Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-29

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CITY--HE Is CALLED UPON BY THE KING
OF THE HAREM-wHAT BRIGHAM THINKS
OF REBELS-HIS VIEWS ON P0LYGAMY,
ETC o.
The Hon. Schuyler Colfax and Brigham Young
have had an interview, which is thus narrated by
the correspondent of the New York Tribune:
Brigham Young has never called upon stran.
gers whether public officers or private citizens,
until they first pay their respects to him. But
Mr. COlfax declining TO give The initial visit, on
Wednesday morning Brigham Young, Heber Kim
ball, and eight or ten other conspicuous Latter
ID ay Saints, made call of two hours upon the
Speaker and his party at the Salt Lake Hotel
The conversation was long and rambling. give
a few detached portions, not complete or In their
order, but think with substantial correctness and
fairness:
Mr.. Colfax-How large is the new tabernacle
which you are completing this summer
Brigham Young-One hundred feet by two hun
dred and fifty 1t win seat eight thousand or ten
thousand people. The sides will be entirely open
for ventilation during the warm season.
Coliax-Ws have decided TO remain over next
Sabbath, hoping 10 hear you preach. We want
to learn more about the doctrines Of your church
from its highest authority.
Brgham-l am surprised that you have not
learned them before. But educated as you have
BEEN you said 1t Is only new delusion
fresh form Of religious fanaticiSm."
C.-That is merely your assumption. Who are
authorized TO preach among you
B.-Everyboly who is ordained. We set law
yers. farmers mechanics-all who have the gift
TO preaching. | suppose we have more languages
among US than any other community in the
world In the congregation next Sunday could
propaby call up fifty men who would oil preach
good sermons in as many different languages.
C.-Then you certainly ought to be good
takers. p,
any Of you are religiously inclined, We shall be
glad 70 have you occupy part OF the day on
Sunday. Do not some Of you preach
CT think not. | fear We have not any reli'
glon-to speak OF.
B.-(very emphatically,) have.
C.-Then we certainly hope to hear you speak
of it-iR the Tabernacle.
B.-Men talk great deal about the mysteries
of God, " hen they know nothing about IL. Re.
igion must display itself in the life. have dealt
largely with the people here, of all classes, In
dams and whites, Latter Day Saints and Others.
II have ever wronged any man, let him come
forward and will restore IL iour-fold.
C.-That is the religion believe in--the reli-
gion of daily lfe-of justice, charity and love-
But Of course there is one feature OF your system
from which we entirely dissent, and which we do
not consider religion.
B.-You mean plurality of wives. We have no
more delicacy in talking about that than any
other topic.
CT have read in one of the old writsrs-St.
Augustine, think-thst it ia better 70 converse
of the things about which we agree, than of those
upon which We differ.
B-Yes, in social intercourse.
Briphau.-The rebels always seemed to me
like pampered children, who, after having all the
cakes and candy whistles, finally In pet began
to kick their father and mother and declare they
would set up for themselves. We of the North
always supported them. knew they could not
sustain themselves, and now they have proved
ii.
have always discouraged our people from try
ing to find gold. II is the greatest curse to any
country. Every dollar taken out by the United
States has cost 800. II produces anarchy mur.
ders, thefts, vigilance committees, and idleness.
If we, in Utah, were to enact the lawless scenes
which are common to all gold countries the
troops would be sent against us AZ once.
Colfax.-lf you do not dig the gold, others will
come in and DO it for you. Why do you think
God put IL in the mountains@
B.-That the people might show just what they
have shOwn-their own folly. IL could perform
the miracle-if my faith was sufficient would
seal up oil the gold mines, and keep them sealed.
During this desultory talk Brigham strongly
intimated that the success and prosperity OF his
people were miraculous. he twice repeated that
they cannot be annihilated.
Yesterday we returned the call. He resides in
the Presidents Block" an enclosure Of nearly
ten acres containing the Tithing Office, DeSeret
Nelrs office, School House for his own children,
Lion House, with lion oouchant cut in sand
stone, over the front door, Bee Hive House which
bears a bee hive upon its dome, other buildings
for his domestic and business uses, and ample
flower and fruit gardens. The whole is surround
ed by wall eleven feet high, Of boulders laid in
mortar.
The porter in his lodge or sentry-bOx (where
think i saw a revolver hanging beside HIM eyed
us closely but permitted 70 pass, as we were ac-
companed by q leading Mormon. President
Young, with several dgnitaries of the church, re-
ceived us in his large, airy office, with high walls
maps, photographs of prominent Latter Day Saints,
a lithogaphc copy of BieTstadts Sunlight and
Shadow, scales for weighing gold dust, account
books, desks and arm chairs.
At first the conversation was heavy and rather
formal. though Brigham gave us good deal of in
formation about farming, etc. Nothing could be
raised without irrigation; but byUhe application Of
water the soil is very productive. Corn is more un
certain crop than the small grains; but so bushels
TO the acre is fair YIELD and ninety bushels have
been produced. He once raised 933 bushels TO the
acre and 80 bushels Of oats are not uncommon
Many farmers leave their cattle out in winter, but
'hey often die from cold. Coal and iron abound,
but the iron has not yet been successfully smeted.
At last the discourse turned upon Polygamy
and lively, frank discussion ensued, in which all
present, on both sides, took part. Brigham in
sisted that experience and history, both sacred
and profane. justify it, and posed the scriptural
members of our party by asking them to cite from
the Bible a single direct prohibition. But when
he admitted that even in Utah, as elsewhere, he
births of males and females are about equal. he
seemed little staggered by Nr. Colfax's asking
him how he accounted for that fact if the Almighty
designed more than one wife for each man.
Our Party-Is Polygamy vital and inseparable
part of your system
Briphsm-It is not in our Book Of Covensnts and
Discipline We did not adopt il Of ourselves but
in consonance with revelation from God was
ordered to enter into plurality. (The Mormons in.
yariably use this word instead of Polygamy-
COTTespOndeHt.) So were several Of the other
brethren. But for the Church at large 1t is q
privilege rather than an obligation. Abuses Of it
sometimes occur which il is difficult TO prevent
have not house of prostitution. / don't believe
YOU can find four illegtimate children in the Ter
ritory. You all think plurality cannotlast Now
tell us frankly how you expect tito be done away.
ColfaX-Well, we expect you TO have new rev.
eatiOn prohibiting it. Laughter
Brigham-We should not be sorry for that If
God ever so directs, We shall be glad to dispense
Colfax-Or there may be another solution You
may do away with it by your own voluntary ac-
tion, legally, peacefully, just as Missouri and Ma
ryland abolished slavery.
BriQham-But if we did so, il would be only the
beginning. You could then demand that we give
up the Book of Mormons, and next our Church or
ganizaton.
Our party-No, no You would be tolerated in
your faith Just as Methodists, Presbyterians, and
all other sects are. We have no right TO interfere
with your religion-only your practice, when it
violates the civil law.
A Mormon Elder-fhat infamous law against
polygamy" strikes at religious liberty, and is
unconstitutional
Colfax- 1t certainly violates no section of the
Constitution, and accords with the practice Of all