Mountain Meadow Massacre.
______

A correspondent of the S. F. Bulletin writing from Callville, Arizona, under date of June 25th, says of the Indians in that vicinity:

they are thoroughly posted in relation to the raids of Gen, Connor's command against the Indians farther North; the excitement exiting in relation to the Mountain Meadow massacre; the endeavors by the Government to ferret out and punish the actors in this, the bloodiest drama ever per perpetrated on American soil; the fact that they are charged by the Mormons with being the sole perpetrators of that tragedy, and they fear that they will soon be held to a rigid accountability. It was to this vally of the Muddy, that a large portion of the stock from from the massacred train was brought and here was killed the only adult, a man by the name of Williams, who escaped from Mountain Meadows. These Indians do not hesitate to acknowledge their connection with the massacre, but charge the Mormons with being the instigators and chief actors in the tragedy. The tales they tell are horrible beyond description, and while it would be unjust, considering their present relations with the Mormons, to take all their statements for truth, it is impossible to resist the conviction that revenge for the killing of Parley Pratt, in Arkansas, was the inciting cause of the Mountain Meadow massacre, and that a band of Danites were the directors of its perpetration. I was astonished at the details by these Indians of circumstances and names; in the latter psrticular their statements were explicit, extending even to giving us ttihlee name of the lady under whose charge the surviving children were taken East. The Mormons have long been noted for their shrewd management of Indians, but events now transpiring indicate that their influence with the savages is lesssening. The result may be the arrest and punishment of the white miscreants who planned the indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children at Mountain Meadows.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mountain Meadow Massacre.
______

In the letter of an occasional correspondent from Callville in yesterdays Bulletin, it was intimated that the Mormons were exciting the United States authorities to punish the Indians for the massacre known by the above name. The Mormons having their own troubles with the ndians are now accusing those collected in the neighborhood of of Muddy River of being the murderers, and in possession of the cattle and other plunder obtained by the crime. It will be remembered that in 1857 a large train of emigrants fronm Arkkansas were attacked at Mountain Meadow by a band of Indians or white men, and every adult, numbering 144 persons of both sexes slain, and a large quantity of stock, wagons, carriagess, jewelry, clothing and other property carried off. After the massacre 18 children, from eight years of age down to eight months, were pocked up amongst the bushes into which they had crawled for shelter. James Lynch, formerly superintendent of the United States post at Camp Floyd, has informed us that he was instructed by the United States authorities to inquire into this matter while stationed at the above post, and he had communications with John D. Lee, Hamlin, Bishop Smith and other Mormons, and they all acknowledged that the attack was made by Mormons assisted by five Paiute Indians. John D. Lee, boasting that he was the leader of the attacking party. They admit also the finding of the children and that there had been a consultation about them, one Mormon brute advocating their death on the ground that "they should destroy the nits while killing the lice." More humane counsels, however, prevailed and Hamlin took charge of 16 and John D. Lee of 2. These children were found by the United States authorities, in Santa Clara, in 1859, in miserable condition, and were given up to ouar informant. The eldest, a sharp intelligent child 10 years old, named Marry Dunlap, remembered distinctly the occurrences of two years before, and pointed out to Mr. Lynch the men who had taken part in the massacre. Mary Dunlap also testified to articles of dress and jewelry wfrn by John D. Lee's wife and other persons as being part of the plunder which she recognized; also carriages and wagons which formed part of the train then in possession of the Mormons with whom she had been living. Over 30 witnesses testified to facts proving the guilt of the Mormons in this matter before Judge Cradlebaugh and Eckell, Territorial Judges in Utah.

The children were subsequently removed to the States and Mary Dunlap, the eldest survivor of the catastrophe, is living in Kansas City, Missouri, and can, we are informed, substantiate the charges against the men who are now seeking to throw the blame on the Indians. Mr. Lynch left by this day's steamer for Guayquill, Republic of Equador; but if through tihboe instrumentality of the Judges named above or any other parties, an attempt should be made to bring the real assassins to punishment, he will be found ready to proceed to any part of the United States to depose to the above and other facts which came to his knowledge while employed in the Government service at the time the first enquiry was made. -- S. F. Bulletin.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THIRTY-SIXTH  SEMI-ANNUAL  CONFERENCE.
______

The Semi-Annual Conference convened in the Bowery in this city on Saturday morning, Oct. 6th, 1866. President Young presiding.

On the Stand during the meetings were Presidents Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Daniel H. Wells...

President B. Young spoke of the unanimity of feeling enjoyed by all who receive the gospel, and their desires to make known its truths to all the children of men. Mankind can never find out God by any other than the Lord's own appointed way. He referred to his first hearing the gospel, and to the correctness with which the plan laid before him by illiterate men corresponded with the plan laid down in the New Testament; and spoke of the overwhelming testimony by which the work of God was sustained in this age, even in an early day after the organization of the Church....

The President continued, showing the evils of gambling, drinking and other kindred vices. There are but a very few among the community, entertaining views different to the people here, that follow these vices, encourage them, or seek to aid those engaged in them; and all good citizens irrespective of creed or faith will aid in their suppression, that the welfare, peace and good order of the community may be promoted.

He alluded to the family of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and to the kindly feelings which have been entertained towards them by the authorities of the Church and the Saints; and called up portions of the history of the Prophet Joseph which proved how far that family have gone astray, as well as all who follow after them in their present course...


Note 1: The editor of the Deseret News apparently did not feel any strong inclination to provide his readers at a distance details from President Young's remarks on "the family of Joseph Smith," as given orally to the conference attendees. In their 1994 book, Mormon Enigma, historians L. K. Newell and V. T. Avery cite "Brigham Young's address, 7 October, 1866, in Semi-annual Conference, Brigham Young papers, LDS Archives," [Ms d 1234, Box 49 fd 13] as preserving at least a portion of Young's public words on that occasion. The historians offer this excerpt: "Brigham described a 'secret council,' probably the November 5 [1843] meeting, at which he [Young] said Joseph accused Emma of the poisoning and 'called upon her to deny it if she could... He told her that she was a child of hell, and literally the most wicked woman on this earth, that there was not one more wicked than she. He told her where she got the poison, and how she put it in a cup of coffee; said he, "You got that poison so and so, and I drank it, but you could not kill me." When it entered his stomach he went to the door and threw it off. He spoke to her in that council in a very severe manner, and she never said one word in reply. I have witnesses all around, who can testify that I am now telling the truth. Twice she undertook to kill him.' He did not elaborate on the alleged second occurance..."

Note 2: A different source provides a similar, but lengthier excerpt from the same Oct. 7, 1866 conference talk: "I will now speak upon a subject which I think ought to notice for the benefit of a few who are inclined to be giddy-headed, unstable in their ways, and enthusiastic about something which they do not understand. You are already apprized of the fact that a son of Joseph Smith the Prophet was here in our City not long since. Joseph Smith's first son only lived a few hours; then Joseph Smith, commonly called Young Joseph, was born; then Frederic, and then Alexander; it was Alexander who was in our City lately. The people have not heard me say anything about him one way or the other. I will relate a few facts. The sympathies of the Latter-day Saints are with the family of the martyred prophet. I never saw a day in the world that I would not almost worship that woman, Emma Smith, if she would be a saint instead of being a devil. I feel so today. There is no good thing in a temporal point of view that I would withhold from her; anything that is in my power to do for her, I would willingly do with all my heart, and with an open hand. --- There are a few here that knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and some of them are apostatizing from the work, which the Lord commanded him to found, to run after Young Joseph Smith, the second son of the Prophet, who has no more authority to set himself up as a president and teacher of a people than any other man has in the sectarian world who possessed nothing of the priesthood of the Most High. Young Joseph Smith does not possess one particle of this priesthood. The Twelve Apostles and the other authorities of this Church would have been exceeding glad if the Prophet's family had come with us when we left Nauvoo for the valleys of these mountains. We would have made cradles for them if they had required them, and would have fed them on milk and honey. Emma is naturally a very smart woman; she is subtle and ingenious, and she has made all her children believe that myself, brother Kimball, and the other members of the Twelve laid the plot which terminated in the death of the Prophet. This charge is especially laid to myself. At the time that Joseph was killed I was in the city of Boston, a number of hundred miles away from the scene of the martyrdom. She has made her children inherit lies. To my certain knowledge Emma Smith is one of the damdest liars I know of on this earth; yet there is no good thing I would refuse to do for her, if she would only be a righteous woman; but she will continue in her wickedness. --- Not six months before the death of Joseph, he called his wife Emma into a secret council, and there he told her the truth, and called upon her to deny it if she could. He told her that the judgments of God would come upon her forthwith if she did not repent. He told her of the time she undertook to poison him, and he told her that she was a child of hell, and literally the most wicked woman on this earth, that there was not one more wicked than she. He told her where she got the poison, and how she put it in a cup of coffee; said he, "You got that poison so and so, and I drank it, but you could not kill me." When it entered his stomach he went to the door and threw it off. He spoke to her in that council in a very severe manner, and she never said one word in reply. I have witnesses of this scene all around, who can testify that I am now telling the truth. Twice she undertook to kill him. --- From a dream that I had while on my visit to Logan a short time since, I know that spiritualism is the head and front, and the arm and breast and brain, and the eyes and whole body of Young Joseph's profession and operations. In my dream I saw the Prophet Joseph, and he tried for awhile to sustain the old dwelling, and mediated building around it; but he finally concluded to discard it, and swept the ground clean where it stood to put up an entirely new building. Although this is a matter I have not thought of, yet the dream is true, and expresses the true state of the case. --- When Alexander Smith came here, we treated him kindly, and I plead with him to accompany us on our visit north. George A. Smith, his cousin, plead with him to accompany us, but to no purpose. Finally, Joseph F. Smith, who was from home, came back, and saw him, and met him in public in this city. Many of this congregation are acquainted with that circumstance. It was asked him what he thought of the endowment. He replied, "I do not mention it, for I do not wish to hear anything about the endowment." "What do you think of the doctrine of polygamy?" It is his business to preach against polygamy, and his brother Joseph said that his father never introduced it. Several of the sisters testified to him that they were sealed to his father. Well, said he, "if he did have any such revelation, or teach any such doctrine, or practice it, he must have got out of the way," or, in other words he must have been a fallen prophet, if he ever was a true prophet. That is the conclusion they come to when hard pressed with stern facts. Joseph Smith the Prophet taught the gathering; but this new sect deny the gathering. --- If there are any Latter-day Saints who wish to be destroyed, run after that family, and I will promise you in the name of the God of Israel that you will be damned. Any person who will follow this man or that man who is wrong, and refuses to submit himself to the ordinances of the house of God and to serve Him and keep His commandments, will perish; all that walk in that path will go to a sure and swift destruction. Young David Smith seems to be the pet of the company, he is heart and hand with his brother Joseph, and with a hundred others who are apostates from the true faith of the Gospel, and who were one with the mob who persecuted and slew the Prophet. When Joseph the Prophet was killed his wife Emma was pregnant. Joseph said, previous to his death, "She shall have a son, and his name shall be called David, and unto him the Lord will look." I am looking for the time when the Lord will speak to David, but let him pursue the course he is now pursuing, and he will never preside over the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in time nor in eternity. He has got to repent of his sins, and turn away from his iniquity, to cease to do evil, and learn to do well, embrace the Gospel of life and salvation, and be an obedient son of God, or he never can walk up to possess his right. It would be his right to preside over this Church, if he would only walk in the true path of duty. I hope and pray that he and the whole family will repent, and be a holy family. --- Now, you old Mormons, stop your talking about Young Joseph, and about David going to preside over the Church by and by! I wish he was prepared for it, would repent of his sins, and come in at the door, and be one with us, and walk up to the Twelve and the First Presidency, saying, I am one with you, and am your servant. When Sidney Rigdon swelled up and thought he was the most important man in the Kingdom, I told him where his place was, and that the Twelve Apostles would build up the Kingdom. Joseph more than one score of times told them both in private and in public, that he rolled the Kingdom on to their shoulders, and said I to Sidney, we will build it up, and bear it off, and not follow you one inch. What has he come to? He sits in the midst of the woods East mumbling to himself; but scarcely able to speak an intelligent word; he is almost a lunatic. And where has the rest of the apostates gone? And where has the rest of the apostates gone? And where will they go? Every one of them, bogus Joseph not excepted, will go to destruction, and the Kingdom of God will continue to flourish and spread abroad...."

