Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-18
coNcREss AND BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Orr pure and spotless Congress has
now assumed the work of holy crusade
against. polygamy in Utah. RadicAlisn
ia intent on converting that unfortunate
people 1.-THE bigamists) from the error
of two or more wives to the true light and
blessed union of one woman with one
man. We never knew better teacher
of public morals than is the present Con-
sress of the United States, and especially
the God-and-morality party now ruling,
which long since declared the Bible 40
abominatiou, because it recognized
slavery. The Puritan has ever claimed
the right to watch over the religious in
clinstious of his neighbors, although him
self compelled to fee to America from
the very oppression be now seeks
TO put upon others. In order to
get rid of the alleged crime of
polysamy in Utah Territory, g bill is
pending in the Senate which places a
volunteer force of $4,000 mon, with the
regular army already on foot, at the dis
posaI Of the Executive. who is to effectu-
ally march over and crush opt poor Mr..
Young and his women. Mr. Cullom,
Chairman oftheCommittee onTerritorieS.
yesterday explained the reason for this in
terference by Congress to be that Brig
ham Young controlled the local Legisla-
ture of the Territory, and that this body
controlled everything else. Every
member of the Legislature was q promi-
ueut member Of the Mormon Church,
and none other could be elected. De
wanted those who would preach poIygamy
in the face of Radicalism to be excluded
from the ballotbox and holding office.
He said they were criminals running
at large, and we're no more qualified to
hold Office thaa these who we're lately in
rebellion, meaning by this latter General
Lee and the host Of patriots who fought
for Southern rights and independence.
We have no quarrel with Brigham
ourselves, being a bachelor. and think
the old gentleman exceedingly fortunate
in having as many wives as he could
wish. The Issue Of morality has been
made upon the one part by the Radical
party,Shich murdered Mrs. Surratt, and
every day forswore the Constitution oil
the country; and on the other by Brig
ham Young, the head Of the Mormon
Church, who has never bad the charge oil
one crime yet known to the law laid upon
him. Sensational stories are circulated
about the murder Of Gsntiles in the terri
tory by Mormons, just ss Uoionists ere
said to be murdered in the South BY rebels
We all know how much reliance is Ia
be placed in these lies. told only to pro
mote partisan purposes; aud for thii
purpose only are Radicals in Congress
now warning on the polygamist in Utah
The carpei-bsggers are not permitted
after hoeking to this most remote region
to usurp all the fat Offices, and live Of
the hard ,oil of those sturdy men. wbc
left their homes among the civilized and
went TO PLAINTIFF desert Of the wild West
that they might be free to enjoy then
religions belief as seemed best TO them
This thing of excluding Radicals from
Office, Congress says, should be stopped
Men who would do such thing are Grim
inals running at large, and need TIL
moral tutoring Of Federal bsyoneia
Then 10 carry cut this moral teaching ei
fecs1slly. It is pretended that the worl
can only be accomplished BY force. Il
order to convert men from MormOnism Il
Christianity, ihe.bayonets ofs goddess sn'
ruthless soldiery must be appealed Il
Is the arbiter Of the right. Sucl