The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-12-05

The Mormon War-Onicial Correspond
Observation-Disclosures of Brigham Young.
| The following are the official documents
received by the War Department from the
Commander of the Utah Expedition
GovsRxoRs OFFICE UTAH TERRITORY,
GREAT SALT LAKE CRY, Sept. 20, 1857. !
10 the officer Commanding the Forces now
Invading Utah Territory.
SIR BY reference to the Act of Cor
gress passed Sept. 9, 1855, organizing the
Territory of Utah, you will find the follow
ing
"SEc. .. find be ii further enacted, That
the executive power and authority in and over
SAID Territory of Utah shall be vested in a
Governor, who shall hold his office for four
yearS,and until his successor shall be appoint
ed and qualified, unless sooner removed by
the President Of the United States. The
Governor shall reside within the Territory,
| shall be Commander in Chief of the militia
thereof, &C."
am still: the Governor and Superintend-
ent of Indian Affairs for the Territory, no
successor having been appointed and qualiti-
ed, as provided by law, nor have l been re
moved by the Pre- sdent of the United States
by virtue Of the aut h rity thus vested in me-
| have issued and forwarded to you copy Of
my proclamation forbidding the entrance of
armed forces into the Territory. This you
have dis;regarded. now further direct that
you re tire forthwith from the Territory, by
the same route you entered. Should you
deem this impracticable, and prefer to remain
until. Spring in the vicinity of your present
encampmen Black Forkon, Green River
y"'I can do so IN pelce and unmolested, on
condition that YOU deposit your arms and
ammunition with Lewis Robinson, Quarter
naster-General Of the Territory, anil leave
IN the spring as soon as the condition of the
roads will permit YOU to march and should
yoa fall short of provision they can be fur
nished yon upon making the proper applica-
ton thereof.
Gen. D. H. Wells will forward this and re
ceive any communication you may have to
make.
Very respectfully.
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
Governor and Superintendent of Indian At
fairs.
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.
CITIZENS OF UTAH We are invaded by a
hostile force, who are evidently assailing us
to accomplish our overthrow and destruc-
ton. For the last twenty-five years we
hare trusted officials of the government,
trem Constables and Justices and Judges
Governors and Presidents, only to be scorned,
held IN derision, insulted and BETRAYED Our
houses have been plundered, our fields laid
waste, our principal men butchered, while I'M
der the pledged faith Of the Government for
their safety, our families driven from their
homes to find that shelter in the barren VIII
derness and that protection among the hos
tile savages which were denied them in the
abodes Of christianity and civilization.
The; Constitution of our common country
guarantees unto US all that we do now or
ever have claimed If the constitutions
rights which pertain unto US as American
citizens were extended to Utah according to
the spirit and meaning thereof, and fai ly and
lmpart!ally administered, it is all We could
asl,-all that we have ever asked. Our OBJ
ponents have awaited themselves of preiudi-
ces existing against us, because of our relig-
ious faith, to send out formidable host to
accomplish our destruction.
Fhe issue which has thus been forced
upon US, compels us to resort to the great
first law of selfpreservatlon, and stand in
our own defense-a right guaranteed unto us
oy the genius of the institutions of our
country, and upon which the government is
based. Our duty to ourselves and to our
families, requires US not to tamelp submit to
be driven and slaip without an attempt to
preserve ourselves. Our duty to our coun.
try, our holy religion. our God, to freedom
and liberty, requiy es that we should not qui-
city stand still and see those letters forged
around US which are calculated to enslave
and bring us in subsection to an outlawlul
military despotism, such as can only cmanate
IN country of constitutional law, fom US
urpatlorI, tyranny and oppression.
Therefore, |, Brigham Young, Governor
and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the
Territory of Utah, in the name of the people
OF the United States, in the Territory of
Utah. forbid,
First: All armed forces of every descrip
ton from coming into this Territory, under
any pretense whatever.
Second: That all tie forces in said Terrific.
ry hold themselves in readiness to march at a
moments notice, to repe any and all UGH
invasion.
1hi'd: Martial law is hereby declared to
exist in this Territory from and after the
publication of this proclamation, and no per
son shall he allowed t. pass into or through
or rom this Territory witho 1t permit from
pr per officer.
Given under my hand and seal, at G reat
Salt Lake City, Territory of Utah, this 18th
LAY Of September. \. d.. 1857, and f the
Independence of the United States of Amer
lea the eighty-secoDd
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
The following is Col. Alexander's reply to
Brigham Young:
HEADQUARTERS TENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY
CAMP WINFIELD, ca HAMS Fork, Oct. Q, 1857. (
H''ghdm Young, Esq., Governor of Utah Territory :
SIR II have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of Sent.
~ 1891, with two copies Of a proclamation
ana one of the laws Of Utah, and have given
it an attentive consideration. l am at pres
ent tie senior and commanding officer of the
troops of the United States at this point, and
| will submit your letter to the General com
manding as soon as he arrives here
In the mean time, have only to say that
these troops are here by the order of the
President of the United States, and their fur
Their movements and operations will depend
entirely upon the orders issued by competent
military authority.
Very respectfully,
E. B. ALEXANDER