The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-23
FROM UTAH.


| GREAT SALT LAKE CRY, Sept. 20, 1850.
| To tie Editor Of The National Era:
DEAR SIR: At tho time left the States, there
was comparatively but little known respecting
this region Of country, or the people by whom il
is settles, and eYerIthin ralatins t<r1 eos.
5'"s NQtnrn5,I,,iS TT.'o. -: -
How much has been communicated respecting
them this season, do not know, but, having
travelled over large portion of the Great b.
sin last summer, take the liberty Of telling you
a part of what have seen and learned and, il
you find anything new, or anything which you
think will be interesting TO the readers of the Ere
you are at liberty TO use it, promising always, that
you shall not publish this long preamble
The general term Desert may with much pro.
priety be applied to all the country included
in the Great interior Basin, and all living be-
tween the Great Basin and the Missouri and Ar
kansas rivers, embracing nearly all Of our recent
purchase from Mexico and much of our former
territory. There is here and there fertile val.
ley which is an exception
Perhaps of all this vast country, one twentieth
part is arabic land The largest tract of fertile land
lies just within the eastern rim Of the Great Ba-
sim Nobsatch mountains, and the Utah and Great
Salt Lakes This Is about 200 miles long, and va
res from to 40 miles In breadth, but even in
this valley there is much barren land, and much
that requires artificial irrigation.
Besides this great valley, there are several
small valleys and oases in the Great Basin but
they are mostly 80 small so far apart, and 80 bad
ly timbereJ that they will never be settled while
there Is any unoccupied land in the valley Of the
Mississippi
Even the Great Salt Lake valley would in all
probability have remained unsettled for years 10
come, had not the Mormons been compelled by
persecution TO seek within the limits Of Catholic
Mexico that freedom Of conscience which was
denied them in our own country.
But this persecution, like that which Grove the
Pilgrim Fathers TO the shores of New England,
was destined in the course Of events to work n
great good.
Having felt the yoke themselves, Liberty, with
them, IL something more than nord and, in or
ganzing their infant State, their first care was to
guaranty to every one who shall choose to settle
within their borders the most perfect liberty Of
person and conscience.
And, believing that those who are sent INTO the
world have right to live on the world they al
low every one as much Of the earth's surface rs
he occupy, subject only to the expense of sur
vey and registry, and such regulations as are ne
cessary to prevent fraud.
There has been no legislation on the subject Of
slavery, as their Constitution declares, and the
people believe, that "all men are created free
and equal" and they very sensbly conclude that
slavery can have no legal existence where it has
never been lcgalized.
There are indeed few black persons, perhaps
a hundred, In the valley, who have been sent in
by, and who still live with, their former masters.
but they are not considered as SLAVES +; and have
been told by Brigham Young, who is Governor
Of the state, President Of the Church, H;gh
Priest, Revelator, &c, that the idea Of property
In mon would not be entertained q moment by
any court in the state--and, with the Mormons,
and the people here are nearly all Mormons)
the voice Of Brigham ia the voice Of God
This is singular community; consistency and
light and darkness, bigotry and
are strangely blended
Reasoning clearly and logically, AS they do,
respecting mans natural rights and duties, and
having established the largest liberty for others,
they are themselves the uea SLAVES Of the priest
hood.
Over religious, and protesting an unbounded
reverence for all things sacred, believing that
they are the chosen people, and have direct COM
munication with God hinself they make the Sab
bath day Of amusement and recreation, Of balls
and fandangoes; and profanity is ~ common here
as prayers are at Oberliu. Even the priests can,