Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-08
CLEVELAND. WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 8, 1868

{ On the l5th september, 1891, GOV Young IS
sued his proclamation, in the style of an indepen-
dent sovereign, announcing his purpose to resist
by force of arms the entry of the United States
troops into our own territory of Utah. By this he
required all the forces in the Territory to "hold
themselves in readiness to march at a moments
notice to repel any and all such invasion" and
established marshal law from its date throughout
the Territory. These proved to be no idle threats
l Forts Bridger and Supply were vacated and burnt
down by the MOrmOns, to deprive our troops OF
shelter after long and fatiguing march. Orders
were issued by Daniel H. Wells, styling himself
| Lieutenant General, Nauvoo Legion" to STAINS
, pede the animals of the United States troops On
their march, to set fire their trains, to burn the
grass and the whole country before them on their
, fanks, to keep them from sleeping by night sur
prises, and to blockade the road by telling trees
and destroying the fOrds Of rivers, &c, &c.
These orders were promptly and efeetually
obeyed On the 4th of October, 1897, the MOI
mons captured and burned on Green river three Of
our supply trains, consisting OF seventy-hve wag-
ons loaded with provisions and tents for the army
and drove away several hundred animals. This
diminished the supply of provisions so materially
thai Cen. Johnston was obliged to reduce the
f ration, and even with this Precaution there was
only sufficient left to subsist the troops until the
lst of June.
, Onr little army behaved admirably in their en-
eaupment at Fort Bridger under these trying pri-
vations In the midst Of the mountains, IN drea-
~. inhospitable and unsettled region, more than
thousand miles from home, they passed the severe
and incement winter without a murmur They
; looked forward with confidence for relief from
their country in due season, and IN this tney were
not disappointed.
The Secretary OF War employed all his ener-
gies TO forward them the necessary supplies,
, and to muster and send such military force to
Utah as would render resistance on the part OF
= the Normons hopeless, and thus terminate the
= war without the effusion of blood. In his eff
forts he was effectually sustained by Congress.
They granted appropriations sufficient to cover
the deficiency thus necess lrly created, and also
| provided for raising two regiments OF Volun-
trers. "for the purpose of queling disturbances
in the Territory of Utah, for the protection oil
snnDIy and enigrant trains, and the suppression
ofIndiau hostilities on the frontiers" Happily,
there was no occasion to call these regiments
= into service. If there had been, l should have
| fslt serious embarrassments in selecting them,
3 so Ureat was the number of our brave and pat
riofie citizens anxious to their country IN
= this distant and apparently dangerous expedI-
tion Thus it has been, and thus may 1t ever
be
The wisdom and economy of sending suff
cient reinforcements to Utah are established not
e only bv the event, but in the opinion OF those
4 who from their position and opportunities, are
e General Johnston, the commander OF the forces
# in addressing the Secretary of War from Fort
e RridTer under date of October IS, 1857, ex-
2 nresses the opinion that ''unless large force
S Is sent here, from the nature of the country, a
/ Drotracted war on their 1.-THE Mornonsl part is
i inevitable" This he considered necessary, to
! terminate the war speedily and more ecOnOmi-
a cally than if attempted by insufficient means" }"
! In the mean time it was my anxious desire
T. that the Mormons should yield obedience to the
constitution and the laws, without rendering 1t
S necessary to resort to military force. 10 ald
d in ACCOMPLISHING this object, deemed it advis-
able in April last to dispatch two distinguished
citizens of the United States, Messrs. Powell
d and McCulioch, to Utah. They bore with them
I, proclamation addressed by myself to the In
J. habitants of Utah, dated on the sixth day OF
4, that month, warning them Of their true condl
Ii tion and how hopeless it was their part to per
e sist in rebellion against the United States, and
y offering all those who should submit to the
le laws full pardon for their past sedltions and
r .------ +,rr,n ! assured those who
should persist in rebellion agdInsV 49,
a Statas. that they must expect no further lenlty
n but look to be vigorously dealt with according
l. TO their deserts The instructions to thes'
J, ! agents, as well as 4 copy of the proclamation
~ and their reports, are herewith sub nitted. L
n will be seen by thei- report of the 81 Of JUL
Or last. that they have fully confirmed the oplmol
of expressed by General Johnston IN the preyiou
IN October, as to the necessity OF sending rem
'e forcements to Utah. In this they state tina
iA they 'are firmly impressed with the belief tina
= the nresence Of the army here and the larg
m additional force that had been ordered to TIN
of Territory. were the chief inducements tina
to eaused the Mormons to abandon the idea OF re
D. sisting the authority of the United States.
OF less decisive policy would probably have result
es ed in a long, bloody and expensive war.
nc These gentlemen conducted themselves to my CT
tire satisfaction and rendered useful services In e2
90 ecuting the humane intentions OF the government
a IT also affords me great satisfaction to state tha
ne Gov Cumming has performed his duty IN an abb
and conciliatory manner, and with the happlest e
~ feet cannot in this connection refrain from Inei
Gu tionnC the valuable services Of Col ThOs. L. Kan
81 who, from motives of pure benevolence, and Will
a ont auy official charac er or pecuniary cOmpens;
tiou. visited Utah during the last nclement winte
~ for the purpose of contributing towards the pacIf
~ ~ cation of the territory.
- am happy to inform you thatthe Governor al
n n other civil officers of Utah. are now performin
a. their appropriate functions without resistance
~ The authority 1.-THE Constitution and the laws hi
been fully restored, and peace prevails throughoT
+ the territory.
Ia eamped in Cedar Valley, forty four miles southwe
ne of Salt Lake City, and the remainder have been
&c dered to Oregon TO suppress Indian hostlllties
oe The march of the army to Salt Lake City, thr
!on on the Indian Territory, has bad powerful effect
@ restraining the hostile feelings against the Unit
me States which existed among the Indians in that
Oo 10 gion and in securing emigrants to the Far We
e. aqainst their depredations. This viii also be
means of establishing military posts and promotiI
"a settlements along the route.
,eu recommend that the benefit of our land laws al
Or pre-emption system be extended to the people
d, Utah. by the establishment of land Office in th
- territory
the Ihave OCCASION also, to congratulate you on {
ing result of our negotiations with China.
per You were informed by my last annual messae
tile that our Minister had been instructed to occupy
be neutral position in the hOsttes conducted by Gre
the Britain aud France against Canton He was hO'
mt, ever at the same time, directed to co operate CT
to diay with the British and French ministers, in
on peaceful measures TO secure by treaty those j.
on concessions to foreign commerce which the nato
he of the world had right to demand. Il was impC
of sble for to proceed further than this on my oH
authority without usurping the war.making pow
re- which, uuder the Constitution, belongs exclusive
on to Congress.
and Besides, after a careful examination of t
uld nature and extent of our grievances, l did n
esi- believe they were of such pressing and aggl
lect waited character, as would have justified CO
the press in declaring war against the Chinese E
n Ine pire, without first making another earnest
nns tempt to adjust them by peaceful negotiation.
ATS was the more inclined to this opinion, becaU
rom OF the severe chastlSemenI winch nau IneA
to recently been inflicted upon the Chinese by o
ap- SQUADRON, in the capture and destruction of I
IN Barrier forts. to avenge an alleged insult to
,id3 ;r flag.
,g ,1{I The event has proved the wisdom of our n'
f. trality. Our minister has executed his instr
ting tons with eminent skill and ability. In cOnju
peo. tion with the Russian plenipOtentiary, he
of peacefully, but effeetualy, co-operated with
ting English and French plenipOtentiaries; and ca
the of the four Powers has concluded separ
-. treaty with China, of highly satisfactory G