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Show ANTI-POLYGAM- GLorge Q. Cannons Views oa B ood The Mormons have denied the charge of belief in or practice of the doctrine of Blood Atonement. In an article published in the March number of the North American Be view, written by George Q. Cannon, occur these statements. The doctrine ofblood atonement, and all there is about that charge, is that the people believe in the biblical doctrine, that men who commit murder, adultery, and other gross crimes, should be executed, and a they do not believe in hanging, one of their early laws gives the criminal convicted of murder, the privilege of electing the mode of execution. The foregoing was written for outside effect. The following sworn statement of a man who was once a Mormon and fully initiated in all the mysteries of that faith gives an insight into the private views of George Q. Cannon on the subject. We leave it to any candid reader to judge, if it does not prove that the Mormon Church makes for itself laws, for the infraction of some of them, it attaches the death penalty, - and then it proceeds to execute those laws and put to death persons who have not been adjudged guilty by the competent legal tribunal having jurisdiction. We ask for a careful perusal of the subjoined affidavit. United States of America, Territory of Utah, ) ss. County of Salt Lake. ) Adolph Razin, a Citizen of the United States, resident in said Territory and Coun- ty deposes ami ays that on or about the first day of March, A. D. 1855. at the City of Salt Lake, one George Q. Cannon tolu affiant, that aceordlutr to the doctrines of Blood Atonement, as believe i, understood. and practiced, in and !y thy church of Latter Dav Saints or Mo:n r. it was, and always is the duty, cf each and every blootl of inemuerot saul cLurehtsh -- I his neighbor for sal vat in- - -- ake; that is to dud at say, the said George O. Caor; the time aforesahL. attempt to irnpre-- s upon the mind of this affiant, i:.a: w!.en ai;v was thought to he. in a state of sinfulness, or disobedience to said Church, its doctrines and priesthood, it was then, and in that case, the justifiable privilege, and duty, of any other to kill such supposed offender. And and to having argued affiant, explained the said doctrine of Blood Atonement the said George Q. Cannon, did then and there, inform affiant, that Almon W. Babbitt, Secretary of Utah Territory, had transgressed the laws of said Church, and had disobeyed the commands of its President in divers ways; and that for sucli transgressions and disobedience, the blood of tail Almon W. Babbitt should and must be shed, to redeem and save his soul from sin That thereupon, the said George Q. Cannon, told affiant, that said Almon W. Babbitt, was then, in March 185b intending to go from Salt Lake City to Washington, D. C., advising and urging to accompany said Babbitt, on the f affiant, journey, as aforesaid, and on the journey to shed the blood of said Almon Ar. Babbitt, according, anti in obedience to, the teachings of said Church. The affiant then and there, earnestly and conscientiously, refused to commit, or have anv part in the Commission, of the murder so advised, and counseled, by said. George Q. Cannon. Affiant further says, that he did accompany fhe said Almon W. Babbitt, to Washington, D. 0., but did not return to Utah with him that afterwards, in the summer of 3 the said Almon W. Babbitt was assassinated on his return from Washington, and tills affiant believes said assassination was an act done, in accordance with f V ,r,vs or doctrines of said Church and theresaid of Church, instigated agents in by the advice and counsel, of George (J. Cannon, aforesaid, and other persons, in the authority of said Church. co-reliff-- ist 8-3- : Affiant says, that in March lbo. ), as aforesaid, he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons as herein before stated, and that said George Q. Cannon, was a member ot said Church, holding office in its priesthood, at the same time. That said George Q. Cannon, is the same person, who is now delegate in the House of Representatives, Con(from the Territory of Ltah)ii the degress of the United States and further ponent saith not. A. Lazix. , Signed, Subscribed and sworn to before me this Oth dav of March A. D. l84. Alfred seal. S. Gould, Clerk Supreme Court ot L tah ler. It may bo asked what relation the above bears upon the eligibility of George Q. Cannon to bold a seat in the Congress of the United Simply this, it proves that George Q. Cannon is the representative of u Church, which holds its own laws superior to those of the United States, and as a faithful member of that Church he cannot be the representative of loyal American citizens. States. 'Wbrltm "t f'on"fs enacte effective laws t punish thecrlme of polygamy In Utah? See me Jauutry standard. A STANDARD. Y Brave "Woman. On the evening of Friday Nov. 4th a Mormon woman named Mrs. Robert Graves, a resident of Salt Lake City was broughtup before the Elisrh Councilof theMormon Church o to answer certain charges preferred against her by her own husband. The substance of these charges was that Mr. Graves was tired of the faithful wife with whom he had lived seventeen years, and he was anxious to take other wives younger and fairer than the present Mrs. Graves. He did not state these facts in rrecisety this language, but complained that she would not consent to him living his religion, consequently he had her brought up before that august assemblage in order that she might be labored with for her obstinacy, and reprimanded for so far forgetting the duties of a Mormon woman as to object to her husband living up to his privileges. The poor woman, goaded almost to desperation, set aside all fears of the twelve stern old inquisitors, and She defended herself bravely. stated that she had married Graves in the East, and after coming to Utah, having then two children, she discovered that he had deserted one wife and nine children in England, and another some where- - in 'the States who had also borne him a number of children. Being helpless and friendless, she remained with him, and lie supported her and her children until she opposed him taking other wives, when he commenced a systematic course of neglect and