The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-12-16

of October 18th, 1857, expresses the opinion
that unless a large force is sent here, from the
nature of the country, protracted war on
their (the Mormons) part is inevitable. -
This he considered necessary, to terminate
the war speedily and more economically than
if attempted by insufficient means
In the mean time it was my anxious desire
that the Mormons should yield obedience to
the constitution and the laws, without rem
dering it necessary to resort to military force.
To aid in accomplishing this object, 1 deemed
it advisable in April last to dispatch two dis
tinguished citizens of the United States,
Messrs. Powell and McCulloch, to Utah. They
bore with them proclamation addressed by
myself to the inhabitants Of Utah. dated on
the sixth day of that month, warning them of
their condition, and hopeless it was on their
part to persist in rebellion against the United
States, and offering all those who should SUBJ
nit to the laws full pardon for their past
sedition and treason. At the same time, /
assured those WHO should persist in rebellion
against the United States, that they must ex.
pect no further lenity but look to be rigor-
ously dealt with according TO their desert
These instruction to these agents. as well as
a copy of the proclamation, and their reports
are herewith submitted. IL will be seen by
their report of the Sd Of July last, that they
by General Johnston in the previous, Oct, as
to the necessity of sending rencorcements to
Utah. In this they state that they .'are firm
ly impressed with the belief that the presence
of the army here and the large additional
force that had been ordered to this territory
were the chief inducement that caused the
Mormons to abandon the idea Of resisting the
authority of the United States. A less deci-
sive policy would probably have res ulted in a
long, bloody, and expensive war"
These gentlemen conducted themselves to
my entire satisfaction, and rendered useful
services in executing the humane intention of
the government.
1t also affords me great satisfaction to state
that Governor Cummings has performed his
duty in an able and conciliatory manner, and
with the happiest effect. l cannot, in this
connection refrain from mentioning the vaiu,
BILE services of Col Thomas L. Kane, who,
from motives Of pure benevolence and with
ont any official character or pee lniary COM
pensation visited Utah during the last in
clement winter for the purpose of contributing
to the pacfcation of the territory.
| am happy to inform you that the Gov
ernor and other civil officers of Utah, are now
performing their appropriate functions with
out resista nee. The authority OF the consti-
tuition and the laws has been fully restored,
and peace prevails throughout the territory.
A portion of the troops sent to Utah are
now encamped in Cedar Valley; fourty-four
miles southwest of Salt Lake city and the
remainder have been ordered to Oregon to
suppress Indian hostiites.
The march of the army to Salt Lake city,
through the Indian territory, has had pow
full effect in restraining The hostile feelings
against the United States, which existed
among the Indians in that region. aud in
securing emigrants to the far West against
their depredations. This will also be tha
means of establishing military posts and pro-
noting settlements along the route.
l recommend that the benefit. of our land
laws and pre-emption system be extended to
the people of Utah. by the establishment of a
land Office in that territory. ..
L have occasion, also, to- congratulate you on
the result of our negotiations with CIsina.
You were informed by my last annual mes
sage, that our Minister had been instructed to
occupy neutral position in the hostiiities con-
Quoted by Great Britain and France against
Canton. lie was however ut the same time
directed to cooperate cordially with the Brit
isl and French ministers, III IA IL peaceful meas
ures to secure by treaty those Just concessions
to foreign commerce, which the nations OF The
world had right to demand. Ii Was impossi-
bic for me 10 proceed further than this on my
own authority, with out usurping the war
making power, which, under the constitution,
belongs exclusively to Congress.
Besides after careful examination Of the
nature and extent of our grievances, | did
not believe they were of such pressing and
aggravated character as would have Justified
Congress in declaring warsagainst the Chi
nese Empire, without first making another
earnest attempt to adjust them by peaceful
negotiation. l was more incliued to this
opinion, because Of the severe chastisement
which had then but recently been inflicted up
on the Chinese by our squadron, in the cap
ture and destruction of the Barrier forts, to
avenge an alleaged Insult to our flag.
The event has proved the wisdom of our
neutrality Our minister has executed his in-
struction with eminent skill and ability. In
conjunction with the Russian plenipotentiary,
he has peacefully, but eiiectually, co-operated
with the English and French plenipo,entiaries;
and each of the four powers has concluded
separate treaty with China, of q highly sat
isfactory character. The treaty concluded by
our own plenipstentary will Immediately be
submitted to the Senate.
am happy to announce that through the
energeticyet conciliatory efforts of our consul
general in Japan, new treaty has been con-
Ciuueu viii tuab eihpife, WhiSh may po Va
pected materially to augment our trade and
intercourse in that quarter, and remove from
our countrymen the disabilities which have
heretofore been imposed upon the exercise OF
their religion. The treaty shall be submitted
to the Senate for approval without delay.
IL is my earnest desire that every mis-
understanding with the government of Great
Britain should be amioably and speedily adj
justed. 1t has been the misfortune of both
countries, almost ever since the period OF the
revolution, to have been annoyed by sue
cession ofirritating aud dangerous questions,
threatening their friendly relations. This
has partially prevented the full development
of those feelings Of mutual friendship between
the people of the two countries, so natural in
themselves and so conducive to their common
interest. Any serious Interruption of the
commerce between the United States
and Great Britain would be equally injurious
to both. In fact, no two nations have ever
existed on the face of the earth which could
do each other so much good or so much harm
Entertaining these sentiments am gratiticd
to inform you that the long pending contro-
versy between the two governments, in re
lation to the question of visitation and search.
has been amicably adjusted. The claim on
the part of Great Britain, forcibly to visit
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