New-York tribune., 1870-12-12
THE REVoLU1IoN IN MORMONDOM

I
THE PROPHETS AND THEIR POSSIBLE EXODUS
FROM UTAH-THE POLICY OF THE GOVERN
MENT TOWARD THE MoRM0NS.
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 1.-You have been
informed OF what has already been done by the District
Courts of this Territory in restricting by an honest III
terpreaton and vigorous enforcement OF the laws the
influence OF the Mormon leaders. For many years the
Courts have been under control of the Saints having
Mormon in instances elected by Mormon
Legislature in others appointed through Mormon inf-
ence and Mormon uries selected by Territorial Mashas
who had usurped the authority of the proper United
States officials. AL sorts Of concessions to the Saints
were made by former Administrations, indifferent to
the growth OF the great social enormity which they
have originated. This Indifference has been owing
mainly to the fact that the evil far removed from
public observation Now 1t is grown strong ana become
domneerng; it lies upon the great highway to the West
and familiar grown, Oends by its grossness the sehSi-
bltes of the nation. Further it has now to contend
with an Administration committed to the strict enforce
ment OF the laws and with officials who are specially IN
structed by President Grant to maintain the authority OF
the National Government, and who have his promise
that its whole power shall be exercised If necessary to
| enforce the laws.
The District Court which sits here has already decided
that iures shall be drawn and selected by the United
States Marshal not his duplicate, which the Territorial
Legislature presumed to elect Under the former rule,
the Mormon Marshal selecting, the juries were all Nor
mons-I had nearly written all Saints. 1t does not fol-
|
tiles; but thus in Judge McKeans Court they have
been exclusively nOn-beevers in the Mormon doctrine
Another decision threw the Territorial Oicers-the du
| pcate Attorney and Marshal-Out OF court and the
United States officials appointed by the President are the
only ones since recognized Further than this natural
izaon has been denied to pOygamss on the ground Of
immortality Of character and the fact that they violate
the act Of Congress against polygamy.
But these decisions do not conclude the efforts 10 be
made to curta and break the power Of the Prophets
There other garng abuses to he corrected Brigham
Young has persistently declared since the advent OF
Judge McKean that lie did not intend to submit to the
persecution s he calls m Of the Courts but will set
their rulings at defiance. At the late reelection at the
Tabernacle he declined take the Office of Trustee in
Trust" on the ground lie wished TO be at bertyto
travel about the settlements and preach This he called
added his private He alluded TO the prosecutions Of
Saints NauvOO and declared that this persec
ton of the Courts at Sat Lake Was aVlSHuoh oi Goa
upon the followers for not obeying the Prophets But
this dispensaon OF Providence but should resist the
Nov 'S them 1anSa aero "y the great T gods he
e would" He also asserted on another occasion
% that II compelled to abandon salt Lake
% City he wonld leave it as he found
Is it, desert These declarations and other indlea-
n ment of this locality for one more remote and less
u attractive to the Genes, and not sOrey afflicted by
upright judges II is not Improbable hat the irst col
son with the courts will lead to his fight and IS very
probable that the occasion viii arise at te next term OF
" Judge McKeans Court, beginning Jan. a. ISL Brigham
has declared that he will not obey any summons Of the
~ next term Judge Mexican and others do not believe he
viii refuse to obey 5Gt after his distinct dfciarailos
N that he will heed To order OF the United states
Courts, to obey the Marshas summons vii ne to nacr,
= he refuses Judge Mexican cannot hesitate to use The
h power Of his Court to compel his attendance or punish
him. lest the authority of the Government should come
to be as much despsed as formerly In any event
BTghani's influence will suffer from conflict with the
e. courts and think the temper OF Tie officials here Is to
r bring about such a conflict
There Is another way in which the Courts likely TO
Is offend the MOrmons and that seriously There are NUM-
bes of the prophets who hold immense tracts Of this
and adjacent valleys under grants from the Territorial
Legislature. Millions of these public lands of
the United States not prcenped paid for, and when
chooses to enter suit the validity OF the Terriona title
will come in Question This granting of lands is only
gn common with those of other Territories beleve)
has been guilty Its correction WILL Of course give great
oncnse to the MormOns. If the decision goes against
cm it will throw open very attractive country TO the
emigrants nine-tenths of whom Genes; and thus
Mormon power will become contracted by OF
increase In numbers of the Genes. There valuable
and the mining feveris rapidly extending here the
danger OF early litigation on this question Of their land
titles depresSeS the MOrInOns.
They fear also, that the "Avenging Angels" OF the
tribethe villains who in former times carried the
DEGREES OF death pronounced by the Prophetare 10 he
prosecuted for crimes almost forgotten Two Of the most
notorious Of these-R0bert r. Burton and william Hick-
| man-who have long been known but never prosecuted
as nurderers indicted by the Grand Jury of Gen
Prophets employed of their spies to watch the
room while the jury was in session, aud the name OF
every witness summoned before it while in session
was reported to them IL was suspected from the char
acter of the witnesses that bill would be found against
| heard from.
Other issues likely to arise which cannot fail
10 counteract Mormon power. The great point with the
United states officials to do this without giving them
occasion 10 raise the of persecution Tie great ma
JOiity OF the MOfmOns are Dndly ignorant, and their
passions ac easily Influenced 10y tie cry OF persecution
which the leaders raise every sion The officials
herc-and 1t In understood the Administration at Wash
lngtcn alsO-unte IN the opinion that harsh
ought not t. be adopted but while the Government
officials seek TO curtan Mormon influence by
| vigorous enforcement Of the laws as they eYt.i
| and as they have never been enforced, tie is,u1
should De lett 10 time and the changes which iugra
tlOn effect. What is wanted I'm mo way
Of legislation at Washington law giving IL, the secret
ballot Here We have the ballot, but each voter is re-
name the pOl-bOoks registry lists, and Tim. the
record Of his vote il Kept Tor cOurr hrT
is no reedOm Of election under this - stem. we had
which would leave tine di-acted AOnuS irc,r 10 vote
their real sentiments, the power OF the M0rruons I
hrmy believe, would be OVcrthrUWn at the polls two
or three Let Congress cOinc It's to
| lil-, and : all ask.
| Unless 1t be honest and able Attorney. Major
CHARLES H. Hampstead formerly Attorney ior the Tcti
t,Iy has resigned. The tadTy paid MIN h. inadcGuate
ana ne hnCs bis more lucrative Practice leaves him no
llhc 10 waste IN thc service ot the
cIhhehi III yearly salary of $3.50 TINS is the fixed pay
Oh one Ol the most important Offices IN the Territory
IHtIt i great ica here that tlC President VIII be de
crlvcd mo sending IN MAJOR HrInJstads place an IN
competent ohcef or mere adyeuurcr without interest
IN the Issue now Involved bet tne courts and tr
MUnnOns. Without competent Att0rel, superior t0thc
temptations INTO which the MurnOls arr. sure 10 lrtd
him. the Judges aud other Government officers aro pow
cIicss 90 continue the revolution now begun.
Among other ean2Os ID. made IA the Terrlfory
H. the agent Of The Associated Press iu t iit
lie is Mormon anda double son-iUlaw Of Brigham
Young, having married tNO OF the Prophet daughters
only Geographic operator in the div he H. aI,n c
repository Of all fhe important lie community
The revolution in Itth you viii understand nom All
bring IL 10 successful issue, and rid the country This
shameful abuse Oi MOrmOEishn