persecution against her. She told the Council a sorrowful talc of poverty ard neglect, of what she and her children had to endure while her husband was off spending money freely and generally enjoying life, and she there appealed to them to admonish her husband as to his duty, instead of censuring her when she, in fact was entirely blameless. Here the saintlv husband inter- - posed, saying meekly that he would do everythin:? the Council would direct, and assuring them he was as Saint as there was good a Latter-da- y in the Territory. The Council could not doubt this statement, in face of the fact that he had numerous wives in all parts of the world, and still wanted more, so all their sympathies went Jont to their good Latter-da- y brother, and the poor defenseless woman could obtain no redress at their bands. Angus Cannon, (the same person who swore he did not know that his brother George Q. Cannon was a polygamist,) proceeded in the name of the Counsel to administer a severe reprimand for her obduracy and remissness of duty, admonished her to mend her ways, and become a submissive and obedient wife, and in fact told her plainly that she must act precisely as her husband required her to do. Mrs. Graves replied that she had always fullfilled her duties as a good wife, until ho proposed to desert her and her children for other women, but now she would let him go his ways, and have nothing more to do with him, or the iniquitous Chuich that supported him in his infamy. In olden times this brave woman would scarcely have escaped from the place alive, and would have been speedily blood atoned for her heresy, but she has determined to unloose herself from a church that sanctions the deecratim of homes, and effects the ruin of innocent women under the guise of religions teaching, and announces her-seas ready and willing to' labor honestly for the support of her worse than fatherless children. Mrs. Graves should receive that encouragement from every side, which her bravery so well deserves, and we trust that those children may amply reward her for what she has yet to endure for their sakes. lf -- S1 Wlifn will Cnnsrf.s art decisively on the on qtit tdion ? see the .lanuaiy staticard. CcmfVssod al Last. In the Utah contest case between G. It. Maxwell and Geo. Q. Cannon, monly called Mormons; that in accordance with the tenets of said Church I have taken plural wive?, who now live with me, and have so lived with me for a number of years, and have borne me children; I also admit that in my public addresses as a teacher of my religion in Utah Territory, I have defended said tenet of said Church as being, in my belief a revelation of God. Geo. Q. Cannon. (Signed) The only way in which these statements can he reconciled is by quoting from a public address made by Brigham Young on Nov. 0. 1856, in which lie explained the moral character of some of his people. The following are his exact words: We can produce the greatest and the smoothest liars in the world, the cunningest and most adroit thieves, and any other shade of character you ear) mention. And Brigham Young knew what kind of a man would be needed to send to Congress in order to make good his threat that he would thrust polygamy down the throat of the American people. The Way They Do It. In a former number of the Standard we noticed a statement that the Rev. Mr. Kimball had visited Utah, and had taken cognizance ol the peculiar institution, and subsequently made a declaration to the effect that No second wife can be taken without the consent of the first wife. Having' lived in this territory several years, and been somewhat conversant with these things we do aver that this is antagonistic to our knowledge oi the matter. There is one instance we have in our mind, probably one of many which goes to prove Mr Kimballs declaration to be false The case we have reference to is thal ofa prominent and wealthy Mor moil of Salt Lake City, who is knowr to have said to his wife, why, J have been living in polygamy a long time although you were ignorant ol it. lie had no doubt kept her iff. norantof the situation, because she had threatened to fear the eyes out, of any polygamous wife who should enter her house. We recollect instance as to how this consent is gained, which Mr. Kimball is so positive in assuring the world is The writer of this always given. article was informed by an apostate first session, Forty-ThirCongress Cannon said: I deny that I now live or have ever lived in violation of the law of God, man, my country, decency or civilization, or of any law of the United States. I deny that I am now living with four wives, or that I am living and cohabiting with any wives, in defiant or wilful violation of the law of Congress of 18G2, entitled An act to prohibit polygamy in the Territo- - Mormon woman of the case of a Latter-da- y Saint desiring to take nes. CanIn the contest brought by another fair one to his bed and non against Hon. A. G. Campbell to board, and failing to obtain the concome up in the next session of Con- sent of the wife, he took her on his gress, Mr. Angus M. Cannon, broth- lip and drew a chalk mark around er of Geo.' Q. Cannon, testified her throat from ear to car, saying as in Salt Lake under lie did here City so, This is the way I am gowith lie familiar his was oath, that ing to serve you, if you do not give brother and family; but he did ' not your consent. My informant went know that he was in polygamy, and on to say in a whisper, as if some did not know the names of any wo- blood aioner stood without ready to his wives except slay her for the revelation, that the men called one, nor the names of any of his wife remained obdurate, and that children except six by the legal her husband actually carried his wife. threat into execution by cutting her In the same case, Cannon himself, throat. We have no reason to think thA' testified, under oath also, as follows: I George Q. Cannon, contestant, this was an isolated case, or a so protesting that the matter in this instance as to the manner of a paper contained is not revelant to in" wives to consentfo the unla I, the issue, do admit that I am a and beastly practicojif poly gang member of the Church of Jesus MlChrist of Latter Day Saints, com Salt Lake City, Nr d an-oth- 1 f - I f er |
