1855 – 21 July, p. 3 – From the Salt Lake we learn that the Indians were reported to be numerous around Black Hill, and were much alarmed at the movements of troops, and desirous of peace. The cholera had broken out among the Mormons.

1855 – 11 August, p. 6 – An officer belonging to Colonel Steptoe’s command, now stationed at Salt Lake City, in a letter to the Providence Journal, thus speaks of the condition of the Mormon women: “With a word about their melancholy condition, I will bring a long letter to a close. As a general thing, a woman here having satisfied what the Mormons call the “holy desires,” of some righteous elders, is left to shift for herself; not the least support does she receive from him to whom she has been in many cases forced to prostitute herself. Their condition is infinitely worse than that of the slaves of the South. One of the wives of “the chief of the twelve Apostles” wished for a boarding house here to support herself. Two wives of Parley P. Pratt, another apostle, have repeatedly begged for work. Woman here have told me that their pretended husbands have not visited them for months and years. One of the apostles asked a family of three girls to marry him, and to get them he would take the old mother. They refused, and he has since maligned them in every way. We received many requests for assistance to leave from women in every position. Their case is peculiarly hard, separated by hundreds of miles of plain and dessert from the outside world brought here by false inducements, degraded and oppressed, with no hope of succor—they are in great, very great numbers, entirely disaffected. They abhor the very thought of polygamy, the very name of Mormonism. This is the simple truth.

1856 – 29 March, p. 3 – The Mormon Exodus. An extraordinary scene was witnessed a few days ago at the New-street railway station, Birmingham. A fine ship, the Enoch Train, having been chartered to convey a cargo of Mormons to the United States, en route to their settlement in Utah territory, three hundred men and women, boys and girls, formed the contingent supplied by the Birmingham district. They left by the half-past ten train. All seemed to belong to the working classes, and the proportion of the sexes was about equal. Many hundreds of their relatives and fellow saints assembled at the station to bid them farewell; and, in spite of the efforts of an instrumental band to cheer the spirits of the females, some very affecting scenes were witnessed. There will be 900 on board.

1856 – 12 April, p. 4 – Item #1 – Extraordinary Elopement. The Worcester Chronicle describes at length a flight of incipient Mormons which took place last week: Extraordinary Elopement – On the previous Sunday morning Mr. Hodgetts had made one of his usual voyages to the coal country, and on his return on the following Saturday was distracted on finding that his wife had left him, and induced all the children to accompany her. Not only had she left him, but she had taken away a great deal of ready cash, which she had collected from the customers, had drawn £314 by cheque out of the bank on the previous day, and had carried off everything portable, even the bed linen from the house. The poor man’s agony and distraction of mind can scarcely be imagined; he implored the aid of the police in recovering wife and children; and on the same night Superintendent Chipp started with him in pursuit. They proceeded at once to Liverpool, procured the assistance of the police in that town, and, after several hours spend in making inquiries, learned that the Enoch Trail had started out of port two hours before with 400 Mormons on board, and it was supposed that Mrs. Hodgetts and family were of the number. With some difficulty a bargain was struck with the captain of a steam-tug, the Great Conquest, which shortly afterwards started in pursuit of the fugitives. Nothing was seen of the Enoch Trail until the Conquest had crossed the bar at the mouth of the Mersey, when the captain made out the vessel with his glass, and screwed down his safety valves. For two or three hours the chase continued, when the Enoch Trail slackened speed, and the Conquest was allowed to come alongside. As soon as the errand of the pursuers became known, the greatest excitement pervaded the passengers; but after a great deal of wrangling and abuse, which lasted an hour and a half, Mr. Hodgetts was allowed to take away his wife and three of his children. The two eldest girls, aged respectively 16 and 18, obstinately refused to go back. Mr. Hodgetts is now once more safely housed with his wife, who, we believe, positively declares that she will go back to the Salt Lake at some time or other. She has brought back with her the greater portion of the money, but not the whole.

1856 – 12 April, p. 4 – Item #2 – A Greater and a Greater Still! – The Worcester Chronicle tells a story of a very unseemly woman, who, taking her children with her, ran away from her husband, and embarked for America, to join the Mormons. The woman was, no doubt, something of a fool; but what shall we say of the husband who, following the fair one bound for the Salt Lake, brought her back again?

1856 – 19 April, p. 1 – Abergavenny. Departure for the Salt Lake. On Saturday and Sunday last, a large number of men, women and children, arrived in this town from the “Hills.” It was at first represented that they were miners and colliers emigrating to America, but on Sunday afternoon all conjectures were put an end to by a member of the fraternity holding forth on the delightful prospects of their safe arrival at the Salt Lake, and to feast their eyes with a view of Brigham Young and his beautiful pair of spectacles, which were discovered by Joe Smith in the rock, when he found the tables which now forms the Book of Mormon. About 250 started on Monday morning from the Abergavenny station to Liverpool.

1856 – 12 July, p. 3 – The Hon. James J. Strang, commonly called “King Strang,” the leader and prophet of the Mormons located on Beaver Islands, has been shot by two of his followers, and received injuries from which he is not likely to recover. Strang was a ruling spirit among the Mormons, a large number of whom are Welsh, who are located on and have control of the six islands in the northern part and near the outlet of Lake Michigan, called Beaver Islands, and since 1853 he has represented Newago county, which is composed of those islands, in the lower branch of the Michigan legislature. He has been the means, in times past, of causing considerable disturbance in the regions adjacent to where he resides, and robbery, murder, and piracy are crimes which have been freely attributed to him and his followers.

1856 – 9 August, p. 2 – Mormon Morals. The latest numbers of the Deseret News which have reached the States contain not a few pictures of Mormon life and sentiment. Read, for instance, the following apology for polygamy addressed by Brigham Young to some of the refractory brethren: “I do really wish that some were possessed of better sense; I will therefore tell you a few things that you should know. God never introduced the patriarchal order of marriage with a view to please man in his carnal desires, nor to punish females for anything which they had done; but he introduced it for the express purpose of raising up to his name a royal priesthood, a peculiar people. Do we not see the benefit of it? Yes, we have lived long enough to realize its advantages. Suppose that I had had the privilege of having only one wife, I should have had only three sons, for these are all that my first wife bore, whereas I now have buried five sons and have thirteen living. It is obvious that I could not have been blessed with such a family if I had been restricted to one wife; but by the introduction of this law I can be the instrument in preparing tabernacles for those spirits which have to come in this dispensation. Under this law I and my brethren are preparing tabernacles for those spirits which have been preserved to enter into bodies of honor, and be taught the pure principles of life and salvation, and those tabernacles will grow up and become mighty in the kingdom of our God.” One of the elders—Brother Grant—in a Sunday morning discourse, gives the following as his experience of the workings of polygamy—“You cannot alter it; you cannot alter it; you cannot revoke this eternal law. If a man has fifty wives, and the fiftieth is the best, does the most good, she will get the greatest reward, in spite of all the grunting on the part of the first ones.

1856 – 23 August, p. 2 – Advices from Great Salt Lake City are received to June 25. The famine, which at one time seemed likely to desolate the territory, was relieved to some extent by the ripening of peas, turnips, beets, radishes, etc. The Deseret News of the 18^th says: “There is still a scarcity of breadstuffs, though peas, turnips, beets, radishes, etc., in the gardens of the diligent, are greatly helping out that deficiency, and beef is fat and tolerably plenty. When such is the case, which is far better than it was at this time in 1848, why so much begging by women and children, who not only have no line from their bishops, but many of whom cannot, or will not, tell even the names of their bishops? And that is not the worst feature, for young, active, and middle-aged women creep around with grey wigs on, feigning age and infirmity; and young children, who are perfectly supple, walk as though they were lame, and say that their parents are sick or dead when they are alive and well. In some regions of the earth such a course may be requisite to move upon the compassion of the affluent, but here all know that the cries of the really destitute are never unheard, and their reasonable wants have ever been supplied, so far as circumstances and means would possibly permit, and no one has yet starved, or necessarily suffered very severely through want of food.”

In the paper of the 25^th of June the following is published: “Wheat harvest is close at hand, breadstuff is still scarce, and the owners of fields of grain will probably have a surplus. They generally have much labor to perform, and, consequently, are apt to harvest in more or less of a wasteful manner. For these reasons wisdom obviously dictates the policy of freely permitting gleaners to follow the rakers and binders, thus opening an effectual way in which the poor will be able to materially contribute to their own support, and saving what will otherwise be lost or go towards further encouraging a slovenly husbandry by tilling soil with self-sown crops.

The bishops in every ward throughout the territory are requested to see to it that every grain raiser permits the poor to glean his fields, unless he prefers to glean them himself immediately after the grain is bound; and if anyone will not seasonably and properly glean his fields, nor permit the poor to do so, let his bishop deal with him according to the law of Zion.” Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball.

1856 – 30 August, p. 2 – The Mormons. A history has been published in German of the Mormons, or Latter-day Saints, in North America, from which it appears that America contains 68,700 of that sect, of whom 38,000 are in Utah, 5,000 in New York, 4,000 in California, 5,000 in Nova Scotia and Canada, and 9,000 in South America and the islands. Europe contains 39,000, of whom 32,900 are in Great Britain and Ireland, 5,000 in Scandinavia, 1,000 in Germany and Switzerland, 500 in France, and 500 in the rest of Europe. In Asia there are said to be 1,000 in Australia and Polynesia 2,400, in Africa 100, on travel 1,800. There are, besides, 8,500 Schismatics, including Strangites, Rigdonites, and Wightites. The numbers amount in the aggregate to 116,500, and it is supposed that the whole sect cannot exceed 126,000.

