Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-07-20
Camp Floyd, q. T.,)
 March %, 1859. {
MR. EDMoNps.

great many of the houses roofed with can vasS we have an ordnance store. grist- mill' and theatre-and all sorts of business going on here, except whisky drinking. and l believe there never was a soldiers ca,nn of the same magnitude, with less vice in it than this.
 As l am among the Mormons. and as Mormonism is subject, on which many speak and write, think that I have as good right to write what I know about them as anybody else
 Generally speaking, the Mormons are tba most ignorant and superstitious pconle in world. They are an iliiterate mass. eatber- ed together from England, Wales. Scot. land and Denmark, with few specuIatino Yankees among them To describe their re- llglon, would only be waste of time. as I have no doubt you have read as much con- tcernlng 1t as l have myself; but I will give you brief outline of how they carry out their doctrine polygamy. They say, that their intention of marriage, was to promote happiness, to propagate healthy offspring, and to prevent prostitution. And as there are so many of the female sex destitute in all of these large cities in Europe, the Lord IS pleased to have them supplied with hus- bands through the Prophet, Brigham Young. The following are his words on this subject: "The sheep in herds of hun- dreds multiply and replenish, with one or two males among them, and their young are more healthy than the children of the human family" This is the plea of every Mormon polygamist that I have had any conversation with, since 1 came here.- These polygamsts know no home; some of them have their wives lotted off by pairs, in small houses similar to negro houses on plantation; some have but one house, and con adding one to the herd, have to build room in 1t. Thire rooms are like so many stalls in a stable. Some crowd them all together, outraging all decency, and not leaving an af1ectation of convenience. .- Many remain thus until some petty strife arises about division oflabor, children quar- rels, difference of taste, or jealousy Of atten- tion flame only to be smothered by sepa- e ration. When they live in different houses, they generally have different tables, and the husband has to give each house it's turn to cook for him, and honor their tables with his presence, in rotation. The polyga- mist has to keep close guard over himself; with dozen eyes to notice him at all times he must be perfectly governed by rule.
 It is not every Mormon who is allowed to have plurality of wives; he must be a man of good standing in the church, and be able to support them in becoming manner. It is not uncommon though, to see the mother and daughter as wives to one man; for instance, if a husband dies, another claimant steps forward and takes possession of all. When Meir children's children are born 1t will bea task to trace out Meir exact degree of relationship. Now, it is natural ( to believe, that the first woman man mar ries, cannot but feel indignant at her hus- band, in bringing into her dwelling another more charming and younger perhaps, than she IS herself, because, she must be well aware that part of the affections he bore her, is carried to his new wife and if she is woman of sensitive mind, she becomes broken-hearted wife, and ultimately sinks to the grave. Such is the result among many English families that emgrated here of late years.
 Ii may be asked, why do the women mar " this way? The answer is this: it is death to refuse-it is sin against the church, and the offenders throat is cut to save heir souls from the everlasting flames In the town of Ephrim, Bishop who had only -four wives, became captivated by a 1 charmer of only fifteen summers, and ac- cording to the rules of the church, he asked her father permission to take her into his herd, to which the father consented without any hesitation. This fair one, was deeply in love with a handsome youth, but the Bishops request had to be compiled with or death would ensue, so she became one of the many in one flesh. Some time after wards, the .ftth wife of his lordship eloped with him who possessed her affections, and they both set off for California They were pursued, captured and brought back to the town from whence they fled, when this young woman's father cut her throat, and this act of murder was considered glori- ous deed, the murderer worthy of promo tion, and was soon raised to the dignity of elder. You may be impatient to hear what become of the seducer, and expect have al ready pictured to yourself horrible scene. He was turned over to the elders of the fthurch, who horribly mutilated him. For the explanation of the foregoing, see the 23d chapt. and 1st verse of Deuteronomy.
 
 since l came here, and find Mormonism and . polygamy every where the same One in stance of murder occurred since my arrival here. The Bishop of Provo who had seven wives, and one of them being sick and not likely to recover, made promise never to offend the Lord or the church. whereupon his lordship deemed it proper to cut her throat, in order that she would immediate ly enter into the kingdom of eternal bliss. Another of his wives made 1t known to the United States authorities there, but took care to secure their protection, rather than ,have her soul saved by the saints. The Bishop is now in custody, and Is to be tried for murder before the U. $. court, now in session at Provo. The Mormons have de- clared that he shall not be tried by the court, a declaration every one here, as well as my