The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-24
A Mysterious Communication to Head
quarters and the Response.
THE PROPHETS ABSOLUTE POWER.
Could the Slaughter Have Been Committed
Without His knowledge?
SALT LAKE CRY, May 1C, 1877.


Church dgniares who had rendezvousea at that place
assembled Sunday. September g, ana held stormy
discussion. Laban Morrill, who present, testincs
that some In favor OF holding or from the dc.
sruction OF the train until message could be scnt to
Brigham Young at Salt Lake Al that time, II should
be remem bercd, Brigham Young not only Presi:
dent OF the Mormon Church, but Governor and Indian
Agent oil the Territory.
Prudent men AT the council, who DO not seem 10
have fully trusted by tho real leaders, asked for
authority from headquarters One version has II
that Bishop r. Klingen Smith joined with others in
opposing delay. Another version describes him as =
most ardent advocate delay until word could be had
drec, from Brigham Young. and says William II. Dame
and Isaac C. Haght responded that they bad orders
direct from headquarters" Abiding to Klinsen
Smiths Holland origin they added that they were
gong to carried out n spite OF any
Ieatbsr-hcaded Dutch Bishop out OF hell"
ORDERS
The counscls OF the prevailed, however and it
was decided send a messenger 70 Salt Lake mme-
datey Joseph Haslam testihcs that the day after
the council hold, about hafpast i've IN the after
noon, he started from Cedar City with letter from
Haight, addressed to Brigham Young. He changed
horses whenever he could get fresh and rode 10
Sal, Lake City rapid speed He delivered the letter
10 President Young. who, after Haslam had rested
few hours, handed him letter. with which he re-
turned Cedar City, where he delivered IL TO Haisht
rHK MASSACRE pREcIrrrATED.
In the meantime the massacre OF the emigrants was
precipilated few days after Hasam left Cedar City
Haight Stewart and joel NJ White, who were among
the most bloodtnrsty the council and chafed at
their defeat, met spring. at Whist Is now called
Little Pinto two messengers from tho grant
camp named Alden ami HUI These two men were on
their way TO Cedar City for help whlo telling their
HAYS lraa 0rad Inv
the three Mormons whom they addressing.
Stewards shot killed Alden. Whites ball wounded
Hun who escaped back TO the cmgrant camp. Haght,
Stewart and White returned to Cedar City, told
. story which threw all tue blame on their victims
aud urged immediate attack the train. Lee, being
informed OF the matter, sent word TO the whites in all
directions Dame, colonel Of the Mormon militia, and
Higbee, major, who command on the ned
the day Of the massacre issued orders for muster.
Various reasons we're gwen, and some Mormons who
went 10 Mountain Meadows aver that they did be.
Iieving they instead OF TO butcher the
emigrans Once thers all put into military bar-
/ ness and did not daro dsobey orders Then ensued
the onexamped wholesale murder, the circumstances
Of which are gradually being disclosed to the world.
Nethsr the letter sent ny Haight to Brigham Young
nor the reply sent by Brigham Young 10 Haight have
ever been brought 10 light That tnoy might appear
recently applied TO Brigham Young In person Tor por-
mission to look over the correspondence between him.
self aud the Church authorities in Southern Utah
| 1851 He smoothly declined SAID he:-
II don't think necessary. The correspondence
would be OF public interest AS have already told
YOU the messages sent from here consisted chiefly Of
counsel TO the brethren about their houses, farms,
stock and grain. There is nothing that could add to
your Information about the Mountain Meadows Massa-
Gre and am at tho defiance Of the world to prove
| had ANYTHING o with
.srhcn you ind an objection to my looking over the
correspondcnccy 2"
.'The objection precisely as you might ind to
exhibit your private correspondence to me-"
4 REQUEST CORRESPONDENCE
shortly sfterward looking into this subject again.
/ sent President Young the following notc:-
MAY l. 1877
To BRIGHAM Young, President OF tho Church OF Jesus
Christ Of Latter Day saints
DEAR SIR had the honor the day before yester
day ask your leave to examine tho correspondence
between yourself aud The Church dRnitaTies OF South
ern Utah during tho year 1857. You deemed IL un-
necessary to grant my request. ! now make more
interest IL testified TO on tho Lee trial that at
tho time when the Arkansas emigrant traa passed
Church council was held sunday VI Cedar
CITY, ut which II was DECIDED not to
lest or dctain the cmgrants until your counsel
could be obtained In regard 10 them. The testimony
shows that messenger named Haslam was do
spatchcd IRON Cedar City Salt Lake with note
from leading members Of the council add ressed to
you: that lie rodo night and day and delivered TO you
that written note ana that he returned with writ
ten letter from you TO ono or more members oil tho
council and verbal message TO the effect that tho
emigrants must be allowed to pass unharmed. He did
not reach Cedar City in time 10 prevent tho massacre
VIII you kindly INFORM me, ny note sent by the
bearer-nrst whether you ever received the alleged
note message from the Cedar City Council; second,
whether you sent reply TO III and, third II you dd
such note ard sont response, Will you
furnish me with copies OF both Tor publication In the
NEW YORK HERALDy
i am, Dir, respectfully youra
BRIGHAM yoUyG's RESPONSE
To this note camo guarded reply from Brigham
Young, by his secretary, thus:-
PRESIDENT Youxo's OFFICE May 4, 1877.
DEAR R-Prcsdent Young only dropped into his
ofcc this ing IN time to leave TO attend meet.
ing Tor which he mad an appointment !, however,
your letter 10 him. He rcmarkng the fact that he
then about to keep an appointment, said that With
egard TO the note referred to by you--said have
been despatched 10 him from Cedar City-was matter
he knew nothing about and OF The letter from Prcsi
dent Young, also referred 10 by you as having been
sent BY the nand OF haslam, Mr. Howard, prosecuting
attorney could give you IN iul tho iacts relating 10 IT,
and 10 no would have 10 refer YOU. Yours, &c,
GEORGE +. GIBBS.
United states District Attorney Howard, 10 whom
applied could give me no Information In regard TO
either OF tho letters although IL IL not unlikely that
he will have information about them TO communicate
to a court when Brigham Young will least expect IT,
Mrs Haight processes have paper In her possession
wDerewih to shield her husband IRON being made by
the Mormon Church a scspcgoat like John d. Lee.
Mrs Haighrs daughter IN conversation with OF
her admirers also alluded to this paper in terms no,
complimentary TO Brigham Young Colonel Dame,
whom Young with singular latuity attempted when he
lately passed through Parowan TO deposc from his
bshoprc, expresses perfect confidence in his ability
TO show by whose authority he acted.
yorSG's DEsroTIc POWER.
Few Mormons IN Utah disbclcv and some assert,
that Brigham Young authorized tho massacre, Hut II
Will BIO impossible Tor your readers 10 understand how
his authority was probably expressed unless they
follow in these letters the explanation shall try to
give them Of system OF government mingled OF church
and state which Is shrewder and more binding upon
the governed than any which had been even conceived
of much less put In practice, since the Dark Ages.
10 a sermon delivered In tho Tabernacle about those