The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-24
Presidents Message.


FeIsoae Citizens of the Senate and House Of Rep
reseDsatioes in Congress assembled: r--
[coscLUDED FROM LAST wEEK.l ...
territorial government was established for utah
by act Of Congress- approved the 9th September 1850
and the Constitution and laws othe United states wer,
thereby extended 1t 80 far as the same or any
provisions thereof may be applicable" This act pro
vided for.ths appointment by the President by and
with the advice and consent Of the Senate Of Gov
ernor, who was to be otcio superintendent Of In
dian affairs secretary three judges Of the supreme
court, marshal, and district attorney Subsequent
acts provided for the appointment of the officers nee
essary to extend our land and Indian system oyer
the Territory Brigham Young was appointed the first
Governor on the goth September 1885, and has held the
ONCE ever since Whilst Governor Young has been both
doyernor and superintendent Of Indian affairs through
out this PERIOD he has been the same time the head
OF the church called the Latter-Day Saints and pro
iesses to govern Its members and dispose of their
erty by direct Inspiration and authority from the AL
mighty. Hsp power has been, therefore, absolute over
both Church and State Ha# Gt s.H
The people OF Utah, almost exclusively, belong TO
this church, and believing with fanatical spirit tba,
ne is the Governor Of the Territory by Divine appoint
men', they obey his commands II thesewere direct
revelations from Heaven. II, therefore, he chooses
that his government shall come into collision with the
Government of the United States the members of the
Mormon church will yield implicit obedience to his
Will Unfortunately existing facts leave but little
doubt that such Is his determination without enter
Ing upon minute history of occurrences II Is Sufficient
to say that all the officers OF the United States udca,
and executive, with the single exception oftvo Indian
agents. have found 1t for their own
safety to withdraw from the Territory and there no
longer remains any government Utah but the despot
ism Of Brigham Young This being the condition Of
ahairs In the Territory could not mistake the path
Of duty. As Chief Executive Magistrate. was bopnd
TO restore the supremacy of the Constitution and
within Its limits. In order to effect this burmese
appointed new Governor and other Federal officers
for Utah, and sent with them military force for their
protection, and to aid posse coitatus in case ~
need in the execution of the laws -s>3 e
with the religious opinions OF the Mormons Al ,ono
as they remained mere opinions however deplorable
IN themselves and revolving the moral and religions
sentiments OF all Chrisendom had no right to inter-
fsre Actions alone when In violation of the Consti
tuition and laws ofthe United States become the ier
innate subjects for the jurisdiction Of the civil maps
trate My instructions to Governor 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
storing and maintaining the authority OF the law but
this hope has now vanished. Governor Young has by
proclamation, declared his determination to maintain
MS 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 act, of
hostility notwithstanding Major Van vet, an officer
of the army, sent to Utah by the commanding general
rhasa vie TO-
the strongest assurances of the intentions Of
the 2osevnment, and that the troops would only be
employed as poses comitatus when called on by the
civil authority to aid in the execution Of the laws
There Is reason TO believe that Brigham youno haa
long contemplated this result Heknows that the CON-
tirdance Of his despotc power depends upon the ex
clusion OF all settlers from the Territory except those
who win his divine mission and mpiictIy
obey his WILL and that enlightened public opinion
there would soon PROSTATE institutions at war with the
laws both Of God and man. He has, therefore for sew
eral years, In order to maintain his indie
been industrousy employed In collecting and fabri.
eating arms and munitions Of war; and in dsciplining
the Mormons for military service As superintendent
OF Indian affairs he has had opportunity of tamper
ing with the Indian tribes and exciting their hostile
feelings against the United States This according to
our information he has accomplished In regard to some
OF these tribes while others have remained true to their
allegiance, and have communicated his intrigues to
our Indian agents He has laid in store of
for three years. which, in of necessity as he in
formed Major Van yliet, he will conceal "and then
take to the mountains and bid defiance to all the pow
ers ofthe Government"
great part of all this may be idle beastng but vet
no wise Government will lightly estimate the efforts
which may be inspired by snch renzied fanaticsm as
exists among the Mormons In Utah. This Is rhe arst
rebellion which has existedn Territories; and hu-
maniy itself requires that should put II down in
such manner that 1t shall be the last To trie with
would be to encourage 1t and render II formidable
We ought to there with such imposing force as to
convince these deluded people that resistance would
be vain, and thus spare the euson Of blood We can
in this manner best convince them that their
friends, not their enemies In order to accomplish this
object it win be necessary, according to the estimate
of the War Department. to raise four additional reg-
ments; and this earnestly recommend to Congress-
At the present Of depression in the revenues
Of the countrvI sorry to be obliged to recommend
such measure but feel confident Of the support Of
Congress, cost what II may, in suppressing the nsur-
rection and in restoring and maintaining the sovereign
ty Of the Constitution and laws the Territory of
Utah.
ritorial government Arizona Incorporating with
II such portions of New Mexico they may deem ex-
pedient. Ineed scarcely sdduce arguments In sup
port Of this recommendation. We are bound to pro-
ect the lives and the property Of citizens nhabit
ing Arizona, and these without any efficient
protectisn Their present number Is already consider
able and Is rapidly increasing, Notwithstanding the
disadvantages under which they labor. Besides, the
proposed Territory is believed be rich In mineral
and agricultural resources, especially In silver and
copper The mails Of the United States to California
now carriedove II throughout its whole extent
and this route Is known to be the nearest believed
to be the best to the Pacific. III
Long experience has deeply convinced me that a
strict construction Of the powers granted Congress
is the only true, well the only SAFE theory Of the
Constitution. Whilst this principle shall guide my
public conduct consider 1t clear that under the war
making power, Congress may appropriate money 70,
the construction of military road through the Terri
tories Of the United States whom this Is absolutely
necessary for the defense Of any the States agans
foreign invasion. The Constitution has conferred up
on Congress power "to declare war;" sto raise and
support armies, "to provide and maintain navy,
and to call forth the militia to repei invasions y"
These high sovereign powers necessarily involve i'm
portant and responsible public Duties and among then
there is none so sacred and Imperative that o
preserving soil from the invasion Of foreign enc
my. The Constitution has, therefore, left nothing
this point construction, but expressly requires tina
"the United States shall protect each Of them [th
States1 against inyasion" Now II military oad owe