, 1857-07-17
Correspondence Of The N.Y, Triblnel
M0RM0NISM.
A Letter from William Smith, Brother Of
Joseph, the Prophet.

Joseph, the Prophet.
WARREN, Pa, May 10, 1851.
l In looking over the affairs relating to
Utah, and the development of the corrup-
lion Of the Mormon people, it may not be
amiss to remind the public once ngan Of
the petition that was drawn up by myself
and signed by many citizens of the State
of Illinois, and sent to Washington at the
time when Utah was recognized as Ter.
ritory, in which petition were set forth
clearly and plainly the facts in re-
gard to the reasonable designs of the Nor
mons against the United States Govern
ment; also the fact that these Mormons
Ipurposed establishing the doctrines of
POlygamy, all of which statements the
eadiug Mormons positively aud peremp-
tOrily denied. The charges that are now
preferred against Brigham Young and the
Mormons generally, by eX-Justice Drum
mond and others, from Utah, are so con-
firmatory of what was then published upon
Mormon doings, that we presume the Gov
ernment and public will not longer dispute
our statement as set forth in said petition
which may now be found on the files Of the
Congressional journals for 1851. Also,
the statement made by Mr.. Drummopd in
his letter of resignation, Of the manner in
which the late Secretary Of the Territory,
A. W. Babbit, was murdered on the plains
by band of Mormons.
verify believe, also, the statement that
other officers and friends to the Govern
ment have been in a most cruel and muir
derous manner put out Of the way by these
Mormons as such action is in strict keeping
with their character. will here remark,
also, that all the plans for this Mormon
treason against the Government were laid
in the councils at Nauvoo, previous to the
expulsion of the Saints from the State Of
Illinois-an expulsion caused by the wick
ed doings of the corrupt Dante leaders, in
cluding robberies and murders. While the
Mormons were yet at Nauvoo, Brigham
Young took the incipent steps towards the
organization Of the DANTE banditti, by
administering to such Mormons as he could
influence an oath that, from that time for
ward, they would be the persistent enemies
Of the United States Government, and the
Geniies generally. Since their removal
from Illinois, they have added the DANTE
and other reasonable oaths and covenants,
binding still stronger aud stronger the con-
federacy Of traitors in their new and far-oh
Land Of Zion, in the Valley Of the Noun
tains.
have no doubt whatever Of the truth
of the charges against the Mormon people
of having committed the most wanton and
cruel murders in the disguise of Indians;
and IL the spirits of their victims now sleep
ing in their graves at Nauvoo could but
speak to the world they would reveal tries
of cruelty and horror which would make
the people stand aghast and cause these
murdererous, guilty Mormon rebels To-
quake with fear, and possibly to reeoil at
the contemplations Of their own wickedness.
have good reasons 70 belieyeing that
my brother, Samuel II: Smith, died of
poison in NauVoo, administered by order
Of Brigham Young and Willard Richards,
only few weeks subsequent to the unlaw-
full murder Of my two other brothers,
Joseph and Hyrum Smith, while ineareer-
ated in Carthage Jail. Several other per-
sons who we're presumed to stand between
Brigham Young and the accomplishment
of his ambitions and wicked designs mys-
teriously disappeared from NauvoO about
the same time, and have never since been
heard from.
Arvine Hodge, young woman, was
murdered in a most shocking manner with
in ten or fifteen yards Of Brigham Young's
house. This was done, as the Mormons
themselves admitted, to prevent some de-
velopment coming out in exposure Of Brig
hams guilty connection with banditti Of
murderers and countefeIters, who, in those
days of aourishing Mormonism, ranged
along the Mississippi River from st. Louis,
No, to Galena, Illinois. Also, Brigham
Young, in connection with John Taylor,
A. Lyman, P. p Pratt, f. Snow, II, G..
Kimball, Geo. A. Smith, w. Woodruff,
Orson Hide, Willard Richards (now dead J,
Hosea Stout, Orson Pratt killed q few
days ago), and others known as the princi-
pal leaders Of the Mormons, were the
founders Of the secret DANTE banditti, or
destroying angels" as they are called by
the Mormons. In regard to the designs Of
these Mormons to rob and plunder the
California emigrants, and to commit certain
depredations upon the General Govern
ment-to hoax, fool, aud to gull money
out Of them under various pretenses,
testify that have heard Mormons boast
and talk Of these designs in Nauyoo, pre-
vious to their leaving for the Salt Lake
Valley, and have also often heard Nor
mons talk openly Of their designs in rob-
bing the Gentiles and Of putting to death
dissenting Mormons; and that also, when
they got among Indians, they would lead
them on to the slaughter of the men,
women and children ofthe American people.
Suffice it to say, that in presenting to Con-
gress my remonstrance to these views Of
: MormoDs at the time have mentioned,