Southern shield., 1854-11-11
From the Madison (Wis.) State Journal. The Mormons-Popula Sover-
 eigntY.

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 eighty.
 While the allies are triumphing over| the smoking and blood soaked desola- tion of Sebastopol, and cur own gov ernment is still absorbed in compIa- cent self-gratulations at its brilliant onslaught upon the youthful reed built city of San Juan, there are indications of an approaching disturbance within the borders of the Republic, and ct no distant day. Across the great western plains, beyond those territories now attracting so large share of public attention, and so productive of politi- cal discord, environed by mountain chains, and almost cut off from ap- proach, nation is rapidly growing up| to maturity and power, with institu- tions peculiar and repugnant to our own, with faith dissimilar, with inter ests antagonistic, and under circum- stances calculated to develope charac- teristics and sentiments which will ren- der them distinct and peculiar people. We allude of course, to the Mormons. Their history is indeed wonderful one; and, 1t may be, will in future time, stand out as one of the most prominent and remarkable features of the present age, when the more noisy and obtrusive "movements" of the time shall have lost all their interest and importance. $
 Unlike christianity, which is difu- sive and cosmopolitan, the tendency of this new faith is towards centralization and political as we'll as spiritual do- minion. Christianity in its primitive days was meek and lowly, like its founders, not seeking to enthrone it. self in earthly dignities, not exclusive and local, but mingling with publicans and sinners, and spreading abroad over the world thro' the masses of people. The Mormon, however, is expected to leave father and mother, to sever all ties of country and kin, and to unite him. self with that great community which has been formed in the Salt Lake ba- sin, the promised land of the latter day Saints. Thus the new faith in ad- dition to the hold which it possesses of its followers in the legends of Jo Smith, the traditions of former prosecutions, and the various superstitions inculca- ted by the leaders, will have the aux Hilary and powerful influence of that sentiment of patriotism which binds man to the soil of his native or adop- ted land, which will grow stronger and stronger as the community grows older, and which is especially cogent in a country so marked and peculiar as that in which the Mormons have fixed their habitation-a country remarkable for its wild, mountainous, and picturesqe scenery.
 Mormonism, as it becomes powerful, exhibits tendency to usurp the legit- innate functions of government, and shows itself hostile to Repubhcanism. They are rapidly acquiring strength to resist the general government. Brig ham Young has defed the President to remove him; and the Government of Utah has manifested it's intention to act independently of the United States Government, by refusing to forward copies of its laws to Washington, as the territories are required to do, to accounts for its use of the public mon- ies, and by withholding a statement of it's expenditures for the past two years.
 The official term of Brigham Young has expired. It devolves upon Presi- dent Pierce to name a successor. Ht cannot re-appoint Young without cast ing reproach upon the General Govern ment. In the teeth of Young's def. ance, 1t would amount to a tacit ac. knowledgement of the inability of thu
 General Government to remove him
 The Mormons are not likely to submi to the appointment of any other tha, a Mormon to this office. It would b' difficult to find a person who would ac cept such an appointment, as assassi nation might be anticipated forthwith on his arrival at the Salt Lake City, It is equally hopeless to expect to fn' | Mormon who would accept the ap .s pointment. In the first place his su perstition would not allow him to su ' percede the Grand Hierarch, and if i | would, that of the mass of the popu
 lation would not permit such irrever ent conduct. A fate similar to whicl
 the Gentle appointee might expec : would be his. The question IS, wha will the President do? Here is his ia : vorite doctrine of popular sovereignt confronting him. Apeople have form 5 ed their institutions, and among thos institutions, are some contrary to ou laws, and in open violation of all tha Il we hold sacred and consistent with civ ilization and the age. Will the Pres
 dent yield to 'popular sovereignty and leave our government under th imputation of weakness and coward l ice as Such a. coursa rnust after tb