The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-06-23
PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION
TO THE MORMONS.

PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION
TO THE MORMONS.
By James Buchaaan, President Of the
United States Of america: n Proclama.
| tien.
Whereas the Territory Of Utah was
settled BY certain emig-ants from the
States and from foreign countries, who
have for several years past manifested a
spirit of insubordination to the Constitu.
tion and laws of the United States. The
great mass of those settlers, acting un.
der the influence of leaders to wsnm they
seem to have surrendered their Judgment,
refuse to be controlled 5v any other an.
thority. They have been often advised
to obedience. and those friendly counscls
have been answered with defiance OFF.
GERS of the Federal Government 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 assassination. Judges
have been violently interrupted 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 perpetrated, and the right TO
repeat them has been openly claimed by
the leading inhabitants. with at least the
silent acqnieseence 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 Magistrate
of the Union can enter the Territory, or
remain there with safety; and all the Off.
GERS recently appointed have been una.
bic to 60 to Salt Lake or anywhere else
in Utah beyond the immediate power of
the army. Indeed, such is believed to be
the condition to which o strange system
of terrorism has brought tho inhabitants
Of that region, that no one among them
could express an opinion favorable to
this Government. or even propose to
obey its laws. without exposing his life
and property to peril. asim
Aftercarefully considering this state of
affairs, and msturely weighing the obliga-
tien was under to see the laws faithfully
executed It tseened to me right and prop
er that should make such use of the
military fOrce at my disposal as might be
necessary to protect the Federal officers
in going into,the Territory of Utah, and
in performing their duties sitter arriving
there. Iaccordingly ordered . detach-
ment of the army to march for the City OF
Salt Lake, or within reach of that place
and to act in case Of need as posse for
:he enforcement of the laws. But, 10. the
mean time. the hatred Of that misguided
people for the just and legal authority
of the Government had become SO in
! tense that they resolved to measure their
military strength with that Of The Union.
They have organized an armed forco far
from contemptibie in point Of numbers,
and trained il, il MOI with skill. ut least
with great assidaity cad perseverance,
While the troops Of the United Ststes
were on their march train. of baggage
wagons, which happened to be unprotec-
ted, was attacked and destroyed by por-
tion ofthe Mormon forces, and the pro.
visions aud stores with which the train
wns laden were wantonly burnt. In
short. their present attitude Is one of de-
eided and unreserved enmity to the Uni
ted States and to all the loyal citizens
Their determination to oppose the au-
thority Of the Government by military
force has not only been expressed in
words, but manifested In overt acts of
the most uneqaivocsl character.
Fellow-citisens Of Utah, this Is rebel
lion against the Government to which you
owe allegiance. In is leyying war against
the United States. and involves you in
the guilt of Treason. Persistence in it
will bring you to condigs Punishment, to
ruin, and to shame; for it is mere mad
ness to suppose that, with your limited
resources. you can successfully resist the
force of this great and powerful nation.
| If you have calculated upon the forbear-
ance of the United States, II You have
permitted yourselves to suppose that this
! iGoyernmeat viii fail 70 put forth its
strength and bring yon to submission. you
have fallen into q grave mistake. q
Yoa have settled upon Territory which
lies geographically in the heart of the
Union. The land yoa live npon was pur-
chased by the United States, and paid
for out of their Treasury. The proprie.
tary right sad title to it is in them, and
not 10 you. Utah Is bounded on every
side by States and Territories whose peo-
pie ore true to the Union. 1t is absurd
to believe thstthey win or can permit you
to erect 10 their very midst Government
of POUR own. not only isdspendent Of the
authority which they all acknowledge,
but hostile to them and to their inter.
eSts. ..s,a a tk
Do not deseive yourselves, nor try to
mislcad others by propagating the idea
that this is crusade against your relig-
ion. The Constitution and laws of this
country can take no notice your creed
whether it be true or false. That is a
question between your God and your