1856 – 20 September, p. 3 – The Mormons in Denmark. A letter from Copenhagen, of the 6^th, says: “A body of Mormons have for some time past held weekly meetings in the concert-room of the Scandinavian hotel in this city, for the purpose of explaining the doctrines of the sect, and answering any objections that may be made to them. In the last sitting a Jew hawker, after listening to them with great attention, cried, ‘I abjure Judaism, and I embrace the worship of the Latter-day Saints!’ He was at once accepted, and after the usual formalities received what is called ‘consecration.’ He was then invited to take his place on the platform amongst his new fellow believers; but no sooner had he done so than he got up and proposed the abolition of polygamy, which is authorized by the sect. This proposition excited the indignation of the Mormons, and an angry discussion ensued between them and the new convert. The latter was warmly supported by several women of the lower classes, and the Mormons were backed by the men. ‘If we abolish polygamy,’ cried a jovial butcher, ‘we shall never make any more proselytes, for that is the bait at which people bite.’ ‘If polygamy be abolished,’ shouted a shriveled tailor, ‘I will abandon Mormonism at once. I only adopted it in order to be able to marry as often as I liked.’ These declarations were received with shouts of derision from the spectators in the galleries. At length the Mormons became exasperated, and rushing on the Jew, they beat him savagely, and even trampled him under foot. This led to a regular fight between the polygamists and their adversaries, and the windows, lamps, and chairs were smashed to provide missiles. After a while a body of police came in, arrested the leaders in the row, and cleared the room. One of the Mormon priests, on being arrested, pompously summoned the police to release him, on the ground that he was ‘inviolable,’ but to his intense disgust he was locked up.”

1856 – 11 October, p. 1 – Abersychan. Storms. On Monday and Tuesday last high winds with pelting rain prevailed in these parts. The wind was so high and the rain descended in such torrents, that many persons say they do not remember such heavy rain in this neighborhood for the last 17 years. Although the storm will be soon forgotten by most of the inhabitants, there is one person, a laborer at the Abersychan Iron works, named Thomas Genevar, who will retain a vivid recollection of the danger that he passed whilst sheltering himself from the inclemency of the weather, and which nearly deprived him of all hopes of visiting the Salt Lake or ever reaching the Cedar City. The account he gives of what he terms his “miraculous escape,” is the following. “It was so windy and the rain came down in buckets, so that it was too bad for any man to stand it. I was wet through, and I looked around me for some shelter. I perceived some empty trucks on the rails close by and I went towards them, and crept under one. I laid down in the position of a collier working underground. Soon after two of my ‘brethren in the faith’ passed by me on their way towards the Shooting March. After a little conversation they went away, and I looked after them instead of after myself. Suddenly I heard the engine coming upon me; in an instant it struck the trucks, and one of the trucks struck me on the head and stunned me. I had no time to lose and I could not escape between the wheels, so I laid down flat with my head on the sleeper, and my belly in the hollow. The trucks and engine passed over me without giving me a single scratch. Is this not a miracle, who could be thus saved but a Latter-day Saint?” This narrow escape has confirmed the old man in the Mormon doctrine—he firmly believes, if he had not been a Latter-day Saint, he would have been seriously injured, if not killed, and that supernatural agency alone saved him. He now believes that he has been reserved for some great work among the adopted. Although he is nearly seventy years old, he is confident of reaching Western Zion, and that he will have to tread the Golden pavement of the Great Temple.

1856 – 8 November, p. 2 –The Experience of a Mormon Emigrant from England to the Salt Lake. The following is a copy of a letter which has just been received from a man and his wife, formerly, we believe, living in the neighborhood of Manchester, who recently left England with the intention of proceeding to the Mormon settlement at Salt Lake. Why they did not reach their destination will be seen from their narrative; and their experience will probably deter many, who might have been previously so inclined, from following their example. The letter is dated Sugar Grove, Powesheik, county Iowa, September 28, 1856, and is addressed to the writer’s children:

“Dear children. After so long a time has passed, I take my pen in hand to inform you of our journey, and of the condition we are now in. When we left England to cross the Atlantic, we enjoyed good health, and we had a pleasant voyage. We landed at Boston, and took the cars for about 1,400 miles to Iowa city, where we stayed three weeks, and had good health, until we started on foot to travel to Salt Lake, a distance of 1,200 or 1,400 miles. We traveled about seventy miles on foot, the weather being very warm, and we drew a handcart loaded with about 200-pound weight. I was then taken sick, and was not able to go any further, with the allowance which we had of eight ounces of flour and two ounces of meat per day. I fainted by the way several times; and not only we but many others fainted for want of food. The women and children cried for bread, but the leaders would not give them any to eat, and would not allow them to ride. When we got seventy miles west of Iowa City, we could not go any further; so we stopped at a farmhouse, where we are at present. We have good health, and expect to stay here this fall and winter. We have been here two months today, having come on the 3^rd August. Dear children our mind is changed very much from what it was when we left England. When the Mormons were at Nauvoo they stole and committed murder. It was in Joseph Smith’s council chamber that the murder of Colonel Devermpon was planned, and not only his murder, but others, were planned and carried into effect, until Smith was killed, not for his religion, but for theft and murder. The best testimony we can get from Salt Lake is that Brigham Young has a destroying angel, and when people get so old that they cannot work to support themselves or the church they are missed, and nobody knows what has become of them. The leaders have as many wives as they want, and turn them away when they please. There is nobody to look after their children, if they have any, and the consequently perish with hunger. Many women and children beg bread of the passengers in the Californian wagons as they pass along, there being many going to California from Salt Lake. Well, children, we should have perished on the road from the city here if it had not been for the hospitality of the Americans, who gave us something to eat. We have heard from the first Mormons about 700 miles on the plan, west of Council Bluffs, that the old and young lie dead on the road, starved to death, though some say that the Indians have killed them. If you knew what I know about the Mormons you would never give them another penny. If I could see you, I could tell you a thousand times more than I can write. Their pretended prophesying is all a lie, and we have been misled; they make slaves of poor English men and woman. But, come to the state of Iowa and get land, for it is good and you can buy it cheap; you can raise good corn, potatoes, and wheat, for the land is rich. I cannot stop here, but must tell you that some nights we were all out in storms of rain, thunder, and lightning, with nothing to cover us but the heavens; and, children, we were crying for bread on every side. Now, take the advice of your mother, save the pennies that you now give to Mormons and in a short time you will have enough to pay your passage to this country. It is not right for you to give your hard earnings to support the leaders of the Mormons in their profligacy. How often do you hear that Joseph Smith was shot for the gospel’s sake. This is not so; he was killed for stealing, or at least for taking property that did not belong to him. He said that because he had had a revelation from God, he took refuge at Nauvoo, and could not be brought to justice. Every man can worship God according to his own conscience. We have heard in the Star a great deal about the Mormons, but we have never heard one-thousandth part. We now know them to be a wicked people, who do not deserve the name of Christians—that is, their leaders; and thousands of innocent young men and women are led away by these wicked leaders. Oh, how long shall false prophets lead the innocent astray, telling you that it rains quails from heaven, while the grasshoppers eat everything up, so that they are now in a state of starvation.”

1857 – 24 January, p. 2 – Mormon Polygamy. Some statistics of Mormon polygamy are given by a correspondent of the San Francisco Herald, who writes from Utah. Of the members of the Council, 13 persons have 171 wives amongst them; the House of Representatives, 26 members, have 157; and 5 officers of the House, 22. To this add 68 for the number living of Governor Young’s wives, and the whole number of women thus represented by the members of the legislature, officers of the same, and his excellency, amount to 420; or, in other words, 45 men had 420 wives.

1857 – 25 April, p. 2 – Rebellion in Utah. The New York Herald contains the following: “We talk of the necessity for a first-class Governor in Kansas; but the news from Utah shows pretty plainly that, unless we have someone there who can cut Gordian knots, we shall have more trouble that the present generation will outlive. It seems from our information published at length elsewhere, that in January last a party of Mormons of high standing in the church, under the advice of Brigham Young, broke into the offices of the United States District Judge, and Clerk of the Supreme Court, and carried away by force all the papers, etc., belonging to the Court. The reason they gave for this outrage was, that Congress would not admit them as a State, and that they did not intend to tolerate any United States offices in the territory. These Mormons have, we think, reached the term of our patience; it is time they were brought to their senses. It is time it was decided whether they are an independent community or really a territory of the United States. For years they have been exciting the feelings of the American people; it is now high time that some settlement were had with them, and that the pending issues between us were adjusted on some permanent basis. We have no desire to prejudge the question, or to attempt from this distance to say what ought to be done in the territory of Utah; but one thing is obviously required – one of the very best men in the country should be sent to Salt Lake City, with a sufficient force of United States troops to enforce respect; and an end should be put, once and forever, by fair means or foul, to the serious of outrages of which this violation of the records of the Supreme Court at Utah is the last.

