The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-13

Ccneug uefr appetieo ana iustS. Running counter rs
their tenets and practices do TO the cherished truths Of
Christian morality, Is not 70 be wondered that wher
ever nese people nave RESIDED dscord and CONNECT with
the legal authorities have steadily characterized their
history.
From the FIRST hour they fixed themselves In that
mote and ALMOST inaccessible region or Territory,
from which they sending defiance TO the sovereign
power their whole plan has boon prepare for
ful secession from the authority Of the United States and
a permanent establishment Of their own. They have
practsed exclusveness unlike anything ever before
knowp IN Christian country and have ncucated zeal
own whom they characterize under the general denomi
nation Of genties. They have filed their ranks and ha
chiefly from the lowest classes Of foreigners,
although parts Of the United States have likewise
contributed to their numbers They are now formidable
from their strength and much more so from the remote
Of their position and the difficulty Of raversing the
country between frontiers and Great Salt Lake. This
Mormon brotherhood has scarcely preserved the sem
blance OF obedience TO the authority Of the United States
for some years past not at all indeed except rs might
confer some direct benefit upon themselves contribute
to circulate public money in their community Whenever
II suited their temper caprice they have set the United
States authority at defiance OF late well grounded
belief has prevailed that thel Mormons were nsgatng
the Indians TO hostltes against citizens and were
citing amongst the Indian tribes feeling Of insubordna
ton and discomfort
need recite here the many instances in their
duct and history which these general allegations
founded especially the conduct they have adopted within
the last twelve months towards the civil authorities Of
the United States
1t has nevertheless always been the policy and desire
Of the federal government 10 avoid collision with this
Mormon community. II has borne with the insubordna
tion they have exhibited under circumstances when
hersh measures Of discipline. And this forbearance
might still be prolonged and the evils rife amongst them
occupied any other theatre isolated and remote from the
seats of civilizations than the they now possess But,
great pathway which leads from Atlantic
States 10 the new and hourshing commu-
Ts n on not our onv
the military and civil authorities of the government but
encouraging, If not exciting the nomad savages who roam
over the vast unoccuped regions Of the continent to the
page and Of peaceful and helpless emgrant ia
miles raversing the soludes of the wilderness The
pd settlement of our Pacific possessions the rights in
those regions Of emgrans unable to afford the heavy
penses OF transit by water and the sthmus the facility
and safety Of military commercial political and social in
accommodation between eastern and western popu
laons and States all depend upon the prompt absolute
and thorough removal OF hostile power besettng this
path midway Of its route, at point where and pro-
visions should always be found rather than obstruction,
privaton and outrage However anxiously the govern
ment might desire TO avoid collision with this or
any other community OF people under its Jurs-
diction, yet 1t is not possible for it to postpone
fraters,y besettng one Of the most important ave-
nues Of communication traversing its domain, and not
only themselves defyng its authority but stimulating the
irresponsible savages lowering along the highway TO acts
of violence unfortunately upon all ages sexes and con-
ditions of wayfarers.
From all the circumstances surrounding this subject at
the time thought expcdient during the past summer
to send body OF troops TO Utah with the civil officers
recently appointed TO that Territory. AS the intention
then merely establish these unctionares the
offices which they had been commissioned, and to
Utah into geographical military department the force
then despatched and route to the Territory
thought 10 be amply sufficient for those purposes Sup
plies abundant there and the position was favorable
for holding the Indians in check throughout the whole
circumjacent region of country was hardly within the
line of reasonable probability that these people would put
themselves beyond the pale Of reconciliation with the
government by acts Of unprovoked, open and wanon
bellion II will be seen, however, from the documents
accompanying this report that fragrant acts OF rebellion
have been committed by them in the face OF positive as
given them that the intention of the government
in sending troops into the military department of Utah
was entirely pacific.
Great has been taken preparing for the march
TO Utah. that nothing should seem 10 excite apprehension
Of action the part OF the army IN the least conflict
ing with the fixed principles OF our institutions by
which the military strictly subordinate to the civil au
thority The instructions the commanding officer
deliberately considered and carefully drawnSand he
charged not TO allow any conflict to take place between
the troops and the people Of the Territory except only u
he should be called by the Governor for soldiers
TO act posse comdtus in enforcing obedience TO the
laws
people 81 the real intention of the movement an &C
tive, discreet officer was sent in advance Of the
visions for ii, and Of assuring the people o. the Territory
Of the peaceful intentions 81 the government This duty
faithfully performed the chief men Of the fraternity
assured that no violence was intended to-
wards them or any one, and tina! nothing could be
further from the intention OF the government or the
army than to modest any for their religious opin
ions however abhorrent they might be 10 the principles
Of Christian morality. This officer found upon entering
the Territory that these dcuded people had already in
advance Of his arrival Of any information except to
the march Of the column, determined 70 resist their APP
preach and prevent possible and by force the entrance
Of the army into the valley II Salt lake supplies Of eve
~ refused him. The day after his departure
from the city his back Brigham Young issued his
PROCLAMATION, substantially declaring war against the
United states and at the same time putting the Territory
under martial law. The facts connected With this mission
Of Captain Van vliei will appear more in detail from his
reports, herewith transmitted
In view Of the menscing attitude Of affairs Utah, and
OF the importance Of prompt and thorough suppression
Of the spirit Of rebellion reigning there must repeat my
recommendation Of FIVE new regiments, which am per.
suaded the very smallest addition TO the army which
the exigencies OF the service will allow.
TIE STAT.
Attention has been repeatedly called TO defects In the
organization 81 the army and 10 various details IN rcfe
renee to several OF rs parts these evs Increase win
time and practice under them, must again bring them
The basis Of our existing system is the British army
served IN the colonies before the Revolution, re
tanning many 81 the defects since corrected Great Britain
under the experience and necessities ~ long Pro
visions inconsistent with the existing system copied from
other nations and partial legislation designed for particu
lar interests have augmented these evils and We have
committed the fault Of adapting our fundamental organi
zaton time Of peace instead Of basng on the ext
one Of the creates. errors Of detail the separate
dependent character Of our staff ccrpe This removes
them from their proper position as aids or assistants 70
the commander and constitutes them his equals. II
tracts sphere o observation and experience and thus
units the officer for change or Advancement and oeges
the vital principle Of military organizationhe nvioabc
and undivided authority Of she head He is bound as
they by the law, and his construction OF should
govern them, not theirs him.
Another defect il the uncertain and lldenned rights
Of brevet rank We have adopted the word. but not
Specification, from the English rule, and applied
n TO circumstances not contemplated or existing
when first established Repeated decisions and imperfect
legislation have only increased the evil by inviting new
discussions and adopting new constructions.
We have retained another fault abandoned a, eas,
practically, IN almost every service among civilized ma
tons even the arstooratc and mOuarchical This
! promotion by seniority. Age and experience should
bring excellence but the test lies In the actual possession
o the latter and merely the circumstances which
| Il Is assumed should produce Il. SenoHity, with tho
auiremenis essential for position ought certainly give
precedence but whou, these that dignity and respect
which belong TO rank and command can never be secured
All that has been urged In favor ~ retaining with
n the danger ~ political personal favor governing
selection There may be danger from this source but by
the rule Of sen orty the officer Of any must he
lives come be Of the most important and responsible
officers under the government-the colonel of regiment
by selection II possible that the very best may not
always be chosen though the chances IN favor ~ this
hyIuthess but certainly the very worst never viii be,
and this is surely gain on the present rule.
To correct these and other evils, would urge 10
provide by law for the construction Of the regiments Of
"a