanted
them to go out of the Territory. And I again say so to-day; for
when the time comes to burn and lay waste our improvements, if
any man undertakes to shield his, he will be sheared down; for
'judgment will be laid to the line, and righteousness to the
plummet. '

" Now, the faint-hearted can go in peace; but should that time
come, they must not interfere. Before I will suffer what I have
in times gone by, there shall not be one building, nor one foot of
lumber, nor a stick, nor a tree, nor a particle of grass or hay that
will burn, left in reach of our enemies. I am sworn, if driven to
extremity, to utterly lay waste, in the name of Israel's God. "

On the same subject, Heber C. Kimball, first counsellor to
Brigham, used the following language: —

" Is there a collision between us and the United States ? No;
we have not collashed; that is the word that sounds nearest to
what I mean. But now the thread is cut between them and us,
and we will never gybe again, — no, never, worlds without end.
[Voices, ' Amen. ']...

" Do as you are told, and Brigham Young will never leave the

THE MORMON WAR.                                59

governorship of this Territory, from this time henceforth and for-
ever. No, never. And there shall no wicked Judge with his

w----- ever sit in our courts again; for all who are against Israel

are an abomination to me and to our God.

" The spirit that is upon me this morning is the Spirit of the
Lord, that is, the Holy Ghost, — though some of you may think
that the Holy Ghost is never cheerful. Well, let me tell you, the
Holy Ghost is a man; he is one of the sons of our Father and our
God, and he is that man that stood next to Jesus Christ, — just as
I stand by brother Brigham.... You think our Father and
our God is not a lively, sociable, and cheerful man; he is one of
the most lively men that ever lived.... Brother Brigham
is my leader, he is my Prophet and my Seer, my Revelator; and
whatever he says, that is for me to do, and it is not for me to
question him one word, nor to question God a minute. " *

Many sermons were delivered, composed, throughout, of
such material as the foregoing extracts. The genius of
Mormonism is here fully displayed, — implicit obedience to
their leaders, and especially to the teachings of Brigham
Young. The people were commanded to be ready to leave
their homes at an hour's notice, and flee to the mountains, —
and this too, as the snows of winter were falling around them.
They were commanded to have the torch ready to set fire to
their dwellings, and the axe to cut down all their fruit-trees;
and they were ready to obey! The question naturally pre-
sents itself, Can blind faith and fanaticism thus lead and con-
trol a whole community? That some should be thus blindly
infatuated, is not strange; but that a whole community should
thus lose their reason, and be willing to beggar themselves
and families, in obedience to the call of their leader, is almost
beyond belief.

It is safe to say, had the Mormons been left free to choose,
at least one half would have remained at home, and even
welcomed the troops into the city.

But the fiat of despotism had gone forth. "When the
time comes to burn and lay waste our improvements, if any
* Deseret News,, November 18, 1857.

60                POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

man undertakes to shield his, he will be sheared down; for
'judgment will be laid to the line, and righteousness to the
plummet. '" This means, in plain English, that any man who
refused to obey Young should be put to death; and the peo-
ple 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 Canyon, a narrow pass, about eighteen
miles in length, eastward from the city. Piles of huge stones
were heaped up along the borders of the precipices, ready to
be dashed against the troops, as they should essay 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 Cumming issued the following procla-
mation: —

" Green River County, near Fort Bridger,
Utah Territory, 21st November, 1857.

" To the 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 17th of this month,
and shall probably be detained some time, in consequence 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-
stitution, and the organic law of this Territory, and to all the other
laws of Congress applicable to you.

THE MORMON WAR.                            61

" To enable me to effect this object, I will, in the event of re-
sistance, rely first upon a posse comitatus 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-
ince of the Government or the disposition 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. Cumming,
" Governor of Utah Territory. "

During this time the Mormon troops were busy stealing
stock, burning supply-trains, and in every way weakening
and embarrassing the United States forces. Being familiar
with the country, they had greatly the advantage; and could
break suddenly upon a herding party, from some side 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 Nauvoo
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 Territory. He was not sent as the agent of the Gov-
ernment, as is generally supposed, but his mission was ap-
proved by President 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 his 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 Mormonism, page 146, says: "Fill-
more, by the advice and intercession of Col. Kane, who had embraced Mor-
monism in Iowa, appointed Brigham as the Governor of Utah. "

THE MORMON WAR.                 .            63

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 Rockwell and Daniel Kimball
past the limits of the Mormon camp. He held interviews
with the officers of the army and with Governor Cumming,
and succeeded in inducing the Governor to accompany him
to Salt Lake.

Of this journey Governor Cumming says: —

"I left camp on the 5th, 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 Echo Canyon, — the
journey through the canyon being performed, for the most part,
in the night; it was about eleven o'clock when I arrived 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 are 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 Cumming into the Valley of Salt Lake, and may
go to explain to him why the journey was made through
Echo Canyon in the night.

Upon entering the Mormon lines they were rejoined by
Rockwell and Kimball, who commanded the Governor's
escort to Salt Lake City. Echo Canyon 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 for-
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 halt. 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 ordered 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, discipline, and skill.

Col. Kimball then proceeded to read 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 he 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 therefore
mounted a horse, and telling the driver to be sure and " halt"
as soon as he heard the word, rode off. In a moment more,
the guard shouted, " Halt! who goes there ? " — and before
a reply could be given, 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.                             65

the whole matter, and relieved his 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-
breadth escape.

They then passed 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 the
Governor had reviewed at every station.

The next morning the Governor proceeded on his jour-
ney, prepared to assert 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 fun. 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 Cumming to his office, and tendered to him"the hos-
pitalities 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 courts, in the highest state of
preservation.

Governor Cumming was perfectly amazed. "Was it possi-
ble his eyes did not deceive him? "Were these the veritable

5

66                 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

records 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 explained 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 were 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 Cumming 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 WAR.                           67

his repeated declarations, 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
for Sonora. They only knew the Prophet of the Lord had
spoken, and they must obey.

On the 6th of April, 1858, their long trains moved south-
ward, taking with them their household gods, and provisions
for the journey. Brigham, 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 Provo, 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 hear 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 them 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 resistance, 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
were substantially complied with. "On the 26th 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 selected
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 Cumming 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

rushed to his teams, and before the morning sun gilded the
eastern hills, " the faithful" were again returning to their
Mecca.

A company of United States troops were stationed on
what was called "the Dug Out, " to prevent collision with
the Mormons on their return to Salt Lake. The officer com-
manding related to me the following incident: —

" I witnessed the most extreme destitution among 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 coffee, I
questioned 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.

CHAPTER V.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

The Mountain Meadow Massacre and other Crimes of the Mormons. —
Attempts to bring the Perpetrators to Justice. — Doings of Judge Cra-
dlebaugh. — 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 becomes my duty to relate one of the most perfidious acts
of cruelty and wholesale butchery to be found in the 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, I commenced and held a term of the
District Court for the Second Judicial District, in the city of
Provo, about sixty 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 session 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 posse,.
procured on his own request, had succeeded in 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 after 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, and,
if possible, expose the persons engaged in the massacre, which I
did in the early part of the year 1859. I accordingly embraced
an opportunity of accompanying a small detachment of soldiers,
who were being sent to that section by Gen. Johnson, — having
requested the Marshal of the Territory to accompany, or to send
a deputy. He accordingly sent deputy William H. Rodgers, who
went with me.

"The command went as far south as the St. Clara, twenty
miles beyond the Mountain Meadows, where we camped, and re-

72                 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

mained about a week. During our stay there I was visited by the
Indian chiefs of that section, who gave me their version of the
massacre. They admitted that a portion of their men were en-
gaged in the massacre, but were not there when the attack com-
menced. One of them told me, in the presence of the others,
that after the attack had been made, a white man came to their
camp with a piece of paper, which, he said, Brigham Young had
sent, that directed them to go and help to whip the emigrants.
A portion of the band went, but did not assist in the fight. He
gave as a reason, that the emigrants had long guns, and were good
shots. He said that his brother [this chief's name was Jackson]
was shot while running across the Meadow, at a distance of two
hundred yards from the corral where the emigrants were. He
said the Mormons were all painted. He said the Indians got a
part of the clothing; and gave the names of John D. Lee, Presi-
dent Haight, and Bishop Higbee, as the big captains. It might
be proper here to remark that the Indians in the southern part of
the Territory of Utah are not numerous, and are a very low, cow-
ardly, beastly set, very few of them being armed with guns. They
are not formidable. I believe all in the southern part of the Ter-
ritory would, under no circumstances, carry on a fight against ten
white men.

" From our camp on the St. Clara we again went back to the
Mountain Meadows, camping near where the massacre had oc-
curred. The Meadow is about five miles in length and one in
width, running to quite a narrow point at the southwest end,
being higher at the middle than either end. It is the divide
between the waters that flow into the Great Basin and those
emptying into the Colorado River. A very large spring rises in
the south end of the narrow part. It was on the north side of
this spring the emigrants were camped. The bank rises from the
spring eight or ten feet, then extends off to the north about two
hundred yards, on a level. A range of hills is there reached,
rising perhaps fifty or sixty feet. Back of this range is quite a
valley, which extends down until it has an outlet, three or four
hundred yards below the spring, into the main meadow.

" The first attack was made by going down this ravine, then
following up the bed of the spring to near it, then at daylight
firing upon the men who were about the camp-fires, — in which
attack ten or twelve of the emigrants were killed or wounded;

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                  73

the stock of the emigrants having been previously driven behind
the hill, and up the ravine.

" The emigrants soon got in condition to repel the attack, shoved
their wagons together, sunk the wheels in the earth, and threw
up quite an intrenchment. The fighting after continued as a
siege; the assailants occupying the hill, and firing at any of the
emigrants that exposed themselves, having a barricade of stones
along the crest of the hill as a protection. The siege was con-
tinued for five days, the besiegers appearing in the garb of Indians.
The Mormons, seeing that they could not capture the train with-
out making some sacrifice of life on their part, and getting weary
of the fight, resolved to accomplish by strategy what they were
not able to do by force. The fight had been going on for five
days, and no aid was received from any quarter, although the fam-
ily of Jacob Hamlin, the Indian agent, were living in the upper
end of the Meadow, and within hearing of the reports of the
guns.

" Who can imagine the feelings of these men, women, and chil-
dren, surrounded, as they supposed themselves to be, by savages?
Fathers and mothers only can judge what they must have been.
Far off, in the Rocky Mountains, without transportation, — for
their cattle, horses and mules had been run off, — not knowing
what their fate was to be, — we can but poorly realize the gloom
that pervaded the camp.

" A wagon is descried, far up the Meadows. Upon its nearer
approach, it is observed to contain armed men. See ! now they
raise a white flag ! All is joy in the corral. A general shout is
raised, and in an instant, a little girl, dressed in white, is placed
at an opening between two of the wagons, as a response to the
signal. The wagon approaches; the occupants are welcomed into
the corral, the emigrants little suspecting that they were enter-
taining the fiends that had been besieging them.

" This wagon contained President Haight and Bishop John D.
Lee, among others of the Mormon Church. They professed to be
on good terms with the Indians, and represented the Indians as
being very mad. They also proposed to intercede, and settle the
matter with the Indians. After several hours of parley, they, hav-
ing apparently visited the Indians, gave the ultimatum of the In-
dians; which was, that the emigrants should march out of their
camp, leaving everything behind them, even their guns. It was

74                POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

promised by the Mormon bishops that they would bring a force,
and guard the emigrants back to the settlements.

" The terms were agreed to, — the emigrants being desirous of
saving the lives of their families. The Mormons retired, and sub-
sequently appeared at the corral with thirty or forty armed men.
The emigrants were marched out, the women and children in
front, and the men behind, the Mormon guard being in the rear.
When they had marched in this way about a mile, at a given sig-
nal, the slaughter commenced. The men were most all shot down
at the first fire from the guard. Two only escaped, who fled to
the desert, and were followed 150 miles before they were over-
taken and slaughtered.

