Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-01-12

PIC "ole auouL W carry out inc TENOR OF
the oath taken at Nauvoo, which he had
previously read.
Mr.. Foote requested the Senator from
Kentucky to repeat his preliminary re-
marks, inquiring whose memorial this
was.
MIR. Underwood repeated that the me-
mortal was signed by William Smith and
Isaac Sheen, representing themselves as
the legitimate successors and presidents
OF the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, and claiming to be the legiti-
mate successors of Joseph Smith, and
signed also by twelve others, members
OF the church. These persons lived in
Covington, Kentucky. The paper had
been regularly mailed to him from that
place. He trusted that the memorial
would be referred to the committee on
Territories, and that some investigation
would be made into the matter.
Mr.. Douglass Before the reference
is made, deem it due that / should
make remark upon one branch of the
subject to which the senator has called
the attention Of this body. In regard to
the mem orial, and the statements contain
ed in it, [ know nothing, and therefore
can give no explanation about it, But
have observed in the newspapers the ar
ticle which the senator has read; and meet
ing with Mr.. Babbit, delegate elected
and sent here from the provisional gov
ernment of Deseret-being the govern
ment the Mormons have lately establish
ed for themselves, in the absence of an
action OF Congress in their behalf ask
ed Mr.. Babbit ifhe could give me "a
explanation of the statement, that the
Mormons had assumed the right Of irnpo-
sing duties upon goods passed through
the valley He stated to me that this
transaction was alleged to have occurred
since he left, but that this was what he
understood to be the state of the facts:
that these people having assembled in
large numbers in the valley of the Salt
Lake, and made their permanent home
there, and established city, found it nee
essaly to establish also q government for
their protection until Congress should pro
vide one for them: that they found it nee
essary, wien they established a govern
ment to provide the means of revenue to
support that government; that one of the
means taken to provide revenue was
the exactien, by that government. &C du
ty upon all goods brought in and sold
within the city Of the Salt Lake, whether
by Mormons or anti Mormons, whether
by residents or non-residents; that the
Mormons and anti Mormons, residents
aud non-residents, were placed upon an
equality. Iasked him il this duty was
imposed upon goods passing through and
going beyond, and not to be veuded in
the city. He assured me that it was not;
that large amounts Of goods, large cara
vans goods, had passed through and
were never molested He assured me,
furthermore, that these caravans sold
their goods upon the prairies outside the
limits OF this Mormon settlement, imme-
diately outside, and without any such
duty; and that the duty was only impos-
ed upon those who retailed their goods
inside the limits of the city; was imposed
on all alike, and was imposed mrre'y for
the purpose providing revenue until
Congress should provide government
for them. This was the explanation that
Mr.. Babbit, delegate from the Territory
! elected to represent them in the other
DidhCn vi tno NaiHJol, gave 10 me-
feel it due to the Senate, to the country,
and to these people, t,hSke this explana
ton, that 1t may go out with the state
ment of the Senator from Kentucky. II
know nothing of the facts, other than as
L have stated, and give the authority
uponwhich / h we made these statements.
PKoFITs OF PLANK RoADs.-The Wa
steryille and Utica road, nineteen miles
long, and costing 4s4, 900, has Just de-
clared a dividend of ten per cent laid by
for repairs. The Utica and 1ridgewater
road, twenty miles long, costing $40,
900, pays 25 per cent.
Negro fellows, common field hands,
sold at this place yesterday, at public
sale, for over $1,000. One sold7for so,
80. This is higher than negroes hayc
sold for a number of years. We woula
admonish the plat,srs against payipg
such exorbitant prices for negroes far Il