The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-08

MORMONISM CONGRESS.

MORMONISM- CONGRESS-
About three months ago, the House of Represent
atives, then almost fresh from the people, and inn
bued with the popular sentiment the Mormon
question, adopted preamble, by the large MAORI
y Of 81 declaring Utah to be i'll state of rebellion
The following its language
Whereas appears from the proclamation Of Brigham
Young late governor Of the Territory of Utah. from the
Presidents message and from later Developments that
the said Territory is in open rebellion against the
government Of the United States, &C., &c.
This language was in strict accordance with the
fact. Somewhat more than year ago the judges Of
the federal courts in Utah were driven out of the
Territory by the Mormons, the courts of justice
closed, and their records burned The federal av-
thorities of the United States executive and judicial
were banshed with insolence and derision from the
rebellious community. About the same time, or be-
FORE scientific corps of officers under the command
Of Capt Gunnison, had been butchered in their
peaceful pursuit. either by savages nstigated by the
Mormons or by Mormons in the disguise Of savages.
Almost every arrival from that quarter brought news
of like outrages, of greater or loss cnormity The
popular feeling throughout the whole country was
excited by these atrocities to the highest PITCH and
when Mr.. Buchanan came into Office, there was no
measure in favor of which the popular sentiment was
more unanimously firmly fixed than the prompt
and efectua suppression Of these Mormon atrocities
Immediately upon the Inauguration of Mr. Buchan-
an, he found himself called upon to take care that
the laws of the United States were faithfully exc
cuted, and to this end his oath compelled him to send
civil officers to Salt Lake to take the places Of those
who had been already expelled by the Mormons. The
Disseminated state Of feeling which notoriousy per-
vaded the Indian tribes of that vast region also rem
dered it imperative upon him to send into the milf
tary department of Utah strong escort The in
subordination Of the Mormons ndered the sending
of troops necessary posse to sustain the author
ity of the executive and judicial officers of the fed
era government thus sent out and tho dscQntent of
the Indians also required the overawng presence of
strong military force in that military department.
The force which was accordingly sent forward were
sent strictly with reference to these two consdera-
tons, and not in the character Of an invading force
against hostile country
The force was sent out in obedience to duty, to
what was clearly the almost unanimous demand Of the
popular sentiment of the country. II was sent, how
ever the thorough conviction that the presence
Of strong detachment Of the army in the Territory
would impel its people to subordnation without the
necessity Of firing gun or striking blow. 1t had
! never entered the head Of any man outside of the
Mormon church, that there was even remote pos
sbty Of collision between the United States troops
and the people Of this United States Territory Such
an act of madness and treason as would put so large
! - olo1I.., 1.
government Of their own country not expected
of the Mormons even by those who knew them
best
So little was such state Of things as has actually
transpired apprehended by any one connected with
the governments or army, that General Harvey, with
commendable prudence and foresight, despatched
discreet staff officer to Utah in advance of the arri-
val of troops, for the purpose of purchasing there
| the needful supplies, and of providing beforehand
comfortable quarters for his forces.
1t was not until this officer had reached Salt Lake
and until the advanced columns of the troops destined
for that department had accomplished threefourths
of the long march thiherward that the fact became
manifest Of determination by the Mormons to COM
plete, by open violence and armed resistance, the
| treason they had commenced by tho forcibe expul
sion of the Judges and other civil officers of the fed
eral government from their jurisdiction. They not
only refused to sell this staff officer supplies, and 10
afford accommodations for the army but they charged
him with messages of defiance TO the army and the
President and took pains to ir,aress him by every
possible means with not Only their intention, but
their ability to resist the federal troops and govern
mcnt by force. These declarations were duly fol
lowed by fragrant acts of crime and violence. They
did not stop at mere resistance; they assumed the
aggressive Our trains Of provisions were met Oh
the road as far as two hundred miles from Salt Lake
attacked, plundered and destroyed Public prop
erty 10 a vast amount was burned stolen, and an
army of resistance to the progress of our civil off
GERS and troops was regularly organized Differed
and sent into the field by the Mormons. Martial law
was proclaimed by Brigham Young and an insulting
demand sent to an American army, marching under
the American flag upon American SOIL to lay dowr
their arms and surrender at discretion. Not a CUR
had been then fired upon the maraudng force by our
army. We believe that even up to the present hour
nota gun has been fired upon Mormon. The expcdi-