Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-01-15
Report Of Judge Brandeburg and
others concerning the Moxmons.

Report Of the Judges of Utah Territory to-
President Fillmore, made Dec 10, 1851 con-
tains some very -emarkable statements. 1t is
signed by Lemuel G, Bradenburg Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the United States fog
the territory of Utah; P. A. Brocchus. Assocq-
ate Justice Of the same court, and p D. Harris,
Secretary of the Territory.
ave found upon our arrival, that almost the
entire population consisted Of people called
Mormons and the Mormon church overshadow-
ing and controlling the opinions, the actons,'he
property, and even the lives of its members
usurping and exercising the functions of legis-
lation, and the judicial business of the country;
organizing and commanding the military; dispO-
sing Of the public lands upon its own terms;
coming money, and forcing its circulation at a
standard above its real value; openly sanction
ing and defending the practice of l'olygamy or
plurality of wives; eXacling tithes trem its mem
bers and enormous taxes from citizens not mem
bers penetrating and supervising the social and
business circles, and intoxicating and requiring
as an article of religious faith, implicit obedi-
ence to the councils of the church as paramount
to all the obligations Of morality, society, ale s.
glance, and of law. At the head of this form-
dable organization, styled The Church of Jesus
Christ, of LITTER Day and Latter End SAINTS
stood Brigham Young, the Governor, claimi NC
and represented to be the Prophet Of God, und
his sayings as direct revelations from heaven,
commanding thereby unlimited sway over the
ignorant and creduous. His opinions were heir
opinions, and his wishes their wishes He had
but to Indicate his sympathies or dislikes. and
they were made their sympathies aud dshkes.
In word,he ruled without rival or oppo stion,
for no man dared question his authority"
They state that Brigham Young, the Govern
or of the Territory, received them with personal
rudeness, ard declared to the people assembled
for worship that be had governed, and could
govern the territory, and that ''the judges might
reside in 1t and draw their salary, but should
never try cause, if he could prevent it," An.
other speaker, high in the church. encouraged
by this determination of the executive of the
territory, announced from the pulpit TO a nrge
audience, that the United States officers might
remain in the territory so long as they behaved
themselves aud paid their boarding; but if thew
did not, they lthe Mormons) would kick them to
hell, where they belonged"
A collection OF similar expressions on the
part Of Brigham Young and other distinguished
, members Of the Mormon church is made by the
judges, of which the following may be taken as
, a sample:
" Another speaker in TRADE against the
J government,announcedt to the people IN presence
} of two of u.s. invited to take seats upon the
stand, that the laws and policy of the United
States were intended to Cypress the poor !" that
r " the government of the United States was a
stink IN the nostrls Of Jehovah, and no wonder
the Mormons wished it down = that they could
save it by theocracy but rather than save it in
any other way, they would see it id irst"--
:. Another one had declared q that i WIS going