1857 – 13 June, p. 2 – Item #1 – The Mormons in Utah. Governor Drummond has arrived in Washington from Utah, and with him have come letters to the New York journals from, to use an Americanism, “reliable sources.” They picture a despotism compared with which John of Leyden standing over Fides with a drawn dagger is an amiable gentleman. The general outlines of the pictures have reached us before, but here we have the filling up. The correspondent of the Daily Times tells us of a federal court terminated with the bowie-knife and the revolver; of a Mormon prosecuting officer entering nolle prosequis against Mormon murderers of Gentiles; of a federal judge intimidated by pistols placed at his head and dirks at his throat while sitting on the bench; and of what they call in Kentucky a “free fight” within the bar, while these exciting amusements were going on upon the bench. The correspondent of the Tribune deals more in social manners. It is understood that if the Texas Ranger, to whom the post of governor has been offered, shall decline, it will be given to Judge Drummond, with a sufficient military force to enable him to put down the despotism of the fanatics, and protect all who wish to leave the superstition. Just at this juncture there is a report that the Mormons themselves have risen against their tyrant, and expelled him from their settlement, and that he is now, if alive, a wanderer among the Indians. The rumor is not credited here. It is believed to be a lie, set on foot by his agents to prevent the Government from sending a force this year to restore order in the territory. Unless dispatched at once, it will be impossible for any force to traverse the great plains between the settlements and the Rocky Mountains, and cross the high passes before winter. It is thought that these rumors are intended to impede the action of Government until a demonstration is impossible in the present year.

1857 – 13 June, p. 2 – Item #2 – Utah, another territory, is likely to give us more trouble. We have the anomaly of the age to deal with there—Mormonism—the strangest form of heathenism that has ever been found growing up in the neighborhood of civilization. The Mormons are now supposed to number nearly two hundred thousand, with not less than sixty thousand perfectly armed fighting men, all fired by the most fanatical zeal for their loathsome faith, and entirely subject in all things to the will of their leader, Brigham Young. Mr. Buchanan has not been long in coming to the conclusion that if the authority of the republic is ever to be asserted over the territory the time has come. One of the ablest military men of the country will be sent there, and an effective force is to be placed at his disposal. It is not definitively known that Major M’Cullough will accept the appointment, but some able man will be sent there, and it is clearly understood that the President will give him all the troops he requires. It may and probably will be a bloody business, but as the contest is inevitable the sooner it comes the better. Our laws do not interfere with men’s religious creeds; but our laws punish polygamy, and the foul system there must and will be broken up. Those who have understood the matter best from the beginning have, however, no hesitation in expressing the opinion that the establishment of law and order and the abolition of polygamy in Utah will cost the government of the United States one of the most serious struggles in which it has ever been engaged.

1857 – 20 June, p. 2 – A Mormon preacher at Southampton said in his sermon a Sunday or two ago, “Shall I tell you, my brethren, when the comet shall come and strike this earth? When Brigham Young chooses to say the word, then will the comet come and strike the earth.”

1857 – 20 June, p. 3 – The American papers record the death of Orson Pratt, the famous Mormon leader. He seduced the wife of a man named M‘Lean, in San Francisco, and was conveying her and her children into Utah, where she was to live with him and his ninth wife. M’Lean followed the fugitives, and shot Pratt dead at Van Buren, in Arkansas. The deceased was a man of considerable ability, and had traveled as a missionary through Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. He was next in influence to Brigham Young, and was one of the original followers of Joe Smith, the Mormon founder.

1857 – 27 June, p. 3 – Item #1 – Brigham Young is carrying things with a high hand in Utah. Accounts from Great Salt Lake state that great excitement prevailed there. The Saints had commenced the work of expelling the Gentiles. Judge Stiles, the United States marshal, the surveyor, and a large number of others, had left the territory, fearing their lives were in danger. If the news is to be credited, the issue between the Mormon leaders and the Government is fully made up, and General Harney and his troops will not reach Utah a moment too soon. Colonel Cummings has accepted the difficult office of Governor of Utah. Brigham Young and party left Great Salt Lake City on the 24^th of April for an excursion to the North, expecting to be absent some four or five week. The General Conference of the Latter-day Saints assembled on the 6^th of April to consider the affairs of the church. A large number of missionaries were dispatched on proselytizing missions to all parts of the world. The militia system of the territory has been recognized and the entire military force put in a state of efficiency.

1857 – 27 June, p. 3 – Item #2 – Brigham Young is described by a recent traveler as a portly man of middle height, apparently about fifty-four; his face bespeaks strong common sense, and when in the prayer he was spoken of as the “prophet and revelator,” I tried, but in vain, to discover any sign of contempt in his countenance. After the main discourse he spoke for a few minutes; he complained that men would come to his house without any sufficient object, and that women would come and ask for Sister Young (which?), and then try to see over the house, and the thing had become a nuisance; he had lost shirts; his wife had lost articles of dress. There were capacious offices for the transaction of business, to which strangers could come; friends he should always be happy to see at his own house, but he wished to give warning to all present that he had just received from London a new pair of boots with particularly strong toes, and that he should not scruple to use them on intruders. He then, I forgot how, turned aside to the subject of inspiration, and how, because the American people would not believe in visions and spirits, “God had sent on them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie;” and those who rejected Joseph were now deluged with evil spirits: with this he concluded. The last remark I did not at the time understand, but on inquiry found the allusion was to table-turning, which Mormons refer to the agency of evil spirits, permitted, and even sent forth, to deceive the “sectarian world.” The previous remarks of Brigham Young are a characteristic specimen: he never flatters the people, nor apes the supposed mien and language of a prophet. Neither would succeed: the Mormons are not fond of “soft sawder,” and would suspect affectation. He rather affects coarse and common language, merely now and then adding with conscious superiority, “I feel to speak of these things is beneath my position and my office, but the people are such dolts and fools I am obliged to do so.” He is in shrewdness and energy well fitted to be the head, though by no means the most intellectual or most eloquent in the “Church.”

1857 – 4 July, p. 4 – With regard to the Mormons, the New York papers say: “Colonel Cummings will receive this week a commission from the President as successor to Brigham Young in the government of the Mormon territory General Harney is already moving troops across the plains to support the Governor in taking possession of his new office, should it be necessary, and vindicate the authority of the federal government.”

1857 – 18 July, p. 2 – A few days since it was announced that General Harney had been ordered to proceed without delay to Fort Leavenworth. Although ostensibly he was appointed to the command of the troops in Kansas, yet it was supposed in some quarters that the president had an ulterior object in view, which was the adoption of vigorous measures in regard to the fanatical and rebellious followers of Joe Smith. Mr. Buchanan could signalize his administration in no more creditable manner than by giving his attention to that community of self-styled “saints,” who have never hesitated to avow their independence of, and virtual contempt for, the authority of the federal government. It is disgraceful to the United States that social habits and institutions utterly at variance with the teachings of Christianity, and tolerated by no other truly civilized nation on the face of the globe, should be permitted to subsist and flourish within their borders; but the Mormons claim that polygamy is a part of their religion, and though in any of the states of the Confederacy it would subject its votaries to the wholesome discipline of the penitentiary, yet so jealous are we of religious freedom that we have forborne to interfere with the harems of the detestable voluptuaries at Salt Lake. The Mormons, moreover, had taken up their quarters in so distant and solitary a spot that it was imagined that we had nothing to fear from the contagion of their licentiousness, and accordingly previous administrations have regarded a “masterly inactivity” as the best policy to be observed in the case. But, unfortunately, this course has not been attended with any practical advantage. On the contrary, Brigham Young, emboldened by the ill-advised toleration of the Federal Government, has greatly presumed upon it, and appears to have very serious ideas of taking the law entirely into his own hands. Judge Drummond, of the Supreme Court of Utah, has been obliged to resign his office, in consequence of inability to fulfil its duties, except at the peril of his life. In such a crisis as this the adoption of vigorous measures on the part of our rulers becomes a pressing duty, which they cannot with honor neglect. A large body of the United States troops, under the command of an officer like General Harney, would have a wonderful effect in bringing Young and his subjects to their senses. We have always advocated the necessity of a vigorous demonstration in that quarter. Ineffectual action is worse than none at all in such an exigency. The Mormons are rapidly increasing in numbers, in strength, and in audacity, and if Mr. Buchanan does not move promptly and decisively, he will find, before the close of his administration, that his culpable negligence has matured into formidable proportions a serpent with both the will and power to give our national peace a very serious wound. American Paper.

1857 – 26 July, p. 1 – 1857 –Mormonism. The following letter is from a Patriarch in the Mormon Camp, to his Brother at Abergavenny:

Nephi City, February, 1857

Dear Brother, I have no doubt but that you have long been expecting a letter from me, but pens, ink, and paper are not very readily obtained here, as this settlement is nearly 100 miles from the Salt Lake City, and there are no shops here as in England, it being a new country, and, consequently there are many inconveniences to put up with, that are not felt in old countries; yet poor people have more independency here than with you. We left Liverpool April 22^nd, 1855, and landed in New York the 22 of May. There was nothing very particular occurred with us crossing the sea. I believe the company altogether was over 500, and most of the passengers were sick, more or less, but no deaths. We saw numbers of vessels going to and from different parts of the earth, and several strange kinds of fish or animals. If you should cross the sea (as I hope you will), provide a little, additional provisions to the company’s allowance. A little jam, pickles, and preserves; a little flour, and plenty of patience, for I tell you these will be very necessary, especially on the plains. Now let me caution you particularly, that if ever you start for this country, let it be with a single eye to the glory of God—have no other object in view than to do the will of God—to assist in building up His kingdom—and accomplishing His purposes on the earth.

