The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-22

2hs Mormsas-whas Is t. bs Done wstA
Thsay a
Some of our cotsmporaries have been publish
Ing long letters dated from Utah and containing
heart rending accounts of the suferings inflicted
on poor helpless women by the brutality Of the
Mormon leaders. 1t Is perhaps n well that the
public should know that these letters are made
up on this side the Mississippi. and we have no
doubt do more credit to the Imagination than to
the memory of their writer's No journal has
correspondent in Utah at the present time. 1t
reflects come credit on the ingenuity Of our 90
to have bethoueht themselves of
getting up an excitement about Utah just as
Kansas died out.
OF the facts of the case, in Utah, it is very
difficult 10 form reliable judgment, simply be-
cause our most reliable authorities such as Judge
DrummOnd, row in Washington, are tainted with
q suspicion of interested motives. Judge Drum
mond, we hear, has no objection to return to
Utah as Governor, with proper armed force to
void his quarrel with the Mormons But it may
be assumed as fact that the United States au-
thorities have been set at paught there, and that
pOlygamy exists to certain extent among the
leading members Of the Mormon government
We have no idea that polygamy Is common In
stitution. or that as a general thing, the Nor
mons have more wives than other people. The
laws of common sense economy, and domestic har-
mony forbid the generalpractice ofpolygamy; even
in countries like Turkey, Persia and China,
where the civil and religious law upholds po-
lygamy, it is, we know, rare occurrence. Nor
do we imagine that any peculiar dspensation Of
nature enables the Mofmons or any consider
able portion of them to live in manner which
example, precept and desire have proved unable
to popularize in the most luxurious oriental
countries With this reservation, then, and I'M
derstaDding the polygsmic institutions Of Utah
as being modern convenience for the private
luxurious uses Of Mr.. Brigham Young and
select few Of his associates we conceive that the
case of the MormOns can be grasped in a very
moderate compass
There is no authority in the constitution to
justify an interference BY Congress or the federal
government with such an institution as polyga-
my in Territory. It Is as clearly without the pale
of Congressional or executive regulation as
slavery; if Congress may not pass a Law to
govern the one, it may not pass law to govern
the other; If the President cannot interfere to
drive slavery out Of Kansas, neither can he
assume to drive polygamy out Of Utah. Mar
riage, civil contract, Is essentially subject to
the control of local, municipal, or civil laws;
the federal government has nothing to do with
4, and Congress can make no laws defining Its
nature, altering its effect, or prescribing penal
ties for breaches of its obligations committed by
people residing within Territory Of the United
States
Those therefore who assumed that Mr.. Blu
chsnan was going TO carry fire and sword among
the Mormous because they were polygamists, and
to put down poiygamy by force Of forms, gave
the President very little credit for judgment or
knowledge of the instrument under which he
holds his powers
But If the MormoDs have really rebelled against
the United States authorities violated the United
States Courts, and expelled the United States
jndges-as we believe there is ample evidence that
they have done-the United States have the
right and II Is their duty to punish them They
are entitled to send an armed force into the Ter
ritory, to inquire Into the offences committed to
punish the guilty, to offer security for the future,
and to give the United States Courts adequate
protection. This line of duty properly carried
out, will, We apprehend, achieve every useful
purpose.
The force required for Utah should consist of
not less than $500 men, formed into corps
d'drn'te under proper leaders, and provided with
arms Of all kinds, including light artillery. They
should not be selected from the present ranks of
the army. On the contrary, men for the pur-
pose should be enlisted in the cities and villages
a preference being given to young married men
over all others and few regular soldiers being
thrown In from time TO time TO lcaven the mass.
With this army, which ought TO be followed
by q thousand women or more, there should
be sent to Utah man OF great nerve,
His limo Of duties should be traced TO him 30
closely as to leave him no room FOE indiscrect
zeal on the one hand, or timorous concession on
the other. And finally with the Governor, there
should be sent a staff of Christian missionaries
selected for their skill and boldness from the va
rious churches. II should be made the duty of
these missionaries, immediately on their arrival
at Utah. to commence series Of discussions on
the Cardinal points of Mormonism, with view TO
show the sbsurdity of the system, and the errors
of polygamy. We apprchcnd that full aud
free discussion Of the subject would explode IT in
the eyes of it's most devoted adherenta And if
Mr.. Brigham Young, or any one else were 80 far
TO forget those clauses in the constitution which
secure TO citizens Of the United States freedom Of
speech and of discussion, as to interfere with the
missionaries or their discussions, why, then, il
would Of course become the duty Of the Gov
ernor TO lay hands on the offender aud prevent
the repetition Of the offence.
This policy would be likely TO bring the Nor