Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1857-12-18
BEDFORD INQUIRER.

with the single exception Of two Indiap areatS,
have found it necessary for their own personal safe
ty 20 withdraw from the Territory, and there No
longer remains any government in Utah but tbe
despotisH Of Brigham Young. This beng the con
dition Of aifsirs in the Territory, coua not mis-
take the path of duty AsChief Executive Mag
istrate, was bound to restore the supremacy oi
the constitution aud laws witAia It's limits. In or
der 70 eftees this purpose, appointed new COVER
nor and other federal officers for Utah. and sent
With them military force for their protection, and
10 aid as posse comitatas, in of need in the
execution of the laws.
With the religious opinions Of the Mormons,
as long as thsy remained mere opinions, how
ever dcplo.able in themselves aud revolving to
the moral and religious sentiments Of all
Christendom, | had no right to interfere. Ac.
tions alone, when in violation of the constitu-
ton and laws of the United States, become
tue legitimate subjects for the jurisdiction OF
the civil magistrate. My instructions to Gov.
Cumming have therefore been framed in strict
accordance with these principles. At their
date hope was INDUCED that no necessity
might exist for employing the military in re-
storing and maintaining the authority Of the
law; but this hope has now vanished. Cor.
Young has, by proclamation, declared his de-
termination to maintain his power By force,
aud has already committed acts Of hostility
against the United States. Unless be should
retraee his steps, the Territory of Utah will
be in state Of open rebellion. lie has COM
nitted these acts of hostility notwithstanding
Major Van Yliet, an officer of the army, sent
to Utah by the commauding general to purchase
provisions for the troops, had given him the
strongest assurances of the peaceful intentions
of the government, and that the troops would
ouly be employed as posse conlitatas when
called on BY the civil authority 10 aid in the
execution 9f the laws.
There is reason to believe that Gov. Young
has long contemplated this result. He knows
that the continuance Of his dcspotic power de-
pends upon the exclusion of ell settlers from
the Territory, except those who will acknow-
ledge his divine mission, and implicitly obey
his will; and that an enlightened public opiu-
ion there would soon PROSTATE institutions at
War with ,he laws both of God and man. He
has therefore for several years, in order to
maintain his independence. been industriously
employed in Collecting aud fabricatins arms
and munitions e war, and in disclplinlng the
Mormons for military service. As superinteu-
dent of lndian affairs he has had an opportuni-
ty of tan,pering withthe Indian tribes, and ex-
citing their hostile feelings against the United
States. This, according to our Information, be
has accomplished 10 regayd 10 some of these
tribes, while others have reuaiued true TO their
allegiance, and have communicated his in.
trigues to our Indian agents. lie has laid in
a store of provisions for three years, which in
case Of necessity, as be informed Major Van
Vliet, be will conceal, sand then take to the
mountains, aud bid defiance to all the powers
of the government"
A great part OF all this may be idle Boosting;
but yet 20 wise government will lightly esti-
mate the efforts which may be inspired by such
phrensied fanaticism as existed among the
Mormons iu Utah This is the first rebellion
which has existed in our Territories; and hu-
manity itself requires that We should put it
down in such manner that ii shall be the last.
TO triAe with il would be to encourage it aud
to render it formidable. We ought TO 90 there
with such an imposing force as to convince
these deluded people that resistance would be
in vain, ami thus spare the etfuson OF blood.
We eau in this manner best convince them that
we are their friends, not their enemies. In or
der to accomplish this object i. viii be neces-
sary, according to the estimate of the War De-
partment, to raise four additional regiments;
and this earnestly recommend to Congress.
At the present moment of depression Iii the
revenues of the country | am sorry to be ebli-
red g recommend such noasure; but i feel
confident Of the support of Congress, cost what
it may. in suppresslug the iusurrection and in
restoring and maintaining the sovereignty of
the constitution and laws over the Territory Of
Utah.
recommend to Congress the establishment
of territorial government over Arizona, in
cooperating with it such portions of New Mexi-
co as they may deem expedient. | need scare
" adduce arguments in support of this recon-
mendatiou. We are hound to protect the lives
and the property of our citizens lnhabiting Ar
izona. and these are now without any efficient
protection. Their present number is already
considerable, and is rapidly increasing, not
withstanding the disadvantages under which
they labor. Besides the proposed Territory is
believed to be rich in mineral and agricultural
resources, especially in silver and copper. The
mails of the United States to California are
now carried over it throughout its whole ex-
tent, aud this route is known to be the nearest,
and believed to be the best to the Pacific.
Long experience has deeply convinced me
that a strict construction of the powers granted
to Congress is the only true, as well as the on
ly safe, theory of the constitution. Whilst
this principle shall guide my public conduct,
consider it clear that under the war-making
power Congress may appropriate money for the
construction of military road through the
Territories of the United States, when this is
absolutely necessary for the defence of any of
the States against foreiga invasion. The con-
stitution has conferred upon Congress power
tsto declare war;" 'sto raise and support ar
mics" 40 provide ard maintain a navy" and
to call forth the militia to 'repcl invasions -
These high sovereign powers necessarily in-
volve important and responsible public duties,
and among them there is none so sacred and so
imperative as that of preserving our soil from
the invasion of a foreign enemy. The Consti-
tuition has, therefore, left nothing on this poat
TO construction, but expressly requires that
<'the United States shall protect each of them
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