" The women and children ran on, two or three hundred yards
further, when they were overtaken, and with the aid of the In-
dians they were slaughtered. Seventeen only of the small chil-
dren were saved, the eldest being only seven years. Thus, on the
10th day of September, 1857, was consummated one of the most
cruel, cowardly, and bloody murders known in our history. Upon
the way from the Meadows, a young Indian pointed out to me the
place where the Mormons painted and disguised themselves.

" I went from the Meadows to Cedar City; the distance is thirty-
five or forty miles. I contemplated holding an examining court
there, should Gen. Johnson furnish me protection, and also pro-
tect witnesses, and furnish the Marshal a posse to aid in making
arrests. While there I issued warrants, on affidavits filed before
me, for the arrest of the following named persons: —

" Jacob Haight, President of the Cedar City Stake; Bishop
John M. Higbee and Bishop John D. Lee; Columbus Freeman,

William Slade, John Willis, William Riggs, ------ Ingram, Daniel

McFarlan, William Stewart, Ira Allen and son, Thomas Cart-
wright, E. Welean, William Halley, Jabes Nomlen, John Man-
gum, James Price, John W. Adair, ----- Tyler, Joseph Smith,

Samuel Pollock, John McFarlan, Nephi Johnson, -------- Thorn-
ton, Joel White, ------Harrison, Charles Hopkins, Joseph Elang,

Samuel Lewis, Sims Matheney, James Mangum, Harrison Pierce,
Samuel Adair, F. C. McDulange, Wm. Bateman, Ezra Curtis,
and Alexander Loveridge.

" In a few days after arriving at Cedar City, Capt. Campbell
arrived, with his command, from the Meadows; on his return, he
advised me that he had received orders, for his command entire,

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 75

to return to Camp Floyd; the General having received orders
from Washington that the military should not be used in protect-
ing the courts, or in acting as a posse to aid the Marshal in mak-
ing arrests.                                            

" While at Cedar City I was visited by a number of apostate
Mormons, who gave me every assurance that they would furnish
an abundance of evidence in regard to the matter so soon as they
were assured of military protection. In fact, some of the persons
engaged in the act came to see me in the night, and gave a full
account of the matter, — intending when protection was at hand,
to become witnesses. They claimed that they had been forced
into the matter by the bishops. Their statements corroborated
what the Indians had previously said to me. Mr. Rodgers, the
Deputy Marshal, was also engaged in hunting up the children, sur-
vivors of the massacre. They were all found in the custody of
the Mormons. Three or four of the eldest recollect and relate
all the incidents of the massacre, corroborating the statements of
the Indians, and the statements made by the citizens of Cedar
City to me.

"These children are now in the south part of Missouri, or
north part of Arkansas; their testimony could soon be taken, if
desired. No one can depict the glee of these infants, when they
realized that they were in the custody of what they called ' the
Americans, ' — for such is the designation of those not Mormons.
They say they never were in the custody of the Indians. I recol-
lect of one of them, 'John Calvin Sorrow, ' after he found he was
safe, and before he was brought away from Salt Lake City, al-
though not yet nine years of age, sitting in a contemplative mood,
no doubt thinking of the extermination of his family, saying: 'Oh,
I wish I was a man; I know what I would do; I would shoot John
D. Lee; I saw him shoot my mother. ' I shall never forget how
he looked.

" Time will not permit me to elaborate the matter. I shall
barely sum up, and refer every member of this House, who may
have the least doubt about the guilt of the Mormons in this mas-
sacre, and the other crimes to which I have alluded, to the evi-
dence published in the appendix hereto. "

To the foregoing thrilling recital, I will only add: — The
train consisted of 40 wagons, 800 head of cattle, and about
60 horses and mules. As near as can be ascertained, there

76                   POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

were about 150 men and women, besides many children.
They passed through Salt Lake City, and were there joined
by some few Mormons, who were disaffected, and sought to
travel under their protection.

A revelation from Brigham Young, as Great Grand Ar-
chee, or God, was despatched to President J. C. Haight,
Bishop Higbee, and J. D. Lee, commanding them to raise all
the forces they could muster and trust, follow those cursed
gentiles (so read the revelation), attack them, disguised as
Indians, and with the arrows of the Almighty make a clean
sweep of them, and leave none to tell the tale; and if they
needed any assistance, they were commanded to hire the In-
dians as their allies, promising them a share of the booty.
They were to be neither slothful nor negligent in their duty,
and to be punctual in sending the teams back to him be-
fore winter set in, for this was the mandate of Almighty
God.

On the following day a council of all the faithful was held
at Cedar City. Many attended from the neighboring settle-
ments; the revelation was read, and the destiny of the unsus-
pecting emigrants sealed. Plans were suggested, discussed,
and adopted, and the men designated to carry out their hell-
ish designs. Instructions were given for them to assemble
at a small spring, but a short distance to the left of the road
leading into the Meadows, — a number of intervening hills
rendering it a fit place for concealment. Here they painted
and disguised themselves as Indians, and when ready to
commence operations, by a well-known Indian trail proceeded
to the Meadows.

For the benefit of those who may still be disposed to
doubt the guilt of Young and his Mormons in this transac-
tion, the testimony is here collated, and circumstances given,
which go, not merely to implicate, but to fasten conviction
upon them, by "confirmations strong as proofs from Holy
Writ. "

1. The evidence of Mormons themselves, engaged in the

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 77

affair, as shown by the statements of Judge Cradlebaugh
and Deputy-Marshal Rodgers.                    

2.   The statements of Indians in the neighborhood of the
massacre: these statements are shown, not only by Cradle-
baugh and Rodgers, but by a number of military officers, and
by J. Forney, who was, in 1859, Superintendent of Indian
Affairs for the Territory. To all these were such statements
freely and frequently made by the Indians.

3.   The testimony of the children saved from the massacre.

4.   The children and the property of the emigrants found
in possession of the Mormons, and that possession traced
back to the very day after the massacre.

5.   The failure of Brigham Young to embody any account
of it in his Report as Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
Also his failure to make any allusion to it whatever from
the pulpit, until several years after the occurrence.

6.   The failure of the " Deseret News, " the Church organ,
and the only paper then published in the Territory, to notice
the massacre, until several months afterward, and then only
to deny that Mormons were engaged in it.

7.   The flight to the mountains of men high in authority
in the Mormon Church and State, when this affair was
brought to the ordeal of a judicial investigation.

8.   The testimony of R. P. Campbell, Capt. 2d Dragoons,
who was sent in the spring of 1859 to Santa Clara, to pro-
tect travellers on the road to California, and to inquire into
Indian depredations.

In his report to Major E. J. Potter, Assistant Adjutant-
General U. S. Army, dated July 6, 1859, he says: —

" These emigrants were here met by the Mormons (assisted by
such of the wretched Indians of the neighborhood as they could
force or persuade to join), and massacred, with the exception of
such infant children as the Mormons thought too young to re-
member, or tell of the affair.

" The Mormons were led on by John D. Lee, then a high dig-
nitary in the self-styled Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, and Isaac Haight, now a dignitary in the same. "

78                POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

Again, after relating briefly the massacre, he says: —

" These facts were derived from children who did remember,
and could tell of the matter; from Indians, and from the Mormons
themselves. "

9. The testimony of Hon. J. Forney, Superintendent of
Indian Affairs.

In his letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs at
Washington, dated Provo City, U. T., March, 1859, he

says: —

" Facts in my possession warrant me in estimating that there
was distributed, a few days after the massacre, among the leading
church dignitaries, $30, 000 worth of property. "

Again, in another letter to the Commissioner, written from
Great Salt Lake City, in August of the same year, he says: —

" From the evidence in my possession, I am justified in the
declaration that this massacre was concocted by white men, and
consummated by whites and Indians. The names of many of the
whites engaged in this terrible affair have already been given to
the proper legal authorities.... The children were sold out
to different persons in Cedar City, Harmony, and Painter Creek.
Bills are now in my possession from different individuals, asking
payment from the Government. I cannot condescend to become
the medium of even transmitting such claims to the Depart-
ment. "

The following is from the Annual Report of Superintend-
ent Forney, made in September, 1859: —

" Mormons have been accused of aiding the Indians in the com-
mission of this crime. I commenced my inquiries without preju-
dice or selfish motive, and with the hope that, in the progress of
my inquiries, facts would enable me to exculpate all white men
from any participation in this tragedy, and saddle the guilt exclu-
sively on the Indians; but, unfortunately, every step in my in-
quiries satisfied me that the Indians acted only a secondary part...
... White men were present, and directed the Indians. John
D. Lee, of Harmony, told me in his own house, last April, in

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                  79

presence of two persons, that he was present three successive days
during the fight, and was present during the fatal day. "...

We close the testimony of Forney, by giving entire a letter
from him to the Department at Washington, —

" Superintendent's Office, Utah,
Great Salt Lake City, September 22, 1859. V

" Sir, — Your letter dated July 2, in which you request me to
ascertain the names of white men, if any, implicated in the Moun-
tain Meadow massacre, reached me several weeks since, about 300
miles west of this city.

" I gave, several months ago, to the Attorney-General, and
several of the United States Judges, the names of those who I
believed were not only implicated, but the hell-deserving scoun-
drels who concocted and brought to a successful termination the
whole affair.

"The following are the names of the persons the most guilty:
Isaac T. Haight, Cedar City, president of several settlements
south; Bishop Smith, Cedar City; John D. Lee, * Harmony; John
M. Higby, Cedar City; Bishop Davis, David Tullis, Santa Clara;
Ira Hatch, Santa Clara. These were the cause of the massacre,
aided by others. It is to be regretted that nothing has yet been
accomplished towards bringing these murderers to justice. I
remain,

" Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"J. FORISTEY,

" Sup't of Indian Affairs, Utali Territory.
* "Hon. A. B. Greenwood,

" Commiss'r Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. "

So far as Brigham Young himself is concerned, the evi-
dence is not so direct, but is scarcely less conclusive.

In addition to the circumstances mentioned, of bis failing
to report the massacre, or to make any mention of it in his
public discourses, and the testimony of the Indians, already
referred to; in addition also to the facts concerning the reve-
lation sent from him, — facts communicated by one intimately
acquainted with the secret history of the church; in addi-

* John D. Lee is an adopted son of Brigham Young.

80                POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

tion to these things, if we reflect for a moment upon the
framework of the Mormon Church, we will find therein still
more cogent evidence.

The organization of the church is such, that no project of
importance is ever undertaken without the express or implied
consent of Young, who is in temporal, as well as spiritual
matters, the head and source of all authority. Now here was
a large train which had lately passed through the place
where Young resided, and his feelings and views in relation
to it would be well known to the leaders of the church.
Can it for a moment be admitted, that members of a com-
munity so organized would undertake so important a proj-
ect as the destruction of that train, requiring, as it did,
the concerted action of forty or fifty persons, without the
express or implied sanction of him who sat at the head of
the community, controlling its every action ?

And if such a thing can be supposed possible, would not
the perpetrators be immediately called to account for assum-
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 emigrants 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 gentile was before them,
it must be appropriated by the Lord's people.

A. great portion of the property was taken to Cedar City,

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 81

deposited in the tithing office, and there sold out. Forney
says, in the Annual Report already quoted from, —

"Whoever may have been the perpetrators of this horrible
deed, no doubt exists in rny 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 his court in Salt
Lake 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 fifteen feet in height. Upon one of the
3tones he caused to be engraved, ' Here lie the bones of one hundred and
twenty men, women, and children, from Arkansas, murdered on the 10th
day of September, 1857. ' Upon a cross-tree, on the beam, he caused to be
painted: 'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will repay it. This
monument is said to have been destroyed the first time Brigham visited
that part of the Territory. "

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 Term, 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. The Mormons, with
their usual shrewdness, take advantage of this, and manage
to control the United States Courts through 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.                 83

Brigham 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 his 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, inflicting 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.

