The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-02
THE MORMON QUESTION.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM GREAT SALT
LAKE TO GEN. SAM HOUSTON.

LhhE ~ UEN DAM dOOolON'
WAsHSGroy Feb. %, 1858.
The following letter has just been received by General
Houston from J. M Blair Who holds high position in
Brigham Youngs council in Great Salt Lake Cy.h OF
District Attorney. The General informs me that he was
soldier under him in the Texas revolution, and emf
grated to the Mormon country some years ago II ap.
pears that there are a the present time two three
hundred Of those brave men, better known the Texas
Rangers, in that Territory who also appears do tho
outside hghtDg FOR Brigham Young and his dcuded FOL
lowers by contract By perusng the following letter the
reader can readily what their determination H. Gea
Houston says he knows this man well, and that he and
those who act with him will perform the letter what
they promise below. The following Is the letter.
GREAT SAIr LAKE CRY, Doe. 1857.
GENERAL Sam HoCsroN
DEAR SROnce again, aud probably for the last time
take the liberty OF addressing Early in life became
like thousands Of others, your devoted friend from
sinister motive from wha. cause The frs impulse Of my
youthful ardor u enlisted your personal favor sprung
Ia az uuaccountabe many other ike associations of e
certainly not from intimate acquaintance, that fiat.
tered myself should become public beggar for Office
under any Of the happy positions Of ministerial life you
have done your country the honor To serve her in for
never made application for any situation and
pect to life Then lei you that was pre-
sumo frst from the impulse Of the moment that admired
in you that which my inner taught noblea
man. chiefain patriot statesman and soldier-all OF
which characterscs yet hope ripenng in you, to
come forth in radiant splendor when honest shall
be acknowledged the noblest work Of God.
am induced write you at this time from the peculiar
circumstances that find myself surrounded with, in
common with the ctzsns of my unhappy country, and
especially Of the citizens Of Utah for In my heart believe
you the only Senator who sits tho Congress Of the United
States who lift up hs voice in opposition public
opinion and write to inform you most truly the feelings
of the citizens of Utah. You will for not giving
you in detail the of position politically morally
and relgousy at this te and should attempt TO define
could only say, unheard we are condemned, withou.
cause have been disffanchsed, ~ traitors VIC are
branded, fanatics cursed dogs TO be
hung our wives ravished by the mercenary soldiers
under the stars stripes daughters seduoed tho
United States officers, cities plsged our fields laid in
ashes aars and temples polluted and, indeed, the
sun refuse ts light and the gentle moonbeams n
obscurity shall be drawn from our pathway while all
nature shall blush during tbs surgical perform.
ance Of our dear old Uncle in removing the
"Ioathsome ulcer" Under these impressions we
labor and live and for months have been preparing
for the worst, with invading army on our
frorter Conhning all fears their military
rage shat have been taught 10 prepare TO meetand
having been expatratsd from homes, fresies
soci7l and political relations, c,d by the same waning
spirit of mobocracy-we occnpisu the defensive.
You doubt ask, then, in your mind, what the issue
will be. will candidy you; cannot be
than TO tamey submit to the Illegal unconstitutional and
despoc course marked out by the administration agsir
You ask then have hope Of wthsandng the force
OF the most powerful nation earth, with hr ndfu Of
men2 II the swamps of Florida have produced Q Billy
Bowlegs whom the nation has fought for twenty tive
s5uly then wiz not the Businesses Of the
Rocky Mountains whose Inhabitants are driven 70 self do
fence existing thousand miles large plains from
vigation and from all supplies Aler psrsecutors,
duce captains equally hard W Defeat when they win only
the defense and the improved system Of
rila warfare. How improved? Ask the United States
officers what they found At Fort BrdgeS The samo they
found 3, rG sSpp Ss ar . VIVA, ad sy nd
dissolution; ashes alone remained 70 furnish the
camp historian the fact that o. their approach all traces
civilization bad been tted 70 that element which
would preserve them from their unhAllowed touch.