THE TABERNACLE. -- We attended the Tabernacle yesterday and listened to a lengthy address from Brigham Young, in which he urged unity of action on the part of the Saints, and vindicated the position he assumed in his reply to the card recently published by the merchants of this city. He stated that he had invited the strictest scrutiny, and had advised vigilance to be used in the discovery of the perpetrators of the murder of Dr. Robinson. He excused himself for not having adverted to the subject before. He alluded to the Mountain Meadow massacre, denouncing it in unmeasured terms, saying he did not believe there was a being in human shape, except savages, who could have committed so base a crime. He alluded extensively to the subject of the patrinage of Gentile merchants by Mormons, and counselled them to pass by the stores of those who, he said, were here for no other purpose but to destroy the Saints. He argued that there was in this community a class of men who were striving to deprive the Mormons of their houses, lands and money, and that all who patronized that class would be cut off from the Church. He launched forth many an invective against a certain sheet (which we forbear to publish), said sheet not being named but left to the conjecture of his audience. He frequently alluded to the subject of his published "Reply," and reiterated over and over again his determination to adhere to the policy expressed in his "Reply," and advowed his intention to carry it out to the very last day of his existence. He argued that the Mormons were doing no more than had been done by the professors of other religious denominations, in withholding aid and support from their enemies.


Notes: (forthcoming)

REMARKS
By President Brigham Young, in the Tabernacle
in Great Salt Lake City, Sunday, Dec. 23d, 1866.
________

(REPORTED BY G. D. WATT.)
________

I will try to speak to the people. I shall need silence in the house, and the close attention of my hearers. I expect the faith of the Saints even without asking for it. The faithful will exercise faith, and pray always for all who are within the reach of mercy. The good desire good to all. I have words to say to the good, and also to the froward -- to the righteous and to the unrighteous -- to the Saint and the sinner....

Whoever lives a few years more will see suffering among the wicked until their hearts sicken. If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is, if I had the power, to make men do right; to make them stop their swearing, their lying, their deceiving, to stop trying to injure the innocent...

I see a notice in the Daily Telegraph that they are going to send a detective here to trace the murderers of Dr. Robinson. It is published to the world that the murdered man had no enemies only in the City Council. He had no enemies there. Were it not that there are many outsiders here to-day I would like the Saints to know how I feel about all such dastardly transactions. I will tell the Latter-day Saints that there are some things which transpire that I cannot think about. There are transactions that are too horrible for me to contemplate.

The massacre at Haun's mill, and that of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and the Mountain Meadow's massacre and the murder of Dr. Robinson are of this character. I cannot think that there are beings upon the earth who have any claim to the sentiments and feelings which dwell in the breasts of civilized men who could be guilty of such atrocities; and it is hard to suppose that even savages would be capable of performing such inhuman acts.... I say to all concerned, cease not your efforts until you find the murderers; and place the guilt where it belongs. I have not said this much before on that matter, and should not have spoken of it now, if the excitement which it created had not passed away. I do not care about the outsider, hearing this, as their opinion is neither here nor there to me; the Saints however, are welcome to my views upon this matter. If the outsiders think that I am guilty of the crime, let them trace it to me and prove it on me.

If any man, woman or child that ever lived has said that Brigham Young ever counseled them to commit crime of any description, they are liars in the face of heaven. If I am guilty of any such thing, let it be proved on me, and not go sneaking around insinuating that Brigham knows all about it. Infernal thieves will come into my public office and sit ten minutes, and then go out and lead thoughtless persons into the practice of thieving, saying: "It is all right; I have been up to see the President." Such men will be damned. This will answer my mind for the present. This, however, is not all I shall say on this subject...

Let the fraternity of the brotherhood keep their oaths and covenants and vows, and they will be honest, upright men, and gentlemen. May the Lord bless you.

Amen.


Note: See also the Deseret News for Jan. 8, 1867 and George A. Hicks' "The Life History of George Armstrong Hicks," p. 45, as quoted in Will Bagley's 2002 Blood of the Prophets, p. 258.

THE  REST  OF  IT.
________

We have already given a fair view of the Munchausenish testimony offered to the House Committee on Territories, by Pat Connor and Pat's clique. We now finish the testimony of Pat's precious parson, McLeod....

Question. Can you refer the committee to any books, papers, or documents which will elucidate the doctrines and pratices of the Mormons, and particularly such as have emanated from and are recognized as authentic, by them? If so, please do so, and state any other facts, and your own oponions bearing upon the subject-matter of this investigation.

Answer. In Burton's "City of the Saints," a work virtually dictated by the Mormon hierarchy, you will find a very full list of works on Mormonism. The man Burton gave himself up wholly to the fascinations the Mormon leaders know so well how to throw around those whom they wish to use to advance their dark purposes.

I beg to remark, in conclusion, that such is the terror of Brigham's secret power, and the deep conviction in the minds of that unhappy people of his capability, when occasion offers, of exercising that power, even to dark and fearful issues, that, in my opinion, no avowed Mormon could be found willing to testify in open court in any case in which Brigham's interest or his complicity with crime, or that of his leading men, was pending. The people know, from years of bitter experience and unmanly threats, that the voice of council -- that is, the will of Brigham, even though the incentive to or the justification of crime -- is yet all potent in Utah; that justice there is a mockery and a farce when sought by a "Gentile" or a so-called apostate from the Mormon church; that the reigning tyranny has every facility for the commission and concealment of crime; that when "Gentiles" or apostate Mormons are concerned, the law in Utah is powerless for the detection and punishment of the guilty; that jurots and those whose duty it is to see the law respected, excepting the noble and fearless men, the federal judges, are bound by infamous oaths and infernal obligations to another tribunal, to the demon of the endowment house, and fully justified in their endeavors to defeat the high purposes of justice.... (Norman McLeod. Post Chaplain Camp Douglas, Utah Territory -- Sworn to and subscribed the 15th of June, 1866.)...

Pat's commissary further said that about half of the people of the Territory were practical polygamists, knowingly loving in open violation of the federal laws against polygamy; the Mormon leaders had openly disregarded the law of Congress prohibiting polygamy and advised the people to disobey them; two Mormon newspapers published in Great Salt Lake City openly advocated the doctrine. Connor had frequently "given military protection to many dissenters who desired to leave Utah, but were liable to assassination" of not protected; citizens not members of the church were "liable to be imposed upon, if they expressed their opposition to polygamy." He attended the funeral of Brassfield, and gave his version of that affair; knew nothing personally of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but he had heard what "reliable persons," who had been on the ground, had to say about it.We conclude our review of commissary Stover's talk with the two following questions and answers --

Question. Do I understand you to say that the lives and property of dissenting Mormons and citizens of the United States would be in danger without the presence of the United States military force?

