Speech #490124761

He gathered about him many followers whose subsequent experiences in Ohio. Missouri. and Illinois are well known. Smith was killed in an Illinois jailin 1844. after which those who had followed him. some 20.000 in number. emigrated to the far west. and settled around Salt Lake in 1847. in a region of country belonging to Mexico. By the treaty of March. 1848. it became a part of the territory of the United States. notwithstanding which the Mormons organized the state of Deseret. In 1851 the general assembly of the state of Deseret passed an ordinance incorporating "the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints. " with perpetual succession. and with power to acquire real and personal property. although previously Congress had passed an act for the government of Utah. On September 14. 1850. the general assembly incorporated "The Perpetual Emigration Fund Company." and afterward enlarged and confirmed its powers. In those and succeeding years it granted large tracts of the public lands to the church and to leading members of the church. Under its authority the militia was organized. equipped. and drilled. becoming an efficient army under the name of the Nauvoo Legion. When the Territorial government went into operation. Brigham I oung having been appointed governor by the President. the conduct of affairs continued as beforewholly in the hands of the Mormons. and chiefly in the hands of the church. The Territorial Legislature declared valid the acts incorporating the church and the Emigration Fund Company. and those incorporations have since been the sources of power and the agents of the allcrushing tyranny exerted in Utah. Polygamy had been invented. so to speak. before the Mormons went to the mountains. but the invention had not been applied at that time. The population of Utah is 180.000. of which 150.000 are adherents to the "Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints."I About 15.000 men and women are polygamous in function. all in belief.