The last remains OF ruds but honest home, carved out
mountains, whose peaks are velcd in the clouds and
capped with perpetual snow IN whose bosom the unhas
lowed foot Of the pale face has not made track since the
red mans friend has gone " the hunting grounds Of
hs fathers and Forts Pdt and Supply have gone,
W.. each city, town. hamlet village settemens habits
in these mouptaa. 20 a, ths apprsach Of Ihs invading
army. This "a true, mark II veil - tell 700 40 have
The wora be- in deos and we can en only be found
amid their craggy peaks over which no foe viii ever live
explore and report; and We shall not live 10
rights fully restored and confirmed unto Us,
shall.
Our numbers, you ask, what are they1 Enough Our
equal rights. Our hope, victory or death
You, no aoubt, icel this a suicidal course for
70 pursue. What other is left mS We believe
the administration authorized by The national Con-
gress 10 take this stop Tho officers themselves
commanded 70 execute vx 10 arrest aud hang Brigham
Young Governor Of Utah. and with him the principal mon
protesting the Mormon faith which facts have been given
publicly through the and face 70 face repeated
eftentmes TO our people when in the camp Of Coils Aexan
der and Johnston The truth. believe, is hsto carry
n hlbusternE spirt-hoding out q reward 10 tbs
United States soldiers alias Dutch Irish, Portugu se
natures on our noensye and innocent wiy ss and
whose noble grandsires' blood bedewsd Coumbas soil In
establishing that freedom tat claim, naenaoe 10 the
Anglo American, that the present pseudo administration
would now commit, we believe, 70 the OF the
ccnary fathers hands whom they wrenched II from.
Ever desiring peace we have abstaned from shedding
The blood Of those troops and only taken that precauon
10 retard their progress that would afford the nation time
10 consider the rash act Of the President and give also
ample time 10 complete that with which Capt
Van vet charged 70 his excenency James Buchanan
by Governor Brigham Youst namely, that the
been adopted towards Utah by the adm lnistra
ton, at The Suggestions o. such demagogaes ~
A. Douglas and others. Had these feelings ye,
warmed and animated Governor Young and this people
let assure you that not Of Johnstons command
would live 70 ecch the pubc treasury profane the
for with 100 rexan rangers which we have not only their
baggage would have been burned months ago but
even their tents consumed over their heads while the
vover would have done The execution entrusted
with stampedipg animals fai;ed 10 accomplish; and
without our shedding drop Of their blood they would
now nave pecn 1000 LOT wolves and
plains. Tine will prove these facts. Winter hes closed
upon and yet the troops ess, Of the Great Basin
and 30 certain ~ they aemut 10 move across the noun
tains they will bo met-they will be repuleed. But God
forbid II, pray and this feeling the prayer OF every
citizen almost In these mountanx su should Colonel
Johnston attempt IT, he certainly will be beaten These
facts have truly stated, and ssk what course will be
taken with Utah. VIII the administration send out . SUN
cient force 70 awe or vhp the Mormous into the faith
and doctrines o. the free soier black republican
proeAvery, abolition or nsiive American, OF
force .s TO subscribe 70 The Catholic faith,
or what they would call an orthodox
faith all OF one and tho same pattern and thing 10 usg
so. how many soldiers shall be levied for the war or
what number OF volunteers shall be sustanedY They
limas loafers VIII flock N tbe standard 10 Join the
bigotcd crusade by legons Patriots nene-no less TRAN
600 or $1,000 presume, which viii drain the treasury
and accomplish but one obeot-he dissolution Of the
Union and eternal nfamy and Disgrace the American
arms. Are these fscn which relate new 10 you
No, sir. believe they only confirm that which you
well assured will be the result Of the OF the pres
ent administration h there hope for q compromise Of
these feelngs No in my opinion, Our wrongs and
petitions for redress and have been treated with
that inert contempt which produces in The aggreyed par