The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-06
THE MoRMONS.


The last " New York Sun" has an editorial ar
ticle, az well As letter from Nauvoo OF the twen-
ty.seventh October, concerning this extraordinary
people. The letter is from James Arlington Ben
nett, and processes to sketch their future designs as
follows tc
"The present organization of the church, with
the twelve apostles at its head, with president
who holds the keys of the kingdom, is the one that
must stand; and when these shall have gone to Cal
ilorna, Mormonsm will be no more in the United
States. But there will be mighty gathering from
ali nations of the earth to the Mormon empire now
about to be established on the Pacific ocean! One
thing you may rely on-and that is. this people
will never annex themselves TO any government on
EARTH nor is it desirable that they should, as they
are determined to be governed by their own laws
The Mormons consider Governor Ford as an old
woman in breeches. They say that. instead OF
permitting them to defend themselves against the
nobs, he egalzes the me bs by throwing into their
aid some OF the State forces. This Is what is cal
led their abuse of the Governor that we see in the
papers.
"There are already organized twenty-five COM
pan,es of one hundred families EACH to be filled up
during the winter, for the march to California -
Each family of ten persons will have strong wag-
on, drawn by four oxen, and supplied with every
thing necessary for the journey.
"A troop of horse will be organized as an ad-
vance guard
"The whole Mormon people are called IN from
Europe and America, so that they expect about
two hundred thousand persons to congregate with
in one year at the bay Of San francisco! Several
ships will be fitted out in England to take their
people round Cape Horn, and Others will sail from
New York in the spring Is not this a tempting
p,ace for an old United States officer like myself,
who has been through the last war? They wish
me much to join them, and presume if did, l
would have the first military command in the camp
OF the sainsts. They certainly require leader
with military and mathematical head. and one
who has seen active service; but am too old to
settle in the West"
The " New York Sun,"n its own editorial ar
tcle. runs as follows:
"THE MoRMoNs. William Smith. brother OF
Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, states that 1t is
their design to set up an independent government
somewhere in the neighborhood of the Hockey
Mountains, or near California. That the plan has
been maturing for long time, and that, in fact,
with hate in their hearts, skilfully kept up by the
Mormon leaders, whose pockets are to be enriched
by their toll, the mass ofthe Mormons will be alike
purged of american feeling, and shut out by
barrier of mountains and church restrictions from
apy other than Mormon freedom. That the design
of Brigham Young and the "twelve," is to build
up asacerdotal tyranny, the spirit of which will be
more oppugnant TO the spread of republican prin-
ciples than could possibly be the rule OF Europe.
These are William Smiths views. He opposed
10 the plan of organization and its leaders We hnd
the following in the Mormon paper, which speaks
bitter, and, in some respects, we apprehend' true
spirit in reference to their wrongs. We could not
believe that, in government OF laws, any sect'no
matter what their faith might be, would ever have
been driven out Of the land vi Ell arnis. The Nor
mon paper says:
1--WE owe the United States nothing We 60
out by force, as exiles from freedom. The govern
ment and people owe US millions for the destruc-
ton OF life and property in Missouri and in Illinois
The blood of our best men stains the land, ana the
ashes of our property will preserve till God comes
out Of his hidingplace, and gives this nation hot
ter place than he did Sodom and Gommorrah'-
"When they cease to SPOIL they shall be spoil
ed" for the Lord hath spoken it."
"They will become formidable enlmies to the
United States, either IN California or Oregon; and
government should look to this matter in season"
We entirely concur with the d" Sun" in the be-
lief that our government should look to this mat
ter in season." With angry and fanatical feelings,
such as the Mormons would carry with them, our
own citizens would find them b" troublesome Gus
toners, "let the tide of emigration be diverted to
Oregon or California.
We understand that the number Of Mormons is
already estimated at 81, 7,OOo.-Washmgi0n O"'on'