Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-24
UTAH

Ontil very recently, the expedition against the Nor
mons had been almost forgotten by tns great mass of
the people. Some months ago, the outragss of Brig.
ham Young and his tribe, afforded topic Of discus
sion for week or two But the more exciting ques
tons of less distant territory have since then shut
it out comparatively from the public eye. 1t SCENE,
however, that the American appetite for something
new, is to find safety rather than starvation iu The
constant changes, but never.euding novelty Of our
political panorama Kansas has no sooner begun to
In interest," than Utah brought out prominently
upon the stage.
Mornonism is frightful cxcrescence on the body.
polite in tssfconoentraes all that is evil while
it ourshe' by virtue of the good of our institutions.
II presents ut question OF ethics and politics.
Herelicsl aud hateful asiti is polygamy alone is far
from constp ing such anti republican feature as TO
Justify Federal action against it. The communism Of
the Mormons is also repugnant to good government,
In fact TO all government except that which borders
upon the rude laws of barbarian. But still il is not
anti Republican enough to be amenabls to Federal
authority Fortunately, however, acts of overt trea-
son have been committed and the United States
Government has not hesated to take measures for
bringing the rebels to terms
The proclamation of Brigham Young, the head.
dsvS of the "Sants," which published yesterday,
amounts TO an open declaration of war. And the
fact that number of the government wagons have
been destroyed, throws the onus of the commence.
nent Of hos,iIties the Mormon usurper. The pal.
pable course to be pursued, is TO fire no blank
cartridges, but with bullet and bayoRet to enforce
the Federal laws and seize the rebel chiefs to arragn
them for high treason against the Government. That
a stubborn resistance will be made, there is no room
for doubt. And are afraid the troops already Or
dered into Utah will not be adequate in numbers for
the emergency they are to meet. The Mormons mus.
ter no inconsderable force Their country ia full Ct
Businesses, aad they may make Thermopyls of
many mountain pass. We trust the next news that
reaches US will be of more encouraging character
than the last. If the troops in the territory
tinue to march in divisions, fear they will be sadly
harsssed by the Mormon guerrilias. And if, as is
suspected the Indian tribes engaged to aid Brig
ham Young in repeing the invaders, We need not be
a.tonshed to hear Of bloody work In Utah before the
Mormona are subdued
Some idea Of their resources may be formed from
the following account:
From tho Sacramento Ago Of October le.l
At the order of their leader and prophet they can
muster ID 0UU men, armed with the most effective ln
struments of destruction. They have many thou.
sands of the finest horses, trained to camp servics-
They have foundry where cannon and shells are
cast; apowder mill and a factory, where revolving
rifles and pistols are manufactured equal to .hoss
made at Hartford. They have every munition Of
war and necessary provisions and Of transport
tation within themselves, and even the women and
! children are instructed in the of arms. Add TO
this their geographical position. To reach Salt Lake
from the East is necessary 10 pass through canon
of twenty-five miles, under hills 90 steep and rocky
that a dozen men could hurl down an avalanche of
stones approaching caravan; and, even In the
event of several thousand troops reachug the valley
the besieged, with their herds would take to the
mountains, and, reinforced by their savage allies,
would in besi-ge their besiegers and cut of sup
plies until the invaders had starved out. They have,
il is said, ~ UUD Indian allies, whom they are ready
to furnish with arms and horses an emergency
These Indians partially instructed in the Mormon
religion. enough to make them superstitious In regard
to the God of superior race yet modifying none Of
their ferocity.