New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-05

The lately published letters of Brigham Young to
the officers in command of the expeditionary army
on the way to Utah state distinctly enough the
ground upon which he undertakes to forbid, and,
in his character of Governor of Utah. TO oppose
tho entrance of the troops into that Territory.
He assumes that the object and intent Of the
expedition is an unconstitutional and unlawful one,
namely, the busting of the Mormons from their
homes and iresides, and the subecting them to the
tyranny and violence of very small minority OF
Identities" settled among them, who, aided and
seconded by other "Gentiles from the States
are, by the help of the troops to be put in pos.
session of the territory from which the MormOns,
either by open violence by all sorts of annoyances
shall have been obliged to fly. Regarding, so
he says, the alleged sustentaton Of law and order
and the enforcement of the laws Of tho United
States put forward as the nominal object Of this
expedition, as in fact but a cover to the design
above stated, be and the Mormons have resolved to
resist the evil at the beginning BY opposing the
entry of the troops into their valley.
Considering the purposes for which these very
soldiers, or part of them, were recently employed
u Kansas, and the objects for which large body
of United States troops have been kept in that Ter
ritory for more than year past it must be admit
ted that Brigham Young 10 not without certain
grounds for suspecting that the real object of the
advance of these troops into Utah may be some
thing very different from the mere enforcement
of law and sustentatOn of order. Nevertheless
if he had been the prophet he claims TO be, there
was no necessity at all for his undertaking any ac-
tive measures of resistance, thus putting himself
into position TO be charged with treason and re-
belEon. II would have been much wiser on his
part, and more in accordance with his profesed
confidence in the special protection of Heaven TO
have left the matter entirely 10 the msmansgemen. Of
the authorities at Washington. That alone was en-
tirely sufficient to have secured the Mormon Valley
gainst being entered by the troops the present
Winter. The burning Of the provision wagons
and the other hostile operatives undertaken by
Young's orders, were entirely unnecessary !: is
not any resistance on the part of the Monnons that
has prevented the troops from reaching Great Salt
Lake. 1t does not appear that this resistance has
retarded the troops single day The difficulty has
been in the ateness of the season when they started
and in the difficulties Of the road. Even had the
troops been sure Of friendly reception at Sal. Lake
City, the ateness of the season when they reached
Fort Bridger would have efeetually prevented their
advancing any further, and would have compelled
them 10 Winter there. Had the Mormons been ever
weldisposed, the deep snow in the passes Of the
Wabsateh mountains would have proved an efeetual
barrier against any further advance the present
Winter. 1t is not the MOrmons who are TO be
held responsible for this halt in the advance Of the
troops. We must hold those responsible FOR i! who
diverted tie troops from the purpose for which