The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-12
KANSAS, UTAH, AND SEARCH Domr0lH
AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS.


II has been common to taunt the administration OF
Mr.. buchanan with having accumulated upon Its
hands great amount Of domestic and foreign tros-
bIes We might have answered that the thrco ques-
lions of Utah. Kansas, and the Search were inherit
ed estates, having their tenures fixed away back be-
You'd the reach of the persons now in Office Kansas
was met at the very threshold of the administration
Of Mr. Buchanan as a most formidable and irremedi-
able difficulty There were few men bold enough
to anticipate the solution of the Kansas problem
short Of cracking to spnters any body of men who
should undertake tho work. The slavery question
was a maelshom which had swallowed up every
one who had approached its fatal Influences Those
who undertook to survey it's political grounds and
TO mark it's topography became involved IN its
Marshes and either persisted escaped with broken
constitutions and impaired political strength Well
we have had severe battle over the Territory. We
have seen friendships of long standing and repua-
TONS before unquestonablo, sacrificed and lost in
single session of Congress upon that hightful Kan
sas issue. But steady hand at the helm, and a
resoue will guided the Of the ship, and now
we hear for once, and the first time within many
years, that Kansas is quiet The storm has
passed and tho clouds all dispersed. There
il no moro contention, no more strife, no more
murders or assassinations Lane, the great
central consprator and the man who incessant-
ly famed tho flames of dscord is under arrest for
murder. We learn that he is wholly discredited !;
which we receive as sign of the returning of
the people, and of the exercise hereafter of more
reasonable counsels.
Al LII &C NJ
chanan the question, whether the Mormons of Utah,
occupying position in the very centre of the
tnent, and commanding tho great lines of inter-com
muncation between the States of tho Atlantic and
the Pacific, and selected to control the entire
skin and fur trade of tho mountains, should ac-
knowledge the laws and jurisdiction of the United
States, or tho other hand, be permitted to estab
fish and maintain for themselves independent
government?
We did not require to be told that an independent
government, based upon principles and sustained
by peculiar opinions in utter hostility to self
governing system, would tho Union in the cen
tre compelling the Pacific States to act also an indie
pendent part Hence tho question of the subjugation
ofthe Mormons became one, in fact of Union or dis
union. It new affair all round; and there was
in it mystery which no Judgment could unravel,
aud no sagacity solve The Mormons certainly occu-
pied strong position Their geographical dcfences
were immense, and their natural defcnces surround
ed by high mountains and commanding by easy
works tho narrow plain they occupy, wero equally
favorable to their projects. They have theocratic
government and they had been credited with abso-
luto faith in their Prophet and Seer thus securing
complete unity in all their plans TWAS also supposed
that their fighting men exceeded ten thousand.
With the small means at the command of the War
Department, it was most formidable work to under
take to subdue such a-people.
Mr.. Buchanan acted with promptness and unlag- |
ging energy. He encountered great difficulties at |
every step. He was cncumbered with an impending
civil war in Kansas which cxactcd the presence of
large body Of troops. But the work Of maintaining
the laws in Utah pressed forward with ceaseless
energy Troops were despatched late in the sea-
SON. their trains cut off and the entire command
with scanty supplies and uncomfortable in force,
posted almost within the cnemys lines Congress
neglected as we think to make prompt provision for
the expedition in the fold. Appropriations were
exhausted and the War Office thus fcttercd and half
paralyzed, neglected effort to carry out tho orgi
nal design of forcing submission.
1t is, them exceedingly grateful to be able to re-
cord the peaceful termination Of the mormon war,
and to declare that the laws of the United States are
again in process of execution in Utah. This result
is due to the energy Of the President and his cabi-
net. They have met and overcome every difficulty |
under circumstances which reflect tho highest credit
on their sagacity, patriotism, and frmncss
Next in order the political heavens portendcd
storm from without originating in the exercise Of an
unwarranted Jurisdiction over merchant vessels
sailing upon the high We need not say how
this question met, nor how cordially the policy
of Mr. Buchanan in respect thereto has received the
cordial endorsement Of the country.
All three of the formidable difficulties encountered
have been substantially and honorably overcome
within period of short year. 1t has cost the
treasury large amount of money but it is money |
expended, as the people like to sec their money ex-
pended, in maintaining the integrity of the Union
and protecting the national honor.
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