Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-12-19

: one and all Of them shall have the right {
take into it whatsoever is recognised a
! property by the common Constitution. I
have cummarily ooniscated the proport
t in slaves already in the Territory, woul
, have been an act of gro1s injustice an
D contrary to the practice of the older State
of the Union which have abolished slavery
"A territorial government was establshe
for Utah by act of Congress approved til
9th September, 1850, and the Constitutio
and laws of the United States were thereb
extended over it $50 far as the same or an
provisions thereof, may he applcable."-
This act provided for the appointment b
the President, by and with the advice ant
consent of the Senate, ,.of a governor, wh
was to be ex-oficio superintendent of Indiar
affairs, secretary, three Judges of th
supreme Court, q Msrshal, and Distric
Attorney. Subsequent acts provided fo
the appointment of the officers necessary t
extend our laws and our Indian system ovel
the Territory. Brigham Yourg was APP
pointed the first Governor On the 20tl
{ September, 1850, and has held the Office
ever since. Whilst Governor Young ha,
been both Governor and Superinl endent Of
Indian affairs throughout this period, he
had been at the same time the head of the
church called. tho Latter Day Saints, and
professes to govern its members and dispose
OF their property by direct inspiration and
authority from the Almighty. His power
has been, therefore, absolute over both
Church and State.
The people Of Utah, almost exclusively,
belong to this church, and believing through
a fautical spirit that be is Governor of the
Territory by Divine appointment, they obey
his commands as if these were direct reve.
lations from. Heaven. If, therefore, he
chooses that his government shall come into
collision with the government of the United
State, the members of the Mormon Church
will yield implicit obedience to his will
Unfortunately, existing facts leave but
little doubt that such is his determination.
Without entering upon minute history of
occurrences, it is sufficient to say. that all
the officers of the United States, judicial
and executive, with the single exception of
two 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 tcing
tie condition of affairs in the Territory,
could not mistake the path of duty, AS
Chief Executive Magistrate, was bound
to restore the supremacy of the Constitution
effect this purpose, appointed a new gov
ernor and other federal officers fJr- Utah,
and sent with them military force for
their protection, and to aid as posse
comitatus. in case of need, in the execution
of the laws.
With the religious opinions of the Nor
mons, as long as they remained mere
opinions, however deplorable in themselves
and revolving. to the moral and religious
sentiments of all Christcndom, had no
right to interfere. Actions alane, when ip
of the constitution and laws OF the
United States, become the legitimate SUBJ
jects for the jurisdiction Of the civil magis-
rate. Ny instructions to Gov. Cumming
have therefore been framed in strict ac
rordance with these principles. AT their.
date hope was INDUCED that no necessity
might exist for omgiqyiog the military III
restoring and maintaining the authority of
he law hut this hope has now vanished.
Gov. Young has, by proclamation, declared
bis determination to maintain his power by
orce, and has already committed acts Of ,
hostility against the United States. Unloss
he should rctrace his steps the Territory of
Utah will be in state of open rebellion.
He has committed these acts of hostility |
Major Van Yliet, an officer
of the army, sent to Utah by the comman-
ding general to purchase provisions for the
troops, had given him the strongest assu-
RANGES Of the peaceful intentions of the !
government, and. that the troops would only
be employed as posse conitatus when
called on by the civil authority to aid in
the execution of the laws.
There is reason to believe that Gov.
Young has long contemplated this result.
He knows that the continuance of his
despotic power depends upon the exclusion
of all settlers from the Territory except
those who Will acknowledge his divine
mission and implicitly obey his will and
that an enlightened public opinion there
would soon PROSTATE institutions at war
with the laws of both God and man. He
has threlorc, for several years, in order to
maintain his Independence, been industr-
ously employed in collecting and fabrca.
ting arms md munitions of war, and in
the Mormons for military
service. As superintendent of Indian af-
fairs he has had an opportunity of tamper-
ing with the Indian tribes, and exciting
their hostile feelings against the United
States, This, according to our informa-
tion, he has accomplished in regard to some
of these tribes, while others have remained
true to their allegiance, and have commit
nicated his intri CUES to our Indian agents.
lie has laid in store cf provisions for
three years, which, in case of necessity, as
he Informed Major Van Vliet, he will
conceal, Eand then take to the mountains,
and bid defiance to all the powers of gov
ernment."
A great part of all this may be idle
boasting; but yet no wise government will
lightly estimate the efforts which may be