84               POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

" A man by the name of Drown, brought suit upon a promis-
sory note for $480, against the Danite captain, Bill Hickman.
The 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. The 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 off 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 Provo City, com-
mencing April 8th, 1859. An account of his efforts 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 Territorial 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 the juries, they were
discharged, with a scathing rebuke from the Judge. Sitting as a
committing magistrate, he commenced his task alone. He ex-
amined witnesses, made arrests in every quarter, and created a

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 85

consternation 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. "

Governor Cumming 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 Cumming on one side,
and Johnson and Cradlebaugh 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 Cradlebaugh's pro-
ceedings.

Cumming was a native of Georgia. He had married a
daughter of one of the most distinguished physicians of Bos-
ton, a lady of many accomplishments, who accompanied him
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 a
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.

Cradlebaugh, finding he was not supported by Buchanan's
administration, left Utah, and settled in the Territory of Ne-
vada; whence he has been twice sent as delegate to Congress,

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. The Mormons saw this, and at
once resolved upon, planned, and accomplished a brilliant
coup d'etat, 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 weakness 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-
ernor, to succeed Dawson.

CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

Arrival of the New Federal Officers in July, 1862. — Colonel Connor ar-
rives with his Command. — The Message of Gov. 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 Waite 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

POLITICAL HISTORY 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 for indulging in words and
acts of hostility was the Message of Governor Harding to
the Legislature. Therein he called the attention of the peo-
ple, through their representatives, to the practice of polyg-
amy in their midst, 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 offence: —

" 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
delicate 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, or they will soon disappear, from the force of conflict-
ing ideas.

" This proposition is supported 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, we 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

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 shall 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 strange; but that a mother and her
daughters are allowed to fulfil the duties of wives 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 sufficient 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
distribution 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.

" I 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 Acts
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 some instances 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 Territory
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-

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                  91

ever, has the right to defy any law or statute of the United States
with impunity. In doing so 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 the 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 dictates 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

92                POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

opinions of the civilized world, 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 Territory. He
referred 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 officers. 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 common-
school 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 !

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

ism. This subject is more fully examined in another chapter
of this work.

From the delivery 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 performance 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 16th of January,
1863, instructing the Committee on Territories to inquire
and report 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 customs
which have prevailed in all our other Territories in the govern-

94                 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

ment of public affairs 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 most 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 be
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 terms of one of the District Courts.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                  95

The facts were as follows: —

The Territory was divided into three judicial districts.
The First, sometimes called the Provo District, comprised a
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 counties, 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 14th 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 fixing 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 the Secretary's office and called
for the bill, and behold, the word May had been erased, and
the word October inserted instead! It appeared to have

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 Governor 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
which had October in it. And this in 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 Governor'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; in reality, this

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                  97

de facto government was the only one for which the Mor-
mons maintained even the show of respect.

The judicial system 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
Probate Courts any jurisdiction they pleased. The Mor-
mons, never behind in availing themselves of all. advantages,
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
these 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 question 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 other wholesome
and salutary provisions.

7

98                 POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

The bill was carefully drawn, and was submitted to the
inspection of his associate, Judge Drake, and of Governor
Harding, — Judge Kinney being absent from the Territory.
It received the unqualified approval of Drake and Harding,
and, with their indorsement upon it, was sent to Washing-
ton. In due time it was introduced in Congress by Senator
Browning, and referred to the proper committee.

The introduction of this bill was the signal for another
outbreak. The news was telegraphed to Salt Lake, and im-
mediately Brigham called a meeting at the Tabernacle.

The meeting was held on the 3d of March, 1863. No-
tice having been extensively circulated, some two or three
thousand persons assembled, excited by exaggerated state-
ments concerning attempts upon the part of the federal
officers 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 from those who are ostensibly our
guardians, and the guardians of our 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

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. That
document was not hastily written, as it shows upon its face that
it had been well digested, and every word and sentence carefully
weighed.

... " That he is the most vindictive enemy we have, is
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
He had lived, who would undoubtedly be the best judges of his
actions.

" We have further been of the opinion that while acting in a
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 what,
as regards this matter, the usage has always been. The Governor

100               POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

and Judges want to place the power in the hands of the United
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 !" on the part of the
audience. ]

Brigham Young's Speech.

At the close of Elder Taylor's speech Brigham arose, and
on advancing to the speaker's desk was greeted with vocifer-
ous applause, and immediately 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 Governor 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 he came to Utah last July, the Governor
sought to ingratiate himself into the esteem of our prominent citi-
zens, with whom he had early intercourse, and professed great
friendship and attachment for the people of the Territory. He
was then full of their praises, and said he was ready to declare
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 were 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 work 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 the mails stopped and turned by the way of Pan-
ama. Do you acknowledge this 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 we are to be tried by such men,
what would become of us ?

102               POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

" In regard to the war now desolating the country, it is but the
fulfilment of the prophecies of Joseph Smith, which he told me
thirty years ago. Brother Joseph said that the South would rise
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 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. I 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 ^l 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
these men were not above taking money for such a purpose,
under pretence of other business.

The injustice and falsity of these statements concerning
the bill introduced into Congress, and 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
right 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 officers 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 adju-

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 103

dicated upon in the courts. This was foreseen by Brigham.
He saw that he was about to lose the powerful enginery of
the judicial system of the Territory, then under his control.
Hence the demonstration.

There are but two ways in which this theocratic despotism
can be met and overthrown. One is, by the people of the
Territory, aided by some such 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-
less 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 for the occasion, were passed
without a dissenting voice: —

" Resolved, 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.

" Resolved, That we consider the attempt to possess himself of
all military authority and dictation, by appointing all the militia
officers, is a stretch 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
as 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, nor
witness, without protest, the assassin's dagger plunged into the
very vitals of our national institutions.

" Resolved, That while we will, at all times, honor and magnify
all wholesome laws of our country, and desire to be subservient
to their dictates, and the equitable administration of justice, we
will resist, in a proper manner, every attempt upon the liberties,
guaranteed by our fathers, whether made by insidious foes or
open traitors.

" Resolved, That a committee be appointed by the meeting to
wait upon the Governor, and Judges Waite and Drake, to request
them to resign their offices and leave the Territory.

" Resolved, That John Taylor, Jetu Clinton, and Orson Pratt,
Sen., be that committee.

" Resolved, That we petition the President of the United States
to remove Governor Harding, and Judges Waite and Drake, and
to appoint good men in their stead. "

The following is the petition to the President, which was
signed by several thousand persons: —

" To His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States: —

"Sir, —We, your petitioners, citizens of the Territory of Utah,
respectfully represent that,

" Whereas, From the most reliable information in our posses-
sion, we are satisfied that His Excellency Stephen S. Harding,
Governor, Charles B. Waite and Thomas J. Drake, Associate
Justices, are strenuously endeavoring to create mischief and stir
up strife between the people of the Territory of Utah and the
troops now in Camp Douglas, (situated within the limits of Great
Salt Lake City, ) and, of far graver import in our nation's diffi-
culties, between the people of the aforesaid Territory and the
Government of the United States:

" Therefore, We respectfully petition your Excellency to forth-
with remove the aforesaid persons from the offices they now hold,
and to appoint in their places men who will attend to the duties
of their offices, honor their appointments, and regard the rights
of all, attending to their own affairs and leaving alone the affairs

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                105

of others; and in all their conduct demeaning themselves as honor-
able citizens and officers worthy of commendation by yourself,
our Government, and all good men; and for the aforesaid removals
and appointments your petitioners will continue most respectfully
to pray.

" Great Salt Lake City, Territory of Utah, March 3, 1863. "

The best reply to the charges contained in the foregoing
petition, is the counter-petition sent to the President by the
military officers of General Connor's command, of which the
following is a copy: —

" Headquarters, Column for Utah, Camp Douglas,
Utah Territory, near Salt Lake City, March 8, 1863.

" To His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States: —

" It is an unusual proceeding for officers of the army to join in
representing to the Government their knowledge of facts and
opinion of proceedings, having reference to civil authority, or to
the actions of the people for expressing their displeasure at the
conduct of their officers.

" The condition of affairs in the Territory of Utah, however,
and the result of this condition of affairs, which culminated in a
mass meeting in Salt Lake City on the 3d inst, in our opinion
demands from us a respectful statement to your Excellency of the
matter having allusion to ourselves, simply as an act of duty we
owe to our Government.

" We do not propose to inquire into recommendations affecting
the laws of the Territory, made by the Governor and Associate
Judges of the Supreme Court of Utah. The Government must
know, as regards the justice or injustice of the proposed amend-
ments to existing laws, made by the officers above named.

" But when the community residing in Salt Lake City solemnly
declare in their petition to your Excellency, that Governor Hard-
ing, and Judges Waite and Drake are studiously endeavoring to
create mischief and stir up strife between the people of the Terri-
tory and the troops now at Camp Douglas (situated within the
limits of Salt Lake City), they simply assert a base and unquali-
fied falsehood.

" On the contrary, it has been the aim of these gentlemen to

106               POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

preserve friendly relations between the people of Utah and the
troops, who have also labored to the same end, now stationed at
Camp Douglas.

" And further; during a period of nearly five months, we know
that Governor Harding, and Judges Drake and Waite ' have at-
tended to the duties of their offices, honored their appointments,
regarded the rights of all, attended to their own affairs, ' and have
not disturbed or interfered with the affairs of others, outside of
their legitimate duty to the Government; ' and in all their con-
duct, ' His Excellency Governor Harding, and Judges Drake and
Waite, have, during our acquaintance with them, ' demeaned
themselves as honorable citizens, and officers worthy of commen-
dation by your Excellency, our Government, and all good men, '

" And we further represent to your Excellency that these offi-
cers have been true and faithful to the Government, and fearless
in the discharge of their duties to all. They have, on all proper
occasions, spoken plainly to the people of their duty. They have
not been subservient to any person or persons, and they stand
proudly preeminent as in contrast with other officers who have
represented in the past, and who do now represent, the Federal
Government in this Territory.

" Our respectful opinion is, that there is no good and true cause
for the removal of His Excellency Governor Harding, and Judges
Drake and Waite, from the offices they now hold.

