The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-08

The Mormon Rebellion against the Authority
Of the Federal Government-Cur4ous Letter
from Salt Lake City-view OF his Political
Duties by OF tho Latter Day Saints.
GREAT SALT LAKE Cry, Sept. ~, 1857.
DEAR FATHER:-Thsugh i have not heard from
Won for some months, through, presume, the stop
page of the mail, ! think it my duty to keep you !
poeted on the position Of affairs here. Before this
reaches you the "Gentiles" viii have learned the
decision which this people have arrived at touching
their future relationship with the United States
Doubtless there viii be much said against US and
much Misrepresentation; but to this we have become
gloriously Indifferent. He that wears the shoe
knows where it piuches' is an old saying. and one
which judges will do well to keep in remem-
brance before they return their verdict OF condemna
ton As it is not at all improbable ,hatI May not
have, for years 10 come, opportunity of writing
10 my friends in the East shall therefore, render
reason in this letter for the course have taken In
Joining heart and soul IN the present ssomentcus
movement.
From nv earliest DAYS you know that have vvv-
erenced the memories Of the patriots 81 all nasens,
and esteemed the noble soued brave men who fought
for the liberty OF own nation as worthy OF
the highest praise. never could make any
distinction between the men who sbored,
tciled late and early, and fought for emancipation
from tyranny and those who preached deverance of
the soul from the tyranny of the devil joshua the
brave general in Israeli George Washing on, "the
father of his country and those who acted in con-
cert with them, have ever seemed to me worthy OF
high pedestal IN the temple OF Tame en- the earth,
and AZ bright crown in heaven, Peter, Paul, or
any of the distinguished preachers of salvation.
Fighting for the delverance Of the body from thra
dom is as honorable ing for the emancipation
of the mind from the bonds &c of superstition Such
being my natural, unacquived feelings from boyhood,
Mormonism y my natural religion. a. 1t is destined
10 bring all who live it into the enjoyment of perfec.
M Iapa az Aar az nj rasf rlIn and
untrammelled body and mind liberty to GO,
70 come, to act, % think, to worship-in
a word, TO do everything which il is right for
every 10 do, without asking the per
mission of another mortal ms kes me cling to
Mornonism a chile to its mothers breast for life.
Momonism is to me life; to abandon it Is death. l
could breathe nowhere else. / have seen joyous
times and seen trouble and death, and think | have
passed the ubcon; that henceiorth you may count
on finding me with this movement, in any position
the Lord in his providence has decreed for it, |
shall rejoice in peace prefer il 10 strife; but if
war II must be- then let il come. We fear nothing
and have choice. We know not the Lords plans
in all their minutia, but we know enough to trust
Him, and feel perfectly assured that come what
will, IL must be right, and finally all will be well.
Many will call us traitors. and our enemies will
point to the present Tor justification of the charges
made against US from the beginning; and every
scapegraee that has thrown mud at us, or belched
forth his angry spleen, will claim to be pro-
phet and pride himself in having said all along that
we were disloyal No doubt of il. Still some will
reflect, and some will conclude that had we been
better treated-fairly treated-we never would have
lifted up our heel. say never would, for this
people devotedy attached to the constitution OF
the United States. We never have transgressed any
law of the United States, and defy enemies to
cite the first instance of disoyaty. Our leaders
have been called reasonable men, but the charge
has been without foundation. They have
spoken out against the conduct of men in authority
when they have withheld from US our rights but
in every portion OF this republic there have been
tinents OF dissatisfaction expressed at certain
ms n uistr vet he mo
who spoke and have written against administra-
ton another have never been termed or regarded
rs traitors. Oh, no; everybody can speak of their
grievances send on their petitions 10 government,
call the attention of Congress TO this and the other,
and hold their mass meetings and their indig
nation meetings and there hold up to contempt
the chief magistrate, and accuse him of every
thing but that which was honorable and fair but
all that is nothing. The Mormons have been abused
they have been robbed and pillaged of everything
that they possessed both in Missouri and Illinois.
Hundreds of them have been overwhelmingly
butchered and thousands, from the exposure TO in
clement weather and deprived of the necessaries of
life when driven from their homes in the times of
persecution, have filed premature graves, and
steps taken by the authorities of those States
and the general government confessed itself power
less TO interfere, to give redress To the afflicted and
homeless outcasts. Right or wrong, the Mormons
believed that the indifference TO their sufierngs and
the absence Of official protection simply because
that they were Mormons. OF this they have com
plained-and have believed themselves justified in
watching with jealousy the movements of the govern
ment-but yet they have only complained; they defy
their btterest opponents to show the first act of OPP
position 20 the constituted authorities Of any State
where they have been located. Their speech alone
has been their opposition. The leaders have made
II policy 70 suffer wrong rather than do wrong.
and that policy Of suferance has emboldened their
oppressors. and the public have been accustomed
hear Of outrages upon the Mormons that their
sbilities have got benumbed, and outrage after out
rage i perpetrated without arrestng but monetary
attention The heart revots at persecution but the
feeling Is soon lost in the reflection tis only the
Mormons.' 50 has il been from the beginning TIL
now.
We never expected to satisfy the religious Chris.
sian' public that were good people, but we
tainly aid expect fair play from politicians. We
have done everything possible for mortals 10 do 10
satisfy the nation - our loyalty 20 the constitution,
and hoped that our patriotism, when tested would
satisfy them; but we have been wretchedy mistaken.
II the Mormons were bameworthy IL has been
for their submission. They have been submissive to
fault. We faced the mob Ia Missouri and could have
taken our own part: but, conscious of our own
integrity and influenced by the suffer wrong rather
than do wrong principle We c0niided IA some called
honorable men. and sold by their traitoiism.
In Illinois could have rendered good account OF
ourselves when the mob came 20 drive Us but the
same doctrine Of suffer wrong led us 20 give ~
our arms at the request Of the Governor. Two days
after, cur prophet and patriarch joseph and Hyrum
Smith, the two first In the church, were
brought TO Nauyoo cod ia death. the victims Of
traitorous scoundrels. they were murdered when
der the pledged promise Of the Governor that their
persons would be protected from insult and injury.
rickencd with trutorism around aud abundanty
satisfied that the spirit Of murder IN our enc.
mies, we consented % quit our city-made a solemn
agreement 10 move at certain time If protected
while making pre- arations to move. bot before our
very poor and helpless sick could be moved into the
wilderness the mob, 60 CLINT their helish passion for
blood, came upon the remnant of the people: on
power interfered to shelter uS-n0 protection was
afforded the helpless. All this have we borne
patiently. Not far advanced on the plains in indian
territory. the general government gave the un-
kindeSi cut ~ ALL Surrounded by red men prairie
wolves and bear living in tents and mud huts while
trying 10 increase our store Of food the demand Tor
800 men 10 20 TO Mexico was made. Stratened for
help 20 cultivate the field, TO protect the camp,
had. nevertheless 10 submit ~ the outrageous de.
mand. No hand had been stretched a. protect Us
were unworthy Of attention when trodden down
by our enemies: but when in march on the desert
LIZ IN h. nLcda ftD nrdE l,f d..