POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

When The "Saints" Came Marching In

As we approach the 2012 election, the sirens are blaring from the history of our country that most us have never been taught.  One day in Seattle, I stopped in a rare book store and found a copy of Bernard DeVoto's The Year of  Decision 1846.   It was published first in 1942 (my copy was published in 1943) and a young Arthur Schlesinger Jr was a principal researcher.  

The book chronicalled that part of our history when the era of the Mountain Men was fading and the expansion of our country to the Pacific Ocean was underway; driven by President Polk.  It's focus was the unpopular and, to some, "illegitemate" invasion of Mexico by the United States; but also included the rise of Mormonism. 

Most religions prominent in the United States today washed up on these shores from Europe.  Mormonism, however, was born and bred in this country.  It was, unlike others, militant and insurrectionist from its beginning.  Summarily driving out all forms of internal dissent, it quickly moved to form militia's and, later, armies to thwart rule of state governments,  (Missouri and Illinois), and then the federal government.  Theocracy and internal secrecy was its preferred form of government. Its early history included massacres of pioneer settlers. 

Founded in 1830, by 1838 the religion found itself in armed rebellion against the state of Missouri.  This led to its eviction from the state.  Return to the year, 1830, and you will find Alexis de Tocqville here studying the new, young Democracy.  You also will find some things uncomfortably similar to today; like grid-locked government, sharp divisions among the people, and an air of rebellion.  In the next  30 years these conditions led to what we were taught was the Civil War.  The "War of Popular Sovereignty" would have been a more accurate name for it.  It would also draw accurate parallels to what we're facing today.

Before our Yin-Yang Media spreads its soft-soap in support of candidates for this year's election, I strongly advise potential voters to do their own research.  Go on the web and Google Wikipedia's accounts of "1838 Mormon War" and "Utah War".  These accounts will get you started.  It's a fascinating period in our history from many aspects.

Stay Vigilant!  Pleasant reading.

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