, 1858-01-22

issue now 50 fortunately rendered, and
again reach the point she has already at
! tanned
Kansas has for some years occupied too
much Of the public attention. 1t is high
time this should be directed to far more
important objects. When once admitted
into the Union, whether with or without
slavery, the excitement beyond her own
limits will speedily pass away, and she will
then for the first time be left, as she ought
10 have been long since, to manage her own
affairs in her own way II her constitution,
on the subject Of slavery, or on any other
subject, be displeasing to a majority of the
people, no human power can prevent them
, from changing it within brief period
{ Under these circumstances, it may well be
!. questioned whether the peace and quiet Of
/ the whole country are not Of greater i'm
portance than the temporary triumph Of
either Of the political parties in Kansas.
Should the constitution without slavery
be adopted by the votes Of the majority,
the rights Of property in slaves now in the
, Territory are reserved The number Of
these is very small; but if it we're greater
the provision would be equally just and
reasonable. These slaves were brought in-
10 the Territory under the constitution of
the United States, and are now the proper
I ty of their masters. The point has at
length been finally decided by the highest
judicial tribunal Of the cOuntry-and this
upon the plain principle that when a con-
federacy Of sovereign States acquire new
territory at their joint expense, both equal
ity and justice demand that the citizens Of
one and all Of them shall have The right 10
take into it whatsoever is recognised as
: property by the common constitution. To
1 have summarily confseated the property
in slaves already in the Territory, would
a have been ON act of gross injustice, aud
: contrary to the practice Of the older States
I Of the Union which have abolished slavery.
A territorial government was establish
! ed for Utah by act Of Congress, approved
the 9th Of September, 1850, and thereby
extended over it 80 far as the same, or any
provisions thereof, may be applicable" This
4 act provided for the appointment by the
; President, by and with the advice and con
sent Of the Senate, of Governor, who
was to be ex-ofieio Superintendent Of In
dian Affairs, a secretary, three judges Of
the Supreme Court, a Marshal, and Dis
trct Attorney. Subsequent acts provided
for the appointment Of the officers necessa-
Try 10 extend our land and our Indian sys-
tenn over the Territory. Brigham Young
was appointed the 6rst Governor on the
goth Of September, 1850, and has held the
Office ever since. Whilst Governor Young
has been both Governor and Superintend-
ent OF Indian Affairs throughout this peri,
cd, be has been at the same time the head
Of the church called the Latter-Day Saints,
and PROCESSES TO govern its members and
dispose Of their property by direct nspfra-
tion and authority from the Almighty. His
power has been, therefore, absolute over
both church and State.
Il. The people Of Utah, almost exclusively,
belong to this church, and, believing with
a fanatical spirit that be is Governor of the
Territory BY divine appointment, they obey
his commands as il these were direct reVe-
lations from Heaven. If, therefore, be
chooses that his Government shall come
into collision with the Government Of the
United States, the members Of the Nor
mon church will yield implicit obedience to
his will. Unfortunately, existing facts
leave but little doubt that such is bis de-
, termination. Without entering upon
minute history Of occurrences, it is .suffi-
cent to say that all the officers Of the
! ! United States, judicial and executive, with
tho single exception Of two Indian agents,
have found it necessary for their own per-
sonal safeiy to withdraw from the Terri
tory, and there no longer remains any
Government in Utah but the despotsm Of
Brigham Young. This being the condition
of affairs in the Territory, could not mis-
take the path Of duty. As Chief Execu-
tive Magistrate, l was bound TO restore
, the supremacy Of the Constitution and
laws within its limits. In order to effect
this purpose, appointed now Governor
and other Federal officers for Utah, and
sent with them military force for their
! protection, and 10 aid as posse comilatus,
! in case Of need, in the execution of the
laws.
/ With the religious opinions Of the Nor.
+ mons, as long as they remained mere opin-
b ions, however deplorable in themselves and
n revolving to the moral and religious senti-
y ments OF all Christendom, l had no right
, to interfere. Actions alone, when in vio-
lation Of the constitution and laws Of the
I United States, become the legitimate sub
jects for the Jurisdiction of the civil mngis-
: trate. My instructions TO Gov Cumming
. have therefore been framed in strict ac-
: ccrdance with these principles, At their
t date hope was indulged that no neces-
: sity might exist for employing the military
D in restoring and maintaining the authority
!. of the law but this hope has now vanish
t ed. Gov. Young has, by proclamation,
a declared his determination to maintain his
$ power by force, and has already committed
+ acts of hostility against the United States
Unless be should retrace his steps the Ter
ritory Of Utah will be in state of open
rebellion. He has committed these acts OF
: hostility Notwithstanding Major Van Tliet,