, 1859-08-31

EENTILKS s<rs1s M0RMON8.
An Address 10 the People Of the UnI-
ted 3tAtt1.
Correspondence Of the Press and Trlhu1e. ]

ings Of the late Convention held 1t Fairfield,
Cedar County, Utah Territory, to consider the
extraordinary evils now existing In the civil and
social concerns Of this Territory. and to appeal
to our fathers and mothers and friends at home
to come to our assistance. Do not be startled
at the declaration and resolutions Of this "Nasa
Convention "--only few facts are set forth,
leaving full disclosure to be made when our
friends at home can settle it 10 their own minds
10 give us assistance. Justice to humanity-es.
pecialy to our couutry-impels u to make thr
appeal, and am requested to ask tue medium
Of your paper to place il before the public.
At a Xdss Contsntton Of the GentiIcs held in
the city Of Fairfield, Utah Territory, on the 23d
day of July, 1859.
On motion Of Dr.. Garland Hart, Hon. An
drew Humphreys was unanimously chosen
President Of the Convention.
On motion Of BIZ. Kirk, John E. Risley and
George 4 Csosstllan, 3r., we're chosen secze.a-
ries.
Dr.. G Hart moved that committee Of seren
be appointed by The President to draft IN nc
dress and resolutions. Whereupon the follow
iog gentlemen we're appointed DR.. Garland
Hart, John BieIer, N'm. j. Kirk, Wm H. Gent,
Wm. Hanley, G. r. Jones. aud c. D. Craig.
After retiring for short period, the Commit
tee reported the following address and resolu.
lions, which were unanimously adopted
ADDRESS.
As citizens Of The United States devoted TO
our form Of government and the social organi
za:ion Of its people, it becomes US, when in mass
convention assembled, to declare t, cur frllo~
citizens The causes which induce Us to dissent
from opinions and condemn practices hostile to
tue letter and epirit Of bur Constitution, and
subrersve Of our rights "a frett1eh.
VIZ declare Our hearty approval Of that rel1g-
aous liberty which entities every man TO worship
God according to the dictates Of his own cou~
>ciencc; mud we most solemnty declare that we
hare not, aud rll not interfere With that Tsh,
n any Religious sect, whether te~i.h Pngan.
Mormon or Christian but with the simple ex-
rrcise of Tint right. Brigham Young uu4 LIS
followers have nut been at,a vii! mot De conteu1.
They have prac,iced intolerance and persecu-
lions l1tltrto unkuoHn In our country, and un-
equal'cd elsewhere 10 the nineteenth century.
a fundamental principle Of their organization
il ii uuul O: Church and State; they acsnowl-
cd;e AL ecc!e head whom tGer profess
to believe vicrgerent of Divinity, whose will is
'cHN' >t1'' N't '*"s CpEA tEAaCIeuCt
ilaelf md whose communal is sufficient, justihca-
ton Tor GRIMES ot eyvry grade. Nor are they
content 10 support their obnoxious system by
voluntary contributions from its udhertnts, but
hare herctoure, aud yet 90, levy taxes upon us
aud compel an unwilling people to pay tribu,c
10 support an organization that they despise.
by Legislative enactments, they have granted
tn church officials the exclusive privilege OF cs
tabishing ferries und bridges over the principal
s'vers, aud large per ccnt Of the enormous
tolls extorted {raul crnigrants goes 10 the sup,
port nj their emigration fund. They contiscasc
to the same use the e.sray properly found with
in the Territory.
They ese!eai property Of deceased person. to
the Use ii tie church they hare assumed The
right 70 dispose Of tue timber and grAss, the
w4tcr and lis pfiti'e=e:; for the exciuslFe hup
port Of church dgnitarleS. The, Lave
granted large und raluuble tracts Of public
lands to church officials, to the exclusion Of
III others. They Lave created a corporation
by cl4arteriug their church, investins it with
powers destructive Of The best interests, and
dangerous to ,Lc liberties Of the Inhabitants.