Answer. Most certainly. The numerous assassinations and massacres in Salt Lake City and vicinity, during the last twelve years, prove that it is absolutely necessary for the protection of citizens and dissenting Mormons that a sufficient force of the military should be stationed in Utah. A citizen of Nevada, temporarily sojourning in Salt Lake City, was basely assassinated last month, by the Mormons. And others, which have taken place from time to time, and the savage, inhuman butchery of one hundred and eighty innocent men, women and children, at Mountain Meadows, Utah, should be sufficuent warning to the Government.... D. B. Stover, Late Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Vil....


Notes: (forthcoming)

About The Mormons.
________

The London correspondent of the San Francisco Bulletin of the 20th inst., writing from that place, under date of April 30th, dishes up the following in his letter.

"I own to being a great sinner. For three months I have been in lodgings, within ear-shot of a Mormon missionary tabernacle of Latter-day Saints, and never once darkened the door of this house of the Lord. I should have attended divine service there when B. Young's 45th son preached the gospel according to Joe Smith, but for half a dozen reasons which prevented. The chief was that my wife put her foot down resolutely against my aiding by my presence the "beastly polygamy" of Brigham Young. I dislike family jars, and denied myself the luxury of an audience with the Saints. The semi-annual conference of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" was held in the Music Hall, Store street, Bedford square, a semi-fashionable quarter of London adjoining my place of abode. The Quarterly Review sent a reporter to catch the drippings of the sanctuary where Brother Brigham's son, by his fiftieth or sixieth wife, held forth on the 7th of April. The gathering was the anniversary of the 37th year -- 6th April, 1830 -- when Joseph Smith formed his church of six members. But about this there must be a grave mistake, for I know a Mormon missionary itinerated [through] New York in the yeat 1829. It was in 1826 that Joe "dug up" his Mormon gold plates or tablets, from which he wrote out the Mormon bible, but which said plates consisted of a religious manuscript novel, written, as tradition has it, by an invalid clergyman in Cherry Valley, New York, after the manner of Ossian's poems. Hw it got into Joe Smith's and Sidney Rigdon's hands, I forget, and I also forget when Smith, Rigdon or a farmer of Palmyra endeavored to hire Thurlow Weed, then editing a paper in the city of Rochester, near Palmyra, to print the book of Mormon, which negotiation fell through. I do not think Brigham Young was among these primitive and immortal, or immoral, six apostles who followed their brother Joe Smith. Young was a religious enthusiast with a family whom he would leave for weeks, with "nothing in the house," to the protection of the Lord, while he, in his white choker and white wool hat, was far away, "howling at camp meetings" or so his neighbors profanely called his ministrations, while they fed the family of this "ornery sass," as he was familiarly styled by all both great and small."


Notes: (forthcoming)

(From the Montana Post of the 6th inst.)

MORMONISM  DEFINED.
______

A recent article in the [Montana] Post, touching mildly on the abominations practiced by Brigham Young and his followers, appears to have touched a tender place in the Salt Lake Telegraph, and it thereupon devotes a couple of editorials to the Post. The Telegraph builds its article on this kind of theory: "The legalizing of prostitution is advocated in some of the States. Polygamy is no worse than prostitution, therefore why disturb it? This kind of argument is its own refutation, and would not merit a reply were it not for the following assertions:

"There is something said in general terms about infamous and detestible criminal practices, pernicious and demoralizing institutions, hostility toward resident unbelievers and the Federal Government and its officers, intimidating courts, defiance to the laws, locally legalized abominations, and so on.

"We have lived in this city quite a time, and must confess to utter ignorance of the prevelence hereabout of the crimes somewhat indefinitely preferred by the Post.

"We are in a great loss to know what those infamous and detestable criminal practices, pernicious and demoralized institutions mean. We have not the remotest idea of any such things in connection with the people of Utah....

On the 7th of January, 1863, Judge Cradlebaugh stated in the House of Representatives that "while he was an Associate Justice of Utah, the Grand Juries utterly refused to do anything and had to be discharged. He added:

"Sitting as a committing magistrate, complaint after complaint was made before me of murders and robberies. Among these I may mention, as peculiarly and shockingly prominent, the murder of Forbes, the assassination of the Parrishes and Potter, of Jones and his mother, of the Aiken party, of which there were six in all, and, worst and darkest in the appalling catalogue of blood, the cowardly, cold-blooded butchery and robbery at the Mountain Meadows, September 10, 1857. At that time there still lay, all ghastly, under the sun of Utah, the unburied skeletons of one hundred and nineteen men, women, and children, the hapless, hopeless victims of the Mormon creed."

He stated that the wholesale murder was committed by Mormons, partly painted as Indians, by written authority of Brigham Young. They were a train of emigrants who had passed through the the city and been joined by disaffected Mormons. United States officers reported officially the same thing. The train was a wealthy one, was from those States from which the Mormons had been expelled, and Revenge and Avarice inspired the deed. It consisted of 40 wagons, 800 head of cattle, 60 horses and mules, and nearly 150 men and women and many children. The people were all massacred except the infants, and Hon. J. Forney testifies to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that a few days after the massacre that there was distributed among the leading dignitaries $30,000 worth of property. Captain Campbell who was appointed to enquire into these affairs reported to the A. A. General of the U. S. Army, July 6, 1859, that

"These emigrants were [here] met by the Mormons, assisted by such of the wretched Indians of the neighborhood as they could force or persuade to join [them], and massacred, with the exception of such infant children as the Mormons thought too young to remember or tell of the affair."

Judge Cradlebaugh visited the scene of the massacre, was thoroughly convinced that the Mormons concocted the deed and were the main parties in executing it. Numbers of Mormons who had apostatized offered abundance of evidence if they were assured of military protection. He took affidavits and issued warrants for the arrest of thorty-eight Mormons including three Bishops, when orders were received from Washington to withdraw the military and so ended, for the time at least, the investigation. Brigham Young, Superintendent of Indian Affairs at the time, made no mention of the massacre in his report. The Deseret News made no mention of it for several months. The Indians, apostate Mormons and the children saved in the massacre; goods found in the possession of the Mormons, known to have belonged to the emigrants, and traced back to the day succeeding the massacre, every evidence of a direct or circumstantial character, fastens upon the Mormon people the stigma and guilt of this damnable outrage. If this not sufficient, there is this day in possession of Judge Titus in Salt Lake City, the original order, issued by Lieut. Gen. Wells, commanding the Nauvoo Legion, in the handwriting of his Adj. Gen. Spangler (?) sworn to as authentic by two witnesses, and admitted last winter by the widow of Spangler (?) to be his handwriting, ordering the murder of over forty teamsters who had incurred the displeasure of the Mormon dignitaries. This order is published in a report in the United States Congress last winter....


Notes: (forthcoming)

A New Book -- Mormonism.
________

We are favored with the prospectus of a new work on the "origin of Mormonism, its rise and progress," to be published by D. Appleton & C., in September. It says:

"The author of the history about to appear was himself cognizant of the facts and incidents he relates in regard to the origin and development of the imposture church. Beyond these he has collected from a great variety of sources, -- a comple and connected account of Mormonism, as it has progressed since its early founders and followers left this state, and since their departure from Nauvoo. Those who can speak from personal knowledge of the early history of this delusion, are rapidly passing away. The world should have their testimony. When the book appears, it will be found to bear the impress of entire truthfulness; and its facts bearing upon the most stupendous religious imposture known to this century, will alike aurprise and interest the public at large."

If the author can shed any new light upon the subject, all right! let him write away! But if it is to be a catch-penny, sensational production, it will do more harm than good; and will not be read with much favor except by those who never saw a live Mormon in their life. We don't go a cent on these book writers, who say all manner of ill-natured and naughty things about people long since turned to dust, or distant thousands of miles away. If this is a sample of the style in which the events of the past are done up, we predict a dull sale for the history in these parts.

"Smith's family (his father's family) all resided in the neighborhood. They were remarkable only for their worthlessness; people whom nobody cared to know. Joe himself was a village vagabond, a loiterer about stores and taverns, liking everything better than useful work. Whether he became a prophet on his own motion, or at the suggestion of some others having more quiet cunning and education, but no more principle than himself, we cannot say, but he ebcame one, in pretension. A deposed clergyman, named Rigdon, did the first Mormon preaching. One or two honest farmers of Palmyra were drawn into the scheme, and nearly impoverishd themselves by furnishing the money to print this "Gold Bible" -- all translated from the mysterious plates which Smith had dug out of Mormon Hill!"

We suggest that the acrimonious and disparaging tone so common to book writers on Mormonism, be smoothed down a trifle, or better still, entirely dispended with, unless they are writing for glory, and not for cash -- money. No Catholic ever became converted from his faith by reading the blood and thunder phillipics launched against "popery," "popish mummery," "popish idolatry," etc.; nor can it readily be shown that Protestants are in the habit of becoming converted from their faith, by being upbraided as "heretics," and "schismatics." There is a grand error in that style, that won't win in these mountains. It is not the way to appeal to one's reason, by starting out with that kind of an argument, that is apt to "rile" your subjects' temper before you have fairly begun. As well might Brigham Young, Heber C. KImball, and others of the Mormon church, try to make converts of the Gentiles of this place by abusing and vilifying the men and calling the women cruel, bad names, (which they do) as for P. Tucker to succeed by dishing up Mormonism in a malignant style. It will not convert them very fast from the faith of Joe Smith, and can do but little good. When we get the book we will pay our respects to its merits.

We give this portion of the prospectus for what it is worth.

