, 1857-12-04
MaSSacres on The PIains


The following is from an editorial in til,
San Francisco Herald, and based as it i,
upon the detailed account which that jour
nal gives Of the massacres, it portrays viz
idly our present relations with the Indians
and Mormons
From the news published in another col
umn, there can be no doubt of the compile
ity of the MormonS with the Indians, in all
the eutrages which have of late been com
mitted on the middle plains. There is nc
longer any safety for the emigrant-he is
forced on the one side to submit to the ex
tortions Of the Mormon guides, and on the
other, to the exactions Of the Indians, toe
happy to escape with life. Both have uni
ted to fleece, rob and murder all those who
may fall into their hands We are very
much afraid that we have not heard the
last Of the massacres by the Indians this
year. Whatever trains may yet be in the
way, will not escape without attacks. 1t
will be seen from the statements published
in another column, that there is little doubt
that the Mormons had knowledge be-
forehand Of what the Indians were going
to do-were in constant communication
with them during the time that the hapless
cmigrant train was battling against the
savage foe, by whom it was assaulted
that though fully aware that men, women
.and children were being cruelty murdered,
they neglected to render any assistance,
and did not even go SO far as to remon-
strate, and that they openly rejoiced with
the Indians in the successful accomplish
ment of their bloody work Indeed, accor-
ding to the statements of Messrs. Power,
Warn and Honea, the Mormons cannot be
separated from the Indians in all these ter
rible outrages. They were the promptcrs,
if not acters in the dreadful scenes which
have of lato been enacted on the middle
plains. How well they have succeeded in
moulding the savages, with whom they
dwell, for the accomplishment of whatever
objects they may have in view, is sufficient
ly evidenced by the distinction they now
make between Mormons and Americans
They have been taught to believe that there
are but two races of white men in existence
Mormons and Americans, and that while
the former are their fast friends, the latter
are deadly and incorporating foes. 1t is
horrible to contemplate that white men
should be engaged in stirring up and goad-
ing on blood-thirsty savages, to the CON-
mission of deeds Of atrOcity and blood-tO
the massacre of defenseless women and
children Of their own race at least but we
are afraid it is but too true. The poisoning
Of dead OK, for which the Indians asked,
is stated as the main cause Of the massacre;
but that poisoning might have been done
by the Mormons themselves. fhe sWag-
gering course pursued by the emigrants,
and which no one will seek to justify, excl
ted thirst for vengeance in their minds,
and this might have been the plan they
adopted to crafty it, knowing the fearful
vengeance it would bring down upon the
heads Of the emigrants, If the act could be
fastened upon them. Such theory is by
no means improbable or far-fetched. The
spirit by which the Mormons are actuated
is no longer secret and no act or pro-
ceeding OF theirs no matter how fiendish or
blood-thirsty, should excite astonishment.
The people of Los Angeles, at meeting
recently held, adopted preamble aud res
olutions calling upon the President Of the
United States to take measures for the
prompt punishment Of the authors of the
recent wholesale buichery on the plains;
and also calling upon the Governor of the
State to enforce the laws in San Bernardno,
pledging themselves to respond to the call
Of the proper authorities, if necessary in en-
forcing obedience. Matters wear mena-
cling aspect.
1--WE find the following significant item
in the statement Of Messrs. Power, Warn
and Honea, Immigrants for California, }
concerning the late Indian massacre, and
the completely of the Mormons with the
atrocious butchery
DECLARATION OF INTERCHANGEABLE the
18th of August, passed through the city Of
Salt Lake. Remained only three or four
hours. Had conversation with a mer-
chant-a Gentile-who stated that on the
previous Sunday, Brigham Young had de-
clared, in the Temple, that henceforth Utah
was separate and independent Territory,
and owned no obedience or allegiance to
any form of laws, but those Of ther own en-.
actment, and called upon the people to
stand together and support him in main
tanning the cause of God and the Church
Was told that the house of Gilbert & Gar
rison had orders from Brigham to pack W
and leave before the lst Of November.