New York daily tribune no. 7674

              INTERESTING FROM UTAH 
Sketches of Sermons by Brigham Young, Heber Kimball, George A. Smith, Bishops Hardy and Raleigh, and Elder Byrd. 
Intense Hostility to the Government. 
The Mormons Drilling and Procuring Arms and Ammunition. 
They Declare they will Fight for Polygamy. 
How Federal Offices are Filled and the In-ternal Revenue Collected. 
DEFIANCE OF THE NATIONAL AUTHORITY. 
From Our Special Correspondent. 
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, 
Sunday, Oct. 8, 1865. 
I have spent seventeen days here for the pur-pose of studying the anomalous condition of affairs in Utah. 
CHANGE OF TONE IN THE MORMON LEADERS. 
Last June, in Brigham's long conference with the Colfax party, he professed a desire that the conversa-tion should be entirely frank on both sides. He assured us that Polygamy was not an original, vital feature of their faith, but a later revelation, and to most, a privi-lege, not an obligation. And without distinctly saying so, he left the clear impression upon the minds of all of us that the Mormons saw it must succumb to contact with advancing settlement and civilization, and would ere long find some excuse to abandon it. I do not say that he willfully deceived us; but he certainly gave us this idea. James M. Ashley of Ohio, Chairman of the House Committee on Territories, here a few days later, had two interviews with Brigham, and if the San Fran-cisco papers report him faithfully, he left with the same belief. J. Ross Browne, the well-known tourist and author, who was here still later, formed the same opinion. 
In this faith I endeavored to write of the people and leaders, with the utmost kindness; to say nothing of their disloyalty in the past; nothing of the grave crimes alleged to have been committed in the name of the Church; nothing of the revolting details of Polygamy which all the Gentiles poured into my ears. If they were willing to abandon the one illegal and obnoxious feature of their social life, which they call a part of their religion, it seemed wise not to reopen any old issues or hold them to strict accountability for anything done while they were smarting under supposed religious persecution. 
But Brigham simply deluded us. Within a few hours after the interview with Mr. Colfax and his friends, he solemnized three Polygamous marriages. One of the bridegrooms was Mr. John Myers, keeper of Myers's Stage station at Bear Lake. The other parties will be named if the statement is authoritatively denied. 
The public tone of all the leaders has radically changed. They preach that Polygamy is their religion, that they will adhere to it, living or dying, even by force of arms, if necessary; that the people and Gov-ernment of the United States are their bitterest ene-mies, and desire to destroy them, but must be resisted to the death if they adopt violent measures. I have heard sermons here so disloyal that they brought the blood to my cheeks; but first let me quote from two which I did not hear: 
ONE OF "THE TWELVE" ON THE NATIONAL GOVERN-MENT. 
At Toole City, Sunday, August 28, several of the leaders addressed a congregation. Portions of their remarks are thus reported by James W. Gibson, a sol-dier in the United States service. He is ready to make affidavit to the literal accuracy of the report; and Col. Milo George of 1st Nevada Volunteers, commandant of this post, vouches fully for his veracity. George A. Smith is one of the Twelve Apostles—the highest au-thorities of the Church after Brigham and Heber Kim-ball. Among other things he said: 
"The Lincoln Administration did not want peace with the South but wanted to destroy and devastate all the good Southern people. In order to do so, the party in power had laid aside the Constitution entirely, and were the main ones who rebelled, and the South was right. The Northern army burned and destroyed every-thing in the South, and abused, by force, all their women. They would be here some day to treat the fair women of Utah in like manner, and all, both old and young, should have plenty of arms. When they approached, God would fight the battles and the Saints would be vic-torious! He said our Government was not at peace; and he damned it and hoped to see the day when it would sink to hell. Nothing in the shape of a free government could ever stand on North American soil that was opposed to Mormonism and polygamy!" 
BRIGHAM YOUNG INSTRUCTING HIS FOLLOWERS. 
The following sentences are from the "sermon" of Brigham Young: 
"Our Constitution has been violated and misused; the whole nation and the whole world had been arrayed against the Latter Day Saints; our Government had tampered with the Mormons when it had no right to; he had told the Government often that he was willing to be tried here by the law for any accusation brought against him, and nothing could he done with him. The Mormons had the law in their own hands and would do as they pleased." 
THE CONGREGATION—Amen! 
BRIGHAM—"If they undertook to try him in a Gentile court he would see the Government in hell first, and was ready to fight the Government the rub. He had his soldiers and rifles, and pistols, and ammunition, and plenty of it, and cannon too, and would use them. He was "on it!" The Governor of this Territory was useless and could do nothing. He(Brigham) was the real Governor of this people, and by powers of the Most High he would be Governor of this Territory forever and ever. If the Gentiles did not like this they could leave and go to hell. Nine-tenths of the people of the Territory were South-ern sympathizers; the North was wrong, and this peo-ple sympathized with the South."