But comparatively few are aware that the imposture had its beginning -- its very first "peep" -- in Wayne county in this State. Such is the fact, and evidence of it is abundant, specific and reliable. There are hundreds in Western New York who were personally cognizant of the delusion when it was "no bigger than a man's hand;" very many in the neighborhood of Palmyra who knew "Joe Smith" and his family long before he thought of being a "prophet," and who remember the thousand and one ridiculous nothings which marked the inception of the imposture enterprise and its developement, until after a year or two of public disgust, when the "faithful" gathered themselves together from Wayne and Ontario counties, in the "promised land" of the "Latter day Saints," first in Ohio, then in Missouri, and afterwards at Nauvoo, Illinois, where Joe lost his life in the county jail by the assassination of an infuriated populace -- all this prior to the Mormon flight to the wilds of Utah. "Mormon Hill," from which Smith pretended to exhume the "golden plates" revealing to himself the will of Heaven, is but a little way out of Palmyra, and if we mistake not, the hole from which the plates were said to have been taken, is not yet wholly obliterated.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Special Correspondence to the N. Y. Tribune.

THE MORMONS.
________

Salt Lake City -- Despotism on the Great Plains -- Character of
Brigham Young -- His Wives -- Polygamy -- Schisms Among the Saints.

                                            Salt Lake City, June 18, 1867.
I have seen Mormonism in its best garments only. Its dignitaries have made me welcome. Its hospitality encompassed me. Its fruits and flowers; its light spots and pleasant recreations were all before me....

Not only is licentiousness ever pleading the cause of polygamy, but the church demands it of all men who can afford more than one wife, and women are caught [sic - taught?] to consent to it on pain of eternal damnation. I heard four Mormon sermons on Sunday -- two by fools and two by knaves. The one for instance, who declared that he had seen Joseph Smith perfectly personated in Brigham Young, when he thrust Rigdon out and assumed the Presidency himself, even to a broken front tooth was simply a lunatic. In the course of his sermon he gave the particulars of his conversion. He paryed to the Lord that if He would appear in person to him he would believe, and the Lord appeared to him, and he thenceforth became a saint. He was followed by one of the shrewdest of the Elders, who argued with some plausibility that the original Church of Christ had strayed and broken into descondant branches, and that it had been founded again by Smith and Young, and was separate from the world and united in its great work. In the afternoon we had an incoherent and senseless harangue from a Cockney, but Brigham Young pulled him down by the coat tail in a short time and took the pulpit himself. His speech would read away in the East like a foolish ebullition of a conceited blackguard, but never were remarks more timely or better adapted to the people he addressed. He argued for twenty minutes that not one person in 40 knew how to take care of himself in either temporal or spiritual matters... he told the young ladies of the church that they had no capacity for taking care of themselves and their honor, and that the church with its ceremonies and covenants was their only safety. He closed by demanding that Gentiles and apostates be shunned in all dealings, even although it costs more to purchase from a Saint. "You may answer," said he, "that it is none of my d____d business. Perhaps it is not, just now, but the time will soon come when it will be my business to testify respecting this people, and I pledge you that those who disobey this command shall not enter into the staright gate.... let the righteous be saved, and the wicked go their way to everlasting punishment." I saw poor infatuated Mormons shudder at this terrible anathema from what they supposed to be an inspired oracle of God, and fear of his malediction is one of the strongest elements of cohesiveness with the deluded masses of his followers....

There are palpable signs of dissolution in the Mormon Church. The Josephites )the followers of Smith) pronounce polygamy a sin, and they claim to be the true Mormon Church and entitled to the church property. When Brigham went south last Spring he had to cut off several hundred members for heresy, because they adhered to Smith, and over 100 wagons of emigrants are now in the mountains on their way east to escape his fearful venegance....


Notes: (forthcoming)

A VENERABLE PRINTER. -- Benjamin F. Cowdery died in Rochester, N. Y., on the 25th of May, aged something over 77 years. Deceased was a journeyman printer in the office of the Rochester American: did his regular work at the case up almost to the day of his death; and wrote a clear, legible hand, and good sense. He was the father of our friend J. F. Cowdery, Attorney, San Francisco. He has set type and published papers in half the states of the Union, printed the first Book of Mormon, traveled over the continent, did almost everything, by turns, that honest men do for a livelihood, an at length, weary with long wandering, settled down, perhaps not more than twenty or thirty years ago, to work at the case. Peace to his ashes! We trust his form is made up for glory. -- Trespass.


Note 1: The writer of the above notice was probably William J. Forbes, who was originally from Ohio and who may have met printer B. F. Cowdery when the latter worked at Oberlin. Forbes was employed as a printer with various pioneer California and Nevada newspapers. He purchased the Virginia City Daily Union, early in 1867 and re-named it as The Trespass. Although Forbes arrived a few years too late to operate as a rival to that city's Territorial Enterprise, while Mark Twain was still on its staff, he may have known the humorous journalist in San Francisco. Possibly Forbes was also a friend of Jabez Franklin Cowdery, Esq. (1834-77), who moved to San Francisco in 1865 and remained in the city for the rest of his life.

Note 2: B. Franklin Cowdery's terminal illness was noticed by the Rochester Daily Union in its issue of May 22, 1867. He died of pneumonia at Rochester on May 26, 1867. Although he was a cousin of the Mormon Elder, Oliver Cowdery, he had no direct association with the Latter Day Saints and took no part in the publication of any edition of the Book of Mormon.

BOOK  OF  MORMON -- ABSURD  THEORY.
______

A Col. J. W. Howard contemplates, it seems, delivering at an early date a lecture to the people of omaha on the origin of the Book of Mormon. A late number of the Omaha Herald contains some extracts from the proposed lecture.

He starts out with the idea that, laying aside all speculation, it is clear that the brain necessary for the starting and establishing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the work of some one else other than Joseph Smith; because he was an unlettered man entirely incapable, according to concurrent history, of producing what is today known as the Book of Mormon. His theory is that the Book of Mormon had its origin in the speculations of Mackintosh, who published a work on the North American Indians, in which he assumed that they were descended from the lost tribes of Israel. Shortly after the appearance of this work, "one Solomon Spaulding, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and a local preacher of some repute," commenced the preparation of several speculative papers on the same theory. It is evident to Howard, he says, that Spalding hig got his cue from this work of Mackintosh's, and that being of a lazy, indolent nature, and not being able to find any written evidence to corroborate the theory which he was framing, he fell back on his imagination and prepared in manuscript the he tale, which, according to Howard, was afterwards told by Joseph Smith.

the opponents of the Book of Mormon in the past pact have styled it a crude, ungrammatical work, written in imitation of the Bible, but evidently compiled by an illiterate man. But Howard discovers in it passages of the choicest morality and some of the finest sentiments taught. It is clearly evident to his mind ffrom what he has has seen, he says, of the writings of Joseph Smith and of Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon, whom be he calls Joseph's attesting witnesses -- betraying thereby his utter ignorance of the book the origin of which he attempts to account for -- that neither one nor all of them combined [possessed] the requisite amount of ability necessary to produce the Book Mormon.

Is there any connect connection between Howard's discovery of the beauties in the Book of Mormon and the advocacy of that Book -- as quoted by late telegraphic dispatches -- by our distinguished Vice President? The Book of Mormon must be increasing in value in the estimation of the world when two such men as the Vice President and Col. J. W. Howard condescend to notice it, one by quoting from it to prove the Latter-day Saints are not orthodox and the other to describe the choice morality and fine sentiments which it teaches!

This Spaulding story hasteen has been so often exploded by our people that it seems almost like a waste of time to allude to it here; but the Omaha Herald should know better than to call such ideas as Howard advances concerning its origin a plausible theory.

We freely admit all that he says about the choice morality and fine sentiments contained in the Book. They cannot be surpassed; but an unprejudiced person who will read the Book will readily perceive that the story about Spaulding writing it as a work of fiction is balderdash. The Book of Mormon dos does not convey the idea that the North American Indians are descended from the lost tribes of Israel, and when Mr. Howard makes such an assertion he betrays his utter ignorance of the subject which he professes to discuss. One portion of the Book gives an account of two families which were of Israel; another portion is a record of the settling of a few families in America at a time long anterior to the birth of Israel.

His assumptions that the Book of Mormon was not the work of Joseph Smith but of some man -- Spaulding for instance -- of superior education and ability are ostensibly based on the idea that Joseph Smith was illiterate. If this should be admitted, to whom shall the authorship of the book of Doctrine and Covenants be attributed, a work which no one has ever presumed to doubt as emanating from or through Joseph Smith? Its morality is as pure, its sentiments as exalted and godlike, its language as elevated and enoice choice as any contained in the Bible or the Book of Mormon. What will Mr. Howard do for a Spaulding to carry out his theory in this case? Carry out his theory of Joseph's inability and an author would have to be found for the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Such theories serve to amuse would-be great men, pseudo-philosophers and people who are anxious to believe everything that is evil about Joseph Smith and the Latter-day Saints; but they do not satisfy thinking, reasoning men who are familiar with the subject under discussion.

To our mind it always seemed to require more blind credulity to adopt such theories as these of Howard's, than to adopt the testimony that the Book of Mormon is a true record and that Joseph Smith was divinely inspired to translate it and to reveal the revelations contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants.

In this connection we have not alluded to the important fact that many people are yet living who know that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were engaged for years in the translation of the Book of Mormon.


Notes: (forthcoming)

SECOND  INTERVIEW  WITH
ELDER  BRIGHAM  YOUNG, JUN.

The report of the interview which one of the staff of the Philadelphia Morning Post had with Elder Brigham Young, Jr., has proved so interesting, and excited so much comment, that a second one has been solicited, with the object of obtaining views on certain matters which had escaped the attention of the reporter during the first interview. The reporter says that he has had a great deal of interesting knowledge relative to the belief of the Latter-day Saints imparted to him; but it would be entirely too voluminous for the columns of a newspaper. He omits everything that would not be of public interest, and many points that, doubtless, would be very readable, he cannot give for want of space.

