The New York herald., 1870-01-23
POLYCAMY.
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Mass Meeting of Mormon Women in
Salt Lake City.
The Proposed Resistance to the Suspres-
sion Of POlygamy.
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A Host Of Sister Saints Proclaim in
Favor Of Plurality.
Their Condition Not So Bad AS
Represented.
The Great Men of the Nation
The Great Men of the Nation
Degenerating.
The Oppression Of the TGogsn1ns G
Eicw at Freedom.

slon of polygamy is creating great excltement In
Salt Lake. The Prophet himself, apostles, elders
and bishops all openly assert that they VIII not obey
any law for the suppression OF poiygalny which Con
gress may enact. Renewed and powerful efforts are
now being made by the leaders 10 rnname the
minds OF the masses OF the Mormons against the
government and people OF the United States. Trea
son Is preached AS the command OF God. onlcers OF
the government civil and military, are sneeted a.,
and the whole army OF the United States Is prac-
tcay deied All this Is DONE they say, IN obe-
dience to the mandates OF the LORD. They believe
that their system Is divine that being SO He
Is on their sde and hence that no power on earth
finally prevail against them. They see that
there Is an ''rreprissble conflict" between the
civilization OF the age and poycamy; that
all which has been done to build up this earthly
Zion should not go for naugbt, and that every effort
which the Church can possibly put forth nltst now
be made In an attempt TO save The system They
are anxious TO have Utah admitted into the Union
as State In order that they may elect Mormon
officers thus take all Mormon matters oui OF the
control or Congress. have assured them that utan
never come INTO the Union with poiygany; that
the government determined TO abolish II; aud In
reply they that rather than submit 60 the en-.
forcemeht OF any law against II they VIII nurn taeir
property and shed their blood and all III defence OF
their religion. They imagine that poweria dem
onstraion OF the won IN IT'S favor might tend to
perpetuate polygamy. The Old Tabernacle was this
afternoon the scene OF such a demonstration A
call had been made for the women 70 meet eIa
saasse to denounce the Callom bll ana show
how much they loved the peculiar system.
one O'Clock was the nour appointed for the meet
ing, and from noon the women were vending their
way towards the Tabernacle. wagon loads OF wives
with their babies, came IN from the country. IL was
singular sight TO sec GONE three thousand intatu-
ated females assembled to speak ana vote in favor
or system which women OF nner feelings teii you il
repugnant them. There were quite number IN
the audience VINO evidently wenI simply TO witness
tile novel spectacle OF this nrst mass meeting OF Nor
mon women; Tor when the resolutions were put 70
vote, although tney were carried by large majority
there were many who did not raise their hands
either In their favor against them. The tiue has
not yet arrived when women here VINO are known
TO be opposed to poiygamy ieel free TO give
such puollc expression TO their sentiments
One peculiar feature OF the scene was the
number "a infants In arms whose squalling
caused temporary interruption TO the pro-
Ceedings Another was the noticeable absence
OF young girls-most OF those who were present
were wives and widows--for many OF the Mormon
maidens oil the present generation, having had an
opportunity of seeing the practical working OF the
system while they do not assume TO tuat poly
gamy absolutely wrong, because lt Is part Of a
religion winch they have been educated In do not
hesitate TO say tnat 1t would never be agreeable to
them. Tue meeting was altogether different from
ordinary public assempages OF ladies IN this, that
its purpose to advocate not the 'rignIs' OF
women SO much the '.rghls'' OF men.
Sister Eliza X. Snow, who is known as the Nor
poetess aud as one OF the wives OF the founder
OF the system Joseph Smith, but who has been
'.sealed" TO Brigham Young for this present life,
called her sister saints to order. and nominated
Sister Sarah n. Kimball preside the meeting
Sarah though bearing similar surname, Is no re-
laLion to Heber g., who was Brigham Young's
nrst councillor, ana who died about a year
ago. Sarah Is a widow. Her husband
killed few years ago oy an explosion on steamer
on which he was SAILING on a mission The SISTERS
by show OF hands selected Saran to preside sister
Lydia u. Alder was chosen secretary III a similar
manner. LYDIA Is the wife or Mormon merchant
SISTER ZINA's suPPLIcATIoN.
The meeting was opened by long prayer by Sister
Zins D. Young. Zna Is one Of Brlghams wives.
she prayed that the assembled body OF sisters and
daughters OF Even might be surrounded by divine
angels, and that the Holy Ghost might dwell IN
each sustain the cause OF virtue and integ
rity this land OF liberty that the Lord has be-
queathed to the seed OF Joseph in these latter
days.; that He would smile on their cause I'm behalf
OF our beloved constitution, and OF the rising genera
ton, that they may go into the world
God would delight to own and bless"
She prayed that they might be enabled
to return to build up Zion in Jackson county. Mis-
souri,; that man might be redeemed from the curse
and women from the TALL. May klnd angels" she
SAID watch US, and let the Just rejece because
OF the integrity or the hearts OF the daughters OF
Zion. May the wicked ana those who seek our de-
Struction hnd no resting place In our land, but may
they go to taeir own place. Let us devote every
mi n( A.lo tt..u
tpolygamyl which Tnou hast permitted TO be estab-
lhhed again upon the earth. Bless the labors or the
holy priesthood. We dedicate ourselves 10 Thee In
the name or Jesus OF Nazareth. Amen.n
SISTER SARAH KIMBALLs OPENING GRAFTON.
Sister Sarah n. KiInoau then came forward and
said:-
SIsTERs-I ask you to raise secret prayer TO
Heaven tna may oe qualified to preside over this
meeting Will endeavor to state ITS OBJECTS as we
~ possible. We have come together to express our
states IN which we i've We are here upon Inc sol
or the United States. our grandfathers fought the
bed. Mine did; nence feel with you thar haVe awe
right speak OF the institutions OF the govern
ment under which We i've. We nave Thought mucn
and we nave suffered mucn. We have been driven,
Outcasts almost from tue nation that gave US ortn
and under whose Dauner we should have been pro-
teeted and inasmuch as we have conducted our
selves properly We should have been honorcd, Have
we transgressed any law OF the United States OF
tvoices--"No.') Then why we here In these
mountains to-days Did we not leave the comforts
and elegances OF Civilized and enlightened life aud
traverse the desert palnsf And were we not pre-
vlous to that driven from place 10 place. And why
When we arrive At mature years the question VIII
arise, whyS The immediate object or this call mas
been the Introduction OF bill before Congress
called the Cuom bill-which proposes TO dlsn-
herit tue citizens Of Titan Territory II they
cling TO the principles OF their religion; 10 take from
them every right OF American citizens, every right
that 10 sacred to man. And here migh say we
nave not come to defend women's rights as many
honorable ladies are doing throughout tue United
States and other countries; but we here to-day to
advocate mans righte-man's rights TO an inneri-
tsnCs upon the soii OF this United states territory.
They did not allow us to be state Whya This Dill
would deprive not only our fathers friends and sons
bRt II would even deprive us of the privilege Of