The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-24
THE MORMON ELDERS.

The people of Mormondon are nothing-the
priests are everything. Like the people Of
some of the European States, they are not rep
resented by newspapers or men-they are gov.
erned.
Files of the Deseret NsUs reach US, which
contain Photographed reports of sermons
preached by the Mormon Elders and President
Young. They are the more i'm or.ant from
the fact that these Elders rule the people, and
shape the conduc: of the Polygamic nation.
Brigham Young is especially severe upon
Mr.. Buchanan. he says:
Il will say, in reference to President Bu.
chanan that for his outrageous wickedpess in
this movement he shall wear the yoke AS lobg
as ne lives; he shall be led about by his party
with the yoke on his neck, until they have &C.
comphshed their ends, and he can do no more
tor them, and his name shtll be forgotten aud
Old Bright as Brother Kimball calls him,
shall be free. l am persu AIDED that for their
horrible, wicked treatment to this people-the
only loyal people in the United States, the only
people who know the worth of the Constitu.
tion-they will be sorely punished
!" After doing what they already have done
to this people, after sending among us the filth
and scum of all creation las some of the officers
were) as officers OF the Government, contrary
to the genius of our institutions, want to tell
them that, though they continue to send poor.
pusillsnimous curses here to be- Government:
officers, we will not submit to it. troops or no
troops. l shall tell them this in plainness and
simplicity, and they shall find that in nv sim
plicity will try to sustain so righteous posi-.
ton. And believe that the point is Welded,
both in Europe and America. And I believe
they acknowledge that Brigham is a man of
his word and have cone to the conclusion
that we will not again have officers thrust upon
US contrary to our consent the Lord helping
u.s."
1t is possible that Brigham's prophecy re-
specting the President may prove true, but
not, we think, for the reason given. The
concluding paragraph is decided enough and
rebellious enough, we hope, to satisfy the Ad-
ministrstion.
Elder Long is also one of the rebelious
preachers. His language, batting the pious
cant, would grace we'll the columns of a slave.
driving, fre-eating newspaper. He said. in the
course of sermon delivered in the " Taberna.
cle:"
We have the knowledge of those thinus
and we have the greatest reason to be thank
ful OF any people upon the face of the earth
II others ought to do right, we more. Be full
OF love and OF compassion to your fellow. be-
can possess, for that is our business. The onlv
business that we have on hand is to buiId mn
the kingdom of God, and prepare the way Of
the Son of Man.
II you do your duty in this respect, YOU
need not be afraid of mohs, nor of forces, sent
out IN violation of the very genius of our free
institutions, holding you till mobs kill Won
MobsI Yes; for where is there the least nar
ticie OF authority, either in our Constitution or
laws, Tor sending troops here, or even for an.
pointing civil officers contrary 10 the voluntary
consent of the governed? We came here with
out any help from our enemies, aud we intend
to stay as long as we please.
"They say that their army is legal and 7
say that such statement is as false az hell
and that they are as rotten as an old pumpk;n
tnat mas been frozen seven times, and then melt
ed In harvest sun. Come on with vour thou.
sands OF illegally-ordered troops. and 7 will
promise you, in the name of Israers God. that
you shall melt away as the snow before Jnlv
SUM-" ~
Elder Kimball is more soft.hearted. BE
pities the Gentiles. He exhorts to brotherly
love:
"Brethren and sisters, do not be angry with
them, for they are in. tho hnnda Of God. In
stead OF feeling spirit to punish them, or anv
thing like wrath, you love your religion. and
you VIII see the day when ycu will pray God 70
tnrn away from your eyes the sight of their af
hictious, Z"
=" There are thousands and millions in the
United States and in the world, whose hearts
are like an aspen leaf because of this little
handful of people in Utah Pity them. for
they know not whom they are fighting against;
they know not their destiny.
This army that is reported to be coming to
this place, know no more about you and me
than you know about the interior of China:
they go because they are sent. If they knew
our real character, the soldiers themselves
would turn round and tell the officers to 90 to
bell they would take stampede, and if their
ohcers urged them to come and fight this PEG.
pie, they would turn round upon them, or tell
them to do it themselves"
Bat these Mormon Elders will discover. be-
fore the year 1858 has ended, that thew will
have something to do besides preaching boast.
full sermons. Severe fighting, submission, or
flight, is before them. If they stand fight, they
will be destroyed; if they humbly bow before
authority after so much Dragging, they are dis
graced and, in case Of flight, they sacrifice all
but their lives. The home they have built for
themselves in the wilderness will be desolaled.
and the property saved by industry will be
sacrificed. In view of these impending events.
a little more modesty on the part of President
Young and his Elders is we think, the dictate
of good taste.