The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-04-23
THE UTAH p1rf1QuIrY

nora' aepr"v'y niu socinl degradation TO which
tltc annals Of civilized mnn furnish no ne,.lisI
and which is a foul rcproach to tn. Governn,sn,,4
OF this country. Mornonism is tho most won.
der'uI and atrocious phenomenon in moder n L;..
tory. 1t positively contrndic,s every theory Of
the moral and religious development of mankind,
nnd IL marked exception of Mr.. Jefferson's n!
nous apothegm, that may be tolerated
when reason is left FREQ tn combat Il. The
h'dcons offspring of the heat-oppressed brain of
an ignorant and crazy funntir, the most f,iar,n.. .
and palpabe imposture over conceived; enHeM:
ng solely to the vilest passions and pandorinp 10
the 'host brutal aPpetites and instincts Of tho
human breast, it sprung up in the very midst of
civ'lizhtlon and enlightenment, has continued 10
grow with marvellous rapidity and swelled into
such malignant fungus upon the body polite.
us to demand the instant application Of the &c,
vcrest remedies.
reveal monstrous scene of iniquity and vice.
from contemplation of which, humanity siekena
anu recoiis In open rebellion against tfIe
Federal Government, Brigham Young and his
saints have succeeded in establishing a despotism.
more absolute than that of Russia and uphoidinps
system of crime which shocks the moral sense
OF tho world. The self.anointed Prophet isrba
supreme arhiter in both civil and religious mat.
ters his will is the law from which there ia M
aa!ppeai-ln his nod or beck, repose the lives.
'oe.ues ana property of his subjects.s Besides
De'hs an infamous despotism the territory is The
scene OF constant outrages upon deceicy and
morality, which would disgrace the Cannb,,s n
New Zealand and Central Africa.
1t IS high time the United States Goyernmssnnt
was nrectng its serious to the condition
| oi Otat'. Already il has shown q areprehens;hIa
indifference to the affairs of the Territory. and
| guilty Of gross dereliction Of duty. IN NOT hnv;n.
obedience to the laws enforced at the pont of the
bnyonet. Had this vile crew of outlaws and re.
probates been subjected to rigorous prosecutions
years ago, before they had become 30 form;Johi.-
| IN strength and numbers tn lac,, A.
lnent we should not now be under the neces,itv
OF resorting to extreme measures. MI 'Fillmor.;.
ia''"rc TO appoint Governor TO Utah. was nm
unPnraonable non-feasance in Office. The an
point.heat at that time of a man of determination
| ana frnness, who would have executed iha I.v.
Mt all hazaIds and not hesitated to call Tie mill;
| tary to aid the civil arm, would have crushed
| thls 'niqnIty, and spared us the inipendino tron
b'es. Mr.. Pierce, too, deserves censure for not
e"deavor,ng to suppress these enormitiea
irue' ne made an abortive attempt in commits
soning Col. Steptoe Governor with instructions
10 10 see that the laws were duly enforced But
brigham would not brook any interference with
ms internal regime, set the laws ut defiance,
threatened personal violence, and the Governor.
finding it impossible to secure the co operation of
:e hi,itary, ieit the modern Sodom TO its fate.
since then Brigham has ruled with :omnpot ent
sway, und treated Judge Drummond's authority
win scornful derisiom and contempt Long i'm
Punity had rendered him insufferabIy insoien,.
and the mbeciic policy Of the Government, served
10 produce the impression that it is power
less TO crush The monster. ,,a
What Mr. Buchanan intends to do. rem,,. -
be seen. 1t is runlored that he il determined II,
execute the laws and to suppress the shameful
hcentloushess OF Mormonism. We hope this il
true. For our part we think it is the bounden
duty OF the Government to eXtirpatc this loatI,-
some pest and believe that the outraged moral
sentiment of mankind calls for extreme RENE
dies 1t is idle cant to talk about liberty of con-.
SCIENCE and religious freedom. There is a wide
difference between hereseis religious opinion
and acknowledged crimes that arrogate the sanc
tions OF religion. AS we'll respect the murder
GUS creed of the Alami, whose God was naked
sword, and whose religion was constan, festi.
val OF blood, as to connive at the snturnnliun
orges of alorinoniSm-a horrid crime against
nature, IN outrage upon humanity, and in it's
very inception at war with lie laws Of Gud and
! man.
We repeat if the Government does moi intend
to rcnounce nll control over Utah, il should ut
once take vigorous steps TO put laws into execu-
| ton. Every moments hesitation ayyraya ates the
crying evil and enhances the difficulties Of
subdulng It. Even now, if our information is
| correct, the Mo-.!,nns are we'll mroy;ded viii.
the munitions of war, and can bring a large and
disciplined force into the field. If Col. Sumner
be really ordered to proceed to Utah as soon MS
lie has quelled-the insurrcction of the Kioway
and Cheyenne tribes, he had better 60 prepafed
Tor serious resistance. The mere handful Of men
with which he marched against the Indians, will
only serve to provoke the hostility Of the Nor
mons. z%h =
He would be treated with little more respect
by Brigham than Col. Steptoe received, and
would signally fail to accomplish the object of
his expedition The whole avaiiabls force Of the
United Suites should be sent thel., and these
shameless outlaws taught to bow 70 the suprs,
macy of the Government, Brigham, the blnsiihs
nous Prophet and arch TRAITOR, should be seized
and made to answer for his rebellious defiance
of the Federal authorities.
The unanimous voice of the country pro-
claims that these monstrosties ought no longer to
be tolerated, and calls upon the Governu,snt to-
| externllnnte the vile abomination of Mormonisin
| Tile South.