Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-31


the President of the Unitcd States or tny
other branch of thu Government. Nor do
we think their privileges extend to a viola.
ton of those laws and institutions which are
the basis Of our manners, habits, aud morals
Polygamy, however sanctioned by the exam
pie of the patrarchs, is criminal offence in
every State of the Union, and commit 1i,y
in which every man may have as many wives
as he pleoscs can no more assimilate with
those who admit Of but one than if it sane.
toned the commission of murder or any other
crime against the laws of nature and society.
The maxms of the patriarchs are not safe
guides for us, nor is the story of Jucob and
Esau very saluisry example for our imita-
tion. Polygamy is not now nor has it been
practised by the most devoted disciples OF
Moses since the dispersion of the trioes; and
if it were it should be remembered that Ju-
daism is not christianity. The Divine Chris
tian Lewgiver had, for one great object CT
his mission, complete revision of the Levitt
ca code.
Polygamy at once creates a radical and
rreconcileable distinction between commu
mites where it exists and those in which it is
considered crime. 1t strikes at the root of
all social organization; it pervades the fire.
side; !, enters into every relation human be-
ings bear to each other; and the Mormon
with his dozen concubines, like the Turk
with his harem, can never preserve any thing
like social harmony or common interest with
q christian community. it is impossible to
assimlate States where bigamy is one of the
deepest of crimes with one in which il is re-.
cognised and practced.
If there were no other objection to the in
PRODUCTION of this inc ongruous element into
our system the ipvuriable and Inevitable con-
sequences it produces would be sufficient
Wherever it has prevailed it has caused the
degradation of woman, and the degradation oil
woman is the sure precursor Of that of man
Among the patriarchs women were mere
household slaves, and might be turned out OF
house and home to roam ike Hagar in the
wilderness. Among the followers OF Ma
homet-now the peculiar object Of christian
sympathy-she is, while on earth, slave tC
the seLsua appeti es of men, and equally SC
in the Mahomedun paradise. And where
ever poigamy prevails, aud it will be forever
and ever. This rabolc of wives must be Ell
thcr served by slaves or become slaves the IN
selves. When the Prophet Brigham want.
a servant to attend to his dairy he takes an
additional wife, and thus supplies himsel
with one on the cheapest possible terms,
since these wives receives no other wages
but those of niquity.
, If we contemplate the Mormons in po.
itical point of view, it will, we think. at once
, -, ronn Ia,
t that it is equally impossible the Territory o
, Utah can ever become, under its present or.
ganiZaton, harmonious member Of th
1 Confederation. So long as the f atern,,
hold as one Of their fundamental doctrine
that the whole earth is their prcdcstnGd IN
/, hertance, what can we expect from then
5 but an utter disregard to the rights of prop.
ery! And so long as they pay an abject de
e ference to the revelations of their prophe'
= and obey them implicitly az mantle, stations 0
, the will of the Supreme Being, can we evel
expect them to conform to the provisions o
the Constitution, unless they should chance
, to harmonize with the revelations of the
, prophet! That this will not be the case i
evident from the past history of the Nor
d mons. Wherever they have settled the.
a wero the harbngers of dissension and blood
: shed. They placed themselves in oppo sit ;ol
n TO the laws by which those around then
:, were governed, end refused submission
) to the constituted authorities of the State,-
They were consequently hunted from on
9 to another, as PEOPLE always have been ant
0 always will be who arrogate to themseve
Q the right to violate the decences Of society
= refuse obedience to the laws, reject the re
9 s,rainls which govern the habits, manners
s and morals Of those among whom they hav,
t intruded, and at the same time denounCe a.
h those who differ with them in their dogma
o us unworthy of all association with them
S selves.
s As might be expected, since they becam
o Territorial members of the Unoa they hav
n placed themselves in direct opposition to th
3, legitimate authority of the Government
+ the United States by rejecting its officers an
n refusing to recognize any authority but tn;
It of their inspired prophet. In this, we thir
i very unfortunately, they were humored b
: Mr.. Fillmore, who conferred on b. 1oun
the office of fcvil governor in addition to tina
far higher station he held as the oracle Of tn
Divine viii. Thus. Governor BrighaI
Young now combines in his person the sane
tity of representative Of the Divinity an
;, and the temporal authority of all officer
, the Government of the United States. Th
= association is supremely absurd, if not at
solutely basphemous Union.
-
. From the Philadelphia Price Current.