The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-09-06
Letter from Miss ii. X. Clapp.

permission we have availed ourselves, believing
i, likely TO interest our readers:
GREAT SALT Lane, July l., 1889.
This Sunday is very much Ike other days with
Us here; although now We have the privilege OF
attending Mormon meeting. l embraced the
opportunity on Sunday-went with my bloomer
dress and hat, with my revolver by my side.
Heard Lord Pratt, aud saw Prophet Brigham.
The congregation were seated in large room,
the seats graduated from the pulpit on three
sides-the back seats as high as the pulpit. The
Prophet Brigham and his counsellors, kimba
and Wells, came in a back way, well guarded by
soldicry The Lord does not always take care
Of his Prophets, and they are little afraid Of
their heads. The twelve Apostles were seated
in this pulpit, which has a close panneled wall
around it, four feet high. The men come into
this Tabernacle at one end door, and the women
at the other. The appearance of the congregs-
ton was after their own peculiar institution
barefoot AID no hoops; the men in their shirt
sleeves; emgrints i'll their emgrant clothes; all
arrned-bowe knife and revolver.
head of the great valley; on the east, the river
Jortlon; and on the east aud north, laterally,
mountains It's first appearance, at distance,
looked like an Irish huidle; but on approaching
IT, il looked better. Ii is laid out in squares of
forty rods each, streets crossing each other at
right angles; and on either sides, streams OF
water, brought from the mountains tor the pur-
pose of CATION, as it seldom rains here.
The buildings are made of adobe, kind of
sunburned brick; all Imprinted except Brigham's
buildings and garden occupy one square, and are
enclosed with stone wall twelve feet high, laid
in lime mortar Every rod are pillars built up
four feet higher than the wall. These are the
"watchmen on the towers OF Zion.' Over the
main door of this iiarem is huge lion, carved
in marble, perhaps of the tribe OF Judah" On
the top of the cupOla is beehive. Over the
main gate is an eagle, with her wings spread
An armed guard is stationed at the gates, and
all entrances into this enclosure. No one i. per
nlitted TO go in unless he has business with
Prophet B. Some of our party tried to call
on him, but could not gain admittance. told
them meant to see him, still | did not wish TO
show him tho least respect. | consider him
guilty OF treason against the Government, and
not worthy the recognition of an American.
sent him note, saving ! would like to See
of course--and if he would name
the hour, would call, with Dty escort. After
much questioning, the messenger brought me
word that his Superior, Prophet-like Majesty
would attend 10 my call at my earliest conven-
fence. We were admitted into his august pres
encc, through guard. The room was large.
There were thirteen men besides himself in the
room, all armed. He sat in his armed chair. In
, back room we're armed guards.
man about Gfty-eight, of medium height,
san.uine temperament, portly, sillow countc-
nance, (cilect of being housed up, undoubtedly
arose from his chair Ia receive ~, knowing
Ivy this act that he was the man, &c. We
had very pleasant call. After the first few
he seemed much intcrcs ed in the con-
versaton. We made long call, but when We
came to retire, he came to the door and asked
us to call again. Among the sixty wives We did
not see one. A little chap came into the room
while We were sitting there, about eight years of
age asked the little fellow what his name
was lie replied, Brigham Young the Third"
His grandpa replied that "he was the eldest son
of his eldest son" This i the way the Brig |
hams are counted.
The man of the house where wc put up while !
We were in the city, "The Utah House." had
three wives. The first wife was very laxative |
lie was one of the seventy, ana kept preaching
TO me One day he told me that "it would be .
the business Of the Saints in another world, to
teach these of the gentilcs that had not heard
the gospel in this life but h. had preached TO .
me, aud he feared if did not embrace the doc
,rine would go 10 he'll" think Governor
Cummings would consider my lfc in danger if
he knew what said To them. will preach a
little to the women when get chance, in
spite of the Governor.
We called on Governor Cummings He i,
'uperannuatcd, brandy-Soaked, Buchanan Demo-
,rat Believes in the Territories controlling their !
,wn peculiar institutions in their own peculiar
The Mormons while passing through their terri |
ory, if are would not talk their religion with /
them; pass through quietly, not argue with them
1t all, or NEEDLE with their religious views"
Oh know we are in foreign land; not Amer |
can soil here, This is the independent State
IF DeSeret" To be sure the United States has |
Consul here, in the person Of the Governor, as
you would have known on the glorious Fourth
or Won would have seen the American flag wav-
ng over his private dwelling, while at other
places YOU see the Mormon flag hoisted This
vas beautiful spectacle. The spirit of 10 so
burned in the bosom of some OF the emgrants
hat do believe if there had been a hundred of
hem they would have pulled down the foreign
lags and hoisted the American flag.
The soldiers of this "Independent State of
Deseret' came out in uniform, on horseback,
marched around Brigham's harem, and he came
,ut on the steps, INSIDE the scal, and made
hort speech. At the present appearance of the
government, they will pour many more millions
If dollars into the pockets of these rebels without
bringing lone sinner 10 repentance" Two
hundred thousand dollars, Col. Johnson saws,
nave been paid out OF government funds 70 Brig
IAN Young for lumber, at seventy dollars per
thousand, for building the Fort az Camp Floyd
This Fort is forty-seven miles from the city. The