The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-06-27
(From the Misso osri Republican, June 10Y
Military Expedition to Utah.

Active preparations are making here and
elsewhere for military expedition to Utah.
Inc current opinion seems to be, that force
OF about z, 500 men is to be sent to that Ter
rltory, and some dispatches even specify
the regiments which are to be sent thither:
but we doubt whether this number of men
can be obtained rom them The expedition.
we infer, is not expected to take up the line
OF march from Fort Leavenworth until the
middle of July, and then, as it will take at
least sixty days to reach the ncighborhood
of Great Salt Lake City, it is we'll enough
to consider what can be done before the win
ter sets in. The SHOWS commence in that
region in October; and unless peaceable oc-
cupatlon can at once be taken of Salt Lake
City and quarters obtained for the troops.
great pFlyations and suffering may follow
Such an emergency seems to have been con.
templated by the Government, for they have
advertised for the delivery of two thousand
head of Beef Cattle at the point of destina-
ton OF the army, but they may not arrive
in time, and the cunning of the Mormons, if
they make resistance at all, will teach them
to cut Oft all supplies, and thereby greatly
embarass the Commissary Department.
We much fear that this expedition is procc-
ted too late in the season for effective mill
tary operations, and that it may fail alto
gether:
What is the actual condition of things in
Utah 1t is by no means certain that Brig
ham Yeung, with all the advantages of his
position, will make violent resistance to the
introduction Of new set of civil officers for
the government of that Territory, and the
military force sent to enforce obedience to
the new authorities. But should he do so,
it is certain that $500 men are sufficient to
enforce obedience ? They may be enough
to provoke war, but not enough to overawe
the refractory, and to command strict subn,is-
sion to the laws. Every one knows that the
Mormon leaders have always kept up a sys-
tematic military organization, and very re-
Gently We pnblishad military orders WHICH
looked as if the whole male force of the Ter
ritory was to be put under drill and discp-
line. 1t is very probable that ten thousand
men can be brought into military array long
before our troops get there; and then, If
their reasonable designs are carried out,
will $500 men, after the fatigue of a sixty
days march. be an equal match for them =?
We doubt it. The Mormons arc, no doubt,
brave rt.cn, ana thstir niiiiiary edireatlon viii
make them effective troops. They are most
ly foreigners, and mono of them prepnasass-
ed very strongly in f,vor of our system of
government-addcd to which, they have
been taught t. believe they are the victims
of persecution on account of their religion,
and this will make them bold and desperate.
1t they make such resistance as they are
capable of making, ogr opinion is, that a
500 msn,s A0l : s.iilcient f6rte to "qquell
them, and the expedition will prove failure.
We place little reliance upon the rumog
which has gone abroad, that there are dis.
sensions among the Mormons, and that they
would like to put down Brigham Youngand
those who surround him, if they could be
assisted in dongit. This feeling is confined.
we think, to very few persons, and they, in
all probability, have little O; no influence
The Government should calculate upon
combined resistance of the whole population,
and take measures accordingly.
1t should be considered, also. that the
Mormon leaders VIII ke Edyis..d Of all ,he
Movements Of our GoVernment long before
the troops reach there, and what more easy
than for them to stir up all the Indians to
make war upon US? The Indians of that
region owe us no good will even now, and
might very readily be persuaded to make
common cause against the invading army,
and insure its defeat. 1t is the part of nrg:
dence, at least to look ct all the saases WHICH
may opelaIa against tha success Of this ex-
pedition, and to provide for them. Iftroops
must be sent there, it is the opinion Of mil
itary men that $500 men will not be suffi-
cient to bring the Mormons to a proper
sense of obedience to the government, and to
preserve peace in the Territory.