The Shasta courier., 1871-10-14
THE MORMON PROBLEM.

Brigham Young says he will submit to
all just laws, but that every law that pro-
hibits freedom Of religious belief must be
decided to be unconstitutional. This
doubtless will be the basis of Mr. Young's
defence. He is clearly guilty under the
statute, but the real question of guilt or
innocence will turn upon the other question
whether the law of Congress prohibiting
polygamy is constitutional. And this, we
opine, ~illsoe knotty question to settle.
1t is not likely that the question Of fconstitu-
tionality will be argued in the Territorial
Court. Brigham Young congratulates
himself on the fact that there are lawyers
on the supreme Bench of the United States
from whom justice may be expected The
Constitution of the United States nndoubt-
edly permits the widest freedom of religious
belief. But at the same time it ackDowl-
edges no power paramount to laws In har-
mony with itself. 1t does not recognize
the right of any citizen to found religion
contrary to law. Brigham Young claims
to have received revelation from heaven
authorizing or commanding the establish
ment of polygamy. If his peculiar revela-
| tion is respected, what is to prevent some
other man from having a revelation CON-
manding him to slay his enemies. A
third may conceive himself commanded
to take that which he needs in the way of
worldly wealth with out regard to legal
ownership. 1t is plain therefore that this
revelation business cannot be tolerated -
1t is subversive of law and equal rights to
all. IF Brigham Young's right to practice
polgamy rests on the authority of real or
pretended revelation it will be easily dis
posed of But unfortunately the Mormon
Apostles may appeal in defence of their
system to the same Bible which Christians
teach Polygamy is the morality of the
Old Testament, monogamy of the New
Who shall say that man may not coDscien-
tiously accept the principles of the Old
Testament as the guide of his life? May
he not take King David as model, and
emulate his virtues? So long as the Bible
is the acknowledged standard of religious
belief, and so long as the constitution pro-
tects all religions alike, it is not clear how
law prohibiting certain practices essential
to certain religion founded on the Bible
can be pronounced constitutional. Leav-
ing the stale humbug of inspiration or rev.
elation out of the case, and claiming the,
right to believe in and practice polygamy,
as Bible doctrine Brigham Young has
strong case. But this course would de-
throne him in his own church. His peo-
pie believe in polygamy because they be-
lieve in him as prophet. Convinced that
his revelation is fraud, they would quick
ly emancipate themselves from the BONDAGE,
of system so odious to the ordinary intel
ligent mind as plurality Of wives. The
Mormon Apostle is thus placed in a
dilemma. If he defends his system on the
ground of especial revelation the Supreme
Court will dispose Of him as speedily as it
would of Victoria G. Woodruff if she.
should declare herself inspired to assume
the functions of Chief Magistrate of the
United States without the formality of an
election II he abandons the revelations
dodge and falls back on the Old Testament,
he in turn will be abandoned by his fol-
lowers.-Golden Ere.