The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-05-03
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
His wives and Children.
A correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Commercial writes from Salt Lake
City, us follows:

I asked the Elder how many wives
Brigham had, SO as to get some au-
thority upon that disputed point.
Living with him here in the
house" replied the Elder, che has
only sixteen, but then there are u
number of others, / really don't know
how many, married to him all over
the Territory, many of whom he has
not even seen since the hour they
wore married"
What's the use OF that sort Of
marriage?" l asked, with an eye to
the practical as well as 10 the spir-
itual.
"THEsE MARRIAGES
arc for the next world; they are spir-
itual marriages. We believe that
marriages are for time aud eternity.
Because | marry woman it is no
sign that L am going TO live with her.
She is sealed to Inc dor eternity. For
instance, II lady whom, perhaps, |
have never seen before, comes to me
with letter of introduction from
some Of our Church officers, saying
that she is good, deserving lady,
and desires to be united to man for
eternity, why should consider it my
duty to marry that lady, although /
might never sec her again III this
world.
But suppose the lady already has
e husbaad?" | added.
THAT don't make any difference;
she can be sealed to me Just the
same. Perhaps her husband il u
worthless fellow, aud in every way
unworthy oil her"
Wouldn't your wives object?"
ooh, no, We understand all that !;
there isn't go much objecting going
on as you think, whether we marry
10 colabit or simply for the mex
world. / didn't marry my second
wife until my frat had consented. /
said / wanted some more children
some SONS to bear nay name. 1t was
the Lords will that / should have
them. Aly first wife consented, and
told the to do the Lord will, aud
married again. selecting u much
younger woman than my lrst wife,
and she bore me some tine boys"
oIVE THIS AZ spEclMEx
Of the sort Of talk one will hear
among the elders aud those high in
authority IN the Mormon Church. -
| They talk Us freely about their fami-
| lies Ia tLcy do about their oxen. And
all this wickedness, these brutal
practices. this degradation of woman.
! has nothing for its foundation but u
pretended revelation TO Joseph Smith
| from Heaven. OF all the humbug
aud bosn, superstition aud clerical
quackery that was ever pumped into
any creed or sect, the Mormons have
it. Yet their diabolical creed is no
Iaore marvellous than their perfect
sincerity.
ALL or BIIGHHM sIxTEES WIVES
with whom he lives have borne him
children, except one, called Amelia
Amelia Is his most noted wife, spirit
cd, pleasant, and of American birth
She is only thirty-two, lacking some
years Of being half as old as her hus-
band. His wives are OF all ages, his
last two being quite young, mere girls
in fact, when they married him. /
asked Gentle gentleman of their
acquaintance why they should be
such fools as TO want to marry an old
man with over a dozen wives already.
Was it love?
"No, indeed" said he, "for I know
| they did not love him ?"
Were they compelled to marry
him?"
ooh, no, they did it OF their own
free will, as they thought it u certain
way to get to Heaven"
BRoHAM's CHILDREN.
Brigham has sixty-eight children,
about forty of whom are female.
! They arc of all ages from three years
to thirty. Several of his older sons
are young men of promise and posi-
ton. He is the father of good
deal of talent, and some of his chill
dren will be heard of in the world
hereafter. Last night, at the thea
tire, was particularly struck with
the good, might say superb, acting
of young looking lady, and quite
handsome withal. made inquiry,
and learned that she was daughter
of Brigham, and one of the five wives
of H. b. Clawson. Clawson being a
man of wealth and standing, and a
devout Mormon, has married two of
Brigham's daughters, in addition to
his other three wives. Isn't that O
curious way to do it? Tt certainly is
to us Gentiles; but to the Mormons
it is all perfectly correct and proper.
In several of the States man is
prohibited from marrying dead
wife 8 sister, but here in Utah it is
much the style to marry two sisters
at once, besides having other wives.
But as long as it is necessary to have
| two or more wives, think he is q
wise man who malries sisters.
MANY OF BRIaHAM's CHILDREN
are handsome and lovable Those
by one of his wives, Mrs. Decker, are
particularly so. i
He provides we'll for his numerous
sons in-law, and takes great pleasure
in seeing his children well married
and happy, if there can be any hap
piness in the Mormon married state.
A marriage takes place in his family
now very often, as his numerous
flock are rapidly maturing. One of
his daughters married last Sunday
I hear of one who had to run away to
marry, Brigham being opposed to the
match because the young man who