A SUNDAY AT THE BOWERY. 
On Sunday, Sept. 24, there were regular church ser-vices at the Bowery in this city, where the Summer worship is conducted, and the congregation ranges from 3,000 to 6,000. Brigham was absent on a Southern tour, and Heber Kimball presided. I did not attend the morning service, but five gentlemen from New-York who were present assured me that Heber's remarks were intensely disloyal. Among other excuses for his bitterness, he said to his hearers: "Colfax told us that they had wiped out one National cancer, and were now about to remove the other; that we should not be per-mitted to stay here more than three years longer." This was a deliberate, unmitigated falsehood; Mr. Col-fax never said anything of the kind; but such state-ments serve to embitter the people, who receive as Gos-pel truth whatever their leaders tell them. 
In the afternoon I found the Bowery densely crowded. Upon the platform sat Heber (wearing his hat, which he seldom lays aside) and several other church leaders. The preaching, as it invariably is, was extemporane-ous. Heber called up speaker after speaker, and alI responded without hesitancy or preparation. I believe it is their theory that the Spirit of God inspires them. The method has made all the prominent "brethren" fluent speakers, and developed their capacity for think-ing on their legs. Whenever Heber thought one had talked long enough, he checked him; whenever he thought one venturing on dangerous ground, he cau-tioned him. When Brigham presides, he often checks Heber. 
A RETURNED MISSIONARY. 
Nearly all Mormons of capacity are sent, sooner or later, to some foreign country, to preach the Gospel of the Latter-Day Saints. The first speaker this after-noon was Elder J. W. Byrd, with bald forehead, long, flowing hair, and long beard which swept his breast. He appeared in sable broadcloth and black kid gloves. He had just come back from a mission of three years and a half. 
"He was glad to return to their mountain home. He had tried to do his duty faithfully, and had led some into the kingdom though he found about nine-tenths of the people infidels, disbelievers in the bible. It was not pleasant preaching abroad in the open air, where he was liable at any moment to have a buckshot thrown at his head: but God had kept all the promises He made to him at the outset. At first every one asked him about the great American War, which had now ended, or rather, ceased for a time. He told them all that it would last while he stayed abroad. On the very day before he left England they received news that an as-sassin or somebody had killed President Lincoln; and on the day before that, intelligence of Lee's surrender. The war had ceased only for a time. Thirty years ago Brother Joseph Smith predicted that war would begin in South Carolina and spread throughout the world as a punishment for its wickedness. All over Europe now the most stupend-i-ous preparations ever witnessed were being made for war." 
NO WORSE OFF THAN CHRIST AND STEPHEN. 
Bishop L. W. Hardy, a native of Massachusetts, who is the husband of four wives, was next called upon. Tall, closely shaven, with thin face, heavenward nose, and straight brown hair, he also appeared in black. His brief exhortation was made with some clearness and force. As all the leaders do, he dwelt much upon the wonderful growth and prosperity of the Mormons, as evidence that they are specially protected by the Almighty. He said: 
"Brother Byrd had alluded to their persecutions; he might have had a brick bat thrown at him. Suppose he had; He would have been no worse on't than Christ was, when He was persecuted. It would not have hurt him any more than it hurt Stephen, when he was stoned to death. God would carry them through. The longer he lived the more he marveled at what God had done for them; the prospect looked brighter and brighter; religion seemed better and better." 
DISLOYALTY UNDER A VERY THIN VAIL. 
The next speaker was Bishop A. H. Raleigh, in suit of brown linen, a medium-sized, smooth-faced man, ev-idently popular with the congregation. He said: 
"I see I have got myself into a scrape. [Laughter.] You don't know what I am going to say. I don't. But if I keep on speaking I shall probably say something. I usually do. I am helping in every possible way to build up the Kingdom of God. That's the job I have on hand—to work in the domestic affairs of God's King-dom. We can't all be teachers and prophets; but we can all serve Him by doing our duty, wherever it lies. 
"I was born in this country. So was my father. He fought in the Revolution for its liberties, and to build up the Constitution and its laws. I am in favor of the Constitution; but it has been departed from. We will bring the country back to it. I have never feared the result in the little brushes we have had with Uncle Sam, or rather he with us. I knew we should como out all right. We mean to have our rights. Let them talk about this ‘Twin Relic.' If they attempt to deprive us of our rights, we have the tools and we know how to use them. [Murmurs of approbation.] 
"We left the East because there our enemies had the power. But the time is coming when we shall ask no odds of them. We don't ask any now—here. Let them come to overpower as they want to. We will show them when they get here—or rather a little before they get here. Only don't let us go to bring them; let us stay here and mind our own business. 
