The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-25
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25. 1858.

/ We present to our readers in another column 6
brief sketch of the origin of the Mormon imposture
and OF Its founder Joe Smith. 1t requires no pro-
phet to foresee that the future historian will find in
the career of the 'Latter Day Saints the material
for one of the most curious instructive and mpor-
tant episodes in the history of the nineteenth centu-
ry Nor is it altogether certain that this place in
modern history will be that of an episode merely.
Speculation is at fault when attempting to coniec-
ture the future developments of that strange super
sttion, or the influence it may yet have upon the
destinies of mankind.
| Within less than half the number of wears that
the successful creed of the Koran struggled and
fiickered in obscurity, within the walls of Mecca.
Mormonism has founded an empire which dares to
challenge an armed independence and can already
point to its thousands of proavtes of every race
and cline
| We can no longer let this subject pass with a
shrug or a sneer 1t is too late now to underrate
the power of Mormonism-it is more than stupid-
ty to ignore its existence or to shut our ewes TO
the dangers it threatens.
| As new religion it has already passed over the
bar OF criticism: it has emerged from its proba-
tionary stage it has taken its place as fixed fact
among the creeds of mankind
AS political power, it has fastened its roots for
! permanent growth; each year its manifold and
intricate mesh of fibre creeps darkly out into the
| soil with wider and firmer grasp; each year its
trunk grows and hardens, and its spreading foliage
throws its baleful shade with steadily advancing
| radius.
Mormonsm has fairly taken the world by sur
prise. So feeble was its origin 50 contemplate its
source, and so preposerous its pretensions that no
serious or well considered attempt was made to ex-
pose its absurdites, to contest its progress by
the legitimate weapons of controversy.
On the contrary, the rash, violent and ruffianly
treatment which it encountered at the outset, was
enough of itself to establish the young imposture
Every act of persecution but afforded the opportu-
nifty for conessors and martyrs to propagate the
faith by blood shed in its behalf
Up to this point our dealings with the Mormons
have been series of blunders, arising from want
OF foresight and Of due appreciation of the extra
ordinary elements of strength and success embodied
in the organization. The really great question of
the day is after all this very Mormon problem 1t
is question for statesmen alone to handle. The
everyday politician will not touch IT, or if he does
it is only-to bungle and bunder Men of the cali
bre of Hale, of New Hampshire, may find it very
easy method to dispose of troublesome subject by
saying in an off-hand way, "Oh let the.Mormons
alone. Withdraw your troops and your officials
and let the pestilent superstition ot itself out
Senator Fessenden and Others of the same stamp,
who are quite voluble and loquacious on Kansas,
or any other subject which presents opportunities
for display of cheap eloquence, when they come
| to the Mormon problem have nothing to suggest
except the same ignorant and absurd 'let-alone"
policy.
The misfortune is that we cannot let the Nor
mons alone now, if we would have them let us
alone in the future. They occupy stronghold in
the heart of our territory, commanding the princ-
pal route between our Atlantic and Pacific States.
They are building up there an empire, not only
alien and heterogeneous, but hostile. They are
preparing for nay, they already claim, indepen-
dent sovereignty. If their progress in the future
bears any proportion to that which has made their
career hitherto so astonishing, they will in a very
few years, If unmolested, possess military strength
and resources adequate to maintain the indepen-
dence they claim against the whole power of the
United States. Hence the most obvious and GER
tain disastrous consequence arises-the disintegra-
ton of our territory and the division of the Union
into Eastern and Western sections with the Nor
mon hierarchy between.
This is but one of the manifold evils which loom
up in the future of Mormonsm. How are we to
deal with it? Are we to preach and practice a
general crusade against polygamy, and put its
devotees to the sword? Common sense and hu-
manity alike recoil from the proposition. Are we
then to suffer Mormonism, unmolested, to hatch
out its vipers nest of disasters to the Union {?
Away, say, with such a cowardly, impotent
and blind alternative. There is way to meet
this question consistent both with our duty to our
| selves and our duty to our neighbors.
1t is fortunate for us, and for mankind that
Mormons cannot be polygamists without being re-
| bels. Conscious themselves of the moral leprosy
which makes them disgusting to mankind, their
inclination and their policy will always be to segre-
gate themselves into distinct, and if possible,
independent community. In doing So they must
inevitably into collision with the laws of the
! land and the Federal authorities Such collision
will be rebellion.
Mdhe Ho ISSUE Wlll Tue MOrlnOnS on the score OF
their polygamy. Give them the full benefit of the
doctrine of popular sovereignty or local self-gov-
ernment. Allow them no opportunity to raise the
cry of intervention with domestic institutions or of
religious persecution. But at the same time treat
them subjects of the United States. owing ale
| glance to the constitution and laws of the land.
Enforce their obedience to those laws quietly and
peaceably, if possible, but if necessary by an over
whelming military power. Treat organized re-
sistance as rebellion and punish the rngeaders as
traitors. In this way alone can the authority and
laws of the Union be maintained, and the integrity
oft territory be preserved.
! Such we understand TO be the policy of the Ad-
ministration, and it is sad commentary on the
| degeneracy of our public men that it is being
thwarted and defeated by Congress- instead of
being sustained by a prompt and vigorous CO.
operation. The ignorance, qualification and abb
surdity manifested by senators and members on
this Mormon question are lamentable and disgrace
| full in the last degree. The great mistake was in
| making Kansas, mere ephemeral, temporary and
contemplate issue, the test question: rather than
this vast and portentous Mormon problem, which is
destined before many years have rolled round, to
| loom up before the country as the all absorbing
and paramount question of the day.
1t is announced that NJ. Duterte French engi-
neer, has invented an apparatus which is destined
to effect complete revolution in the construction
of locomotives, and will further produce an econo
my of 81 per cent in the amount of combustbles at