Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-29
UTAH.
REsraSArIoN OF JUDGE pRuxxoxD.

UTAH.
REsrGSATIoN OF JUDGE DRUMNoSD.
To the Hon. J. s. Black, .4tto-ney General Of The
.. s. Washington City, ID. c.:
My Dear Sir AS have concluded to re-
sign the office of Justice of the Supreme
Court of the Territory of Utah, which position
l accepted in A. ID. 1854, under the adminstra-
tion of President Pierce, L deem it due to the
public to give some of the reasons why do
So. In the first place, Brigham Young, the
Governor of Utah Territory, is the acknowl-
edged head of the ssChurch of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints,' commonly called ssMor
MONS" and as such head the Mormons look to
him, and to hin alone, for the law by which
they TO be governed; therefore no law Of
Congress is by them considered binding in any
manner.
Secondly. j know that there is secret
oath-bound organization among all the male
members of the church, to acknowledge no
law save the law of the 'sHoly Priesthood"
which comes to the people through Brigham
Young, direct from God, he, Young, being the
vice-gerent of God and prophetic successor eli
Joseph Smith, who was the founder of this
blind and reasonable organization.
Thirdly. 1 am fully aware that there is
set of men set apart by special order of the
church to take both the lives and property of
persons who may question the authority of the
church, (the names of whom will promptly
make known at a future time.)
Fourthly. That the records, papers, &C., of
the Supreme Court have been destroyed by Or
der of the church, with direct knowledge and
appreciation of Governor B. Young, and the
federal officers grossly insulted for presuming
to raise a single question about the treasona-
bic act. sH
Filthy. That the federal officers OF the ter
ritory are constantly insulted, harrassed and
annoyed by the Mormons, and for those insults
there is no redress.
Sixthly. That the federal officer, are daily
compelled to hear the form of the American
government traduced, the chief executives of
the nation, both living and dead, slandered and
abused from the masses, as well as from all
the leading members of the church, in the
most vulgar, loathsome and wicked manner
that the evil passions OF man can possibly con
ceive.
Again. That after Moroni Green had been
convicted in the District Court before my col
league, Judge Kinney, of an assault with in
tent to commit murder, and afterwards, on ap-
peal TO the Supreme Court, the Judgment be-
ing affirmed, and the said Green sentenced to
tho penitentiary, Brigham Young gave a full
pardon to the said Green before he reached
the penitentiary also, that the said Governor
Young pardoned man by the name of Baker,
who had been tried and sentenced to ten years
Imprisonment in the pententary for the MUIR
der of a dumb boy by the name of White
House, the proof showing one of the most ag
gravated cases of murder that / ever knew be-
ing tried; and to insult the Court and govern
ment officers, this man Young took this par
doned criminal with him, in proper person, to
church on the next Sabbath after his convic-
tion, Baker in the meantime having received a
full pardon from Governor Brigham Young.
These two men were Mormons.
On the other hand, / charge the Mormons,
and Gov. Young in particular, with imprison-
ing five or six young men from Missouri and
Iowa, who are now in the penitentiary of Utah.
without those men having violated any crim-
nal law in America, but they were ant-Mor-
mons, poor. uneducated young men, on their
way to California; but because they emigra-
ted from Illinois, Iowa or Missouri, and passed
by Great Salt Lake City, they were indicted
by Probate Court, and most hrutally and in
humanity dealt with, in addition to being sum.
marilv incarcerated in the sanity prison of the
Territory of Utah. / also charge Governor
Young with constantly interfering with the
federal courts, directing the Grand Jury whom
to indict and whom not and, aft .r the Judges
charge to the Grand Juries as to their duties,
that this man, Young, invariably has some
member of the Grand Jury advised in advance
as to his will in relation to their labors, and |
that his charge thus given is the only charge |
known, obeyed, or received by all the Grand
Juries of the federal courts of Utah territory. /
Again, sir, after careful and mature inves-
tigation, / have been compelled to come to the /
conclusion, heart-rending and sickening as it |
may be. that Capt. John w. Gnnnison and his |
marty of eight others, were murdered by the !
Indians i'm 1858, under the order, advice, and |
direction of the Mormons, and that my illus !
trious and distinguished predecessor, Hon Le- /
onidas Shaver, came to his death by drinking |