Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-11-26
Brigham Young,s Manifesto.

official documents which place the dwellers
In the Utah Territory in q state of open
rebellion towards the United States Gov
eminent.
On the approach towards Salt Lake Of
the u . force under Col. Alexander, n
reclamation, dated Sept. Is, '57, was
issued by Gov. Young, to the "Citizens of
Utah." In that Proclamation, Brigham
speaks of the approach of what he call a
hostile force Of invaders, and appeals to
the Mormons thus:
"For the last twenty-five years we have
trusted officials of the Government, from
constables and justices, to judges, Gov
ernors and Presidents, only to be scorned.
held in derision, and insulled and betrayed.
Our houses have been plundered, and 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 their shelter in the barren wilderness
and that protection among hostile savages
which were denied them in the boasted
abodes of Christianity and civilization"
The Governor, after arguing the consti-
lutional question, says that the United
States government, availing itself of pre-
judice against their religion, has sent out a
formidable host for the destruction Of the
Mormons, that unjust aspersions bave been
east upon them, and says:
ave know these aspersions to be false ;
but that avails us nothing. We are con-
demned unheard, ard forced to an issue
with an armed mercenary mob, which has
been sent against us at the instigation Of
anonymous letter writers, ashamed to ia
ther the base, slanderous falsehoods which
they have given to the public-of corrupt
officials, who have brought false accusa-
tions against us to screen themselves in
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 defense-a right guaranteed unto
us by the genius of the institutions of our
country, and upon which the government
is based. Our duty to ourselves, to our
families, requires us to not tamely submit
to be driven and slain without an attempt
to preserve ourselves. Our duty to our
country, our holy religion, our God, to
freedom and liberty, require that we should
not quietly stand still and see those fetters
forging around us which are calculated to
enslave and bring us in subsection to an
unlawful military despolism, such as can
only emanate, in country of constitution
al law, from usupation, tyranny and op-
preston.
The proclamation then winds up by for
bidding entrance of all armed forces into
the Territory; command that the Nor
mon forces hold themselves ready to march
at moments notice against the invaders ;
and declare martial law throughout the
Territory.
On the Goth of September. Gov. Brig
ham Young sent a letter to the "Oficer
commanding the Forces now invading Utah
Territory" in which he asserts his author
ity as Governor of Utah, and says:
"By virtue of the authority thus vested
in me, l have issued and forwarded to you
a copy of my proclamation forbidding the
entrance of armed forces into the Terrific
ry. This you have disregarded. l now
further direct that you retire forthwith
from the Territory, by the same route you
entered. Should You deem this impracti-
cable, and prefer to remain until spring in
the vicinity of your present encampment
Black Fork on Green River-you can do
so in peace and unmolested, on condition
that you deposit your arms and ammuni-
ton with Lewis Robinson, Quartermaster
General of the Territory, and leave in the
spring as soon as the condition of the roads
will permit you to march; and should you
fall short of provisions, they can be fur
nished you upon making the proper appli
cation therefor.
To this last document, Col. Alexander
who is the officer in command of the adj
vance of the q. S. forees-replied:
lOTH REG. OF INFANTRY,
CAMP WINFIELD, ON HAMS FORK,
October I'd, 1857
BRIGHAM YOUNG, Esq, Gov. of Utah Ter.
SIR.-I have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of Sept.
20, 1851, with two copies of proelama-
tion and one of the laws of Utah, and
have given it an attentive consideration
| am at present the senior commanding
officer of the United States at this point,
and will submit your letter to the General
commanding as soon as he arrives here.
In the meantime, l have only to say that
these troops are here by the order of the
President of the United States, and their
future movements and operations will de-
pend entirely upon orders issued by militia
ry authority.
Very Respectfully,
E. B. ALEXANDER.
Hams Fork k,-as will be seen by refer
,nce to a good map-is a fork of Green
River, and distant only 80 miles from Fort
Bridger which is held by the Mormons,
md about one hundred and fifty miles
rom Great Salt Lake City. So that the
U. s. forces are in the enemies country,
md between this advance force and the
troops following, the country is beset with
Mormon soldiers.
Col. Alexander has sent long dispatch
rom his camp to Col. Cooper, Abjutant
General. In that dispatch Col. A. re-
,orts the troops with him rs being the 5th
Infantry, s companies of the 10th, and two
of artillery. Col A. from an in
erview with Capt. Van Vliet, who has