Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-12-17

and all of them shall have the right to
take into it whatever is recognized as
property by the common constitution.
To have summarily confscated the pro-
perty in slaves already in the Territory,
would have been an act of gross injustice,
and contrary to the practice of the 9th
ished slavery.
A territorial government was estab-
lished for Utah by act of Congress ap-
proved the 9th September, 1856, and
the Constitution and laws of the United
States were thereby extended over it,
$50 far as the same, or any provisions
thereof, may be appropriate" This act
provided for the appointment by the
President, by and with the advice and
consent Of the Senate, of a Governor,
who was to be cx-oficio Superintendent
of Indian Affairs, a Secretary, three
Judges of the Supreme Court, a Mar
shall, and a District of Attorney. Sub
sequcnt acts provided for the appoint
mcnt of the officers necessary to extend
our land and our Indian system over
the Territory. Brigham Young was
appointed the first Governor IN the Goth
of September, 1850, and has held the
office ever since.@Nhilst Gov. Young
has been both Governor and Superin-
tcndent of Indian Affairs throughout
this period, he has been at the same
time the head of the church called the
Latter Day Saints, and processes to 60
vern its members and dispose of their
property by direct inspiration and au-
thority from the Almighty. His power
has been, therefore, absolute over both
Church and State.
The people of Utah, almost exclusive
ly, belong to this Church, and believ-
ing, with a fanatical spirit that he is
Governor of the Territory by Divine
appointment, they obey his commands
as if these were direct revelations from
Heaven. If, therefore, he chooses that
his government shall come in collision
with the government of the United
States, the members of the Mormon
Church will yield implicit obedience to
his will.
Unfortunately, existing facts leave
but little doubt that such is his determi-
nation. Without entering upon a mi
mute history of occurrences, it is sufi
cient to say that all the officers of the
United States, judicial and executive,
with the single exception of Indian
Agents, have found it necessary for
their own personal safety to withdraw
from the Territory. and there no longer
remains any government in Utah but
the despotism of Brigham Young, This
being the condition of affairs in the Ter.
ritory, 1 could not mistake the path OF
duty. AS Chief Executive Magistrate
l was bound to restore the supremacy o.
the Constitution and laws within its lin
its. In order to effect this purpose,
appointed a new Governor and Other
Federal officers for Utah, and sent with
them military force for their protection
and to aid as a posse c~omttdtus, in case
of need, in the Execution of the laws.
With the religious opinions of the
Mormons, as longas they remained mere
opinions, however ~deplorable in them
selves and revolving to the morals anc
religious sentiments of all Christendom
[ had no right to interfere. Action:
alone, when in violation of the Consti
tuition and laws of the United States, be
come the Legitimate subjects for the ju
risdiction of the civil magistrate. NJ,
instructions to Governor Cumming have
therefore, been framed in strict accor
dance with these principles. AT thei
date a hope was INDUCED that no neces
sity might exist for employing the mill
tary in restoring and maintaining til
authority of the law; but this hope ha:
now vanished.
Governor Young has, by proc,ama
ton, declared his determination to main
tain his power by force, and has alread,
committed acts of hostility against tn
United States. Unless he should retrac
his steps the Territory Of Utah will be il
a state of open rebellion. He has com
| mi;ted these acts of hostility notwith
standing Major Van Vliet, an officer O
the army, sent to Utah by the Comman
ding General to purchase provisions 70
: the troops, had given him the stronges
assurances of the peaceful intentions o
the government, and hat the troop
would only be employed as a posse com
itatms when called on by the civil author
ity to aid in the execution Of the laws
There is reason to believe that Go,
; Young has long contemplated this result
: He knows that the continuance of hi
despotic power depends upon the exclu
sion of all settlers from the Territory ex
, ccpt those who will acknowledge his di
vine mission and implicitly obey hi
, will; and that an enlightened publ
: opinion there would soon PROSTATE insti
~tutions at war with the laws both of Go
and man. He has, therefore, for sever
al years, in order to maintain his indie
p~endence, been industriously employee
in collecting and fabricating arms an
r munitions of war, and in disciplinin
: the Mormons for military service. n
l Superintendent Of Indian Affairs, h
has had an opportunity of tamperini
5 with the Indian tribes, and exciting thei
t hostile feelings against the United State:
This, according to our information, h
has accomplished in regard to some O
these tribes, others have remained tru
to their allegiance, and communicate
: his intrigues to our Indian Agents
t lie has laid in a store of provisions 70
three years, which, in case of necessity
t as he Informed Major Van Vliet, he wi
: conceal Hand then take to the mountains
and bid defiance to all the powers of tn
; government
\ great part of all this may be inter
esting; but yet no wise government vii
: lightly estimate the efforts which NAV b