The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-01-27

standpoint of the Saints:
MILL CREEK, SALT LAKE Co, UTAH,}
DECEMBER Goth, 1871. !
Hon. WIN. REDDICK, Springfield, Illinois,
-RB DedF frieaG :-Altheuga heavy hand OF
wicked religious persecution has rested upon US
as people for time through the Instrumental
ity OF certain men who are appointed by our
government, and sent here to administer the
law in this land, these deciples OF justice, hav-
ing made war upon the latter day saints, and
upon their religion and constitutional tights in
the worship of Almighty God, according to the
| dictate of conscience still in all this wicked
rule We live as people, and We are at peace
with one another, and with all the world; and
at no time in our history have we been more
prosperous, and more united, and determined to
carry out the purposes and will OF God.
AT this late day, when this land has been re-
deemed from barrenness and sterilty, and every
acre has been paid for four fold in hard labor
and toll by the poor and nxek of the earth, these
men appointed by our government come among
us-not as messengers Of peace and good will to
man, In the spirit and magnanimity of a great
and powerful government, but as tyrants, and
they are oppressive in the extreme, and they
stretch forth their puny arm to steady the Ark
of God.
In their administration 0; justice, they set
aside our territorial laws of many years standing
only certain parts that suit their purposes for
an unrightous crusade. They destroy out terri.
/ Il I,,r,.
they pack their juries. and they are composed of
wicked aqostates and prejudioed strangers. A
citizen, having religious faith of a latter day
saint, no difference how good and moral man
he may De, or what his standing in society may
be, he is not admitted. The alien cannot be nat
uralized unless lie denies his religion ard his
God. Thus you see the latter day saints are
completely disfranchsed, and denied the RICH.
Of trii by jury of their peers.
They go back and take an old law found on
our stAtste to punish polygamy, made by a
polyganous legislature, for the punishment of
Just such crimes are now introduced into our
quiet and moral city by this great civilization
crimee which those pious Pharisees have not no.
ticed yet. This law cannot be applicable. Il
was Intended for another purpose by the legisa.
tor who framed it. Thus yoa see how law is
twisted and warped to bring trouble and misery
into the quiet families and God fearing citizens
Of our great republic.
! Their whole course is not only impolitic and
unwise but it is at war with the most sacred
rights Of man, and lie upon American liberty
and our sacred American institutions bequeathod
to US by the blood of our fathers
They seem to rule in their courts for ceuvic.
ton only, and move in the majesty Ct their
apartments, aided by the arm of powerful gov
erhment, to correct the morals and religious
faith of the most moral people in our land
They rule out in great measure our NUM-
cipal regulations and since their rule here, we
are cursed with prostitution and its kindred
crimes, with drunkenness and debauchery; and
crimes stalk forth at mid day--thipgs not known
in this land, in the history Of the people, for 20
years.
Sometimes 1 hstter myself that the ruler, Of
our government do not realize our anti-republ.
can treatment and the cruel injustice that is
meted out to the latter day saints
Be this a. it may. If this is the liberty that
our fathers fought for, .ce do not aoaat Il. It is
more calling than the British yoke on our an.
, cestors.
In few days the trial Of our leaders these
men are great and good mem will commence.
| On indictments found on the evidence of a motto.
rous, wicked backleg. do we expect justice ?
l answer, no. Justice has fed from our once
happy city and land. There certainly is mono
here for Mormon, hard a. it is to write it. It
will ever remain truth on the page Of history,
and will be handed down to posterity.
You may ask, dear friend, what will the latter
day saints do in this great crisis? answer, do
right with every man, and under all circum.
stances and suffer the consequences, trusting in
the Lord God for deliverance.
Our future course will be marked out in that
wisdom that has ever characterized the great
moves of the latter day saints in the past, and |
trust in the glorious spirit Of the Holy Gospel
that it may be endorsed by the wise and good OF
every land.
Is is true that our people are capable of self.
government, and that our territory and the
counties are out Of debt, and that this is a pros.
porous and industrious, and in every sense of
the word, moral community think none
only the unprincipled will make this question
Prostitution, drunkenness and debauchery,
with their kindred vices, have never been toler.
ated in this territory. ask, then, what will be
y. to A.