The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-11


1t will be remembered that in the Senate
last week Mr.. Howard gave notice Of his in
tention to offer amendments to the laws
against polygamy in Utah, rendering their
provisions more effective, and their penalties
more severe. Now, with all due Difference to
the distinguished Senator, we are constrained
to say that such proceeding is both useless
and absurd. That the condition of Mormon
affairs is shocking, at once a disgrace to the
country to-day, and threatening source of
danger for the, future, is not to be denied
There is in Utah no protection of person or
property, no freedom Of action, of speech, or
Of the press. Whoever ventures thither sub
jects himself to the worst of all conceivable
tyrannies, that OF an ignorant and brutal sell
fshness. sustained by the spirit of relig g5ous fa-
naticsm. Every one will recollect the recent
fate Of DR.. Robinson-a Maine man-shot
dead in the streets of Salt Lake city for dar-
ing to question the infallbility of the prophet
Brigham, and also the perfect impunity which
has attended his murderers, and the open ap-
proval OF the crime expressed by the Mormon
dignitaries. The latest intelligence that comes
to US from this precious community is, that
they have at last succeeded, by dint of intol-
erance and petty prosecutions, in compelling
all the "Gentile" business firms in the city, to
the number of twenty three to leave the ter
ritory, at sacrifice Of twenty-five per cent. of
their property there. 1t is hoped by this style
ofproceeding to drive out all who profess any
allegiance to the United States, and to give
the territory exclusively to the Saints. Every
day and every hour the laws and authority OF
the United States are openly and impudently
set at defiance, and this is the state of things
which it is proposed to cure by the enactment
ofnew legal FORMS These are not what the
country wants. There are already laws on
the statute book providing for the punish
ment of murder, Of polygamy, and of those
outrageous jnfringements of the rights of the
citizen which are of daily occurrence in Utah.
If these cannot be enforced, what is the use to
enact more? Why should Congress add to
the list of these despised and openly defied
provisions? What we want is, not more laws,
but an executive to enforce those already in
SAHtcuCts Iue government SnOulQ put forth
its hand in such manner that these Ignorant
and impudent fanatics may feel its power and
fear it. The execution of the laws in that
territory should be int1usted to men who are
not afraid to do, at the call of duty, very un-
popular things; and they should be supported
by force sufficient to command due respect
for their authority. Mild measures have been
tolerated somewhat too long in this matter
Mormonism is not only foul barbarism. a
great plague spot, showing hideously on the
fair surface of our American civilization, but
it assumes to erect itself as barrier to our
progress westward, and to hinder the develop
ment Of region in which the whole country
has rights and interests. For this offence 1t is
not to be pardoned, and the country is fast
losing patience with the inefficient, do-noth-
ing course which the government has thus
far pursued toward it. The public temper
will hardly be improved by seeing new laws
placed upon the Statute-book if they are to re-
main so completely dead letter as those now
in existence.