The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-12

! gan to be bruitcd that the leaders Of
this organization and founders or the
new State were fugitives from justice
and apostates from the true Mormon
| faith and were living in polygamy,
and it is an historic fact that when
Brigham Young arrived In Salt Lake
| in 1S1T he had II wives, and all the
so-called apostles, IL in number, except
possibly !, from . to 20 wives each.
| This rumor gained credence and contir-
nation by a protest against the ad-
mission of the State of Deseret., sent
to the Congress Of the United States,
| December 81, lS49, and now on file in
! its archives, from which ] make the
| following extracts
Protest Against Admission.
Your petitioners respectfully represent
| that. whereas efforts are now being made
by the Salt Lake Mormons 10 obtain
| by false representations and falaclous
| presentations from the Government OF the
| United States n State organization 10 be
| called the State of Deseret: and: whereas.
| we believe that II would be highly detri-
| mental TO the best interests OF our coun-
try TO comply with their request; We do.
therefore, respectfully petition your hon
| orable body to provide some other way
| for the government of the Salt Lake SET
| tlement Your petitioners know most as
suredy that Salt Lake Mormonism Is
| diamctrically in opposition 10 the pure
principles of virtue. liberty, and equality,
and that the rulers OF the Salt Lake
church are bitter and inyeterate enemies
of our Government. They entertain
reasonable designs against the liberties
| Of American free-born sons and daugh-
ters. They have elected Brig
ham Young. who is the president of their
church, 10 be the Governor Of ,he pro-
posed State OF Deseret. Their intention
is to unite church and state.
We have authentic information that more
that 1900 Sal, Lake Mormons took the
following oath in the Temple of God, at
Nauvoo;
| 5sEnn do eoIo,,opI, euaar In tho pres
ence of Almighty God. His holy angels.
and these witnesses that you Will a"enge
the blood OF Joseph Smith on this Ma.
| you will from this time henceforth and
forever begin and carry out hostilities
against this Nation and TO keep the same
| intent a profound secret. now and for
ever. so help me God
The rulers of the Salt Lake church
hypocriticaly pretend To venerate the
name and character of the prophet, Jo
seph Smith, that they may retain their
popularity among that people who believe
that he was true prophet. These rulers
are apostates from the true Church of
Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints. which
church Joseph Smith was president OF.
They teach and practice polygamy
Surely your honorable body will not lend
your aid to egaliZe adultery and all man
ner OF wickedness. These men have left
their country for their country,s good
They have left 1t that they might es-
cape the punishment which their crimes
have invoked. " They have been gull
ty Of murders treason ro6Gss eonn and
! usurpetion OF power. both political and
ecclesiastical This is the character OF
the man who is the political and eccle-
siastical governor OF the Salt Lake col
ony, The Salt Lake settlement Is like
Sodom and Gomorrah. Save the rising
generation of that land ., from osins in,
blasphemy. and treason!
band nSe Of RfFAaSs sposafe ssoeved
further confirmation in the official re-
port Of the Indian agent for the Terri
which it was stated; "Among these
men (speaking Of the Mormons) was
Willard Richards, who kept a harem
, | of some dozen or fifteen women, to al
Of whom he is welded. He IS acting
Secretary Of State and postmaster OF
the city,
Polygamy Publicly Proclaimed.
Upon the presentation of the re.
monstrance referred to, the National
House of Representatives declined to
consider the petition for the admission
, of the estate of Deseret' into the
} Union, or receive its representative
but in lieu thereof and on the 7th day
of September, 1850. Congress passed an
act providing for the organization and
: government of the Territory of Utah
In 1850 President Fillmore appointed
tory for the term of four years, who
entered upon the duties of the office in
February, 1851 and thus the chief
polygamous saint and head of the
church became the chief executive of
the Territory. These public and official
declarations, eonirmatory of the ru,
! mors of the practice OF pOlygamy
by Brigham Young and his apostles
: made further concealment of their
, crime impossible, and ST became neces-
sary In some way to excuse or Justify
so flagrant an assault upon public de
cency and the civilization of the age.
TO that end a special conference
of the sect was called TO convene at
, Salt Lake City on the 2Sth day of
August, 1852, over which Brigham
! Young presided. attended by the So
called apostle and high officials Of the
: church TO the number Of over two thou
| sand, at which conference. for the first
time, the doctrine of polygamy was
publicly proclaimed and declared TO be
an accepted tenet of the Utah Mormon
faith. Preliminary 10 its formal
promulgation and 10 promote Its recep-
tion by the followers of Brigham
Young it was deemed expedient that
some of the high dlgnltaries who were
associated with him should bear testi-
mony to The sanity character of their
master and the divine origin of the
nefarious doctrine. To this end Heber
C.. KimbalI. one of the first presidents
and polygamist. in calling the meet
ing to order took occasion 10 say:
Brother Brigham Young is the success
or OF Joseph Smith, and n better man
never lived upon the earth nor ever
sought the interest OF his people more
fervently.
Elder Benson, another polygamist,
joined in the laudation by saying:
1 know that the principles that have
been taught by the Prophet Joseph and
Brothers Brigham. Heher. and Willard
composing the First Presidency and by
every other good man in this church
are correct principles, and that these men
have been borne triumphantly over
every trial and difficulty they have been
called TO pass through. The elders there
fore, can go to the nations with their
consciences as clean as drifting snow and
with the satisfaction that all is right in
Zion. and We are led by the best men
| upon The face of the earth. | am glad in
my heart. and | say. God bless Brigham
Heber. and Willard; They are the eoun
sci OF heaven to this people and ! mean
TO honor them in the earth wherever 7
go. and j would preach down In the
bowels OF hell the same as / do hero and
not he ashamed OF II (pandemoniun,
/