Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-03
THE MORN

IN the u. >. SENATE, on Monday, IMf. UNDER WOOD
presented the petition Of William Smith and Others
members Of the church Of Latler-Day Saints, asking
that the application Of the Salt Lake Mormons to be
admitted as State into the Unon under the name of
the State of Deseret, may not be granted by Congress-
which was referred to the Committee on the Terrific
ries.
Mr. U; said that the memoriaiss represented in this
memorial that they belonged to the church or sect more
commonly known by the denomination of Morinons:
that they represented that prior to the emigration of
those people from Nauvoo, in the State of Illinois, 500
OF them took the following oath:
~ gu solemnly swear, in the presence of God His
holy angels, and these Witnesses that you will ayenpe
the blood OF Joseph Smith upon this nation and so teach
your children; that you will from this time hencetorth
and forward, begin and carry out hostiles against this
nation and keep the same intent profound secret now
and forever So help you GodH'
The memorasts further represented that these peo-
pie, since their settlement had by their principles and
by their institutions, tolerated polygamy; and thew
charged upon them various offences and crimes and
called upon the authorities OF the nation to establish
system OF government by which these crimes perpetra-
ted there they alleged should be arrested Since re-
ceiving the memorial MIR. u. had seen in a newspaper
what he would read to the Senate
- The extract read was from the Western Missouri
Reporer and stated that the Momons at the city of
the Salt Lake, had seized upon citizens OF Missouri who
were passing through their valley and awlessly tried
them for having aided in their expulsion from Missouri
A Mr.. Pomeroy and Mr.. Wilson had both been tins
seized. The Mormons had also imposed tariff OF
nifty per eentupon all goods carried through their coun-
try from the Statesl
Ii there any truth in what he had lust read il
would be seen that this people about to carry out
the tenor of the oath taken at Nauvoo which he had
previously read.
MIR. FoorE requested the senator from Kentucky to
repeat his preliminary remarks, nquiring whose memo
rial this was.
Mr.; UNDERWOOD repeated that the memorial was
signed by William Smith and Isaac Sheen representing
themselves as the legitimate successors and nresiden,e
OF the Church OF eSlS Christ Of
claiming to be the legitimate successors of Joseph
Smith, and signed also by twelve Others members Of
the church. These persons lived in Covington, Ken
lucky, The paper had been regularly mailed to him
from that place. lie trusted that the memorial would
be referred to the Committee Territories and that
some Investigations ould be made into the matter
MIR. DOUGLAS. Before the reference is made, | deem
y due that should make remark upon one branch Of
the subject to which the Senator has called the aten-
ton OF TINS body In regard to the memorial and the
statements contained in it, know nothing and there
lore can give no explanation about it. But have OBJ
served In the newspapers the article which the Senator
has read; and meeting with Mr. Rabbit, a delegate
elected and sent here from the provisional government
OF Deseret-being the government which the Mormons
have lately established for themselves in the absence o
any action OF Congress in their behalf asked Mr.
| Rabbit II he could give me any explanation of the
statement that the Mormans had assumed the right Of
imposing duties upon goods passed through the valley
lie stated to me that this transaction twas alleged 10
have occurred since he left, but that this was what he
understood TO be the state OF the facts that these peo
|
the Salt Lake, and made it their permanent home there
and established city, found necessary to establish
also government for their protection until Congress
should provide for them that they found it necessa
ry when they established government to provide the
means OF revenue to support that government that one
o. the means taken to provide revenue was the exac
| ton by that government of duty upon all Goods
brought in and sold within the city of the Salt Lake
whether by Momons or anti Mormons, whether by re-
sdens or non-residens that the Mormons and anti
Mormons, residents and residents were placed mon
an equality. asked him it this duty was imposed upon
goods passing through and going beyond and not TO he
vended in the city He assured me that it was moi
that large amounts of goods large caravans Of goods
had passed through and We're never nolested He as
sured me, furthermore, that these caravans sold their
goods upon the praries outside The limits of This Nor
mon settlement, Immediately outside and without anv
speh duty and that the duty was only imposed upon
those who retaied their goods inside the limits of the
city, was imposed on all alike and was imposed
merely for the purpose of providing revenue until
Congress should provide government for them This
wasthe explanation that Mr. Rabbit, delegate from
the Territory, elected to represent them in the other
branch of the Capitol gave to me- felt it due to the
Senate, to the country, and to these people, to make
this explanation, that may go Out with the statement
OF the Senator from Kentucky know nothing Of the
facts, other than as have stated and give The autho
rty upon which have made these statements