Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-12-18

despotlsm OF Brigham 1oung. IDS pe-
ing the condition Of affairs inl the Terrific
~. I could not mistake the path of duty.
As Chief Executive Magistrate, I was
bound 10 restore the supremacy of the
constitution and laws within its limits
In order to effect this purpose, / appoint
ed new Governor and iherfederal OFF,
GERS for Utah. and sent with them militia
ry force for their protection, and to aid as
posse coDaitQtus, 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 them
selves and revolving &c. the moral and re-
ligions sentiments of all Christendom.
had no right to interfere. Actions alone
when in violation oil the constitution and
laws of the United States become the leg
itimate subjects for the jurisdiction Of the
civil magistrate. My instructions to Gov.
Cummings have therefore been farmed in
strict accordance with these principles
AT their date hope was INDUCED that no
necessity might exist for employing the
military in restoring and maintaining the
authority Of the law; bn. this hope has
now vanished. Gov. Young has. by
proclamation. declared his determination
to maintain his power by force. and has
already committed acts Of hostility
against the United States. Unless he
should retrace his steps the Territory OF
Utah will be in state Of open rebellion.
He has committed these acts Of hostility
notwithstanding Major Van Vliet. an Off
Ger, of.the army, sent to Utah by the
commanding general to purchase proyi-
sons for the troops. had given him the
strongest assurances of the peaceful in
tentions Of the government, and that the
troops would only be employed as posse
comitatus when called on by the civil au-
thority to aid in the execution of the laws.
There is reason to believe that Gov
ernor Young has long contemplated this
result. tie 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 opin-
ion there would soon PROSTATE institutions
at war with the laws both of God and
man. He has therefore for several years
in order to maintain his independence,
been industriously employed in collecting
and fabricating arms and munitions Of
war. and in disciplining the Mormons for
military service. AS superintendent Of
Indian affairs he has had an opportunity
Of tampering with the Indian tribes, and
exciting their hostile feelings against the
United States. This, according to our
information, he has acc omplished in re-
gard to some OF these tribes, while others
have remainded true to their allegiance.
and have communicated his intrigues to
our Indian agents. He has laid in store
Of provisions for three years, which in
case of necessity. as he informed Major
Van Vliet, he will conceal, :" and then
take to the mountains, and bid defiance
to all the power of the government"
A great part of all this may be idle
boasting; but yet no wise government
will lightly estimates the efforts which
may be inspired by such phrensied fana>
ticism as exists among the Mormons in
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 it shall be
the last. To tride with it would be to
encourage it and to render it formidable.
We ought to 60 there with such an i'm
posing force as TO convince THESE ueluoeu
people that resistance would be in vain.
and thus spare the effusion of blood
We can in this manner best convince
them that we are their friends, not their
enemies. In order rtoiaccomplishr to this OBJ
ject it will be necessary. according to the
estimate of the War Department. to raise
four additional regiments; and this I
earnestly recommend to Congress. At
the present moment of depression of the
revenues Of the country am sorry to be
Obliged to recommend such a measure;
but feel confident of'the support of Con-
gress. cost what it may. in suppressing
the insurrection and in restoring and
maintaining the sovereignty of the con-
stitution and laws over the Territory Of
Utah.
cOyERNOR,S MESSAGE.