OCR Text |
Show DOCTRINE, & c. 115 allowed to march through Salt Lake City and establish Camp Floyd, about forty miles distant. This large body of troops in the territory scattered hun dreds of thousands of dollars throughout the country, and when the army was withdrawn a large quantity of supplies, with mules and wagons, were disposed of for mere nom inal sums. In some places bacon was sold at one dollar for sacks containing a hundred pounds, when the retail price of the article was seventy- five cents per pound. The Mormon expedition, then, resulted in incalculable pecuniary benefit to the people, in still further demonstation of the ability of their leader, and in strengthening their confidence in their cause and their ability to resist the Gov ernment, which may yet lead to bloodshed and their ruin. I should have stated that Brigham Young yielded grace fully the nominal Governorship of the territory to Gover nor Cumming at the first interview they had. Since the troops entered Utah in 1857, tne Mormons have been under but little better subjugation. They have not been quite so open and bold in their opposition to the Gov ernment as before, but notwithstanding there is a secret hatred and defiance of it, so deeply rooted in them, that it cannot be removed as long as their present system exists* A remedy for the evil I will discuss in a future letter. CHAPTER XV. DOCTRINE OF THE MORMON CHURCH. POLYGAMY. HAVING reviewed in the last letter the political history of the Mormons, I now submit something concerning their teachings and practices of the present day. Their published articles of faith are as follows : i. " We believe in God, the Eternal Father ; and his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. |