Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-12-12
Affairs at salt Lake.


pedition, but if we are to believe the rumor
brought by the last Oregon steamer, published
elsewhere the dominions of Brigham Young have
already become the theatre OF a perhaps bloody
war.
From these and other circumstances which
have lately lranspred, as we'll as the threatened
attitude assumed towards our Government the
attention of the people Of the entire Union is di.
rected towards the movements of the Mormons
and their leaders. From past experience we may
reasonably believe that whether the rumor in re-
gard to the attack upon Col. Johnson's party be
true or not, that ere this time collision has oc-
CURED between the Mormons and our troops.
In late sermon in the "Bowery," reported
in the Deeret Ne,c,, the sanity villain, Brigham,
makes of the following language
Our enemies had better count the cost. for If
they continue the job they will want to let it out
to b-contractors, before they get half throug gh
with it, II they persist in sending troops here, /
want the people in the West and in the East to
understand that it will not be safe for them to
cross the plains.
From this we have reason to believe that all
further communication between this State and
Salt Lake is cut off for the present. The position
assumed by these traitors is an outrage upon COM
mon sense, as the President has instructed Col
johnson that no interference shall be attempted
with the people, their rights being co-equal with
all American citizens, so long as they behave
themselves as such. Our Government has sent
thther a small force of men for the purpose of
protecting officers in the discharge of their duties,
yet they are met as enemies, and their progress
stopped by the attacks OF Indian tribes which the
prophet has brought under his subsection.
The feeling against the Mormons exists among
all classes, and were volunteer force called into
the field today, California alone would furnish
an army sufficient to exterminae them. Still the
struggle will be bloody one. The population of
Utah has increased almost incredibly within the
last three or four years in fact, such is the ac-
cession to their numbers that persons who have
crossed the plains recently. describe their travel
through the Mormon territory as one continued
settlement or succession Of towns This may con-
vey some idea of the strength of this fanatcal
people, and should it really lie their dctermina-
tion, as threatened, 10 offer resistance to the
American flag 10 one can conjecture or forciel
favor resistance, the more patriotic and prudent
of their number, being in the minority will he
forced to cooperate, or fly from the Territory
The latter alternative will be attended with great
difficulties, owing 10 the cautious arrangements
to prevent escape which have been established by
the Mormon leaders
If the collision has taken plpce, we anticipate
| Ihorr emil han fl,a thrnty nF
troops the Disadvantages which they must ntccs
sarily encounter fighting people in their own
country; irrespective of the great disparity of
numbers must warrant this conclusion.
We still hold to our original proposition in re-
gard to this matter, that il the Mormons are CO.
creed into the measures proposed by our Govern
ment it must be done ly sending troops from the
Pacific. California is at present the only practi-
cable point from which operations can be safely
carried on previous to spring This will nccessa-
rily take time, and unless steps are soon taken,
next years emigration will experience greater
difficulties than ever from the Mormons.
We take from the Alta California the following
comparison of the advantages possessed by the
! latter route over the one adopted by Government
in forwarding troops to Utah.
! The distance from Fort Lcavenworth to Salt
Lake city is hut littIe less than 1900 miles The
first week in May is early as trains can take
their departure. and at speed Of twenty miles
per day, which is as fast troops and subsistence
could be forwarded over the route. Salt Lake city
would be reached the first week in July But,
wanting in grass and water. as this route is known
to be, the condition Of animals and men. by the
! time their destination reached, would render
them quite unfit to meet the Mormon forces pre-
vious 10 having opportunity for recuperation.
| This is assuming that troops met with no unusual
impediment on their line of march, and travelled
at more than the ordinary rate of speed of the
cmigrant trains.
| BY the route from Southern California, troops
can depart during any part of the spring or win
ter months, and reach Salt Lake city in thirty
days, passing over route we'll supplied with an
abundance Of grass and water, for distance of
not far from 700 miles. So that with ordinary
dispatch any number Of men might be sent to
Salt Lake by this route, in time to commence OPP
erations before troops could leave Fort Lcaven-
worth in May next. The advantages of this plan
need no further showing from us ; and if all re-
ports prove correct that we have heard far, the
Administration need not necessarily wait for the
opening Of spring to commence the most vigorous
line OF operations.