Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-05-27
Mormon EmfeIEigencc--High
ly Interesting Details.

gent gentleman of that city. we'll acquaint-
ed with the Mormons-"one who has seeu
the elephant'-a portion of which we pub
lish. He says the statements Of Mr.. Loba
are not strictly correct; that he is very
''disgusted,' satisfied and genuine apos-
tate from Brigham's fraternity, and that,
now, IN a crusade against the sect, "pur-
sues it at the expense of all honor-and, in
short, has painted facts until no ono can
believe his story, and all have justly set it
down as bug bear"
Wei make the following extracts, the COM
munication entire being too lengthy for our
space:
"It is reported that the mormons have
no effective means of resistance. This is
an impol tant point, and requires investiga-
ton. From personal observation L think
the following is pretty good estimate of
their strength.
Great Salt Lake city contains from H.
900 to 5000 Inhabitants; Provo, 6 ,OOO to
1000; Ogden, $500; Nanti, Nephi, Cedar,
Harrington, GrantsviIle and Fillmore will
average about 1000 inhabitants each; be-
sides which there are some twenty minor
settlements, and numbers IF isolated farms
| think that the total population of the
Territory, including the Carson Valley and
San Barnardino Mormons, all of which are
now ordered to Salt Lake, would reach near
$4,000 or $4,000. Out of this population,
l believe it possible to raise twelve or ff-
teen thousand tolerable militia, who, tho
not so well EQUIPPED as the United States
Army are, nevertheless, as rule, pretty
good shots, and generally al home and ex-
pert in mountaineering.
For firearms the Salt Lakers are more
generally supplied than any other people l
know of, not by any means that they have
a supply to carry on war, but gunsmiths
are numerous in the different settlements,
some of them being first class Birmingham
mechanics, and reckon them quite capa-
bic of making screw for Mr.. Loba's pis-
tol, if not of making passabe revolver.
Pistols something like Colts, but with an
inferior appearance, were beiI.g made at
the public works, at Salt Lake city, last
summer, and | understand the manufacture
of them has been pushed briskly.
The militia of Salt Lake city is about
5000, one-th third of which is mounted and
we'll armed, and the remainder but poorly
armed, with the exception Of one or two RI
de companies.
OF the population Of the Territory about
thirty per cent. are Americans, fftv per
cent British, and twenty per cent. Cont
mental Europeans.
Itmust be remembered that the Nor
mons have a thorough knowldge of the
mountain passes and roads throughout the
whole Wahsatch Range. According
to my own observation, the easiest and SAT-
est way to get at the Mormon settlements
is, by Sublett's cut off and Malad and Bear
River valleys, entering Salt Lake valley at
the northern extremity. On this road there
are no Kanyons, and Bear River, except at
very high water, has good fording places
The distance is about one hundred and ff-
ty miles further to Salt Lake city, but the
improved roads reduce this to fifty
miles, or about one days drive with mules
Brigham never tells one of the "angels"
to commit a depreciation straightforward;
but wink, nod, or "you know, Por
ter" or whoever it may be, will settle the
matter as easily as sermon on the subject.
Lorenzo D. Young. Brigham's brother, is
a finished scamp. He scarcely ever pays
his hired men. to collect debt from him
is about impossible.
Daniel Wells. Brigham's second coun-
selor and superintendent of the public
works, very often keeps the wives and chill
dren of the operatives, fwho get nothing
for their labor, but bare subsistence,
waiting for their hard earned, miserable
daily plttance, from o'clock in the morn
ing until the tithing Office closes, and then
tells them they should have been there ear
lier Heber c. Kimball, as Mr.. Hyde in
his excellent work on Mormonism has said,
is the grossest, most ignorant, most tyr
rannical and most licentious of all the Nor
mon leaders. His discourses in the taber-
nacle are not fit for decently inclined men
to hear, much less females. He curses,
swears, and is generally quite forward in
such Mormon customs as are "more hon.
ored in lie breach than in the observance"
He is in an eternal war with his nineteen or
twenty wives, and on Sunday publicly de-
nounces item from the stand. Ezra 7.
Benson & Lorenzo Snow are of the Loren
20 Young stamp, shrewd traders and con-
s.imate rogues.
The principal object these leaders esen,
to have is tke entire .estrangement of the
Mormons from the United States govern
ment. They are continually painting their
old Missouri and Illinois grievances in
fresh and vivid colors, and telling the peo-
pie that the present expedition is set out
to circumvent their Liberties and uproot
their religion by force of arms. With this
view of matters, the MoTmons will, no
doubt, be rather obstinate. AS general
thing. the European Mormons have little
or no knowledge of the United States gov
ernment and people. There are some toll
erabIy well informed men among them, but
the majority are but indifferently educated.
and numbers can neither read nor write,
which is the ease with Hebcr G. kimball.
The existing government of Utah is
theocracy, and is conducted as follows
Salt Lake city is divided into twenty wards,
each ward has bishop and two council
lors, who report to the presiding bishop of