Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-04-22
Utah Territory--Brigham Young.


in vain over the country, in order to find, a.
this peculiar juncturc of affairs, seme sensi-
bic. thoughtful and reasoning opinion in re-
gard to the relations which at present Utah
Territory bears toward the Union. Our own
serious and gradually arrived at Impression
is, that the present Territory of Descret has
within IT, aud surrounding it. more of the ell
ements of trouble, annoyance aud difficulty
to the national administration than any other
portion of the public domain.
To arrive at this conclusion. the mind Is
compelled to travel over but short distane
of practical comprehension. and it is strange
and startling fact that but very few men %
our country have taken the trouble, by en-
quiry and reasoning, to arrive at the truh
which surrounds. in all its various comp!eS-
ions, this whole subject.
Upon the northern continent Of civilized J.
merica there are gathered together at this day
more than fifteen thousand fighting men. wel
equipped, well armed and well disciplined !;
who occupy the territory of the United States
in defiant position to she central government
at Washington, and who in their practices, P-
litcal and religious, set at naught every prin-
ciple, social and moral, which distinguishes us
as people among the nations of the earth
These people, who have peculiar religious
prejudices, teachings and predictions. are
supposed to be Conscientious in thzir strang.
and monstrous notions and after their heavy
prosecutions in Hin is aud Missouri. have
flown to this district of Utah. or Desert, in
order, as they assert. to enjoy undistubed.
that religious liberty and freedom of action
which has been practically denied to them
elsewhere Supposing that they had chosen
the most distant point from civilization. they
have settled down In this wilderness with the
hope that they would be allowed to remain
there unmoested by the government, and be
permitted to indulge their peculiar rites and
! fancies without interference from the central
power at Washington.
Up TO this time, no doubt for reasons oil
policy, the Territorial Governor (or as he is
called, the President has heen tue spiritua.
head of the orsanizati ,n-BRIGnAM IoUNG
This man. in addition to the power aud influ-
ence he exercises being the representative
of the Federal Government. Is the prophet OF
high priest of the whole Church of a. Latter
Day Saints" which sect conIposes the entire
population of the Territory ,and in that regard
is respected as receiving all the revelations OF
Divine will, which according to their belief.
forms entirely and irrevocably the positive law
of their Church or Greed He is. ootwith.
standing all his antagonist characteristics, re-
vered and most profoundly respected as zthe
temporal! and spiritual head of all their Affairs;
but he possesses the most unbounded and url-
que,iiored influence, and the most Unlimited
power over all their actions.
"A country then, which. from the begin
ming of time, has been comparatively desert,
has suddenly, through the agency of hun
| ted down sect. became j thriving, fourishing
and prosperous district. 1t is located. how
ever, upon the territory of the United States,
aud whist there must be controlled and res
trained by the fundamental law of our political
organization. Up to this period of time, so
little has been known of them politically, tha,
they have scarcely disturbed the surface o.
popular thought, and now when they have
grown into a strength and Importance which
suddenly attracts public attention TO their his
tory. We look aghast and wonder at the evil
winch weShave permitted to gain and increase
to this fearful aud threatening extent
The presen: condition and most controlling
features of Utah Territory, are such as to vel
awaken the fears OF every man who prays
earnestly for the peace, welfare ani morai
dignity of the na,ion. The population is CON-
posed Of men who have by birth or associ alton
| no sympathy or interests in common with our
selves. All the efforts of the organization
have for years past been directed to securing
proselytes from abroad and the great mass
of the community at this day is composed OF
Europeans derived from the mining and poor
er agricultural districts of Wales, England,
Scotland ard Germany.
! The quiet policy of the President (BRIG
HAM YoUNG) argues more mind and admin
! istrative quality than up to this time he ha.
received credit for. His influence. which we
| have before asserted to be boundless, has
been directed to consolidating and centrali
zing bis own power. aud to siren gthening
even to the utmost limit, the physic condi
| tion and resources of his people. There doe
not exist to-day, III the continent of America
better disciplined, better equipped aud mor'
steady organized physical force, than that nov
within the limits of Utah Territory
Many reasons, some of which we have al
ready narrated, have made this mau YOUNG
over confident of his strength and power Of
resistance to Feleral authority. Relying up
on these, he has lately grown impudent in hi
| place, an has justified and assisted in act
which seem to call for the interference Of til,
powers ct Washington.
1t Is generully conceded that there exist
no power in the Central government to con
troll Or modify the social or religious institu
tions of a Territory. Hence were the disci
pies of MAHMoUD to settle down and orgauiz
| themselves into Stat, u:,on our Westcr1
I prairies, the limitless features of our Coustitu
tiou. in that respect. would seem to permi
their admission into the Union Without de
batting this question now, We desire to discus
the present growing evil as it is, and we Ill,
hesitatingly assert it as our belief, that th
condition OF affairs in Utah calls for the mos
prompt and immediate action on the part q