The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-31
THE MORMONS INDICATED by AUTHORITY

THE M0RN0NS INDICATED by AUTHORITY
The religious creed and civil and social insti-
tutions Of Mormonism have lately become I" fixed
facts in the affairs Of the world. They have
taken new attitude aud relation to the general
system of things, and have thereby themselves
become new, without any real intrinsic change
the newness being in the new force Of new con-
nections and bearings, new attractions and repul-
sions, from which, by the laws of vital chemistry,
we naturally expect little effsrvsscence, the
evolution Of some heat, and the deposit Of more
or less sediment. Just now, we think, the froth
is the most interesting subject Of speculation to
the principal agitators.
| Upon the organization of Utah Territory, Presi-
dent Fillmore, whatever were his motives or mix
ture of motives, very properly appointed Mr. Brig
ham Young to the office of Territorial Governor
very properly, we say, for the single reason that
he was the clear choice Of the men, women and
children of the church, camp, and country, which
he was to govern. No appointment to q similar
Office, made by the. National Executive, ever had
the actual consent of the people 90 completely and
was the appointee known ""d desiyed by every
soul in the community over which he was placed
Bat this Mr. Young held the office Of Leader
| in the Mormon Church and community, and by
sort of right Of succession and ex-officio identi
ty stands responsible to the world for all the sins
of his tribe, as we'll as all the differences and sns-
picions that the virtuous vigilance Of public opin-
ion puts into the indictment. Besides, the viola
ton of propriety and the impudence Of practical
criticism which there is in other peoples actual
success in such mad and fanatcal schemes as con-
tradict and oppose our own, there happens also
to be a large party involved in the personal ne
cessity of assailing these outandish Mormons.
Whatever was the cause Of their expulsion, it
was barbarously enforced; and the hands that
did it have the faint of plumber, as well as the
stain of blood, TO justify, for they cannot hide
them. So, it is every way terrible to have the
Mormons emerge from the ruin which might have
silenced all discussion, and suddenly assume a
position that can purchase the worlds favor, and
compel its Justice 1t is probable that history will
at an early day make up an enlightened and lib
eral judgment of the enterprise Of these people
upon the basis Of what they really shall achieve
and perpetuate, rejecting the scandal and gossip
which clamored so loudly under cover of the
darkness and doubtfulness of the first movements
But this is not the matter in hand exactly
though at the bottom of it.
Early in the present month, the Buffalo C9uied
Democratic paper on the faith of some returned
Californian, for whom the Rochester DAILY AdsS
the Mormon Governor, all manner of crimes, pt
litica social, and personal, for the purpose of m
king President Fillmore culpable in the matter I
appointing Brigham Young; alleging that III
President we'll knew the truth Of the charged Oh
fences at and before the time Of nomination Thu
President, it seems, felt interest enough in thl
attack made upon him to write to Col Thomas II
Kane, of Philadelphia, upon whose report of Brig
ham Youngs moral character and standing, mad
to the President pending the appointment, h
says he relied much The President says to CD
Kane, You are Democrat, but doubt not vii
truly state whether these charges against u
moral character of Governor Young are truen
Answering to this demand, Col. Kane wrote II
letters to the President-one, briefbut pointed AZ
unequivocal, aud covering all the charges with
general denial, and pledging the most conclusia
refutation upon the appearance Of any respec2
BILE authority for them. This letter is address0
to {" the President" and is given for publicati(
at the Presidents discretion. The other letter.
marked "personsl,n and is addressed to M
Fillmore but with liberty expressly given
MIR F. to make what use You please of its COZ
tentsn II contains special notices in detail of I
the charges made, and complete answer to thief
Accompanied also by paper, which the Colon
tells the President, al regret that have new
been authorized to make use Of" And so he
swers, and stands ready to answer, the demand
made, and to be made, upon him In support Of Il
representations which he made to the Presided
touching the irreproschabe moral character
Governor Young founded upon intimate persc<
al knowledge of him."
All this appears by the Republic (Wsshingto
Of the 18th instant. In the Philadelphia PED
sylpanian of the 10Th, Col Kane procured
publication Of the Presidents letter to himss
his reply intended for publication, and his "pd
sonal letter in full, which had been used in Il
Republic in scraps and pieces to meet particul(
uses. l.
In truth, the Republic made curious hash :
it. Part Of the article reads like q note write
by the President to the editor, neglgently mike 4
up with the editorial without change Of the term
by which Col Kane is made to be the correspon
ent Of Mr.. Sargent instead Of MIR. Fillmorl
Col Kane seems to think this 30 open and obvios]
that he takes the trouble in his communication I
the Pennsylvania to deny shy correspondents
with the editor Of the Republic upon the subject
and he hints some disappointment Of the conf
dence he reposed in the President, by refusing, 4
send the document for publication which he RI
GREETED lin his letter to the Presidency he "wa
not authorized to USE" though 1t was already %
out in full in the Republic
But, for once in the world, IL seems that th'
correction of scandal is not 80 quick. footed .
the retraction. The Buffalo Courier Of the 18th
printed before the Republic expose could hav
reached it, withdraws all and singular the offensiv
charges against the MOrmons and Brigham Young
in the fullest and handsomest manner, on thu
credit Of q friend fully and personally scquaint.
ed with the affairs Of the Mormons, and but late
editor Acknowledges himself even touched with
MIR. Young's plain but generous and hearty life
in his distant home among the mountains and
revolts at lending any countenance to assaults
upon his hospitsble Preside, which do not spare
even the character Of ts mistress, " whom friendly
and hostile report alike asserts to be truly dis.
Greet and lovely lady" Adding, in general
that he Is assured that the charges brought
against Governor Young are altogether without
foundation in fact, and, though Mormon and
leader Of Mormons, His character ~ . man Ia
above responsibilities he proved himself most