Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-11

:, President Brigham Young made the fol-
lowing address, which it will be seen relates
mainly to the recent murder Of Mr.. Brass
field, already noticed in our columns. Brig
ham Young said:
1t will give me great pleasure 10 speak
few words 20 the people, and ] shall be hap
py if can make myself heard by this vast
assembage Of Saints.
Much has been said by our brethren since
the commencement of our two days meeting,
and during the Conference with regard TO
the social life of the Latter-day Saints; and
all that has been said is in conf" NAV with
that endless variety which we x IN all the
works Of God; for De.t-" rHen express them
se YES si;. -. III circumstances or
in teaching doctrine The doctrines which
We have embraced are exceedingly dear TO
the faithful believer, and may also say that
doctrines. how erroneous soever they may be,
are as sacred to the person who believes
them as our doctrines are to us.
Our faith and our acts are known TO each
other, and also to the world, although they
are held forth by many in an unfair light.
However. when an untruth is told against
the Latter-day Saints, a conviction that il is
and the spirit Of Christ, that enlighteneth
every man that cometh into the world,
teacheth the children Of men true principles.
will now give you, in short, my opinion
with regard 10 plural marriage. 1t is Of
God, and lie has revealed from the heavens,
and made it Obligatory upon the Saints in
the last davs. | am as much a believer in
plural marriage as any Of my brethren who
have spoken. II is embraced in the faith
in the Latter-day Saints, and practiced by
many Of them. IL have wife who wishes
10 leave me, let her make it known to me
and she is as free to go from me as she Is to
.tav with me. This my doctrine Every
wife may possess il a. free As the air; if
they choose TO STAY with me they can stay (;
if tlcy wish 10 leave me, they are equally
as f,ec: but they must not lntrude upon their
sacred covenants, nor suffer others to intrude
upon them. But otherwise from this, they
are a. free TO 90 as they are 10 stay !;
they can 90 10 the East, or to the West, to
the North or to the South. They are as free
10 go. if they so wish, as they are to drink
the water Of City Creek but if they violate
their covenants, the curse Of God will rest
upon our rights in our domestic relations,
we mean them 10 suffer the penalty.
To ask any person TO be a Latter-day
Saint, unless he wishes TO be, is thing
never do. teach the people the truth; /;
they that receive it in the love of it, will
abide in it; they have the same liberty to
reject it that they have to receive IT. 1t is
not required Of me to make people believe
the truth, whether they will or not. 1t is
obligatory upon NE to tell them the truth,
20 teach them correct doctrine, and leave
them to take their cnoice, whether they re
ccive it and live by it, and be saved, or re-
iect il and be damned.
/ will now take the liberty of making a
statement 10 this congregation, and to this
communicate those who are Saints and to
those who are not Saints-to the jew and
the Greek-to the Christian and the Gen
tile, the old, middle-agcd, the youth and
children-in regard to the circumstance
which has occurred here in our city within
a few days past The question is asked by
thousands. no doubt, as this according to
Brother Brigham's counsel? Is this done
hy counsel, and does Brother Brigham iusti-
fy such things?' Whether justify that act
or not is not the property of any other per
son living, it is my own.
Brother Brigham, did YOU counsel any
such thing as killing Mr.. Brasstield?''
| did not. know no more about it than
YOU do. That which has transpircd have
merely heard, and that which instigated the
killing of that man is not known to me.
Suppose a man should enter your hous'
and dccov away from you a wife Of yours
what would vou do under the circumstance?
| would Law Judgment to the line an'
rightcousncss to the plummet, so help m'
God. | say that for myself aud not for an
other. | am for defending the truth of Go,
and the ordinances Of His house | hav
enlisted to be His servant, and co-wOrke
and frllow-laborer with Him, and with IN.
elder brother, Jesus Christ, and to sustain
Ills laws, and the liberty to proclaim tn
doctrine of salvation TO the world; and / aI
ON hand to do 50. We say that this Is righ
others say that il is wrong. As was obserN
ed bv Elder Amasa NJ. Lyman in ms r,
marks here. we dare do great many thing
and leave the result in the hands OF Goo
for lie rules and oyerrules, guides, and die
tates. and controls the acts of the children
men. and lie does so in very different wa
from what they wish at many times.
We dare defend ourselves against the a
taclso of thieves and robbers; We dare preac
the truth; we dare baptize people into ii
KINGDOM of God-into the household
faith. we dare teach them the principles
life and salvation, though all hell ms
orovl and roar, and threaten and vomlt tort
its dark insinuations. God will exalt Il
inst and the wicked and ungodly will IA
10 maintain themselves IN their wlckedne-
We dare do all shis; we dare tell the wor
that Joseph Smith was man OF God-
nrophet of the Lord-when he was here
The iesb-that he is now a man OF God, m
still prophet of the Most High. The no
uricsthood was delivered 10 him, and he q
iivercd il 10 others, in which priesthood
have greatly reioiccd. That this is true,
are INV witnesses. This congregation kn'
whether "Nlormonism' is true or not th
know il bv the power of God; they know
not merely because some man has sald
hut they know il 10y the revelations oi !
Lord Jesus Christ. g..
| have taken this opportunity ON TINS
casion 10 say what | have relating 10
killing of Mr.. Brassfeld for entering {
house of one of the Saints and stealing aw
his wife. Were absent from my home
would rejoice to know that | had irier
,bere 70 protect and guard the virtue of !
household. and | would thank God for su
friends.
we are still in existence as a people; s.
living and doing, We are constantly bel
IA hat we shall not live; yet still we II
Wbon Brother Kimhall and myself W
baptized. they gave six months Tor NJ
,,,tnisun" ia i've: it lived out the six mon
and spread and grew, and prosperea IN
hands. They have given us thirty days
.iyty davs. and six months, ana year
two wears, &c, To see the destruction
uNormonism," still il grows aud hourlsl
4, has besn said in this city, In sixty d
your leader. Brigham Young, VIII be IN
hands" The sixty passed. 1t was 4
ia that in ninety days the 'arch deoeiV
would be sure 10 fall into their hands
taken captive, and he punished Tor
crimes. nj
THAT pcriod also passed, and Brgl
Noung still lives, and through the bless
NJ thc Lord he is going to live; ana 'hiS
pIe will live, and spread abroad, ana mn
,be valleys OF the mountains, ana they
- forth and inherit other valleys
In little while they will he crying our
more room, and thus Zion Will spread anr
The proyidences Of God. our Heavenly
,bar win lead and overrule the doings o.
,ricLcd 10 results favorinC His purposes
=. they are led to destruction, and the e
Il cleansed from its corruption, Lioh
anread abroad and ultimately oil the
narth.
We need have no fears. We have =
have never feared but one thing "lti
card 10 this people called l-atter-day =
for myself for my brethren the Apos
Cor m, sisters and their children and 10