Th1ce:toutths Of their population are aliens,
who know nothing Of cur institutions aud care
nothing for them. They emigrated to our couu.
try, nut to enjoy the Freedom it offered, but
merely because it was the home nnd centre Of
Mormoaism. Maay of them boast that they
are not, aud never intended to be American
c'1zeus. They have Imprisoned American c,tl-
ztls Tor no Other cause, than thu, Of refusing
to atiuch themselves TO their rerolting inst,tu
lions. In their attempts to establish Tneo-
cracy. founded upon the diEinc right of their
priests TO govern, they we're led in 1857 10 de-
cIare war against The United States, and alter
having killed some, and imprisoned others Of
our fellow citizens, stolen. the property of our
government Is nell as that u private indi-
viduals, they uccepted the pardon cf the Prcsi
dent, without making restitution, or in any way
accounting for the property stolen, and without
surrendetlns, or attempting to surrender, their
Eosttfityfo The GoStr"tnfnt Of Tie Enit<d Stahs-
We dcclare our full conviction from all ve
hare Witnessed, that the Mormon people ure no
more loyal u tue Constitution aud Laws of the
United States to-day, tLan when thcy declared
their independence Of that government, de6ed
lis power, Levied military chest, Organized
their army and fortified Echo Canon. TAcv
llase murdered aud then robbed whole trains Of
emigranss, not sparing defencetess women aud
cLidren, when cries for mercy found no tear
to hear, no heart to pity, and no arm to bring
deliyerancc."
They have debauched and then murdered
helpless women.
They hare taken the lives Of American ci,i-
zcns By order Of their priesthood.
They have made enuucls under church au.
hor'sy.. and they still claim the right to con-
.inue the di4bolical practice.
They hare melted tile merciless snyacee to
'ob and murder unprotected people,
They have prevented the e1ecu ion of the
avs by comforting criminal jurisdiction upop
courts Of their own creation in violation Of the
organic act.
They have disfranchised american citizens |
rum serving on juries. |
They tluve refused TO provide jails or other |
neans for the safe keeping of prisoners
They hare steadls refused 10 provide money |
o enable the Federal Courts 10 try and punish I
,denders.
They hare, in nearly every instance, prevent
u the arrest Of criminals, and when a lew we're |
lrrested, their officers have permitted them 10
'scape.
They have inspired Witnesses aod Jurors with
ear oy threats Of terrible meaning.
" illnesses bave mot dared to testify in courts |
II justice, uu1ess sheY could be protected by tie
rmy, md when thut prnteclivn w1s afforded /
hem, the Aormuns fearful that the truth would /
'e made known, and their leaders punched,
lsye fllsely pretended that thes we're afraid
i the soldiers and ,hat they were prosecuted on
count OF tht1r reiieluu.
They practice incest and poly g1my in It's mnst |
orriIyiuS toEuss. setting At defiance all the laws
{ consauguinty. Instances being known Of
lcn high in their conh1cpce having pretend
1gly married the mother and her daughters |
nd cotsabittd with them oil, where they thus
larried their half sisters aad nieces. and to
,stlfv this outrageous practice. they depounce !
, prostitutes, the women Of the Siatcs, among
hon are our mothers, our wires, our sisters
ur daughters, and our friends
They have stolen large quantities Of public pro-
ct'E, slnce their p1c1euded treaty Of peace with
1c Cnted States.
They hare made no restitution, nor in any |
~ whatever accounted for the East amount Of |
rorerty they hare stolen and destroyed, and
II none Of The crimes Ne have enumerated bare |
1e perpetrators been brought 70 punishment,
or has the public accnser, appointed BY the
edcfai doFernment, tsktn any Of the neces-
.rr steps to do so.
The United States Aa.shals for the Territory
a used eresy means within Els power to make
rreass, when prosecutions have been set on
,ot By individuals, but the means placed ., his
'sposal, arc xholiy Inadequate.
We cannot too highly commend the exestions
the Federal judges, in their attenpts to do
,esr duty in executing the lass, nor the action
General Johnston, IN aff.rdiog protection To
le cirl authorities generally, but especially 70
lc Court held At Pruro, nor can We loo deeply |
.sret the action which the President has felt
bis duty 10 take. in deprivipg the Course Of
milar assistance in future, thereby extintnish-
e all hope Of maintaining the supremacy d
te Law, for ii the law ever was, it certainly IL
ot now king in Utah.
These IRE some Of the wrongs or which we, /
American citizens. havs = right to complain
In doing % M hare besA compelled By the
nits Of such proceeding, to deu in Gs1eFal, !
ther than detailed statements, but for the
nth Of our assertions wc staRd pledged TO The
yilized world.
!. Reo1aa1, That we hold the Mormon peo-
e responsible for the blood Of Atnsr'cn eiti-
us 70 wzntonly shed upon American soil, 70 |
. = hA nerreffu1hrA AtdArn and nhAt- /