Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-24
YloIitital SntsIIiQente.
rTormouism, ns rsevcnIea by vho Chtes
Justice OF Utah.

signed the Office OF Chief Justice OF Utah
Territory, has lately arrived in New Orleans,
and from the New Orleans Courier, we get
an account of matters at Salt Lake, as Civ
en- to that paper from Judge Drummond's
lips The Courier says: fV
His Judge D.'s) duties as the represent
ative of federal judicial authority have
shown him where the supreme rule Of that
supcrstition-fettered host rests, whose is the
will that sways the destinies of consider
able nation, what the motive that binds q
hundred thousand inhabitants to the girdlo
|. Of Brigham Young, aud what the use made
Of their power by that astute, capable and
bold hypocrite and his subordinates.
A leading characteristic of the followers
Of the modern Mahomet seems to be a set
tied and abiding hatred of all "Gentiles,"
as they are pleased TO style all who do not
subscribe to their dogmas and conform to
their unique and revolving creed. Although
they come mainly from the Northern portion
Of this Republic, they looked upon the
United States government rs an oppressive
one, whose authority they have right to
resist. All who are without the pale of the
Church of Latter-Dsy Saints, whether in
or out of the Territory which they have
usurped, they regard as their enemies
. They either set at open defiance the DEGREES
of our courts, or dictate to grand or petit
Jurors the indictments they shall report or
the verdict they shall render. In notable
cases, where the guilt Of criminals has been
as apparent as noon-day sun, Young and
his fellow prophets have forbidden Mormon
juries to render verdict of conviction. In
one instance, where poor helpless dumb
boy was tortured in many ways for months,
barbarously beaten, and then, while in the
agony of his mortal wounds, was fettered
and drowned in brook, when his brutal
murderer was sentenced to the penitentiary,
Brigham Young took him from the hands
of The officers, led him into the tabernacle,
proclaimed his absolute pardon, forbade any
one to arrest him, and gave him seat at
his right hand!
If Indians commit depredations upon
Mormons they are punished without delay
or scruples, but if they rob or murder "Gen-
tiles" the prophet extends his protection,
and forbids jurors to pronounce them guilty.
No law, except what emanates from the su-
preme hierarchy, receives the slightest re-
gard.
The right Of private property among the
Mormons is almost unknown. Whatever
= the rulers need they always find means to
> obtain. "The Lord needs it" is a warrant
: sufficient to enable Young and his Council
} to seize upon any property in Utah, and re-
monstrance or resistance is not only useless
: but dangerous. If wealthy disciple ar
!. rivcs from the States, the Church (Young)
, Immediately lays hold of just such share
of his goods as he pleases. The portion, of
: which the former owner is suffered to re-
g tain nominal possession, he is compelled TO
{ manage according to the dictation of some
7 prophet or priest. If the prophet says to
: his neighbor: "Plant that field in potatoes
l the former would lose his land and perhaps
his life, wero he to refuse. The counsel he
is thus obliged to obey, he is also compelled
to ask. The result is, that the actual pos
session of the great mass of all tho real
: and personal property in Utah is in the foul
6 oligarchy of Young and his immediate sub
= ordinates. But if the control over the
property of Mormons is tyranical, that ex
9 ercised over their most sacred and private
:. : family affairs is still moro so. If father
|, has child, fair and innocent, whom he
: : loves and cherishes, and if she captivates
! the fancy of some leading Mormon, she
: will be taken from her home by decree ol
the elders, and given up by the ceremony
of sealing" to become the fortieth or fif
tieth wife to an old villain, while her pre-
decessors, who have grown old in the same
guilty and abomniable connection, become
4 his household or cornfeld servants. 1t Of
, ten happens that man is sealed to two
women at the same ceremony, and cases arc
). not rare when one of the wives so acquired
, is lost by divorce before breakfast the mex
n morning.
The account given by Judge DrummonC
n of many of the connections, were some
times n mother and two or three of he
daughters were all sealed to the same man
presents picture of beastly barbarity.--
r. Could correct idea of these horrible trans
S actions be made known throughout the
country crusade would be preached agains
this foul horde that would soon put an enc
to their sway. 80
4 RESIGNATION OF JUDGE DRUsiMoND.
y To the Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, 1Attorne,
N General of the United States, Washing
il ton City, ID. G.
3 My Dear Sir:-As have concluded h
r resign the office of Justice of the Suprem
,r Court of Utah, which position / accepted il
n A. D. 1854, under the Administration 0
President Pierce, deem it due to the pub
q lie to give some of the reasons why d,
,e so. Inthe first place, Brigham Young, tn
W Governor of Utah Territory, is the acknowl
10 edged head of tho "Church Of Jesus Chrisi
10 Of Latter-day Saints" commonly calle
IS, ''Mornons," and as such head the Mormon
ID look TO him, and to him alone, for the la,
70 by which they are to be governed; there
e. fore no law of Congress is by them consider
of ed binding in any manner.
1T Secondly, l know that there is secre
to oath-bound organization among all the NAL
e. members of the church, who acknowledg
k no law save the law of the "Holy Priest
N hood which comes to the people throug
Ii Brigham Young, direct from God, he, Young
% being the vieegerent of God, and prophet
a successor of Joseph Smith, who was tn
as founder of this blind and reasonable orgal
ce ization. -
,is Thirdly, am fully aware that there
IN a set of men set apart by special order
in the church to take both the lives and prol
-. artu of narsana Who may ouostiou fho n,