Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-19
THE UTAH DIFFICULTY.,.
Proclamation Of President Buchanan
OFFICIAL

! OFFICIAL.
By James buchanan, President Of tho
United States of Americo g..
WHEREAS, the Territory of Utah was
settled by certain emigrants from the States
and from foreign countries. who have 70,
several years past manifested spirit Of in
subordinance to the Constitution and laws
of the United States. The great mass Of
ithose Sc ttlers, acting under the influence Of
leaders to whom they seem to have surren-
dered their Judgment. refuse to be con-
trolled by any other authority They have
been often advised to obedience, and these
friendly counsels have been answered with
defiance Officers of the Federal Govern
ment 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 assassina-
ton. judges have been violently inter
rupted in the performance Of their functions,
and the records of the Courts have been
seized and either destroyed or concealed. -
Many other acts of unlawful violence have
been openly claimed by the leading inhabi-
tants, with at least the silent acquiesccnce
of nearly all the others Their hostility to
the lawful government Of the country has
at length become SO violent that NO officer
bearing a commission from the chief mag
istrate Of the Union can enter the Terrific
ry or remain there in salty and all the
officers recently appointed have been t,,a~
bic to 90 to Salt Lake, or anywhere else in
/ Utah beyond the immediate power of the
army. Indeed, such is beliosed to be the
condition to which a strange system of ter
rorism has brought the inhabitants of that
region, that no one could express an opin-
ion favorable to this Government, or even
propose to obey its laws, without exposing
his life and property to peril.
After careful consideration Of this state
Of affairs, and maturcly Weighing the obliga-
ton I was under to see the laws faithfully
executed, it seemed to me right and proper
| that should make such use Of the militia
Try force at my disposal to protect the fcde-
raj officers in going into the Territory of
Utah, and in performing their duties after
their arriving there [ accordingly ordered
Ia detachment Of tie army TO march for the
! City Of Salt Lake, or within reach of that
place, and ID act In case of need as d posse
for the enforcement Of the laws But, in
Il the meantime, the hatred of that misguided
people for the just and legal authority Of
the government had become 20 intense that
they resolved to measure their military
strength with that Of the Union. They
have organized en- armed force far from
eontenp ib'c in point Of numbers and trained
lit, if nos with skin, at least with great as
siduity ana perseverance. While the troops
Of the United States were on their march
"a train of baggage wagons, which happened
to be unprotected, was attacked and de-
.stroyed by a portion of the Mormon 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 unreserved enmity to the Uni
ted States and to all their loyal citizens.
Their determination to oppose the authori-
ty Of the government by military force has
not only been expressed in words, but man
Tested in overt acts Of the most unequiv-
ocal character.
Fellow citizens Of Utah, this is q rebel
lion against the Government to which you
owe allegiance. 1t is levying war against
the United States, and involves you in the
guilt Of treason. Persistence in it will
bring you to condign punishment, to ruin,
and to shame; for it is mere madness to
suppose that with your limited resources,
you can successfully resist the force Of this
great and powerful nation.
If yon have calculated upon the forbear-
ance Of the United States-if you have per-
mitted yourselves to suppose that this Gov
eminent, will fail to put forth its strength
and bring yoj1' to subn;ssi n-you have
fallen into 8. grave mistake. You have
settled upon territory which lies geograph
ically in the heart Of the Union. The land
you live upon was purchased by the United
States, and paid for out Of their treasury
The proprietary right and title to il is in
them, and not in you Utah is bounded
on every side by States and Territories,
whose people are true to the Union. It is
absurd to believe that they viii or can
permit you to erect in their very midst
Government Of your own, not only indie
pendent Of the authority which they all ac-
knowledge, but hostile to them and their
Do not deceive yourselves nor try to mis-
lead others by propagating the idea that
this Is crusade against your religion. -,
The Constitution and laws Of this country
can take no notice Of your creed, whether
it be true or false. That is question be-
tween your God and yourselves, in which
[ disclaim all right to interfere. If you
obey the laws, keep the peace and respect
the just rights Of others, you will be per
fectly secure and may live ON in your press
ent faith or change it fer another at your
pleasure. Every intelligent man among
you knows very well that this Government
has never, directly Or indirectly, sought to
modest you in your worship to control you
in your ecclesiastical affairs, or even to in
iuenee you in your religious opinions.
This rebellion is not merely a violation
of your legal duty it is without just cause,
without reason, without excuse. You new
or made complaint that was not listened
to with patience. You never exhibited q
real grievance that was not redressod as
promptly as it could be- The laws and
regulations enacted for your government by
Congress. have been equal and just, aud
their enforcement vas manifestly for your
own welfare and happiness. You have