The limits of a letter will not allow me to say much respecting the journey. New York is a pretty place when we get into the best part of it; and there is a very grand scenery for about nine miles along the banks of the river before reaching it. From thence to Hutchinson, our last landing place, is about 3000 miles. By far the greater portion of this journey is by water, up the Ohio and Missouri rivers, passing several cities on the way, and immense woods. We stayed at St. Louis five days. I believe this part of the country is very unhealthy, and many other parts of America also; yet it is a fine country, and, generally speaking, working people do better than in England. I do not know whether your business is good or bad in America.

The land journey from Hutchinson to the Salt Lake City is a tiresome journey of 1,200 miles. My wife’s health was pretty good until she had sailed a few hundreds of miles on the Missouri river, above St. Louis, when the cholera broke out amongst us, and several died, among them my wife. This caused me much sorrow—not as those who have no hope, for we know the resurrection is not far off, when I shall have her again, never more to be separated. We arrived at Salt Lake City, October 23, 1855. This is a pretty location, and many good buildings and houses are already erected, and is continually improving. I remained in the city about a fortnight, but thinking the country would suit me better I came here, and Dick, James, Elizabeth and Emma came soon after. We have plenty of land, and we can raise all the grain and vegetables we need. There is a very little rain in these valleys. We have to irrigate our land. The summers are warmer, and the winters longer and colder than in England. There is much more snow here than with you; but little work is done here in the winter, as we can provide plenty in the summer.

Ann was married in London, and they were both in New York, on their way here, in September last. I have not heard from them since. People can do well here; yet it is not for temporal blessings alone that we gather here.

I think yourself, wife, and family will believe me (it would be no benefit to me to tell you untruths, or endeavor to lead you into errors, and God knows it never was in my head to do any such thing) when I testify to you all, in the name of God, that the doctrine taught by the Latter-day Saints is truth, and the only plan of salvation that ever was or ever will be offered to the human family; and I do exhort your wife and children, as one who loves their souls, to embrace it; and be sure to remain steadfast yourself; and all of you come to these valleys as soon as the Lord shall open a way for you: for this is the place the Lord has appointed for the gathering together of his people in the last days. Bu why are we brought here? I answer, that we may be weaned from Gentile principles and practices, which are an abomination in the sight of God. Here we can be taught the will of God, and learn his laws, and walk in them. Here we can purify and sanctify ourselves, and be prepared to meet Christ at His coming, which will not be many years hence—say 34; but many mighty events will take place before that time—the Jews will be gathered to their own lands—build up their city and temple—and many and great judgments will be poured out upon the Gentile nations of the earth; and many thousands will yet be glad to fly to these valleys, to escape troubles in their own lands.

Great numbers have come here this last fall, by the emigration fund, and walked the whole of the land journey, 1,400 miles, and drew handcarts. Some of the first companies came in well; but some of them started too late, and the snow and cold weather overtook them before they crossed the mountains, and no doubt they suffered considerably; but Brigham Young sent a number of teams, men, and provisions several hundred miles to meet them, and when they came into the city the inhabitants took them into their houses, fed, and clothed them, and they were treated with the greatest kindness—those that had no acquaintances, the Bishop provided for them in each settlement. There are several that came in with handcarts this season with us, and we give flour, wheat, meat, or anything we have to the Bishop, and they do very well. Their wood is brought to their doors, yet there are some that will grumble. I cannot say all I should wish in a letter; but let me advise you not to listen to all newspaper tales respecting this people: for I tell you we are the people of God, and there are no people on the earth that are keeping the commandments of God as we are.

Nevertheless, there is plenty of wickedness in the midst of us; but these things must be before the gospel gathers all kinds, bad and good, and here they will be brought and separated. Very probably you have heard said, what I have often when in England, that Brigham Young had many wives, and took just what man’s wife he pleased, and others did the same. The first part is true—Brigham Young and others have several wives; but that they take other men’s wives from them is a mean and barefaced falsehood. * * * [The letter then enters into a detailed account of the law among them, regarding a plurality of wives, which it endeavors to prove is the law of God.] By this time, I presume, you understand that we all had an existence in the spirit, before we partook of this fleshy tabernacle; and that we lived with our Father and Mother in heave; and that we came to this planted to learn good and evil, and go through an experience necessary to qualify us to obtain hereafter a glory and exaltation that we could not possibly attain to without going through this process now. All the spirits appointed to come to this planet have not, as yet, taken tabernacles and come forth; but many of the noblest and purest that were amongst us have been reserved in the heavenly mansions of our Father to come forth in this generation to assist in accomplishing His work of the last days. If those spirits were to take tabernacle and come forth among the wicked, they would, as a matter of course, partake of their wickedness and abomination, and, consequently would not be strong in the power of God; but if their fleshy tabernacles are begotten and born of righteous parents, that are keeping the commandments of God, then they will be like John the Baptist, their spirits being pure they will be filled with the Holy Ghost from their mother’s womb; and one shall chase his thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight; and I tell you that we shall want such men before the latter-day work is accomplished. This is the reason why the law of plurality is given to this people; and I say to you, and all the Saints in your locality, be sure not to spurn it, for it is a divine institution, and must carried for the above reasons.

I would also say to all (for I love all good Saints) make all the speed you can to come here, for there are troubles ahead you are little aware of; but do not expect to come here without meeting with difficulties, for it cannot be done; but be patient and prayerful, and all will be well. Remember this while crossing the plains. I have a great deal more in my mind I should like to say, but have no room. Suffice it to say, there are mighty events at hand; not many years and Satan will move up the Gentiles against us; we may see troubles, but ultimately triumph over the whole earth (America first). The time is come for this people to be purified, and all wicked destroyed from the midst; and e’er long you will hear of strange things amongst us. By my Patriarchal blessing I expect to live to be very old, and see Zion redeemed, and the armies of the Gentiles come against the Saints, and fall before them like the trees of the forest. I also expect (if faithful) to go into the temple and officiate for my dead relatives, and bring them forth in the resurrection.

A short time and Joseph and Hyrum will be resurrected, and be in the midst of the people, and help to fight their battles; and if you hear of many hundreds of this people leaving us, remember it must be so—the tares must be separated from the wheat; and they will propagate all evil reports against us, and go over to our enemies; but it will be better for them if they had never been born.

1857 – 1 August, p. 1 – The Mormons. The letters which have reached this country from the proselytes to this absurd and erring faith, hold out inducements to the friends of the converts to join them at the Salt Lake, and become regenerated.

A specimen of one of these letters we inserted last week, to show up the fallacy of their creed, which appears to be so demoralizing and dangerous, that none but the most illiterate of the community can possibly be led to place reliance in it.

There is a great amount of presumption to be daily met with among vain pretenders to knowledge, who, by exciting harangues, as well as by claptraps laid by their agents dispersed throughout the country to disseminate false doctrines, gather a few within the meshes of their nets, who have soon to repent of their foolishness in giving credence to wild and erratic statements, which must soon lead to most disastrous results.

With many, charlatanism goes down for reality, and the unthinking are content to take everything upon trust, however vile, degrading, or demoralizing. A host of victims may be occasionally seen taking their departure in the railway trains for Liverpool and other parts, to embark for the haven of comfort and joy in America, and who, on stopping at the stations on their route, set up the most hideous howls, screams, and unearthly noises in chanting praises, which wild strains more resemble the ravings of maniacs than of creatures endowed with reason. When Irving began the delusion of the unknown tongue, his followers gave vent to similar noises and uttered a jargon which had no meaning whatever. “Many false prophets are gone out into the world,” and the uneducated should be on their guard against such impostors, whose call is to deceive excited people, and induce them to believe the most improbable nonsense.

Not many weeks since, a letter was received by a person in this neighborhood from her daughter-in-law, in which it was stated, that, “My husband has at present only one wife (myself), but I hope shortly he will have some more wives.” Such a statement speaks strongly of the immorality to which the followers of the Mormon religion may be led: to think a woman from a Christian country should be so infatuated as to believe polygamy and adultery would be pleasing to the Almighty.

Letters written by the Mormons to their friends in this country, pass through the hands of the Prophets, and are inspected by them. If they are found to contain any statement unfavorable to the cause they are suppressed.

The illiterate portion of the community should avoid the snare laid to entrap them, or they will too soon prove they have become the dupe of a Mokanna – a humbug – a delusion.

1857 – 1 August, p. 3 – Item #1 – The Mormons who are somewhat numerous in the district of Vestra Sallerup, near Malmoe, in Sweden, have built in the village of the former name a house and chapel. On the 25^th June they assembled in the chapel for some grand ceremony of their form of assembled in the chapel for some grand ceremony of their form of worship, and when they were so engaged a band of peasants, armed with thick sticks, some of them with guns also, marched on the chapel, and summoned them to disperse. The Mormons refused, on which the peasants expelled them by force, and drove them from the village. As some of the Mormons were armed with guns, and made use of them, several of the combatants on both sides were wounded. The peasants having driven the Mormons to a tan-pit, dipped several of them in it, and then let them go. At Burlof, the local authorities have decided that any person who may lend his house to the Mormons for their meetings, or may take any of that sect into his service, or even receive them into his house, shall be fined 25 rixdalers. Several inhabitants of the district who had embraced Mormonism have abandoned it, to return to the Lutheran religion.

1857 – 1 August, p. 3 – Item #2 – Since the 1^st of January last there have arrived in the United States by four different vessels upwards of two thousand one hundred emigrants who had espoused the Mormon faith in the old country, and were en route to Utah Territory, in the Great Salt Lake basin. These Mormons were composed mostly of Welsh and English, with a sprinkling of Danes and Norwegians, and a few Germans.

