Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-03-30
UTAH AND THE g SAINTS"

UTAH AND THE SAINTS"
There is difficulty and mystery involved In
the affairs Of the Mormon Territory. Rumors
of a formal separation of that community from
the Government of the United States, have spec
Oily followed the withdrawal or expulsion of the
judicial apd other officers sent there by the
President in pursuance of law. The suspense
Of the public in relation to the return Of the
federal officers, and the action which Congress
or the Executive would take in the matter, is in
terrupted by the suggestion of new and graver
anXieties, aroused by reports of actual rebellion,
and the setting up of an independent Republic
in the great Western Valley. And although we
have already expressed our belief that the re-
cent advices upon this point are but exaggera-
tons of old reports, it is undoubtedly true that
the Mormons only tolerate for the present the
federal authority with which they are compelled
to live.
Disaffection to the Government is always an
evil, the dangers of which can never be ascer-
tanned till the discomfort has been quelled or
resulted in civil strife. Like disease in the hui
man system, its issue can only be determined
by cure or DEATH Even in cases of local affec-
ton, amputation is not unattended with danger
OF further unhappy consequences. But how can
our Government, like the wise and skillful ply
stefan, guard against the disease of Mormonism,
which seems commissioned to scatter the seeds
of mischief throughout the West!
Religious fanaticsm is uncomfortable. No
estimate can be formed, on rational principles
of its progress or duration, or the vagaries and
crimes into which it will lead its victims. No
new Religion has ever established itself in the
world without being accompanied by, or draw
ing after it, civil revolutions, of greater or less
extent. Such must necessarily be the result
when Religion, as has almost always been the
case in the history of man, is prescribed by law.
Freedom in matters of faith and conscience is
an experiment among men, now in the early sta
ges Of trial; and even in our country, where it
is one of the most cherished principles of our
political foundation, it is but impertectly under
stood, and perhaps never contemplated in its Ill
innate and possible consequences. Sects arise
among us protesting any kind of attractive ab.
surdities, and are little regarded, because the
number of proselytes drawn together is too in
considerable to affect the general sentiment of
the community, and they pass away without
leaving an impression on the history of the day
in which they fourished. Our faith in popular
education and in the thorough Christianity of
the people has been so confident, that no appre-
hension has been ever felt that heresy or impos-
ture, in any form, could combine a body of suf-
fcient numbers, and of so strange and impracti-
cable tenets, as to become dangerous to the gen.
eral welfare. Even during all the years that
Mormonism has been developing its absurdties
and its crimes--while stirring up strife and in
surrection in State after State--its progress has
attracted but little attention from our statesmen
or our people. 1t seems to have been consider
ed temporary and local distemper, which would
soon pass and be forgotten. Such, no doubt
would have been its fate but for the peculiar IA
cility afforded by our unpeopled possessions for
these people to withdraw from the influence OF
well-ordered society, and draw together, from
the ignorant, the easily duped, the fanatical
and the base, among mankind, Il community OF
formidable numbers, whose professed notions
and favorite practices are at war with all the
principles of good order and safety in society.
We have ever regarded the formation of q
State with q Mormon Constitution, and its ad
mission into the Union, as trightfu contngen.
cy. Its effect would be, like the adoption of O
crafty and seductive criminal into the social cir
Gle, general deprivation.
However much the evils of nsurrection and
war are to be deprecated and deplored it is
questionable whether we may not rather prefer
to be forced, by their INSTRUMENTATION to pun.
ish these "latter-day Saints" into regard fol
the institutions of the country, than to LEI
them stealthily introduce their organized de.
moralization into our sisterhood of States.
N. Y. Times.