Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-09-15
Mistellalrtoas.
Horace Greeley on Polygamy in
Utah.

UUan.
In his last published letter, Mr.. Greeley
gives his opinions on Mormon polygamy.-
He says:
l do not believe the plural-wife system
can long endure; yet almost every man with
whom converse Oil tie subject seems in
tensely, fsnaticslly devoted to it, deeming
This the choicest of his earthly blessings
With the woman. am confident it is other
wise; and watched their faces es Elder
Taylor. at social gathering on Saturday
night, was expatating humorousIy on this
feature of the Mormon system. TO the great
delight Of the men; but not one responsive
smile did see on the face of woman On
the contrary. thought they seemed gener-
ally to wish the subject had been passed
ever in silence. Fsnaticism, and a. belief
that We are Gods exclusive favorites, will
carry most of US great way, but the natu-
raj instinct in every woman's breast must
tesch her that TO be some mans III rd or
fourth wife is to be no vile al all | asked
nv next neighbor the name of a fair, Young
girl who sat some distance from us with
babe on her knee That is one of Judge
Smiths ladies'" was his que: matter-oi-
course answer OF course, no woman -poke
publiciy-l believe none ever speaks I'M
Mormon assemblage-ard shall not ask
any one her private Opinion OF pOlygamy,
but think | can read an unfsvorable one
en- many faces. Yet Polygamy is one main
pillar OF the Mormon Church. He who has
two or more wives rarely apostaIises. as he
could hardly remain here in safety and com
fort as an apostate, and dare not take his
wives elsewhere. | have heard of but
single instance in which man with three
wives :enouneed Mormonism and left for
California, where he experienced no diff
Guilty; "for" said my informant, "a wonan)
@.he introduced his two younger wives girls
of 10 and I4l as his daughters, ard mar
Iied them both off in the course of six
weeks"
am assured by Gentiles that there is
large business done here in unmarrying as
well as marrying; some of them assure me
that the Church exacts fee of $40 on the
marrying Of each wife after the first, but
charges still heavier fee for divorcing. |
do not know that this is true, and suspect
my informa nts were no wiser in the prem
ises than an. But it certainly looks to
me as though rich dignitsry in the Church
has fire., r and fuller range for the. selection
of his sixth or eighth wife taan a poor
young man of ordinary standing has for
choosing his first. And | infer that the
more arpsighted young men will not al
ways be content with this.
Since the foregoing was written, have
enjoyed opportunities for visiting Mormons,
and studying Mc.monism. in the homes Of
its votsries, and of-discussing with them
what the outside world regards as its dis
tinguishing feature, in the freedom of friend
ly social intercourse. In one instance, q
veteran apostle of the faith, having frs,
introduced to me a worthy matron OF fifty
FIVE or sixty-tke wife of his youth. and the
mother of his grown up sons-as Mrs. t.,
soon after introduced young and winning
lady of perhaps twenty-five summers, In
these words: "Here is smother Mrs. To-
This lady is recent emigrant from ouI
State. of more than average powers of mint
and g-aees Of person, who came here witt
her brother as a convert, a. little over yea
ago, and has been the sixth wife of Mr.. T
since few weeks after her arrival (The
intermediate four wives of Elder T. live OF
a farm or farms some miles distant) Ths
manner Of the husband was perfectly un
constrained and off-handed throughout; bu
I,could not we'll be mistaken in my con
viction that both ladies failed to concea
dissatisfaction with their position in tn,
eyes o: their visitor and the world. The,
seemed to feel that it needed vindicaiion.-
Their manner toward each other was mos
cordial and sisterly-sincerely so, I doub
uot--but this is by no means the rule.
A Gentle friend, whose duties requir
him to travel widely over the Territory. in
forms me that he has repeatedly stoppe,
with Bishop. some hundred miles Sou,l
of this, whose two wives he has neve
known to address each other, or evince tn
slightest cordialty during the hours he hs
spent in their society. The Bishops hous
consists of two rooms; and when nv ir
forman. stsid there, with a Gentle friend
. the Bishop being absent. one wife slept il
the same apartment with them, rather thai
iu that occupied by her double. presum
that an extreme case, but the spirit whcI