New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-28

The letters Of our Utah correspondent which
we publish to-day throw considerable light on the
position at present occupied BY the Mormons. We
refer particularly to the orders of Gen. Wells, the
Mormon Commander-in. Chief, found on thepersOn of
Taylor, a Mormon major, taken prisoner along with
two others by of the troops. These orders are,
IN substance, to harass the advance of the army
in every possible way short of shedding blood. We
do not share the surprise expressed by our c0rre'
sponden that the orders contain this limitation. 1t
does not grow out of the idea that blOOdshed is
necessary to constitute treason but out OF that hesS
taton at taking life which, however soon and
however completely it may be got over, always
chsracterizes the commencement of civil warfare.
In point Of law, the shedding or not shedding of
blood might make no difference. In point of senti-
ment and feeling and of action stimulated by sen.
timent and feeling, it makes great deal. Hence,
in these cases, it is always a great point to
throw the responsibility of the first bloedshed
on the opposite. party. Brigham Young has
sense enough to know that, great as is the
existing sntipathy against him and his people,
Il conflict commenced BY his orders, in which the
blood Of United States soldiers should flow, would
greatly aggrayate it, On the other hand, it may be
found that extreme proceedings against Major Tay.
lor, who it seems il charged with high treason as
having been one of the party concerned in stopping
and burning the provision wagons will produce
state of feeling in the Mormons which, perhaps,
in the present position of the troops, might as we'll
NOT be precipitated. AT last the forces are con-
centrated, and are encsmped for the Winter at Fort
Bridger The annals of military operations are
sufficiently full of disastrous blunders, but they
will scarcely furnish more striking instance of the
kind than this sending of two Thousand men thous.
and miles into the wilderness to pass the Winter at
that drcary place. For any purpose Of operating
against the Mormons, these troops would have been
hundred times better posted had they remained
in Kansas. A start from Kansas early in
the Spring would have brought them to
Salt Lake City by midsummer; quite as soon as
they can expect 10 arrive there now, even II the
cold and the Mormons, and the diet of lean beef,
which forms the chief part Of their rations should
leave them, when the Spring opens, with numbers,
strength or spirit for the enterprise. In fact, no
movement from Fort Bridger can be attempted
untu dralI cdttIc, Hesh supplies of proYlsions ana
additional forces brought up from the frontier;
so that nothing can be gained, even in time BY the
present position Of the troops and the inevitable
suferiugs and privatons to which they will be SUBJ
jectcd. Had it been the object Of the Govern
mcnt to encourage Brigham Young to oppose the
entrance of the troops into Utah, and to aid the
Mormon leaders in working up the fsnaticism OF
their deudcd followers TO the highest pitch of des.
perate resolution, they could hardly have chosen
method of procedure better adapted to that end.
If the troops, according to the original plan had
pushed forward in the Spring and arrived in
Utah by July, as they might and should have
done, it is not likely that any resistance would
have been opposed to their entrance into the
country OF that the civil officers would have found
any serious difficulty in entering upon tho formal
discharge Of their duties. The political cXigen.
ces Of Kansas and the retention Of the troops III
that Territory to hid in keeping down tho Free.
State men and sustaining the Border-Rufian
regime having interfercd with this movement,
evidently the true policy woud have been TO have
held back the troops for tae Wu.sy, IA sast csso