Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-09-16
VOLUME 26, NO. 4S.
Mormon Polygamy.

Mr.. Greeley In ono oil b" letters from
Utah says:
~ have enjoyed opportunities OF visiting
Mormons, and studying MOrnonism. in the
homes Of It's yotaries, and Of discussing with
them whs, the outside world regards as iss
distinguished feature. In the freedom OF
friendly intercenr,e. In one instance vet
eran apostle OF the faith, having hrst intro.
duced TO me worthy matrou OF tity.hve
or .iIty-the wife Of his youth. and tho
mother Of his grown up sou'--n Mrs. I.
soon after introduced young and winning
lady OF perhaps twenty-five summers, In
these words I" Here u another Mrs. T."
rhi. lady is recent einigrsnt from our
State Of more than average powers OF mind
and graccs Of person, who came hero with
her brother s = convert, little over
year ago. and has been the sixth wife OF Mr.
+. since q few weeks after her arrival
(The intermediate four wives Of Elder T.
live on farm or farms some miles distant.)
The manner OF the husband was perfectly
unconstrained and otr.hand throughout;
bu, could not we'll be mistaken In my con.
yc,lon tha, both ladies failed TO conceal
dissatisfaction with their position In the
eyes Of the visitor and OF the world. They
seemed 10 feel that .. needed vindlca,ion.
Their manner toward each other was most
cordial and sisterly--sineerely 80, l doubt
not-bu, this - by no means the rule. A
Gentle friend. whose duue. require him 10
travel widely over the Territory. informs
me that he ha. repeatedly stopped with .
Bishop, some hundred miles south OF this,
whose two wive. he has never known 10 ad.
dress each other. or eyinco the slightest
cordiality during the hours he has spent In
their society. I presume that an extreme
case, bu, the spiri, which impel. !, 10 not
unusual. met this evenings large party
Of young people consisting in nearly equal
numbers Of husbands and wives. bot no
husband was attended by more than one
wife, and no gentleman admitted or implied.
in our repeated and animated discussion of
Polygamy, that no had more than one wife.
And | was again struck BY the circumstances
that here, as heretofore. no woman indics-
ted. by word or look. her approval OF any
argumcn, IN favor Of polygamy. That ma
ny women acquiesce In IL as an ordinances
OF God, and have been drilled into me.
chanical assent to the logic by which Il Is
upheld, believe; but that there 10 no, .
woman in Utah who does not in her heart
wish that God had NOT ordained IL, am
confident. And quite number Of tho
young men treat u in convsrsation asa tem-
porary or experimental arrangement, which
I. tn be sustained or put aside as eIp-risncs
shall demonstrate its utility or mischief.
One old Mormon farmer, with whom die.
cu..ed the matter privately, admitted that
It was impossible for q poor working man
TO have a we'll ordered, we'll governed house.
, hold. where bis children had two or more
living mothe occupying the same ordinary
dwelling. On the whole, | conclude that
polygamy, as it was graft on the original
stock Of Murmoni-m, will be oatlived by
the root-that there will be new revels.
ton. ere many years, whereby the Saints
will b. admonished TO love and cherish tho
wrrs they already have, but not - marry
any more beyond the natural assignment of
oue vile to each husband"