1857 – 12 September, p. 2 - Supplement – Item #1 – Mormon Conference in London. This sect held its sixth annual conference on Sunday, at the Adelaide Gallery, Lower Arcade, Strand. It was presided over by “two of the apostles,” Brothers Orson Pratt and Ezra Benson. About 600 persons were present in the morning, about 1,000 in the afternoon, and upwards of 1,000 in the evening, most of whom judging from appearances, were Latter-day Saints, or Mormons. The proceedings consisted chiefly of addresses.

Brother Pratt described, in forcible language, the scriptural claims of Mormonism. Delegates were present from different parts of the country.

From the statement of Pastor Ross, the representative of London, it appeared that 1,260 pounds had been subscribed during the past year for emigration and other purposes. The exertions of the priesthood in the good work had been universally received and accepted. Preaching in the streets, lanes, and other places, had been revived, and where there had been opposition great wisdom had been evidenced.

The President of the Kent Conference said they had had very pleasant times. He looked upon the saints there, who numbered 550, as “a first-class lot of people, as they supported thirteen elders, and also paid their tithing,” and approved all that the elders proposed. They had also to bear their share of opposition, but they had felt the better for it.

The President from Essex said he had re-baptized in his district 241 out of 374. The people were first-rate in the work, and willing to pay their tithes and offerings; the Lord had been with them this year more than ever.

The President from Reading was happy to be present, surrounded as he was by the saints and servants of the Great God. In his district (a poor agricultural one), out of 300 or 400 saints, there were 150 who were good for nothing. Of the remaining 250, the greater portion lived or father vegetated on the parish allowance. They had subscribed 50 pounds during the past year to the emigration fund, and a large number of them would emigrate during the coming season.

A pastor from Southampton and Dorsetshire complained of the want of honesty “on the part of the learned editors.” Not long since the papers teemed with accounts of the vicious character of their elders—of their doing everything unbecoming a man, much less a saint, circulated by Judge Drummond. It had been proved by the American papers that Judge Drummond had invented his stories to injure the Latter-day Saints, and to bring them into collision with the United States government.

The Sheffield delegate (a gentleman from Utah) said the Saints in his district were not rich, “but good looking,” as they enjoyed the spirit of the Lord, which made them look and feel well. He himself had been baptized and received the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands. He conjured his hearers to become Mormons and forsake their sins. They were, he said, the most temperate people in the world. Just go into the houses. Where were their pipes? They had thrown them away. Where were their teapots? They had no use for them. He declared that Joe Smith had done more good than any man since our Savior, and that Brigham Young was a great and mighty prophet and father in Israel.

The proceedings of the afternoon were pleasantly varied by refreshments, such as ginger beer and other cooling drinks. Here and there might be noticed affectionate pairs with their arms round each other’s waists.

The proceedings of the evening consisted chiefly of a rapid review of the origin and history of Mormonism down to the present time, by Mr. Orson Pratt.

Collections were made after each service.

1857 – 12 September, p. 2 – Supplement – Item #2 - Another Meeting. On Monday night the Mormon Conference was brought to a close by a social meeting at the Teetotal Hall, Broadway, Westminster. The proceedings were certainly of such a character as were never witnessed in a “conference” before. The attendance was not very numerous, but it comprised all the leading members of the conference. At the outset the assemblage engaged in singing, in a loud strain, one of their favorite hymns, led on by Elder Bernard, to the tune of “The Low-backed Car.” The purport of this song was the long looked-for day when they would all get to Zion (Utah). It seemed to be a rather painful effort to Brother Bernard, and it was decidedly so to those of the audience who happened not to be Mormons.

Brother Silver, one of the elders, next obliged the company with a “little harmony.” It was something about—

“I never knew what joy was

“Till I became a Mormon” etc.

Several songs and recitations were given.

One of the elders sang a song styled “Sectarian Nonsense,” one verse of which ridiculed the absurdity of a man when he is ill going to a doctor, as the Gentiles (i.e, all who are not Mormons) do, instead of going to an elder of the church to be healed.

One of the Yankee elders, fresh from the Salt Lake Valley, said he “felt first rate.” He could fetch in firing, if they wanted it; and he calculated he was always “to band” when anybody was wanted to move the fixins, to hunt up the lost sheep, or to drive the oxen. When anything of this kind was to be done he was always at hand, to do the best he could; but he wasn’t much of a hand at discoursing. He drew a pitiable picture of the heathenism of this country, and gave a glowing description of the enlightenment and happiness of the saints in Utah.

A Mr. Harrison, who was one of the very few Englishmen among these Mormon prophets, next addressed the meeting. He said that Mormonism and its professors were not to be judged by existing standards; for they were far above and beyond them. It had been said that Mormonism was unnecessary, because there was nothing new in it that was true, and nothing true in it that was new. This was not the case. It supplemented the revelations of the Bible and completed them. They had been accused of saying nothing yesterday of polygamy. The polygamy they advocated was not the lustful polygamy of the Orientals. The polygamy of the Mormons was a system which controlled the lusts and passions of mankind, and reduced the marital duties to some kind of system. Mormonism did not allow men and women to rush into matrimony as dictated by their passions, and without any guiding principle. Mormonism came to them with principles adapted to every condition of a man’s life; it entered into the privacy of the chamber, and controlled every action. It taught men to act as God would have them act. This was the difference between the Mormonite polygamy and the Oriental system.

The congregation then indulged in some doggerel verses, which they sang to the popular air of “Minnie,” of the words of which song their “psalm” was a wretched parody.

Elder George Read then recited a piece about “The Bishop’s Banquet,” describing the good living of the right rev. prelates—a recitation which was singularly mal-apropos and in very bad taste, seeing that it was immediately followed by the Mormonite refreshments—apples and pears on damp and dirty waiters, with little cake and biscuits, which were stale and unsavory. These were washed down by copious draughts of pump water from large jugs.

Another Elder then indulged in a “little harmony” about “Sleepy Parsons,” the chorus to which was—

“Heigh ho! you sleepy parsons!

“Ha! ha! ha! ha! what a lark!

“After all your college learning

“You will find you’re in the dark.”

The very reverend elder gave this song with much vigor to the air of a well-known nigger melody, “Oh, Susannah, don’t you cry for me,” and he added to the effect by vigorous slaps of his hands upon his stalwart thighs, after the most approved fashion of the Ethiopian serenader. The effort was very much relished by the audience, who loudly applauded.

Sister Pearce and several other sisters subsequently sang.

An Elder, with a strong Yankee brogue, advised the sisters to sell off all their ornaments, which took them so long every day to dust, and to put the money into the emigration fund, to enable them “to gather out of Babylon”—i.e., to leave this country for Utah.

The Apostle Orson Pratt then gave the “Sisters” some advice on the subject of marriage. He said that marriage, if celebrated by the Mormon church, which alone had full authority, extended not only till death, but throughout eternity. He urged them not to marry men not Mormons, or else when they awoke in the Day of Judgment they would find themselves without husbands, and be obliged to remain single throughout eternity. This he described to be a horrible eventuality, and propounded the doctrine that a propagation of spirits would go on in a future world, just as the propagation of our species goes on in this.

Ezra Benson, another Apostle from the Salt Lake Valley, addressed the audience in his shirt sleeves. His speech was full of Yankee humor, rather coarse, but it told well with the saints. He said he felt “fust rate.” He referred to the subject of marriage, and to his own wives and children whom he had left in Utah, and said he believed that all his wives would not apostatize, and that therefore he would not be likely to undergo the misery of remaining single in heaven. He described Brigham Young as the best and holiest man in the world, and said he did not wonder at the sisters falling in love with him. Every good man, he said, ought to have more than one wife. He said he would advise the editors who abused them to consult their works, and they would find everything as “right as taturs.” He indulged in a variety of jokes of the same class.

The proceedings terminated shortly after ten o’clock.

(We omit to record some of the more improper sayings and doings of the evening.)

1857 – 26 September, p. 2 – The Mormonite delusion, I fear, is spreading. A map of London has been divided into sections: each of these sections has been sent to one or other of the “Branches of the Church.” In each “Branch” a society is organized, with a president, secretary, and treasurer, to superintend the distribution of tracts; to see that every house in their several districts, as indicated on their sections of the map, is visited; and to raise funds. They hold meetings and report progress in the “Branches,” and every six weeks delegates from all the branches meet and receive instructions from the president of all the tract societies, who is also assisted by a general secretary and treasurer. Now, when we consider that there are about 2,000 Mormons in London alone, and that nearly every one of these “Brethren and Sisters,” as they are called, is doing something to spread their peculiar doctrines, have we not sufficient cause for alarm, and ought not our clergy to stir themselves up?

1857 – 26 September, p. 3 – Expedition Against the Mormons. A letter from New York says:—About 1,500 men, a large proportion cavalry, are on their way to Utah, and one from Salt Lake Valley says,—A part of Californians which passed Salt Lake City on the 1^st of July, and arrived here yesterday, brings the intelligence that the Mormons, when they learned they were about to receive a visit from a large number of troops, became very much excited, and forthwith instituted a regular system of drills and other warlike preparations. Besides pushing onward their defenses around the city with more than ordinary vigor, they are also engaged with a strong force in fortifying Fort Bridger, an old trading post in the Mountains, near the head of one of the branches of Green River, about one hundred miles this side of Salt Lake. It is also stated that they intend occupying some of the passes between that point and their city. There are several of these passes, which, as military positions, are said to be almost as defensible as Gibraltar. One of them is a gorge or canyon (as it is called) eighteen miles in length, so very tortuous and narrow, with the escarpments on each side so lofty and precipitous, that an army once shut into and threating it might be easily cut to pieces by a comparatively inferior force occupying the adjoining heights. Should there be no way of turning these defiles, the army will be under the necessity of operating at great disadvantage in penetrating them in the face of fixed batteries. Whether the Mormons will have the temerity to attempt to arrest the march of our troops at Bridger’s Fort or any other point remains to be seen.

