The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1852-10-09

graphical Engineers, who was employed
upon the survey OF Utah. and acquired, by
his residence among and near the Mormons,
fall knowledge OF their history, creed,
character, instnu' ons. aud habits. has EN-
bodied the results of his inquiries in small
volume, recently issued from the press of
Lippncott 4 Grsmbo, OF Philadelphia.
We extract that passage from his work
in which the author treats of the system
of Polygamy that prevails among the
saints"
The revelation Of Joseph. Smith on
the subject of Polygamy, has probably
never been printed or publicly circulated
When h. declared to the council the reve.
saints Of old-David solomon, and Jacob,
and those he thought faithful should be
| privileged to have rs many wives as they
could manage to take care Of 10 raise up a
/ holy household for the service of the Lord.
Immediately rumors were spread thai the
wives OF many OF the people were rcmdr.
ricd to the leaders and high priests, and
subject to them, which they declared to be
Islander, and maintain that the relation ex
is'ing among them is pure and holy one.
and that their doctrine is, that every man
shall have one wife, and every woman only
one husband ~ is laid down in the Book
of Covenants by revelation. Yet they al
/ firm that this allows to the man a plurality.
AS the phrase is peculiarly worded the
only applying to the female alone.
Again, they teach that the use aud
foundation OF ma,'imony ia to raise up
peculiar, holy people for the kingdom Of
God the Son. that at the Millennium they
NAV be resurrceted TO reign with Him. and
the glory OF the man will he in proportion
to the size OF his household OF children.
wives, and servants, but those eligible TO
the priesthood have only RICH, 10 marry
at all |, is to be pure and hol, state :,
and religious motives. or n sense OF duty
should alone guide, aud that for sensual
qualifications 1t is an attenuation.
lnddelity and RIGHTEOUSNESS are held up
for abhorrence and when the plurality
Law shall be promul gated. they will be
punished by the decaptaiion OF the often.
der, aud the scvcres, chastity incucated
upon one iex. aud rigid confluence on
the other during the CESSATION and nursing
of children Thus, the time of weaving
will again become u feast of Joy. next to
the celebration OF the uuptIal rite, and pat
rnrehal times rciGsn.
Quoting the Scripture that the man is
not without the woman, nor the woman
without the man. they affirm that it is the
duty of every man to marry ut lcas, once,
and that n woman cannot enter into the
heavenly kingdom without a husband to
introduce her as belonging to himself
And i, has been said that some women
distruslin. the title of their spouses 10
enter at all, have been desirous 10 take hold
( OF the skirt of an apostle or high priest
with superior crrdculinls how far correct,
we are not Sufficiently informed to state
I positively. and can ouli speak of such ~.
mors as existing, aud beg pardon ior men.
tIonins the scandal.
/ The addition OF wives. after the first to
a mans family is called " sealing to him "
/ This constitutes a relation with all the
rights aud sanctions of mstrimouy and rs
they claim to have the only true priesthood
/ which alone can bind the parties IN the holy
state, and make them one flesh, it follows
/ that they have the only true marriages now
existing upon earth,
/ Thus guarded in the motive, and de-
uounccd as sin for other consideration than
divine, the practical working of the system.
so lar as now extern" A. has every appear.
ance of decofum Tho romantic notion of
single love is derided, and me, by calling
attention to the case of parental affection
where the father good viii is bestowed
alike on each OF his many children and
they pretend to see q more raliona, appl,
cation Of a generous soul in loving more
than one wife. than In the ticotry Of
partial adhesion. The seer alone has tb.
power, which he can use by delegation Of
+ granting the privilege of increasing the
number of wives the rule of primitive ages
is applied IN the case, and the suitor mus,
/ first have the consent Of the parents. then
consult the lady and the seer.
Every unmarried woman has q right TO
( demand a man IN marriage, ii she is nc.
/ elected. on the ground oi the privilege Of
/ salvation and the prcsiden, who receives
/ the petition must provide for her. and has
the authority To command any man he
deems competent, to support her. " to seal
+ her to himself IN marriage and the IN an
50 ordered mus, show Just cause and i'm.
pcdiment why 1t should no, be done, if
/ he dlslikes the union, or else be considered
coulumaoious, and =" IN danger oil the coun.
I ell
The seer sometimes has TO exercise his
lU'gm,n IN preventing incou.ruous seal.
inss' from unworthy motives, and 10 tell
such tina, whs, they now esteem a privilege.
will turn out soon to be a burden.
The interference with the hlngdom oi
tuplG calls for most ludcious measures on
hls part. for IN that court. his decisions.
guided by reason, are ap, to be demurred
to by passion. But. AS he can join, So, too,
can he annul the contract. and dissolve the
relationship oi the parties, when. after he
has counseed them. and gwen them a
proper probation, they stll find an incom
| j,a,lbliiy To exist Out OF this matter
grows an immense power. based upon his
knowledge Of all the domestic relations IN
the colony such delicate confidence be.
gets reverence and fear, and. While things
4 proceed hxrmonionsly. love to him As their
adviser aud friend Is engendered in their
minds. And. as the peace OF the society