The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-12-14

frame State constitution preparatory admissio
into the Union. also recommend that an al
preparation may be made to enable the Presider
to take census Of the people of Kansas.
THE MORMON REBELLION AND THE COURSE PURsUK
BY THE PRESIDENT.
| The present condition of the Territory of Uta
when contrasted with what il was one wear ACC
| is a subject for congratulation. Il was then in
state OF open rebellion, and cost what il might
the character OF the government required tha
this rebellion should be suppressed and tn
Mormons compelled to yield obedience to th
constitution and tho laws. In order to accom-
psh this object as informed you in nv last an
nual message, appointed a new Governor in
stead of Brigham Young, and other federal off
GERS to take the place of those who, consulting
their personal safety, had found IL necessary tr
withdraw from the Territory. To protect these
civil officers, and to aid them as a posse eem;fa
tw, in the execution of the laws in case of need
ordered detachment Of the army to accompa.
ny them to Utah. The necessity for adopting
these measures ia now demonstrated.
On the 10Th of September, 1857, Governor
Young issued his proclamation, in the style of an
independent sovereign, announcing his purpose to
resist by force Of arms the entry of the United
States troops into our own territory of Utah. By
this he required all the forces in the Territory to
"hold themselves in readiness to march at mo-
ments notice to repel any and all such INVASION /"
and established martial law from its date through
out the Territory. These proved to be no idle
threats. Forts Bridgcr and Supply were vacated
and burnt down by the Mormons to deprive our
troops of a shelter after their long and fatiguing
march. Orders were issued by Daniel Fl. Wells
styling himself Lieutenant General. Nauyoo Le
gion," to stampede the animals of the United
States troops on their march, to set FIRE to their
trains, to burn the grass and the whole country
before them and on their fanks, to keep them
from sleeping, by night surprises, and to block
adc the road by Telling trees and DESTROYING the
fords of rivers, &C., &c.
These orders were promptly and effectually
obeyed. On the 4th of October, 1887. the Nor
mons captured and burned on Green river three
OF our supply trains, consisting of seventy-five
wagons loaded with provisions and tents for the
army, and drove away several hundred animals.
This diminished the supply Of provisions so ma
terially that Gen. Johnston was Obliged TO re-
duce the ration, and even with this precaution
there was only sufficient left to subsst the troops
until the 1st of June
Our little army behaved admirably in their en-.
,ampment at Fort Bridger under these trying
Drvatons In the midst of the mountains. in
1reary, unsettled and inhospitable region, more
han thousand miles from home, they passed
he severe and inclement winter without a mur.
nur. They looked forward with confidence for
elief from their country in due season; and in |
his they were not disappointed
The Secretary of War employed all his ener.
'ies TO forward them the necessary supplies, and |
o muster and send such a military force to Utah
s would render resistance on the pnrt of the
iormons hopeless, and thus terminate the war
7ithout the efiusion of blood In his efforts he
'as efficiently sustained by Congress. They grant
d appropriations sufficient to cover the def.
iency thus necessarily created, and also proyi-
ed for raising two regiments of volunteers, s'for
he purpose of quelling disturbances in the Ter.
tory of Utah, for the protection of supply and
migrant trains, and the suppression Of Indian
ostties on the frontiers" Happily there was
occasion to call these regiments into service.
there had been, should have felt serious en-
in selecting them, so great was the
umber of our brave and patriotic citizens anx
us to serve their country in this distant and
oparently dangerous expedition. Thus it has
yer been, and thus may it ever be.
The wisdom and economy of sending suffic-
1t reinforcements to Utah are established not
,ly by the event, but in the opinion of those
ho, from their their position and opportunities,
e the most capable Of forming a correct iudg.
ent. General Johnston, the commander of the
rces in addressing the Secretary of War from
Drt Bridger, under date of October 1857. ex.
SSoSe u
mt here, from the nature of the country. pro
acted war on their (the Mormons0 part is in.
liable" This he considered necessary, to ter.
mate the war speedily and more economical
than If attempted by insufficient means" !
In the meantime, it was my anxious desire
at the Mormons should yield obedience to the l
institution and laws, without rendering Il ne .
ssary to resort to military force. To aid in ac.
mplishing this object, deemed it advisable in !
pril last to dispatch two distinguished citizens !
the United States-Messrs Powell and Nc =
llloch-to Utah, They bore with them proc '
nation addressed by myself to the inhabitants =
Utah, dated on the 9th day of that month,
'rning them Of their true condition, and how a
peless it was on their part to persist in their J.
bellion against tho United States, and offering !,
those who should submit to the laws, full :,
rdon for their past ssditions and treasons. At y
Q same time, ! assured those who should per. ?
In rebellion against the United States, that :,
ey must expect no further enity, but look to y y
vigorously dealt with according to their de- y
rs. The instructions to these agents as well !" =
copy OF the proclamation, and their reports, !,
, herewith submitted. IL will be seen by their II
bort Of the Sd of July last, that they have full "
confirmed the opinion expressed by General . :,
hnston in the previous October, as to the ne u
'sity Of sending reinforcements to Utah. In y
$ they state that they are firmly impressed "
n the belief that the presence Of the army
re and the large additional force that had been =,
Tered to this Territory, were the chief induce ~
nts that caused the Mormons to abandon tho y y
a of resisting the authority of the United " y,
ties, less decisive policy would probably "
re resulted In long, bloody and expensive l..
r. ~
L also affords me great satisfaction to state =, =.
t Governor Cumming has performed his duty =, -,
IN able and conciliatory manner, and with the ~
'piest effect. can not, in this connection. ~ ~
rain from mentioning the valuable services of y, ~
|. Thomas l.. Kane, who, from motives of pure -, ~
levolence, and without any official character 80
pecunlary compensation, visited Utah during ~ ~
last incement winter for the purpose of con. ~ ~
uting to the pacifcation Of the Territory &c &c
am happy to inform you that the Governor -, m
other civil officers of Utah are now perform " =.
their appropriate functions without resist 80
e. The authority Of the constitution and .e .e
laws has been fully restored, and peace pre-. go
8 throughout the Territory. 81 81
portion of the troops sent to Utah are now O. O.
amped in Cedar Valley, forty -four miles south. ~,
Z Of Salt Lake City, and the remainder have w w
n ordered to Oregon to suppress Indian hos ~. ~
les. pr
he march Of the army to Salt Lake City. W
ugh the Indian Territory has had power. ha h
fleet in restraining the hostile feelings against
United states, which existed among the In. -.
q ~ that region, and In securing emigrants an an
he Far West against their depredations. on a
will also be the means of establishing mill W