Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-03-08
ID T. s T. II T. T .

ly of the sect called" Mormons," though we
have paid but little attention to either the tenets
or the purposes of that association of fanatics.
BothIare exposed in the subioined article, and
show ooncusively that it would be an outrage, no
less upon digni'yand decency thanupon Christia-
ity, for this Government to recognize and |
erect into a " State " such voluntary outcasts
The worst supposable form of Mercm Gov
eminent is altogether too good for the vile and
impous crew who are associated under the |
name, and infamous practices of Mormons,"
and we trust that Congress will never so far
compromise ,ln christianity of the country and
Of the age. ave anything more to do with
this band o lus'ing fanatics than TO keep
them under the strictest surveillance, for their
good behavior. The Nation would be less dis
graced and dishonored by the admission of half
dozen Slave States !" A set Of men who
dsown and deny the Christians COP, should
receive no fellowship in Christian Republic.
The Boston Daily Advertiser, from which we
copy the article below, says -
I" These people having squatted on lands belong
ing to the United States consisting OF the most pro-
ductvc tract Of lands acquired by the California ees'
sion and having laid claim to vnst adjoining terri
tory in California and Oregon, of sufficient dimen
sons to form several states OF large class, have APP
piled to Congress to be recognized, with the territory
thus seize upon an independent Srate, and 10 be
admitted as member OF the Union. An agent OF
this anomalous association has arrived at Washing
ton and applied to be Admitted as delegate from
territory OF the United States to seat in the House
with right to participate IN It's deliberations, and to
draw pay as member. The article to which we
refer presents Just view of the character and claims
of this self styled territory and take the rst oppor
tunity oflayng it before our readers"
The following is the communication from the
Iateligencer:-
TIE STATE OF DE Standardization is fire.
quenty made of Deseret, as the name or Ter
{ ritory settled by the people commonly called
Mormons, and now praying to be admitted to
; the Union under the name just stated. 1t is a
matter of surprise that this subject has not at
traced a greater degree of public attention.
! This circumstance can only be accounted for
e by the fact that oth,r subjects Of a more urgent
Il nature have for the last few months occupied
the time and thoughts Of Congress and the PEG
v pie. Under ordinary circumstances, there are
: many questions connected with the settlement
l. of the Mormons and their present application tc
II be admitted into the Federal Union which would
# have been thought to require very serious con
l. sderaton.
l. In the first place, who and what are Nor
3 mons? The answer is they are set of IA
% natcs, who have sprung up within the last few
,e years, and who believe in the late Joe Smith
le a divine prophet Since the cruel murder G
|; Joe Smith, they believe that his gift and powe
s. of prophesy have passed 10 his SUCCESSORS, an
1t that Divine revelations are regularly and eve
W frequently bv them to their followers. tn
I'd : Book of Mormon is pretended revelation
I'D which Joe Smith alleged was communicated
al him on golden plates, dug up in the State c
nt New York, written in an unknown language
5 i but translated into English by himself In por
We of fact, the greater par, of this pretended ne>
TO Bible was sort religious romance, write
on by clergyman Of New York, not with any il
or tention 10 deceive, but as an effort "a very il
ce, Judged one) at an innocent exercise OF the im
ere agina,ion. By some accident it fell into j.
OF Smiths hands, and was by him made the sui
iect of the abominable fraud just nam,d. 1T
ed deuded followers of Smith, calling themselve
ho Iatter.day Saints, emigra;ed, we believe, fro
New York to the West Whether their fir
Wis establishment there was In the State OF Mlsso
III ri, we are not accurately informed. They hi
. not been long in that State before they ncurr'
The the ll-will and odium Of their neighbors, al
were illegally and violently driven out OF Y
State. They took refuge in Illinois, found
eu the city Of Nauvoo, built an abortion of arcl
, | lecture WulCll lucS CdlIcu q lCuiP'Ct uhN
> rapidly in numbers and wealth. Recruits
}. two descriptions focked to them first, smp
it'll fanatics, who believed in the pretensons OF }
ave Smith considerable number OF whom were e
'e' listed by his missionaries, not only in the d
=. die and Northern States, but in England; ar
III second, adventures of every kind, who flock
&C to Nauvoo to speculate upon the credulity
hat the other portion.
ar To the disgrace of the age this wretched i
II. posture fourished As specimen of its gro
VIC ness we may mention of fact, stated by an {
tile tremely respectable gentleman of this city,
Jul- one within his personal knowledge, Being
pht tour to the West, he visited Nauvoo from {
riosty. In the temple he was shown colt
mi. ton of curiosities, and among them were c
III" or two mummies, which had been import
N from Egypt by Joe Smith. The attention
asst, the visitor was called by Smith to the mum
on othes and the writing upon them. Their
,L said Smith that y handwriting Of the pa
oh Abraham , the only man that {
HI red it, whc '... roceeded To do
-.- In the cou .- ., ~ years the scenes
that violence which had occurred in Missouri W
I, repeated and with still more fatal results, IN
~ nois, and the Mormons were driven from
10 State by armed and organized boles-not
n of tnp however. with any legal authority.
she do not, by any means, Justify or palllate
hcr manner in which the Mormons were trea
either in Missouri or Illinois. 1t was lille
""' and cruel, and this without any reference to
Is IN character and conduct OF the Mormons. w
and credit is to be given to the reports winch cir
,ory lated to their disadvantage we have no me
of knowing. They were believed to be gu
of the grossest imorali ties lit has been consi'
ly stated that they protested and practised
Iuily the doctrine of community, on plurality OF WI
bout and i, was believed'n their neghborhood
Itch. they made up their separate and peculiar org
eing haeot s w the land and Of Sood mar
s. Whether that is true, false or exaggerated
r fell have no knowledge ; but it seems scarcely
nm sib!e that, unless there bad been some louI
ton for the prejudice. they should IN SC Sho
IS an time have become the object OF such bitter
a the tility in Missouri aud Illinois.
after In the conflict between the Mormons and
RAILS neighboring popu alton of Illinois, Joe 81
was murdered in the prison 10 which he
s. been committed. His followers fled from
erred State ard formed the resolution To emigat'