Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-29
VOL. 3.---NO. 36.

I poisonous liquors. given to him under the or
der of the leading men of the Mormon Church,
in Great Salt Lake City; that the late Secre-
tary of the Territory, A. W. Babbitt, was muir
dered on the plains, by band of mormon ma
rauders, under the particular and special order
of Brigham Young, Heber c. Kimball and J.
NJ. Grant, and not by the Indians, as reported
by the Mormons themselves, and that they
were sent from Salt Lake City for that purpose,
and that only and as members of the DANTE
Band, they were bound to do the will of Brig
ham Young, as the head of the Church, or for
felt their own lives.
These reasons, with many others that might
give, which would be too heart-rendng to in
scrt in this communication, have induced me
to resign the Office OF Justice of the Territory
of Utah, and again return to my adopted State
of Illinois. My reason for making this COM
munication thus public, is that the Democrat
ic party, with which have always strictly ac-
ted, is the party now in power, and therefore
is the party that should be held responsi.
BILE for the reasonable and disgraceful state
of affairs that now exist ip Utah Territory.
could sir, if necessary, refer t. a cloud of wit
u
the charges, bold as they are, against those
despots who rule with an iron hand their hun
dred thousand souls in Utah, and their two
hundred thousand out of that notable Terrific
ry, but shall not do so for the reason that the
lives of such gentlemen as / should designate
in Utah and California would not be safe for
single day.
In conclusion, sir, have to say, that In my
career as Justice of the Supreme Court of u
tab Territory, have the consolation of know
ing that did my duty that neither threats
nor intimidations drove me from that path;
upon the other hand, am panied to say, that
1 accomplished little good while there that
the Judiciary is only treated as farce. Tho
only rule of law by which the infatuated fol-
lowers of this curious people will be governed
is the law of the Church, and that emenates
from Gov. Brigham Young, and him alone.
L do believe that if there were man put in
office as Governor of that Territory who is not
a member of the Church (Mormonse, and be
supported with a sufficient military aid, that
much good would result from such course;
but the Territory is now governed, and has
been since the administration of Mr.. Fillmore,
as Governor, it is noon-day madness and folly
to attempt to administer the law in that Terri
tory. The officers are insulted, harrassed and
murdered for doing their duty, and not recog-
nizing Brigham Young the only law-giver
and law-maker on earth. OF this every man
can bear incontestible evidence who has been
willing to accept an appointment in Utah and
| assure you. sir, that no man would be willing
to risk his life and property in that Territory,
after once trying the sad experiment.
With ardent desire that the present Ad-
mnistration will give due and timely aid to
the officers that may be so unfortunate as to
accept situations in that Territory, and that
the whitening curse which rests upon this ma
tion by virtue of the peculiar and heart -rend-
ing institutions of the Territory Of Utah may
be speedily removed, to the honor and credit
of our happy country.
/ now remain, your obedient servant,
W. W. DRuMMoND,
Justice of UtSl Territory.
March 30, a. D., 1857.