" With much respect, we have the honor to remain your Excel-
lency's obedient servants, —

" P. Edward Connor, Colonel 3d Infantry, California Volun-
teers, commanding District of Utah; Geo. S. Evans, Colonel 2d
Cavalry, Cal. Vol.; P. A. Gallagher, Major 3d Infantry, C. V.;
J. M. Williamson, Surgeon, 2d Cavalry, C. V.; Robert K. Reid,
Surgeon 3d Infantry, C. V.; George Wallace, Capt. and Asst.
Q. M. U. S. A.; Thomas B. Gately, 1st Lieut, and Reg. Q. M.;
William L. Ustick, 1st Lieut, and Adjt. 3d Infantry, and A. A. A.
G.; T. S. Harris, 1st Lieut, and Adjt. 2d Cavalry, C. V.; Henry
R. Miller, 2d Lieut, and Reg. C. S., 2d Cavalry, C. V.; F. A.
Peel, 2d Lieut, and Reg. Q. M. 2d Cavalry, C. Y.; Charles Tup-
per, Captain 3d Infantry, C. Y.; John B. Urmy, Captain
3d Infantry, C. Y.; Samuel N. Hoyt, Captain 3d Infantry,
C. Y.; David Black, Captain 3d Infantry, C. Y.; S. P. Smith,
Captain 2d Cavalry, C.. Y.: Daniel McLane, Captain 2d Cav-

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.              107

airy, C. V.; George F. Price, Captain 2d Cavalry, C. Y.;
David J. Berry, Captain 2d Cavalry, C. V.; Josiah Hosmer, 1st
Lieut. 3d Infantry, C. V.; James W. Stillman, 1st Lieut. 3d In-
fantry, C. V.; Lysander Washburn, 2d Lieut. 3d Infantry, C. V.;
Michael McDermott, 1st Lieut. 3d Infantry, C. V.; John Quinn,
1st Lieut. 2d Cavalry, C. V.; Cyrus D. Clark, 1st Lieut. 2d Cav-
alry, C. V.; Francis Honeyman, 2d Lieut. 3d Infantry, C. V.;
S. E. Joslyn, 2d Lieut. 3d Infantry, C. V.; James Finnerty, 2d
Lieut. 3d Infantry, C. V.; Edward Ingham, 2d Lieut. 3d Infantry,
C. Y.; Anthony Ether, 2d Lieut. 2d Cavalry, C. V.; J. Bradley,
2d Lieut. 2d Cavalry, C. V.; Geo. D. Conrad, 2d Lieut. 2d Cav-
alry, C. V. " *

But to return to the meeting, and subsequent proceed-
ings: —

The next morning, the Committee appointed to wait upon
the officers and " request" them to resign and leave the Ter-
ritory, called upon Governor Harding, at his residence, and
presented him with a copy of the " Deseret News, " contain-
ing the reported proceedings of the meeting.

The Governor treated them with much courtesy, and after
examining the paper, addressed the Committee, as follows: —

" Gentlemen, I believe I understand this matter perfectly. You
may go back and tell your constituents that I will not resign my
office, and will not leave this Territory, until it shall please the
President to recall me. I came here a messenger of peace and
good-will to your people, but I must confess that my options have
changed in many respects. But I came also, sirs, to discharge my
duties honestly and faithfully to the Government, and I intend to
do so to the last. It is in your power to do me personal violence,
— to shed my blood; but this will not deter me from my pur-
pose. If the President can be made to believe that I have been
unfaithful to the trust he confided to me, he will doubtless remove
me; and I then shall be glad to return to my home in the States,
and will do so, carrying with me no unjust resentments towards
you or any one else.

" But I will not be driven away; I will not cowardly abandon

* The above embraces all the commissioned officers then stationed at
Camp Douglas.

108               POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

my post. I may be in danger in staying; but my purpose is fixed.
I desire to have no trouble; I am anxious to live and again meet
my family, — but if necessary, an administrator can settle my
affairs.

, " Your allegations in this paper are false, — without the shadow
of truth. You call my Message insulting, and you dare not print
it for fear your people may read it for themselves. To say that I
have wronged you when I said that you are disloyal, is simply
preposterous. Your own people — your public teachers and bish-
ops — admit the fact.

" Let me say to you in conclusion, — and as this is said to be a
land of prophets, I too will prophesy, — If, while in the discharge
of my duties, one drop of my blood be shed by your ministers of
vengeance, that it will be avenged, and not one stone or adobe in
this city will be left upon another. I have now done, and you un-
derstand me. "

During this reply the Committee sat quiet, with the excep-
tion of Elder Taylor, who several times attempted to make
some explanation; but the Governor refused to hear him, and
went through with his remarks without stopping to listen, or
reply to any new matter.

Elder Taylor then turned to Judge Drake, and remarked
that he might consider the resolutions as addressed also to
him.

The Judge responded as follows: —

" The communications you have made are of some importance,
and as they are intended to affect me, I desire to say something
before you go.

" It is no small thing to request a citizen to leave his country.
Are you aware of the magnitude or of the baseness of what you
have undertaken ? I deny that you have any cause for such con-
duct toward me. I am an American citizen, and as such have a
right to go to every part of the Republic. I have the right to
petition, or ask the Government to pass laws, or to amend them.
You, Taylor and Pratt, are men of experience, and reputed to be
men of learning, and ought to know better than to insult a man
by such means.

" It is mean and contemptible. On your part, Taylor, a for-

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                109

eigner, 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 him, 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, he 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, or
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. "

110               POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

These replies were published in California, and in the
Eastern papers, and gave general satisfaction. The people
rejoiced that at last the Government had representatives in
Utah who could neither be wheedled nor bullied out of their
rights, nor frightened 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, tier 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-
served 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 the 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 feared by the Mormon leaders. "

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                111

The following, from the same 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, un-
mindful 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 conqueror's command,
and from which he fled in dismay; so, in the present instance, the
'Lion of the Lord' is sorely affrighted at the hideous aspect of the
devil (' of a muss') he has raised, which, he has the sagacity to see,
may not 'down' at his bidding, 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 he
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-
nor'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
men, or even five hundred, and I 'd see them damned first, and
then they could n't have them! What do you think of that ?

112             POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

[Loud cries of " Good, good ! " and great applause. ] We have
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 hands, 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 ?
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 gnaw mules' bones, 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-headed, 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, but 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 after his departure, a signal of distress was hastily
thrown to the breeze, from a small flag-staff on Brigham's ' Lion
House.... Immediately a commotion was seen, and soon
armed men began to pour along the different streets, and the
report was carried, as on the wings of lightning, to the uttermost

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.               118

parts of the city, that an order was being made out for the arrest of
Brigham and his counsellors, and that Col. Connor had been down
to make arrangements for enforcing the writ. Men with muskets
and rifles, — some few 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 be-
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 tithing-office: —

" America. 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 the 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
so, 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-
ernor Harding, and Judges Waite and Drake; that they were
corresponding with the authorities at Washington, and moving
everything that could be moved to bring the army here in con-

8

114               POLITICAL HISTORY 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 after, from a signal given, which was previously
understood, about one thousand citizens were armed, and on duty,
and in another half hour another thousand men were on duty.
This sudden demonstration proved to them that their secret was
known, and that we were fully prepared for them. In the mean
time our ' outside' friends in this city telegraphed to those inter-
ested in the mail and telegraph lines, that they must work for the
removal of the troops, Governor Harding, Judges Waite and
Drake, else there would be difficulty, and the mail and telegraph
lines would be destroyed. Their moneyed interest has given them
great energy in our behalf. They have placed their line at the
disposal of President Young, to be used to Washington, or New
York. We fully expect the Colonel, Governor, and Judges will
be recalled. "

Here, it will be noticed, is the same covert threat con-
tained in Brigham Young's speech, that the mail and tele-
graph lines would be destroyed, if the federal officers should
be retained at their posts. It is to be regretted that this
standing menace should so far have had its effect, as to in-
duce the President, some two or three months afterward, to
recall Governor Harding from his position. It is true, by
transferring him to the Chief Justiceship of Colorado Terri-
tory, his removal was disconnected with any censure of his
administration. It still remained, however, a substantial
yielding to the arbitrary demands of Brigham Young, and as
such, had a direct tendency to encourage him in his lawless
proceedings, and to postpone for years the solution of the
Utah problem.

Judges Waite and Drake had, immediately after the dem-
onstration of the 3d of March, written to the President,
giving it as their opinion that the laws were nugatory, and

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 115

the Organic Act entirely inoperative in the Territory, and
declining to hold any terms of the District Court in their
respective districts until they should be properly supported
by the military power of the Government; at the same time
giving it as their opinion, that such a support should be at
least five thousand men, well armed, equipped, and provided.

The failure to furnish this force, and the subsequent change
in the governorship of the Territory, satisfied them that the
Government was not then prepared to meet the questions
which had arisen in such a manner as the dignity and honor
of the nation required, and accordingly all effort to further
counteract the evil effects of this intolerant theocracy were,
for the time, abandoned.

Judge Waite, after holding, with his associates, in July,
1863, a term of the Supreme Court, at which there was not
a single case on the docket, left the Territory in disgust, and
established himself in the practice of his profession in Idaho
City, Idaho Territory. He resigned his office, and was suc-
ceeded, in the spring of 1864, by Judge McCurdy, the pres-
ent incumbent.

Governor Harding was succeeded, in May, 1863, by James
Duane Doty, who, at the time of his appointment, was Super-
intendent of Indian Affairs. Governor Doty is a man of
sound judgment, and of large experience in public affairs;
and does as well as any man could in his embarrassing posi-
tion. But his governorship is merely nominal. With the
form and semblance, he lacks all the substance of power;
and where he should order, he must satisfy himself with
request and expostulation.

Judge Drake still remains in Utah, and with all the talent,
energy, and experience necessary to fill his position to the
great benefit of the people, he is obliged to remain entirely
inactive, and goes through the forms of holding court, with
scarcely an attempt to administer justice to the whole peo-
ple, so well persuaded is he that all such attempts are futile
in the present condition of affairs.

116             POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

Gen. Connor also remains, and, considering the small
force at his command, has accomplished wonders. By his
bold and fearless vindication of the rights and interests of
the Government, guided, at the same time, in all his acts by
great discretion and moderation, he has compelled some
show of respect for the federal authority.

Neither Gen. Connor nor Judge Waite 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
so 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. Calder. " 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 the 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 be 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 brief notice of the federal officers stationed and resid-
ing in Utah, while the writer was living in that Territoryj
will close the present chapter.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.               119

Hon. Stephen S. Harding, who was Governor from the
spring of 1862 for about one year, is from Milan, Indiana.
He is about fifty years of age; is a sound lawyer, and a man
of extraordinary energy and decision of character. These
traits are modified, in some degree, by considerable ambition,
and great love of approbation. In his administration of
Utah affairs, so far as he was governed by this feeling, he
labored for the respect and approval of the great body of the
American people, rather than of the masses by whom he was
immediately surrounded.

That he possesses much personal courage is evidenced by
many of his official acts, some of which he had reason to be-
lieve would subject him at once to personal danger. The
presence of the military in the immediate neighborhood was
sufficient to prevent any open outbreak; still there were
many ways in which his personal safety might be jeopard-
ized, without subjecting the perpetrators of the acts to pun-
ishment.

So well is this understood in Salt Lake, that it requires a
high degree of moral courage to enable one to do any act
offensive to " the powers that be" in the Holy City.

Every attempt was made to seduce him from the path of
duty, not omitting the same appliances which had been
brought to bear upon Steptoe and Dawson, but all in vain.

His family remained at Milan, except his son, Attila, who
was with the Governor at Salt Lake, and acted as his pri-
vate secretary.

Hon. James Duane Doty, the successor of Harding, and
the present Governor of the Territory, was, for nearly two
years previous to receiving the appointment of Governor,
Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Territory. He was
appointed to succeed Harding in April or May, 1863.

James Duane Doty, Governor of Utah, was born at Salem,
in the County of Washington and State of New York, on
the 5th day of November, a. d. 1799, the last year of the
last century.

120              POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

He emigrated to Detroit, Michigan, where he was admit-
ted to the Supreme Court, and settled in the practice of the
law in the year 1818, and was one of the earliest emi-
grants to that State.

The next year he was elected Clerk of the Common Coun-
cil of the City, and appointed Secretary to the Legislature,
which was then composed of the Governor and Judges of
the Supreme Court; and was also appointed a Notary Pub-
lic, and soon afterwards Clerk of the Supreme Court of the
Territory by the Judges of that court.

In 1820 he accompanied Governor Cass, as Secretary, in
his expedition to the sources of the Mississippi, travelling a
distance of over four thousand miles through the Indian
Country in a birch-bark canoe, from the 20th of May to the
20th of November.

In this year he revised the laws of the Territory, which
were published by the authority of the Legislature.

In 1821 he was admitted an attorney of the Supreme
Court of the United States at Washington.