The first subject talked upon was patriarchal marriage, about the moral effect of which the reporter was anxious to obtain some information. He was assured the effect was most excellent, as a lewd woman is a thing unknownin Utah, there being no houses of prostitution nor any of the evils attendant thereon. The next question was in relation to the conduct of the United States officers; to which an appropriate answer was given.

Then came the enquiry how it was that the people of Utah ccaaimnee to sympathise with the Southern Confederacy. The reporter seems to have been under the impression that we leaned to the side of the Confederates during the war. He was told that "We did not sympathise with the rebellion;" but on the contrary, earnestly and persistently refused all overtures made to us to take sides with the South....

Then followed a series of questions... The reporter expresses himself as being highly satisfied with the interview. He gives Elder Young credit for being a man of more than ordinary ability, who has traveled a great deal and has profited thereby, and also, says that he has a forcible style of delivery which rivets his hearer's attention and gives weight to his words.


Note 1: The Desert News editor (George Q. Cannon), did not take the trouble to quote the Philadelphia newspaper at any substantial length, in regard to the "series of questions" put to the namesake of Brigham Young. One important part of that Nov. 1, 1869 interview addressed the "Indian problem" in Utah: "Have they ever troubled you? -- Oh yes, indeed; but we have always considered it cheaper to feed them than to fight them. We would rather [at] any time give them one hundred head of fine fat cattle than lose the life of a single man, woman or child, and this is the policy we have pursued from the beginning. Some years ago, said he, a party of emigrants, in crossing the plains, lost a couple of horses, and at once suspected the Indians of having stolen them. As a piece of malice they sprinkled the meat of an ox that had died through the night with strychnine. After their departure a band of Indians found the meat and ate of it, the result was that nearly all that did so died; the remainder of the tribe then took up the trail, and gaining fresh accessions by the way, came up with the emigrants at Mountain Meadow, where in three days they killed 130 of the party. Some of our people, noticing that something was wrong, followed after, and arrived in time only to save the remainder of the train, some 16 women and children. That is the history of the 'Mountain Meadow Massacre,' for which we have always received the blame. We have frequently rendered trains assistance, for the Indians in a measure respect us, and our words with them have weight..."

Note 2: Although there is no discernable link between the two statements, it should be noted that George Q. Cannon followed up on Brigham Young, Jr.'s suppressed public summary of the Mountain Meadows massacre, by publishing in the next issue of the Deseret News, a detailed statement on the subject by his fellow LDS Apostle, George A. Smith. See the Dec. 1st issue (below) for that interesting account.

Note 3: It was during this period that the topmost LDS leaders began to take some new notice of the old allegation, that white men (Mormons) were involved in the Mountain Meadows massacre. At the time, George A. Smith and Brigham Young, Jr. were still re-telling the old alibi, that only Indians were active in those events, but massacre participants like George Spencer of SanPete Co. (see C. F. McGlashan's "A Damaging Story," Chicago Tribune, Jan. 6, 1875) were openly telling of Mormon involvment. See Spencer's March 27, 1867 letter to Erastus Snow in the LDS Church Archives' Brigham Young Collection. President Young solicited a timely meeting with Apostle Snow on March 30th, but the topics of their eventual private discussions (during the last week of April and first week of May) are not known. Will Bagley comments: "It is not clear if Snow or Young ever replies to this [Spencer's] letter." According to B. H. Roberts, "In 1870, through some representations made by Elder Erastus Snow and Bishop L. W. Roundy, who had been meantime investigating the crime of the Mountain Meadows,President Brigham Young became convinced of the absolute responsibility of John D. Lee in that affair." See also Lorenzo W. Roundy's 1867-70 correspondence with George A Smith and Charles W. Penrose (Roundy was set apart as Bishop of Kanarra, Iron Co., by Erastus Snow, on Apr. 29, 1867).

"MOUNTAIN  MEADOW  MASSACRE."

In the delivery of the lecture "Six Months in Utah," by Mrs. St. Clair, on Tuesday last at the Theatre, there was an allusion made by the to what is known as the "Mountain Meadow Massacre." There was nothing in her treatment of this point in her lecture that was offensive to her audience; but she evidently was unfamiliar with the facts, and as a general misapprehension exists abroad in relation to them, simple justice demands that they be correctly stated. Our silence upon this subject is frequently construed as an evidence of the inability of the people of this Territory to defend themselves against the cruel charges which have been made against them in connection with that tragedy.

It is almost a pity to break this silence now, for there is a class of anti-Mormon writers whose entire stock of trade consists of the "Mountain Meadow Massacre," and a few other acts of violence which have occurred in this Territory, and upon which they ring constant changes, holding the massacre over our heads somewhat as an old schoolmistress would a rod over a naughty child. We scarcely know how these threats and menaces sound to people who live outside of this Territory; but they only excite either amusement or contempt here where the facts are understood.

After Governor Alfred Cumming reached this city and was fairly installed in office -- considerable having been said about the massacre of a company of emigrants at Mountain Meadows the previous Fall -- ex-Governor Young urged upon the Governor and U. S. District Attorney Wilson the propriety of taking steps to investigate this occurrence. In the wish for a thorough examination he was seconded by the entire community, for all felt that most cruel and unjust aspersions had been cast upon them. To render what aid he could President Young profferred to go with the Federal officers to the vicinity of the outrage and, use every effort in his power to sift the matter to the uttermost, and discover the guilty ones. But this was no part of the policy of the Judges who were then here, nor the attaches of the camp. Such a course would settle the question; but they were interested in keeping it open.

At Provo in the Spring of 1859, a Grand Jury on U.S. business undertook the investigation of the "Mountain Meadow Massacre." They requested the U.S. District Attorney, Mr. Wilson, a citizen of Pennsyvania, to be present with them and examine the witnesses. Two Indians, Mose and Looking-glass, had been committed for the crime of rape perpetuated upon a white woman and her daughter, a girl of ten years. In the midst of the investigation of the Mountain Meadow case, the Judge, John Cradlebaugh, called the Grand Jury into the court room and administered to the members an abusive lecture and summarily discharged them! At the same time he turned the savages Mose and Looking-glass loose upon the community. The Grand Jury protested, but in vain, against this unwarrantable proceeding by the Court. District Attorney Wilson, also reported that he was present at the deliberations of the Grand Jury, and, at the request of its members, had examined the witnesses and that the Jury were proceeding in the matter efficiently. Thus ended the attempt to have the transaction investigated judicially.

From the earliest years that white men traveled through the country now incorporated in the southern portion of this Territory and the northern part of Arizona, outrages upon the Indians were frequent. When Colonel Fremont passed through the southern desert in 1842, his party killed without any provocation, several Pah-Ute Indiansa near the Rio Virgen. When New Mexico was organized, Governor Calhoun, Superintendent of Indian Affairs recommended to the Department aatt Washington the extermination of the Pah-Utes. Emigrants passing through by the southern route to California had also frequently shot them whenever they came in sight. To such an extent had this custom prevailed that when President Geo. A. Smith and party made the settlement at Parowan, Iron County, in January, 1851, then 200 miles from settlements on the North and upwards of 500 on the South, a delegation of Pah-Utes from New Mexico, now Arizona, visited him and besought that the indiscriminate shooting of Indians by emigrants should cease, as they were disposed to be friendly and wished to trade with them. President Smith could only speak for his own people.

From all that is known respecting the company of Arkansas emigrants who were killed at Mountain Meadows, they conducted themselves in a hostile manner towards the Indians wherever they saw them. At Corn Creek, Millard Co., President George A. Smith, who was coming from a visit to the southern settlements in company with several friends, found a company of emigrants camped; they had about thirty wagons and a considerable herd of stock. He and his party crossed the creek and camped about forty yards from them. Three of the company visited his camp, and one was introduced as the Captain of the company. After inquiring where President Smith and party were from, he asked if there was any danger to be feared from the Indians who were camped nearby. He was told that if his company had committed no outrage upon the Indians there was no danger. Next morning early, while President S. and party were hitching up, the Captain of the emigrant company again joined them. He pointed to an ox which had died during the night and wished to know if the Indians would eat the animal. He was told they would ;that they were in the habit of eating cattle that died and that if he would give it to them they would be thankful. As President S. was starting, one of his party asked him what the Captain was doing over at the dead ax with a bottle in his hand. He replied that he was probably taking a drink.

The Indians ate the ox and ten of their number died. It had without doubt been poisoned. A portion of these Indians were Pahvantes and others were Pah-Utes who lived in the vicinity of the Mountain Meadows, and were on a visit to the Pahvantes. There is reason to believe that this company poisoned the spring also, for thirty head of cattle which drank of its waters died with every symptom of poisoning. The Pah-Ute Indians who survived, returned with the news of the death of their companions. But the company that had occasioned their death was not lost sight of. Another outrage had been added to the long list which had been accumulating from the days when Fremont had passed through their country, and they were resolved to wreak a terrible revenge. They rallied all the neighboring Indians and when the emigrants reached "Cane Spring" in the Mountain Meadows, they attacked them.

After the attack was made the first intimation of it received at Parowan was by Indian runners to Ouwanup, a chief of the Pi-edes, in that vicinity, who was summoned to assist them. From the Pi-edes the citizens learned something about a difficulty between the Indians and a company of emigrants, and succeeded in keeping them from joining the Pah-Utes. Rumors still arriving that a battle was going on, a party of citizens from Cedar started for the purpose of relieving the travelers; but arrived too late. They succeeded, however, in rescuing a few children, who had been preserved by the Indians, agreeably to their custom, victorious, of keeping children to trade.

Another company, which was following the Arkansas company, fired upon some Indians near Beaver and wounded one of them. The Indians appeared determined to destroy them, and they probably would have done so, had not Col. Dame of Parowan sent a detachment of militia, who pacified the Indians to some extent, and guarded the company on their road some three hundred miles.

