THE MORMONS.
Governor Emory waiting; for Further Developments.
A special despatch from Salt Lake City says: "The despatches sent hack here by telegraph are quoted by the Mormon newspapers with expressions of disgust. What these papers say is of no account except so far as it illustrates the duplici-ty practised by the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when in trouble. At present there is more real danger to the tenure and the necks of the Mormon chiefs in this Terri-tory than ever impended over them be-fore, and they strive by all means avail-able to stimulate their followers and de-ceive the people of the United States."
"During the last three weeks the coun-cils of the priesthood throughout Utah have been belligerent, and the orders from commanders of the old Nauvoo Legion have summoned that body to get ready for action.
"Brigham Young has indicated to an immense congregation of Mormons at the Tabernacle, in paraphrases which necessity long ago taught him to use, his willingness that they should be ready to defend him and the Church from im-pending danger; yet he dislikes to have this meaning conveyed to the outside world. While the Mormons are arming he desires the authorities at Washington and the people beyond Utah to believe that they are organizing merely for a holiday, and newspapers here which are edited in the interest of the Mormon Church describe the opposite view as sensational.
"Governor Emory, who has had his attention called to the facts, still delib-erates whether or not to take action in regard to them. One crucial fact before him is, that the Nauvoo Legion is a mil-itary organization utterly dissimilar to any other in the United States. It is composed exclusively of Mormons who were branded for treasonable resistance to the United States troops under Gen. Johnston, and it was subsequently disbanded or rather forbidden to assemble without his order by Governor Shafer in 1870. In the following year Lieu-tenant-General Daniel H. Wells at-tempted to call out the legion to parade in Salt Lake City on the Fourth of July. Governor Shaier being then dead, George A. Black, Secretary and Acting Governor of the Territory, called Wells' attention to the Governor's order, which had not been revoked, and forbade the assembly of the legion. The Lieutenant-General insisting on its right to parade, Acting Governor Black sum-moned from Camp Douglass a detach-ment of Federal troops, who came down to the city, commanded by General De Trobriand in person, and prevented an armed procession of the heroes of Nau-voo.
"There never was any doubt of the right of the Governor to control the movements of the militia, but Governor Emory awaits fuller legal advices before imitating the resolute example of his pre-decessors. He is aware that a dozen men in this city can control the action of every Mormon in Utah, and he is besought by Gentiles who have millions of capital invested in mining and mercantile enter-prises, to hold on until he is absolutely certain of approaching mischief. Wheth-er he will let his prerogative rust or take the Mormon bull by the horns and pre-pare the way for a peaceful exercise of judicial authority here during the coming summer, is a question which will prob-ably be answered within the next few days."
19th Century Mormon Article Newspaper Index
