Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-17
The mnrrnons:


but woe to our country. Ifthey arctic becomea
great State, andto bring their political power as
a new eiementinto our Union, evil must result
from it. The principles and express injunctions
of Divine revelation cannot be disregarded with
impunity. The institution of marriage the mar
rage Of one man with one woman-w1th the OBJ
servance of the purity demanded by the power
that ordained it, is essential to the well-beng of
society; it alone is compatible with the Divine
will, as illustrated in the creation of an equal
proportion of the sexes, as well as in Ia thousand
other evidences of thatwill, revealed to us in the
necessities and desires of the creatures of His
hand.
The Mormons are called areligious society, and
it is assumed that we have no right to interfere in
affairs of conscience. We admitthe position but
notthe fact here assumed. Wejudge the Nor
mons with minds unbiased by prejudice; for
whatever our convictions are, we have never
found them TO conflict with tolerant regard Tor
the rights of others. Butthat religion forms an e.
lement in the Mormon organizationwe haye never
for a moment believed. All the evidences are a..
eaiust it. That there may be a few very ignorant
and credulous persons among them who UeileVe
the rest sincere isbarey possible. But that sen
tment of religion peryades that people, we hoiu II
impossible for any one to believe who has reau
the accounts that constantly reach us from an-
thentic sources. Profanity, adultery ana many
other immoralitieS peryade their whole commu-
MON, and must lead 10 their own ruin or to The
ruin of those who may lie unfortunately connec-
ted with them. Either polygamy must bring lis
deserved punishment upon them, or the impunity
with which it is practiced by them will lead TO It's
propagation among the communities allied with
them.
The rumors usually sent abroad would indicate
the unparalleled prosperity of the Mormons; butt
although their utmost energies are devoted to pro
selytism, we believe they less successful than
they are represented TO be. correspondent OF
the New York Times, writing from the Great Salt
Lake on the 18th ofAptil, says:
"Before had the high honor of a residence a.
mong the Latter Day Saints, supposed them The
most harmonious brother and siSterhOod the world
ever saw. A more diScordant set oil harmonles'
how ever never were combined. very short &C
ouaintance with them, with some knowledge oil
their history, exhibits a very curious accumula-
ton and loss of members constantly going on IN
the Mormon community. 1t seems TO require a
bout as much work to keep the converts alter
they are made as to make them MANY OF lhese
new born saints very soon lose the soda-water
enthusiasm which is first experienced, and fall
away; and many who have zeal enough TO start
on the great journey towards the modern lion'
cool off, and lodge, like drtt-wood, by Inc way.
Each emigrating party tapers oil something IKE
the army Of Peter the Hermit in the fist great cru
sadie The MormonS have in reality more back
slfderS and apoStateS, and, Tor the length oil time
since their commencement, are divided lhlo more
sects than any other religious denomination
known:
"Internal dissentions and schisms have existed
amongst them all the way through; the immoral
Joseph himself was often driven TO his very wlts
end to keep fragments from flying III IN tangent,
and setting up shop for themselves. Alter the
death Of Smith, there wasmuch stiite lol the sue
cession, and the election of Brigham Young occa-
stoned great deal of heart-buTning among tile
| disappointed candidates. AT the breaking up Mt
Nauvoo, considerable body split oil under Inc
leadership of one Strang, and are now SlranglteS,
on Beaver Island, on of our northern lakes;
another body went into Texas under Lyman
Wight. BrewSterled of another squad somewhere
| else. do not know how many divisions there
may be- but they are said to number six or seven.
Brigham managed TO slide more eusily into the SUI
perStition and idiosyncracies of the SAINTS, and
ledthe great mass to Salt Lake; but he, too, has
his troubles from this source, and IS now more par
ticulsrly plagued with GL1ddentSm, SO named
| from GLADDEN. Bishop, who prcfanely claims 10 be
| as much superior to Joseph Smith as our Lord
was 10 John the Baptist. have met
/ with and become acquainted with some OF these
fanatics, and have reason TO doubt their hones-
ty in believing tlnt GLADDEN. Bishop Is Tue Lord III
ms second coming.
..Tbe Constitution of the United States guarnn-
tees TO all The liberty of speech, and the Saints
Slain to be much attached 10 thai instrument, al
leging, even, that twas given by inspiration; but
somehow the Mormon spectacles are of n quality
which prevents them from seeing this particular
provision. Every at Salt Lake isinthe full
enjoyment of that liberty only far as he Preaeh-
es Mumonism. 1t is high time these impostors
were made TO understand that they ale on United
States soil, and that other men have right 10
occupy it with equal privileges. WASH. Rep.