Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-13
MORMONZSlh- lh-INOREASE or THE
ARMY

HON. JN0. THOMPSON, N. Y.
Delivered in the House Of Representatives,
JANUARY 27, 1858.
Y Mr.. THOMPSON. Mr.. Chairman, in the pauses
of the storm which the discussion OF the Lecomp-
ton constitution has raised, and will raise, If ever
presented here, into iercer convulsioDs and until
which time shall defer what n nv have to say
on that topic, will avail myself of temporary lull
to bring to the consideration of the committee a
subject which has not yet been discussed, but to
which our attention will probably be directed, even
before the affairs of Kansas shall be brought up for
action.
For the first time since the organization of this
Government, we are called upon to authorize the
increase of the Army, ostensibiy for the purpose
OF being employed against the people of one of
Territories Under the provisions of the Constitu-
ton of the United States article four section three
new States may be admitted; and Congress has
power ito dispose Of and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the territory or other
property belonging to the United States" By
virtue of this provision, Congress has, from time
to time, out of territory acquired by the General
Government from the original States, or by ces.
sion or purchase from foreign Powers organized
territorial governments, which, after due political
tutclage, have applied for admission as States,
and been received, to take the rank and privileges
belonging to the original thirteen States of the
Union. Year after year has the tide of emigration
from Europe and the eastern States surged on,
aud on, tracking the path of the retreating
savage; blowing up the pasturage of the wild
buffalo; telling the forests; harnessing the water
fall to the wheels of mechanical and manufac
turing industry; gemming the landscape with
towns, villages, and cities-the abodes of peace,
prosperity and refinement. Thus has the forest belt
that lay around the original thirteen States been
broken; the wigwam has disappeared ; and double
the number OF coequal sovereignties now dwell
in fraternal concord beneath the wide dome of the
Republic What was known as the Far West in
the days of our boyhood, is now the Far East; and
the representatives Of millions of men stand be-
side us this floor, whose tasteful dwellings have
been reared where, within half century, the war
dance of the Indian was celebrated, or the panther
Of the wilderness made his lair. The valley of
the Mississippi has become dotted with the homes
OF empire, fronting on that Father of Waters-to
them as an inland sea and an outlet to the ocean.
The trapper retreats to the head-waters of the
Missouri, and gathers his spoil from the streams
that thread the slopes of the Rocky Mountains
UP to their wooded bases surge the tides of adyanc-
ing civilization; and beyond and over them breaks
the wave, foaming on to the shores OF the Pacific
Across vast plains-twelve hundred miles from the
dry bed of vast inland sea, with its salt waters
sunken to an inconsiderable lake, whose margin
sparkles with its twelve crystals and four thousand
two hundred feetaboye the s.a level-lies the CEN
trail Territory Of the Republic-Utahl Ten years
ago-a single decade-and not dwelling dotted
that valley; across it wound the rugged road of
the trader, the bride or war path of the Shosho-
nee and his savage allies or foes. Standing on
an eminence of the Wahstach mountains, to the
east their glitterng peaks lifting themselves eight
thousand feet in the clear silent air. and ringed far
beneath by shaded masses of pine and fir and bal
sam, appear receding ranges of hills and streams,
sparkling like silver threads, and narrow gorges,
looking like abysscs in the distance; and west
ward the mountains become lower and gradually
melt away, until valley, holding in its bosom
this lake OF salt, spreads out before IL. All around
on the slopes of the descending hills run even
benches, formerly the water levels of the lake,
and now used for cultivation or p1sturage At the
foot of these rise the mud walls of city, cover.
ing an area of six square miles the abode of half
the people of the Territory, which now holds more
than sixty thousand souls! AS by a common i'm
pulse they have come together from all parts of
the world--from Germany, Sweden, Denmark.
Scotland, England, Australia, and the United
States. They have become nation in a day.
They have trade industry, manufacturing and
mechanical skill; they have law, government,
and a religion. They are homogeneous people
act by common impulse upon definite and fixed
principles; and, after having applied as a Terri
tory for an organic law in 1850, and been organ
lied in pursuance of its provisions, received a
Governor, judges, marshal, and district attor-
ney, from Federal appointment; after sending
their Delegate to sit in the councils of the nation,
they have seen fit TO repudiate the paternity and
power of the General Government; to break up the
Federal courts; to deny all political influence in
their councils coming from or through the agency
of Federal officers, and fall back upon theocratc
polity that impousy claims the immediate inspira.
tion Of the Most High as its source ard authority,
revealed through His servant and prophet, Brig.
ham Young.
This leader, who rules this people with an un-
questioned despotism, through a machinery shall
examine, after temporizing under Mr. Pierce as
Governor and 1ldain agent, has at length grown
desperate enough TO declare openly his defiance
OF the General Government and emboldened by
distance and long success, gathered from the SUI
pinencss OF the executive power that had employ
ment nearer home for oil its energies, comes out
by proclamation declaring military law, usurrs
all the functions Of territorial government in his
person, and is training and marshaling his bat
talions for resistance and encounter Three thou.
sand brave men-our brothers and our sons -
have, In obedience 10 the executive mandate.
crOsscu INC pains ana rest IN their tents the
mountain passes that girdle that Territory. The
wintry SHOWS have not dampcd their ardor or
cooled their glowing courage; the howl of the
savage, impelled to run of their horses and cattle
by the stimulus Of Mormon craft has not made
them irresolute or responding; the driving tenn
pest and the icy hail rattle upon their canvas
covering, but the camp is merry with glce and the
martial airs Of Columbia echo through the passes
and linger on every lip.
Why they were ordered off at season which
conf elled this inevitable exposure, contrary to all
prudent foresight, and against the advice of wise
and experienced councils, lest those who did Il ex
plain and justify to the people and the country,
if they can. Whether the loud and deep nurmurs
that began to roll from all parts of the land to-
wards the capitol, condemning tho retention of
live thousand troops in Kansas Territory, undcr
the pretence of maintaining law and order, and
compelling iree people to vote or refrain from
voting under the roar OF United States artillery,
according to settled programme formed at Wash.
ngton, had the effect of starting forward tho en-
terprise too long delayed, II Is impossible accu-
Iately TO determine. Should the disasters which
now threaten our brave men, and which were an
icipated by the sagacious in consequences of their
long and unnecessary detention and late march.
eventually fall upon them; should not Providence
1ehed, and the enemy tempted be better than our
Tears or our deserts, they who were instrumental
N this dreadful exposure will be held to a strict
md exacting account. Men in the plentitude of
power, and backed by dominant party hurrying