American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-06-17

4
Presidents Proclamation to the MormoIs.
BY James Buchanan, President OF the United States
OF America.
PRocLAMAAIoN.
Whereas. the territory OF Utah was sell !
lied by certain emigrants from tie States
and from foreign countries, who have for
several years past manifested a spirit of in
subordination tolhe con t,tution and laws
OF the United States. The great mass OF
those settlers, acting under the Influence
ofleaders TO whom they seem to have sur.
rendered their judgement, refuse to be
cOntroled by any other authority They
have been often advised to obedience, snd
these friendly couns i have been answer
ed with defiance Officers Of the federal
govt rnment have been driven from the ter
ritory for no offense but an tfF,rt TO do
their sworn duty. Others have been pre>
vented from going there by threats of as
sinaiion judges have been violently in
terrupted in the performance Of their func'
tions. and the records OF the courts have
been seized and either destroyed or con-
cealed. Many other acts Of unlawful vio
lence have been perpetrated, and the right
by the leading inhabitants, with at least
the silent acQuiescence of nearly all the
others. Their hostility to the lawful gov
ernmeHt of the country has stlength be-
Gome so violent that no officer bearing the
commission from the chef magistra Of
the Union can enter the territory or remain
there with safety; and all the officers re-
Gently appointed have b, en- unahs to go 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 strange system ofterritorism has
brought the inhabitants Of that region, that
no one among them could express an opin-
ion favorable to this government, or even
propose to obey its laws, without exposing
his life and property to peril.
After carefully considering this state Of
affairs, and naturely weighing the ohliga-
ton | was under to see the laws faith
fully executed, it seemed to me right an |
proper that should make such use Of the
military sorces at my disposal as might be
necessary to protect the federal officers in
going into the territory Of Utah. hnd in
perfoI ming their duties after arriving
there. accordingly ordered de:atch
ment of the amy to march for the Cty of
Salt Lake. or within reach Of that place,
, and TO act in case of need as posse for the
enforcement of the laws. But in the
meantime, the hatrid of that misguided
= people for the justice and legal authority
Of the government had become so intense
> that they resolved 10 measure their militia
ry streanIth with tina! OF the Uniou. They
!. have organized an armed force far from
y ! contemplate in point of Numbers, and
trained It, if not with skill, at least with
great nssdaity and perseverance,. While
the troops Of the United States were on
their march, train of baggage wagons,
: which happened TO be unprotected, was at
!: tacted ald destroyed by portion of the
y Mormon forces, and tho provisions and
stores with which tie train was ladened
were wantonly burnt. In short their pres
I" ent attitude is one of decided and unreser
= we'd enmitv to the United States and TO all
: their loyal citizens. There determination
Y to oppose the auth ority Of the government
u by military force has not only been expires
y ed by wor,ls. but manifest in overt acts o.
. the most unequivocAl character.
+ lilo citizens OF Utah, this is rebellion
against the Government TO which you owe
, allegi Pnce. 1t is levying war against thu
). United States, and involves you in thu
= guilt of treason. Persistence IN II will
bring you to condign punishment. TO ruiz
! and TO shame; tor it is mere madness Il
T. suppose that, with your limited resources
y you can successfully resist the force Of th
= great and powerful nation.
10 II yon have calculated upon the Grber
d ance Of the United Ststes-ii you have per
e mtted yourselves to suppose that this gov
"a ernment will fail 10 put forth its stroangtl
"a and bring you TO submission-vou have
, fallen into a grave mistake. You havt
r settled upon territory which lies geograpll
>. ically in the heart of The Union. The lane
: you live upon was purchased by she Uni
ted State and paid for out OF their treasury
e The proprietary right AMI title to it is il
}. them, AMI not in you. Utah is bounded
!. on every side by States and Terriiorie
n whose people are true to the Union. lti
10 absurd to believe that they will or can pre-
d nit YOU TO erect in their very midst
10 government of your own, not only in1ipen
8 dent Of the authority which they acknowl
T. edge, but hostils TO them and their inter
ests.
Do not deceive yourselves nor try t
ID mislead others by propage'ing the idea tha
mt this Isl crusade against your religion. Th
e. constitution and laws of lhiscounry can
n. take no notice of your creed. whether ii t
o, true or false. Tdai is qu4sionbe betwee
your God and yourselves, in which | di:
n claim all right toiuterleere. II You ODE
es the laws, keep the psace and respect tn
just rights OF others, you will be psreetl
to secure, and may live on in your presen
be faith or charge it for another at your pleas
Iy ure. Every intelligent man among 20
he knows very well that this government hi
Is. never directly or Indirect sought TO mole
At, you in your. worship, to contIole you
llr yolr ecelestical nff irs, or even to nAuen
YOU in your religions opinions.
his This rebellion is not merely violation
of your legal duty; it is without just caus
ng without reason, without excuse. You ne
er made a complaint that was not lslen
iic to with patiepce. You never exhibited
real grievance that WAS not redressed