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Show THE "POST" AND THE MINISTERS ON "MORMONISM." The New York evening Post is a conservative, dignified newspaper, and was edited for many years by the poet Wm. Cullen Bryant. In a recent issue it printed the following article on the great topic of the day, which contains more sense than is usually found in editorials on "Mormonism." The Times has been interviewing several clergymen of this city apropos of an anti-Mormon movement set on foot by the Presbyterian Ministerial Association of Cincinnati, and in aid of which a meeting will probably be held here shortly. The answers made to the reporter by our local minister-touching their plans for the suppression of Mormonism were not very encouraging, and one of them, Dr. Crosby's was, if correctly rendered, not only discouraging but somewhat alarming. He said very truly that "his views on the subject were very decided." He would put Mormonism down by force; and if the present army was not sufficient for the purpose, he would "recruit fresh troops." He would then put 15,000 men under the command of "Phil" Sheridan and send him into the Territory "to stamp the evil out"-of course after the passage of an act by congress fro the suppression of Mormonism, and proclamation by the President calling on the people to give it up. How Phil Sheridan would "stamp it out" Dr. Crosby refused to describe in detail, but he admitted that the process, whatever it is, would "to some extent involve bloodshed, but he would not hesitate on the account." We infer from this that what he has in mind is a dragonade after the fashion of Louis XIV's plan for "stamping out" heresy in south France. In other words, when Phil Sheridan came on a Mormon accused of polygamy he would have him shot or sabred with or without inquiry. We do not like to push our conclusion so far as to say that Dr. Crosby would like to have the same treatment applied to the women. We prefer to believe that the report has done him some injustice throughout. It is a relief, after reading this to turn to the interviews with the other ministers-Dr. Bevan, Dr. Parkhurst, Dr. Burchard and Dr. Hall-and find that they have no plan for the suppression of polygamy whatever. It is infinitely better for a minister to keep his mind a perfect blank on any subject than fill it with schemes for letting soldiery loose on a community which polygamous though it be, is peaceful and industrious, and has, through its very ignorance and delusion, the strongest claim on the reasonableness and charity of those who know better and live more purely. We would suggest, too, that those who hold "very decided views" on "Mormonism," or any other social or political subject, should, before speaking on it make themselves a little familiar with the limitations put on the powers of both Congress and the President by the United States Constitution. It is well for those who want to sabre and shoot the "Mormons" to remember that Congress cannot set up a military despotism in the territories any more than in the states. The inhabitants of territories are citizens of the United States and live under the Constitution, and the Constitution gives them a right to trial for all offenses before a jury, to exemption from unreasonable researches and seizure, from having troops quartered on them in time of peace, and from cruel and unusual punishments. There is no provision made fro dragonnades in the territories. We can hang "Mormons" for having more wives than one after trial, but we cannot try them by court martial for it, or waster their farms or burn their houses. It is high time that the indignation against "Mormonism" began to take some practical shape, and we hope the ministerial conferences in Cincinnati will bring to the subject something more useful than a fiery hatred of licentious cohabitation. What is needed now is a plan which the government can embody in legislation, and carry out without bringing discredit on the Christian religion and on the American name. There is no question that Congress can legislate for the suppression of polygamy. We have heard this long enough. What we need to know is, what kind of legislation can be carried into effect. We are glad to see that some of the New England ministers, including Mr. Bacon, of Norwich, are calling for a reform in the marriage laws of some of our states as an excellent preparation for the effectual correction of "Mormon" manners and excesses. |