The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-06-17

BY JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.


Whereas, the Territory Of Utah, was
settled by certain enigrants from the
States and from foreign countries, who
have for several years past manifested
aspirit of INSTRUMENTATION to the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States,
the great mass of those settlers, acting
under the influence of leaders to whom
they seem to have. surrendered their
Judgment refuse to be controlled by
any other authority. They have been
advised to obedience, and these friendly
counsels have been answered with de-
fiance. Officers of the Federal Gov
eminent. have been driven, from the
Territory for no offence but an effort to
do their sworn duty, Others have been
prevented from going there by threats
of assassination Judges have been
violently Interrupted in the performance
of their functions, and the records OF
the Courts have been seized and either
sle stroyed or. concealed. Many other
acts of unlawful violence have been
openly committed. by the leading in
habitants, with at least the silent acqui-
escence of nearly all the others. Their
hostility to the lawful government of
the country has at length become SO
violent that no officer bearing COM
mission from the chief magistrate of
the Union can enter the Territory or
remain there with safety; and all the
officers recently. appointed have been
unable to go to Salt Lake, or anywhere
else in Utah beyond the Immediate
power of the army. Indeed, such is
believed to be the condition to which a
strange system of terrorism has brought
the inhabitants of that region, that no
one could express an opinion favorable
to this Government, or even propose to
ebey its laws, without exposing his life
and property to peril.
After carefully considering this state
of affairs, and maturely weighing the
obligation / was under to see the laws
faithfully executed, it seemed to be
right and proper that / should make
such use Of the military force at my
disposal as might be necessary to pro-
tect the federal officers in going into
the Territory of Utah, and in perform
ing their duties after arriving there
/ accordingly ordered a detachment, of
the army to march for the City of Salt
Lake, or within reach of that place, and
to act in case of need as posse for the
enforcement of the laws. But, in the
meantime, the hatred of that misguided
people for the just and legal authority
of the government had become so in
tense that they resolved to measure
their military strength with that of the
Union. They have organized an armed
force far::from contemplate in point Of
numbers, and trained it, if not with
skill, at least with great assiduity and
perseverance. While the troops of the
United States were on the march, a
train of baggage wagons, which, hap.
pened to be unprotected, was attacked
and destroyed by portion of the Nor
mon forces, and the provisions and
stores with which the train was laden
were wantonly burnt. In short, Their
present attitude is one of decided and
sRa 6 al their loyal citizens Then
determination to oppose the authority
of the government by military force has
not only been expressed in words, but
manifested in overt acts of the mosl
unequivocal character. 49, ,et.e .al
Fellow citizens of Utah, this is re-
bellion against the Government to
which you owe allegiance. 1t is levy,
ing war against the United States and
involves you in the guilt. of treason
Persistence in it will bring you to CON
dign punishment to ruin, and to shame
for it is mere madness to suppose
tina. with your limited resources, yor
can successfully resist the force of this
great and powerful nation. - ~ 81
If you have calculated upon the for
lbearance of the United States-if vol
have permitted yourselves to suppose
that this Governmet will fail. to pu
forth its strength and bring you to sub
mission-you have fallen into "a grea
mistake. You. have settled upon ter
ritory which lies geographically in tn,
heart of the Union. The land you liv'
upon was purchased by the United
States, and paid for out of the Treasury
The proprietary right and title to it il
in them, and not IN you. Utah i,
bounded on every side by States ant
Territories, whose people are true t.
the Union. 1t is absurd to believ,
that they will or can permit you Il
erect in their very midst Government
of your own, not only independent o
the authority which they all acknowl
edge, but hostile to them and their in
tereSts. M ~ .- -.r ~.
Do not deceive yourselves nor try t.
mislead others by propogating the ide;
that this is crusade against your re
ligion. The Constitution and laws o
this country can take no notice of you
creed, whether it, be true or false
This is q question between your Coz
and yourselves, in. which disclaim al
right to interfere. If you obey tn
laws, keep the peace and respect tn
Just rights Of others, you will be per
fectly secure and may live in you
present faith or change it for anothe
at your pleasure. Every intelligen
man among you knows very well tina
this Government has never, directly o
indirectly, sought to modest you il
your worship, to control you in you
ecclesiastical affairs, or even to infiu
ence you in your religious opinions.