The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-10

tonal agitation, fraternity will take the place of
alienation, and the American brotherhood viii
know only the country and the Union. low much
worthier this of the destiny of the republic its proud
position among the nations OF the earth, and its n-
huence throughou the civilized world Tor the pro-
mitigation Of the blessings OF free goyernment,t than
the pestent disorganising and dangerous Efforts oil
sectionasm and abolitonism We cannot but
hope that the day is not distant when we shall yet
see this distinguished Southern Senator among us.
While he will find, we are quite sure, stlll more TO
approve and encourage in our city upon more inti-
mate acquaintance with it, citizens cannot fail,
in his direct and manly bearing, his frank cordia-
ty of manner, and the lberaty of his views to add
to their admiration of his character.
The Mormon Kingdom of Beaver Island.
CHARGE AGAINST KING sTRANG, FOR RoRBISG THE
UNITED STATES MAIL, AND rLuNDERlNG GENE
RALLY-THE BISHOPS COURT.
From the Detroit Advertiser, Jun, 81
We publish below, certain documents throwing
light upon the nature of the circumstances which
led to the arrest of His Majesty, James j. Strang,
the political head Of the Beaver Island Settlement
of Mormons, which we are impelled to do in conse-
quence of some msapprehension which exists in
the public mind in regard to that circumstance,
which misapprehenson, instead of being elucdated
by the press, has been befogged and misrepre
scented.
First in ORDER we publish the original complaint,
being one among many of the same nature, which
seemed to draw the attention of the Department of
State to the moral condition of the settlement,
and the proceedings of Strang and his associates.
Ii emanates from a respectable magistrate at
Mackinaw, and was designed to reach the appro-
pirate source of remedy, although the writer seen
not very clear in his own mind as to who that may
be. Here it is =
MAcKINAw, April 9, 1851.
His HONOR THE PRESIDENT
AND AUTHoRI TIES OF THE UNITED STATES
SIR-on the llth day Of March i started from
this place to go to Beaver Island, the Mormon set
Element, on the ice, on busnoss-to carry tho
United States mail After arriving 8; St. Helena,
! found that Mr.. Gould had arrived from that
place with the United States mail, where
waited until his return back from Mackinaw, on
Goud) informed me that it would not be safe for
me to go to the said Beaver Island, as they had
determine d to kill me rs soon as had even made
my appearance in that neghborhood. On arriving
at Garden Island, about three mil from said Beaver
Island, we were informed that King James J.
Strang, the Mormon Prophet sent gang of some
eight or ten men to Hog Island, to intercept and
rob the mail that they, after staying on Hog
returned to Beaver Island without seeing the
mail. Not being allowed to 60 near said Beaver
Island, at the peril of my life, made arrangements
with Mr., Gould to take myself and wife to Mack
some six or eight miles, We were overtaken by two
Indians, who were sent post haste after u.s. to in
form us that James j. Strang had sent fifteen or
twenty men after us, all armed with revolvers and
Bowie knives, to intercept and rob the United
states mail, and to kill whoever should be found
with said mail, and especially myself. After being
so informed, we returned Immediately back to
Garden Island On our way back we met FIVE
persons that had been sent from the island by
Mr.. M 'kinley, the deputy postmaster, to our res
cue. When arriving within a few rods from the
house, from which we started in the morning,
there were some fifteen persons marched out In
regular file, under the command of Gen. George
Miller, the commanding officer of King James j.
StraDgs army, and come to the halt and front face.
Seeing them come to halt, within few rods of US.
! turned and run back to where we had left the In
dians, and the robbers followed me run, and
the four persons that the post master had sent to
our assistance, were come to stand when they,
the MORN on robbers, thus seeing US in body, also
came to stand. Peain, the acting chief Of the
Beaver Island Indians, went forward, and m st the
said band Of robbers. and informed them that they
must leave, and 60 home and mind their business.
or they would take care Of them, when they We're
marched of by their general, George Miller. The
next day the most of the Indians met together and
went to said Beaver Island Harbor, on board of
the steamer Lexington, where Hing James ]. Strang
has been staying most OF the winter, and making
it his head quarters. A few lays afterwards, at
the request ofthe deputy postmaster, z. M'kinley,
and the people, the Indians and people Of said Bea.
yer Island went a-ain on board Of said steanisr
Lexington, and had another long talk with said
Mormon prophet, King James Strang and his
Privy Council. They, the said Mormons, having
been stealing the past winter, everything they
could lay their hands on, and have stolen large
quantities Of fish, that were left on the fishing
grounds BY the fishermen, going in gangs of fifteen
with horseseigh-being gone three days Mt q time.
His Highness, hing James j. Stra ng, the Nor mon
prophet, has issued his orders, and has organized
several bands of his people, to go out through
the nation to burn cities and villages, to stea
and plumber everything they can lay their
hands on, and especially to plumber all, and
many guns and ammunition as they possibly can !;
that they nj! armed to the teeth with revovers
and bowie knives, and with orders from said Strang
to kill and say every person that may in their
way; that they are all loaded down with counterfet
money, as one man said that he had fourteen hun
dred dollars in the roll he had in his hands; that
they had made and dug cave on said ISLAND, whore
they have been making, the past winter and season.
counterfeit coins Of the United states and that they
have large quantities on hand, ready for use They
say in their paper that the United States Congress-
the Legislature of this State (Michigan,) has
control over that place, and call Strang their King
-defying all laws, both Of this State the Uni
ted States-nnd call the sheriff, when acting in his
Office, mob, and threatening him Of his life, If ho
attempts to serve any process any of their people
The sheriff has taken some fifteen twenty Of
the people under James J. Strang, and is expected
here, in Mackinaw, with them, in two days;
the examination, which will probably last six or
eight days Owing to the Mormon difficulties, No
have no legal county officers, which will make il
very difficult for US TO proceed through with our
trials.
Please come imrnc diately, and do what You can
for US. Yours, &c,
En- JAMES MooRE, Justice Of the Peace.
The result Of this and other similar applications
to the government, was letter Of instruction from
the Secretary Of state, to Hon Geo. G.. Bates, u.
>. District Attorney for Michigan, drawing his ct
tention TO the nature and contents Of the above
complaint and setting forth that there 70
believe that Strang and his associates had been
guilty OF the violations Of the laws
lst, Of the United states, in cutting government
timber