The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-23
The Momons,

| among the developments OF our day, none
hereafter will excite more eager interest, nor be
the theme of more curious research, than the
rise and progress of the Mormon faith and
people. The bare recital of the naked facts
connected with the history of both, already fur
nishes materials of more thrilling romantic in
terest than the widest imagination could weave,
or the most fertile fancy adorn, in the dreams of
! fiction.
"The wild and wondrous tale of Alroy," as
wrought out of the oriental brain of D'lsrael,
does not surpass the wildness and the wonder
which attach to this new faith and its founder
OF whom the half has not yet been told
Wandering over the Northwestern country
few years ago, the junior editor of this paper
visited the city of Nauvoo, short time previous
to the disturbances which resulted in the murder
of Joe Smith, and the expulsion of his followers
from the pleasant places" where they had made
their Mecca-and well did it merit its name of
Beautiful City"
The impressions formed, and the information
derived during short soiourn there, We're enl-
bodied in an article published in the Southern
Literary Messenger, which has the merit of con-
veying faithful and unprecedented picture of the
place, the people and the prophet-if no other
AS the topic is one of great and growing in
terest, we shall, when our space will permit,
reproduce a part of that sketch, which may pos
sibly interest portion of our readers.
Our attention has been awakened to the sub
ject by the following curious circular, which we
extract from a New York paper:
i To THE AUTHORS, EDrroRs AND PUBLISHERS OF
THE UNITED STArEs.--Tne inhabitants of the Ter
ritory of Utah through their authorised agent, de-
sire to address you on a subject wherein you
have the power very greatly to assist them, and
the Importance Of which, as an intelligent repub-
lican, they assured you will at once acknowl-
edge, the extension Of education throughout their
Territory Whatever the difference of egious
opinion between us. or however extraordinary
they may appear, we know that we take the same
views of all essential points with our Christian
ellowcltlzens, and that all agree that education
is the birth right of every American citizen, and the
foundation which his liberty must rest, if his
country is to be protected from anarchy and dis
order The undersigned alludes to those differ
ences, because it has been believed that not only
our religious sentiments differed from friends
in the States, but that 1t was our intention to ar
ray ourselves against the Government ofthe Union.
We trust that the late mission Of our people to
Congress (by which they asked to have extended
, over them, the laws and protection of their great
country has dsspated this Illusion AS the
people of State, we look forward and at no dis
tant day, To be received into the Union, enjoying
all the privileges and performing all the duties of
our happy and prosperous brethren.
But they would present themselves at that
suspicious hour, enlightened and educated
people, familiar with the labors and genius Of their
. countrymen, and fitted by reading and reflection,
to take their just share in the councils and defence
of their great country. How shall this be with
out libraries and newspapers? How shall our chill
dren, situated at so great a distance from their
}, fellow citizens, who enjoy these unspeakable priv,
ileges store their minds with the noble intellectual
, efforts of their countrymen.
! Our soil is productive, climate not uDgenia
TO our habits Of labor and our people united ano
happy We worship the great and omniscien
God; many of our fellow-ctizens, whose ideas oil
duty or happiness have Impelled them to seek
their realization in California, have found in their
, perilous journey thther, that our convictions OF
. Christian duty derived from the same great
source, as manifested through the holy Scriptures,
although we receive and acknowledge the Divine
command also from a later revelation. While we
claim the privilege of m.nstering to the wants OF
= the body of our wayfaring brother, we would
= confidently and earnestly entreat the means of re
Preshing our own and our children minds from
II the great Fountain of Light that will prove
If that though there differences of administra
. ton, there is the same Lord. :" Through the Pres
we have our chief access to this Fountain, wthou
o it, neither the Christian the Philosopher cou
r hope to transmit his faith in God, and his mani
, fesations in the discoveries of science, or to i'm
prove the condition of those who are living in the
t depths Of superstition and bodily degradation.
The position of our Territory cuts off from
the repositories OF learning accessible to others
C and we can only rely upon the distant periods Of
arrival of our mails, to learn what is transporting in
our common couatry. library for constant
reference and mental culture in the more abstrac
intellectual sciences is than desirable; it il
vital to existence and prosperity.
!. Congress, with enlightened sagacity that SHOULD
d always characterize the views of the true Ameri
r can in matters of education, has appropriated fv
thousand dollars for the commencement of Ii
brary for the citizens residing in the Territory
D Utah, and the President Of the United States has
appointed the undersi gned to procure it, He will
remain in the city New York considerable por
ton of the winter for that purpose. Whilst thus
appropriating his time, it has occurred to himself
and his friends, that most agreeable and profit
able method of furthering this design, would be to
acquant authors and publishers Of books and
newspapers throughout the United States, with
the wants of his constituents, and to assure them
] Of the sincere gratitude with which donations from
: them will be received
/ All such files of papers and copies of works can
be forwarded by mail, addressed to the Honorable
George Briggs, Member Of Congress, New York
city. The word Utah should be written on the
outside Of the envelope enclosing them, that
their destination may be more correctly dstin-
gushed from works intended for the hon. member
{ himself. BY this arrangement they will be as
sured Of their reaching their destination, and Of
their appropriation to their avowed object.
The autograph Of the author or donor will in
crease the value of his gift, and convey to tn,
reader Of succeeding generation, pleasing me
, mento Of the man to whom he may be indebted
+ for his means of communicating with the mind OF
n precedinp The volumes. firmly enVelODed
in thick wrappers, may be forwarded at your ear.
! Hest convenience, as above requested.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedent servant
JOHN M. BERNHISEL.
New York, Nov. 18th, 1850.