Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-12-19
The MOrnnOns.

The latest intelligence from Salt Lake City and
its rebellious and fanatical inhabitants, comes to
us by way of the Southern route. A company of
emigrants from Salt Lake recently arrived at Los
Angeles, after much difficulty and trouble from
the Mormons on their journey. They left the city
of the "Latter Day Saints" on the sth of No
vember last bringing two days later news than
the U. S. mail, which came by the same route.
The greater part of the Mormon army was sta
toned on the main emigrant road, in Echo Cafon,
about fifty miles from the city, and Col. Johnson's
command was at Hams Fork of Green River
within very few days travel of that place. The
U. S. forces were marching with all possible haste
to get into the Valley before winter fairly set n
The Mormon force was not near so large as has
been represented, though it is much larger than
the command of Col. johnson. Mr. Bell. one of
the emigrants who came into Los Angeles, and
who gave the information to the Los Angeles
STAR says that the Mormon army was in bad con-
dition, badly armed and clothed, and very short
of provisions He thinks they will fight the U.
S. troops at Echo Caion, but that Col johnson
will be able to force his way into the Valley. An
attacked and burned, and the teams, all save one,
driven to the city.
The news received short time since by way of
Oregon, of battle between Col. Johnson's force
and the Mormons, is not corroberated by the emf
grants who arrived at Los Angeles.
From this we are led to believe that no gene
raj engagement had taken place. The burning of
the wagons and driving off of stock belonging to
the Government, however, is an overt act which
shows plainly the wicked intentions of this delud
ed people. war then cannot be avoided the
U. S. authorities must now take measures to
teach Brigham Young and his blind followers
their duty to society and to the government un-
der which they live. Their plea for resisting the
authorites-that the troops have been sent there
to persecute them on account Of their religious
opinions, will not answer, because no sensible man
can be found in any part Of christendom who will
believe for a moment such doctrine, nor do they
believe it themselves. 1t never has been, nor
will it ever be the policy of our Government to
interfere with any of her citizens on account of
their religious opinions, be they what they may.
This fanatical people have rushed headlong upon
the bloody path which must inevitably lead to
their destruction and final dispersion from the
beautiful Valley which they have inhabited for
the past ten years, and which they might have
held unmolested for all time to come, had it not
been for their acts of hostility to our Govern
ment and its citizens. What they expect to gain
by a rupture with Uncle Sam is more than we can
see. Brigham surely has not counted the cost of
his present course, or seriously considered the
stretched by hempen cord as the grand finale Of
the affair.
| Col. johnson will arrive at Salt Lake with his
army in bad fighting condition his stock broken
down and poor, his men fatigued and worn out
with their long marches across the plains, and it
is possible that the Mormons may contest his
entrance into the Valley, and drive him back for
the winter beyond the Rocky Mountains. They
may even do worse than this,-may massacre him
and his troops but if they do, woe be unto them
when spring shall have come again. A force suf-
iicient to exerminate them and their Indian allies
will then be sent forward, and we are much mis-
taken if they are not compelled to yield ready
obedience to our laws The Mormons must know
ferers in the end and it seems to us that if they
have one particle of reason or left they will
see the error of their course and cease resistance
to the officers sent thther by the General Gov
ernmcnt. 1t is useless, however, to speculate on
the subject for ere long we must know the result.