The Washington union., 1858-03-05
THE MONS IN UTAH.
EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER TO GOVERNOR CUM
MING, BY DIR. HURT, INDIAN AGENT IN UTAH.

THE MORMONS IN UTAH.
EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER TO GOyERNOR CUM
MING, BY DIR. HURT, INDIAN AGENT IN UTAH.
After few introductory sentences Dr. Hurt addresses
his etcellefct as follows
would preiise that came to Utah three years ago.
fully resolved to dvest myself of any prediction
prejudice either for against any of the people Of the
Territory, knowing that should have opportunity of
forming acquaintance with them from personal obser
vation and determined to make that the basis of my
opinions and actions with regard TO them
Consequently endcavored from the outset to render
myself, in every respect, courteous and afabc
could toward them Under this is not
able that acquired many friends among the aboring
classes with whom necessarily associated much and for
whom confess I contracted sympathetic regard 1t
not long, however, till recognised among them the
existence of heart felt hatred for the people of the
United States, and with surprise and regret com
pecd to witness that this hatred fed and sustained
by haangues from those in authority with the church.
whom have never KNOWN to lose did opportunity for fan
ming the flames of this rcbcllious spirit Under series
of the most sy piecxts and by dstorng the history
of their conncxion with the government and people of
the United States, they present to the world list of
grievances which constitute the theme Of every orator.
the natory lesson of every convert and the intu
tive doctrine of almost every mother to her child.
This state of things rendered my position among these
people not by any uninteresting irresponsible
With lively interest for their pecunary welfare and po
tca prosperity, could not avoid interposng,
sions offered efforts to correct the and mis-
guided impulses under which conceived them to he la
boring but on all occasions 1 endeavored to act with
becoming Difference for their feelings. In this l
laboed with zeal but with doubtful prospects of success
until the autumn of 1885, when matters assumed such
aspect that it required prophetic Customary power to
discern in the minds of the people disposition to assert
their constitutional rights spirit of independence
evidently abroad among them gradually ntsing itself
into their thoughts and actions but the eye OF the priest
hood upon them and watched with ordinary suc
tude the of events until at length by one vast
revolution of the subtle machinery of priescra of all
hopes blasted, and the voice of liberty hushed
throughout the length and breadth of its domnions.
This miraculous feat of interposition conducted
der the name of religious reformation.
Leaving out of view their revival and practice of the
hypothetical dogmas of nineteen centuries ago together
with their adoption of many ridiculous practices delete
rious to themselves and their postery under distorted
ideas of moral and physical law it my purpose pres
ent to discuss Momonsm in Its relations to the consttu
ton and the laws Of the country under which il
and has advanced to its present position
The doctrines of religious liberation and freedom of
conscience fayorte themes of the Mormon mission
ries but many Of their converts have learned by sad
experience that such doctrines have been toe
rated pracccd within the borders of this Zion
10 show with what vaunted applause the reformation
Sove referred to beraded to the world must quote
from the pen of Of Brigham Youngs satellites who
says
When this reformation commenced there was not a
dstery, brewery, gog shop, gambling saloon house
of i'll fame in the Territory No rowdysm, incendarism,
prostitution, homcdes, suicides intanticles forgercs,
the people that they require reform 2!
And in to this interrogation he brings up the
old Missouri prosecutions of twenty years ago cause
Of this necessity He then breaks forth again in most
enthusiastic aduation of the peculiar features of this
work thus
This reformation bears no resemblance whatever to
sectaran revvas There is excitement enthusiasm,
working upon the feelings of the people, nothing but
calm appeal to their Judgment. Hence the fruits are
different
In his beau ideal of felicity the mind of the relgont
in contemplating exemplary condition of society
is here portrayed would naturally revert to this
Zion the chosen seat of Divine ntcrpositon for the
perfection Of human happiness and in prolific imagna
tion picture in this reformation gorios transition from
earthly urmos to more perfect simtude to celestial
creatures Ii is to be regretted that sublime picture
should ever have been encumbored with dark side but
that such is the in this instance shall eneavor
show proceed to discuss Mormonism in its relations
to the constitution and laws of the country
During the reformation proclamation issued from the
Lord annointed, announcing the solemn fact that
the people had violated their covenants with God, and
commanding them indescrminatclyto to bow at the
fessona and TO repair to the streams of the mountains
and be rcbaptizcd forthwith Under the execution
this mandate thousands now in Utah will not be
priscd when say that have and weep
ing in the bittcest agony of soul and when attempt
ed to console them they would say that they abhored
the idea of being forced into confessional but dared
refuse Others would say that they knew not where
in they had snned but that they dared disocy the
council Again. those thousands will not be surprised
when say that have heard their teachers announce to
them numerous OCCASIONS in round terms, that II
they refused to obey the mandate they would sget their
id throats cut " Poor creatures Like flies in the
spider web, they would struggle to be free again. but
after every effort sink down exhausted with the strong
fetters of power more closely drawn about them.
That Congress shall make no law respecting cstab-
shmen OF religion prohibiting the free exercise there
of isa clause of the constitution which the Momons
gn to cherish and Observe but those In Utah who have
felt constrained to differ from them conscientiOusy
will hat iuu,i Tn hoxo
been forced 10 abandon the exercise of this crcd ccs
tutoDa privilege Under this clause Of the constitution
the Moimons attempt TO Justify themselves in erecting
system of theociatc antocmcy, which reognises the
shedding OF human gore for the remission Of sins, and
have formed themselves into religious body polite with
municipal regulations, institutions and practices which
reflect dsonor and insult upon the enlightened age in
which they live They have kept organized police of
andlt, whose business IL is to prowl about the dcmce
OF the citizen crouch in nook upon the highway
IN the dead hours of the night for the purpose Of exact
ing under its sable curtain the penalty of their bloody
ntua from some unfortunate creature who may have