Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
The Mormons.

Speaker Colfax's party at last accounts
bad reached Great Salt Lake City ant
the members of it were enjoying them
selves among the Mormons. Mr.. Bowles
of the Springfield Republican, is one o
the party and gives an interesting accoun
of the reception and the civilties which
are paid to them. He says they Ear,
the guests of the city, but the military
authorities and citizens vie together al
well to please their visitors and make
them pleased with Utah and its people
The Mormons are eager to prove thei
loyalty to the government, their sympa
thy with its bereavement, their Joy il
its final triumphs-which their sienc,
or their slants and sneers heretofore haC
certainly put in some doubt---and they
leave nothing unsaid or undone now, to
ward Mr.. Colfax as the repres entativt
OF that government, or toward the pub
lie, to give assurance Of their rightmind
edness. Also they wish US to know tina
they are not monsters and murderers, bu
men OF intelligence, virtue, good mannerl
and fine tastes. They put their polygamy
on high moral and religious grounds
and for the rest, anyhow, are not willing
to be thought otherwise than our peers
They had serenade a meeting where
formal addresses were made; bath il
the wonderful water OF Salt Lake; 8
Stag Picnic" from which females were
excluded and peep into a Mormon
harem. A question of etiquette arose a:
to who should make the first formal call
The fashion in Washington being for the
Speaker to be called on, and Norm ondom
for Brigham Young to be called on.--
The Speaker, reversing the old maxim
that when you are among Romans you
should do as Romans do, stood on his
dignity and gave notice that he should
not call, and Brigham thereupon very
gracefully yielded the point, and with a
whole crowd Of high church dignitaries
made a very pleasant call of two hours
length. NJ r. Bowles thus describes
Young and some of his followers:
"He, Young, is a very hale and hearty
looking man, young for sixty-four, with
a light gray eye, cold and uncertain, a
mouth and chin betraying great and
determined Williamsburg, perhaps, as
to presence and features, but repellant in
atmosphere and without magnetism. In
conversation he is cool and quiet in mao
ner, but suggestive in expression has
ideas, but uses bad grammar. He was
rather formal, but courteous, and at the
last affected frankness and freedom, if be
felt it not. To his followers, | observed
he was master of that profourd art OF
eastern politicians, which consists in put
ting tue arm atfectionately around them,
and tenderly inquiring for health of
selves and families and when his eye
did sparkle and bis lips soften, it was
with most cheering, though not warming
etfect--it was pleasant but did not meet
you. Of bis companions, Heber C. Kim
ball is perhaps the most notorious, his
free and coarse speech has made him so.
He has very keen, sharp eye, and
looks like a Westfeld man always meet
at the agricultural fairs in Springfield
DR.. Bernhisel has au air of culture and
refinement peculiar among bis associates F.;
he is an old, small man, venerable, and
suggestive of John Quincy Adams, or
DR.. Gannett of Boston, 10 his STYLE
Two or three others OF the company
have fine faces-such as you would meet
in intellectual or business society in Bos
ton or New York-but the strength Of
most of the party seems to be in narrow,
ness, bigotry, obstinacy. They look as
if they had lived on the same farm as
their fathers and grandlathers, and made
no improvements; gone to the same
church, and SAT in the same pew, without
cushions; borrowed the same weekly
newspaper for 40 years; drove all their
children to the West or the cities; and
if they went to agricultural fairs, insisted
on having their premiums in pure coin. >"