1848-03-04-New York Tribune-Meeting in Behalf of the Mormons

Meeting in Behalf of the Mormons

New York Tribune, 4 March 1848, p. 2

MEETNG IN BEHALF OF THE MORMONS.—A rather limited but highly respectable meeting assembled in the Chapel of the University last evening, to take into consideration the case of the suffering Mormons in the Western wilderness. The meeting was called to order by Hon. B. F. Butler; and on motion, His Honor the Mayor was called to preside. Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen and Rev. Dr. Whitehouse were appointed Vice Presidents, and Rev. Dr. R. W. Griswold was made Secretary.

Col. Kane of Philadelphia, in a brief, eloquent and pertinent address, stated the circumstances under which he became acquainted with the condition of the Mormons, their destitution, and general present and prospective wretchedness; and introduced a Mr. Little, a Mormon delegate, for whose knowledge and integrity he was prepared to pledge himself. Mr. Little gave a very particular account of the adventures, privations, sickness and extreme sufferings of the people with whom he was connected during a journey of several months toward the Pacific.

After he had concluded, Hon. Theodore Sedgwick inquired of Col. Kane the manner in which it was expected to apply the funds that might be contributed for the relief of the emigrants. Col. Kane explained explicitly and satisfactorily.

Hon. B. F. Butler then presented, with some preliminary observations, the following Preamble and Resolutions:

Whereas, We have been credibly informed that several thousands of our fellow-citizens are now wandering over the prairies of the Far West in a state of extreme destitution and suffering, resulting in the untimely deaths of hundreds of their number, and threatening the destitution of the residue by hardship and famine, Therefore

Resolved, That in view of human destitution and misery which we have ability to mitigate, we know no difference of creed or sect, and are conscious only of our duty as men and Christians to feed the hungry and clothe the afflicted, whoever or whereever they may be.

Resolved, That after the generous and compassionate spirit evinced by our people in reference to the sufferings of Greece and Ireland, it would not become them to suffer thousands of their own countrymen to perish for want of seed to plant, implements of husbandry, and medicines for the sick, and food to sustain them until their labor can be made sufficiently productive for their support, when a moderate benefaction would place the sufferers beyond the reach of want and wretchedness.

Resolved, That upon the statement, had by Col. T. L. Kane of Philadelphia, we commend to the favorable consideration of our fellow citizens the application about to be made to them by Messrs. Benson, Appleby, Little, and Snow, the Committee now in this City, for donations to relieve the emigrant Mormons in their present necessities.

Capt. Knowlton of the U. S. Army suggested the propriety of inducing the Mormons to return to the United States. For that purpose he was willing to contribute, but not to enable them to carry out any vast schemes they might have formed, and in the execution of which they had undertaken their present pilgrimage.

Mr. Butler said that no doubt there was not a person present who would not agree with Capt. K. in the general tenor of his view of the matter. No one would wish to aid in setting up the Mormons as a distinct society in the extreme West. But it was not probable that the donations would amount to a sum sufficient for such a purpose. The most that could be done by them would be to afford temporary relief where humanity required it to be bestowed. Every one must be convinced from the statement of Col. Kane that the sufferings of the Mormons in the wilderness were extreme, and under such circumstances he presumed that they would not wish to impose very severe conditions on the sums that might be given to relieve the sick and starving from imminent death. The present application, as he understood it, was solely for that purpose. On the conclusion of Mr. Butler's remarks, after adopting the preamble and resolutions the meeting adjourned.

We trust that it may not prove fruitless. There has rarely been presented to the benevolent any claim more imperative than this in behalf of the suffering Mormons; and the manner in which Col. Kane is devoting himself to his generous mission is entitled to the most hearty encouragement and applause. The character of this gentleman is a sufficient guaranty that whatever is given for their relief will be promptly and judiciously applied. In the course of the evening, Mr. Butler made some very proper observations upon the subject of soliciting editors to act gratuitously in cases of this sort. He would leave editors to bestow their benevolence according to their own judgement, without coercion; and was convinced that that benevolence would be as ample as it was spontaneous.