The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-12-05
cry respectfully,

Neutrality-suspicious. OF WARS
CIrIzsNs OF UTAH We are invaded By
hostile force; who are evidently assailing %
to accomplish our overthrow and destruc-
ton. For the last twenty i've years We
have trusted officials Of the Government,
from constables and Justices, to judges, eoy-
ernors and presidents, only to be scorned,
held in derision, insulted and betrayed. Our
houses have been plundered and then burn
ed, our fields laid waste, our principal men
butchered while under the pledged faith Of
the Government for their safety, and our
families driven from their homes to find that
shelter in the barren wilderness and that
protection among hostile sayages which
were denied them in the boosted abodes of
Christianity and civilization.
The constitution of our common country
guarantees unto MS all that we do now or
have ever claimed. If the constitutional
rights which pertain unto rs aj American
citizens were extended to Utah according to
the spirit and meaning thereof, and fairly
and impartially administered, it is oil that
we could ask-all that We have ever asked.
Our opponents have awaited themselves Of
prejudices existing against US, because Of
our religious faith, to send out formidable
host to accomplish our destruction. We
have had no privilege nor opportunity Of
defending ourselves from the false, foul and
unjust aspersions against US before the ma
ton. The Government has not condescend- |
ed to cause an investigating Commute or
other person to inqire into and ascertain the |
truth, as is customary in such cases. Wei
know those aspersions to be false; but that
avails US nothing. We are condemned un- |
heard, and forced to an issue with an armed |
mefcenary mob, which has been sent against |
us At the instigation Of anonymous letter.
writers, ashamed to father the base, SANDER
Gus falsehoods which they have given to the
public; Of currupt officials who have brought
false accusations against US to screen them
selves in their own infamy, and Of hirelingl
priest and bowling editors, who prostitute
the truth for filthy lucre's sake.
The issue which has thus been forced upon{
us compels US to resort to the great first law
Ut self-preservation, and stand in our own
defence-a right guaranteed unto us by the
genius of the Institutions At arr country, and
upon which the government is based. Our
duty to ourselves, to our families, requires
us not to tamely submit to be driven and
slain without an attempt to preserve our
selves. Our duty to our country, our holy
religion, our God, to freedom and liberty
requires that we should not quietly stand
still and see those letters forging around Us
which are calculated to enslave and bring
US in subsection to an unlawful military des-
potism, such as can only emanate, in .
country of constitutional Law, from usurpa-
ton, tyranny and oppression.
Therefore, l, Brigham Young, Governor
and Superintendent Of Indian Affairs for the
Territory of Utah, in the name Of the peo-
pie Of the United States, in the Territory Of
Utah, forbid,
Frst-AH armed forces Of ecery descrip-
tion from coming INTO this Territory under
any pretence rhdterer. E-z s.ss.
Second-That all the forces in said Ter
ritory hold themselves in readiness to march
at a moments notice to repel any and all
such inrasioo .-.
Third Martial lac Is hereby declared to
erist in this Territory from and after the
publication Vt this proclamation, and no
person shall be allowed to pass or repass
into, or through, or from this Territory,
Without a permit from The proper officer.
Given under my hand and seal, ct Great
Salt Lake City, Territory Of Utah, this If
teenth day of September, A. d. eighteen
hundred and ffty-ssven, and Of the INDIE
pendence Of the United States Of America
the eighty second.