Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-11-20
BR1ouAM YoUNo's PRooLAmAr1oN.-T

BRIGHAM YoUNG's PROCLAMATION
following is the proclamation of Brigham
Young, referred to in the dispatches:
PROCLAMATION cY THE GOVERNOR.
Citizens of Utah We are invaded by
hostile force who are evidently assailing us to
accomplish our overthrow and destruction
For the last twenty-five years we have trusted
officials Of the government, from constables
and justices, to judges, Governors, and Presi-
dents, only to be scorned, held in derision,
insulted, and betrayed. Our houses have been
plundered aid then burned 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
savages which we're denied them in the boast
ed abodes of Christianity and civilization.
The Constitution Of our common country
guarantees unto us all that we do now or have
ever claimed. If the constitutional rights
which pertain unto us as American citizens
were extended to Utah according to the spirit
and meaning thereof, and fairly and imparti-
ally administered, it is all 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 as
PERSONS against us before the nation. The
government has not condescended to cause IN
Investigating committee or other person to be
sent to inquire into and ascertain the truth.
as is customary in such cases. We know
those aspersons to be false but that avails
us nothing. We are condemned upheard,
and forced to an issue with an armed mereen-
airy mob, which has been sent against us at
the instigation OF anonymous letter writers,
ashamed to father the base, slanderous false.
hoods which they have given to the public
of corrupt officials, which have brought false
aceusations against us 70 scresh themselves ia
their own infamy, and of hireling priests 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
OF self preservation, and stand in our own
defence right guaranteed unto us by the
genius OF the institutions Of our country, and
upon which the government is based. Our
duties to ourselves, to our families, requires
us not to tsmely 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 enslaye and bring us in sub
lection to an unlawful military despotism,
such as can only emanate, in country of
constitutional law, from usurpation, tyranny,
and oppression. ~
Therefore, l, 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 oflevery- description
from coming into this Territory under any
pretence whatever.
Second That all the forces in said Terrific
ry hold themselves in readiness to march at a
moments notice to repel any and all such in-
vasion.
Third-Martial law is hereby declared to
exist in this Territory from and after the pub
LEGATION of this proclamation, and no person
shall be allow ed to pass or repass into or
through, or from this Territory, without a
permit from the proper officer.
Given under my hand and seal, at Great
Salt Lake City, Territory of Utah, this ff-
teenth day of September, A. D. eighteen
hundred and ffty-seven, and of the indie
pendence OF the United States of America the
eighty second. BRIGHAM YOUNG,