The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-28
VOL. XII.
THE UTAH DIFFICULTY-THE DELIHoUgrrv
OF THE ADMINISTRATION

Although the President has ordered q ~;
tary force to Utah, and the House has ra;ses
committee to inquire whether Mr.. Berpbisal
Delegate from that Territory, ought to be a.
lowed to retain his seat, we do not under.,o,,
that state of war really exists. Govern.
Cummings has been appointed successor ;.
Brigham Young. The Organic Law of the t..
ritory vests the appointing power in the Pro-.
dent, and he has exercised it in accnrdo,..
with the Law. Evidence sufficient has h..
furnished him to prove that the Mormo,.
under the lead of Young, intend to rests, !,
force of arms the assumption by Governor Cnr
mings of his Office, and the discharge of hi. Il
fetal duties. The President has reason 70 !.
ieve that the Territory is in state of insurra0
tion With this fact before his eyes, he ia bou,,
to maintain the laws of Congress, orgap;z,,
the Territory, under and in virtue of vbioS
Governor Cummings has been appointed. +.
is not making, but preparing to enforce III.
law, and suppress Instruction. Governor Cur.
mings has issued his Proclamation, snnonn,.
ing precisely this state of affairs, calling NM,
the people to abandon all insurrectionary com.
binations, and submit to the laws, declaring ,ba,
he will first relic upon posse comitatus for Ala
in the performance of his duties, and, this fail
ing, Will then resort to the military power Of
the United States. Meantime, a court has baa,
established for proceeding against offender. a.
cording to law. In all this, the conduct of tbs
President, 1T seems to US, is in obedience to hi,
oath of Office. He has nothing to do with III.
religious or irrehgious faith of the Mormon.
but much with the suppression of insurrec,iop
against the laws.
While the People will sustain the Govern.
ment in establishing law in Utah, they will not
forget how this man Young and his follower,
have been encouraged in their rebellious mr..
poses by the doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty
80 fervently preached by the SO called Demo-.
racy. That has been at the bottom of the
mischief. A community, such as that of the
Mormons, practicing an sbomination hateful to
Christian civilization, and rendered penal in
all our States, ought never to have received q
Territorial Government. But not only was il
placed on footing with other Territories It
was treated as if entitled to superior privileges
For the most part, it was favored by the Exec.
utive with just such officers as it desired.
prudent forecast would have led to the selec
ton at the outset of Judges, Attorneys, Mar.
shals, and Governor, holding sentiments and
positions in harmony with the civilization of
the United States-not men addicted to III.
barbarous practices of Mormonism. But one
President after another winked at the abomius.
ton, and allowed Brigham Young, the head
the new Theocrscy, to continue in Office, and
defy the Government, till at last the evil has
assumed the form of rebellion, and now the
army of the United States is required to rem.
edy the baleful consequences of an imbecis
and absurd policy.
This is not all: The Territory one year ago
was as much in state of insurrection as it
now, and there was just as much reason for the
interposition of military force. Had the Pres.
dent, when he appointed Governor Cummings
nine months ago, despatched him instantly, with
a military escort, to Utah, he would have reach.
ed the Territory before winter, and the CELEBRITY
of the movement would probably have discon.
certed all plans Of resistance. Instead of this,
he must delay, and delay, retaining the troops
in Kansas to enforce upon the People an abom.
Unable usurpation, until when the Governor and
i.------- -. -, the season was so far advsnc
ed, that snow gathered about their march. and
before they could reach Utah. thew wara con.
Peieu 10 go into winter quarters, thereby giving
inSurrection time to mature its plans and com.
pine its forces; to say nothing of the immense
expenditures necessary for the subsistence of a
large army through the winter at a point wbera
.ney can ootaln their supplies only from great
distance and at heavy cost.
We hope that this conduct Of the Admins.
trstion may receive from Congress the copdeu.
nation it deserves