The above is a brief outline of the circumstances connected with this massacre. The determined policy of the enemies of the people of this Territory has been to not investigate this transaction. During the years 1858-9 an army of several thousand men were stationed in the Territory without any employmnet. The Federal Judges who were here at that time were the open and avowed enemies of the people; and it is probable that, with such force to back them, it there had been the least probability of criminating the "Mormons," they would have suffered so good an opportunity to pass? The fact is, the newspaper rumors concerning this affair answered a better purpose than investigation in affording an excuse for keeping up of sustaining troops where they were not needed.

There has never been a time when President Young and the people have not been ready to give every aid in their power to have this occurence rightly examined.


Note 1: The above article in the Deseret News was unique for its time. The paper's editor, Apostle George Q. Cannon, remarks: "Our silence upon this subject is frequently construed as an evidence of the inability of the people of this Territory to defend themselves against the cruel charges which have been made against them in connection with that tragedy." While it was Cannon's lot to put this message in print, little of its defense "against the cruel charges" was actually penned by Cannon himself. Except for the opening two paragraphs, most of the text closely follows an undated draft letter preserved in the papers of Apostle George A. Smith. A cataloger has added the notation "Nov. 1869" in the corner of Smith's draft letter, and it likely was penned during the final days of that month. In fact, a very similair text is reproduced in the LDS "Journal History of the Church," under the date of Nov. 25, 1869, in the form of a personal letter, sent from George A. Smith to "Mr. St. Clair" (who was no doubt the husband of the "Mrs. St. Clair" who gave the public lecture entitled "Six Months in Utah"). To what extent Mrs. St. Clair's lecture actually inspired the reaction of George A. Smith, in producing a statement regarding the massacre, it is impossible to discern at this late date. Possibly Smith's attention had already been drawn to the matter, by the Nov. 1st public remarks made by Brigham Young, Jr. in Philadelphia (see the News of Nov. 24th, above). -- In his 2002 book, Blood of the Prophets, historian Will Bagley says, "[Juanita] Brooks... identified Cannon as the article's author, but the text is derived from a George A. Smith letter." Since Apostle Cannon edited and added to Smith's original text, the Dec. 1st News article may properly be identified as the Nov. 1869 Cannon-Smith statement of LDS apostolic instruction on the subject of the Mountain Meadows massacre.

Note 2: George A. Smith's claim -- that his party of travelers witnessed Captain Fancher poisoning the carcass of an ox at Corn Creek in Aug. 1857 -- is an incredible allegation. Possibly the emigrants did offer such an ox to the resident Indians at that time; and possibly Smith did encounter the "Captain" of the wagon train at that time, but Smith's bold assertion, that "There is no doubt but that the whole accumulated wrath of the Pah-Utes against American travellers from the wanton massacre by Fremont's men to the poisoning of the ox and the spring at Corn Creek by the Arkansas party was avenged at the Mountain Meadows," stands as an obvious fabrication. The fact that Smith would say such a thing, after the passage of more than a decade, during which time the essential facts of the massacre had been well exposed, indicates that he was purposely misdirecting the attention of the Deseret News readers to Indians, instead of the southern Utahns whom Smith knew had planned and carried out the mass murder. Apostle Smith's falsehoods did not stand for even a few months, and the following year Mormon leaders like Erastus Snow and Brigham Young were admitting the involvement of some of their own people in the 1857 massacre.

Note 3: It is utterly impossible that Apostle George A. Smith could have been so ignorant of the actual facts of the massacre, as he pretended to be at the end of 1869. Smith was well acquainted with the people of southern Utah. He knew that some of them had been accused, indicted and published around the world for their participation in the massacre and its aftermath -- the cover-up -- the disposal of the stolen property. Smith's evident willingness to blame the Indians for the entire affair, along with his readiness to see them discovered and brought "to justice," are inexcusable sins in the public actions of this ordained "prophet, seer and revelator" and "special witness for Jesus Christ."

Salt  Lake  Correspondence.
_______

The “Bulls Eye” Railroad Completion -- Driving the Last Spike --
Brigham Strikes the Nail on the Head --
War Declared from the Pulpits.
_______

(under construction)

Salt Lake City, Jan. 10, 1870.    

Editor Reporter:
    Thinking a line from the “Lion’s Den” would be of some little interest, I have...


Notes: (forthcoming)

KIRTLAND, OHIO. -- From a letter written on the 10th inst., in Kirtland, Ohio by Elder Edward Stevenson of this city we condense the following interesting items:

I am happy to inform you of my safe arrival at this place. On Sunday last I was invited to preach in the first temple built by our people. The building is in a fair state ofpreservation, having been repaired, new roof and and re-painted, and the windows replaced. The walls upon which were inscribed the names of in manytravelers who passed this way to see the Kirtland Temple, have been whitewashed, so that the building has quite a respectable appearance. The plastering on the outside, penciled in squares to imitate stone, of which the walls are built, stands just as it did thirty-six years ago and scarcely any of it marred. Many travelers who pass within three miles of this place on the Lake Shore and Michigan R. R., step off at Willoughby and visit the temple to satisfy curiosity; some who visit the Salt Lake Temple and Tabenacle call and visit this on their way east.

The entrance to the Temple is effected through two double doors from a large stone platform, ascended by stone steps from the entrance and two stairways. The lower room is entered through two doorways. This room is the only one fitted up for meetings. The 2nd story is similar to the first and the upper rooms, five in number, used to be occupied for schools, &c. I had much larger congregations, both forenoon and afternoon, than could be expected on such short notice, and the best of attention.

Martin Harris, who still lives here, is tolerably well and has a great desire to see Utah and his children that live there; and although a the old gentleman is in the 88th year of his age, he still bears a faithful testimony to the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, being one of the three original witnesses. He says he saw the plates, handled them and saw the angel that visited Joseph Smith more than 40 years ago. I have made arrangements to emigrate him to Utah according to his desire, and will start in about two weeks.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MARTIN  HARRIS -- ONE  OF  THE  WITNESSES
OF  THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON.
______

Considerable interest has been felt by our people in the arrival in this city, of Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon. He arrived here at 7:30, p. m. yesterday, in the company of Elder Edward Stevenson, who left this city on the 19th of last July for the purpose of bringing him out from [Kirtland], Ohio, where he has been living since the Saints first moved there -- 1831 -- thirty-nine years ago. Bro. Stevenson has had a strong desire to have Martin Harris brought here. But he himself has thought for years that his mission was in [Kirtland], he feeling that the Lord required him to stay there and bear testimony to the Book of Mormon and the first principles, which he has been earnest in doing, and he has felt reluctant to leave. But when Bro. Stevenson corresponded with him about coming out to the Valley, he replied that the spirit testified to him that he should come here, and in every letter that he afterwards received from him he expressed a still stronger desire to come. Bro. Stevenson made a collection, and after raising sufficient means, went to Kirtland and brought him here.

Martin Harris is in his 88th year. He is remarkably vigorous for one of his years, and still retains the use of his faculties, his memory being very good, and his sight, though his eyes appear to have failed, being so acute that he can see to pick a pin off the ground. He has experienced many changes and vicissitudes; but one point, so far as we have heard, he has never changed: -- he has never failed to bear testimony to the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. He says it is not a matter of belief on his part, but of knowledge. He with the other two witnesses declared, and their testimony has accompanied every copy of the book, -- "that an angel of God came down from heaven, and brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon." This declaration he has not varied from in forty-one years; and it is a remarkable fact that, thought away from the Church, and not maintaining their connection with the Prophet Joseph Smith, not one of the three witnesses has ever failed, so far as known, to bear testimony to the truth of their united declaration contained in the preface of the Book of Mormon! Deny whatever they might of other points of doctrine of Joseph's authority or of his management, they have never denied the testimony which they have given to the world concerning the Book of Mormon.

We are glad to see Martin Harris once more in the midst of the Saints. He feels that this people are led by God, that they are a happy and a blessed people and have the appearance of enjoying God's favor. They are doing the very work which the Book of Mormon said should be done, and are the only people, who as a people, believe in that Book.

The history of this veteran member of the Mormon church would no doubt be as interesting, if written, as his course, since the severance of his connection with the Prophet Joseph Smith at the early rise of the church has been singular. One of the original witnesses of the Book of Mormon, he saw the angel, and handled the plates from which that book was translated. In relation to this, his testimony has never wavered, yet he, for some cause or other, has kept himself aloof from the church for many years, and has taken no part in carrying on the great work, of which he, in connection with Joseph and others, laid the foundation. No greater proof could be given, than the history and course of this man, that the work of God is not dependent upon any man, however great, talented, illustrious or favored he may be. Martin Harris having seen that which few in the flesh are favored to behold, and having received a testimony of the divinity of this work, and of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon that it was utterly impossible to destroy, one might have supposed, viewing things from a merely human standpoint, that the progress and prosperity of this work would have depended to some considerable extent on his co-operation, and that, lacking that, it would have been retarded. But such is not the case, and in this fact human pride, vanity and talent may learn a salutary lesson if it will.

Mr. Harris saw fit to withdraw himself from the cause, but its course, owing to the workings of Divinity through faithful agents, has been onward to a most remarkable degree. The Saints, by thousands, have been gathered from the nations, a territory has been peopled and the foundation of a kingdom laid which will never again be uprooted from the earth; and Martin Harris, no longer able to resist the conviction that God still guides and controls the destines of his kingdom and people gladly returns to share in their blessings and privileges of that kingdom.

There is still one other of the "original witnesses" living -- namely Mr. David Whitmer. He now resides in Missouri. We would not be surprised if the yearnings of his heart should yet lead him to follow the course of Mr. Harris and again throw in his lot with the Saints and close his earthly career in their midst.

