The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-11

rassment is likely to acquire. The contest now i'm
pending u in many respects remarkable one. 1t
represents an Instruction theoretically treas )lable
of single city against the powerful Union of which
1t forms part; it is based upon maxims however
atrociously carcatured, Of religious liberty, and 1t
involves the fortunes, and perhaps the lives. OF
many of our own countrymen who have been drawn
from their homes into the great deserts Of Utah BY
this monstrous deluson. There can be no obscurity
about the question of right, nor, indeed about that
mon settlement may still create difficulties of no
common kind.
The TERRITORY of Utah is very considerable
one, greatly exceeding in dimensions Ohio, Tennes-
nary course of things it would not have been colo
nzed for some time to come for the vast districts Of
Kansas, still unpopulated, lie between it and the
nearest settled State. The Mormons, however, had
first vacant lands in their westward route, like other
settlers, they purposey removed themselves to the
greatest possible distance from the frontier OF civil
cation. To this proceeding no objection was made,
and they carried accordingly their rites and insttu-
tons beyond the chain of the Rocky Mountains
to the banks of the Great Salt Lake. At this
spot they built their city, and the whole Terri
tory, which is STILL with little exception, in the
superintendent of United States officers, accord
ing to appointed forms. The supreme government
deputed territorial Governor, Secretary, three
Judges, Marshal and a District Attorney General
the Mormons like all other colonsts of the territory
were bound to live. The land was not theirs, it be-
longed to the Union nor did neutrality-suspicious. en-
brace more than their own domestic institutions 1t
happens that the Governor appointed by the Presi-
dent is also the head of the Mormon theocracy Brig
ham Young untes in his own person the supremacy
ascrbed to him by his deluded followers and the au
thority delegated by the federal government; but
the latter commission, which alone gives him any
cognizable power, is revocable at any time. It
was natural enough to invest with the authority
de ure in these parts the only person who could ex
ercise il de factO; but the arrangement was purely
discretona and any President of the United States
could with the consent of the Senate, send o new
Governor to rule the Territory of Utah.
These conditions of government were not salts
factory to the Mormon chief indeed, anything
claims and position as spiritual head of the com
munity. man pretending to govern not simply
by divine right but by divine inspiration and
asserting that his own edicts represented the
immediate will of the Almighty could not be
submissive to judges and marshals or bow to the
decisions Of secular court. 1t was clear, more
over that if the exclusive claims of the Mormons in
Utah were ever surrendered, and the Territory peo
pied by independent settlers their advantages would
vanish at once, and their dominant theocracy dwn.
die into the insignifcance of isolated congrega-
ton. MOrmonsm, in fact, was Incompatible with
the political subordnation which the occupation of
American Territory assumed, and when the obscu-
rty contemplated by these fanatics in their retreat
to the Salt Lake became partially dspelled through
the overland migrations to California the elements of
conflict were soon apparent. The present result of
the struggle may be gathered from Mr. Buchanan's
remark that "all the officers of the United States
judicial and executive with the single exception Of
two Indian agents have found it necessary for their
personal safety to withdraw from the Territory and
there longer remains any government in Utah but
the despotism Of Brigham Young"
Nothing can be palmer than that the claim TO in
dependence on the part of the Mormon rulers is ut
terly without warrant and that the measures taken
authority are entirely in accordance with justice.
Every square yard OF the Utah Territory, including
the Salt Lake City itself pertains, not to the Nor
mon congregations, but to the United States, and
il is perfectly competent TO the United States
government to maintain its jurisdiction by officers
Of its appointment from time to time.
Brigham Young, in the proclamation by which
he opposes the expedition sent to Utah, bases
his proceedings on his authority Governor
of the Territory, but the order has gone out to
supersede him, his successor is appointed, and
in default of his commission from Washington
he remains without any more political Jurisdiction
in the Territory of Utah than il possessed by
the poorest member of his congregation. The
question, as Mr.. Buchanan observes, is altogether
independent of Mormon doctrines The authority
of the supreme government, ar represented by its
own officers, has been defied and subverted In its
own Territories, and must, therefore, be restored.
We have received from other sources information
which enables us to depict the position of the expe
di;onary army which was despatched some months
route itself have been successfully surmounted and
a division Of the force including the 5th Infantry,
eight companies Of the 10th, and two batteries of
Artillery had arrived within about $50 miles Of the
Mormon city. At this point, however, the officer in
command was served with notice from Brigham
Young forbiddng him TO advance and directing him
to retire. BY way of giving force TO these injunc
tons the Mormons intercepted train coming up
with supplies, and destroyed the CONVOY, but beyond
this hosttes had not proceeded. IL was the inten-
ton of the United States commander TO pierce, If
possible TO the valley Of the Bear rivera stream
falling into the Great Salt Lakeland there establish
himself in the villages till the return OF spring open
ed short and easy road into the city. II his force
proved insufficient for this operation, he contem-
plated retiring in northeast direction To the valleys
Of the Wind River Mountains-a portion of the great
Rocky chain--wherc he could maintain himself In
security and plenty until circumstances enabled him
10 renew his advance.
Except that IL il impossible. ~ events elsewhere
have taught ~, TO calculate on the impulses Of ia
natcal passion, should not be disposed TO expect
much bloodsbed from this extraordinary war. The
charge Of rebellion will probably not be pushed
home against the Morrnons nor do the Morrnons at
present oyincC much inclination for life or death
battle. Mr. Buchanan, IL will be seen, adopts tone
ct compassion rather than indignation, and speaks Of
Tie MornoDs friends instead of enemies. Brig
m Young. in his notice, freely offers to supply The
invading troops with lnecessares, providing they
Eilit their movements according 70 his injunctions;
aud he cannot lie ignorant, Notwithstanding his pre-.
sumption that his ultimate success against the gov
eminent of the Union IL an utter impossibty. The
danger consists in the chances of sangunary collision
between the forces now confronting each other
=, TIC Territory. We have seen il estimated or
lct,e,tGred that Brigham Young could bring into
field 10000 desperate comoa.ants: but,
olgh The proportion o. fighting men IN
community like this would be unusually great, We
isye this computation Is excessive. At cen
ss. in lS53 ,Lo entire population Of the Territory
vas but II 20 and 10 hIrliJ probable that II can
have been 30 rJld,y iucrea, A during the interval
,s =. .lrn ut IN 1867 more than that number Of
adult malcs The Indians. however Of the Territory
amouia 10 some 1900 and IL is anticipated that
Brigham Young will have these auxiliaries at his
disposal The numbers of the United States force
actually on the spo: at the latest advices would pro
baby IAN short Of 900. but these well armed,
orgauizcd and disciplined, whereas u is hardly
to hc expected that the Mormons display
much beyond individual resolution. Still, the Su-
prcmc government il now at its weakest, and. II the
expedition advances, Brigham Young may possibly
find himself the stronger for the time. We should