Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-22
A Precedent for the Mormons.

We, in common with our fellow. citizens, have free,
~ condemned the enormities OF the Mormons, and
we shall most cheerfully unite in the support of any
measures calculated 10 terminate them, and iE
their place those domestic and public virtues which
improve the condition of and tend to elevate the
institutions under which he lives. But when We
denounce their disregard of the enactmen of Con
gress and setting the national laws at defiance they
make an answer to which republicans" must find it
difficult to reply. They point to the of that
party IN regard 10 Kansas and the fugitive slave law,
and ask, with air OF triumph, if it is wrong
Tor them to resist laws than it is for the whole I"
PUBLICAN party to resist the laws we have named ?
They say that political party exists in many of the
States, which claims to include in it's ranks ma,
Jorty of the voters in the Union, the very of
whose political faith and protested creed is resistance
to the statutes of Congress. They allege that this
party based its organization first, upon opposition to
the enactment, and then upon resistance the fug
tive slave law, and subsequently, upon opposing and
resisting the law organizing the Territory of Kansas,
and setting up the Topeka movement and mock or
ganlzailon as an independent government worthy of
their support. They point TO presidential noini
nation and organizations in sixteen States 10 sus.
tam this opposition to the laws of Congress- AL.
though the Mormons can cite this broad and striking
precedent, involving large and pretending party,
We cannot admit hatit forms justification for their
unlawful and reasonable cts. he reference to it,
as ustcA ton of the atrocities in Utah. cannot be
received for that purpose. STILL it cannot fail to pre-
oenC, Ia srong lgnt, the reasOnaDle precedent 10
which they point, and make many cheek engaged
IN it burn with shame, es ecially when they fully
contrast their acts with those of the universally
condemned Mormons. They have set precedent
In opposing and resisting the laws, now followed by
them, which they cannot look in the face without
deep modification and shrinking dread.
History will place all who resist constitutional laws
upon the same footing, holding those who wilfulIy
DO SO, for mschevous ends, to the srctest account
at least morally and politically. The "republican''
leaders knew that they violating. or urging
Others 10 do SO, the laws of Congress conttu,ionaly
enacted for political effect, and for no other purpose
They are now seeking to thwart the execution of
the fugitive slave law in the States and TO continue
difficulties in Kansas. Their objects is to divert at
tenion from their unconstitutional and tyrannical
acts, wherever in power, and to keep up sufficient
excitement to enable them to continue their ascen
dency as long possible. These are the leading
motives with the Mormon leaders, who follow their
perniclous example All well-informed and reflective
people, who appreciate and obey the laws and desire
peace and harmony and the perpetuaton of our in
stiutions. must strongly condemn the leaders and
authors of the illegal acts of both the Mormons and
Republicans" and visit upon both the penalty of
their deep and lasting displeasure. The people are
now daily nficting this penalty upon them, and will
continue to do so until they expelled from power
in all quarters of the country.
Washing on Union