The New York herald., 1872-12-05
The President and the pIormons.

The most friendly relations have been estab-
lished between John Bull and Brother Jona-
than but it appears that there is anything
but happy accord existing between General
Grant and the Mormons. He says, in his
Message of Monday last, that sit has seemed
to be the purpose of the Territorial Legisla-
ture of Utah to evade all responsibility to the
government of the United States, and even
to hold position in hostility to it, and he
therefore recommends ga careful revision of
the present laws of the Territory by Congress,
and the enactment Of such law as the one
proposed in Congress at the last session, or
something similar to it, as will secure peace,
the equality of all citizens before the law and
the ultimate extinguishment of polygamy."
Evasion of responsibility by the Mormons to
the government, and even hostility to it, are
serious charges In reply the Salt Lake City
Herald (Mormon organ) says that ''the Presi-
dent has been misinformed and misled,'' and
that Gin no part of the United States is the
constitution held in more reverence and the
laws esteemed more sacred than in Utah"
But an anti-Mormon or Gentle Salt Lake
paper, the Journal, refutes these protestatons
in strong terms, or, in other words, it sus-
tains the charges of the Message, that the
Latter Day Saints are disloyal; that they do
seek, in their Territorial government, to evade
their responsibility to the national govern
ment and are arrayed in hostility to it. The
President, upon his official responsibility,
makes his charges. He is satisfied that they
are true. He invites the attention of the two
houses to the subject, from which it is ap-
parent that he does not fear an investi-
cation into the facts. But the Mormons
declare that he has been misinformed
and misled, and they, at all events, are entitled
to q hearing Every traveller who has visited
Salt Lake City will testify that from his obser-
vations it is one Of the most orderly places Of
twenty-five thousand inhabitants within the
limits of the United States that upon the
surface, at least, there are no signs of discord
between Mormons and Gentiles and that, in
consideration Of what those industrious Nor
mons have done for the country at large in
the settlement and development of the re-
sources of Utah, justice should be tempered
with mercy in the dealings of the general
government with them, even in the matter Of
that "twin relic of barbarism," polygamy.
The President proposes a new Territorial
law for Utah, similar to the bill introduced
at the last session, or something of that
description, which will secure equal rights to
oil citizens and the ultimate extinguishment
of polygamy. Very good. But from our in
formation of the existing condition of things
in Utah very little legislation will now be
required to secure these desirable objects
The Pacific Railroad is doing the work
slowly, it may appear, but surely and
effectively. The rising generation of Mormons
are already half GENTLE. Treat their commu-
nifty with generous regard for their rights,
and the wrongs of Mormondom will quietly
disappear. These people acquired their pre-
emption rights in Utah from Mexico. In
annexing that Territory we made them
citizens, and are bound, concerning their
rights, to respect them and our compact with
Mexico. We cannot drive these people out.
Their property, which cannot be moved, hos
become too valuable tor that Push them 10
the wall and they must 6ght Deal with them