LIFE IN THE FAB WEST 255 



almost universal concubinage existed amongst the sect, 

 which at this time numbered at least forty thousand. 

 Their disregard to the laws of decency and morality 

 was such as could not be tolerated in any class of civil- 

 ised society. 



Again did the honest Missourians set their faces 

 against this pernicious example, and when the county 

 to which the Mormons had removed became more 

 thickly settled, they rose to a man against the modern 

 Gomorrah. The Mormons, by this time, having on 

 their part gained considerable accession to their strength, 

 thought to set the laws at defiance, organised and 

 armed large bodies of men, in order to maintain the 

 ascendency over the legitimate settlers, and bid fair to 

 constitute an "imperium in imperio" in the State, and 

 become the sole possessors of the public lands. This, 

 of course, could not be tolerated. Governor Boggs at 

 once ordered out a large force of State militia to put 

 down this formidable demonstration, marched against 

 the Mormons, and suppressed the insurrectionary move- 

 ment without bloodshed. 



From Clay County they moved still farther into the 

 wilds, and settled at last in Caldwell County, where 

 they built the town of " Far West, " and here they 

 remained for the space of three years. 



During this time they were continually receiving 

 converts to the faith, and many of the more ignorant 

 country people were disposed to join them, being only 

 deterred by the fear of incurring ridicule from the 

 stronger-minded. The body of the Mormons seeing 



