The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-12-17
BEDFORD PA, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER II. 1853


quail 10 the existing States to invest some forty
or fifty thousand people collected in Territory
with the attributes of sovereignty, aud Plact
them on an equal footing with Virginia and
New York in the senate of the United States
For these reasons, [ earnestly recommend
the passage of general act, which shall pro-
vide that upon the application Of a territorial
legislature, declaring their belief that the
Territory contains a number OF inhabitants
which, il in a State, would entItle them TO elect
a member of Congress, it shal! be the duty oil
the President to cause a census OF the !nhabl-
tants 10 be taken, and if found sufficient, then
bv the terms of this act to authorize them 10
proceed sin their own way'' to frame a State
constitution preparatory 10 admission into the
Union. | also recommend that an appropra-
ton may be made, to enable the President to
take census Of the people of Kansas.
The present condition OF the Territory Of
Utah, when contrasled with what it was one
year ago, is subject for congratuation. IT
was then in a state Of open rebellion, and cost
what il might, the character Of the government
required, that this rebellion should BE- suppressed
and the Mormons compelled TO yield Obedience
TO the constitution and the laws. ln order 10
accomplish this object, as informed you in
my last annual message, I appointed a new
governor instead Of Brigham Young, and other
federal officers to take the place OF those who,
consulting their PERSONAL safety, kad found it
necPsSary TO withdraw from the Territory. To
protect these civil officers, and to aid them, as
pOSse c0mifafus, in the execution of the laws
in the case Of need, ordered a detachment of
the army toaccompany them TO Utah. The
necessity for adopting these measures is now
demonstrated.
On the 18th Of September, 1857, Governor
Young issued his proclamation, in the style Of
an Independent sovereign, announcing his par
pose to resist by force of arms the entry OF the
United States troops in our own Territory, TO
''hold themselves in readiness to march at
moments notice to repel any and all such nva-
Ions, and established martial law frcm lis date
throughout the Territory. These proved to BE-
no idle threats. Forts Brdger and Supply
vacated and burnt down by the Mormons,
to deprive our troops Of a shelter after
III cir long iatiguing march. Orders were issued
by Daniel H. Wells, styling himself E'Lieuten
ant General, Nauvoo LEGION to stampede the
animals of the United States troops on their
march, TO set fire to their trains, TO burn the
grass and the whole country before them and
their tanks, to keep them from sleeping by
night surprises, end H.. fards of rivers,
SC, &c, &c.
These orders were promptly and eflectuaIIy
obeyed On the 4th October, 1897, the Nor
mons captured and burned on Green River,
three OF our supply trains, consisting OF seventy
five wagons loaded with provisions and tents
for the army and carried away several hundred
animals This diminished the supply OF provis-
ions SO materially that General Johnston was
obliged 10 reduce the ration, and even with this
prpcauton, there was only sufficient left to sub
sist the troops until the first Of June.
Our little army behaved admirably IN their
enCampment at Fort BridIer, under these try
ing privaions. In the midst OF the mountains,
in dreary, unsettled, and inhospable region,
more than a thousand miles from home, they
passed the severe and inclement winter With
out murmur. They looked forward with con-
fdence for relief from their country IN due sea-
son, end in this they We're not disappointed.
The Secretary of War employed all his ener-
g"s to forward them the necessary supplies, and
10 muster and send such military force TO
Utah VS. would render resistance on the Part
Of the NlormonS hopeless, and thus terminate
the war without the elfuSon of blood. In his
efforts he was efficiently sustained by Congress
They granted appropriations sufficient to cover
the deficiency thus necessarily created, ana also
provided for raising two regiments OF Volunteers
s'for the purpose of qu-lling disturbances IN the
Territory of Utah, fo- the protectIonl OF supply
and emigrant trains, and the suppression oil lnd-
an hoStilitips on the frontiers" Happily.
there was no occasion to call these regiments
into service. If there had been, | shonid have
felt serious embarrassment in selecting them,
so great was the number OF our brave and patri-
n rU n
this distant and apparently dangerous expedition.
Thus i has ever been, and thus may It ever
be
The wisdom and economy of sending sutfl-
cient reinforcements TO Utah are established
not only by the event, but in the opinion OF
those who, from their position and oPpoTtunl-
ties, are the most capable of forming correct
Judgment. General Johnston, the comman-
der OF the forces, in addressing the Secretary of
War from Fort Bridger, under date OF October
II. 1857. expresses the opinion that sunless a
large force is sent here, from the nature OF the
country, a protracted war on their he Nor
mons'l part is inevitable This be considered
! necessary. to terminate the war "speediIy and
more economically than if attempted by lusutii-
/ cient means"
! In the mean time, il was my anxious desire
that the Mormons should yield obedience TO the
constitution and the laws, without rendering
it necessary TO resort 20 military force. 10
aid in accomplishing this object, l deemed 1t
advisable in April last, to despatch two distln-
guished citizens of tue United States, Messrs
Powell and McCulloch, to Utah. They bore
with them proclamation addressed by myself
10 the inhabitants Of Utah, dated on the sixth
day of that month, warning them of their true
condition, and how hopeless it was on then