---

INTERESTING. -- We have been permitted to extract the following items from a letter to President George A. Smith written on the 21st. inst. at Chicago, by Elder Edward Stevenson, then on his way westward. He says:

"I arrived here a few hours ago direct from Kirtland, Ohio. I am well, as also Martin Harris who is with me, although he is now in the 88th year of his age and rather feeble. But he walks along remarkably well, and while at Kirtland hoed out quite a lot of corn, and last fall hired out by the day to dig potatoes. He stands his journey thus far quite well, and feels filled with new life at the idea of going to the valleys of Utah, to see his children and friends * * * He is coming to the conclusion, after trying everything else, -- although he has always borne a faithful testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, -- that the work of the Lord is progressing in the tops of the mountains and that the people are gathering in fulfillment of prophecy."

Elder Stevenson, during his trip East this time, has paid a visit to the Hill Cumorah, whence the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated were obtained. He says, "although the hill is very steep, -- the highest in these parts, wheat has been grown on the very spot whence the plates were taken." He visited and talked with an old gentleman, now seventy-four years of age, who, when the plates were exhumed, resided adjoining the hill and resides there still. The people now call the hill "Mormon Hill." In the country around, old buildings, forts, earthworks and mounds have been discovered, showing that in times long past it was thickly peopled, and that it has been the theatre of conflicts between contending armies.


Note: See the Portland Morning Oregonian of Sept. 16, 1875 for Martin Harris' obituary.

ARGUS, AN OPEN LETTER TO BRIGHAM YOUNG.

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(under construction)

Salt Lake City, Sept. 10, 1870.    

Sir: My apology for delaying the writing of this, my second letter to you so long is poverty. A wretched pecuniary condition brought upon me by your peculiar and avowed policy of keeping your followers poor, lest like Jeshuron, they should wax fat and kick...


Note: Full article content undetermined.

ARGUS, AN OPEN LETTER TO BRIGHAM YOUNG.
_______

Salt Lake City, Nov. 2, 1870.    

Sir: For the third time I sit down to address you. In my last, I reminded you of a...

(under construction)

Note: Additional transcription pending -- courtesy of Will Bagley and Burr Fancher.

Lee  and  the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
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(under construction)

Note: This was one of the earlier"Argus" letters, penned by C. W. Wandell -- see the the Nevada Carson State Register of Feb. 12, 1871 and other regional newspapers for reprints of the obscure "Argus" reports. H. H. Bancroft evidently consulted several such Nevada newspapers when writing his History of Utah.

Mountain Meadows.
Continued.

Blood Atonement -- Preaching and Practice -- War Against Mankind.
Brigham at Bay -- The End is Near.
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Salt Lake City, Feb. 17, 1871.    

Sir: The massacre at the Mountain Meadows was simply an effect resulting from a certain cause, which I now propose to notice... I mean your doctrine of blood atonement.... You rejected the doctrine of atonement as given in John II:2, and taught that the sin of apostacy could only be purged by the shedding of the blood of the apostate. You further taught that the killing of Joseph and Hiram Smith had to be atoned for by the shedding of blood, and, in that connection, I once heard you say that there was not enough blood in the whole United States to make full satisfaction for their deaths.... The New Testament teaches us not to kill; but you taught murder as a precept of your religion.

They were weary and foot-sore, their supply of food was well-nigh exhausted, and their work cattle nearly used up by the labors of the long and toilsome journey... being forced to leave their camp at the Jordan with almost empty wagons....


Note: Additional transcription pending -- courtesy of Will Bagley and Burr Fancher.

HISTORY  OF  MORMONISM.
_______

(Written expressly for the Corinne Reporter and containing a
true and succinct account of the Reign of Terror in Utah. -- Ed.)

Salt Lake City, July 12, 1871.    

An Open Letter to Brigham Young.

SIR: The company of emigrants slaughtered on the 15th of September, 1857, at the Mountain Meadows, and within your jurisdiction, was one of the wealthiest, most respectable and peaceable that ever crossed the continent by the way of Salt Lake City. They were American citizens -- were within the territory of the United States, and when they encamped by the Jordan river, upon the free, unenclosed and unappropriated public domain, and by the laws of Utah, their stock were 'free commoners' on that domain. The most of those emigrants had unquestionably been farmers, all of them rural in their habits of life; and from the fact that you did not charge them with being thieves, or robbers, or of trespassing upon the rights of others, or disturbing the public peace, or with behaving themselves unseemly, it is fair to infer that they were as upright and virtuous in their habits of thought, and as honest and honourable in their intercourse with others as people from country parts generally are. They came from Arkansas."

When they encamped by the Jordan they were weary and foot-sore, their supply of food was well-nigh exhausted, and their work-cattle nearly 'used up' by the labours of the long and toilsome journey. The necessity rested upon them of tarrying in Utah sufficiently long to rest and recruit their teams and replenish their store of provisions. The harvest in Utah that year, then gathering, was abundant, and mountain and valley were covered with rich and nutritious grasses. What was there to hinder this company from staying as long as they pleased, recruiting their stock, and pursuing their journey when they got ready? And, besides, what had they done that the protection of the law, represented in your person, should be worse than withdrawn from them? that they should be ordered to break up camp and move on? and, worse than all, that a courier should be sent ahead of them bearing your written instructions to the Mormons on said company's line of travel to have no dealing or intercourse with them; thus compelling them to almost certain death by starvation on the deserts? You were at that time the Governor of Utah, Commander-in-Chief of the militia, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, a sworn officer of the United States and of the Territory, upon whom devolved, and with whom were intrusted grave and important responsibilities, affecting the liberties of the people, the rights of persons and property, and the welfare and happiness of all within the pale of your authority without regard to sect, creed, name, or nativity, or differences between individual opinions. In addition to your magistrature, you were the chief high-priest of almost the entire body of the people, assuming to yourself extraordinary heavenly powers and an unusual amount of spiritual excellence. Without any modification of the term, you were professedly the earthly Vicar of the heavenly Saviour -- of Him who divinely discoursed on earth of mercy and of love, and whose last words were, Father, forgive them!'..."

Not being allowed to remain, this weary, unrested company 'broke camp' and took up their line of travel for Los Angeles. Their progress was necessarily slow. Arriving at American Fork settlement they essayed to trade off some of their worn-out stock for the fresh and reliable cattle of the Mormons, offering fine bargains; and also sought to buy provisions.

What must have been their surprise when they found they could do neither? Notwithstanding that flour, bacon, vegetables in variety, poultry, butter, cheese, eggs, etc., were in unusual abundance, and plenty of surplus stock, not the first thing could be bought or sold! They passed on through Battle Creek, Provo, Springville, Spanish Fork, Payson, Salt Creek and Fillmore, attempting at each settlement to purchase food and to trade for stock, but without success. It is true that occasionally some Mormon more daring than his fellows would sack up a few pounds of provisions, and under cover of night smuggle the same into the emigrant camp, taking his chances of a severed windpipe in satisfaction for such unreasonable contempt of orders; but otherwise there was no food bought by this company thus far. And here it is worthy to remark that up to this time no complaint had been made against these travellers. They had been accused of no crime known to the laws, and, undeniably, it had been a point with them to quietly and peaceably pass through Utah, in the hope of reaching some Gentile settlement where their gold and cattle could buy them something to eat." The query arises here, What caused so strange and unprecedented a proceeding towards this particular company? The custom of the overland emigration at that time was well known; which was, to provision their trains for Salt Lake City, and refit at that place for California. If other trains could rest and recruit, could buy, sell and refit in Utah, why not this?... These people were from Arkansas, a State in which Parley P. Pratt, one of your fellow-apostles, had been killed... But to return. This ill-fated company were now at Fillmore. They had left their camp at the Jordan with almost empty wagons, they had been unable to purchase provisions, as before stated, they had but three or four settlements yet to pass through; and then their way would pass over the most to be dreaded of all the American deserts, where there would be no possibility of obtaining a pound of food. What their prospects, feelings and forebodings were at that time, I leave for your consideration; but, sir, I beg to call your attention to the fact that, at the capture of their train at the Mountain Meadows, their stores were found to be inadequate for the journey in contemplation. They were, indeed, well-nigh exhausted, with the exception of two purchases which I shall describe presently, which purchases were made after they had left Fillmore. There cannot be a reasonable doubt that they were already on short allowance when they reached that settlement.... There have been times, as in late occurrences in Paris, when men's passions have been aroused and excited, especially upon religious differences, and still more especially when associated with the idea of caste or race; outrages and wholesale butcheries have occurred; but here we have in free America a peaceable company of emigrants who were forced untimely into a journey, then half-starved, and finally slaughtered in cold blood! And this was the result of the apparent action of an entire people. Do you expect the world to believe that action to have been spontaneous with them? That the whole people from the Jordan to Fillmore should, of their own free will, uninfluenced, uninstructed, uncoerced, should all as one unite in denying these strangers the right even of buying food? Impossible! This company of Arkansas farmers, travelling with their wives and little ones, had now travelled through and by fifteen different settlements, large and small, peopled by Mormons under your absolute control in all things, and had not been able to buy food. Oh! what a falling off was there from the words of Him who said, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him!'...

"At Fillmore their store of provisions was too scanty to allow of delay; and so soon as they found they could do no trading there they moved on, and in due course reached Corn Creek. Here they saw the first kindly look and heard the first friendly word since they left the Jordan. And, strange to say, those friends were Indians! They sold the emigrants 30 bushels of corn -- all they had to spare -- and sent them away in peace.

