Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-04-08
Outrages of Briebam young.

A correspondent of the San Francisco Herald
writing from Salt Lake City on the 18th Of Jan
uary, says:
81 have to chronicle one of the most darini
and insulting national crimes ever committed il
the United States. and that, too, under the di
rect care and control, and under the imme
diate order and direction of this man Young
Early in January, and just in advance Of the
meeting of the Supreme Court, party of the
Mormons in high standing in the Church, repair
ed to the office of the Hon. g. P Stiles, one o.
the United States District Judges the law Office
of T. s. Williams Esq, and the Office of Clerk o.
the Supreme court, and took therefrom all thu
PAPERS belonging to the Supreme Court consist.
ing of records, dockets and opinions, filed away
together with nine hundred volumes of the laws
furnished by the Federal Government for the
use of the Territory of Utah. The reason given
for this treasonous act was that Congress would
not admit them as State, and that they would
not allow the Federal officers to remain in the
Territory, and that what officers were now in
the Territory must leave as soon as grass grows
or he will send them to hell across lots. Now, Sir,
can you find parallel to this act of treason since
the organization of the American Colonies2 if 80
please note the time and place.
It seems now to be q settled fact that the
laws Of Congress cannot be carried out or
put in force in this Territory-the only law
known or obeyed is the law of the Church, and
that is the will of Brigham Young, who most
clearly is the most brutal tyrant now on earth,
and in point of treasonous designs, without an
equal. Often have the Courts decided against
the enactments of the Utah Statutes. but all in
vain. The Mormons go on after their own or.
der ofdoing business, wholly dsregarding and set.
ting at defiance the opinions, and decisions of
the Supreme Court of the Territory, and openly
declare that they will not obey or be governed
by any one unless he is Mormon, and that a.
ny one who thinks otherwise can lose his life
by trying the experiment, which most emphati.
caly will be the case unless a strong military
aid is given by the United States government
In vain may one try for justice where the man.
date of one man is the supreme law of the land,
when you have Mormon jurors, witnesses, off.
GERS, &c.. all bound by secret oath of hostility
not only to all the laws of Congress, but toward
all the officers of tho United States Government,
from President down to that of Marshal of the
Territory of Utah.
At this time, Sir, there are five young
men lingering out weary life of misery and
wretcb.dness, groaning beneath heavy loads of
iron, in the damp and dismal cells of the Utah
Penitentiary, for no crime known to the laws
other than expressing opinions Of disapproba-
ton of the doctrines Of Mormonism, which here
is the hlackeSi crime man can commit 1t is
worthy Of remark that these young men are not
Mormons, but were passing on their way 10 Cal
fornia, from Missouri. Poor fellows they are
doomed to a sickly and torturing death, and
that soon, for it is not possible to survive such
brutal treatment very long. Quita recently
man by the name of Lewis was convicted Of
assault and battery and sentenced to FIVE years
in the Penitentiary; and while on
their way to the prison band ofruffians took
him away from the officer and cruelty maltrcat-
ed him, and Their put him into prison to die
These things are too common to be endured
much longer; and unless the Federal Govern
ment speedily lends aid unto her officers now in
this Territory, the miserable ends of both Nor
mons and officers of the Government can be
better anticipated than told.