The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-11-05
From the N. Y, Commercial Advertiser.
LATE INTELLIGENCE FROM UTAH

Early in August, General Harvey DISPATCHED
to Great Salt Lake City Captain Van Vljet. of
his stan, to gather the necessary Information
respecting the disposition of it's inhabitants the
geography OF the routes, and other details ra-
quisite TO proper DISCHARGE of the, dssiAs a6
Lake City about the l5th OF September on his
return to Fort Laramie, which station he reach
ed on the 9Th OF September. A correspond-
emit OF the Tribune writes from that post on the
18th OF September, giving the result of Captain
Van VEets observations,
That officer reports that the distance of Great
Salt Lake City from Fort Laramie is SIG
miles. de LETT his escort at Hams Fort, about
twenty miles west from Green river. and pro
ceeded to the capital, attended only by his own
servants. lie was, contrary to many reports
he had heard upon his routs, received with
much good feeling and hospitality, and every
iaciiity was afforded 70 him for the satisfactory
tulhlment OF hia mission. He had daily inter
views With Brigham Young and the other Off.
GERS OF the Mormon Church, and he represents
that they uniformly expressed their deter nina
ton to resist at all hazards the ingress of the
United States troops into the valley, When
reminded that, even if their resissaRce should
De successful this year, the entrance would be
erected In the following year by an overwhelm-
ing force, their reply was, that they had well
considered al! that, bat, when the troops had
carried .he mountain passes, they would enter
valley " IN which no shrub would be green.
and not one stone remain upon another" They
seemed to be possessed with The idea, that If
they could but make successful resistance
now, they would gain time, and that on regec.
non, alter such a practical hint as to the d Hi.
Guilty OF the task, the Federal G vernment
woulo recede from asserting It's authority over
the Territory.
The old spirit of fanatiCs-n and enthusiasm
displayed itself in .h.se interviews, Br;ghan,
loung declaring that the day on which the
United States troops were ordered to advance
upon the Territory Tor its suhjngation, would be
the happlest that ever dawDed upon Mormon
Ism, lnasmuch as the more the Saints were GER
secuted, the more they would thrive and multi
ply. The Tribune s correspondent thug describes
sunday service. 1t is just possible that the
demonstration described may have been pre
concerted to impress the Captain:
On Sunday, September Is, Captain Van
VlIet was asked to attend religious services in
the bogeFy, and was escorted to a prominent
seat apon the platform, and invited TO make an
ADDRESS, which invitation he declined. By
counting the number of persons upon certain
uers Q, benches, he estimated the audience to
exceed QUO. After some remarks by Heber
Z. Kimball, a discourse was delivered by Elder
yonn taylor, forinsrly editor of the Mormon,
the newspapeS organ Of the church in New York
ci'y' Az We close, Mr.. Taylor called the atten-
.tea d the people to the Captain, and, sludipg
70 MS business in the city, recounted the sub
s'saoe OF his conversations, and said that he
Wouio make request, in order that Captain
van Vhet nigh: learn that he had been made
acquainted with the determination of the vhole
people he would ash that all those present who
were willing 70 raze their houses, burn their
crops, paii down what they had passed ten years
In binding up, make their beautiful valley a
desert, and retreat to the mountains, in case
the troops should force an entrance world rise:
ana the audience, without exceptiJn, rose TO
their feet and remained stsndirs long enough
TO enable him to see that th.sy were absolutely
unanimous.
During the previous proceedings, in order
70 answer practically an inquiry by the Captain
concerning the proportion of foreigners present
70 EasiSSborn and nsturslized citizens, Mr..
fsy,ar requested all present who belonged 10
the two latter classes to raise their hands, and
about three-four of the audience complied
There had been some movements, however.
that seem to corroborate the sentiments express
ed by Brigham Young and the Elders. Tbe
population were concentrating themselves in
Salt Lake valley, and we're abandoning the
outer Notifications. Il is estimated that The
largest force they can put in the field will not
exceed six thousand. Capt. Van Vhet's an.
quiries satisfied him that there was sor,e 5;..
satisfaction with the rulers of the church. bn,
that the dissatisfied were held in sotire sub;sc.
ton, and would, be until pow rful force from
without secured them the opportunity of devel.
oping their sentiments, There was a manufac-
tory of firearms IN the Territory, but no mill
tor the making OF powder or other ammuu;.
ton. brigham Young claimed that they had a
three years, supply of provisions, which, In case
OF attack, they should take with them To the
mountains, and there keep up a sort of guerilla