In the progress of the war, and the general interest with
which all classes regard its prosecution, the proceedings of Congress, though
of unusual importance, excite but little attention. The action of that body in respect of the
passage of a General Bankrupt Law, and the establishment of a National Armory
in the West, except to a few immediately interested, seems to have lost
interest; more, perhaps, from the fact that the public had settled down in the
conclusion that nothing would be done with either of these measures at the
resent session.
A bill has recently been passed by the House of
Representatives that is calculated to produce great excitement in one portion
of our Republic, and perhaps lead to sedition.
We allude to Mr. Ashley’s bill for the punishment of polygamy. This is the corner-stone of the proposed
State of Deseret, just as slavery is that of the projected Southern Confederacy
and the Mormons intend to demand immediate admission into the Union with a
State government based upon this principle, so revolting to enlightened
humanity. As congress “declares their
fundamental system a crime, which morals and justice alike forbid,” and will
not for a moment listen to the admission of a new State into the Union on such
grounds, and the Mormon leaders are all in earnest in their demand, and emeute may be expected among the Priams
of the far West that may require a few brigades to be kept in the field, after
the little affair down South has been settled to the satisfaction of all loyal
citizens.
As the Western troops have so distinguished themselves in
fighting the rebels against our Government, we suggest that a sufficient number
be detailed from them to whip the rebels against decency back into the path of
virtue and morality. The ties of a
common Westernhood will not unnerve our brave boys; though they love the
beautiful West, its broad prairies and invigorating atmosphere, they love more
the Government that protects them in their rights, and they wish to enjoy those
rights uncontaminated by sin and shame.
The great lights of Mormondom have recently been reflecting
their rays on the obtuse faculties of their followers, in a series of set
speeches on this libidinous feature of their corrupt system. – Brigham Young,
Heber C. Kimball and other “apostolic” dignitaries in Utah, who mould the
deluded followers of the Mormon heresy at their will, we see it stated, boldly
avow their purpose to make a direct issue with the Government. In effect, they say, “that they have suffered
unjust persecution until forbearance is no longer a virtue, and that they now
insist upon a full recognition of their rights, on an equal footing with the
States.” Brigham recently expressed the
views of the priesthood in a violent philippic; a single passage of which will
reflect the whole:–
“We are not going to be satisfied with a mere pre-emption right on the soil in this territory. Should the Government grant to every head of
a family six hundred and forty acres of land, and to each wife and child their
portion, as was done in Oregon territory, that would give me and to my sons and
daughters quite a scope of country, and the whole people would swallow up all
the land in this territory. But shall we
be satisfied with that? No, I am going
to have a larger pre-emption that the territory of Utah. In a few years this territory will contain my
own posterity. In twenty years from now
this spacious hall will not hold them, and in twenty years more they will more
than fill this territory. I cannot put
up with this small possession.”
In a few years according to Brigham’s constructive tree of
genealogy, Mormon offspring will be more numerous than the locusts of Egypt,
and, like them, will devour the fat of the land. – Slavery and polygamy, “twin
relics of barbarism,” must be wiped out from the fair record of our country,
then our nation will march on to true greatness.
– Published in The
Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862,
p. 2