In 1823 the country north of lakes Huron and Michigan,
and west of lakes Michigan and Superior, was made by Con-
gress a judicial district, and he was appointed by James Mon-
roe its Judge, with the title of " an additional Judge of the
Territory of Michigan. " He performed the duties of this
office until the year 1832, — having married, and fixed his
residence at Green Bay, then the largest settlement in the
country north or west of Detroit.

In 1832 he was appointed by the Secretary of War a
Commissioner to locate Military Roads from Fort Howard,
at Green Bay, to Fort Crawford on Prairie du Chien, and to
Fort Dearborn at the mouth of Chicago Creek, now the site
of the city of Chicago, — between which points there were
then scarcely twenty white inhabitants.

In 1834 and 1835 he served in the Legislative Council of
Michigan, having been elected by the voters west of the
Lake; and introduced the measure of a State government,
which was adopted bv the Council.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 121

He contended for the right of the people to form a gov-
ernment for themselves, under the provisions of the Ordi-
nance of 1787.

By this measure a territorial government was obtained for
Wisconsin, and a permanent separation from Michigan of the
country west of Lake Michigan, which had been attached to
that Territory in 1818, when Illinois was admitted into the
Union. It had been sought in vain of Congress from the
year 1825, — the application having been successfully op-
posed by the party averse to laying the foundation of new
non-slaveholding States.

In 1837 he was elected Delegate to Congress from Wis-
consin, and continued to serve in that office by reelection
until the year 1841, when he was appointed Governor and
Superintendent of Indian Affairs in that Territory; and as
Commissioner held treaties at Qeyoowurah, on Minnesota
River, with the Dakotahs, and with the bands of that nation
on the Mississippi River.

It was in 1837 that he laid out the town of Madison, and
succeeded in making it the seat of government, — one of the
most valuable services which he ever rendered that State. It
is now considered one of the most beautiful sites for a town.
When selected by him there was not a white settler within
forty miles, and it was occupied by Winnebago Indians.

He was elected and served as a member of the Conven-
tion to form a State Constitution in 1846 for Wisconsin.

In 1849 he was elected in the Third District of Wisconsin
a Representative in Congress, and was reflected in 1851, —
serving on several committees. It was during his first term
as a member that he was declared an Abolitionist — now no
longer a term of reproach — by Father Ritchie and the
Southern leaders, because he declined to vote for a repeal
of the duty on lead.

In 1861 he was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs
in the Territory of Utah; and in 1862 was appointed a Com-
missioner to negotiate treaties with the Shoshonees, — which

122              POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

were held by him in 1863. These were the first treaties
ever made by the United States with this nation of In-
dians.

In May, 1863, he was appointed Governor of the Terri-
tory of Utah. During his long public service he has had
the acquaintance, and enjoyed the friendship, of most of the
eminent men connected with the Government of our coun-
try. Of those who were on the stage when he entered pub-
lic life, it is believed that but one is now living, — Gen. Cass,
who was his generous patron in boyhood, and has been his
friend during this long period of an eventful life. *

Hon. Thomas J. Drake, Associate Justice, is from Pontiac,
Michigan, where he had resided from early manhood. He is
now over sixty years of age. He has a thin, wiry frame,
dark hair, and a nervous, bilious temperament.

His mind is vigorous and clear, and his virtue and integ-
rity of the old Roman order. Of blameless life and man-
ners, all the shafts of his accusers fall harmless at his feet.

The wrongs and iniquities he has witnessed, added to per-
sonal ill-treatment, has engendered an intense hatred of the
despots who sit enthroned over the people of Utah, but he
has the most kindly feelings toward the great body of the
people.

Lacking all adequate power, he is obliged to sit quietly
by, and see wrongs perpetrated, which he is utterly unable
to redress.

Judge Waite, the Associate of Harding and Drake, was
from the State of Illinois, where he had resided since the
year 1840.

* Since writing the above we have to record the death of Gov. Doty,
who departed this life at Salt Lake City, full of years and honors, and was
accompanied to his temporary resting place by all the Federal Officers, and
a large concourse of citizens, by whom he was respected and loved as a
father.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.              128

At the time of his appointment, in February, 1862, he
was thirty-eight years of age. He was then living near
Chicago, in which city he had resided and practised law
since 1853. He had previously practiced his profession at
Rock Island, Illinois, where he was admitted in 1847.
After leaving Utah, in 1863, he resumed his practice in
Idaho, where he resided three years, during a portion of
which time he was District Attorney of the Third Judicial
District of Idaho, embracing Boise County. In the fall of
1866 he returned to Illinois, and again took his place with
the Chicago Bar.

Hon. John Titus, who succeeded Kinney, and is the pres-
ent Chief Justice of the Territory, is somewhat past fifty
years of age, — a gentleman of much dignity and urbanity
of manners. He is large and well formed, and has an ac-
tive temperament. He still occupies the position of Chief
Justice, which he has filled with integrity and ability.

Chief Justice Titus was appointed from the Philadelphia
bar.

Dr. Frank Fuller was Secretary of the Territory about
two years, and was succeeded by Mr. Reed, in the fall of
1863.

- Dr. Fuller is from New Hampshire, and a dentist by pro-
fession and practice. He was attentive and obliging in his
official intercourse with all parties. He is a polished gentle-
man also in social intercourse.

He was one of the few federal officers in Salt Lake at
that time who was so fortunate as never seriously to offend
Brigham Young. Doubtless his position brought him less in
collision with that gentleman than was the case with other
officers. If he saw any difficulties approaching, by a little
shrewd management he carefully avoided them. If in thus
steering between Scylla and Charybdis he did not always
meet the approbation of his fellow-officers, he managed at

124                POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

least to avoid any open differences, and thus kept up the
appearance of friendship with all.

He enjoyed for a long time the confidence and apparent
respect of Brigham, to a greater degree, perhaps, than Kin-
ney himself.

From Salt Lake he went to San Francisco, where he en-
gaged 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
in 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, Reed was the acting Governor, and
as such evinced a high order of administrative talent. The
affairs of the Territory were, during that time, conducted
with 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 official 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 business,
wherein he attained a handsome competence.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.                 127

He was married at Stockton, and now has two children
living. During his residence in Stockton, Captain Connor
took an active interest in 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
Infantry, California Volunteers. With the expectation that
his regiment was to be sent East, he promptly raised 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 1862-63, he
planned and prosecuted a successful campaign against hostile
Indians, and on the 29th of January, 1863, fought 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 successful.
By Brigham Young he is at once hated and feared. He is
but little past forty years of age.

CHAPTER VII.

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

Organization of the Mormon Church. — Functions of the various Officers.
The Two Priesthoods. — Mode of Treating Dissenters or "Apostates. "—
Divisions in the Church. — The Gladdenites. — History of the Morris-
ites. — The Josephites. —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 by
his single will, in all their affairs, both spiritual and tem-
poral.

This is owing, not to any peculiarity in the church 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, — The 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-
sellors. The President is also Seer, Revelator, Translator,
and Prophet. He rules in all spiritual and temporal affairs.

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 129

Secondly, — The Apostles, These are to build up, organ-
ize, and preside over churches, administer the ordinances, etc.

Thirdly, — The Seventies. The Quorums of the Seventies
are to travel in all the world, preach the gospel, and admin-
ister Its ordinances and blessings. There is, also, the Pa-
triarch, whose duty is to bless the fatherless, to prophesy
what shall befall 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.

The Elders are to preach and to baptize; to ordain other
Elders, also Priests, 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-
ducts the temporal business of the church, and sits in judg-
ment on transgressors.

The Priest is to preach, baptize, administer the sacrament
of the Lord's Supper, and visit and exhort the saints.

The Teacher is to watch over and strengthen the church,
etc.

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 resume of the church organization, it will be
seen that it is sufficient for the purpose. All these officers
are but mediums for the transmission of the will of the Pres-
ident. Nor is it confined to spiritual affairs. Under the

9

130 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

form of a church organization, this system absorbs not only
the religious, but all 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 orders of the Priesthood, to which these officers are
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 the
Melchisedec 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 but
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-
mon, the case receives a favorable consideration.

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 131

Rare exceptions may be cited where, from motives of
policy, this rule is relaxed or departed from. For instance,
in the winter of 1863-64, Jason Luce, a Mormon, was tried,
convicted, and shot, for the murder of a gentile in Salt Lake
City. But the 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 Lake 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 as
religious, is well described in the following extract from the
Salt Lake Correspondence of the " Chicago Tribune " of May,
1863: —

" The machinery of the church consists of Brigham, who is
greatly pleased and flattered by the blasphemous title of the
' 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, the Danites, or ' Destroying Angels, ' who are scat-
tered throughout the Territory, and who superintend the temporal
and spiritual affairs of the people in every city, village, ' stake, '
and hamlet in the same.

" These various organizations and persons, from the Second
President to the red-haired Danite, who is simply the employed
assassin of the Great Head, are the shafts, driving-wheel, cog and
spur-wheels, belts and pulleys of the great machine called the
Church, and as such are made to perform their various functions
with a precision and fitness of things that is wonderful indeed.

... " Brigham, like a skilful engineer, stands on the plat-

132 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

form of his locomotive, with hand placed upon the lever, sheltered
in the caboose, with peep-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 is
most persistently sounded when he hears the restive murmurings
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, who 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 bodies
and souls — on the solution of that dearest of all problems to their
minds, the ultimate triumph of the ' Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints' (as it is blasphemously called) over all gov-
ernments, powers, and principalities of earth !"

In reference to the organization of the church, and the
functions of the respective priesthoods, the following is
Brigham's own explanation of the whole matter. In this
exhibit will be seen how little importance he attaches to the
High Council.

Speaking of laying the corner-stones of the Temple, he
says: —

" I am not a visionary man, neither am I given much to prophe-
sying. When I want any of that done I call on Brother Heber, —
he is my prophet; he loves to prophesy, and I love to hear him.

" Now, who do we set, in the first place, to lay the chief, the
South-East corner-stone ? We begin with the First Presidency,
and the Apostleship. Who comes next in the church ? The
Bishop is the next standing authority in the Kingdom of God;
therefore we set the Bishop at the second corner-stone of the

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 133

building. The Melchisedec Priesthood, with the altar, fixtures,
and furniture, belonging thereto, is situated on the East, and the
Aaronic Priesthood belongs on the West; consequently the Pre-
siding Bishop laid the second corner-stone.

" The High-Priests' Quorum, do they come next in order ? No,
not any more than the Elders, nor the Elders any more than the
High Council, nor the High Council any more than the Teachers,
Deacons, or Priests. The High-Priests' Quorum is a standing
quorum, abiding at home. So is the Elders' Quorum. But the
place of the Bishop is in the temporal affairs of the church. So,
then, what shall we say ? Why, out of due respect to the High-
Priesthood, which is nothing more than right and reasonable, we
say to the High-Priests, ' Lay the third corner-stone. '

" We started at the South-East corner, with the Apostleship;
then the lesser, Aaronic Priesthood, laid the second stone; we
bring them in our ranks to the third stone, which the High-Priests
and Elders laid; we take them under our wing to the North-East
corner, which the Twelve and Seventies laid, and then again join
the Apostleship. It circumscribes every other priesthood, for it is
the Priesthood of Melchisedec, which is after the order of the Son
of God. "*

But all this arrangement and subordination does not suffice
to prevent disaffection in the church. This will arise, and
results in differences, schisms, and divisions.

Not to notice smaller matters of difference, three system-
atic and organized attempts have been made by large bodies
of Mormons, since their arrival in Utah, to throw off their
allegiance to Brigham Young. They have all been met and
treated by him with a fierce bitterness, indicating how thor-
oughly he is alarmed by such movements.

