Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-17
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
II Correspondence of the Richmond Enquirer
WASHINGTON. Nov. l6, 1857.

,ICorrespondence Of the Richmond En9a"u'I
WASHINGTON, Nov. l6, 1857.
The dispatch Of Judge Eohol, of Utah, reporting
the destruction of three trains Of government wagons
tseyepty.eiehti in number,) by the Mormons, was cor
roborsted by advices received yesterday by Secrela-
~, Floyd. There was "a faint hope that the report
might prove a hoa1, as no official dispatch had been
rsceived from Col. johnson. Gov. Floyd is now ga
,;s6ed that these dispatches were sent to "head guar.
ters." but as General Scott is absent from home' they
are now lying in New York. n.
The impression seems to have gone abroad tnat the
loss of these wagons and the supplies they contained
would seriously embarrass the expeditoh, ~9lie lhe
hostile position Of the Mormons threatened destruc'
tion TO the whole command. l am pleased 10 say tnls
ia all an e~gregious error. ! am authorized 10 STATE
that the expedition will suffer no inconvenience from
the loss of the wagons destroyed or the provender
thew contained. There was an abundance OF sup
Nil. of .very description to last till October next,
and the trains destroyed constituted only one'slxth
| mart of the whole. The supplies destroyed were sacn
things az could be readily spared or replaced-and
there need be no apprehension on that account.
IA 70 danger TO the command, i am enabled 10 say
,ba, the force under Col. johnson (2OOO mem are
perfectly competent TO protect Themselves, unoer any
and all circumstances, against the Mormons, anu tna'
the Department feels not the slightest apPrenenelou
on that score. They carry with them everything re-
ouisjte for winter quarters. and can encamp at one
mot "A we'll az another if convenient TO wood and
water. Hence, there need be no alarm as TO the safe
| y of the expedition. ..,,
In the meantime it should be tha'
| these men were not ordered to Utah TO ight the Nor
mons. The Morlnons constitute a portion OF our o~i
nonnlatiop. and al instance had never occurred
ptvbsra the federsl troops had to enforce the loyalty Of
, territory. Utah and New Mexico had been eonstl
,p,ed a military district exactly as Texas now constl
tutes one-and these troops were designated Tor tna'
district, for the general purposes OF the iron.ler. IL, is
doubtless, true that the reported threats OF violence
to tbe federal officers by the Mormons, caused an IN
cre.se of the force sent, but did not originate the ex'
ueditiop. That would have been sent IN the ordinary
routine of business of the War Department: troops
.ra also stationed in Texas and New Mexico. Inc
resistance by the Mormons of Col. Johnsons COM
mand involves a terrible responsibility
The Nicsrsguan question has taken a new turn Id
rho Last day or two. Mr.. Yrisarri, who was here on
business with some of his brother diplomats was re-
ouested TO stay over a few days, as there was a pros
psct of his being received as Minister from Nicars
qua. To this he, Of course, cheerfuiiy. consented
and a definite answer was to have oeen gwen nun on
Saturday at 4 o'clock. This answer was called Tor
nv hs Secretary Of Legation, but not received, thu
same being postponed TILL noon to-day, at which hour
General Cass assures him the question Will be deter
mined one way or the other. For several days oscR
the State Department has been laboriously engaged
in examining the question Of boundary between Los
IA kics and Nicaragua, but 80 carefully has The
wnols negotiation been carried on, that not even the
Costa Ricsn Minister, MIR. Molina, knows any thihg
of IL. IL will, OF course, be cause OF great odence 10
him when h.. ascertains the fact that these boundary
questions have been considered and decided oy our
Government without any consultation WIN nun -
How far General Walkers escape may influence the
action of our government l am unable TO say. The
Secretary Of State il under the impression mar the
Revenue Cutters sent in pursuit will overhaul hin.-
In this General Cass will, I:apprehend, be sadly mis-
taken. nArFhaA'H''A