The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-04-13
poLYGAMY IN UTAH.

| iHc hOTiHOus arc ~ '"p"iuiy increasing
in numbers ana the question of their ad
m ssion into the Union is being so widel,
and earnestly discussed, that everything re
Iating to them is necessarily of interest t,
he intelligent observer Of passing events
| 1t is somewhat curious that one Of the most
pestilent, repulsive, and dangerous retro
sressive fanaticisms that has affiict ed human
ty should have originated among us who
claim to be the most advanced and indiyidu
a ly independent people ON the face of the
obe. We extrac; the following passages
f ON the Seer pa per edited by Urson
Pratt, who styles himself one of the "Twelve
APOSTLES" We hope Mr. Pratt, if his exten.
sve matrimonial arrangements leave him q
7 leisure hour once mouth, will devote it to
making himself somewhat more conyersan
with the meaning Of words and the con
slruction of language We have been at
some pains to make the following extracts
from the "Seer" somewhat readable rs far a.
the grammer OF them is concerned:
III all the Gentle nations consider Patr
archal MatIimony ~ mote which has yoi
into the Saints eyes, let them, before they
un lertake to pluck it out, eXtrIcate the great
beams from their own eyes, and then til, v
will learn that what they suppose to be a
mote" is in reality, divine institution,
which was practiced by the most holy men
that ever lived in ancient times, under the
sanction aud appreciation Of the Almighty
Tradition causes individuals ito STRAIN ut a
gnat, and swallow can ell" They can swal-
low down quite easily, without utlering
groan, the polluted, wretched, and most filthy
sinks OF iniqulty. that preva TO an alarming
extent, IN ali the large towns cities, and sea
por:s, among the Gentle nations; and they
cry out, us though they were frightened out
of their senses, because Territory practices
legal and lawful matrimony after the pattern
set before them in the Scriptures.
The Latter Day Saints have stricter no.
tions of virtue than any other people under
heaven. But do they practice vir ue as well
as deliver the precepts hereof We answer.
let the practice of $4,000 Saints in Utah
speak, Let strangers who have travelled
through our fourlshing territory, declared
Let the records Of the Courts of Justice bear
witnessl Let the injured females, if there be
any, whose character and reputation have
been destroyed by the vile seducer publish
their wrongl Let illegitimate children, if
Utah affords them, come forth as a public
monument OF our dlsgracel Ii house of i'll
fame, an adulterer, or sedueer of female vr.
tue be found, throughout the length and
breadth of our territory, then, let the Elders
be clad in sackcloth, and let the Saints put
on garments of mourning, and weep before
the Lord, day and night, until the evil be ia.
ken from their midst.
But, is it not sinful for man to have more
than one wife at the same timei II it is, the
Bible has not mentioned it. 1t is not reveal
ell AS an evil. Is it contrary TO the will of
God, for man, in these days, to take plu-
rality of wivesi Yes, unless God shall give
them 10 him by "A revelation through a holy
prophet. But, is it not contrary to the Con.
stitution and laws OF the United States for
the citizens of Utah to practice plurality Of
wives! No; they ave not said any thing on
the subject of marriage, or domestic relations
Neither does the Legislature of that Terrific.
ry feel disposed to dehar her citizens OF any
blessings, or privileges enjoyed under the
sanction of the Almighty, by holy prophets
and holy patriarchs Of old
We should he pleased to have some of
the wise theoogians of our day bring for.
ward even one passage, from either the Old
or New Testament, to prove that plurality
of wives is an evil. If they can show that
such practice was sinful, either under the
Patriarchal, Mosaic, or Christian dispensa.
tions, let them do so. When and where did
our Saviour ever condemn itl When and
where did his Apostles ever condemn itl-
Here, then, We ministers of Christendnm, are
some grave questions for you to settle. The
whole English vocabulary is exhausted 10
find epithets and reproaches sufficiently ex.
pressive of your holy horror. But, in this
holy war, where is the minister, or any one
else, that can brandish the sword of Truth
against that which he condemns9 Denunci-
ations are not arguments: curses and vile re.
will not enlighten the mind Such
empty trash is becoming stale; it is not re.
ceived as evidence by thinking public. Let
theologians back up their cry of dcusi ms by
good sound reasoning by evidences from the
Word Of God.
Would you convert the Mormons of Utah
the fair sons and daughters of the New Eng
land States, citizens of this g. eat Republic
v no now dw.ll in the Mountain Territoryl-
Let missionaries be sent among them! Our
women are not so enguphed in the vortex of
delusion, so impenetrabe to sound argument
and logical reasoni G. so blind to the great
truths contained in the Word Of God that
they are beyond all hopes of recovery Your
missionaries shall be treated wit the highest |
respect Meeting houses shall he opened to
them, free of expense; and. if they prove "Mor-
monism" deluson, they will convert the |
of the people of the Territory
Here, then, is field for missionary enter.
Prise But, let us notify you, to send men |
who are not afraid Of the Word of God Let |
nen be sent who will make no denunciations
hat they cannot prove by the Word of God. |
The people of Utah hear, aud then Judge
They think for themselves, and do not hire |
ministers to think for them. Come, let us |
'eason together" saith the God of Jacob.
SEBAsTopoL CANNOT DE TAKEN--The New |
York correspondent of the Charleston Couri-
II makes the following report of recent
with Mr.. Marsh, our late and |
highly intelligent Minister at Constantinople,
IN the subject of the war, and prospects in
he Crimea:
Mr. Marsh maintained, very decidedly, the
,rinion that the allies eau neither conquer
he ,rimea, nor take Sebastopol. So far as
he peculiar energy and prestige OF the late
Czar formed an element Of the Russian
the power OF Russia for defence may
AVE been diminished 10y his death; but an
accession Of new elements may be brought