Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-11

y
safety, had found it necessary to Withdraw
from the Territory. To protect the civil Off
GERS, and TO aid them as posse cOmitatus In
the execution of the laws in case of need, l
ordered detachment of the army to accom-
pany them to Utah. The necessity for adopt
ing these M asures is now demonstrated.
On the 18th OF Sept. 1857. Governor Young
issued his proclamation. in the style of an in
depecdent sovereign, announcing his purpose
to resist by force of arms the entry of the
United States troops into our own Territory
of Utah. By this he required all the forces
in the Territory to '.hold themselves in readi-
ness to march at moments notice to repel
any and all such INVASION and established
martial law from its date throughout tn" Ter
ritory. These proved to he no idle threats.
Forts Bridger and Supply were vacated and
burnt down by the MOrmons to deprive our
troops of shelter after long and fatigung
marches. Orders we're issued by Daniel II.
Wells. styling himself Lieutenant General.
NaIvoo Legion TO stampede the animals Of
the United States troops on their march. 10
set fire to their trains. 10 burn the grass and
the whole country before them and on their
TANKS, to keep them from sleeping by night
surprises. and to blockade the road by telling
trees and destroying the fords of riv rs. &c.
These orders were properly and effectually
obeyed. On tn" 4th of October. 1857, the
Mormons captured and burnt on Green river
three of our supply trains. consisting of 10
Wagons loaded with prov siOns and tents
for the army. and carried away several hun
bred animals. This diminished the supply
of provisions so materially that General
Johnston was obliged to reduce the ration,
and even with this precautiOn there was on
ly sufficient lett to subsist the troops until
the LIST of June.
= IN
their encampment at Fort Bridger under
these trying privations. In the midst OF
the mountains, in dreary. unsettled. and
inhOspitable region. more than a thousand
m les from home, they passed the severe and
Indictment winter without murmur. They
looked forward with confidence for relief
from their country in dne season, and in this
they were not disappointed.
The Secretary Of War employed all his ener-
gies to forward them the necessary supplies, and
to muster and send such military force TO
Utah would render resistance the part of
the MOrmOns hopeless, and thus terminate the
war without the effusion of blood. In his ef-
forts he efficiently sustained by Congress.
They granted appropriations sufficientto cover
the deficiency thus necessarily created, and also
provided for raising two regiments of volunteers,
"for the purpose of quelling disturbances in the
Territory of Utah, for the protection of supply
and emlgrant trains, and the suppression OF In
dian hostilities the frontiers" Happily
there was occasion to call these regiments into
service. If there had been, | should have felt
serious embarrassment in selecting them, so great
was the number of our brave and patriotic citi-
zens anxious to serve their country in this dis
tant and apparently dangerous expedition
Thus it has ever been, and thus may it ever be
The wisdom and economy of sending sui
ficie t reinforcements to Utah are establish
ed not only by the event. but in the opinion
he, H1,n1.r
tunities, are the most capable of forming a
correct Judgment. General johnson. the
commander of the forces. in addressing the
Secretary of War from Fort Bridger. under
date of October Is. 1857. expresses the OPT
mon that 'unless a large force is sent here,
from the nature of the country, a prOtract-
ed war on their Cthe MormOns) part is inev-
table" This he considered necessary to
terminate the war speedily and more econ
Omically than if attempted by insufficient
means.n
In the meantime ii was my anxious dosire
that the Mo-mOns should vi Id obedience TO
the constitution aud the laws, without render
ing it necessary to resort to military fore.
To aid in accomplishing this object, deemed
il advisable in April last to dispatch two dis
tinguishcd citiZ ms of the United States, Mes
srs. Powell and McCulloch, to Utah. They
bore with them proclamation addressed bv
myself to the Inhabitants of Utah, dated on
the sixth day Of that month. warning them OF
their true co ditiOn, and how hopeless it wa
on their part to persist in rebellion against
the United States, and Offering all those who
should submit to the laws full pardon fol
their past sediSiOns and treasons. At the
same time assured those who should persist
in rebellion against The Unit States that
thew mnst expect no further lcnity, but look
to be vigorously dealt with according to theiI
deserts,
The instructions to these agents. as well as
a copy of the proclamation, and their reports
are herewith submitted. 1t will be seen by
their report OF the 81 of July last that they
have fully confirmed the opinion expressed
by General johnson in the previous October
Is to the necessity of sending reinf0rcements
to Utah. In this they state that they ''arp
firmly impressed with the belief that the
presence of the army here and the large adj
dtiOna force that had been ordered TO this
Territory were the chief inducements that
caused the Mormons TO abandon the idea of
resisting the authority of the United States.
A less decisive policy would probably have
resulted i'll long, bloody, and expensive
war"
These gentlemen conducted themselves to
my entire satisfaction, and rendered useful
services in executing the humane intentions of
the Government.
II also affords me great satisfaction to state
that Governor Cumming has Performed his
dnty in an able and cOnciliatory manner. and
with the happicst effect. | cannot. in This
connection, refrain from mentioning the val
liable services of Col. Thomas l.. Kane, who,
from motives of pure bcnevolence, and with
out any official character or pecuniary COM
pensatiOn. visited Utah during the last inclem-
ent winter for the purpose Of contributing to
the paciication of the Territory.
| am happy to inform you that the Gov
ernor and dfb-r civil officers of Utah are
now performing their appropriate functions
without resistance. The authority of the
constitution and the laws has been fully
restored, and peace prevails throughout the
Territory.
A portion of the troops sent to Utah are
now encamped in Cedar Valley, forty -four
miles southwest of Salt Lake City. and the
remainder have been ordered to Oregon to
suppress indian hOstilities
The march of the army to Salt Lake City.
through the Indian Territory. has had pow
erful effect i'm restraining the hostile feelings
against the United States which existed
among the Indians in that region. and in So
curing migrants To- the far West against their
depredations. This will also be the means OF
establishing military posts aud promoting set
Elements along the route.
| recommend that the benefits of our land
laws and pre-emptioL system be extended To
the people of Utah. by the establishment of a
land Office in that Territory.
| have OccusiUn also TO congratulate you
on the result Of your negotiations with China.
. You were Informed by my last annual
message that our Minister had been instruct
ed TO occupy neutral position in tire hosti-
lities conducted by Great Britain and France
against Canton. He was, however, at the
same time. directed To cooperate cordially
with the British aud French Ministers in all
peaceful measures to ecure by treaty those
Just concessions TO foreign comm cree watch
the nations of the world I'D right to de-
man . 1t was impossible for me TO proceed
further than this, on my own authority,
without usurping the war-making power,
which under the Constitution, belongs eX-
clus.vely 10 Congress.
Besides. after a careful examination of the
nature aud extent OF our grievances. do not
believe they were OF such a pressing and
aggravated character as would nave justified
4 n, Il Na Nh