Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-05-15

States from tho Mississippi 10 tho Missouri,
and there the head of the column wintered
at Council Bluffs While they were there
during that winter, tho government OF the
United States made n requisition ON brigham
Young, who was then tho head OF tho Nor
mon church and the leader OF these people,
to form n Mormon battalion and 40 into the
Mexican war. lie responded and gave the
Hover Of his young men, live hundred stall
wart fellows. The United States govern
tnent sent military officers from this city to
take the command and the Mormon battal-
ion went into the Mexican war and served
until Its close.
The expedition OF which have been speak
ing continued on In the spring OF lSi7 across
the Rocky mountains, and on the 9th OF
July, 1877, II halted at the Great Salt lake In
Mexican territory, and when all were gath
cred In the settlers amounted to 10000 souls,
all holding ono faith, and many Of the older
mon having plural wives, which they car
ried along with them In the view OF the
whole country. But they were not all gath
cred In until after the country became the
property of the United States. Public opin-
ion throughout the United States was ut that
time one of unanimous tenor Their polyg-
amy was well known. Every one said let
them go they are beyond the mountains,
they are in "a foreign land, let them have
their religion and their polygamy, we are
rid of them.
The press at that period was no. what 1t IL
now. If had been, this expedition would
have been attended by hundred reporters,
and every incident Of every day would have
been described in newspapers, laid on the
break fast tables of the whole country, on the
following morning. But the expedition was
not unnoticed by tho press BY reference to
tho columns OF the National fhteHigencer
aud the Union, published here, you Will ma
that this ex petition was noticed from time
To time. But this was not all. Not only
was this emigration conducted in full view
OF the people and government OF the United
States, but IL was attended by great eShi-
of nt slN.t
remarkable qualities of human character.
These Mormons passed through tribes OF In
dians, who were at that very time fighting
the troops of the United States There were
comparatively but few persons OF foreign
birth in the expedition. They were chiefly
from New England, New York, Pennsylva-
mia and Ohio people educated in the public
and private schools OF those states intelli-
gent, many OF them oil the classes styled Ia
dies and gentlemen. There was good deal
OF the New England blood among them at
that time Among those who emgrated
from NauvOD was an educated connecticut
lady who bore my family name. She died
on the way, and was buried IN grave, now
unknown, in the deep black soil OF the prai-
rie. Although the Mormons passed through
bands OF Indians of the most hostile descrp-
tion, no scalp of a Mormon, man, woman or
child, was hung up in an Indian wigwaiil.
No Mormon took the life OF an Indian, or
fired a gun except TO bring down buffalo,
or some other game. They have always had
more success, more Christian tact in dealing
with the Indians than any othef white men
on this continent of North America, except
ing William Penn's Quakers. This is true
OF them now. All the great salient facts about
this emigration were known to the people
and government of the nlted states through
a whole year. 1t is of very little consequence
To the purpose of my argument whether the
law of Mexico, when they settled in Mexican
territory, did or did not prohibit polygsmy
and II Is also OF no consequence, in my 1udg-
ment whether the treaty undertook to secure
To them religiou3 freedom after the country
became the property of the United States, be-
cause when they passed under the constitu-
ton of the United States they received a
guarantee OF religious liberty that was far
more eiiectual than any treaty could Destow.
Now allow me to follow down their history
from ISIS The territory was organized by
act of Congress in 1850. brigham Young
was appointed governor of the territory and
so continued down to lS5I. lie was man
known by the whole country to be a polyga-
mist lie died years afterward leaving seven
teen wives and fifty or sixty children.
There was no interference and no legisls.
ton until 1862. The act then passed was
believed by every Mormon in Utah TO DO un-
constitutional. There were no prosecutions
under it for long time At tlength test case
was made, which reached this court, and WAS
decided at the October term 1873, ana at some
time in the winter OF 1879
| The point decided was, as your honors we'll
| know, That their religion WAS no bar To the
| act of the sovereign power in declaring poly
| gamist marriages 10 be bigamy. That was
the point under consideration.
There the matter rested until the passage oil
the passage OF the act of ISL From the pas.
| sage of the act of lSi2 to 1882 is 20 years.
| From 1877 to 1852 is L. years. From 1867 to
1879 (decision) is /. years. FROM lSI9 to lss2
| il ; years From lSi1 to lSS2 IL - years.
| Freak up this whole period of 80 years ~ we
| NAV 10y any of these subdivisions, there Is
| no one of the minor periods in which the
| people Of the United States did not know
| that pOlygalny was extensively pfactised Ill
that territory, and was increasing. 1t 1t can
| he said that by the act of 1862 the Mormons
| had notice that the institution was TO Do
| broken up, what shall we say about the
| period of IL wears before '62, or about the u
| wears that followed lS62 until lSS2?
MISREPRESENTATION of course, are no bai
| to legislation. But the legislative power was
| bound to regard them and, in court, these
| public equities must have some influence IL
| the construction and application of the legis
lation to particular cases arising among 81
| great number OF persons
| ~
one can hardly read a volume of Austin
| Dobson's poetry without asserting to all tina
his American editor, Edmund L. Stead
man,-high up among tine poets ana critic
himself, albeit they say poets cannot
critics-has To say about its excellence an
his rare genius. The wide range of hi
L
| his od-tmo sentiment : his modesty an
| scholarship, tho delicate humor anu ldealit
| of his lyrics aud the altogether unique style {
( | his society verse, have charm that MAKE
= | him IA much of "A favorite on this side OF tn
, | water as with the cultured of our Kin beyon
4 | the sea Tender aud kindly always, 1t ma
Z | be well questioned who of home or Engis
= | bards has given us OF late "more charm
!. | ing portrats purer touches OF NATURE
o | more picturesque glimpses OF 4 man'
a | which no holds in fee" | reca
: | him in now connection with DIR. Holmes Wis
= | Ia England because to him Dobson lhscrioe
A | the American edition of his works (lsSt
Y | and in doing il he said "Once couple
n | words from YOU which you doubtless haN
: | forgotten but which always shall remen
V ber-Inade me very proud and happy
That sort OF thing counts with poets as We
AZ with commonplace people
a. Since Thackeray's art died, it may be we
RI said "No such people of the old Englar
l. have como to life again a. Mr.. bobSoi'
'Gentleman -; who
lived In that past Georgian day
Whom men were less inclined 10 SAY,
| That :" Time i Cold " and ovcrlay
Win toll their pleasure
!" Ni the "Gentlewoman Of the old school
% tod bless her-dear Old Madame Placit
" For her cen Time grew dehonair
~ lie finding cheeks unclaimed OF care,
ma Win latcdslayed faint roses there
~ Aud lingering dinples,
- had spared Ia touch the fair old face,
-. And only kissed with NuuNhall grace,
he The sofLwhite hand that stroked her lace
nj or smoothed her wimples