The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-08-27
less peculiar than in their religious belief

who IS on visit to that community writes
to the Cleveland Democrat as follows:
"Strang, so far as we could discover
from crcumstantial evidence-for his fol-
lowers worship him-and from his appear
ance, is bold, bad man. Without en-
thusasm, without faith. he assumed the
part which he is now playing to retrieve
his desperate fortune. Without a shadow
OF claim, save Ito his followers the highest)
a revelation to him that they may take
possession of all islands, they have seized
upon their present abode. He is under
indictment tor various crimes-among
them that of intercepting the mail TO the
northern lakes-and. before long, it is no,
to be doubted the law will take him in
hand. What is to become Of people so
devoted and so desperate is a singular
problem, which time alone can solve"
A correspondent of the st. Louis Intel
ligencer, represented as "the occupant Of
a responsible station in the United States
army" writing from Carson Valley. de-
scribes deplorable state of things at Salt
Lake, which the Intelligencer does not re.
gard as in the least exaggerated. The
following is an extract from his letter:
"Truly, were an angel from Heaven 10
tell you Of the wicked practices, and the
base, unprc voked crimes Of this people.
you would discredit the report. Such is
the enormity Of their conduct that, in Sc
ries Of resolutions drawn up by Presby.
terian clergyman, and signed by the emf
grants, "the truth and the whole truth was
designedly avoided. lest it would be too
shocking for belief. 1t is hazarding no
thing in saying that never, by savage
horde or lawless bandiiti. were there ex-
hibited such base turpitude OF heart and
such indiscriminate vindictiveness of pur-
pose rs are to be seen in the conduct Of
the Mormons Of Salt Lake valley. With
them human feeling has been debased to
worse than beastly passion and instinct;
and then all sympathy is consumed by, or
absorbed in. lust, while sentiment there
fluids its lowest degree of degradation.
There is no crime but has its full, free jus.
tifcation there, if perpeirated against a
Gentle, as they term those who are not
Mormons. No matter how good mans
character may be before he becomes
Mormon and makes common fellowship
with them, after he is fairly inducted he is
soon made 10 yield the most guilty obedi-
ence to the DEGREES or orders Of the
Twelve. All are thus rendered ready
and prompt instruments in the perpetra-
ton OF crime. had supposed that. like
other religious societies, there were sim
cere persons among them. who, believing
in justice and virtuous principles, could
not be made the guilty agents OF crime,
or commit such offences as had been fre.
quently charged against them: but, from
what have seen and heard, am firm in
the belief that the best Of them will not
hesitate to perform the worst bidding of
Brigham Young, their imam Of God.'
Yes, his voice is TO them more omnipotent
than is the voice of God 10 the Christian.
Let but Gentle incur his displeasure. or
that oil the Twelve. and soon his blood.
hounds, the Danites, are securing the
country in search OF their prey; and woe
to the Gentle who is known TO give the
doomed victim protection or assistance.
Far different is it when emigrants first en-
ter the valley; then all is kindness and
good feeling; but no sooner does winter
lock them in than the hitherto suppressed
valcano of their hate and prejudice against
American citizens bursts forth. Then
property is seized and conhscated, the
owners thereof deprived of their liberty.
loaded, like the worst Of felons. with balls
and chains, without the form Of trial,
and in most cases without even any known
accusation. Many emigrants beside my
self heard Brigham Young from the stand
declare the most reasonable hostilities
against the United States. lie denied the
right of jurisdiction on the part of our
government, and pledged himself that If
governor came there and attempted its
extension he would resist it to death! The
right of governorship. undisturbed by the
authority OF the United States, he claimed
as vested in himself tor life. 10 the citi-
zens of the United States who talked of
their rights and privileges as American
citizens, he would say he was not amena-
BILE 10 their government, and said, now.
as WleII dl 4NduFOO. uc utllfu Vie CON'
bined powers OF the United States and all
hell" Those Of us who were known to
speak against Mormonism. or abuse the
Mormons, he ordered should have their
throats cut.
From that moment the emigrants be-
came the predestined and prescribed OBJ
jects OF Mormon vengeance. report was
started that was then reporter for gov.
ernment, and soon my property was seized
and myself arrested and subjected 10 the
insults Of one Of their prostltuted tunc.
ton aries. without any cause for prosecu-
ton or any charge to plead against.
Shortly after, five head OF my cattle were
shot. and was selected subject to be
sated down in their lake. Five of their
assassins took upon themselves the pleas.
ing duty. But | entertained no fear of
them. On the contrary. came out and
declared my defiance OF them. My whole
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