The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-10-25
The Mormon Country.

A correspondent of the New York Iri-
bune, writing from the Great Salt Lake
country, in letter dated July 9Th, says:
'This Territory, State, or, as some
term it, Mormon EMPIRE may justly be
considered one of the great prodigies of
the age, and, in comparison. with its age,
the most gigantic of all Republics in exis-
tence-being only in its second year since
the first seed of cultivation was planted, or
the first civilized habitation commenced.
If these people were such thieves and rob-
bers as their enemies represented them In
the States, must think they have greatly
reformed in point of industry since coming
to the mountains.
81 this day attended worship with them
in the open air. Some thousands of
well. dressed, intelligent-lookingp people as
sembled; some on foot, some in carriages
and on horseback. Many were neatly
and even fashionably clad. The beauty
and neatness of the ladies reminded me of
some of our best congregations in New
York. They had a choir of both sexes,
who performed extremely well, accompa-
MED by band who played we'll on almost
every instrument of modern invention.-
Peals of the most sweet, sacred, and SOL
emn music filled the air. after which SOL
emn prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr..
Grant, of Philadelphia. Then followed
various business advertisements read by the
Clerk. Among these l remember Call
of the Seventeenth Ward, by its presiding
Bishop, to some business meeting-a Call
for meeting of the 32d Quorum of the
Seventy, iand meeting of the officers of
the I'd Cohort of the Military Legion, &c.
"After this, came a lengthy discourse
from Mr.. BRIGHAM YOU'VE, President of
the Society-partaking somewhat of Pol
itics, much of Religion and Philosophy,
and little on the subj ject.o G old,-show-
ing the wealth, strength and glory of Eng
land growing out of her Coal mines, Iron
and lndustry-and the weakness, corrup-
ton and degradation of Spanish America,
Spain, &C., growing out other gold, silver,
&C., and her idle habits.
"Every one seemed interested and plea
sed with his remarks, and all appeared to
be contented to stay at home and pursue a
persevering industry, although mountains
of gold were near them. The able speak
er painted in lively colors the ruin which
would be brought upon the United States
by Gold, and boldly predicted that they
would be overthrown because they had
killed the Prophets, stoned and rejected
those who were sent to call them to re-
peutance, and finally plundered and driven
the Church of the Saints from their midst,
and burned and desolated their City and
i Temple. He said God had a reckoning
with tina: people, and gold would be the in
strument Of their overthrow. The Con-
stitutions and laws were good, in fact, the
best in the world, but the administrators
were corrupt, and the Laws and Consti-
tuition were not carried out. Therefore
they must fall. He further observed that
the people here would petition to be Or
ganized into a territory under that same
Government-notwithst its abuses
and that if granted they would stanu
by the Constitution and Laws of the Uni
ted States; while at the same time he de-
nounced their corruption and abuses.
''But, said the speaker, we ask no odds
of them, whether they grant us our petit
ton or not! We never will ask any odds
of nation who has driven us from our
homes. Ifthey grant us our rights, well
If not, well; they can do no more than
they have done. They, and ourselves,
and all men, are in the hands of the great
God, who will govern all things for good,
and all will be right and work together for
good to them that serve God.
"Such, in part, was the discourse TO
which we listened in the strongholds OF
the mountains. The Mo"maons are not
dead, nor is their spirit broken. and, if
mistake not, there is noble, daring,
stern, and Democratic spirit swelling in
their bosoms, which will people these
mountains with race of independent
Men, and influence the destiny of our
country and the world for hundred gen.
erations. In their Religion they seem
charitable, devoted and sincere-in their
Politics, bold, daring and determined-in
their domestic circle, quiet, affectionate and
happy-while in industry, skill and intel
4 ligence they have few equals, and no SUI
periors on the earth.
81 had many strange feelings while con-
templating this new civilization growing
up so suddenly in the wilderness. | al
most wished l could awake from my gold
en- dream, and find it but dream; while
pursued my domestic duties as quiet, as
happy and contented as this strange Peo-
ple."
/ V-A contemporary states that about