The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and ChildrenWaite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
History
The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and Children
Waite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
Latter Day Saint churches; Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
"These and other movements compelled the citizens to be on
their guard, and prepared for any emergency. On Monday last, a
reliable person overheard Colonel Connor and Judge Waite in
conversation. The Colonel says, 'These three men must be
surprised.' The Judge replied, 'Colonel, you know your duty.'
In half an hour after, from a signal given, which was
previously understood, about one thousand citizens were armed,
and on duty, and in another half hour another thousand men
were on duty. This sudden demonstration proved to them that
their secret was known, and that we were fully prepared for
them. In the mean time our 'outside' friends in this city
telegraphed to those interested in the mail and telegraph
lines, that they must work for the removal of the troops,
Governor Harding, Judges Waite and Drake, _else there would be
difficulty, and the mail and telegraph lines would be
destroyed_. Their moneyed interest has given them great energy
in our behalf. They have placed their line at the disposal of
President Young, to be used to Washington, or New York. We
fully expect the Colonel, Governor, and Judges will be
recalled."
Here, it will be noticed, is the same covert threat contained in Brigham
Young's speech, that the mail and telegraph lines would be destroyed, if
the federal officers should be retained at their posts. It is to be
regretted that this standing menace should so far have had its effect,
as to induce the President, some two or three months afterward, to
recall Governor Harding from his position. It is true, by transferring
him to the Chief Justiceship of Colorado Territory, his removal was
disconnected with any censure of his administration. It still remained,
however, a substantial yielding to the arbitrary demands of Brigham
Young, and as such, had a direct tendency to encourage him in his
lawless proceedings, and to postpone for years the solution of the Utah
problem.
Judges Waite and Drake had, immediately after the demonstration of the
3d of March, written to the President, giving it as their opinion that
the laws were nugatory, and the Organic Act entirely inoperative in the
Territory, and declining to hold any terms of the District Court in
their respective districts until they should be properly supported by
the military power of the Government; at the same time giving it as
their opinion, that such a support should be at least five thousand men,
well armed, equipped, and provided.
The failure to furnish this force, and the subsequent change in the
governorship of the Territory, satisfied them that the Government was
not then prepared to meet the questions which had arisen in such a
manner as the dignity and honor of the nation required, and accordingly
all effort to further counteract the evil effects of this intolerant
theocracy were, for the time, abandoned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account