Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-11-02
SALT LAKE CITY.
stirring Times in the Mormon Capt.
tai-The Suits Against the Mormon
Leaders-The Semi-AnuuSi Confer
ence ana What was Said There.

ence ana What was Said There.
From the Cor. of the Cleveland Herald.l
SALT LAKE Cry, Oct, 1871.
After some days in the mountain regior
OF Colorado, we arrived here hast week
when the Semi Annual Mormon Confer
ence was in session. The change was ;
decided one-not less atmospheric thar
social, political and moral You ar,
aware of the action of the United State.
authorities here. AT last, an attempt ha.
been made to execute existing laws of the
Territory prohibiting bigamy 4 Crane
jury has been found that has, under the
charge of Judge Mclean, brought in in
dictments for this crime against several O
the Mormon leaders, including the grea
offender, Brigham Young. To these, the,
plead mot guilty." and bail has been ac
cepted and the Mormons declare their will
lingness to abide the issue of these lega
proceedings. They are quick, however
to indicate that they rely upon the
United States Supreme Court, and not up
on the Territorial decision. This is the
present position.
Yourreaders may have expected to learn
that the Mormons would resist, and per-
haps oppose withforce the commencement
OF these proceedings. This they would
| do, but forthe consciousness of their helm.
lessncss in an open struggle with United
States authority; and again, they think
Il ore is to be gained by the present pre-
tense of submission, at least time is gained
There is here Mormon military power
but those who control it know that the
time has gone by when it's safe or posi-
bic to confront with it the vast military
resources of the nation. The government
has fair show of military force here at
Camp Douglas and at other posts in the
Territory, and upon any short notice
could largely increase it. The anti Nor
mon influence in Utah has also, during
the last two yoars, from the influx of Gen
| tile population, seriously weakened Nor
monism in all civil and political relations.
Onaccount, therefore, fits essential weak
ness, and for this reason alone, think,
Mormonism allows this legal assault up-
on its infamous doctrine and practice. |
cannot here detail all the reasons for this
opinion, but after attendance for two en-
tire sessions at the great Tabernacle, and
hearing long addresses by several of the
Bishops, | cannot conclude otherwise.
The Conference continues through four
days. The great Tabernacle, which has
been so often described, is filled twice
each day, with men, women and children
gathered from all parts of the territory
The city is crowded, and the streets swarm
with the followers of the Prophet Can
vas covered wagons, in which their own.
ers cat and sleep during their sojourn
here, fill the vacant lots and line the streets
adjacent to the Tabernacle The scene
within was like none other we ever saw
From the immense and elegant organ
which fills one end of the building, gal
lery runs around the circuit of the audito
rum. Immediately in front and below
the organ and the choir seats, and upon
the same great platform for the speaking
desks are the seats for the church dignita.
ries, while just below this commence tht
ranges of seats which stretch to the Cd
posite end of the building. This gives
they say seating capacity of ten thou
sand. There were present probably about
eight thousand; the house was nearly
full. The ushers always secure seats near
the front for strangers, and we were thus
accommodated
A portion of one of these sessions was
occupied by the annual elections and ap-
pointments. The officers of the church
were elected by the reading from printed
list OF nominations, and the raising of the
right hand. We observed not a single
vote in the negative. Among the appoint
ments were read the names of about forty
men as missionaries; and here let me OBJ
serve that we had view of one of the
principal sources through which Nor
monism Is kept alive. 1t is the ac-
tive and energetic prosecution of
of emigration schemes. They transplant
from Europe and our eastern cities to Salt
Lake. If Mormonism depended on the
sowing and reaping process, it would soon
die. In looking over the great audience
we were struck with this. The faces
were, to large extent, those of the differ
ent foreign nationalities, and with not few
exceptions, did there appear to be intelli-
gent men and women there In this re-
mark | do not include large number on
the platform, who apparently held rank
In the church. Of these, however, many
were of foreign birth.
The exercises consisted of singing, by
large and small chOirs, (sometimes With
the organ), and by addresses by the Bish.
ops and others. Brigham Young was in
his place, but, having been sick, took no
active part. but sat with hat on, muffled
up with wrappings. Tomorrow he is
supposed to be well enough to appear at
| the bar of the United States Court and
plead mot guilty" to the sharge of biga-
my, and give bail. Many think he will
not live to see final decision by an earth
| ly court.
1t was plain, from the tenor of all the
addresses, that the leaders, though en-
deavoring to preserve an exterior of con-
fidence, felt the gravity of the occasion.
The indictment has disturbed the people,
and there must be a hracing up of conf
dence Every speaker but one gave his
whole time to the defense of polygamy.
The statements made were too shocking
for repetition. The claims of Divine
sanction for this horrible iniquity, were
fully up to anything had before heard of.
and the whole was dreary and sickening.
This iniquity was to grow and prosper,
in spite of Kings and Emperors, Presi-
dents and Vice Presidents, (Colfax), lank,