Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-08-05

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law was resisted.
Mormonism-Intere Salt Lake Let
ter.
The following correspondence appears in
the Sacramento Union:
Rocky Po1NT, HUMBOLDT RIVER,
May 20, 1852.
MEssRs. Ep1ToRs:-The Territory of
Utah now presents an anomaly in American
history, both in its social and political as
pect. Last fall the officers sent by the
General Government to preside over its
destinies left there in a body, with the ex-
ception of Mormon Judge, because of the
general enmity existing against the United
States, and the deeply corrupt social system
prevailing among the Mormon population.
Nevertheless, Governor Young, although
declared illegally elected, called the Legis-
lature together after his own fashion, and
went on in his own career through the win
ter unchecked. The Secretary Of State
having left, he appointed new one without
troubling Congress in the matter, and car
ried on law making in manner peculiar to
himself. If the august Legislature was in
doubt upon any subject, he walked in with
out ceremony, and after giving them q gene
raj g blowing up," they followed his dlcta-
tatioH upon the instant, and decided for or
against the law instanter. They soon dis
pensed with the Council and lower House,
and left Legislation to about dozen who
gathered around the Governor and signed at
his beck any required bill. These are
mostly mutilated statutes of other States,
altered to suit the views of the dictator,
showing woful lack of legislative mechan-
ism. They have legalised polygamy, incest,
and many other matters usually considered
crimes among Christian communities.
Under the foregoing legislation, they have
collected enormous taxes during the present
spring from the "Gentiles" who wintered
at the Lake. The latter have been COM
PEELED to pay taxes twice in eight months
and that to an extent of from five to six per
cent on each assessment. These funds
were divided among the leaders without any
secresy or ceremony. Dry goods dealers
were required to contribute, and the amount
paid in finery to women of the various ha-
relns of those who conduct public affairs in
Utah. Receipts are then given for the
same, by a quandom tax collector for the
estate of Deseret," irrespective of the Or
ganic act creating territorial government.
At the general conference of the Nor
mons, held in Salt Lake City, in April last,
they decided to continue Brigham Young as
their Governor, even if the General Gov
ernment should remove him.
As these people are occupying the great
hnl 81 tha ,,,1a ta
across the continent, their infatuated move
ments must demand the attention of the
western portion of the United States, as
the great bulk of travel must pass directly
through the Mormon country.
i The Territory of Utah was divided into
three judicial districts by the organic act
and one of these districts was presided over
by Mormon Judge named Snow; and
when the other Judges left, Young had him
declared Judge over the whole territory
and he has so acted for some months past
He is said to be entirely ignorant of the
law, and one of the most suppliant of those
who obey Gov. Young.
Polygamy prevails there to an extent equal
to many of the tales of Eastern romance
Governor Young has seragio of about
thirty women, and another named Kimbal
has about that number. The "tweIve apos.
ties" among them have from half dozen tc
dozen females each; and all of the princi.
pal ones among them are vieing in the same
object. This was not originally a part o.
their system, but has sprung up within the
: last few years s-since their expulsion from
: Nauvoo. This practice has been estab,
lished at the Lake by most dreadful sys.
TEN Of force and espionage, and in a manner
that would astonish you if all the tales con,
nected Herewith could reach the light
Many of the earliest of the sect are leaving
because of these disgusting proceedings
whenever they dare to do so; but until late
s ly Gov. Young forbade any to leave thu
f Valley except with his consent; and tn,
Y present season he has denounced with spir
itual vengeance all who should depart with
= out his knowledge. If he had not done so
a more than half the population would have
7 left this spring.
No one in Utah ever dare TO put any let
t ters of murmur in the mails, as all letters
are known to be examined before leaving
g and in lS49 one of their leading men ac
e companied the mail to the States. He KEEP
n post office key for the purpose of opening
the mail bags, and did break open letters OIL
v the way to discover their contents. During
y last winter the "gentiles" had only one op
portunity of sending letters by trusty car
i rier as far as Fort Laramie, which was gen
orally embraced
: On the lst of May Gov. Young, accom-
v panied by about one hundred men, left Sal
lake city intending TO visit the southern Ell
r, of the valley, for the purpose of founding
q settlement on the Rio Virgin and adjoinin
l country.
g There are said TO be large numbers {
y horses and mules at Salt Lake, which hav
= been stolen from time to time in Californi;
= and it is stated that a great number of we
lr known thieves are OH their way from tn;
/ point TO California this summer, no doul
t., TO continue the same trade.
Il, - l. i,