The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-26


sTATEMENTs MADE BY MR. POND.
LocKroET, N. Y, June 20, 1877
To EDITOR hERALD-
An interview which your Boston correspondent had
with Mr. J. D. Pond has met my ego, and desire to
make few corrections In regard tho statements OF
the latter gentleman concerning both my and
myself In the first place he Is entirely mistaken In
reference to our knowledge OF the Mountain Meadows
massacre, at the timc OF which Mr.. Webb was not In
the Territory OF Utah and | was living in Salt Lake
CITY, We never either of US lived in the southern part
of tho Territory, Mr.. Pond seems to havc imagined
At least further south than seventy miles, town
called Payson. We neither Of positively know
anything about tho massacre, although Mr.. Pond APP
pears think might tell great deal If we would
IL certainly is my firm conviction that Brigham Young
ordered and controlled the whsle transaction OF muir
dering those Arkansas emgrants, but have no per-
sonai knowledge of
My convictions based upon a knowledge OF tho
existing OF society Utah in those early DAYS
No man ven,ured TO make move in any direction or
engaged in any enterprise without first consulting the
prophet HIS word the supreme law in Utah
both temporal and spiritual matters, and words OF
vengeance upon enemies" issued from the
pulpit In the Tabernacle every Sabbath ! well re.
member that Brigham and apostles constantly en-
dcavorcd to ince the people to boodshcd but the
same time never saw anybody killed, and hoped tho
time disIsnt when these threats would be put
into effect.
Then again, Mr.. Pond is mistaken in supposing that
Dir. Webb has three wives in Utah, when IN tact 10
has mo- W 10 there That he has been a polygamst |
admit and also admit that he has chiidren were
born under that han by whom he Is now endcavorirg
10 do his duty for II be should desert and neglect
them In their nclplcssness should respect
him.
lie has been living the past two years about Two
hundred miles from the Two women vino once
called bis wives They 1.-Two In Salt Lake city with
.hcir chil1rcn, and he furnishes the means for the
,upport and education oil those children by farming
-Itier extensively. lie has lost all faith ~ Br CHAM
Young's prctcnsons. and ions since ceased TO believe
TO Tell al about the mysteries and crimes
OF Mormonsm. TINS Is very great mistake, from
the fact hat he has boldly proclaimed his views IN sew
era articles which he has written before and since his
expulsion from the Church.
Allow me IN proof OF this quote the following from
one OF those articles at IL noteworthy fact that
person IN Utah has eligible 10 hold any ofnee OF
honor or prout IN Church or state during the last
twenty-five years except he has been wholly under
tho control OF Brigham Young and holds himself at all
lin Is ready 70 obey his orders be they fragrant
or Vicious wthout hesitation, thought or question
Neither dare any OF his bishops make any important
move without his sanction. Hence, as many crimes
have been committed by hGn fnncti0naries
of The Church, II is at lenst logical
deduction 10 suppose that The prophet,
seer and Kevelalof' has not boon wholly
with tie sanEuinary transactions That
have trnpspircd under his administration during the
last ouarler OF a century. Hence ~ appears that
Brigham Young rs accessory both before aud aor The
fact This state Of affairs ~ only the natural ana
spontaneous ouscroppings OF the Mormon system. ~