"A little while ago I met a Government Colonel at a blacksmith's shop. He asked me—'Where do you get your iron?' I replied: 'Uncle Sam was good enough to send it out in the Camp Lloyd Expedition.* And no doubt he will do it again by the time this is gone.' Yes, the very force sent out here to overthrow us brought us iron, wagons, mules and the money to buy them. So it will continue to be. If we are wise and keep our plates turned up, the porridge will run into them. 
"True, we are a territory. They pretend to rule us. They send out Governors for us. As long as they suit us, we keep them, when they don't, they soon get a ticket of Ieave. We shall discomfit our enemies. We shall see our Church—the Kingdom of God—spread over the whole land. I expect to live to see that. Our children will see it spread over the whole earth. That is my prophecy. It is God's truth. May God bless us all." 
CONGREGATION—AMEN. 
HEBER KIMBALL IN THE PULPIT. 
Mr. David O'Calder was next called up, and made a brief, Christian address, upon the practical duties of life. He was followed by Heber himself—who was formed in a coarser mold than Brigham, and with far less caution. Once he said to a Gentile in this city: "I always pray for my enemies. I pray that they may go to Hell across lots!" He is a large man, with oily, sensual face, and a bald head, which he protects by wearing his hat on nearly all occasions. To-day he arose without it. His “sermon” was a remarkable jumble; one-third Aminidab Sleek, one-third circus-clown. The follow-ing report somewhat softens its ruggedness and coarse-ness. He said:
“Anybody who feels sleepy had better wake up. [Laughter]. I mean, make himself comfortable. I am a little jovial; it is my way; my fathers were. But bless you! a man may be jovial and yet be good. And I tell the truth, and everybody who hears me knows it. Do you think God will associate with anybody who lies?
“There were several strangers here this morning; some from Missouri and some from Illinois; some from the North, and some from the South, They thought what I said was foolishness. They think what the brethren have said this afternoon is foolishness. But so it always is. The things of God must be foolishness to those out of the kingdom. 
“(Putting on his hat). We believe in the Bible. (To the Gentiles present). You don’t. We believe this book of Mormon. It was written on plates, and its place of burial revealed to Joseph Smith by the Angel Moroni, the only angel who has appeared on this continent, and of which the Indian tribes are relics!
“Our kingdom is true. God revealed it to me 33 years ago. We were instructed to teach to this genera-tion only repentance, remission of sins, laying on of hands and baptism, Not sprinkling—there is no such word as sprinkle in the Bible; but immersion—to be buried in the liquid, as John was buried. How could he be buried if he was only sprinkled. The burial is typi-cal of death, and the coming out typical of the resurrec-tion. 
“We believe what Christ taught—the commandments he gave. He said: ‘Thou shalt not interfere with thy neighbor’s wife, nor his daughter, his house, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant.’ Christ said this, but our enemies don’t believe it. That was the trouble between the North and the South. The Abolitionists of the North stole the niggers and caused it all. The nigger was well off and happy. How do you know this, Brother Heber? Why, God bless your soul, I used to live in the South, and I know! Now they have set the nigger free; and a beautiful thing they have done for him, haven’t they?
“I am what you might call a son of veterans. My father bled in the Revolution for our liberties. I, his son, have been five times robbed and driven out by Gentile prosecutors—I and my brothers Charles and Samuel. They threaten to come here and destroy us. Let them come. I am the boy that will resist them. 
“I first went abroad to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to the nations of the earth. There are 50,000 or 75,000 people in this valley, to whom I have preached it in other lands. That’s the reason you are here. We had been driven out from Kirtland (O). Joseph Smith said ‘Go,’ and I went. I preached God’s truth. Any man who is not willing to be saved as I have been, will be damned. I baptized by the authority of Jesus Christ. I first baptized two sick women. They had to be carried in beds from the carriages to the water. The doctors had given them up. But when I baptized them, both recovered, from that hour. One was brother George Watt’s mother; the other was sister Wormsley. Many was healed by touching the hem of my garments. I did not know it, but they was.
“Property? Why, as I told you this morning, I have got property enough. I didn’t steal it. I worked for it. I am a working feller. If you don’t believe it, come up to my house and see; come and help me a little. I will start the sweat on you; I will raise the dander on your jacket. Come and grind wheat with me; I am a miller. I am a blacksmith—learned the trade of my father. Come up and I will show you. I am a potter. I learned that trade. You don’t believe it? Then come up and see if I don’t mold you into something. [Laughter.] And as for chopping, I can chop with any one of you. I have chopped  cord-wood all day, day after day, with Joseph Smith, Samuel Smith, John Smith and James Smith, and it was just nip and tuck between us. And I am as good a carpenter as there is in this Territory. 
