The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-03-26
THE MORMON MEMORIAL.

Of the Mormon Legislature, to the President
Of the United States and the two Houses OF
Congress. II is long document-recounts
the injuries and insults which from It's INST
organization the Mormon community nae
suffered from the people, the government ana
ths territorial authorities Of the Un'leo states
states their greyancrs--asseris Their rgh'
to elect their own Offices and TO manage their
own affairs in their own way "wiihout let or
bindrance" from the laws of Congress or the
Consultation of the United Shtes--claims
for them the rights, whilst rrpudating the
dpties and responsibilities of American citi-
gems, and is altogether more offensive and in
sultng than any of the manfestoes hereto
fore issued from Salt Lake City.
This memorial is silent upon the question
Of greatest interest just now, in connection
with the Affairs Of the Territory of Utah-the
policy which the Mormons will pursue in
their complications with the government of
the United States. u is silent upon that
point, but the following extracts from il,
which state their demands and the extraordi-
nary rights which they claim, will show the
defiant tone which they indulge, and the
difficulties which must be encountered by the
Federal Government, in asserting the authori-
ty Of its laws and the supremacy of the Con-
stitution in the Territory Of Uiah
. ave do not charge the nets of his prede.
cessors upon the present incumbent, but now
restore unto us our rights in Missouri and
other States, of which we were nhumanly
robbed, rerslate and guarantee unto us the
peaceful possession of lands for which you
have taken aud yet retain our money; bring
tojuslice the murderers OF Joseph and Hyrum
Smith, who were Inassncreed while in the
custody of the law-under the pledged faith
at sovereign State; punish the assassins of
Farley 7. Pratt, who slew their unresisting
victim beneath the portals of the Court which
had pronounced him guil.less; restore unto US
our political, religious, and inalieaable rights,
that We may have reason to believe that you
are our friends aud not our enemies; execute
Judgment upon the guilty and spare the inno-
cent; lcttruth, honesty, industry, love of right
and liberty stand unmolested and protected
by your acls, rs they are by the very genius
will do more toward reseuinc our beloved
country from its foul pollution and its fearful
doom, THIN can be accomplished by endeav
oring TO destroy people who, under the
broad folds of the Constitution, deem it no
sin to unite in worshipiag God according to
the dictates of their own eonsciences. Pay
US n few hundred thousand dollars which the
government honestly owes us for SURPRISING
nd hau md faiu nj af,I
relations with the native tribes, instead of
expanding millions to deprive a portion of
our citizens of "lfe, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness" Try on the plaster of friendly
intercourse and honorable dealing, instead OF
foul aggression and war. Treat us as friends
-as citizens entitled to and possessing equal
rights with our fellows-and not us "alen
enemies" lest you make us such.
"You have never cherished nor fostered
this-a you have other Territories, though
having more claim TO your generosity, for
bearance and protection. In 1856 we adopted
republican Constitution and form of gov
erDment Forwarded these documents, u census
report, and petition to be admitted into the
Union rs a free, sovereign and independent
State, but an unballowed prejudice was so
strong against US that our delegates found
nv hSuoti VI SOHBTtss Wiling W pTtStHt
and advocate our petition. Why not grant
us admission, and thereby, at the same time,
act justly and peaceably, and wisely dispose
Of a vexed question!
"You have appointed the newspapers state,
full set of officials for Utah from among
entire strangers, and to do so were obliged to
hawk abont the offices from State to. State,
every honorable and principled man ndig-
Aaa ,ptn a..
length you succeeded in finding the requisite
number from among the reckless, the drunk.
en-, the unprincipled, The dissolute, the house
less and penriless, who alone feel the need
of the backing afforded by bayonets, aud for
this reason had far better remain where So
ciety is more coDgenial to their depraved and
corrupt tastes. No doubt, such is the char
meter Of the present uppnntees, for what
other class would accept Offices among PEG
pie where they well knew they we're not
wanted, and hence had no right officially to
be! All We have further to say of them is
they had better tarry with their friends, il
they really have any. -tl
awe claim that we should have the priv.
lege, rs we have the constitutional right, to
choose our own rulers, and make our own
laws, without let or hindrance. Examine our
TcPoTts, our 'hNs, our ucts, tey nave ever
been before the publc--lhey speak for them
selves. 90 80 p. "a - " Az
ave feel as competent to protect ourselves,
ms we have hitherto, and there is no insurrec-
ton to Quell. That 'whte heap within our
borders contains something beside NEAL
There are the deadly faBgs to hold the inno-
cent prisoners still, while assassins XII; them.
We shall not again hold still while letters
are being forged to bind us. We have no
confidence to believe the present a harmless
demonstration, intended for our good The
troops which claim to have been sent by the
government, have openly said, from the time
they left the Missouri river, and even before,
that they were coming 10 destroy the leaders
of our people, and that was their object
That has been their constant speech by day,
and the burden of their songs by night. They
have threatened to take our lives, and TO sport
at pleasure with our wives and daughters
That is their openly avowed objeci, but wo
10 all who undertake to accomplish IL We
trust, therefore, that you will excuse us il we
do not entertain very exalted idea of your
humane O intentions in sending armies
hither." .r
OF The Washington correspondent of the
Charleston Courier, under date Of the 10th,
writes:
Tho Kansos hill will mass Tho Sarnta nm