1857 – 26 September, p. 4 – Mormon Intelligence.” The Mormons have invented a new alphabet. They are to have a newspaper of their own, set up in type that they only can read. The Mormons are a separate type of people, and as such we see no harm in their having a separate type to themselves. On the contrary, we are rejoiced that the good, honest type which is generally used for the purposes of civilization, will not be defiled by their foul fingers. In truth, we possessed no type that could have suited their base purposes. “Bougeois,” for a set of dissolute reprobates that have not a good Bourgeois amongst them, would have been far too respectable. “Minion” would have been about the most congenial representative of a minion race like them. We fervently hope that the Mormon characters are such as cannot possibly be met with in any other part of the world—characters of so base a cast that no respectable printer would think of admitting them into his establishment. It should be with Englishmen a great source of congratulation that a people, that has not a single thought in common with us, should have adopted a distinctive medium for giving shape to their thoughts on paper. It is a safeguard, for which we should be grateful, as there will be less danger of our simple-minded cooks and housemaids being for the future corrupted by their dangerous doctrines.

1857 – 14 November, p. 3 – Heber C. Kimball, one of the most prominent of the Mormon elders, has lately delivered a discourse at Salt Lake City, in which he takes strong ground against the government of the United States, and expresses the determination of the Mormons to resist the troops to the last extremity. Brigham Young also made a speech in the same vein. In view of the anticipated difficulty with the Mormons, an unfortunate occurrence took place on the Great Plains. A drover, without any provocation, killed a woman a child belonging to a tribe of Indians which has hitherto refused to join the Mormons against the government, and also fired at the chief. It is feared that this may have the effect of creating a hostile feeling, which will end in alliance of the tribe with Brigham Young.

1857 – 5 December, p. 2 – The Mormons are reported by the New York papers to have committed their first overt act of treason against the federal authorities by the seizure of the provision trains.

1857 – 12 December, p. 2 – It would seem that Brigham Young has assumed the powers of an independent sovereign, and formally declared war against the United States. His reasons for this high-handed course, or rather the reasons assigned by the telegraphic reports, are rather contradictory, and will not be accepted by the government as entirely satisfactory. He makes war on the United States by virtue of his powers as governor of the territory of Utah, and the Territorial Organic Act, and forbids the commander of the United States troops to enter his dominions unless they lay down their arms. On their doing this he will permit them to remain until spring, but notifies them that they must then retire. Colonel Alexander made a very proper reply to this insolent message of the Mormon Chief, and informed him that he should be governed only by the commands of the President of the United States. This outrageous conduct on the part of the Mormon leader puts him in the position of a rebel to the government, and must bring his career to a speedy termination. By his opposition to the authority of the government he has rendered that embarrassing question, “What shall be done with Utah? of comparatively easy solution. While the Mormons abstained from any offensive acts against the authority of the United States, they were secure in their territory and likely to perpetuate their horrible delusions, and there appeared to be no way of arresting their growth or preventing the establishment of an independent state in which polygamy was sanctioned by law and Christianity was made a mockery. But this last act of Brigham Young’s has put him and his wretched followers in a position where there will be no difficulty in bringing them within reach of a reformatory power. Q.

1857 – 26 December, p. 4 – A Death Blow to Mormonism. President Buchanan had better not throw away powder and shot upon the Mormons. Let him send them fashion books. The necessity of crinoline will destroy polygamy. It will render Brigham Young himself unable to support more wives than one.

1858 – 16 January, p. 2 – It is estimated that as many as twenty-seven thousand Mormons have emigrated from Europe to the United States within the past sixteen years.

1858 – 20 February, p. 3 – It is reported that Mr. Bernhisel, the Mormon delegate, has made propositions to the president for the purchase of the Mormon property in Utah.

1858 – 6 March, p. 2 – The Mormon news is interesting, but unreliable. There was a rumor of a battle between the United States’ troops and the saints, but it was not believed. There is also a report that five American citizens had been killed by the Mormons.

1858 – 6 March, p. 4 – On the 6^th of November we found the ground once more white, and the snow falling, but then very moderately. I marched as usual. On the four-mile hill the north wind and drifting snow became severe; the air seemed turned to frozen fog; nothing could be seen; we were struggling in a freezing cloud. The lofty wall at “Three Crossings” was a happy relief, but the guide, who had lately passed there, was relentless in pronouncing that there was no grass; the idea of finding and feeding upon grass in that wintry storm, under the deep snow, was hard to entertain, but, as he promised grass and other shelter two miles further, we marched on, crossing twice ore the rocky stream, half choked with snow and ice. Finally, he led us behind a great granite rock, but all too small for the promised shelter, as only a part of the regiment could huddle there in the deep snow, while the long night through the storm continued, and, in fearful eddies from above, before, behind, drove the falling and drifting snow. Thus, exposed for the hope of grass, the poor animals were driven with great devotion by the men once more across the stream, and three-quarters of a mile beyond, to the base of a granite ridge, but which almost faced the storm; there the famished mules, crying piteously, did not seek to eat, but desperately gathered in a mass, and some horses, escaping the guard, went back to the ford, where the lofty precipice first gave us so pleasant relief and shelter. Thus, morning light had nothing cheering to reveal, the air still filled with driven snow; the animals soon came driven in, and, mingled in confusion with the men, went crunching the snow in the confined and wretched camp, trampling all thing in their way.

It was not a time to dwell on the fact that from the mountain desert there was no retreat nor any shelter near, but a time for action. No murmurs, not a complaint was heard; and certainly, none saw in their commander’s face a doubt or cloud; but with cheerful manner he gave orders as usual for the march. And then the sun showed his place in the sky, and my heart, for one, beat lighter. But for six hours the frost or frozen fog fell thickly, like snow, and again we marched on as in a cloud. * * * I have 144 horses, and have lost 134. Most of the loss has occurred much this side of South Pass, in comparative moderate weather. It has been of starvation. The earth has a no more lifeless, treeless, grassless desert; it contains scarcely a wolf to glut itself on the hundreds of dead and frozen animals which for thirty miles nearly block the road with abandoned and shattered property. They mark, perhaps beyond example in history, the steps of an advancing army with the horrors of a disastrous retreat. * * * November 10: The northwest wind continued fiercely, enveloping us in a cloud, which froze and fell all day. Few could have faced that wind. The herders left to bring up the rear with extra but nearly all broken-down mules, but could not force them from the dead bushes of the little valley, and they remained there all day and night, bringing on next day the fourth part that had not frozen. Thirteen mules were marched, and the camp was made four miles from the top of the Pass. A wagon that day cut partly through the ice of a branch, and there froze so fast that eight mules could not move it empty. Nearly all the tent pins were broken in the last camp; a few of iron were here substituted. Nine trooper horses were left freezing and dying on the road that day, and a number of soldiers and teamsters had been frost-bitten. It was a desperately cold night; the thermometers were broken, but by comparison must have marked 25 degrees below zero. A bottle of sherry wine froze in a trunk. Having lost about 50 mules in 36 hours, the morning of the 11^th, on the report of the quartermaster, I felt bound to leave a wagon in the bushes, filled with 74 extra saddles and bridles and some sabers. Two other wagons at the last movement he was obliged to leave, but empty. The Sharp’s carbines were then issued to mounted as well as dismounted men. – Extract from a report by Lieutenant-Colonel Cook, in charge of a Detachment of States’ Expedition against the Mormons.

1858 – 27 March, p. 2 – The War with the Mormons. The United States War Department have received dispatches from Colonel Johnston, dated the 4^th of January. Colonel Johnston’s letter to Major Lynde had not reached him, but General Scott says that enough is known from Major Lynde’s letter of the 2^nd of December, to leave no doubt as to the insufficiency of the present means at Fort Laramie for transmitting three months’ supplies to Colonel Johnston’s command. As it is a matter of absolute necessity that supplies should reach him by the 1^st of June, measures for that purpose have been taken by General Scott. His order, dated February 28, directs a train to consist of at least 206 mule wagons, to be organized with the utmost dispatch at Fort Leavenworth, to go immediately with Col. Hoffman in Fort Laramie, and to transport thence to Col. Johnston’s command in Utah commissary stores, men’s shoes, and such other supplies as may be known to be much needed. Two extra mules, to provide for casualties, are to be taken for each wagon. The wagons and mules, and everything for this train, will be the best that can be got together at Fort Leavenworth, or within convenient reach of it. Seven companies of cavalry and infantry will act as an escort beyond Fort Laramie. They will start on March 10.

In an order, dated March 1, to the commanding officer at Fort Leavenworth, General Scott directs that the following be sent to General Garland, in New Mexico, by express: “Colonel Johnston reports that the Mormons intend intercepting Captain Marcy on his return with the mules and horses he was ordered to obtain in your department. Notify the captain of this, and see he is strongly escorted on his return march, and well provided with whatever he may require, and you can spare.” The above orders from General Scott were sent by telegraph to Boonville, and thence they were to go to their places of destination by express. Captain Marcy was expected to leave New Mexico about the 20^th of March.

