The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-06-07

AHe "ioi"oh ierritoryi Otah.
The Buffalo Commercial Adrert;s-
er plausibly argues that our Govern
ment will be not little embarrassed
by its Wanted principle of popular
sovereignty" or the right of the peo-
pie to adopt such laws and institutions
as they choose, when they come to be
asked to admit Utah as a State. The
people of that territory have their
peculiar institution" of polygamy in
its vilest form, and can with the same
propricty, as it seems to US, claim adj
mission with recognition of flat bar
barous and Infamous custom, as could
Kansas or any other territory with the
crime and curse ofSlavery established
by its constitution. If We mistake not,
however, the North will take care of
this wonderful principle" at the bal,
lot-box.
We quote from the Advertiser:
Considering that they (the Nor
mons) are separated by thousand
miles Of wilderness from the abodes of
civilized and christian men, the gov
eminent has perhaps acted wisely in
the tolerance and forbearance which it
has thus far exercised, not only to,
wards their faith, whose absurdity can
never justify interference, but also to-
wards the grossly immortal practices
which have the sanction of their reli-
gion. The government is compelled
to acquiesce at present, and may as
well make virtue of necessity. All
the male population of Utah are arm
ed and we'll drilled soldiers, and would
doubtless withstand any forces that
might be sent to their territory, with
all the energy inspired by fanaticism.
In their distant mountain Businesses
they would have great advantages of
position, and would draw their sup
plies from their own fertile soil while |
the troops sent against them would be
worn out by the long march, and could |
be subsisted only at enormous expense.
But the fact that the wisest course to
pursue in relation to them has been,
and still is, to let them alone, does not
relieve, but only aggravates the pros
poets of future difficulties. They are
rapidly increasing in population, are
acquiring wealth, and are terrifying
practices and privileges which have
already the double support of fanatic
faith and licentious passions, by the
by the force of habit and the feeling
OF right which results from prescrip-
ton.
1t is computed that as early as 1859
their numbers will have reached the
sixty thousand which entities terri
tory to apply for admission as a State.
That they will press their claim there
can be no doubt. Ought it to be
granted ? 1t seems as inevitable as
fate that this question must be met,
and therefore it may not be improper
for us to begin to reflect on it. We
cannot believe that the Congress of
the United States will consent to the
admission of Utah as State while its
inhabitants continue the practice OF
polygamy, and the day that they are
refused on this ground, they will raise
the cry of persecution, and will prob
able believe it well founded and cy>
cry one knows the effect of presecu-
ton, whether real or fancied, in
strengthening bigotry and influencing
fanaticism. If repugnance to their
institutions and practices should lead |
Congress to retain them in the condi,
ton OF territorial dependence, they
would probably bid the government
defiance, and set up Tor themselves
We of course would not acknowledge |
their independence. 1t would be a
case of rebellion against rightful au-
tuority, and if government would not |
forfeit its claims to respect, it would |
be bound to put it down. BY its re |
cent proceedings in relation to the ter
ritories of Nebraska and Kansas, it |
has fettered and enfeebled its own |
hands, and given to the Mormons a
great advantage, at least so far as the |
argument Of the question is concerned. |
The passage of the Nebraska bill is |
not SO much a triumph of slavery as
it is triumph of 2olygamy, if we look |
only to the practical consequences
thot are likely to result from it,
We regard it in tho highest degree !
improbable that slavery will ever
exist in the extensive region where it |
has nominally triumphed (; but when