The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-26
MORMONS DEFIANT.
Continued Preparations TO Resist Inite'
States Laws.

Continued Preparations to Resist United
States Laws.
There is no longersany doubt that q
dangerous u~ndercurrent OF excitement is
running through all the Mormon cities
and settlements in Utah, nor is there any
doubt of the cause, says a correspondent
OF the New York Hcrald, i'll a dispatch
from Salt Lake City. The leaders OF the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, from Brigham Young down to the
bishops and their counselors, have be-
como impressed with the belief that pun
ishment is, for the fist time, seriously
threatened, not only against the mstlga-
tors and perpetrators of the Mountain
Meadow massacre, but also against the
authors of hundreds of murders besides,
which surpass in atrocity those COM
mitted by the assassins of ancient Venice
or the Thugs of India.
This belief has been transmlttcdto the
body of Mormon people, whose oaths
compel them to avenge the deaths of the
martyrs and to obey the counsel of their
living priests. Brigham Young himself
has become confident, by reason OF long
immunity and the exercise for nearly
half a century OF power, compared with
which the despotism of an A-~bysslnlan
chief is q timid mockery. He honestly
believes the adults among the hundred
thousand Mormons in the Territory can
whip all the men the United States can
bring against them. In this connection
he is encouraged by the present rumor
that the United States army is to be prac-
tically reduced to next to nothing.
The members of the famous Nauvoo
Legion, which successfully detied john
sons army, in 1859, are drilling IN meet
ing houses, barns, stables and c%orrals, III
Salt Lake City, and most of the minor
towns. Breech-loading rifles have been
shipped in great numbers during the
last fortnight from the East, and several
boxes OF arms have gone to southern
Utah from the cooperative store, which
is largely owned and entirely controlled
by Brigham Young.
In the tabernacle the prophet arose at
an unexpected moment and broke forth
in an address to saints and sinners,
which gave the latter to understand that
if they wanted blood they could have
plenty of it, and, indeed that they were
likely to have more of it let out OF their
veins than they could spare at an early
period. To face the 1907 900 Mormons
there are about Is, 900 Gentil. s in Utah.
Salt Lake City has a population Of 20
900, of whom, perhaps, 1000 are Gen
tiles. The discrepancy is obvious, and
having duly observed it, many discreet
Gentiles are quietly arranging for the
removal of their families at the first sign
of an outbreak.
1t is more than likely that the saints
who are plotting resistance to the opera
ton Of the laws will get the worst of it.
Subpenas are issued for a formidable
number of witnesses in criminal cases.
and arrests of murderers who have had
immunity for years are imminent in the
mountains and along the borders where
thew have secluded themselves. The
sword Of justice hangs over the roof OF
many a suspected assassin eminent IN the
counsels of the Mormon priesthood, and
it is not unlikely that the doctrine of
blood atonement will be brought before
the close of summer home to their W
hearts and threats.