The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-02
THE MORMONS.

THE MORMONS.
ms prosecuted body of people, for we can look
upon them In no other light seem To carry with
them the curse of lshmael. against whom every
hand Is raised, and of consequence their hand
must be raised in defence. We have watched the
progress of this sect since its originating by its
prophet, Smith, and have heard it denounced, a
bused and ridiculed by its enemies yet it is in
creasing in power and numbers. The most fagi-
tious acts have been committed against it, and re-
iiglous phrenzy has been enlisted to uphold the
most outrageous and unprovoled assaults upon the
lives, persons and property of thuse protesting that
faith. The unnatural war that has been raging
between the Murmons and anti Mormons in Hi
noS, Tor the last two or three weeks, has been
one OF aggression against the former, which has
been borne with meekncss on their mart that
has astonished every one-their houses have been
burned over their heads. and their crops consumed
ny the work ct the d.day incendary, and yet
they have not visited evil with evil, until for.
bearance ceased TO he a virtue, and when by de-
Tending themselves from their bitter persecutors
an enemy falls, the cry is raised that blood has
been spilled by the Mormons, and all the dogs of
hell are invoked TO take vengeance upon them
Why is this? WHY dues not PUBLIC OPINION
put down this unholy war upon the rights of con-
scence-why has not the State authority, ere
tins, Inerposed 10 stay the advence of persecution
There Is we fear another spirit at work in this
business, besides religious bgotry and zeal, and
that is the fell spirit of ,Naiiuism The ST. Louis
New Era seems to warrant this conclusion in an
article commenting on these disturbances, from
which we extract the following:
" Wherever n few families have settled in the
country. remote from the body of their clan, they
have been treated kindly and respectfully. and
have been permitted to enjoy their absurd religion
and to indulge in their gross superstitions without
moleStalion but wherever they have conGrerated
together In formidable foreign masses. and at
tempted TO form dangerous political hierarchy.
they have brought down on them the fierce ven
geance 0l the American people. The importation
OF whole cargoes and boat loads of blind zea!ots
from England, and embodying them under despntic
control OF designing ecclesiastical leaders, have
alarmed the fears at many who are very jealous
on the subject of religions liberty. To see so
large number of persons SO completely priest.
ridden as TO belieye all the ahsurdites and SUPER
sitIons IuculcaIed by their prophets and ecclesi-
asiIcal rulers, and ever ready to obey their com
mands--no matter how contrary 10 the laws of The
cnnnlry-has given much strength To the anti
Mormon party. The miracle monrering of the
leading imposters has been their reliance for de-
ceivlng and misleading many credulous persons,
and has added strength 10 the excitement against
Them
The sway that has been exercised by the
Mormon ecclesiastical leaders over the minds of
the mass of the people, is entirely repugnant to
republican principles and hostile TO liberty Per
sons who are In state of religious slavery re not
very suitable persons to form members of repub-
lican cOmmunty.'
We should like TO know what right any press
IN this country has to proclaim mystery
gross =" absurdity and the followers of that mus
terry blind zealos," while their own ewes are
filled with beam so enormous that it is impossi-
Die for them to discern Alright? We know nothing
and care nothing, for the religious professions of
the Mormons, they have the right guaranteed to
them to think aud worship their God, as they
Please-but the paragraph quoted above shows
that it is the .NatiyeS fighting the battles of the
Almighty. in order TO extermnate the caruocs
and boat loads of foreigners who are not. in their
eyes " suitable persons to form members of re-
publican community"
More than thirty of the Mormon farmers houses
have been destroyed by fire, before they attemp,ed
to repel the aggressOrs by force They have at
last gathered force, and under the lead of the b1b
sheriff of the county, J. B. Backenstos, the incen
diaries are flying from the injured Mormons. The
New Era of the 22l further says:
'' The contest now appears to be civil war.
and 10 be carried on with the full belief that one
party or the other must leave the country. The
letter from the editor OF the Republican published
in that paper. describes the operation of house
burning carried on in the Mormon county. and
also mentions the fact that the Mormon elders had
made proposition for compromise. cessation
OF hoslllItIes, and a PROMISE that the Mormons
would leave the country next spring, were the
leading features Of their proposition. separa
ton OF bloody conflict may be anticipated. In
Few days we may again hear of Gov Ford
starting out OH grand Wolf Hunt"
PROGRESS OF PROTECTION.
The Lowell Palriotof September 18th contains
FA.