"The company passed on from Corn Creek, and, reaching Beaver, they found the same order of non-intercourse, the same prohibition as to trading as before; and, passing on, they came to Parowan, but were not permitted to enter the town. Now be it known, and the books will show, that the General Government had paid twenty-five thousand dollars in gold coin for the surveying and opening of this road which passed directly through the town of Parowan, and upon which this company was travelling and had travelled all the way from Salt Lake City, passing through American Fork, and all the principal settlements on the route. They had passed through those settlements without let or hindrance; but here they were forced to leave the public highway and pass around the west side of the fort wall. When they reached the stream abreast of the town they encamped, and tried, as before, to trade for food and fresh cattle, but failed. There was a little Englishman who was determined to sell them some provisions; but Bishop Lewis's son and Counsellor advanced before him, and, pressing the edge of a bowie-knife against his throat, compelled him to retreat without realizing his humane intentions. There was a grist-mill at Parowan, the first the company had 'struck' since they left Corn Creek. They made application to have the corn ground which they had bought of the Indians, but were flatly refused.

Now, sir, why were these emigrants refused permission to enter and pass through Parowan? However unpleasant it may be to you, this question will probably yet be asked in such form and by such authority that you will feel constrained to answer. You are quite competent to give the answer, so is your aide-de-camp and Brigadier-General, George A.   So is Wm. H. Dame, the colonel of the regiment forming a part of the militia under your supreme command -- that same regiment that afterwards fell upon that same unoffending company at Mountain Meadows and destroyed them. But you will not answer until compelled. Then let me suggest that Parowan was the legitimate headquarters of that particular regiment; that it was the place of residence of Colonel Dame; that there was a certain military appearance inside the walls that it would not "be prudent for the emigrants to see or suspect, for their destruction had been decreed, and they must be taken at a disadvantage. And, further, the emigrants hitherto had encountered only a passive hostility, now it was to be active; and they must not be permitted to enter the town where their unoffending manners and quiet deportment might win upon the sympathies of the people.

The emigrants made their way to Cedar City, at that time the most populous of all the towns in Southern Utah. Here they were allowed to purchase fifty bushels of tithing wheat, and to get the same, and also the corn, ground at John D. Lee's mill. No thanks, however, for this seeming favour; for the authorities that pretended to sell that wheat knew that they would have the most of it back in less than a week; at least they knew that it would never leave the Territory. But, waiving that, still this company of one hundred and twenty souls, or thereabouts, had not to exceed forty-nine hundred pounds of provisions, less than forty days' rations, all told, to take them to San Bernardino, in California.

Now, sir, I have consulted with one of the old pioneers of the road from Cedar City to the Mojave river, one whose judgment and experience are worthy of respect; one who saw that company in Utah as they were passing along on the Territorial road, and knew the condition of their teams. I asked him how long it would have taken them to go from Cedar to the Mojave? He reflected, then answered, 'Sixty days.' From there to San Bernardino would have taken six to ten days. Here was a company made up of men, women and children, with at least one child to be born on the road, whose mother would require a little rest and at least some comfort, forced to undertake this journey under circumstances beyond their control, but altogether under yours, who were obliged to put themselves on short allowance on the start....


Note: The full content of the above "Argus" letter remain undetermined. See Will Bagley's book, Blood of the Prophets, which quotes from C. W. Wandell, in regard to Parley P. Pratt, on page 98, as follows: "[the widow Pratt] recognized one or more of the [Fancher] party as having been present at the death of Pratt." In a note on his page 404, Bagley cites this quote from Mrs. Pratt, as coming from the Wandell "Argus" letter, published in the Reporter of July 15th.

HISTORY  OF  MORMONISM.
_______

(Written expressly for the Corinne Reporter and containing a
true and succinct account of the Reign of Terror in Utah. -- Ed.)

Salt Lake City, July 20, 1871.    

An Open Letter to Brigham Young.

SIR: In my last, we left the emigrants of Mountain Meadow memory at...


Note: The full content and exact date of the above "Argus" letter remain undetermined.

HISTORY  OF  MORMONISM.
_______
(Written expressly for the Corinne Reporter and containing a
true and succinct account of the Reign of Terror in Utah. -- Ed.)

Salt Lake City, July 27, 1871.    

An Open Letter to Brigham Young.

SIR: The Arkansas company remained at Cedar City but one day, and then started on that fatal trip which was but too soon to come to a tragic and sanguinary end. And here I will state a fact well known at Cedar City and Pinto Creek, to prove that I have not overdrawn the picture when speaking of the jaded and worn-out condition of their teams. It took them three days to go to Iron Creek, a distance of only twenty miles. The distance from Iron Creek to the Meadows, about fifteen miles, was made in two days. The morning they left Iron Creek, the fourth after leaving Cedar, your militia took up their line of march in pursuit of them, intending to make the assault at the 'Clara Crossing' -- your militia! you, Brigham Young, were at that very time Governor of Utah, and Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the Territory, and were drawing your salary as such from the treasury of the United States.

These soldiers did not come together by chance. Indeed, sir, it is on oath, and witnessed by the seal of the court, that the calling out of those troops 'was a regular military call from the superior officers to the subordinate officers and privates of the regiment.' And said sworn testimony further states that 'said regiment was duly ordered to muster, armed and equipped as the law directs, and prepared for field operations.' I am fully aware, sir, of the fearful import of these quotations The call to arms was the result reached by a regular military council, held in the town of Parowan, at which were present, President Isaac C. Haight (the Mormon High-Priest of Southern Utah), Colonel Dame, Major John D. Lee, and your fat Aide-de-Camp.

The regiment camped at Cedar City -- was commanded by its major, John D. Lee (who was also your Indian Agent for Southern Utah), and marched from that place in pursuit of the emigrants. It was accompanied by baggage-wagons, and, with the exception of artillery, the other necessary ' make-up' of a military force in the field. Lee had extended an invitation to the Piede Indians to accompany him; and with these auxiliaries he had a force which the poor, hungry emigrants could not hope to resist.

The emigrants were overtaken at the Mountain Meadows. Being entirely ignorant of the danger so near them, they 'rolled out' from camp in a careless matter-of-course way, on the morning of the 12th of September, and, as soon as the rear wagon had got a safe distance from the spring, the Indians, unexpectedly to Lee, commenced firing. The emigrants were taken completely by surprise. It is conclusive beyond a doubt, from the loose and unguarded manner of their travelling, that they had no idea of the military expedition sent against them until they saw and felt it. Yet, unguarded as they were at the moment of the attack, they had travelled too far over roads infested with Indians to become confused. They immediately corralled their wagons and prepared for defence, fortifying as best they could; but, alas, they were too far from water!

They fought your troops all that day and all the nest. Major Lee, beginning to think that he had waked up the wrong passengers, sent to Cedar City and Washington for reinforcements, which were at once raised and forwarded, forming a junction with the main body on the morning of the fourth day's tight. This call for reinforcements took every able-bodied man from Washington, and all but two from Cedar City.

During the third day's battle it became a necessity with the emigrants to get water. They were choking with thirst, and without water they could hold out but little longer. There it was in abundance, in plain sight, but covered by the rifles of your troops. They made several desperate but fatal and unsuccessful efforts, and finally, hoping there might be some little of humanity remaining with the Mormons, they dressed,' two little girls in white, and started them with a bucket toward the spring. Your soldiers shot them down!

On the next morning, the reinforcements having arrived, Major Lee massed his troops at a point about half a mile from the emigrants' fort, and there made them a speech, during which he informed them that (I quote from a sworn statement) his orders from headquarters were, 'To kill the entire company except the children.' Now, sir, as to whether those 'headquarters' were located in your office at Salt Lake City, or at Parowan, is a matter to be settled between you and Colonel Dame; and, if I am not mistaken, you will yet have to settle it. If Colonel Dame shall ever confess before a proper tribunal that he issued that extraordinary order on his own responsibility, and independently of you, I shall be very much mistaken. But, of the fact that such an order was actually made, there can be no doubt. There had been two military councils held in Parowan -- one before or about the time the emigrants passed that place and one on the day they left Cedar. Haight and Lee were at both these councils, and from the last returned together to Cedar -- the latter to take command of the troops, and the former to stand prepared to render him any service which might be needed.

It is on oath, sir, that it was at Cedar City, two days after the emigrants had left, that President Haight said to certain parties (who shall be nameless here), 'that he had orders from headquarters to kill all of said company of emigrants except the little children!' This fixes the fact beyond dispute that Lee and Haight were professedly acting under orders from headquarters; and to suppose that such profession was false -- that two subordinates should take upon themselves the responsibility of such a bloody affair, professedly in your name, and yet without your authority -- is out of the question. It is equally absurd to suppose that said order originated with Colonel Dame. All the reasons are against such a supposition. Besides, no colonel of a regiment would have the right or the authority to do anything in such premises, except to promulgate and enforce the order of his superior officer. To do otherwise would be to subject himself to the eventualities of a military court; and it is certain that neither Colonel Dame nor Major Lee was ever court-martialled for his action in the military operations at the Mountain Meadows.

After Major Lee had announced that fatal order to his troops, and instructed them as to how he intended to carry it out, 'he sent a flag of truce into the emigrants' fort, offering to them that if they would lay down their arms he would protect them.' This was on the 15th day of September, and the fourth since the battle, or, rather, siege had begun. You will not forget that the little band of Arkansans were not 'whipped.' Though well-nigh exhausted with fatigue and loss of sleep, and burning up with thirst, they were not conquered, they were fighting for their wives and little ones more than for themselves, else, at any time, under cover of the darkness, they could have formed in solid column, broke through your lines and escaped. But to their honour, be it said, they refused life when associated with the condition of deserting their families.

But the flag of truce came into their little fort -- that white flag held by all civilized nations and peoples, from time immemori