The third of these is now in " progress, and promises to be
successful.

The first of the " apostasies, " as they are called by the
Mormons, was headed by Gladden Bishop, in 1852-53, and
his followers were called " Gladdenites. "

Some idea of the manner in which they were met by

* April 6, 1863. Journ. of Dis., Vol. I. p. 135.

134 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

Brigham, and of his mode of dealing with apostates gener-
ally, may be gathered from the following extracts from a
sermon preached by him in March, 1853: —

" I will ask, What has produced your persecutions and sorrow ?
What has been the starting-point of all your afflictions V They
began with apostates in your midst; those disaffected spirits caused
others to come in, worse than they, who would run out and bring
in all the devils they possibly could. That has been the starting-
point and grand cause of all our difficulties, every time we were
driven. I am coming to this place, — I am coming nearer home.
... Do we see apostates among us now ? We do.

"When a man comes right out like an independent devil, and
says, ' Damn Mormonism and all the Mormons, ' and is off with
himself to California, I say he is a gentleman by the side of a
nasty, sneaking apostate, who is opposed to nothing but Christian-
ity. I say to the former, ' Go in peace, sir, and prosper if you
can. ' But we have a set of spirits here, worse than such a char-
acter. When I went from meeting last Sabbath, my ears were
saluted with an apostate, crying in the streets here. I want to
know if any one of you who has got the spirit of Mormonism in
you, the spirit that Joseph and Hyrum had, or that we have here,
would say, ' Let us hear both sides of the question. Let us listen
and prove all things. ' What do you want to prove ? Do you
want to prove that an old apostate, who has been cut off from the
church thirteen times for lying, is anything worthy of notice ? I
heard that a certain picture-maker in this city, when the boys
would have moved away the wagon in which this apostate was
standing, became violent with them, saying, ' Let this man alone;
these are saints that you are persecuting. ' [Sneeringly. ]

" We want such men to go to California, or anywhere they

choose. I say to those persons, ' You must not court persecution

here, lest you get so much of it you will not know what to do with

it. Do not court persecution. ' We have known Gladden Bishop

for more than twenty years, and know him to be a poor, dirty

curse. Here is sister Vilate Kimball, brother Heber's wife, has

borne more from that man than any other woman on earth could

bear; but she won't bear it again. I say again, you Gladdenites,

do not court persecution, or you will get more than you want, and

it will come quicker than you want it.

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 135

" I say to you, Bishops, do not allow them to preach in your
wards. Who broke the roads to these valleys ? Did this little
nasty Smith, and his wife ? No. They stayed in St. Louis while
we did it, peddling ribbons, and kissing the gentiles. I know
what they have done here, — they have asked exorbitant prices
for their nasty, stinking ribbons. [Voices, ' That 's true. '] We
broke the roads to this country.

"Now, you Gladdenites, keep) your tongues still, lest sudden
destruction come upon you. I say, rather than that apostates
should flourish here, I will unsheathe my bowie-knife, and conquer
or die. [Great commotion in the congregation, and a simultane-
ous burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration. ] Now, you nasty
apostates, clear out, or ' judgment will be laid to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet. ' [Voices generally, ' Go it, go it. ']
If you say it is all right, raise your hands. [All hands up. ] Let
us call upon the Lord to assist us in this and every "other good
work. "*

In the same discourse he commanded the Bishops to " kick
these men out of their wards, " and warned the apostates
themselves that " they were not playing with shadows, " but
" it was the voice and the hand of the Almighty they were
trying to play with, and they would find themselves mistaken
if they thought to the contrary. "

In accordance with this bloody teaching, many unfortunate
apostates who were unwilling or unable to leave the country,
" bit the dust. " They felt the literal edge of the bowie-knife
thus from the pulpit unsheathed for their destruction. Many
of the murders committed during the succeeding six or seven
years were fully authorized by these instructions; and yet
Brigham, unable to deny that they had been committed, has
openly boasted that his enemies have been unable to trace
any of them to him, and fasten them upon him.

He unsheathes the bowie-knife, and issues a general man-
date; but when the murder of some individual dissenter is
brought to his door, he turns away and says, "Thou canst
not say, I did it. "

* March 27, 1853. Jour. of Dis., Vol. I. p. 82.

136 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

The second organized opposition to Young was made by
Joseph Morris and his followers.

The rise and progress and subsequent history of the peo-
ple called " Morrisites, " is as follows: —

On the 19th of November, 1860, a man dressed in ordinary
working-clothes wended his way on foot from Slatersville, a
settlement in Weber County, north of Salt Lake, to the Holy
City. This was Joseph Morris, and the object of his visit
was to deliver to Brigham Young two letters which he had
written, under the supposed influence of the Spirit.

It seems that for some reason the life of Morris had been
threatened, and having been driven from the place where he
had been living, he was now going to appeal to the President
in person for protection. Morris had received, previous to
this time, many revelations, some of which looked to a puri-
fication of the church, — all of which he had communicated to
Brigham and the Apostles.

On his way to Salt Lake he met John Cook, brother of
Richard Cook, at that time a Mormon Bishop, presiding at
South Weber. To him Morris communicated his views and
projects, and made so favorable an impression that both the
Cooks soon afterward espoused his cause, and became his
zealous supporters.

Morris delivered his letters to the President at his resi-
dence, but received no reply.

He then proceeded to the house of Mr. Cook, on the Weber
River, about thirty miles northward from the city.

Not only the Cooks, but a number of their neighbors, now
began to entertain favorable opinions of the claim of their
new acquaintance to inspiration.

Others who conceived that the divine right of Brigham
was being endangered or infringed upon, determined to put
Morris to death, or drive him from their midst. But Bishop
Cook stood in the way.

In this emergency President Young was appealed to, who
sent two high ecclesiastics, Messrs. John Taylor and Will-

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 137

ford Woodruff, both Apostles, to investigate the matter.
They appointed a general meeting at South Weber, and
invited the Bishops of the surrounding settlements, with as
many of their people as possibly could, to attend.

The meeting convened on the 11th of February, 1861,
and the delegates commenced their court of inquiry by de-
manding whether there was a man in the ward who professed
to be a prophet? And whether there were any individuals
who entertained him, or professed faith in his claims ?

To the astonishment and consternation of the Mormons,
seventeen of the believers, with Bishop Cook at their head,
arose and declared that they would enjoy and defend the
right of conscience, by adhering to their new faith, though it
should bring upon them the most bitter persecution, and the
loss of their lives. An old man named Watts arose, and in
an inflammatory speech, recommended that the adherents of
the new Prophet should be " cut off under the chin, " and laid
away in the brush; at the same time accompanying his
words with a motion of the hand, drawing it across his
throat. This, he said, was what ought to be done, according
to his understanding of the laws of the church.

After some further discussion, in which Watts was boldly
rebuked by Cook for the utterance of such sentiments, the
question was put to the parties on trial, whether they believed
that Brigham Young was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator.
They all answered in the negative. Mr. Taylor testified
that he knew Brigham to be such, and said those who believed
to the contrary must be excommunicated from the church.
They were then subjected to the process of excommunica-
tion.

It will be noticed that the right of Brigham to preside
over the church as its temporal head, was not questioned by
Morris or his followers.

From this time the followers of Morris increased in num-
bers with wonderful rapidity.                

On the 6th of April, 1861, five persons were baptized into

138 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

the new church in the Weber River. On the same day of
the same month, thirty-one years previous, the Mormon
Church had been instituted by the baptism of six persons.
Encouraged by this augury, a church was organized, and the
work commenced in earnest. Converts flocked to them from
all parts of the Territory.

In three months the new church numbered about three
hundred persons. Its highest number did not exceed five
hundred.

In the mean time difficulties arose between them and the
surrounding Mormons. The Morrisites refused to train as
militia. Heavy fines were imposed in consequence, and much
property sold on execution for their payment.

These fines and exactions were increased until the Morris-
ites refused longer to submit to them. A number of fines of
$60 each had been imposed. When the sheriff appeared and
proposed to arrest those who would not or could not pay, he
was resisted. Further proceedings were then suspended for
the present.

In the spring of 1862 a team, consisting of two yoke of
cattle, which had been sent to mill from the Morrisite settle-
ment, was, together with a load of flour, seized and retained
by one William Jones, who threatened in like manner to
retain all that should be sent until some difficulties between
him and them should be settled to his satisfaction. The
Morrisites, standing in immediate need of the flour, sent a
posse of men, and took not only the flour, but Jones and two
associates prisoners.

Application was now made to Chief Justice Kinney, who
immediately issued writs for the arrest of the leading Mor-
risites, and writs of habeas corpus for the Mormons held in
custody.

These writs being disregarded, a posse of several hundred
men, headed by Robert T. Burton, sheriff of Salt Lake
County, well armed and equipped, and having several pieces
of cannon, were sent to execute the writs, and enforce obe-

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 139

dience. This force was augmented on the way by volunteers,
and additional arms, until they approached the settlement of
the Morrisites, with a force of about a thousand well-armed
men, and five pieces of artillery.

Early on the morning of the 13th of June, some of the
posse appeared on the heights above South Weber settlement,
and took possession of the Morrisites' cow-herd, killing such
as they desired for beef. During the morning, Sheriff Bur-
ton sent a proclamation to the leaders within the Morrisite
"fort, " — for such they had constructed, — calling upon them
to come out and deliver themselves up, according to the re-
quirements of the writs in his hands, and warning them of
the consequences, if they refused.

This not being responded to, about an hour later the posse,
most of whom had been hitherto out of sight, commenced to
defile over the bluffs, and to occupy a prominent position
commanding the camp.

Morris now called a meeting of those within the fort.
Scarcely had they assembled, when a cannon-ball came into
the congregation, killed two women, and wounded a girl.
From this time cannonading and musketry fire was contin-
ued with but little intermission.

The camp consisted of a few houses built of willows, like
basket-work, and plastered, and of tents, and covered wagons.
Still the fight was kept up by these deluded people for three
days, during all which time, fighting with the energy of des-
peration, they held this immense force at bay. On the eve-
ning of the third day, a white flag was raised, and the whole
camp surrendered. The Morrisites stacked their arms, under
guard of a detail from the posse, who had by this time entered
the fort.

Amidst much confusion, the men and women were sepa-
rated, and large numbers of the men were placed under arrest.
Morris, and a leader by the name of Banks were shot in cold
blood; also two of the women. All these were killed after
the Morrisites were unarmed, and their arms in the posses-

140 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

sion of the sheriff. The posse had two men killed. The
Morrisites ten in all.

After the Morrisites had been taken prisoners, their houses
were searched and plundered, and property, consisting of
watches, jewelry, clothing, &c, taken, to the amount of many
hundreds of dollars.

The prisoners were taken "to Salt Lake City, and placed
under bonds by Judge Kinney for their appearance at his
court. They were afterwards tried, and large numbers of
them were fined and imprisoned. All of those imprisoned
were afterward pardoned and released by Governor Harding.

Thus ended " the Morrisite War. " The Morrisites were
now " scattered and peeled, " and so remained until May,
1863. At that time Gen. Connor established a military
post at Soda Springs, a beautiful place at the northern bend
of Bear River, about 175 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Before starting with his expedition, Gen. Connor gave
notice that all persons wishing to go up and form a settle-
ment at that point, would be furnished by him with trans-
portation. The result was, that about eighty families, con-
sisting of over two hundred persons, nearly all Morrisites,
availed themselves of this offer, — removed, with their goods
and household gods, and established themselves at Soda
Springs.

