Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1857-11-27
TIE MORMON WAR.
Important Dispatches from the Ar
nay for Utah--Brigham EOUng's
Declaration OF War and his Reas-
Ona 1IlereEnr.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Il, 1907.

Col. Johnston's letter, together With Col,
Alexander's, was received at lie War Depart
ment to day, confirming the destruction of the
supply trains, also letter and proclamation
from Brigham Young, which | herewith send
you, aud Col. Alexander,s reply
Col Alexander was within thirty miles of
Fort Bridger, which place is occupied BY Nor
mon troops, when he received the following
letter from Brigham Young, through the com
msndcr Of the ~Nauyoo Legion"
GovERNoR's OFFICE, UTAH TERRIToRY,,(
GREAT SALT LAKE CRY, Sept. 30, 1857.
To The Officer Commanding The Forces norc In
rGding Utaa Taritory
SIR,-By reference to the act Of Congress
passed September 8, 1850, or rganizing the Ter
ritory OF Utah, you viii find the following:
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, that the
executive power and authority in and over said
Territory Of Utah Shall be vested in Governor
who shall bold his Office for four years, and un-
iii his successor shall be appointed and guali-
fed, unless sooner removed by the President
of the United States. The Governor shall re-
side within said Territory, sbdl be commander
in-ehief of the militia thereof, &c., sc.
am still the Governor and Superintendent
of indian Affairs fol the Territory, no success
s9r having been appointed and qualified, as pro-
vided by law, nor have been removed by the
president of the United States. BY virtue of
The authority thus vested in ne, haved is
sused and forwarded TO you copy Of my proc
.lamation Hforbidding the entrance Of armed
forces into the Territory. This you have dis
regarded. new further direct that you re-
tire forthwith from ihe Territory, by the same
route you entered. Should you deem this i'm
practicable. and prefer TO remain until Spring
in the vicinity Of your preSett encampment-
Black Fork on Green River-you can do so
in peace and unmoested, ON condition. that YOU
deposit your aruIs dnd'aDmunitim with Lewis
Robson, 'Quartermaster General of the Terri
tory, and leave in the Spring as soon as the
condition of the roads will permit you to march;
AMI should you fall short Of provisions, they
can be furnished you upon making the proper
application therefor.
Gen. d. II. Wells Will forward this, ard re-
eeive any communication you may have 10
make. Very respectfully,
BRIGHAM YOUNG,
Governor and Superintendent of Indian Af-
fairs.
The following is the proclamation referred to
by Brigham Young:
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.
Citizens of Utah: We are invaded BY a hos
tile force, who are evidently assaling US TO ac-
'complish our overthrow and destruction. For
The las; twenty-five gears We have trusted Of
hcials of the Government, from constables aud
justices, TO Judges, Governors md Presidents,
only tc be sceyned. held in derisiop, insulted
and betrayed. Our bouses have been plum
dere3 and then burned, eur fields laid waste,
our principal meB buichered While under the
pledged faith of the Government for their safe.
ty, and our families driven from their homes to
find that shelter in the barren wilderness and
that protection among hostile savages which
were denied them in the boasted abodes OF
Christianity aud civilization.
The Constitution of our common country
guarantees unto US all that we do now or have
ever claimed. If the Constitutional rights
which pertain unto US as American citizens were
extended to Utah according to the spirit and
meaning thereof, and fairly and impartially
administered, il is all that we could ask-al!
that We nave ever asked
Our opponents have availed themselves oil
prejudice existing against US, because Of our
religious faith. TO send cut formidable host
10 accomplish our destruction. We have had
no privilege nor opportunity Of defending our
selves from the false, foul and unjust aspersions
against us before the ration. The Government
has not eondoscended to cause an investigating
committee Of other persons to be sent 10 inquire
into and ascertain the truth, as is customary in
such cases. We know those aspersious to be
false; but that avsils US nothing. we are con-
demned unheard, aud forced to an issue with
an armed meIeenary mob, which has been sem
against US at the iustigaipn of anonymous let
ter writers, ashamed to father the base, SANDER
Gus falsehoods which they have given to thC
pubilc--of corrupt officials, who have brought
false accusations against US to screen them
selves IN their own infamy, and of hireline
priests and bowling editors, who prostitute the
truth for filthy lucre's sake.
The issue which has thus been forced unon
us compels US to resort 10 the great first law Of
self preservation, and stand iu our own defence
"a right guaranteed unto us by the genius of
the institutions Of our country, and upon which
the government Is based Our duty to our
selves, TO our families, requires us not 10 tame-
iy submit to be driven and slain without an at
tempt to preserve ourselves. Our duty 10 our
country, our holy religion, our God, to freedom
and ltberty,requires that We should not quietly
stand still and see those let;ers forging around
US which are calculated to enslave aud bring
US IN subsection to an unlawful military despo-
tisln, such as can only enanate, 10 country
ct constitutional law, from usurpation, tyranny
and oppression.
Therefore |, Brigham Young, Governor and
Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Terri-
tory of Utah, in the name of the people Of the
United States, in the Territory of Utah. for
bid,
First-all armed forces of every description
from coming into this Territory, unier any pre-
tence shateyer.
Second That ali the forces in said Territory
hold themselves in readiness to march at a mo-
rnents notice to repel any and all such inva-
slons.
Third-Martial law is hereby declared to
exist in this Territory from and after the pub
ofa 80 L. 4