San Andreas independent., 1857-11-07
The Mormons.

hlpS 10 SHOW us cloyen foot In manner
that Is not to be mistaken. Briobam
Young and his satellites, the high priests,
no longer attempt to conceal their designs.
but openly preach rebellion and the
higher law" against the authority of
the United States. The Utah expedition
has had the tendency, at least, to bring
Out the true principles, purposes and ul-
terror objects of this priest-ridden people,
ruled over by that incestuous libertine,
Brigham Young. The news brought,
and the accounts given by the overland
emigration of the present year, all have
the same general tendency, and point to
the Mormons as being the leaders and
lnstlgators of the Indians, to the deeds
OF robbery, cruelty and murder which has
been practiced upon emigrant trains.
When they were driven from Illinois
and Missouri, and took up their line of
march over the plains, to settle in the
yallies of the great basin, they thought
themselves beyond the reach of civiliza-
tlon for long time to come, and that,
unmolested they could there establish
the seat of their new empire, founded
upon llcentiousness and ignorance, and
that by degrees they could extend their
power and influence to the Pacific, and
fnally combine within their empire all the
western portion of North America With
all the power vested in one head, who
would be civil ruler and ecclesiastical in
quisitor, with the people united and bound
together by the strongest of possible ties
religious fanaticism-they could exert a
powerful influence upon the rest of the
world, and perhaps erect an empire second
to that of Mahomet himself. From the
known action and ambition of the leaders.
there is very little doubt but that they
had some such ulterior design. But the
discovery of gold in California, and the
rapid settling up of the Pacific coast by
the American people, served to hem them
In and cireumscribe their dominion.
Their leaders have always endeavored
to instill into the minds of their follow
ers, prejudice and feeling of hostility
towards the government and people of the
United States, constantly preparing them
for an event which they were satisfied
would eventually take place-a collision
between themselves and the government.
Finding that the civil power to rule over
the Territory, is about to be taken from
him, Brigham Young no longer attempts
to conceal his object of Independent en-
pire, but boldly asserts that he is able
and determined to set the government
authority at defiance; and, it is said, a
formal declaration of independence was
made In Salt Lake city, in August last.
Were there nothing but words, people
might look upon it as species of bragga-
docio, unworthy of any notice But,
while their words give out the thoughts
that are uppermost in their minds, and
what they think in their cooler moments,
their actions speak in thunder tones of
what they intend, and are determined to
accomplish if in their power. Companies
of armed men have been sent out to re-
eonnoitre and watch the movements of
the government expedition Notifications
are being established; guns and war-like
weapons have been placed in the hands
of savages all the Indian tribes within
the vicinity of Salt Lake have been
aroused to deeds of robbery and murder
upon emigrants; the sandy plains have
absorbed tho blood of American citizens
men, women and children have been
butchered IN cold blood by savages,
prompted and instigated to the deeds,
and in many cases led by Mormons them
SCiNCo, ucteIlllHcu W SiOW UHeir HOSTILITY
and bid defiance to the American people
and government. All the apostles and
worshipers of Mormonism have been
called to assemble around the grand San.
hednm of Latter Day Saints. True to
their instincts, and obedient to the man. |
date, they have obeyed the call, and with
their wives, their children and their
goods, they have taken up their line of
march, carrying with them as MANY arms
and as much ammunition as convenient
They are using every exertion in their
power to obtain and hold full and entire
control over the various Indian tribes to
the east of them, by establishing settle |
ments among them every twenty-five or
thirty miles, extending as far as within
one hundred miles of Fort Laramie. and
are interfering and endeavoring to defeat
tho nolicv which tho oovarnp,ont -