True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-05-06
The Saints in Utah.


SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST THE Nor.
MONS BY JUDeG DRuMMoND, THE CHIEF
JUsTIcE OF THE TERRIToRY.-HIs REs-
DONATION AND EVACUATION IN DIsGUsT,
AND THROUGH FEAR OF HIS LIFE.
To the Hon. Jer. S. Black. Atty Gen.
of the o. s. Washington City, d. c.
My Dear Sir:-As have concluded
to resign The Office of Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the Territory of Utah,
which position I accepted in A. d. 1854
under the administration Of President
Pierce, | deem il due to the public to
give some of the reasons why l do so.
In the first place, Bringham Young, the
Governor Of Utah Territory, is the ac-
knowledged head Of the Church of
Jesus Christ, Of Latter Day Saints.
commonly called Mormons," and as
such head the Mornons look to him, and
to him alone, for the la,O by which they
are TO be governed; therefore no law Of
Congress is by them considered bind
ing.
Secondly. I know that there is a Sc
cret oath-bound organization among the
male members of the Church, 10 ac.
knowledge no law save the law of the
4" Holy Priesthood" which comes 10 the
people through Bringham Young, direct
from God, he, Young, being tho vlcere.
gent of God and prophetic successor Of
Joseph Smith, who was the founder of
this blind and reasonable organization.
Tkirdly. I am fully aware that there
is a set Of men set apart by special order
Of the Church, to take both the lives and
property of persons who may question
the authority Of the Church the names
of whom will make known at some fu'
ture time.
Fonrlhy. That the records, papers,
&c. ; of the Supreme Court have been de.
stroyed by order of the Church, with
the direct knowledge and appreciation Of
Governor B. Young, and the Federal
officers grossly insutcd for presuming to
raise single question about the treason
able act. .......
Filthy. That the Federal officers Of
the Territory are constantly insulted, har-
rassed and annoyed by the Mormons, and
for those insults there is no redress
Sixthly. That the Federal officers are
daily compelled to hear the form of The
American government traduced, the chic
executives of The nation, both living and
dead, sIandered and abused from the mas.
ses, as well as from all The leading mem
bers of The church, in the most vulgar
r loathsome and wicked manner that the
l evil passions Of man can possibly con
g eeive.
1 Again; That after Moroni Green ha(
e been convicted in the District Court be
e fore my colleague Judge Kinney, of al
= assault with intent to murder, and after
!, wards. on appeal 10 the Supreme Court
e the Judgme nj being affirmed and the sal
Green being sentenced 10 the Penientia
g ry, Bringham Young gave a full pardo
|, to said Green before lie reached the Pen
S iten,iary; also that the said GovernO
II Young pardoned man by the name c
h Baker, who had been tried and sentence
d to ten years Imprisonment in the Pen
h Tertiary for the mulder of du NIB DO
e by the name of Whitehouse, the proc
y showing one of the most aggravated C;
N ses of murder that | ever knew ben
Ic tried and to insult the Court and gov
ernment, this man Young took this pal
:. doned criminal with him, in proper per
= son, 10 church on the next Sabbath alIe
II his conviction. Baker in the meanwhl
having received full pardon from Gov
Bingham Young. These two mer
!. were MolmOns.
l. On the other hand. charge the MOI
er mons, and Governor Young in parIicula
g. with imprisoning five Or six young me
|. from Missouri and Iowa, who are now
a the Penitenliary in Utah, without thos
h. men having violated any criminal law
It. America, but they were an'i.mormon
10 poor and uneduca'ed young men on the
way for California but because The
or emigralsd from Missouri Iowa, or llli
i'll ois, and passed by Salt Lake City, the
ng were indicted by Probate Court al
nd most brulally and nhumanly dealt wi
a in addition TO being summarily incarce
he ated in The sanity prison of the Territ
III ry of Utah. | also charge Govern
IRE Young with constantly Interfering wi
lp. the federal courts, directing The Graz
ng Jury who to ndct and who not, ant.
ng ter The Judges charge the Grand Juri
an. as to their duties, that this man You
on invariably has some member of the Ora
of Jury advised in advance as to his will,
ing relation to their labors, and that
- charge thus given is The only chaI
- known, obeyed or considered by all
re- Grand Juries of the federal courts of
the Territory Of Utah.
has Again sir, after careful and mat,
investigation, have been compelled
3 come to the conclusion, hcart-rending &
tre- sickening as it may be, that Capt. Jc
and W. Gunnison and his party Of eight O
nth ers, were murdered by The Indians
1883, under the order, advice and dil
as tions Of The Mormons that my illus
he Gus and distinguished predecessor, H
: of Leonidas Shaver, came to his death
all drinking poisonous liquors, given to /
her. under the orders Of the leading men
the The Mormon Church in Great Salt L
ses- City that the late Secretary o! the
true ritory, A. W. Babbitt, was murdered
of band of Mormon marauders, under
Is particular and special order Of Bring
bal Young, Heber G. Kimball. and ].
the Grant, and not by the Indians as wa;
,hnn nnrtnh hu thn Mnrmnnh ihnmselVnR