The Mountaineer. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1859-1861, 1860-02-18
MOU nj All N EER.
GREAT SAT- JAKE gITY
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
AND MARTIAL IA W. Nh

II was our intention last week; lii com
mehting upon the report IL Mi. Green
wood. the Indian Commissioner, To make
some remarks upon the lcng.talked-oI and
much-howled-about aifair, the Mountain
Meadows massacre Whatever n interest
may attach q that peculiar item n Utah
history, We do not at present wish partic
ularIy to place any stress npon. II seems
however, somewhat singular that The one
AMIR % which We can present attention.
should have created So much stir and
bother II tho world.
When grave accusations are made
against the citizens Of Utah, facts and
dates are considered 81 but small import
anee. Nomatter how ancient the a..
cusation orilLsnbstantiated the testimony
the charge must be made the wonder 81
the world and the foundation Cor Al in.
exorable crusade.
Pausing for d moment, ere We enter
upon the subject before US, let Us inuuire
into some items Of past memory 81, tie
other side. Il IS % fact 81 history 81
unquestionabIe as II has been nndisputetl.
that good honest American citizens were
persccuted, mobhed, and mnny 81 them
murdered II the State of Missouri. Id IL
another fact that, hungry, dsspoiIcd and.
pursued BY fanatic professors, these same
citizens found temporary refuge ii Illinois.
4 e stu another fact IS historically cor
rect as the treacherous arrest and impris-
onment Of hegteat Napoleon on tic is
land Of 81. Helene, that the same citizens
pursued and persecuted by the blood.iogs
Of civilization, were despoiled Of their
honest heritage IN the state 81 their refuge.
and u the face Of the guarantee 81 the
State and 1t the defiance II the Constitn.
ton and laws Of the milton, their dearest
friends were tufelqsa, yes, BurcnrnEp not
~ the night; not on the lonely highway
not in the forest or among tile tafi rushes
Of the Wild meadow; not ID tie cslnp oft.
tho barbarian nor ii tie rendezvous ofii
outlaws, but ID the glare Of omen Daylight
and in acity Of 4Gl,sstians These are
facts Of history; facts thet win beenteredl,
upon the national records, in defiance ofl1
the opposition q the world facts off,
federal dishonor and national disgrace:
but who talks about thems Are the facts
inquired ihto and the dalnnable actors Jul,
those tragedies called up for public trial Fl
and punishment OH no! Anything ia
good enough for Mormons. They NAV ID
American citizens They may he the
direct descendants and lawful heirs to The
holy franchise Of the fathers Of our conn.
try. But that ayails not 7Hev aysI
Nfornaoals.a Who cares though their best
blood, aud that If their predecessors, nlay
have been shed to give victory and lnstre
to the arms Of the natioDs The present Il
object Is 70 persecnte. plumber and aunihi. +
late them. The wrongs them selves hive
suffered must remain in oblivion. unknel-
led. aud forever unrsdressed. But Inc
charges agatast them must be held out i'll
bold relief, enlarged, and made the stam-
inal foundaiionfor political wire.workinr.
Passing BY for the present, these re.
membranes ofby-gones on our ownsi,le IF
the picture, let us glance for moment Al
this present externally magnifed and hor.
rible matter Of the Mou1rAIs MEApows !.
We are not Of that peculiarly favored
class Of special correspondents aud judicial /
great men who know everything about /
matters q which they are entirely igno.
rant. And Of this particular matter We
confess ourselves but partially informed. 1
We have endeaYored, il Is true, TO aid IN
the development Of all the facts 81 the Ii
case. and volunteered our professional I,
services in the prosecution Of such indigid. [
uals as might befonnd proper subjects for
trial n the affair. Wedid 50 honestly; nor Il
were we alone in our offers. The highest
executiye officers Of the Territory under
His Excelleney the GoFeraer, Of eourse1 4
nave volunteered at their own expense |,
not only 70 seek out, but 10 arrest and Ii
present il the U. S. Courts for trial every j
man !. q. VINO no was accused Of taking part in
That lamentable tragedy. The character I
of Etah demanded IL, s.. - y Il