Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-02
From the Galena (IlI.) Jeffersonian.
AsSpeCtacle for Freedom.

AT the distance Of about two hundred
miles from us, there is spectacle daily to
be witnessed, most shocking to humanity.
Several hundred weak and unofending fe-
males and children are living in the open
fields-without food-or any Of the most
common necessaries of life. Large num-
bers of these helpless victims are sick-and
death is daily making ravages among them.
They have no friends-no home-none to
sympathize with them-none to minister to
their wants, none to console them, or wipe
their falling tear from the afflicted or the
death damp from the brow of the dying.
These helpless beings are the victims Of
an armed banditti in our own state. Many
Of their fathers, brothers and husbands have
been compelled to flee to save their lives.
The laws of the state-of humanity-and
of civilization, lie trampled in the dust.
The starving crowd cannot go forward up.
on the gloomy deserts of the west; they car
not get sufficient provisions in the scatter
ed villages around, for they are already fill
ed with multitudes. They cannot return
to their homes without prospect of instant
death, and if they could, those homes have
been broken open and rifled of their con
tents. ID.
What an exhibition is this! What spec
tacle for republicans in the nineteenth cen
tury! The crime of these women ane
children is being Mormons. They have
not followed the usages of other creeds, but
have worshipped God after the dictates O
their own consciences. Had they been O
any other denomination, the press and the
pulpit would have Numbered forth from one
end Of the land to the other. The whole
nation would have been aroused. But be
ing poor, despised Mormons-they are COZ
signed to lingering death by starvation
almost without word Of comment. The
pulpit is silent-the press has not spoken
out, and the wretched victims of lawless
violence must linger on until death relieves
many Of them from their suferings.
We ask every friend of humanity to re.
fleet upon this state Of things, and see il
something like relief cannot be afforded
The winter weather now setting in adds
fresh horrors to the situation of these suffer
ers While resting quietly in comfortable
beds, let not those be overlooked who are
forced to sleep upon the cold damp ground
Let not the furnished mothers, and little
children crying for bread, be forgotten, a
the family board. And let it be- distinctly
remembered that if banditti of thieves ane
assassins can attack and plumber Nauvoe
they can do the same to Galena. None
are safe when lawless violence tramples
on the laws. And what guarantee have
we ofsafety? If an excuse could be rails
ed Tint few of us were Mornrons woule
not the plunder Of the city be suficien
motive for desperate men? We are no
safe. No man in Illinois is safe, until thu
majesty ofthe law is vindicated, and thu
perpetrators of these atrocities are brough
to punishment. A.aa
An agent has been among us soliciting
contributions for these perishfng victims
What his success has been we know moi
but the picture that he gives Of their horri
BILE destitution makes one shudder. Go
speed his efforts. We trust that our com
munity have given literally.