The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-06-20
Resignation of Col. SteptOc - Brigham
Young to take the Communicative
Murdcrcrs of GunniSOI. ........

Murdcrcrs of GunnisOn. .........s.
10 us in California it is of the last impor-
tance that the relations which are to subsist
hereafter between the United States and the
Mormon people should be clearly and perma-
nently defined 1t is not to be disguised that
the whole tone Of the leaders of that people
breathes hostility to the federal government
and that their teachings i'll the pulpit and the
press are undisguisedly defiant Of the authority
OF our laws. ..r,i 500 ..
This spirit OF rough characterization on the
part of Governor Young and his followers has
hitherto been regarded as too ludcrous for
serious consideration but it has for some time
past been too forcibly Illustrated in the con-
dnct Of the Mormons of Salt Lake to be any
longer permitted to pass unnOticed.
The President of the United States, in order
to administer rcbuke to the braggadocio of
Gov. Young, and to keep that ambitious gen
tleman in proper check, some few months past
appointed Colonel Stcptoe, ia sallant and dis
tinguished officer Of the army of the United
States,) Governor of Utah.
He could not have made better selection.
Col. Steptoe is gentleman of kind heart, of
cOnclliatOry and winning manners, and the
man of all others who would be chosen by rea-
son of his great sauvity, good humor and mod
Grafton, to gain over TO proper sense OF duty
disaifected people. -
the proceedings consequent on the receipt at
Salt Lake City of the news of his appointment.
In the gross and Incorporate language of his
address to the saints onsthe occasion, Brigham
Young ut-Brighamed alb his previous efforts.
1t soon became evident that one of tive courses
was open to Colonel Steptoe-ether to risk
an open rupture with the Mormons by assam,
ing the power conferred on him by the Presi-
dent, or quietly yield to circumstances, and let
the great Mormon apostle continue to govern
the Mormons. ..-... a. ss-.. Be-.
For the former step he was unprepared.
The force under his command was wholly in
adequate to uphold government organization
in Utah at the point of the bayonct. Isolated
as he is by nearly two months travel from
communication with Washington, he felt that
even if the MOrmOns were to yield reluctant
acquiescence in his assumption of the gubcrna
tOrial functions, the task of governing the
Mormons with due regard to the interests OF
that people and the federal government, would
be an excessively unpleasant one, and in all
probability the attempt under existing circun-
stances could not lead to any good result.
We surmisc that this state of things led to
his declination of the office, and to his uniting
States for the disappointment of Brigham
Young. From these facts it is apparent that
unlike the citizens of other Territories OF the
Union-who always promptly acquiesce in the
appointment of Governor-thcl Mermons of
Utah almost openly eject the officer appointed
by the Chief Magistrate of the Union. by
the last mail from Desert, another fact has
COME pregnant with meaning to US.
The Indian murderers of the lamcntcd Gun
nison and his party were delivered up and put
upon their trial. They were convicted OF man
slaughter, and sentenced to three years I'M
prisonment. a more atrocious, stcalthy,. and
treacherOus murder is not recorded in the an
mails of Indian masSacres. If the meli convicted
were guilty of any crime, they were guilty OF
murder, and the circumstances rendered the
crime of manslaughtcr animpossibility.
That the escape of these Indians from the
penalty of the crime was a stroke OF policy Oh
the part Of the Mormon rulers, intended to
conciliatc the Indians, is almost beyond ques
ton. 1t must be clear to even the least
sagacous of the Mormon rulers, that perse
verance in such course is wholly incompati
BILE with the maintenance of peaceful relations
with the government of the Unified States. II
has already been determined by the federal
authorities that the MormOBs OF U tab must be
more civil and tractable, or they must be
checked. - So.
We would not counsel al course onthc
part OF the President, calculated to drive thai
people into overt acts Of insu ordination. But
he should nevertheless be prepared to enforce
prompt obedience TO the law, and t. punish it:
transgressors, be they panoped in the A pos
toc nantes of thousand Brigham Yonngs
To us i'm California it is a matter OF the graves
Importance to know what is to be the complex
ion of our future intercourse with the Mormoris
They already people one of our southern
counties-and it is but just to say that thi
colony is distinguished for its industry, sebrio
ty, and proper department. Other colonies ,
Mormons will spring upere long on our south
ern and south eastern borders. Colorado Oity
at the junction of the ella and Colorado WI
in all probability be one OF their abldln
places. :~%us8 .Sxssks
Thus, being our nearest neighbors, residinl