Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-06-17
MORMONISM.
4 Letter from Wiiliam Smith, Brother q
Joseph, the Prophet
Correspondence Of the n Y. Tribune.

A Letter from Uiiliam Smith, Brother o,
.Joseph the Prophet
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Tribune.
WARREN, Pa, May 10, 1851.
In looking over the affairs relating to Utah
and the development of corruption of the
Mormon people, it may not be amiss to re-
mind the public once again of the petition
that was drawn up by myself and signed by
many citizens of the State of Illinois, and
sent to Washington at the time when Utah
was recognized rs n Territory, in which were
set forth clearly and plainly the facts in re-
gard to the reasonable designs of the Nor
mons against the United States Government
also the fact that these Mormons proposed
establishing the doctrines Of polygamy, all
of which statements the leading Mormons
positively and peremptorily denied. The
charges that IRE now preferred against Brig
ham Young and the Mormons generally, by
Ex.Judge Drummond and Others from Utah.
are so conlirmatory of what was then pub
lished upon Mormon doings, that we presume
the Government and public will not longer
dispute our statement as set forth in said Pc
tition, which may now be found on the files
of the Congressional journal of 1881. Also
the statement made by MIR. Drummond in
his letter Of resignation, of the manner in
which the late Secretary of the Territory, A.
W. Babbitt, was murdered on the plains by
n band OF Mormons ......,
verify believe also, the statement that
other officers and friends to the Government
have been in n most cruel and murderous
manner put out of the way by these Nor
mons, us such action is in strict keeping with
their character | will here remark, also,
that all the plans for this Mormon treason
against the Government were laid in councils
ut Nauvoo, previous to the expulsion of the
saints from the State of lllinois-an expul
sion caused by the wicked doings of the cor
rupt DANTE leaders, including robberies and
murders. While the Mormons We're vet at
Nauyoo Brigham Young took the incipient
steps toward the organization of the DANTE
banditti, by administering to such Mormons
as he could influence an oath that, from that
time forward they would be the persistent
enemies of the United States Government,
and the Gcnties generally. Since their re-
mova' from Illinois, they have added the Dan
lite aud other reasonable oaths and cove
nants, binding still stronger and stronger the
contedcracy of traitors in their new and far
off Land of Zion, in the Valley Of the Noun
tains.
| have no doubt whatever of the truth Of
the charges against the Mormon people of
having committed the most wanton and cruel
murders in the disguise of Indians; and if
the spirits of their victims now sleeping in
their graves Mt Nauvoo could but speak to
the world, they would reveal tales of cruelty
and horror which would make the people
stand aghast aud cause these murderous,
guilty Mormon rebels to quake with fear and
possibly to recoil at the contemplations of
their own wicSedness
have good reasons for believing that my
brother, Samuel IL. Smith, died of poison in
Nauvoo, administered by order of Brigham
Young and Willard Richards, only few
weeks subsequent to the unlawful murder of
my two other brothers, Joseph and Hyrum
Smith, while incarcerated in Carthage Jail
Several other persons who were presumed to
stand between Brigham Young and the ac-
complishment of his ambitious and wicked
designs, mysteriously disappeared from Nau.
VOC about the same time, and have never
since been heard from.
Arvine Hodge, young woman, was muir
dered in most shocking manner within ten
or fifteen yards of Brigham Young's house.
This was DONE as the Mormons themselves
admitted, to prevent some Developments com
in cut in exposure OF Brighams guilty con-
nection with banditti of murdcrers and
counterfeiters, who, in those days OF flourish
ing Mcrmonisn, ranged along the MISSISSIPPI
p, river from st. lIoais to Galena. Aisa,
Brigham Young, in connection with Jehn
TAYLOR A. LYMAN, 2, Z. Pratt +. Snow, Ii.
G. kimball, Geo, A. Smith, W. Woodruff
urson HYDE, Willard Richards (now dead
Hosea Stout, Orson Pratt, killed few days
ago and others known rs the principal lead
ers ofthe Mormons, were the founders of the
secret DANTE banditti, or destroying an
gels" as they arc called by the Mormons.
In regard to the designs of these Mormons to
rob and plumber the California emigrants,
aud to commit certain depredations upon the
General Goycrnmens-,o hoax, fool, aud to
gull money cut of them under various pre-.
lenses, testify that have heard Mormons
boast and talk of these designs in Nauvoo,
previous to their leaving for the Salt Lake
Valley, and have, also, often heard Mormons
talk openly of their designs in robbing the
Identities and of putting To death dissenting
Mor,nons; and that also, when they cot
among indians, they would lead them on TO
the slaughter of the men, women and chill.
aren OF the American people. Suffice il 10
say, that III presenting to Congress my re-
monstrance to these views of the Mormons
Ut the time have mentioned. greatly on
dangered my life.
! escaped the penalty of the DANTE law,
which AZ death; but tho Mormons robbed
ne Of all my property--confscated every
0,ns ! posssssed, including library Of val
1Anie oookss also valuable manuscripts and
rs0osos o. Gharch history prepared for shs