The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-10-26
What is TO be Done with the
MOrmOnsl

WUNuOuS
Every week this question presses moro
and more closely, not only upon the Gov.
ernment, but upon the whole country. II
presses itself enormously and heavily upon
the Treasury, where drafts for rations and
transportation have to be met. 1t will soon
come before Congress in various shapes, and
as 1t is not a party question, but little has
been definitely said about it. Il must come
up in voting the expenses, If no other way,
and II seems pretty clear that the same men
will hardly want to bear the expenses Of the
most costly armed force we have ever al.
tempted to support, and yet be willing for
them to do nothing. The spirit of the armv
is fairly up, and such reports will be made
to Congress from various quarters as will
probably produce something decisive. AZ
citizens, Mormons have now a right to vote,
to elect and be elected to many offices.--
This enables them to carry their ends in re-.
gard to most points. But where this is not
sufficient, it is quite clear that they are de.
termned TO commit the most outrageous
crimes rather than have Mormon punished
in the Gentle courts for any offence. When
an officer, in the discharge OF his duty, is
shot down for doing it; when murders arc
so frequent that no mans life is secure for
day, If he offends Mormon, it is time for
vigorous action. The territory is not one
that we can afford to resign into the hands
of people inimical to the great bulk OF our
population--So inimical as to render travel.
ling unsafe, murders frequent, and bruteIiti
worse than murder matters of constant ae.
currence. Companies Of peaceful travellers
are murdered, and women, who alone sur.
ed as Indians, or not disguised at all, %
among the most brutal and ferocous of their
ASSISTANTS. II any foreign power could not
keep their maurading parties from thus des.
troying and insulting our citizens, how long
would it be before we should wipe them out.
How long, for instance, will it be before
these outlaws who have invaded Brownville,
Texas, will be taken in hand, and made 10
respect the rights Of our citizens
There can now be no question that the
Mormons have thus far simply made monev
out Of the United States. They grow rich
upon US, and trample all our laws and all
justice of every sort under foot. NJ con.
viciions for crime can take place if commit
ted by Mormons. The hostility of the whole
race to our government is so undseuised.
that our troups have to be fed by rations
supplied frcm the States, because the inhab.
tants are not TO be depended upon. Such
expenses have no right to be borne bv the
government. If these men are such ont.
laws, they ought in some way be made 10
feel the burden and not the pleasure of the
support OF the troops necessary to keen them
in order. 30 long as Morm9ns and anv
other persons continue paaceable and obedi.
ent to law, no matter what their religion.
they are entitled to protection. But now it
is no longer a question of religious opir.
ions, or even polyglmst practices, but of
murder, of making war upon our soldiers and
citizens, and the most speedy and efficient
modes must be sought after of abatinp tn
nuisance. 1t is right on the high road TO
California, our most valuable possession and
part of ourselves, and the injury becomes
dii'y more into!eruble.
We see but one way left. 1t is to trans.
port oil Mormons convicted Of any conspir.
acy, and scatter them through the United
States. Most OF them are mere dupes, and
dlsunted end not permitted to return to Utah
would soon become very good citizens; but
allowed to colonize and centraliZe their
power in one spot they will become worse
than Indians, worse than Arabs-a W Ir with
them will become inevitable, and it will be-
q war of exterminution. They ore already
beyond doubt the fomenters of Indian dis.
turbances. They rob the mails and DESTROY
whole trains of peaceful fomilies. They
must be scattered, as the wisest and most
humane course left. Whatever laws are
necessary. most easily and efficiently to
carry this out, Will be the moit m3rciful to
them. the most favorable to the prosperity
of the CouDtrv-p pbilad2lnht1 Todoor