The Kanzas news., 1858-09-04

the plains to Utah, and to SHIFT as many
more who have spent year or eighteen
months there, to another distant point, the
figures in the army appropriation bill will
strike the advocaes of economy with dis
may And less than the force which is sta
toned there at present would answer no
purpose whatever; for it is well understood
that if the troops were withdrawn the Nor
mons would not tolerate for an hour the tit
ular government of the Presidents officers.
With regard 10 the troops, short sojourn
is the only aitsrnate of general desertion,
and the presence of strong force the on
" guarantee of order.
: The War Department at Washington has
been universally censured by all parties for
Its want of energy and capacity in organ
izing and sending out the expedition under
Col. Johnston. This censure is well de-
served, but it is the least of the accusations
which may be successfully urged against it
in connection with the Mormon insurrection.
Jobs and plunder have, we think, attained
their elimination in the contracts for the
Utah army, but we will not dwell on this
at present as we propose directing attention
TO the claims of an individual, who has won
rank and perhaps reputation by the exhibi
ton has gained his brevet by no deed of he
roism or display of generalship, but by OBJ
stinate immobility for eight or nine months.
For that length of time, he remained mo-
tionless in camp, within 120 miles of Salt
Lake City, and within 60 miles or less of
the rebels, because his means of transpor-
tation were defective! During the winter,
the whole country was in a state of gloomy
anxiety, lest his command should starve;
but the fact that his provisions lasted up to
the 10th of June, and that his men had been
exempt from sickness, proves how ground
less were the fears entertained. Il cannot
be doubted for moment, that the irretriev-
able error in the conduct of the Mormon
war was the inactivity of Colonel Johnston.
If he had advanced on Salt Lake City, the
Mormon imbroglio would have been olsen
tangled-the question solved. If the Nor
mons had fought, it would have but accele-
rated the final and conclusive settlement of
the difficulty. He would have anticipated
the Offices of Kane and the Peace Commits
sioners. The salutary celerity of martial
law would have disposed of the Danites, the
incendiary apostles and all those found with
arms in their hands. If the Mormon Church
would have been enriched with the blood of
martyrs, the authority of the United States
would have been established on a firm basis,
and fifteen or twenty millions would have
been saved to the treasury. 1t cannot be
gainsayed that Colonel Johnston was guilty
of a grave error of judgment. That he
was strong enough to meet the enemy, is
proved by his own subsequent conduct, for
he had resolved on making his way into Salt
Lake City before the arrival of the reinforce
ments. Indeed he was eager to anticipate
the advent of Generals Smith and Harvey,
by striking a decisive blow, but he found
that an opportunity once neglected can nev,
er be recalled. He had subsistence and
men, but it is said that he overrated the diff
6culties of the ground and the strength of
the Mormons. His means of transportation
may have been limited, but with the enemy
within two or three days march, this was
no insuperable obstacle. His men could
have carried with them five or six days ra-
tions, and the supplies of the enemy would
have fallen into their hands before they had
consumed their own for the victors get the
spoils, and that the troops would have been
the victors. hardly admits of doubt. Well
known instances may be referred to in which
the United States troops have carried ten
days provisions without the aid of pack an
imals, much less wagons. 1t was done in
one of the Indian wars in Florida; and the
history of all campaigns contains instances
in which Generals have been surrounded by
circumstances far more embarrassing than
those which drew decentralization round
the Utah army last winter. The War De-
partment is Justly condemned for OBTAINING
the troops in Kansas during the summer.
but Col. Johnson has forfeited all claims to
generalship by OBTAINING them at Fort Bridg
er during the winter. The Administration
was only solicitous to put down freedom in
Kansas. Johnston was excessively prudent,
and between them they have treated the ma
ton to a farce, (without giving the Nor
mons fright, at the cost of twenty mil
lions of dollars.
Tho Eichf or