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Show A SERIOUS VIEW OF THE SITU-ATIOX. SITU-ATIOX. Salt Lake City, Deo. 12, lt70. Editors SciU Lahe Herald : I have been a subscriber and reader of your valuable paper from its first starting, aud must say that I have ad mired the open and straightforward manner in which you have treated most subjects that have appeared in your columns. I differ with you. however, on a great mauy points, and particularly in regard to what you call the "wooden-gun rebellion." The drill in ihe 2Uih ward, the impiisouing of citizens of the United States in a military camp, the fact that the citizens citi-zens of Corinne turned out to drill and that not the tirt step has been taken in the matter, you tuin into a joke. Now, sir, it is a fact that some of the militia d.d driil in the 2uth ward, and if 1 am correctly informed in other places throughout the Territory. It may be that in the 20th ward a few boys bad sticks or wooden guns, and it may be that they turned out withoui oi dors. But they did turn out, and they did drill. The citizens of Corinne have also drilled, and I do not think they seek to ignore or deny the fact ; a'jd they had a perlect right to do so. Not only was it their right, but as cit-i.ens cit-i.ens of this great Kepublic it was aud is their duty, no matter if they lire Gentiles, Jews or 3Ioruions. The Constitution of the country gives them Unit right; the laws of the L niied estates and of tiie Territory make it a duly; and the Constitution and laws of the United States and ol the Te. r.tory make "no distinction as between citizens." Although not a native born citizen myself. 1 have al-wnys al-wnys considered it my duty to place myself in a position to defend the country of my adoption, maintain its Constitution, aud defend my home and tire-side if necessary; and that no President nor Governor can deprive me of t iat right and privilege in time of peace. Who are Presidents? Who are Governors, or Judges? They are simply citiz-'iis of the United States, placed in their offices by the supreme will of the sovereign people. They are the servants of the people, not their tyrants. They have no more right to set aside the law, or deprive a citizen of his rights, than has a boot-black, il he is a citizen of the United States. Now, it is all very well to hear men spout till they foam at the mouth, about "no distinction as between citizens," citi-zens," tVe., Ac, but what are the facts? A few citizens of the Tenitory turn out in the l!Uth Ward and exercise exer-cise thetiiseives as the law diiects; ihey are impii.-oned, taken Irom their homes, from their business and suffer seiious loss and inconvenience. At the same time, some of the citizens of Cori nip' turn out and drill, and not the lirst word is said about the matter that I have he. ud. hy this "distinction as between citizens ?" Kclio answers "Why?" The members of what you call the "ring," are dreadfully nervous for fear we siiotiid think tin y desired to make "d.stiiictioti as between citizens," citi-zens," beoau-cof religion; but it is the fact, and they are ashamed of it themselves, them-selves, and try to hide and cover it over with the Star Spangled Banner, aud their speeches- about "freedom oi' speech,'' "freedom of the press," Ac., Ac. Talking of "freedom of the press" brings another matter on the carpet. Not ni'ihy oars ago. We had papers in this city pub ish the vilest lies, the most foul and hlthy accusations, nuaitist our citizens, and if wo hinted that it was unfair we were told in le-p le-p ytli.it this w.i a "free country'' ' 1 1 e e . I 1 1 1 ..l the pre.-.-." "J tie M..r-ii,.;:-v..ii,: i.piiveu- of our i'.U r-i r-i . -- "li., M X2ivu are to o;-." A'. Why. in son. e parts t.f Aiuer ca tiny nn;;' I h ive lve:i r:.l leu eii n.i. out-M. et li.e ri-rrit .vy. ai.'I It-can; l!ie di 1 Hot do so. hut said ii'Whinc. "the Mrr.ioTis were- c.-'war.l-" "if-1 Moiiir'i:- were i:u !;y or tl.ev wou.'i ;v-e;re 1 :!;e indignit:--- l.t.i; ed upon tl.eiu "Si.enee cr.s c-n- 'i ;:i :i. :.- i. . on the -:h of it's t!:o "S: .r-.-p.ii.gied I5..i,!,cr." ""The tj.i; ..r.'-a- .-:ar a:i i tr. .-. "Our ii'.-'ii-:;- Iii-::iu;ior,-." -Ct.4-.ns .! ;;.:s i-'eti pi; : !;c v:;i.o i: iegaia to co. or erere. J." J.:hor:v : S:.evh." "L-'ne io:.. . f the I': ' :e 1 up with - V :l - k . e D.-. .J.;. ' V:il,-,t. r. -I n:.i.,;- u... k- &:':. r. ..-. .. .-e i. :.s-ed a few .p.-.e-tion-, C-i::.- -it i n v .-t. -.t -u u ".;-!' i v,i-h t'.e Hf".a!.,." - f'rr-e- ! 1 t k' ". ' : l.:!-'lT , ; ' ' i'. .1' i "Hen 11 i -.e I i rj I- ; ' i - :i- 1 K f ... ' "iVna w . .- , ,-,n ' St. .V-- -aii-.'. - i !5 mr.fr ' "l. vn weh C.i-.i-; ' - - :i:Ao I '.vile ! IVwa w.:h l';;r.!ar" "... e.;-:-.::c-tion as U tween ci;ze!-:- 1 i i;i, no ! Why. sir. it i not a huii jvr sicee a man in this city was threatened to oe turned ou: of h:s sirtiaion w-ca'ise w-ca'ise he was seen speaking to the ed iter of a Morni-n paper Yes. s:r , not in Turkey, net in any despotic Eu ropean country, but in Sa'.t Lake Cit'. Territory ot' Utah. United States of America. Now. if members of the clique here don't lite U t-eca-jse we think they do make "cistine-.ion as between citizens." let them stop their sDouting and their gas. and show by their action; that they mean what they -ay: then we may begin to believe that they are very anxious to benefit us. and convert us. and do us so much eood. Ac., Ac By the length of this scrawl, you may believe that I do not look as jou do, upen the matter as a joke and a farce, but as a violation of our rights, a religious persecution, hide it and cover it up as they may. And I am not the only one who thinks so There are h'rjoraMe gentiles here, honorable ladies and gentlemen, who see and hear for tbeniselves, and who are sick of the miserable and contemptible howling that is kept up all the time against "Mormons'" I must say that I think you are rather severe on the Judge. I differ with you in this, that I do admire a man who comes rinht out and shows himself. I prefer him to the miserable sneak that shakes hand with you and "brothers" you, while secretly and sneakingly doing all he can to oppress you, through some others who are not afraid to show their colors. Give me an open enemy all the time, i ou know what to expect, namely: if you are a "Mormon," Prison; if you are a "Gentile," "Gen-tile," Liberty. In conclusion, I need not inform you that I am unaccustomed to writing; writ-ing; that in fact I am no "writist." But I am a citizen of the Unit d States, as well as any other man; aud as you "make no distinction as between be-tween citizens," you can publish this, half of it, one third of it, or throw it in the waste-ba-ket. Earnest |
