Scott: Read Ray's quotation of Turley above, where the psychology of group violence is spelled out. Two, maybe three, men could hardly force an entire unit of a militia to commit mass murder if the members of the unit weren't pretty well dialed into the notion to begin with.
Yes two or three men would not be able to force 50 or 60 to so something this heinous if they were not “well dialed into the notion to begin with” as you say. I think that is where Smith comes in preaching against the emigrants with as Gene Session terms “incendiary” remarks. I think Blood Atonement also comes into play (Did you note that a third of the victims had their throats slit? ) as well as Innocent Blood - two topics that were dominated the era during the time but neither topic received much attention from the authors.
The problem you don’t seem to be grasping what started the massacre? So go back and read pages 134 and 135. That is the genesis of the conflict. There was no mob. Just a couple of Cedar City leaders who initiated the action. The authors do a poor job explaining what Haight’s motive was other than a couple of incidences that occurred in the hour the emigrants were in Cedar City. That and reference to some rumors and he’s ready to kill a 120 men women and children? I don’t think so. When you consider Lee’s last confession that this action was initiated by Smith it then makes sense. Haight and Lee were following Smith’s instructions.
I posted the quote:
"If the government dare to force the issue, I shall not hold the Indians by the
wrist any longer. If the issue comes, you may tell the government to stop all
emigration across the continent, for the Indians will kill all who attempt it."
Clearly Brigham Young is at the very least trying to bluff Captain van Vliet. BY is losing his power and so he try’s to retain it by threatening the Government in several ways including cutting off the emigrants coming through Utah- something the US Government wants very badly. So it follows he sends Smith is sent to So. Utah to influence the Saints and Indians against the emigrants. Smith even returns with Indians to discuss strategies against Americans and we know how it turns out.
by the way, Brigham Young was the US Indian Superintendent he was responsible for the protection of emigrants. Even if he did not order this, the fact his willingness to allow Indians to murder and steal by his own inactions is reprehensible.
God has the right to create and to destroy, to make like and to kill. He can delegate this authority if he wishes to. I know that can be scary. Deal with it.
Nehor.. Nov 08, 2010
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