The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-06-23
siEhss Presidents Utah ProcIama-
lion.
~ JAMEs.BUCHASAN, PRESIDENT oE rHE UNITED
STATES 40 AMERICA:
ppDGT ANATf1N


A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, the Territory OF Utah was settled
by certain emigrahiS fOm The States, and fro,n
inregn countries who have for several wears
past manifested spirit ofinSuboriinatan TO the
constitution and laws ofthe United States
The great mass Of those settlers acting un,ler
the influence Of leaders to whom they seem TO
have surrendered their judgment, refuse TO be
controlled by any other authority. They have
been often advised to obedience and these friend
ly counseis have been answered with defiance.
Officers the Federal Government have been
driyendTom the territory for no offence but an
effort 20 do their sworei duty. Others have
been prevented from going there by threats OF.
assassination. Judges have been violently in
terrnpted in the performance of their functions
aud, the reconls of the courts have been seized
and either destroyed or concealed. Many other
acts Of unlawful violence have been pcrpetrated
and the right to repeat them has been openly
claimed by the leading inhabitants with at least
the silent acquiescence of nearly all the others.
Their hostility to the lawful government ofthe
countryhas at length become SO violent that no
oliceT bearing commission from the chief mag.
istrate ofthe Union can enter the territory, OF
remain there with safety;and all the officers re-
Gently appointed have been unable to 90 to Salt
Lake or anywhere else in Utah bevond the
believed to be the condition to which strange
system of terrorism has brought the inhabitants
of that region, that no one among them could
express an opinion favorable to this government
or even propose to obey its laws, without expo
sing his life and property TOP peril.
After carefully considering this state of af-
fairs and maturely weighing the obligation
was under to see the laws faithfully executed, it
seemed to me right and proper that | should
make such use oithe military force at my dis
sposal as might be necessary to protect the fed
seral officers in going into the territory Of Utah,
aud in performing their duties after arriving
there. | accordingly ordered detachment of
the army to march for the city Of Salt Lake, or
wtAin reach of that place, and to act in case Of
need as posse for the enforcement ofthe laws
But, IN the meantime, the hatred of that mis-
guided people for the ust and legal authority of
the governpGnt had become so intense that
Sthoy resolved to measure their military strength
with that ofthc Uuon. They have organized
an armed force far from contemplate in point
ofnumbers and trained it, if not with skill, at
least with great aSsiduity and perseverance,
While the troops of the United States were on
their march, train of baggage wagons which
happened to be unprotected was attacked and |
destroyed by portion of the Mormon forces
and the provisions and stores with which the
their present altitude is one Of decided and un-
reserved enmity to the United States and to all
their loyal citizens. Their determination to op-
pose the authority of the government by militia
ry force has not only been expressed in words,
but manifested in overt acts of the most une-
quivocal character
Fellow citizens CT Utah, this is rebellion a
gainSt the government which you owe allegi-
aneo. 1t is levying war against the United
States,land involves you in the guilt Of treason.
Persistence in it will bring You to condgn pun
ishment, to ruin and to shame for it is madness
to suppose that, with your limited resources, you
can successfully resist the force of this great and
powerful nation,
If you have calculated upon the orbcarance
of the United StateS--if you have permitted
yourselves to suppose that this government will
fail to put forth its strength and bring you to
Submission-you have fallen into a grave mis-
take. You have settled upon territory which
hes geographically in the heart Of the Union
The land you live upon was purchased by the
United States, and paid for out Of their treasu-
ry. The proprietary right and title to it is in
them and not in you. Utah is bounded on
every side by states or territories whose people
are true to the Union. 1t is absurd to believe
that they will or can permit you to erect in
their very midst government of your own, not
only independent ofthe authority which they
all acknowledge, but hostile to them and their
interests.
Do not deceive yourselves nor try to mslead
others by propagating the idea that this is cru
SADIE against your religion. The constitution |
and laws Of this country can take no notice of
your creed, whether it be true or false. That
is a question between your God and yourselves.
ia which | disclaim all right to interfere. I'll
you obey the laws keep the peace, and respect
the just rights of others, you will be perfectly
secure and may live on in your present faith or
change it Tor another at your pleasure. Every
intelligent man among you knows very we'll
that this government has never, directly or in
directly, sought to molest, you in your wor
ship, to control you in your ecclesiastical af
fairs, or even to influence you IN your religious
opinions tja rs. .ra
This rebellion is rot merely violation of
your legal duty; it is without just cause, with
out reason without excuse. Y on never made
complaint that was not listened to with pa
tence. You never exhibited a real grievance
that was not redressed as promptly as it could
be. The laws and regulations enacted for
your government by Congress have been equal
and Just, and their enforcement was man(estly
necessary Ior your own welfare and happiness
You have never asked for their repeal. They
are similar in every material respect to the laws
which have been passed for other territories of
the Onion, and which everywhere else with
one partial cXception) have been chcerfully
obeyed. No people ever lived who were freer
from unnecessary legal restraints than you
Human wisdom never devised political sys-
TEN which bestowed more blessings or mpo-
scd lighter burdens than the government ofI
the United States in its operation upon the ter
rit0fies.
But being anxious to save the ef'uoion ofblco1
and to avoid the indiscrIminate punishment of
whole people for crimes OF (which it is not prob
ablethat all are equally guilty. | now offer a
full and free pardon to all who will submit
themselves to the authority of the federal gov
ernneut. lfyon refuse to accept it, let the con-
seqnences fall upon your own heads. But l
conjurc you to pause deliberately and reflect
wen before you reject this tender o. peace anG
good will
Now, therefore, 7, James Buchanan, President
oftthe United States, have thought proper to is
sue this my proclamation, enjoining upon all
public officers in the territory of Utah, to be
dilligeht and faithful to the full extent OF their
power, in the execution ofthe laws; command
ing all citizens Of the United States in said ter
ritory to aid and assist the officers in the per-
formanee Of their duties; offering to the inhabi
tants Of Utah, who shall submit to the laws a
free pardon for the seditions and treasons here
tof0re committed; warning those who shall
persist, after notice fthis proclamation, in the
present rebellion against the United States, that
they must expect no further lenity, but look to
befigorously dealt with according to their de-
serts and declaring that the military forces now