exasperated by her refusal to yield to his wishes, he dragged her out of bed by the hair, took her down cellar, and kept her there several days and nights, upon bread and water, until her cries and entreaties were overheard by persons in the Overland Stage-Office, which was near by. The matter was investigated, and the poor and almost dying woman released from the clutches of the fiend. She was taken violently ill, and soon after lost her reason entirely.
No notice was taken of this transaction by the church authorities, and the inhuman husband went unpunished.
Wife-whipping is by no means uncommon in Utah. Many names might be mentioned of men of high standing in the church, who make no scruple of using personal violence to keep their wives in due subordination. It is a common saying, that a man who is good at managing cattle, will be able to manage his women.
One would suppose that it would be very difficult to induce women to go into "plurality" under such circumstances. On the contrary, so infatuated are they with the religious view of the subject, that many of them look upon it as a duty to be performed, and a cross to be borne, no matter at what sacrifice.
One of the sisters, in conversation with me, expressed her views upon polygamy as follows: "Oh, it is hard," she said, "very hard; but no matter, we must bear it. It is a correct principle, and there is no salvation without it. We had one, (meaning a plural wife,) but it was so hard, both for my husband and myself, that we could not endure it, and she left us at the end of seven months. She had been with us as a servant, several months, and was a good girl; but as soon as she was made a wife, she became insolent, and told me she had as good a right to the house and things as I had, and you know," she said, "that didn't suit very well. But," continued she, "I wish we had kept her, and I had borne everything, for we have got to have one, and don't you think it would be pleasanter to have one you had known, than a
stranger?" I told her I thought it would, if it had to be done, but I hoped my husband would not take one. She said, "He'll have to do it, if you and he want to be saved."
That the system of polygamy is really distasteful to the women of Utah,—that they are unhappy and dissatisfied, especially the first wives, is sufficiently shown by the public admissions of the church authorities. The admission of Young to that effect, made in the strongest language, has already been given. Jedediah Grant, one of the "three," also conceded the same fact in a sermon preached at the Bowery, in September, 1856, in the following language:—
"We have women here, who like anything but the Celestial Law of God; and if they could break asunder the cable of the Church of Christ, there is scarcely a mother in Israel but would do it this day. And they talk it to their husbands, to their daughters, and to their neighbors, and say they have not seen a week's happiness since they became acquainted with that law, or since their husbands took a second wife."
Nothing but the strong appeals constantly made to their religious faith and moral sentiments, could hold them where they are for a single day. Many instances might be given, illustrating the workings of the system.
The writer has no disposition to bring private individuals into public notice, especially those who deserve only to sink into obscurity. But as this is a subject which affects the whole country, and must eventually be disposed of upon the basis of facts, we shall give two or three other instances, citing cases of persons so well known, that the facts will not be questioned for a moment.