The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-16
THE MORMoNs AT THE SALT LAKE.

| Recent advices from the Far West inform us that
the Mormons, who have found their promised land
and laid the corner stone OF their second temple on
the banks of the Timpanozoo, or Great Salt Lake,
are already preparing to send delegate Washing.
ton and to ask Congress tho advantages Of u regu-
lar Territorial government.
This is circumstance of interest In itself, as
showing the extraordinary rapdiy with which, in
American hands and under the tramp OF American
ieet the desert suddenly blossoms into life and cn
walton; but the fact has an additional and very
grave importance, springing from the character Of
the settlers, and Of the country in which they have
founded their colony, which ought to give il the at
tenton and careful consideration OF the national al-
thorties.
We know as yet but very little as 10 the real state
Of hngs at the Salt Lake the extent and progress Of
tho settlements and the number Of Mormons now
seated there. We are merely aware that they have
been perfectly successful In establishing their colony
that their lands fertile and extensive, capable Of
supporting considerable population; that their re-
lgious policy is of concentration, aiming TO
bring all their people together into one chosen home
that they are already numerous enough TO feel the
want OF Territorial organization; and that II Is
within their power within a year or TWO, perhaps
II they choose Ito bring together such population
as will entitle them 10 demand admission into the
Union as an independent sovereign State.
In our view Of the case, this is a consnmmation
more to be wished than dreaded. We are DESTROYS
that the Mormons should enjoy all the benefits and
feel all the restraints of Territorial government as
soon and as efiectually possible. The bride
should be upon the neck OF the colt that the grown
| steed may be accustomed TO II. Considering the
| somewhat Ishmalitlsh character OF the Mormons-
fanatica! and prosecuted zealos, with whom It Is
point OF faith to shun and repe, as II Is point OF
feeling to hate, the woodland the nature and posi-
ton Of the country they have seized upon TO make
of il their Holy Land II is clearly the interest," as 1t
ought 10 be the duty of tho National Government 10
extend the laws and authority of the United States
over them without delay, 10 accnstom Them from the
first to restraint and obedience, and above all to
l fnfa nVn
pendence natural to their remote and wild situation
which might be productive Of some serious difficult
| ties, ii not actual calamities, hereafter.
| Between the l02 deg OF west Longitude where the
wild sage land proper prairie desert begins TO the
Sierra Nevada, the western limit OF the great Shos
hoco Desert Great Basin, as 1t is now popularity
called is distance OF nineteen degrees OF longitude
or about 1000 miles. The Salt Lake is situated nine
degrees ATS miles east OF the Sierra, and ten de-
grees 525 miles, west of the fertile regions OF the
Mississippi Valley; or nearly midway between the
two portions Of the republic. II forms the Great
Oasis Of the western desert; and the various smaller
cases. the different habitabe regions OF the mountain
land around II, are placed to be dominated by
| it, In fact, this Valley OF the Salt Lake. besides
commanding the roads to Oregon and California,
may be said to command nearly the whole country
West of the Mississippi Valley. II cuts the CONT
nent in twain, and separates from the Union the
growing States beyond the Sierra, the borders of
the Pacific. Ii forms the nucleus Of an Alpine state
which, once peopled with courageous rebels, might
BoNSih-
ment or the world imprcgnable within Its mountain
BARRIERS behind the immense gacis of prairie desert
Such State would, naturally, from Its military posi-
ton, extend its influences eastward over the Three
| Parks and down. in fact, 10 Forts Laramie and st.
yran and the regions at the foot Of the mountains,
| -northward over all the gens OF the Wind River
Mountains and the upper valleys Of Lewis's river
| westward, over the entire Basin, with It's various
| known and unknown reclamable nooks-- south
ward, 10 the head waters Of the Colorado and Rio
Grandc, the fertile land of the Moquis and Zunis,
and, in fact, all the northen portions OF New Mexico.
Such hostile state must, OF course, never be al
lowed 10 grow up in that wild but all important
mountain country. There must be a State of the
Union there, filled with patriotic and jealous cti-
zens, with no thoughts or feelings but those of
Americans. The Mormon settlement should, there
by Government and Congress; which should expect
the rapid progress of its Territorial or even State
exisencej and 80 prepare, in view OF both, the whole
scheme OF State and Territorial division Of the con-
tinent The Mormon colony can never be brought
under the jurisdiction of California, Oregon, or New
Mexico. Nature forbids il, and the attempt to dsrc
gard the natural law can only lead to- and indeed
compel, mischief Salt Lake State which, under
Encouragement by Government and Congress,
might be made barrier and cause of eternal separa
ton between the Pacific States and those of the Mis-
sssippi Valley, may be also made and is necessary
as bond Of connection, firm link of interest and
amty, between the discovered portions. It's now
| certain that people-he Mormons, too-will
| grow up in that commanding region In the heart
| OF the Rocky Mountains. The question is whether
| that people is to be allowed to grow up with the
feelings OF Americans Or those OF enemies and for
e!gners.
| There is another circumstance connected with the
subject of this Mormon settlement to which we
have not alluded, although it is worthy Of serious
| consideration. Whatever the wishes, the objects,
the supposed interests even of this people, who have
been the occasion Of quarrcs leading to persecution
in other places il scarcely be deemed polite to
suffer this State to grow up MS Mormon ono mere
ly, with Mormon constitution and laws a Mormon
government, and Mormon fanatcism, as a vital
principle, overriding all the necessities and oblga-
tons of equal republican institutions. Fanaticism
should be weakened by dilution. The interests OF
the country require that the government should en-
courage emigration Of all kinds into the Salt Lake
Valley actively and rapidly us possible, SO to
prevent the overwhelming preponderance Of the one
dangerous sect and the unlimited increase Of an I'M
fortunate superstition Phila North American