“Many strangers come through here now. They are a great deal more plenty than they used to be. They are disgusted with the corruption and oppression of the United States. (To the Gentile hearers:) Ain’t that so? Some who settle here want to steal our wives and 
*True. That expedition, from the abandoned wagons and arms it left behind, supplied the Mormons with iron and guns, in addition to enriching them by the money paid for wheat and other supplies. Financially it was a Godsend to them; and its result greatly increased the power and prestige of their leaders among the masses. 
Daughters. Before they came we were at peace. We never had a lawsuit till the Judges came. And as for the stinking lawyers—why a lawyer is the damndest thing in the world! He is even worst than a priest. Officials are sent among us. Does it make much difference? Let’s see; have we a Governor now, or is there one coming?
A Voice—There is one coming. 
“Heber—Well, he is just like the Governor we have—no worse—no better. All the Governor has to do is to pay the Legislature and administer justice. Are the Governors our masters? No sir; not for ME; they are our servants. We have our Apostolic Government. Brigham Young is our leader, our President, our Governor. I am Lieutenant Governor. Ain’t I a terrible feller? Why, it has taken the hair all off my head. [Laughter.] At least it would, if I hadn’t lost it before. I lost it in my hardships, while going out to preach the kingdom of God, without purse or scrip. 
“[To the Gentiles.] Oh, don’t be scart at me! Come up to my house and see me. I will give you some peaches, and make you happy. I have two sons abroad preaching the Kingdom of God. Brother Byrd says they are good boys. It makes me proud to hear it. I want the time to come when I can send out fifty of my sons to preach, all at one lick. Come up and see me. I will give you some peaches. I will give you some apples. I would give you some meat if I had it, but I am about out. I don’t hate you because you are strangers. May God bless all good men and women; that is my blessing. May God bless the strangers. CONGREGATION—Amen. 
And so ended the Sunday “religious” services. I am assured they are fair specimens of the Mormon preaching, though less hostile to the Government than the average. Though it was not stated in so many words, the plain, direct, only inference from the lan-guage was that if any possible attempt should be made to render the Anti-Polygamy law operative, they would resist it by force of arms. 
THE MORMONS ARMING AND DRILLING
According to statements published in the Mormon papers, and the concurrent testimony of all Gentiles, whether in civil life or connected with the army, the Mormons are perfecting their military organization, which extends throughout the Territory, drilling the people, and of late, with peculiar earnestness and zeal, obtaining all the arms and ammunition they can pur-chase from discharged soldiers, miners and others. 
THE ANTI-POLYGAMY LAW A DEAD LETTER.
By the act of Congress of 1862, Polygamy is a crime, punishable with imprisonment not to exceed five years, and a fine of $500 or less. But the act is utterly inopera-tive. Judges Titus, Drake and McCurdy, who represent the United States Government and form the District and Supreme Courts, though sworn to enforce the laws, are powerless. The selection of jurors is in the hands of Mormon officials. The One Man Power is supreme. Brigham Young us the Church and the Territory. Of course the masses here, as everywhere else, are sincere; but they yield absolute and unquestioning obedience to the mandates of the Church. They have no free schools. They read no newspapers, except those of their own faith. 
The Church of Rome, in its palmist days, never ex-pected and received more perfect allegiance from its followers than is rendered to Brigham. No Mormon Jury could be impanneled which would convict of Polyg-amy—indeed of anything—contrary to the mandate of Brigham. Hence the law is not only a dead letter, but a scoff and a bye-word. The Mormons profess to be-lieve it unconstitutional. But if they were sincere in that belief their remedy would be very easy. The Government officials have offered to agree upon a case, and furnished every facility for taking it up to the Supreme Court of the United States. If Brigham is loyal, as he claims, let him concur in this—test the law, and abide by the result. There is no escaping this issue. 
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
The original design was to station 2,500 troops for the coming Winter, and supplies for the one already stored, at Camp Douglas, three miles from this city. But within the last few days notice has been given to the commandant that only 1,000 soldiers will Winter here, and the Commissary has received orders to sell the surplus supplies. They have cost a million of dol-lars, and the officers assure me that their sale will in-volve a loss of from 20 to 50 per cent upon their cost. Of course there are Major-Generals and editors who will demonstrate beyond all question, that this withholding of troops when more needed than ever before, and this sacrifice of from a quarter to half a million dollars of Government property, is a fresh proof of the inscruta-ble wisdom and grand organizing powers of Edwin M. Stanton. 
But here is a graver fact. The Governor appoints and keeps in most important and responsible positions of civil trust and honor men who openly and system-atically violate the laws. The following officers ap-pointed by the National Government are all Polyga-mists:
T.B.H. STENHOUSE, Postmaster of Salt Lake City. 
J.C. LITTLE