Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-07-30
nlisfellaneeus.

nlisfellaneoms.
From the Plattsburgh, Nebraska, Jeffersonian
Breaking up of MOrmOnism.
A train, consisting of about one hundred
persons with twenty wagons, passed through
his place on Friday last, on their return
from Utah to the States. They formed
part of company of two hundred person
and fory teams; but some distance bacl
the remainder took the road for Leaven
worth. They left Salt Lake about the 2Otl
of April, and were on the road littlt
over two months. They bore the appear
ance of persons who had seen much trouble
and privalion-being reduced in body anG
detected in mind. A more pitiable set O
persons we never beheld. They rejoiced
that they had at last reached land where
they could once more be at ease.
The account of their experience in Utah
was touching in the extreme. In the mar:
ration of what they endured they seemed
to approach the subject with reluctance and
feelings of horror in calling to mind theil
sufferings, but in the course of their re-
marks would invaribly become animated
and break out in expressions of indigna-
ton at the cruelty and oppression which
they had endured. They declared the
whole system to be but grand scheme Of
robbery aud sensuality on the part of those
in authority. 1t is not by direct compul-
sion, they stated, that the property of their
fellows is taken, but by means of religious
enthusiasm. This is inspired by the prom
ise of great spiritual rewards, and by set
ting before them the example of scripture
characters; that as Job received an increase
above all his former possessions, so should
they, by their self-sacriticing reap an in
creased reward, both of spiritual and tenn
poral possessions. After all their property
was exhausted, their the policy of their ru-
lers would change, and their conduct would
be such as to say, "Get away if you can" !"
If any one should become dissatisfied and
desire to leave, they were publicly denoun-
ced, and the whole church forbidden to
purchase any property they might wish to
dispose of. From that day they would be
subjected to the insults of the entire COM
munity, if not absolute danger of their
lives. One person stated that in order to
get away he had to sell his farm, clandes-
timely at that, for sixty dollars, They re-
ported that one man went out with $4,000,
and was returning in the train with his
team only, and had not enough to eat
Another, who had farm worth there sew
en- thousand dollars, sold it for thirty-five
dollars. A man by the name of George
Brooks if we recollect Alright, who had
considerable gram and goods stored in
his house, on incurring the displeasure of
the elders, had the sides of his house lit
orally stove in, and his property all carried
of, he only escaping with his life.
When the train first approached we in
quired whether they were from California
or Utah. An old man who was standing
near replied: "We are from Beautiful Zion."
"What is your opinion of Zion?" we in
luired.
His reply was: 81 went once in search
Of Zion, but will never 60 out again until l
know where it is to be found. 1t is the
worst Zion that ever set my foot into"
We inquired concerning the hand-cart
trains and the tue reason of employing
them. They said that it was the greatest
piece Or cruelty that was ever perpetrated;
that it was at times horrible to behold the
condition of those who arrived in that way;
that frequently their hands and feet were
frozen, and their limbs, from the effects of
fatigue and exposure, swollen to more than
twice their natural size; that sometimes,
when they were no longer able to pull the
,art, the woman and children were loaded
with the baggage, and proceeded thus until
they fell down with sheer exhaustion; snd
hat after arriving in this condition, they
would die off like ''rotton sheep" as they
it. They stated that one reason
for forming hand-trains was, that those
who came in that way, on becoming dissat-
sfied, would have no ready means of re-
turning, and that those in authority curse
Lhe emigrant trains which pass through on
their way to the Pacific, as they afford
means for dissatisfied persons to escape.
In speaking with one quite intelligent
young man, he stated that he had been
here nearly four years, and that the rea-
son he did not leave sooner was that he
hoped it would be getting better. He re-
marked that if he should meet train GO
ng through he would do all that he could
% peruade them not to go; but if they
persisted, he could only leave them to find
,ut the reality by sad experience. The
report that four or five hundred
men are going to leave this spring, and are
on the road by this time.
Es- John B. Geough delivered his esd
Temperance lecture in Worcester, which
vas his farewell address in America, on
Thursday evening. 1t was sixteen years
'ince in that same city of Worcester, he
lad been induced to take the pledge, which
las been the means of lifting him from the
leepest degradation and wretchedness to
IN honorable position in society-of giving
lealth for sickness, and happiness and JOY
or the most terrible woes. He is now en-
,aged by the London League. and Edin-
9urg Temperance League, to deliver four
ectures week for three years, or six hun
ired lectures. Eight months of each year
ire to be spent in Iecturing in England and
our in Scotland,