Colonel Johnston, in his letters to General Scott, says that no incident of any military importance has transpired since his last communication, and that the troops are in excellent health and spirits. He expresses fears that he has not sufficient draught animals. The greater number of the soldiers who have been on the sick list were rendered unfit for duty by being frostbitten. For this reason, Colonel Johnston recommends that each man be supplied with a pair of buffalo overshoes. Colonel Johnston calls attention to the great length of the line of communication of the army, and the necessity of providing the means for defending the supplies which must be sent forward early in the spring, more especially that portion liable to be attacked by the Mormons. Colonel Johnston commends highly the fieldworks thrown up around Fort Bridger, and has sent the drawing of them to the War Department. Colonel Cook, writing from Henry’s Fork on the 31^st of December, says that he found little grass and shelter at that place. The weather was moderating, and he had no doubt he would be able to remain there six weeks.

Brigham Young had sent a message to the Utah Legislature, in which he discusses the difficulties of the Saints with the Gentiles. Having received no official notification of the intention of the government to supersede him in the gubernatorial office, nor of the dispatch of troops to Utah, Young affects to regard the army at Fort Bridger and the civil authorities there as an organized mob, against whom he has accordingly fulminated a proclamation to disperse, and he calls upon the Legislature thereupon to adopt such measures as may be deemed proper. The Legislature has thereupon passed resolutions expressing their entire confidence in Brigham Young, and their determination to sustain him.

Much distress is stated to exist in the Salt Lake City from the scarcity of provisions and clothing.

1858 – 3 April, p. 4 – The advices from Utah show the Mormons were as obstinate and rampant for war as ever. The Utah legislature had sent a petition to Congress, calling on that body to redress their wrongs.

1858 – 26 June, p. 3 – It is not officially confirmed that the Mormons expelled Governor Cumming, but it is said to be derived from unquestionable authority. It was expected the army would move towards the Salt Lake about the end of May. The troops were said to be living on mule meat.

1858 – 3 July, p. 2 – The Mormon Exodus. In a dispatch to the executive of the United States, dated May 2, Governor Cumming gives the following description of his proceedings at Salt Lake City. After stating that he encountered no resistance, but was permitted quietly to assume his office, he says:

On the morning of the 24^th instant information was communicated to me that a number of persons who were desirous of leaving the territory were unable to do so, and considered themselves to be unlawfully restrained of their liberty. However desirous of conciliating public opinion, I felt it incumbent upon me to adopt the most energetic measures to ascertain the truth or falsehood of this statement. Postponing, therefore, a journey of importance which I had in contemplation to one of the settlements of Utah county, I caused public notice to be given immediately of my readiness to relieve all persons who were, or deemed themselves to be, aggrieved, and on the ensuing day, which was Sunday, requested the following notice to be read, in my presence, to the people at the Tabernacle:

“Notice—It has been reported to me that there are persons residing in this and in other parts of the territory who are illegally restrained of their liberty. It is, therefore, proper that I should announce that I assume the protection of all such persons, if any there be, and request that they will communicate to me their names and places of residence, under seal, through Mr. Fay Worthen, or to me in person, during my stay in the city.—A. Cumming, Governor of Utah Territory.”

I have since kept my office open at all hours of the day and night, and have registered no less than 56 men, 38 women, and 71 children, as desirous of my protection and assistance in proceeding to the States. The large majority of these people are of English birth, and state that they leave the congregation from a desire to improve their circumstances, and realize elsewhere more money by their labor. Certain leading men among the Mormons have promised them flour, and to assist them in leaving the country.

My presence at the meeting of the Tabernacle will be remembered by me as an occasion of intense interest. Between three and four thousand persons were assembled for the purpose of public worship; the hall was crowded to overflowing, but the most profound quiet was observed when I appeared. President Brigham Young introduced me by name as the Governor of Utah, and I addressed the audience from “the stand.” I informed them that I had come among them to vindicate the national sovereignty; that it was my duty to secure the supremacy of the constitution and the laws; that I had taken my oath of office to exact an unconditional submission on their part to the dictate of the law. I was not interrupted. In a discourse of about thirty minutes’ duration I touched (as I thought best) boldly upon all the leading questions at issue between them and the general government. I remembered that I had to deal with men embittered by the remembrance and recital of many real and imaginary wrongs, but did not think it wise to withhold from them the entire truth. They listened respectfully to all I had to say—approvingly, even, I fancied—when I explained to them what I intended should be the character of my administration. In face the whole manner of the people was calm, betokening no consciousness of having done wrong, but rather, as it were, indicating a conviction that they had done their duty to their religion and to their country. I have observed that the Mormons profess to view the constitution as the work of inspired men, and respond with readiness to appeals for its support.

Thus the meeting might have ended But, after closing my remarks, I rose and stated that I would be glad to hear from any who might be inclined to address me upon topics of interest to the community. This invitation brought forth in succession several speakers, who evidently exercised great influence over the masses of the people. They harangued on the subject of the assassination of Joseph Smith, Jr., and his friends; the services rendered by a Mormon battalion to an ungrateful country; their suffering on “the plains,’ during their dreary pilgrimage to their mountain home, etc. The congregation became greatly excited, and joined the speakers in their intemperate remarks, exhibited more frenzy than I had expected to witness among a people who habitually exercised great self-control. A speaker now represented the federal government as desirous of needlessly introducing the national troops into the territory, “whether a necessity existed for their employment to support the authority of the civil officers or not;” and the wildest uproar ensued. I was fully confirmed in the opinion that this people, with their extraordinary religion and customs, would gladly encounter certain death rather than be taxed with a submission to the military power, which they considered to involve a loss of honor.

In my first address I had informed them that they were entitled to a trial by their peers; that I had no intention of stationing the army in immediate contact with their settlements, and that the military posse would not be resorted to until further means of arrest had been tried and failed. I found the greatest difficulty in explaining these points, so great was the excitement. Eventually, however, the efforts of Brigham Young were successful in calming the tumult and restoring order, before the adjournment of the meeting. It is proper that I should add that more than one speaker has since expressed his regret at having been betrayed into intemperance of language in my presence.

The President and the American people will learn with gratification the auspicious issue of our difficulties here. I regret the necessity which compels me to mingle with my congratulations the announcement of a fact which will occasion grave concern.

The people, including the inhabitants of this city, are moving from every settlement in the northern part of the territory. The roads are everywhere filled with wagons loaded with provisions and household furniture, the women and children, often without shoes or hats, driving their flocks they know not where. They seem not only resigned, but cheerful. “It is the will of the Lord;” and they rejoice to exchange the comforts of home for the trials of the wilderness. Their ultimate destination is not, I apprehend, definitely fixed upon. “Going south” seems sufficiently definite for most of them, but many believe that their ultimate destination is Sonora.

1858 – 3 July, p. 3 – The Mormons. Hannah Brown, an elderly woman, dwelling at No. 4, Stratford-terrace, Thomas-street, Davenport-street, Commercial-road, appeared to answer a summons which charged her with assaulting and beating Mrs. Elizabeth Watson.

Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, who appeared for the complainant said, that Mrs. Watson had been a Mormonite for three years, and was for some time considered one of the most promising of the “Latter-day Saints,” but in consequence of having discovered the disgusting tricks of the Mormon religion—

Mr. Yardley—Religion! Are there any Mormons in this quarter?

Mr. Young—Oh yes, Sir; there are some half-dozen places called chapels of the present, I mean Latter-day Saints, sinners they ought to be called Sir—where these people meet to inculcate their pernicious doctrines among the ignorant. The husband of the defendant had also been a Mormon, but gave it up. The defendant had been jealous of Mrs. Watson ever since, and finding her talking to Mr. Brown attacked her with great fury, scratched her face, and beat her.

Mr. Yardley asked the complainant if she lived with the defendant’s husband?—Mrs. Watson replied in the negative, and said—I was a Mormonite three years. Mrs. Brown is a Mormonite. Her husband was ordered by the elders to walk with me, to instruct me in the principles of Mormonism, and to rob my husband and go to Utah, for the good of the church.

Mr. Yardley—I thought all the Mormons had gone to Utah.—Mr. Young—No sir; there are troubles in Utah, and Governor Cummins and the United States army have taken possession of the place of the place. There are plenty of Mormons left here.

Mrs. Watson—Well, I was cut off from the church because I would not rob my husband and leave him, and the defendant’s husband was cut off from the church because he was not successful in teaching me how to rob my husband, and could not induce me to leave my husband and go to Utah to marry one of the elders there.

Mr. Young—Those are the principles of Mormonism?

Mrs. Watson—Yes Sir; I was taught that to rob my husband, leave him, and commit adultery was to glorify the church.

Mr. Young—the Mormon church you mean?

Mrs. Watson—Yes, Sir. Well, Sir, I found out the baseness of the Mormon doctrines, and I would not leave my husband or rob him, and the defendant has been persecuting me ever since. Last Sunday evening I was speaking to Mrs. Brown’s husband, he having first accosted me, when Mrs. Brown came up and called me a great many infamous names, struck me with her fist, and scratched my face. She threatened to kill me, and I had much trouble in getting out of her way.

Mr. Yardley—Did you voluntarily leave the Mormonites?

Mrs. Watson—I did, Sir; the elders of the church wanted me to go into their apartments and be initiated into the mysteries of Mormonism, but I would not, and have been persecuted ever since by Mrs. Brown and her friends.

The defendant said that Mrs. Watson did not voluntary leave the church of the Latter-day Saints (a laugh), but was publicly expelled and cut off, and had ever since been in the habit of meeting her (Mrs. Brown’s) husband and walking about with him.