This settlement continues to exist and flourish, and may
now be looked upon, it is to be hoped, as a permanent point
where the weary emigrant may pause and rest on his long
journey over the Plains, and be free from the whims, ex-
actions, and dangers of Mormonism. The place is now in
Idaho Territory, and returned eighty-one votes at the terri-
torial election of 1864

Although the court and juries were fast to bring to pun-
ishment those who had resisted the writs, yet Burton, the
leader of the posse, who shot four persons after they had
surrendered, was not even indicted by a Mormon grand jury.
The evidence was laid before them, but without avail.

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 141

The following affidavit of a man of much respectability,
now residing at Soda Springs, shows what was the conduct
of Burton on the occasion alluded to: —

" United States of America,
Territory of Utah.

" Alexander Dow, of said Territory, being duly sworn, says:
" In the spring of 1861, I joined the Morrisites, and was present
when Joseph Morris was killed. The Morrisites had surrendered,
a white flag was flying, and the arms were all grounded and
guarded by a large number of the posse.

" Robert T. Burton and Judson L. Stoddard rode in amongst
the Morrisites. Burton was much excited. He said, 'Where is
the man? I don't know him. ' Stoddard replied, 'That's him, '
pointing to Morris. Burton rode his horse upon Morris, and com-
manded him to give himself up in the name of the Lord. Morris
replied, * No, never, never. ' Morris said he wanted to speak to
the people. Burton said, ' Be d—d quick about it. ' Morris said,

'Brethren, I 've taught you true principles, ' — he had scarcely
got the words out of his mouth before Burton fired his revolver.
The ball passed in his neck or shoulder. Burton exclaimed,

'There's your Prophet. ' He fired again, saying, ' What do you
think of your Prophet now ? '

" Burton then turned suddenly and shot Banks, who was stand-
ing five or six paces distant. Banks fell. Mrs. Bowman, wife of
James Bowman, came running up, crying, 'Oh! you blood-thirsty
wretch. ' Burton said, ' No one shall tell me that and live, ' and
shot her dead. A Danish woman then came running up to Mor-
ris, crying, and Burton shot her dead also. Burton could easily
have taken Morris and Banks prisoners, if he had tried. I was
standing but a few feet from Burton all this time. And further
saith not.

"Alexander Dow.

" Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 18th day of April,
A. D. 1863.

" Charles B. Waite,

" Associate Just, U. T. "

T.

This Burton is the same man who is now the Collector of
Internal Revenue for Utah Territory !

The next movement, and one which promises seriously to

142 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

interfere with the schemes of Brigham Young, is under the
auspices of the' Mormon Church East, or the " Josephites, "
as they are called, in contradistinction to the " Brighamites. "

Joseph Smith, the son of the Prophet, resides at Nauvoo,
in Illinois, near where his father was put to death. He
claims to be the head of the true Mormon Church, and of
course repudiates Young for the same position. He is
opposed to polygamy, is loyal to the Government and laws
of the United States, and is said to be a good and worthy
citizen.

For several years there have been indications of a " break-
ing up " among the followers of the Pretender, Brigham, and
a rallying around the standard of the legitimate House of
Joseph. In the States, those who have gone back to their
first love are to be numbered by thousands.

In Utah the progress of disintegration, and of secession
from the church as there organized, is slower, and accom-
panied by more danger.

But in July, 1863, the " fulness of time " having come, the
movement was commenced in earnest, and a system of prose-
lyting inaugurated, which has already drawn hundreds of
deluded people back to their duty to themselves and their
country, and which even now threatens the power of Brig-
ham so strongly that it seems almost tottering to its fall.

During the latter part of the month mentioned, E. C.
Briggs and Alexander McCord, two missionaries, sent by
the Church East, for that purpose, arrived in Salt Lake, and
announced themselves as harbingers of a better gospel, ---- as
messengers of the true Church of Christ on earth. Taking
their lives in their hands, they had crossed the Plains alone,
and the Lord had protected and sustained them.

It may be supposed that their arrival caused considerable
excitement at Salt Lake City.

Briggs called on Young and acquainted him with the na-
ture of his "mission. " The Prophet became very angry;
refused him the use of the Tabernacle, or any other building

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH. 145

in the city; forbade him preaching to the people, and said
if he remained in the city, he (Young) would not be respon-
sible for his personal safety. Briggs declined to avail him-
self 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. "

He 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 McCord 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
and good citizenship, without bloodshed or commotion. It is

10

146 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

but a possibility, however, as Brigham will not see himself
thus undermined without desperate 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 exemplification of the self-sacrifice and
sublime heroism of the Christians of the Middle Ages.

The following are the Articles of Faith of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, under the presidency of
Joseph Smith, son of Joseph the Martyr: —

" We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and his Son Jesus
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 th6
gospel.

" We believe that these ordinances are: 1st. Faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the
remission of sins; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Spirit; 5th. The Lord's Supper.

" We believe that men must be called of God, by inspiration,
and by laying on of hands by those who are 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,
viz., 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 Book of Mormon, and in
all other good books.

BRIGHAM 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 years; and that the 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, queens, presidents,
rulers, and magistrates; in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the
law.

" 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 aggrandizement.

" 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 abominations indorsed by Brigham Young
and his followers. "

CHAPTER VIII.

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

Nature of the Trusteeship. — The Tithing System. —Brigham's Private
Speculations. — The Emigration Fund. — The Hand-Cart Company

— " He was a man

Who stole the livery of the 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 villanies
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" because 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. It 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 any
explanation should be made of the disposal of their funds.

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 149

Again: a corps of clerks are employed in the tithing-offiee,
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
Brigham, and the proceeds go into his own pocket, discon-
nected with any real or imaginary embarrassment arising
from the relation 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 Brigham. "
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 temple and other public works.

It is needless to say they are entirely under the control of
Brigham. According to the Mormon creed, the temporal
affairs of the kingdom 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 the 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 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

individual, and those which he keeps as trustee for the church,
are entirely separate and distinct, 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 for.
But these public declarations are all the assurance the people
have that such is the fact. The system of book-keeping by
double entry is entirely ignored as an invention of the gen-
tiles; and if an investigation of the accounts should be insti-
tuted, it would be conducted under great disadvantages, and
could have no certainty in its results.

Notwithstanding these protestations so frequently made
from the pulpit, there is a growing conviction among the
masses that the increasing evidences of the individual wealth
of Brigham, notwithstanding his immense outlays, 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 borrows 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 scape-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 after his interests !

BRIGHAM 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 5th, 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 Act 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 herd-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.

December 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.

152 BRIGHAM 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 Brigham
Young of $1000 from the Territorial 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 Brigham, when he says " he takes no thought how to get
rich, and yet riches constantly flow to him. "

The Tithing System.

The object of tithing, as stated in the " Book of Doctrines
and Covenants, " 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 emigrant and new-comer is
expected to pay one tenth of his entire possessions. Upon

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 158

this point much strictness prevails. On the arrival of the
faithful in Zion, they are visited by a bishop and clerk, and
inventories of all their property taken. One tenth of every-
thing must then be sent to the tithing-office, not even except-
ing household furniture, cooking utensils, or clothing. Should
the party be. in possession of a little money, he is urged to
pay the tithing all in cash.

A very good idea of the extent to which this tithing sys-
tern is carried may be formed from the following tithing-
song, sung at a meeting of one of the quorums, and pub-
lished in the " Deseret News, " No. 6, Vol. V.: —

" Tithing-Song.
[Air. The King of the Cannibal Islands. ]

" Come, Mormons all, attention pay,
Whilst I attempt to sing my say;
I 've chosen for my text to-day,

' Come forward, and pay up your tithing. '
These may not be the very words,.
Which ancient Holy Writ records;

But Malachi, I think, affords
A verse which with the sense accords.
It seems that he had cause to scold
The saints, or Israelites of old;
In fact, they needed to be told,

* Come forward, and pay up your tithing. '

Chorus.

" Then if to prosper you desire,
And wish to keep out of the fire,
Nay, if you to be saints aspire,
Come forward, and pay up your tithing.

" Just as it was in the olden times,
With ancient saints in other climes,
The call is now, 'Bring out your dimes, ' —
'Come forward, and pay up your tithing. '

154 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH,

Our Prophet says, 'When Elders preach,
The law of tithing they should teach;
Pay up themselves, and then beseech
All those who come within their reach. '
This makes me now entreat of you
To follow counsel; right pursue;
And whilst all evil you eschew,

'Come forward, and pay up your tithing. '

Chorus.
" Then if to prosper, etc.

" Now, male and female, rich and poor,
Who wish to keep your standing sure,
That you salvation may secure,

'Come forward, and pay up your tithing. '
A tenth, that is, and nothing less,

Of all you do or may possess,

In flocks and herds, and their increase,

With pigs and poultry, ducks and geese:

A tenth, indeed, of all your toil,

Likewise the produce of the soil;

And if you've any wine or oil,

'Come forward, and pay up your tithing. '

Chorus.

" Then if to prosper, etc.

"Henry Maiben.
" Great S. L. City, 1855. "

Not only the extent of this exaction, but the penalty for
non-payment, is fully set forth in this song, to wit, exclusion
from the church, and deprivation of all spiritual blessings.
What greater penalty can be placed before a true Mor-
mon?

The administration of the law of tithing has been exces-
sively cruel in Europe. Many of the saints in England,
who, from infirmity, age, or incapacity to labor, have been
supported by the parish, receiving one, two, or three shillings
per week, have been anathematized and cut off from the

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 155

church, because they could not pay their tithing out of their
parish allowance, and support life from the remainder !

From the European Mission alone, over $500, 000 of Brit-
ish gold has found its way into the pockets of Brigham
Young. No account has ever been made of this vast
amount, nor is there any public work or project requiring
expenditure of church-money, which has not been more than
provided for by the home tithing-fund.

The poor in Utah suffer severely from this exaction. You
may see families barefooted, women and children nearly
naked, destitute of even the necessaries of life, the husband
making every effort to meet the day of tithing, fearful of
losing his soul's salvation should he fail. Cases of extreme
destitution have not been, in former years, comparatively
numerous; but as the rich become richer and the poor poorer,
by the operation of this system, these cases become more
marked and frequent, and already a rumbling of discontent
is heard among the masses, which occasionally reaches the
throne, and which will soon break forth in loud peals of
thunder, demanding justice for a long oppressed and out-
raged people.

Again, there is a standing tithing-price which must be
paid for flour and other necessaries, by those who are en-
gaged upon the public works, or who are obliged to work for
their richer brethren. These always pay their laborers in
produce at tithing-prices. But these prices are usually far
beyond the cash value of the same article in the market.
In 1862-63, the tithing-office price of flour was $6 per
hundred. The wages of workmen were nominally $2
per day. But if a poor saint worked for his more afflu-
ent brother, as in most cases he was obliged to do, he
uniformly received his pay in flour at $6. It was not
uncommon to see a laboring man going home at night,
with his sack of flour, the result of his day's work, or of the
labor of two or three days. At the same time the market-
price of flour did not exceed $3 per hundred. If the poor

156 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

man, who was obliged to take all his pay in flour, wished to
purchase some sugar or groceries for his family, he must
exchange for the same his flour, at half the price paid for it.
Thus did the dignitaries of the church " grind the face of the
poor. "

The masses were induced to submit to this state of things,
by the assurance that flour would rise to a price much greater
than $6, and when it should do so, the balance would be
upon the other side, and the poor would be the gainers, as
they should never pay more than that sum.

