Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-07-16

Nor do we at all magnify the difficulties connee-
ted with tie future Of this question. When this
system of a multiplicity of wives WAS first intro
duced, it was mooted by Joe Smith, in duly, le43,
when ae claimed to have received revelation,
authorizing him to take an unlimited number oil
wives"-whieh was published in full in the Millen-
ial Star, his organ But the prophet and his prin-
cinal adherents did not venture at first to act upon
that revelation" For ten years such license
was communicated to the favored few, and even the
Mormon community were ignorant that polygamy
WAS practised. We can remember the Indignation
that was excited everywhere, even to q division
among the Mornops tEeWselves, when the practice
cou,d no longer be concealed. The fearful immor-
aty was first denied then palliated then published,
then defended as spiritual Institution and has
gradually eprcad until it has become fully recog-
Missed tenet and practice of Mormonsm, assuming
the form of an open practice OF polygamy, justified
and demanded by religious, BaFal soeial and poti-
cal reasons and virtually sanctioned by the federal
government itself, which protects in the right OF
citizenship those who glory in it an institution,
and do not attempt to interfere with it by law.
And so much has this institution grown and
strengthened in Utah. that an elaborated vindiea-
ton of it as scriptural institutiOn-nay. an ar
pument that it is the marriage institution most
commended in the Bible--is going the rounds Of
| the press almCst without remark. This vindica-
ton processes to be from the pen of one OF the
eight wives of Elder Pratt addressed to her sister
| Mrs. lydia Kimball, of Nashua, New Hampshire.
| Whether it is a genuine document or not It Is
eouched In language OF such seeming gratitude for
the institution. gives such a picture OF domestic
| happiness and eonnubial virtue, aud employs the
historical facts which the Bible gives Of the patri-
archial age, with such adroit plausbity and seem
] ing candor, that it may mislead many young and
weak persons. Now all these things point to the
future in which this question will be painfully en-
barrassing. OF course we do not anticipate that
at least for many years to come, Utah win be ad-
! mitted as State of this Union. Were it an ap
| pleapt, Congress would no doubt refuse the ap
| ulieation again and again. But eventually tht
| point would have to be conceded, and who doe.
not see that thus would an element be introduced
into this republican government, frsnght with i'm
mense mischief and danger. r.r
Nav, that element is already introduced, and i
has spread and taken more tangible form, sine
Utah became an organized territory of the Unite,
States and it is this fact that makes us look witt
onnrebension to the future. The element tha
is already at work, proves to have the property 0
Iesyen. Here is the difficulty. How far viii tn
leayen extend9 If such is the present, what vii
he the future? Now it seems that this matter ha
mot received sufficient attention from the countr.
J and the Government
let it not be forgotten, that we have territor