The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-20 00:00:00

UTAH AFFAIRS.

" The present condition of the territory of Utah,
when contrasted with what it was one year ago, is
a subject for congratulation. It was then in a state
of open rebellion, and, cost what it might, the
character of the Government required that this re-
bellion should be suppressed and the Mormons com-
pelled to yield obedience to the constitution and
the laws. In order to accomplish this object, as I
informed you in my last annual message, I ap-
pointed a new governor instead of Brigham Young,
and other federal officers to take the place of those
who, consulting their personal safety, had found it
necessary to withdraw from the territory. To
protect these civil officers, and to aid them, as a
yosse comitatus, in the execution of the laws in case
of need, I ordered a detachment of the army to ac-
company them to Utah. The necessity for adopt-
ing these measures is now demonstrated.
" On the 15th September, 1857, Governor Young
issued his proclamation, in the style of an indepen-
dent sovereign, announcing his purpose to resist by
force of arms the entry of the United States troops
into our own territory of Utah. By this he re-
quired all the forces in the territory to hold them-
selves in readiness to march at a moment's notice
to repel any and all such invasion,' and established
martial law from its date throughout the territory.
These proved to be no idle threats. Forts Bridger
and Supply were vacated and burnt down by the
Mormons to deprive our troops of a shelter after
their long and fatiguing march. Orders were is-
sued by Daniel H. Wells, styling himself Lieut.-
General N 61.11100 Legion,' to stampede the animals
of the United States troops on their march, to set
fire to their trains, to burn the grass and the whole
country before them and on their flanks, to keep
them from sleeping by night surprises, and to
'blockade the road by felling trees and destroying
the fords of the rivers, &c.
" These orders were promptly and effectually
,obeyed. On the 4th October, 1857, the Mormons
c aptured and burned on Green River three of our
supply trains, consisting of 75 waggons loaded with
provisions and tents for the army, and drove away
several hundred animals. This diminished the
supply of provisions so materially that General
Johnston was obliged to reduce the rations ; and
even w;th this precaution there was only sufficient
left to subsist the troops until the Ist of June.
" Our little army behaved admirably in their
encampment at Fort Bridger under these trying
privations. In the midst of the mountains, in a
dreary, unsisttled, and inhospitable region, more
than a thousaad miles from home, they passed the
severe and inclement winter without a murmur.
They looked forward with confidence for relief
from their country in due season, and in this they
were not disappointed.
" The Secretary of War employed all his ener-
gies to forward them the necessary supplies, and to
muster and send such a military force to Utah as
would render resistance on the part of the Mormons
hopeless, and thus terminate the war without the
effusion of blood. In his efforts he was efficiently
sustained by Congress. They granted appropria-
tions sufficient to cover the deficiency thus neces-
sarily created, and also provided for raising two
regiments of volunteers, for the purpose of quelling
disturbances in the territory of Utah, for the pro-
tection of supply and emigrant trains, and the
suppression of Indian hostilities on the frontiers.'
Happily there was no occasion to call these
regiments into service. If there had been I should
have felt serious embarrassment in selecting them,
so great was the number of our brave and patriotic
citizens anxious to serve their eountry in this dis-
tant and apparently dangerous expedition. Thus
it has been, and thus may it ever be !
" The ;whole wisdom and economy of sending
sufficient reinforcements to Utah are established not
only by the event, but in the opinion of those who,
from their position and opportunities, are the most
capable of forming a correct judgment. General
Johnstone, the commander of the forces, in address-
ing the Secretary of War from Fort Bridger, under
date Oct. 18, 1857. expresses the opinion that un-
less a large force is sent here, from the nature of
the country,, a protracted war on their (the Mor-
. mons') part is inevitable.' This he considers neces-
- sary.to terminate the war speedily and more eco-
nomically than if attempted by insufficient means.'
" In the meantime it was my anxious desire that
the Mormons should yield obedience to the consti-
tution and the laws, without rendering it necessary
to resort to military force. To aid in accomplishing
this object, I deemed it advisable, in April last, to
despatch two distinguished citizens of the United
States, Messrs Powell and M‘Colloch, to Utah. They
bore with-them a proclamation addressed by myself
to the inhabitants of Utah, dated the Gth of that
month, warning them of their true condition, and
how hopeless it was on their part to persist in re-
bellion against the United States, and offering all
those who should submit to the laws a full pardon
for their past seditious and treasons. At the same
time I assured those who should persist in rebellion
against the United States, that they must expect no
further lenity, but look to be rigorously dealt with
according to their deserts. The instructions to these
agents, as well as a copy of the proclamation, and
their reports, are herewith submitted. It will be
seen by their report of July 3d last, that they have
fully confirmed the opinion expressed by General
Johnston in the previous October, as to the neces-
sity of sending reinforcements to Utah. In this they
state that they are firmly impressed with the be-
lief that the presence of the army here and the large
additional force that had been ordered to this terri-
tory, were the chief inducements that caused the
Mormons to abandon the idea of resisting the autho-
rity of the United States. A less decisive policy
would probably have resulted in a long, bloody, and
expensive war.'
"These gentlemen conducted themselves to my
entire satisfaction, and rendered useful services in
executing the humane intentions of government.
" It also affords me great satisfaction to state,
that Governor Cumming has performed his
duty in an able and conciliatory manner, and
with the happiest effect. I cannot, in this
connection, refrain from mentioning the valuablo
services of Colonel Thomas L. Kane, who, frommotives of pure benevolence, and without any offi-
cial character or pecuniary compensation, visited
Utah during the last inclement winter, for the pur-
pose of contributing to the pacification of the ter-
ritory. -

" I am happy to inform you, that the governor
and other civil officers of Utah are now performing
their appropriate functions without resistance.
The authority of the constitution and the laws has
been fully restored, and peace prevails throughout
the territory.
" A portion of the troops sent to Utah are now
encamped in Cedar Valley, 44 miles south-west of
Salt Lake City ; and the remainder have been
ordered to Oregon to suppress Indian hostilities.
" The march of the army to Salt Lake City,
through the Indian territory, has had a powerful
.qfect in restraining the hostile feelings against the
.United States which existed among the Indians
Ttrhat region, and in securing emigrants to the
Far
West against their depredations. This will
also be the means of establishing military. posts and
promoting settlements along the route
" I recommend that the benefit of our land laws
and pre-emption system be extended to the people
of Utah, by the establishment of a land office in that
territory.
" I have occasion, also, to congratulate you on
the result of our negotiations with Cliina.
OUR CHINESE TREATY
" You were informed by my last annual message
that our Minister had been instructed to occupy
neutral position in the hostilities conducted a
by
Great Britain and France against Canton. He was,
however, at the same time directed to co-operate
cordially with the British and French Ministers in
all peaceful measures, to secure by treaty those just
concessions to foreign commerce which the nations
of the world had a right to demand. It is impos-
sible for me to proceed further than this on my own
authority with usurping the war-making power
which, under the constitution, belongs exclusively
to Congress.
" Besides, after a careful examination of the
nature and extent of our grievances, I did not be-
lieve they were of such a pressing and aggravated
character as would have justified Congress in de-
claring war against the Chinese empire without
first making another earnest attempt to adjust
them by peaceful negotiation. I was the more
inclined to this opinion because of the severe chas-
tisement which had then but recentlj been inflcted
upon the Chinese by our squadron, in the capture