The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-08-12
THE NESOTIAN


The Mofnone 81 OSoh.
A the people of other portions Of our coun-
try become more enlightened in regard to the
dissolute state Of society existing among the
Normons of Utah Territory, the greater be-
comes the conviction that ere many years
elapse it will devolve As a duty upon all up
holders of the Divine laws inculcated by the
Christian religion, to band together for the
purpose of blOtting out. in some way or other,
the stigma which this state Of things is bound
to stamp, II it has not already, upon us as ma
ton. We have often wondered why it was that
the leading journals and statesmen Of England,
instead Of attacking our system Of government
upon the more defensible ground of the legal
recognition of African slavery in some Of the
States, did not turn their batteries upon this
much weaker point Of our national forti6ca-
tions and give US what We deserve for nurtur-
ing and upholding by the strong arm Of the
General Government, a legally constituted
community Of adulterous men and prostitute
women.
"Utah and the Mormons" is the title Of a
book recently published by the Harpers, and
written by Mr.. Ferris, former Secretary of
Utah Territory. The extracts given below, in
connection with the remarks OF the New York
Tribune, will give the reader some idea Of the
character Of true Mormon, and the direful ef-
fects which the system Of polygamy is calculat-
ed to produce upon female character and hap
piness
1.-THE true follower OF Smith can form no idea
Of earthly and heavenly happiness. except what
proceeds from, or is in some way connected
with, the pleasures of the bodily senses. He
knows nothing Of spiritual ideas or pleasures
Disinterested benevOlence has no place in the
stoRehouse of his religious treasures. Every
thing with him is matter; and mind is nothing
here and hereafter. except as it is made up Of
and connected with matter. He is. in the strict
est sense of the term, a materialist; this he not
only openly avows, but strenuously contends
that materialism furnishes the only key to hap
piness. He is ofthe earth earthly and earthly
he desires and expects to be through all COM
ing futurity. His future eternity is merely an
elongation Of time, and is to be spent upon the
earth, after the general conhagration, in all the
pomp OF deihed royalty and in the qualification
Of every bodily lust. His supremest felicity is
to consist in acting the gluttOn and the debau-
chez, free from bodily infrmities and q sense OF
safety. He expects to live fast without wear
ing. The fires of his Unsuitable appetites are
always to be supplied with fuel without con-
Stunning him. His body is not elevated into
mental sphere and made subscrvient to the
mandates of a pure, regenerated, spiritual mas
ter, but his mind is brought down into the filthy
lusts of the body, and there wallows in the mire
Of sensrality. His religion resides only in the
natural degree Of his mind, and in the most
sensual portion of such degree. Spiritual ideas
are consequently above his comprehension
He can neither SMELL touch, taste, hear, or see
them, and therefore they have no existence in
his universe. His intellectual is the bat of eve
ming he knows nothing of the eagle tow ering
in his pride of place." His residence is in the
basement story of humanity and the universal
prevalence of his system would drag the mind
down into low plane, restore the reign of
panthesm, the dance of satyrs. and the DALI
ances Of syrens."
With regard to the institution of poligamy,
the author is explicit in his statements and de-
cided in his opinions On this point his views
as derived from personal observation are not
without importance. Polygamy is firmly es-
tablished among the Mormon community. One
fourth Of the adult male population number
from two to fifty wives each as part of their
domestic arrangements. The priesthood have
the largest harems. The custom would be still
more universal, but for the scarcity of women
and the want Of means to support them. In
1851, there were 649 more males than females
in the territory, and subsequent emigrations
have not probably done much to change the
proportion. Hence it follows, that where the
chief bashaws have from ten to fifty wives. the
unprivileged classes cannot command the lux.
ury OF even one. The effect upon population is
deleterious. Comparatively few children are
born, and these are subject to a frightful de-
gree Of sickness and mortality. Both wives
and children suffer greatly from neglect. less
care being taken of them than would be given
by thrifty New York farmer to his cattle.
Out Of the Five Points, it would be hard to
scare up more filthy, miserable, disorderly
rabble Of children than can be found in the
streets of the Great Salt Lake City. The sys-
tenn OF plurality has nearly oblterated all sense
ofdecency.
The high-priest dignitarics of the Church are
exceedingly skillful in procuring young girls
for wives. They inculcate the idea that elder
~ members, who have been tried and found
faithful, are surer instruments of salvation than
the young who may apostatize; and as marri-
age to one who remains steadfast to the end is
essential to escape from the fate of being mere
angels, great many young women are fooled
into this bubbling and seething caldron of pros
titution. Elder MILFORD Woodruff, one of the
twelve apostles, has regular system of chang
ing his harem. He takes in one or more young
girls, and so manages, after he tires of them.
that they arc glad to ask for q divorce. after
which he beats the bush for recruits. He took
o fresh one, about fourteen years old, in March,
1858, and will probably get rid of her in the
course OF the ensuing summer. These manou-
vres are practiced more or less by the whole
gang; the girls discarded by one become seal
ed to others. and so travel the entire rounds;
and when they accomplish the whole circuit,
and are ready to start anew, they have a pro-
ioundly realizing sense" of female modesty,
TO say nothing Of some its adjuncts.
Inc effect Of the plurality system is most Sc
verely felt BY the first or real wife. In Utah.
she can seldom live out half her DAYS. In ia,
miles, where polygamy has not been introduc.
ed, she is the victim of constant annrobens;o,