The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-15

The people of Carson Valley have declared their
independence of Utah and their determination to
organise separate Territorial Government. The
'Gentile" Inhabitants of Cedar county, in the
valley of Salt Lake, have elected anti-Mormon
delegates to the Legislature of Utah. In other por
tons of the Territory petition has been drawn up
and numerously signed, soliciting from General
JOHNSTON that protection which, from the tenor of
his recent instructions he has no power to afford
The memorial presents a graphic picture of the
sanguinary excuses of which the Murmons have
been guilty, and of the constant peril to which
every man is exposed who refuses TO be governed
by the doctrines of the Church, or who has had
the boldness to impart information to the Federal
authorities with regard to the crimes committed,
or authorised, by the Mormon priesthood. In ad-
dition to these signs of the fearfully disturbed
state of affairs in Utah, we find in New York pa
per-7'he Centary-"An appeal to the people Of
'the UNITED STATES" which emanates from
American citizens residing in the Territory, and
which is said to have been sent for publication
Through channel of unquestionable truthful
''ness." The grounds of complaint are substan-
TALLY the same as those put forth by the memorial
lists to General JOHNSTON They alege that the
Mormon Church Government fis the most COM
''plete deSpotiSm on earth;'' that all authority,
whether secular or religious, centres in BRIGHAM
YOUNG; that he is at once 'King, priest, awgiver,
''aud chief polygamist;" that he determines what
laws shall be enacted and what apostate member
or obnoxious Gentle shall be assassinated; that
sla to,ro eo11 AZ
of their possessions and, if reluctant to pay, he
''mercessly seizes upon all that they have" In
answer 10 his denial of his having any knowledge
of the criminal acts that have been and still are
committed in the Territory, the authors of the
Appeal assure US that it is futile for him to plead
ignorance of the atrocities with which his under
lings stand charged. Such an hypothesis they
say would imply ''that Mormonism is not a sys-
''tem, and BRIGHAM is not its head: that he
''is despot without any power and prophet
'wtbout the ability to foresee" but that the com-
''plicity of the bishops and other church digni-
taries and of the Mayors of cities and other Ter
EDITORIAL officials, in the crimes that have
"been committed, demonstrate that these
'crimes were church crimes, and BRIGHAM
''is the head of the Church. Taking up next
the question of the Federal authority in
Utah, it IS stated that Governor CUNNING holds
indeed the commission, but that "BRIGHAM has
''the power" As an evidence of this, the asser-
ton publicly made by the latter, is quoted, that
emo matter who might be sent there by the PRE-
''sIDENT, as GOVERNOR he (BR1GHAM) would still
continue GOVERNOR in fact for no one else could
command the obedience of the people" That
he continues to exercise this authority is deduced
from the very nature Of the Mormon system
"The endowment oaths bind the Mormons to
'BRIGHAM as the political, not less than the re-
'ligious head of the territory The fanaticism
of the Mormons is said to be intense, but that
even where they would shrink from blindly obey
ing the behests of their leaders, from some defect
In their religious convictions they are constrained
to act through their personal fears. 'Mormon
punishment for Mormon apostacy is like the old
Course of former Popes. 1t extends from the
"soles of the feet to the hairs of the head. 1t
separates husband and wife, parent and child
''It reaches from the coniscation of property to
''the severance of the wind-pipe." Armed with
such power over the hearts and lives of the
people, the question is very pertnenty put, 'What
''cares BRIGHAM for the paper commission of a
Federal Governor" The acts of BRIGHAM
YOUNG, previously to the declaration of the am
nesty, are next passed in review. His reasonable
speeches-his seditious practices-his organization
of Mormon army-the burning of the Govern
ment trains-the stealing of Government animals
and the seizure of the property of American citi-
zens. All these facts are cited preparatory to
showing the evil effects which followed the s'full
and free pardon" offered by the President to all
who consented to return TO their allegiance The
consequences of this injudicious act of clemency
are thus stated: "BRIGHAM had promised his con-
gliding followers that no harm should come to
''them from their seditions and treasons. This
"most ill-tmed proclamation of the PRESIDENT full
''fed the promise, and vindicated, in the eyes of
"Mormons, BRIGHAN's claims to the character of
prophet. This was instantly seized upon as a
''new evidence ofhis holy character and prophetic
powers. The people regarded him with increased
reverence and confidence" Controlling the leg
isaton of the territory, by the authority which he
exercises over all the territorial and municipal
elections, and the militia of Utah through the i'm
picit Difference which paid to his counses BRIG
HAM You've still remains, in fact Governor, with
powers in the Church higher than those
of the Pope, and in State affairs higher
than those of the PRESIDENT ''He is" we
are told "to all intents and purposes King
whether, as is confidently asserted by many, he
twas solemnly crowned in Cottonwood Ramon on
''the oath of July, 1851, or not" He still persists
moreover, in claiming distinct nationality for
the Mormons, and not later than four months ago. |
in addressing the people, he told them that they
had at length come to be regarded by others Gas |
"nation, Independent of all other people on the |
''face of the EARTH and had been dealt with as |
''such.' Passing next to the peculiar organiza-
ton of the Mormon Courts of Judicature the |
"Appeal' states that the Act of Congress which |
provided for Probate Courts in the territory, SIM
ply designed that they should be limited in their
operation That they ''should take proof of wills,
grant of letters testamentary, and appoint guar
''dians." The Mormon Legislature has however.
perverted them from Their original purpose 'by |
erecting them into powerful tribunals, and con-
'ferring on them jurisdiction concurrent with |
'tthat of the UNITED STATES Courts' In both |
civil and criminal matters, nothing transcends |
their capacity, and under the orders emanating |
from the Heads of the Church the people are con-
strained to give the preference to these Courts |
over the Courts of the UNITED STATES The whole
policy of the Mormon hierarchy has been directed
towards Gripping, in every possible way, the
power of the Federal Courts The official fees
have been made so small that no officer can afford
to act, and there is no fund specified out Of which
even those fees are to be paid. They have made
no provision for the safe-keeping of prisoners;
their Grand Jures will not bring in indictments
against their own people; their Petit Juries twill
mot render honest verdicts according to the law