Mr. Yardley—Is not that according to Mormonism?

The Defendant—No, Sir, it is not. Mrs. Watson was cut off from the church, and my husband was publicly cut off from the church, and they have been in the habit of meeting each other.

Mr. Yardley—Is that any reason you should scratch the complainant’s face?

Mrs. Brown—I watched her, the hussy. She shook hands with my husband, and kissed him.

Mr. Yardley—Is that contrary to Mormonism?

The Defendant—It has nothing to do with Mormonism.

Mr. Yardley—Then I am much misinformed on the subject.

The Defendant—Yes you are, Sir.

The Complainant—The meeting was accidental. I kiss her husband, indeed!—the wretch who wanted me to rob my husband, and go into the apartment of the elders? Not I, indeed.

Mr. Yardley—I would recommend you to renounce Mormonism if you wish to keep your husband to yourself.

The Defendant—It has nothing to do with Mormonism.

Mr. Yardley—I have nothing to do with Mormonism. With respect to the morality of it, I say nothing.

The Defendant—I have a large family of nine children, and have had 12, and I won’t let my husband go with her.

The Complainant—I don’t want the old man.

Mr. Yardley—Well, Mrs. Brown it does appear she was excessively familiar with your own husband on Saturday last, but that is no reason you should scratch her face, but a good reason for scratching his face.

The Complainant—I can assure you, Sir, many women have been induced to rob their husbands and leave them and go into the apartments of the elders, there to lose all that is dear to virtuous women, by the Mormons. I am sorry I had anything to do with them.

Mr. Yardley—I don’t recognize Mormonism, and I must not have a breach of the peace committed. Mrs. Watson had better not shake hands with Mr. Brown if she meets him again. As there was some aggravation I shall fine Mrs. Brown 1s. only, but if she molests Mrs. Watson again, I shall bind her over in heavy sureties to keep the peace.

1858 – 4 September, p. 2 – Brigham Young in a Fix. The New York Herald of the 14^th publishes a letter from its Utah correspondent, in which we find the following passage:

Brigham Young, Esq., has really received a revelation from the Lord commanding him to hold his voice for a season. On dit, that this Divine decree of the omnipotent Ruler of the Universe, to this potent delegate on this mundane spheroid, has its origin, motive, and abiding cause in the presence of your humble correspondent here in the holy city of Zion. The length of the season for which, per command of the Almighty, “the gospel is to be locked up,” depends, according to popular credence, entirely upon the residence of this same unpretending individual among this saintly people. It is a very farcico-ludicrous condition for a live prophet to be in, that he can neither teach, nor preach, nor prophesy for fear some fellow will tell the world what he says. Poor pitiable Brigham! How holy must be his inspiration, how sacred his language, how divinely politic his teachings, when the fear of the world knowing what he says closes his august mouth. A gentleman who was conversing with two of Brigham’s wives last Sabbath, expressed great anxiety to hear the Prophet preach, and asked when there would be church service here again, so that he could hear him. The sisters replied, “Brigham will not preach again, so long as you have a Gentile shorthand reporter here to take down his discourses.” Considering this fact, it might not be an injudicious missionary speculation for the good people of New York to employ an able shorthand writer, and send him on here to stay the tongue of this supreme blasphemer by reporting his sermons in their native hideousness to the world. The testimony of Gentiles who have resided several years in this valley of Mormons in good church standing and out of good church standing, is, that no sermon preached by Brigham Young was ever laid before the public as delivered. The Mormon reporters, some of whom are competent men, have always corrected the Prophet, put good instead of bad grammar into his mouth, softened his harshness, smoothed or remolded his sentences—in short, re-written his discourses before they were placed in the hands of the printer. Notwithstanding all this, the world knows how his sermons have looked in print. There is now, for the first time in the history of the territory, a Gentile in it competent to give the world truthful reports of his sermons. The prophet does not like to exhibit himself as an ignoramus; he does not want the world to see what a despicable figure he would cut, notwithstanding his inspiration, were his sermons printed verbatim; he does not, under existing circumstances, deem it prudent to continue his low, vulgar, slanderous, treasonable talk, when it would be laid before the nation; nor can he, for fear of losing his power among his own people, be so grossly inconsistent as to turn round and talk and teach them the very opposite of what he has hitherto done. Hence this convenient, politic revelation, to cease preaching for a time. The prophet evidently feels himself in a quandary, but the beginning of his tribulations is not as yet.

1858 – 11 September, p. 2 – Brigham Young and Kimball. The Times’ correspondence describes Brigham Young as a man of fifty-seven years of age, of medium height, of figure rather inclined to corpulency, with sandy complexion, and a vulgar, sensual mouth. He was well, but plainly dressed, rather austere in manner, and evidently fully conscious of the necessity of maintaining a sort of royal dignity, becoming a prophet. I should judge him to be shrewd in worldly affairs, a good business manager, a judge of human nature, and capable of adapting it to his will. The cast of his mind, however, is evidently low and vulgar. While shrewd and cunning, quick and ready in the application of what powers of mind he possesses, the prophet is by no means a wise man nor profound; and in discussion with an ordinarily skillful opponent, he fails utterly. Nevertheless, his power over the people is limitless. His nod is law, and the ignorant masses of his followers look upon him as almost a god. I had the pleasure of hearing him deliver a sermon on the Sabbath, in the course of which he quite satisfied me that I was not mistaken in my estimate of his mental caliber. His discourse was rambling and vulgar, although his manner was popular and forcible. He never rose to the dignity of an argument, but all his positions depended for success upon the blind acceptance of his own dicta. He referred to the army of the United States as ruffians, and then made a lame effort to cover up the blunder he had sense enough to perceive that he had perpetrated. He spoke of the President of the United States as “an old dotard, whose friends allow that he ought to have been elected 25 years ago, when he had a little sense about him, if ever;” and in urging the “sisters” not to hurry their husbands back to their homes, told them, if it made their heads ache to live in tents, to “go out and get a chip to put on their heads.” This specimen is quite sufficient to satisfy and disgust every intelligent reader. Judge what must be the misery of an educated and refined proselyte to Mormonism, who comes here as to a heaven upon earth, and find the prophet, the vicegerent of God, a man of such vulgarity as the above language marks him.

But Brigham is a model of elegance and refinement compared with Heber C. Kimball, the next in the priesthood. He is only a few days older than Brigham, is tall, full formed, with short sandy hair and whiskers, florid complexion, and small, cunning, snake-like black eyes. No one knows with certainty how many wives Brigham has, but Heber pleads guilty to about 40, by whom he has only about 58 living children, having lost half-a-dozen. His reputation as a husband and father is bad, and many are the secretly-whispered tales of his jealous cruelty to his wives, some of whom are younger than his first-born child. He is certainly the most vulgar and blasphemous wretch it has been my misfortune to meet. Excepting the use of the name of God, there is not form of blasphemy which is not familiar to his lips. He assured me that he loved his friends and not his enemies. Being rebuked for this sentiment by a Gentile bystander, he declared that he followed the Scripture, nevertheless, and prayed for his enemies. This sentiment elicited commendation, when Heber continued—“Yes, I pray they may all go to h—ll and be damned.” This, let me assure you, is a fair sample of the style of language employed by this second member of the priesthood, in the pulpit and out of it. Another illustration of his spirit, and I leave Brother Heber. He was asked if he would resent an insult by violence; and he responded, “The Scriptures tell us that if smitten upon one cheek we must turn the other also. Well, I’ll do that; but if a man smites me on the other cheek too, let him look out for a ---- of a lick back!”

1858 – 18 September, p. 4 – Lives of the Latter-day Saints. The Mormons complain of persecution—but they have had no trials. Which of them has as yet been indicted for polygamy?

1859 – 3 September, p. 4 – Statistics of Mormon Population. The Valley Tan copies the following statistics of Mormon population: “The population of Mormons in the United States and British dominions in 1856 was not less than 68,700—of which 38,000 were resident in Utah, 5,000 in New York State, 4,000 in California, 5,000 in Nova Scotia and the Canadas, and 9,000 in South America. In Europe there were 30,000; of which 22,000 were in Great Britain and Ireland, 5,000 in Scandinavia, 1,000 in Germany and Switzerland, and in France and the rest of Europe, 1,000; in Australia and Polynesia, 2,400; in Africa, 100; and on travel, 2,800. To these if we add the different schismatic branches, including Strangeites, Rigdonites, and Whiteites, and whole sect was not less than 126,000. In 1857 there appears to have been a decrease in the population of Utah—the number being only 31,022; of whom 9,000 were children, about 11,000 women, and 11,000 men capable of bearing arms. There are 388 men with 8 or more wives; of these 13 have more than 19 wives, 780 men with 5 wives, 1,100 with 4, and 2,400 with more than 1 wife. Recapitulation—4,617 men, with 16,500 wives.”

1859 – 8 October, p. 3 – Several assassinations have been reported by the Mormons at the Salt Lake.

1859 – 19 November, p. 4 – The Family of Joe Smith. The Boston Courier says: “The family of the great Mormon prophet, Joe Smith, still dwell in Nauvoo. No persuasions can prevail on them to remove to Utah. His widow has married again, and with her husband keeps the Mansion house, the only house of entertainment that the city affords. The oldest son, who bears his father’s name of Joseph, is a justice of the peace, and a useful and much respected citizen. Great inducements have been offered him to remove to Great Salt Lake City, but he steadily resists all such importunities.”