The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-16
Correspondence qfne San Francisco Bulletin

Correspondence Of the San Francisco BULLETIN
COL. kANE'S MISSION TO THE MORMONS.
Los ANGELES, Feb. II, ls5s-On the Commo-
dore there arrived young man of lively and pre-
possessing appearance, who was made known to
me as devotee to botany and the natural sciences
generally When met him he was on the point
of starting for San Bernardino, and asked me
what thought of his prospects for botanical and
geological discoveries. l told him it was bad and
tried to persuade him to remain here and take
chances with me in ranging the mountains, &c
But he could not stop. He wanted to be on the
ground, where he could lay out his work. After
some hesitation he gave me his address IA. 0s-
borne, Esq, Philadelphia" and said he was travel
ing under the auspices of the Academy of Natural
Sciences of that city. He babe me a very cordial
good bye, and hurried away, upon contract that
he should be put down in San Bernardino, sixty
miles, the same evening, he paying $145 for the
ride
He arrived at his destination, and was received
win open arms by Mr.. Hanks, the Mormon leader
there, and others of that sect. After this inter
view, young man was offered $780, and all his ey-
penses to drive MIR. Osborne through to Salt Lake in
fifteen days. The offer was declined as impractca-
lie. Here also, Mr.. o. announced himself as
botanlst, and in pursuit of science generally When
it became known that he wished to be expressed
through to Salt Lake. and that he had made very
liberal oilers of payment, the suspicious of the ci-
aroused.
The people of this outpost very easily excited
whenever the MormOns are in question. MANY of
them have been MOrmOns, and they are more watch
tul than other communities. They wish to revenge
themselves upon the whole sect for the delusion
which once seized upon themselves, They called a
meeting, and appointed committee, who waited
upon the botanist, and, demanding his business
charged him with being a Mormon emissarv He
denied all their charges; but the demonstrations
were so decisive, that he deemed it prudent to ex-
hlblt several letters of Identification purpOrtng
to be from James Buchanan. He also declared that
his name was Kane, brother of the Arctic ex
plorer, and that he was travelling government
business.
He was but twenty-eight DAYS from Washington.
and wished to be in Salt Lake at the earliest Dos
slble moment, The people We're not satisfied with
his explanation, but there was no proof against
INN, he was not watched very closely and, be-
fore the public aware of it. he had started for
Deseret. Mr.. Hanks had obtained team of four
of the fastest and best mules in the country and
these, before good express wagon. were waiting
for Osborne Tor Kane) the outskirts of the town
and so soon as he could get to it unobserved away
he went.
After he had gone, on being asked, several of the
Mormons said they knew him well-Lhat he was
brother of Dr. Kane, and was baptized a Mormon
about eight years SINCE and was still faithful to the
church They also report him to be gentleman
| OF learning and of great energy. His appearance
| ana departure gave rse to much talk; and thou
sand suppostlols were uttered as 10 his mission
| That which gained credence was that he was baar
| ing important intelligence from Bernheisel, in
! Washington, to Young in Salt Lake. Great is the
! mystery of godness and the mystery of Mormon
Ism must De equally as great, when it will induce
| the owner of the famous name of Kane to discard
1t to subserve the unworthy purposes of poygamy
and treason.
This is one side of the story and the side hardly
| care to believe because dislike to think meanly of
man who wins my confidence Mr.. Kane was too
| much of gentleman, and too sincere student to
be Mormon. | like the other story far better
than the abone. 1t is that Kane or Osborne was an
| agent of government bearing terms to Young 1t
has been known for some time past that Bernheisel
has been in treaty at Washington for the rclinqush
ment OF all Mormon claims to land in Utah and
their improvements thereon; and that upon the
payment of one or two millions of dollars they will
eyacuate the United States territory, and seek a
home somewhere else.
1t is said that no more overt act of treason can be
proved against Utah than has been committed in
times past by Georgia, South Carolina, Massa-
chusetts and Pennsylvania, and that if Mormon in
tolerance and RIGHTEOUSNESS can be got rid of by
buying up their improvements it will be far
cheaper tiap going into war of determination
with them: 1t is believed, by well informed per-
sons that Mr.. Kane is bearer of dispatches to this
effect from Washington to Young, and the DELAY
OF the government in its military operations and
the neglect to send troops through Los Angeles
whence only Deseret can be reached in the winter
makes it probable that there really some nego-
tiations in progress.
70 MIsMo.