Washington telegraph., 1854-02-01
The Murder Of Capt. Gunpi..-

The Murder Of Capt. Gunn;..
The Missouri Democrat Of the 2s,h I,
December contains q careful exanrina,in-
all the facts connected with the lillir- ~
Capt. Gunnison and his party while enrs.,I
in surveying route for the Pacific RaiIrss
through the Utah Territory. The reea;ra;
opinion is that the murder was eo,nr,;..
by some one Of the Utah tribes Of InJ;.-a
the conclusion of the Democra, is H.. :.
was not the work Of the Indians, and ~.
ference j. that it was done by Tic Morn
The grounds upon which the Indians n.
quilted are these The Parvants MIA
cury the country where the party were l;H
ed. do not use guns. and have nopr y.
some Of the party were killed with tire..,,. -
The other tribe. the Utahs. live remote e.
the spot where ihe tragedy was perto,,nss
and are. moreover. at peace with all vb;,-
men except the Morinons. Beale 80
Hemp passed through the country verv
Gently. without mUlcsiation-on ihe scr,s.
nv, they we're treated with kindness ,pd III.
piled with provisions. and told th,, u.
Utahs had made war upon the Mormons q q
taking away their lends Gunnison's n.,..
had already passed through without d.ru,t
ance. The Democrat adds that other ,,a
still stronger circumstances are, in the nina.
Of those acquainted with Indian usage. oor
elusive Of the fact that the murder VA II.
committed by Indians Prominent .ror-
these IL the fact that the slain wcro N.
scalped. The scalp j the Indian, troulr
to him It i more valuable than booty NJ,
the proof of bis val,.r. and confers upon L;m
rank aud distinction in his tribe. Rob =
Gunnisons arms were cut of. and one =,
Kern s-Mhich proves that the authors ~
the deed were not too much hurried 70 b,-.
scalpcd their victims. if they lad chosen i
do % for MI arm il more difficult, 10 rcrror.
than scalp. ArotEer tircrm. tarce I ~,
notes. surveys, ard other papers Of The p,r.
ty were carried away. Papers are rslueles,
to an Indian. He never takes them ar,r
and usually scatters them upon the ground
as useless-and what, TO an Indian tribe
are the notes Of a railroad exploration
The survivor of the party reports ,b,.
the attack was made by indians: but II w.,
easy for another sort Of assailants 10 dispuis.
themselves a. Indians. and In fact. Il would
bc the natural devicc for ccnceaImeut "
protect themselves from The punishment
which the Government of the United States
would infict on the murderers. and TO turn
that vengeance against the enemies thew
wish 70 destroy
The Democrat proceeds TO attribute the
assassination to the Mormons. As a part cf
their policy for keeping themselves isolated
In the basin Of the Great Salt Lake and
prevent the running Of railroad through
the Territory. which would bring them and
their shocking practices under the obserra-
tion of the world. and within reach Of The
power of the Government A long sum-
mary is given Of the crimes aud depravities
of the Mormons: their readiness TO murder
nt the dictates of their sureriors, whenever
the interests Of their hurrid sncial system
! reed i /: aud their studded policy Of seclu-
sion. for the more secure indulgence of their
gross immnraliticS Tie inference that
they committed this murder is made to rest
npon these charges of Indifference TO crime.
iaat they are capable of doing it. that they
have motives which could not influence an
Indian. aud that the attending circumstances
preclude the belief thai il could be done by
any other party.
Without recognizing the absolute justice
of these conclusions. there il enough shown
70 call for the most searching examination
BY the Government, 10 The end that in pun
ishing the assassins. which they are bound
to do promptly and efiec;ually. their blows
may fall upon the true offenders and If the
crime be indeed that Of the MOrnons as =
body. that measures may be taken such as
80 grave state of facts will require.