In the winter of 1863-64, flour rose rapidly, owing to the
new markets opened up in Idaho and other mining regions.
Now the time had come when the predictions and prophecies
concerning the rise of flour had been fulfilled. But the
church authorities, notwithstanding the solemn promises
which had been made to the people, raised the tithing-price
of flour to $12 per hundred. This was "the last straw that
broke the camel's back, " and came near producing a revo-
lution. One day a workman in the "church" (alias
Brigham's) blacksmith shop, called at the " tithing-store"
for his flour, as was customary, the same being his wages for
work for a stated period. At the store the flour was weighed
out, and he was given a ticket at $12 per hundred. This
was the first time he had been charged over $6. The black-
smith left his bag of flour at the store, and proceeded, fired
with indignation, to the President's office. Inquiring for him,
he was told the President was out, and he could not see him.
He replied he must see him, and should remain until he did.
After some time the President appeared. " Brother Brig-
ham, " said the excited workman, " you are a liar and a hypo-
crite. " This caused a great excitement at once. The clerks
sprang instantly from their places, some surrounding Brig-
ham, others the blacksmith. The latter proceeded: " Have
you not repeatedly given the people your solemn promise
that they should never be charged by the church over $6 per
hundred for flour ? You with your wives and families are

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 157

rolling in wealth, surrounded with everything the heart can
wish. But go with me, and I will show you cases of desti-
tution and suffering which will cause your soul, if you have
one, to shudder with horror. "

The clerks were here ordered to put him out of the office,
which was done immediately, but the enraged man, now that
his lips were unsealed, continued to talk in a loud tone of
voice, until a number of people, attracted by curiosity, gath-
ered around him. To them he explained the cause of the
difficulty, and inveighed in unmeasured terms against those
who were living in luxury and extravagance upon the indus-
try and hard-earned savings of the poor.

The crowd was finally dispersed, and one of the clerks sent
to the outraged blacksmith to inform him that he could have
the flour at $6. He replied that he would die of hunger ere
he would ever taste of it or touch it. The next day Brig-
ham drove down to the poor man's house, taking the flour in
his carriage, and induced him to accept it, and the same day
the tithing-price of flour was reduced to $6 per hundred.

The best articles of everything paid in for tithing — the
choice hams and beef, the best butter, cheese, etc. — are laid
away until the families of the first Presidency, the clerks, and
a few of the elect are supplied. The balance is served out
to the mechanics and laborers. Thus the church dignitaries
literally live off of " the fat of the land. " Often when butter,
or some other article not quite so abundant as usual, is called
for by the workman, he is told " there is none in the store, "
while at the same time large quantities are stowed away; and
scarcely is he out of sight, before some member of higher
standing in the church visits the same store, and his wants
are amply supplied.

As Brigham is not scrupulous on the subject of appropri-
ating the means of the " church, " that is, of the people, minor
officers, as Bishops of settlements, do not hesitate to specu-
late upon their own account. This is more or less tolerated,
according to the faithfulness of the party to the interests of

158 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

the heads of the church, and his diligence in " attending to
counsel, " or, in other words, in obeying orders. It is notori-
ous that the Bishops all become quickly wealthy. Appoint
a man Bishop of a settlement, and in two or three years his
fortune is made; and he who previously lived in a log-cabin,
with barely the necessaries of life, is soon in possession of a
fine house, with carriages, horses, &c, at his command.
Every Bishop is expected to " build up the kingdom" by
having numerous wives. If he has less than half a dozen, he
is scarcely considered as " doing his duty to the church, " and
at once exposes himself to remark, if not to censure.

Many incidents might be mentioned illustrative of the
manner in which property is accumulated by the Bishops.
When the army under Col. Johnson was located at Camp
Floyd, a Bishop of one of the southern settlements sold to
the officers at the camp, at fifty cents per pound, all the butter
which had been paid in for tithing, and accounted for it at
the general tithing-office, at the tithing price, — twenty-five
cents per pound.

Frequently the people would in this way be deprived of
luxuries which had been sold, and the proceeds of which had
gone into the pockets of the Bishops and other officers of the
. church. On one occasion Kimball alluded in his sermon to
the complaints of the people, that they could not get butter
or anything else to eat on their bread. In response he told
them, if their bread was hard and dry, " dip it in City Creek. "

On the departure from the Territory of the army under
Col. Johnson, Brigham bought a large quantity of bacon at
one cent per pound, selling it again to the laborers on the
public works at twenty-five cents. The large contracts of
purchase are usually awarded to him, partly because he has
more money with which to fulfil them, and partly because
men of lesser means do not wish to cross his path, by inter-
fering with his financial operations. A large quantity of
condemned crackers were purchased at the same time, at
a nominal sum, many of which were afterward dealt out

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 159

to the laborers on the public works, at fifteen cents per
pound.

Soon after the arrival of the saints in Utah, their attention
was especially directed to the building of a temple. Promises
were made to them, that upon its completion, the Saviour,
together with angels, would enter therein, and minister unto
those who remained faithful. There they were to receive
blessings that could be obtained in no other place. This has
been held out as a strong inducement for the payment of
money. Over $100, 000 has been paid for the accomplish-
ment of this object by the British saints alone. Not a dollar
of this money has been used for that purpose, as all that has
been done upon the temple has been more than paid for by
the people of Utah. *

The work upon the temple has proceeded very slowly, and
the foundation is but little above the surface. Many of the
saints are dissatisfied with its progress, and ask each other
why more has not been accomplished during the fifteen years
that have rolled away since its commencement; and espe-
cially while such ample means have been constantly on hand,
— the tithing system furnishing an immense revenue, and no
other public work on which to expend it ? And why it is
that $200, 000 should be expended by Brigham Young upon
a theatre for his own benefit, and nearly as much more upon
a hotel now being built, and house added to house and build-
ing to building in his own enclosure, while the temple is
neglected? These questions have much significance, and
doubtless the day is not far distant when the people will
insist upon an answer more satisfactory than they have yet
received.

The immense fund realized from the tithing system, and
which is constantly at Brigham's disposal, enables him to im-

* Persons who are known to possess property, are called upon to pay for
seats in the temple. A lady residing in one of the northern settlements,
was cajoled into paying œ50 for that purpose. The good lady, upon arriv-
ing in Utah, found that the famous temple, in which she had purchased a
seat, was scarcely above its foundations.

160 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

prove many opportunities that are offered for private spec-
ulations. These he is not slow to perceive, nor does he
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 þ& 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. Thus he managed to monopolize the large
profits from the manufacture of ardent spirits, an immense
quantity of which 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

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 161

house and remove the material; and the Dane 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 for the rent of it!

Mr. Taussig, a simple and unpretending man, had suc-
ceeded in establishing a substantial tannery 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 money were obtained from
him by the Elders, under pretence of his becoming a share-
11

162 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

holder and partner with Young in grist-mills, sugar machin-
ery, iron-works, &c, solemnly assuring him in relation to its
safe investment and future profits. Mr. Tennant died while
crossing 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 Brigham 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-office.

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 Plains, was induced
to invest $15, 000 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, after 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 time had not yet
come, " and that such a course would imperil 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 Brigham. 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 after you have been here
for a few days, you follow me round and fill my ears 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 again. If an Elder has
borrowed from you, and you find he is going to apostatize, then
you 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 does with 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
less 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 Diis., Vol. I. p. 340.

164 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IK TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

man had worked hard to accumulate property for the benefit
of his family, he should be permitted to sell it for a fair
price. " This was overheard by a spy, and reported to head-
quarters. The Bishop was sent for and sharply reprimanded.
He was 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 for 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 here, he will be inclined to stay. " *

The Emigration Fund.

The published 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 œ10 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
City. 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 œ4 10s. is required to pay the
transportation of each person to the first American port, and
the remaining œ5 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 all are obliged to pay their passage-money,
either in advance or after their arrival 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 his 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 refused 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.

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 across 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 this 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

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH. 167

river was to be crossed, they were driven into the water, —
men, women, and children, — and were told, if they 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 any were
unable longer to drag their carts, 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 scarce, and it was often neces-
sary to go into the snow, waist-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, they were not 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, when the train was
ready to start, the Captain came to the tent of the sick 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!" 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 remain by his
side, and share his fate. Leave us if you will, for the wild
beasts of the desert cannot be more cruel than 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 from 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 Mecca, an old white-
haired saint said to the Captain, in a weak voice, — " 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

168 BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

hard-hearted wretch, " for I'll 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 ! 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, they 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 specula-
tive experiment, which was never repeated. These 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-office at five dollars each.

CHAPTER IX.

BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR.

Brigham's Position as Head of the Church. —Mormon Theology. — Brig-
ham's Theology, or Utah Mormonism. —Adam as God. — 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 the
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,

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
passions and lusts, of its head and leader. What is here
said, therefore, of the Mormon religion, must be understood
in reference to the received doctrines and tenets of the
church in former years, — many of which still remain, but
incorporated with new dogmas, and any part or all of which
are liable at any time to be changed, modified, or entirely
overthrown.

Mormon Theology.

There are many Gods, and they are of both sexes. But
to us there is but one God, — the Father of mankind, and
the Creator of the earth.

Men and women are literally the sons and daughters of
God, — our spirits having been literally begotten by God, 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 difference 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 personality 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 differs in nothing
from the Father, except in age and authority, — the Father
having the seniority, and consequently the right to preside.

The Holy Spirit is a subtle fluid, like electricity. It is

BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 171

the subtlest form of matter, and pervades all space. By its
agency all miracles, so called, are performed. Miracles are
simply the effects of the operation of natural laws. But
they are laws of a higher character than those with which
we are acquainted. This Holy Spirit is communicated by
the laying-on of hands by one of the properly authorized
priesthood, and the recipient is then enabled to perform
wonderful things, according to his gift, — some having the
gift of prophecy, some of healing, some of speaking in un-
known tongues, etc.

There are three heavens, — the telestial, the terrestrial,
and the celestial.

The telestial and terrestrial heavens are to be occupied by
the various classes of persons who have neither obeyed nor
rejected the gospel. The telestial is typified by the stars, —
the terrestrial, by the moon.

The celestial, or highest heaven, has for its type the sun,
and is reserved for those who received the testimony of
Jesus, and believed on His name, and were baptized 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
glories of the celestial kingdom. Jerusalem is to be rebuilt,
and Zion, or the New Jerusalem, is to be built in Jackson
County, Missouri, whence the saints were expelled in 1833.

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 place in the celestial kingdom, is, — First,
They must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and
in His authorized priesthood. Secondly, They must repent
of their sins; Thirdy, They must be baptized by immersion

172 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR.

for the remission of their sins; and, Fourthly, They must re-
ceive the laying-on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

God, having become nearly lost to man, revived His 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 Mormon 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.

Brigham's 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!
This announcement created some consternation among the

BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 173

Mormon theologians, and some of them had the courage to
oppose it. The 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 is 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
Eve.... 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, as
Father, Son, and. Holy Ghost.

" When our Father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he
came 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 Eden, 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 ideas,
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 Dis. Vol. I. p. 50.

174 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR.

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 blasphe-
mous pretensions of Brigham Young do not stop with Adam,
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 attributes of Deity,

" Territory 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 Ward. 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 the people, as I supposed at the time. Many peo-
ple believed 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 offence to the authorities of the Ward, and
was 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 ? I
told him I would do so. I rose and stated that my idea of the
being of God was expressed 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 Brigham Young on the same day with
God, as of the same Godhead. ' His (the Bishop's) First Counsellor,
then moved that Father Stiles be cut off from the church. This

BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR. 175

was seconded by the Second Counsellor. This was proposed to
the assembly as a question by the Bishop, and I was cut off 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-Priest 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 blood 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 word, but in deed" [2]

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 would advise to
go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a com-
mittee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected,
and let that committee shed their blood. " [3]

* Deseret News, October 1, 1856.                    [2] Ibid,

[3] Ibid. Vol. VI. p. 235.

176 BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR.

This 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
had their eyes open to see their condition, they would he perfectly
willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke
thereof 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-
ple off from the earth, that you 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 blood 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
Law 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 he 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 the greatest change of all in the Mormon religion,
made by Brigham Young, was the introduction and estab-
lishment of polygamy.