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Show V * LOYALTY OF KULERS AND PEOPLE. 145 r battalion for service during th? Mexican war. While in the " heart of an Indian country, and on the eye of a long, and uncertain pil- » grimage into an unknown wilderness, they were suddenly called upon to surrender five hundred of their best men to the hazards of a hostile campaign, and to the exposure and vicissitudes of a march of two* thousand milqs across trackless deserts and burning plains, to fight the b% ttUa of their country. / Their peculiar circumstances presented almost insuperable objections to a compliance with tne requisition, yet not the slightest hesitation was evinced. " You shall have your battalion at ojice," wag the reply of President Young, " if it has to be a class of our ^ ld$ rs j " and in * thve6 days the force, recruited principally among fathers of families, was raised and ready to march. Here certainly was no evidence of a lack of patriotism.* t * The following- extract from a sermon of Brigham Young to his people wiJV I think, confirm the correctness of myrows as to the sentiments of the Mormon leaders, at that time, on thiasubject:- ' , , " J want to say to ever/ man, the constitution of the United States, as formed by our fathers, was dictated, was revealed, was put into their hearts by the Almighty, who sits enthroned in the midst of the heavens; although unknown to them, it was dictated by the revelations of Jesus Christ, and I tell you, in thejaame of Jesus Christ, it is as good as I could ever ask for." " I say unto, you, magnify the laws. There is no law in the United States, or in the constitution, but I am ready to make honourable/' l N Many more expressions of a like character might be quoted, but the above are sufficient, to show what were the opinions of the rulers. ,. The fallowing language, used by General D. H. Wells, at the celebration of the fourth anniversary . of the advent of the Mormons into the Valley, will show, I think, what was the feeling of the people:,- , " It has been thought by some, that this people, abused, maltreated, insulted, robbed, plundered, murdered, tod finally disfranchised and, expatriated, Would naturally fjeel reluctant to again unite their destiny with the American republic." * * * " No wonder that it Was thought by some that we would not again submit ourselves ( even while we were yet scorned and ridiculed) to return to our allegiance to our native country. Remember, thai it was by the act of our' country, not ours, that we Were expatriated; « nd then consider the opportunity we,, had. of forming other ties. Let this pass, while we lift the veil and show the policy which dictated us.' That country, that constitution, those institutions, were all ours; they • are still ours. Our fathers were heroes of the Revolution. Under the master spirits of an Adams, a Jefferson, and a Washington^ they declared and maintained their independence; and, under the guidance of* the Spirit. of tenth, they fulfilled their mission wjiereuato they were Bent from the presence of the Father* Because demagogues have arisen and seirfed the reins of power,' should we relinquish our interest in that country made dear to ns by every tie of association and consanguinity T" * *'# " 4hose. who have indulged such sentiments concerning us, have not read Mormonism aright; for never, no never, will we |