Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-05-01
The Mormons.

Brigham Young in seizing upon the pa
pers, the records of the Supreme Court
and nine hundred volumes of the laws Of
the United States and burning them in
Salt Lake City, introduces a new feature
in the politics of our country and throws
upon Mr.. Buchanan the responsibility OF
permitting such an act to be repeated in
the face and eyes of the world, or OF
using the power vested in him to affix
the broad seal of public condemnation
upon this lawless people.
Is our government, or are our people
aware of the startling truth that there
are now one hundred thousand people in
one of the territories Of the United States,
who live in open and defiant violation of
all law? Are the people aware that this
breathing mass of putrid humanity, have
increased from only few hundreds some
twenty years ago, to the significant num-
Der of one hundred thousand? Such is
the fact. To such fearful rate has
this cess-pool of vice increased. To
such rapid rate have the votaries of
hell hocked to the standard of the impos-
ter prophet, that they dare put the laws
of the country at defiance and tfample
upon its Constitution.
One hundred thousand American citi-
Eens, only six weeks removed from the
nations capital, live in a state Of bru-
fish debasement, committing crimes bar
barians would shudder at, open adulter-
ers, incestuous men, murderers, robbers,
criminals of every and the worst hue.
What, then, is the duty Of our govern
ment in the premises? To us it is plain.
The president should appoint honest and
capable territorial officers, remove Brig
ham Young, whose commission expired
two years ago, ard appoint some distin-
guished military man in his stead, with
authority to put a stop to such offences
against morality. He should have a
military force sufficiently large to back
up his authority at word.
The letter of Mr.. Drummond, the late
Chief Justice of Utah, and which We
publish in another column, makes as.
founding revelations, and we may justly
accuse the government Of gross criminal.
ity,when itpermits this fostering sink ofin-
EQUITY to exist. Has it formed co-part-
nership with every kind of wickedness
that can boast Of great numerical strength
Has it struck hands with vice and op-
preston and said, Let US hereafter be
friends let US be united, that none may
prevail against us ?" Has slavery with
its seven heads, and polygamy with it:
ten horns, set up business for themselves
leased the national capitol and made the
federal government its agent to assist il
carrying on its work Of enslavine anC
debasiDg humanity, and of insulting God
II so, it is time the cO-partnership wa.
dissolved.
The Mormons should be suppressed
tried by the laws of the country and pun
ished according to its provisions. A cit,
or state government -interferes in al
such matters. If ten, twenty, or hun
dred individuals, band together for tn
purposes of counterfeiting, robbery, bun
glary, or murder, the authorities brea
them up and punish them as their crime
merit. Not so, however, with the ns
tionaI government. That makes no NOV
to circumscribe the bounds of any grec
sin.
The Mormons, or Church of Latte
Day Saints" at Salt Lake, now numbe
one hundred thousand, besides two hun
bred thousand who acknowledge being il
adherents, who are scattered over the re,
of the world, and who will doubles
sooner or later, join their brethren {
Salt Lake, when their numbers will hay
reached a grand total of two hundre
thousand souls.
Joseph Smith began to preach his do
trine some twenty or twenty-five yea
ago, and it has increased from its foundt
TO more than a quarter of million.
such rate of progression, how long wi
it be before our government will hay
something to handle which will cost
years of trouble, oceans of blood al
millions of money, to quell? 1t mu
come to that some time. The sooner
enters upon the task the better. Settir
aside all other questions, the one of mai
tanning the national honor demands tn
we should take charge Of affairs in Uta
But what will the present administr
ton do? Nothing. Why nothing? B
cause democratic presidents invariab
keep bad promises. Mr.. Buchanan al
his party are irrevocably committed
the doctrine of "squatter sovereignty
and ii the church of " after Dav Saint