Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-09
THE NEWS FROM UTAH.
BRIGHAM YOUNG'.S LETTER TO COL.
ALEXANDER.
GoyERNoR's OFFICE,

GOVERNOR ) OfF1CE,
Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, !
October l6, 1857.
SIR: have the honor TO acknowledge the
receipt of our letter OF the | lth inst. at Sh.
BON. this morning, and embrace the earliest
opportunity to reply out OF courtesy TO your
position at this late season OF the year
As you officially nllege it, acknowledge
that you and the FORCES under your command
have been sent TO this Territory by the Pre-.
sdent Of the United States, but we shall
treat you as though you were open enemies,
because have so many times seen armies in
our country, under color of law, drive this
people, commonly called "Mormons,' from
their homes, while mobs have followed and
pluniered a. their pleasure, which is now
most obviously the design of the general
government, as all candid thinking men knoM
full well.
You mention that il is alone in my guber-
Material capacity that you have any business
with me. through your commanding ollcer,
Brevet Brigudier General farney, addressed
his letter by Capt. Welt to "President Brig
ham Young, of the Society of Mormons"
If you persist in your attempt to perma-
rently locate an army in this Territory con-
trary to the wishes anu constitutional rights
IF the people therein and with vie~ to aid
the administration in their unhallowed Efforts
to palm their corrupt officials upon us, and
10 protect them, and blacklegs, black-heorted
scoundrGls, whore-masters and murderers, rs
was tho sole intention in sending you and
your troops here, you will have to meet q
mode of warfare against which your tactics
furnish you no information.
In regard to myself and certain others
having placed ourselves ''iu o position Of
rebellion and hostility to the Government OF
the United States," | am perfectly aware
that we understand our true aud most loyal
position far better than our enemies con IN
orm US We OF all the people are endeavor-
ing to preserve and perpetuate the genius of
the Constitution and constitutional laws,
wLi!e the Administration and the troops they
have ordered TO Utah are, in fact, themselves
the rebels, and in hostility to the General
Government. And if George Washington
was now living and at the helm OF our Gov
'ernmeut, he would hang the Administration
as high as he did Andre, and that, too, with a
far better grace, and to a much greater sub.
serving the best interests Of our country
You write, at becomes you to look to the
consequences for you must be aware that 80
unequal contest can never be successfully |
sustained by the people you govern" We |
have counted the cost it may be TO Us; We |
look for the United States 10 endeavor to |
swallow Us up and We are prepared for the |
contest, ii they wish to forego the Consttu-
tlon in their insane efforts to crush out oil
human rights. But the cost Of so suicidal q
course to our enemies we have not wasted !
our time in considering rightly, deemug it |
more particularly their business to figure out
and arrive at the amount Of so immense a
sum. 1t is now the Kingdom Of God and |
the kingdom Of the devil. If God is for US,
we will prosper; but if be is for you and
against us, you will prosper, and We will say,
Amen let the Lord be God and Him
alone We will serve"
BY virtue of my Office as Governor of the
Territory of Utah, command you to marshal
your troops and leave this Territory for it
can be of no possible benefit TO you to waste
treasures and blood in prosecuting your
course upon the side of rebellion against
the general government by its administrators
You have had, and still have, plenty Of time
to retire within the reach of supplies at the
East or to 60 to Fort Hall.