The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-06-21

The present exodus oil tue Mormons is the louft III
which they have made since 1889, when their CON-
munity, under Joseph Smith, was first organized
in Kirtlaud, ohio. From Kirkland where they
had achieved a bad reputation, they emigrated to
jackson county, Missouri, where they had scarce
BY laid tine cornerstone of their temple, before
they were forcibly driven away. They departed
with their oxen, mules, and household gods for
Western Illinois, and reaching the banks Of the
Mississippi, they founded the city of Sauvoo and
built temple, the extensive ruins of which still
bear witness to their zeal aud perseverance, Their
dishonest practices and aggressive spirit made
them odious in Illinois. ms they had already been
III Missouri and Ohio, aud they finally attack
cd by force OF Illinois militia and compelled to
leave that part of the country. Their prophet,
Joseph Smith, and his brother Hi sm were placed
jail, and, attempting TO escape from their cap
tors, were killed.
III abandoning Nauvoo, the MormOns manifested
the same fanaticai devotion aud promptitude of ac-
tioA which distinguished their more recent lie gira
They sold their real estate in Illinois immense
sacrifice, and exchanged all the property they
cyuid spare for food, wagons aud oxen. The season
of the year at which they began their exodus
far less propitlous than the present. 1t WAS
early in February, 1915, when the advaIce-guard
crossed the Mississippi at Nauyoo. Their rendeZ-
ycas was az Moptrose, Iowa, aud here amid the
bitter cold and binding snow, they braved the Sc
verify of the weather till March, with no better
protection than rude huts and covered wagons
In March, the great body Of the Mormons joined
the advance guard aud, under the direction of
Brigham Young, their presidsnt and prophet since
the death of Joe Smith, they began their move
nent westward. Reaching the banks of the Mis-
souri,, they enclosed lands and planted seeds
Leaving u rear-guard TO reap the fruits the grand
army of emigrants was about TO proceed westward
when, in compliance with u requlsitiou of the L. :
Young sent five hundred men 10 assist in the Meg
lean war. In consequence Of this draft, their pro
gress was delayed for year, during which they
took shelter in log hut5 aud from the incle-
lnency OF the winter, suffering much loss of life
and property from starvation, cold and Indian hos
tiilty. In the spring of lSi7, their disconsoate
pilgrimage was again commenced, with view Of
fudinga settlement beyond the Rocky Mountains
The pioneer comI any of this expedition consisted
OF liS men, ~ wagons and IT'S head OF oxen mules
aud horses with six months provisions, agricui-
tural implements, aud seedgran. They reached
the valley of the Great Salt Lake Oh the 2lst of
July, aud we're Joined in three days after by Brig
ham Young aud the maiH body Of the emigrauts |
Immediately after their arrival, the ground was |
a large city In October, of the same year, nearly
four thousand Of their companions arrived to |
swell their numbers 1t speaks well for their ill.,
dustry that by July, ls4S, one year after their ar
rival they had enclosed and cultivated upwards OF |
Dix thousand of land, besides fencing a large
tract OF meadow for pasture. Indeed, since the |
harvest OF that year, they have never known want
They have since founded other towns and settle
uents III their territory, all of which exhibit the
evidences OF enterprise and prosperity. Utah was
admitted AS territ5ry in 1850 and Brigham
Young appointed Governor by President Fillmore.
The plan upon which Great Salt Lake City was
originally iad out is said to have been of great
taste and magnihcence The city is four miles long
by three 10 breadth; streets 1872 feet wide. with
sidewalks - feet broa l. each square divided into
eight lots, consisting of an acre and a quarter oi
gsonnd each, the houses to be placed twenty feet
back from the front of the lot, aud surrounded
with sbrubbery and trees. The Mormon Governor,
Young, had established himself in comfortable
quarters, and, it seems 90 be admitted, had made
his followers, Notwithstanding the heresies of his
theological system, an industrious and thriving
community.
Now for he fourth ,ime these strange people
have tsson mp their line of march through the
wilderness, with 500 miles of desert between them
aud the first avaiisSle resting place Tho cer1o
aDsitcrng decision characterizes their emigration
that has marked their former movements, and they
undes the guidance of the same fanaticai, bit
sagscious aud euergeticlead Whilst to eDlight
ened reason and logical discrim ination their theo
iegy is an absurd IL il impioas aud their alleged
pk4etices revolving 10 the moral of Christen
dom, n,ust nevertheless accord to them the |
credit of entire aud profound sincerity. Twenty
eight years have elapsed since their system Was
established, and thousands of them have been born
and educated In that faith, sucking in their fauat
cal creed with their mothers milk, and as tho
roughly assured Of truth, aud as ready to perish
10 ats viadieation, the disciples OF any other |
creed. Their history is a meaBc holy conn entary
upon the beasted Intelligence aud civilization of
this 10th century aud republican land.