Year: 1871

The special kilograms to the HERALD from
Salt Lake City have, during the last ten days,
advised us Of the development of q purpose
the part Of the United States Courts in
UeA to reach Brigham Young and his asso-
ciatess who have so long bid defiance to the
government and the laws of the nation.
AT one time we have been advised of the
Mormons preparing to contend with force OF
arms againscall interference with their leaders
and the institurians of their Church. At other
tlmes we have been assured of the most perfect
SUBMISSION Of both prophets and people to the
decisions OF the courts. The interesting con-
versauons held ~ our special correspondent
with Colonel De Trobriand and Governor
Woods, published in to-day's HERALD, seem
to promise the latter solution Of the difficulty.


But with an understanding OF the history Of
that poor, misguided people, we have learned
to distrust all their assuradces, and whom they
announce peace or war experience has taught
us that it is the safest part to read them ex-
actly opposite to what they say or profess.
The only possible understanding Of Brigham
Young is to read his policy from the standpoint
of necessity. What sis compelled to do may
be counted upon; what is left to his own will
and choice will be governed by the hopes that
he can entertain Of successfully carrying out
his own schemes Of aggrandizement and thor
ough independence Of all human control


Late dispatches from Salt Lake City have
informed us Of his arrest upon charge Of


offences under the Territorial law, and Of his
expressed willingness to appear in the Court to
answer to the charges preferred against him,
the most conspicuous of which, at the present
moment, is s'for lewd and lascivious cohabi-
tation with sixteen different women, under the
statutes Of Utah providing against offences
against morality and decency." Thus far we
are informed by telegram.


The despatch received last night, as well az
that of preceding date, speaks Of the Pro-
phet's ill-health, and in consequence of which
he has been unable to appear in Court. This
is undoubtedly the fact, for thers is no dispo-
sition III the federal officers to admit OF trifing
or to being put off with paltry excuses.
From all appearances the day Of reckoning
with the Utah prophets and apostles has been
reached, and it the United States officials in that
Territory are as prudent as there is every rea-
sou to believe that they are, an end of the open
and avowed outrage Of law is certainly to be
counted upon, and the present action Of the
courts is assuredy the beginning of that end.


In the latter part Of the nineteenth century
no sensible person can take any pleasure in


persecution but, with the onward march Of
civilization, 1t must be apparent to every one
that, under no pretext whatever, can any person
or community be permitted to live in defiance Of
law. This Is precisely the question in Utah to-
day. Brigham Young has repeatedly, from the
pulpit and through the press that he controls,
uttered dedantly his disregard of all human law
on the subject of marriage, his defence being
its unconstitutionality. This defiance has now
reached its elimination, and the officers Of
the government there are forced to bring
him before the courts to settle this point.
It has been expected that the issue would
be begun on the disregard and violation of the
anti-polygamic statute Of Congress but the
Grand Jury have evidently concluded to COM
mence with the statutes Of the Territory, and
these are 80 very meagre on the subject of
marital relations that the present charge can
not be regarded as much more than the step
ping stone to the act of Congress.


About year ago, when an excursion party
of wealthy Bostonians carried with them a
bottle filled with the waters of the Atlantic to
mingle with the waters of the Pacific, they
called in at Salt Lake City to spend the Sab
bath and 10 hear Brother Brigham 10 the
Tabernacle. Every one Of thess Boston saints
would have given Brigham the cold shoulder
in New Engla nd ; but following the loose
m orality of the world when they were away
from home, they were easily iudoctrinated to
'doing in Turkey what the Turkeys do"
and so they hastened in the morning to
hear the inspiration OF the modern Prophet
Courteous, as all travellers are, they invited
Brigham and his chief apostles to dine with
them in their Pullman paatial car, which the
Mormons accepted, and, in return, the Bos-
onia ms were invited to reserved seats in the
Tabernacle during the afternoon SERVICE
On this occasion the Prophet was un-
commonly communicative, and promising that
he might never have another opport unity
of unbosoming himself to SO distinguished an
auditory, he avowed for the first and only
time that which is now the groundwork for his
arrest. On that occasion he said that he had
sixteen wives and forty-Hve children whom he
supported. A Deputy United States Marshal
was present on that occasion, and on his
affidavit and complaint the present action ia
predicated. Brigham cannot no back upou
this statement, for at least six or seven
thousand persons listened to him, and, if neces-
sary, his Boston auditory can be summoned az
witnesses.


With proper regard to possible contngen-
cies the Utah Legislature, entirely Mormon,