The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-22
LATEST NEWS FROM UTAH



CaxP scorr, near Bridger's Fort u. IT,
May 49, 1855
The mail reached here yesterday, (2Sth being the dr
weekly mail received under the contract with Hoc
Low, Burr Il Co. al
Two expresses also came in from Fort Laramie, on.
bringing dates later than heretofore received BY It We
received the President proclamation In regard Doh
traitors, also the orders sending Generals Smith and Har
ney and others to this Territory.
The commissioner, Go Powell and Major McCuloeh
are below and are looked for with confidence morrow
also Capt Lowell 9th infantry, With the advanced de
tachment of Col. Hoflmans command We have had
but ,~ry subeist upon fol- several days in
fct all would have been exhausted had it not been
the opportune arrival of Lieut. Armstrong I'd dragons
two days since with seventy head Of oxen Col Hoffman
will arrive with his large train Of zoo mule aud 100
wagons In about days feel assured that
AZ he up Gen Johnston will push forward with his
command unless orders received in the time to
await the action OF the commissioners. No information
has late been received OF the whereabouts OF Captain
Marcy
almost forgot to say that Mr. Smonton, OF the New
York Times and Mr.. Brown, OF the New York Tribune
came up In the mail coaches saw Mr., $ for
ment yesterday He is Violently opposed to the sdmi
istration and thinks Mr. Buchanans proclamation the
crown ng presume he thinks he Is safe here,
We have no House of Representatives in Utah. Brown
out here last winter black republican OF the Gree
lev order He returned to Washington with dispatches
az a democrat am not advised Of his political anin
ties at present The Herald also has regular
pondcnt here SO trim your PEN you may expect to
catch "Jessie
Gov Cumming aud DR.. Forney TO Salt Lake on Tues
day next to assume the duties Of their Offices About
hundred and fifty Aormons have Ia from Salt
Lake their way to the States Others It u said, de
sire to come but prevented by Brigham nom the
fact of owing him the ''tithing office bushel OF
wheat sack of corn, and not possessing tho where
with to pay it--and all this for their religion
On the goth we had q brigade review. Gcn Johnston
and stat made fine display. All the force was out
cept the dragons After the first ARE 70 have brig
ade drill
In letter wrote you some time ago alluded TO tho
departure for Bear river and Cache valley headed by
Marshall Dotson of party Of 10 20 from the Camp
When the governor returned here from salt Lake he
made minute inquiries in regard to the objects Of their
journey Two of the gentlemen, w. }. Mcconnell
whom the had appointed acting secretary Of the
Territory during the absence Of Mr. Hartnet and Mr.
Burr who had been appointed Justice Of the peace for
this county have resigned 1t is rumored the governor
requested them to do So not being Satisfied Of the pro
pricty Of their mission
To us, here ut this distance from court, We hardly
how Judge Echols be sustained with his charge to
the grand jury, which sent you, staring him In the
face for ii understand the President instructions
they not to interfere with the religion Of the Nor
mons Yet on the very day Gov. Cumming left for Salt
Lake TO eneavor to arrive at peaceful adjustment Of the
difficulties, the Judge made his extraordinary charge andy
that very charge excited the Mormons 70 place the
life Of the governor in jeopardy.
General Johnston has information that regiment il
be sent here by way Of Bdgers pass tho
surveyed last year by Lieut. Bryan, I. f. About one
hundred miles will be saved. B.
JUDGE EcHoL's CHARGE GRAND JURY
We cannot conceal from ourselves tho knowledge of
the fact that certain domestic arrangements exist in this
Territory at with those which pertain to all other
Christian communities, and destructive Of the peace and
good order Of society Polygamy exists in Utah to very
considerable extent while 1t is forbidden by every other
State and Territory of the Union II Is not for you
inquire where this Institution had its origin, or when
what the consequences resulting from IT, 1t
our duty inquire whether it is authorised by law and
il not, by what statute ii any, it is punishable
It il understood that the United States acquired all of
this territory that is inhabited by treaty from Mexico
As the law Of Mexico stood at the time of the treaty
polygamy prohibited in this country The municipal
law in this respect not changed by Its celcn TO the
United States Has 1t, then, been altered since
quired it. After the most diligent search and inquiry
have been enabled TO make, have found none, and
presume the law is therefore unchanged and hence all
marriages after the first whilst it remains In full force
illegal and void Is there any law n force in this
Territory under which this practice il punishable find
statute furnishing polygandy but there is one. how
ever for the punishment Of adultery and all illegal in
ercourse between the sexes either Of the parties
husband wife living at the tme is aduterous and
punishable by Indictment The punishment prescribed
by this statute imprisonment for period Of not less
than three than twenty years. or by fine not
less than three hundred than Thousand
dollars both by fine and imprisonment at the dscre
ton of the jury trying the cause.
No consequences IN which large proportion of this
people may Ike involved In consequence OF their criminal
practice viii deter you from fearless discharge Of your
duty 1t yours to find the facts and to return indict
ments, without er favor Affection reward, any hope
thereof The law made to punish the lawless and
dsobedlent aud society entitled to the saluary effects
of its execution.
ARRIVAL OF THE SALT LAKE MAIL IN SIXTEEN
DAYS.