, 1858-05-28
From the San Francisco Herald, May llth.
The Mormons.


of Carson Valley, we learn two weeks la
ter, that they had actually gone No pos
sible colluSion could have taken place be-
tween these two sources of information, un-
less, indeed, those from whom it is received
are emissaries of Brigham Young, charged
with the propagation Of prepared story,
to gain time, and quiet the public mind Of
California as to the fate Of General John
ston and his command, and to repyess any
immediate action from this State. Grant
ing the correctness of the information, it is
interesting to inquire what was the immedi-
ate prOpelling cause, and where are they
likely TO locate permanently. On the I7th
of April, General Johnston sent courier
to Salt Lake, to inform the people that he
would take up his march for that city i'm
mediately on the return Of his messenger.
This seems to have had the desired effect.
The winter had passed, the roads were
practicable, General Harvey with large re-
Inducements was daily expected, the In
dian allies of the Mormons had become dis
affected by their delay, their little plunder,
and the certainty that they would be called
to account by the United States; and the
utter impossibility of holding the city of
the Saints under so many difficulties be-
came constantly more apparent to the reb-
el leaders. To resist the march Of the
troops would be to insure the most certain
and exemplary punishment, and to remain
would be virtual destruction to the Nor
mon church. 1t is not difficult under the
circumstances to conclude that their only
resource was to hee-to abandon the Ter
ritory-to make another Hegira. Where
will they go? Many opinions are advanced
on this point, but thus far we have seen
none satisfactory. The laws of England
prohibit their occupation of English soil
with their present polygamous practices
These they will not abandon, consequently
they cannot inhabit English territory. They
cannot remain in any portion of the United
States, for sooner or later the same difficult
ties would environ them that they now have
to contend with, and an American army
would be constantly knocking at the gates
of the Holy City, They cannot migrate
south into the Mexican possessions, because
there is no liberation Of religion in Mexico,
and because, by treaty and International
laws, the United States are bound to pro-
tect Mexico against invasion by Americans,
whether Indians or whites. The conjecture
has been advanced that the Mormons in
tend migrating to some one of the Central
American States; but it is difficult to un-
dsrstand on what grounds. The Mormon
population, all told, cannot fall far short
Of forty or fifty thousand souls, who would
necessarily require immense stores to last
them through march Of twenty-five hun.
dred miles, through the heart Of a hostile
country, itself destitute Of the means Of
providing for the wants of its own people.
The consent of the Mexican Government
would first have to be obtained, which is
extremely problematical; but even If it
were, the history Of such a march would be
the history of murders, plunderiDg, and en-
nifty on both sides. 1t would be enVironed
by difficulties, privations, and dangers in
Vulnerable; and it is exceedingly doubtful
that Mexico would ever consent to the pas
sage Of SO many thousands Of people
through the heart Of her whole country, so
bitterly opposed in every respect to her
people and Institutions We are, there
fore, compelled to form a new theory on
the subject, provided that the news Of the
Mormon Hegira be not rEse Of Brigham
Young. But a short time since, several
missionaries men Of mark and note among
the Saints, arrived in Salt Lake City from
the Sandwich Islands, and Brigham Young
took occasion to pay high Mormon com
v,linnant 20 tho Tolondars cavino that fhav
were more like the Mormons than any 9th
er people on the globe. He dilated with
JUNCTION on their propensity TO polygamy,
and declared that they needed but little
more enlightenment to render them one of
Gods chosen people, and fit brethren for
the Saints. 1t is, therefore, every way
probable that the Sandwich Islands form
the Ultima Thule of Brigham Young and
his associates How, then, are they to get
there2 Both San Diego, in California, and
Guaymss, in Sonora, afford the requisite
maritime facilities, and it is matter of in
terest to make conjecture as to which Of
the two would be selected, and how the
requisite transportation could be obtained,
Were San Diego to be chosen, the Nor
hOho WOulu u6CooSallJ lVoNO muSh hSaleh
in that town, in return for stores, etc,
which would be by no means palatable to
them, their animosity to Americans being
considered They would also feel repug-
nance to exposing their women and other
disafected companions in a place where
they could free themselves from the odious
bondage under which they are held. On
the other hand, the State Of Sonora is en-
tirely unable to resist their march through
to Guaymas, but would rather assist them
on their way, with the hope Of being speed
lily rid Of their presence. Theinhabitants
speak a different language, and thus can
offer no protection to such as would desire
to withdrawn from their communion. The
distance to Guaymas is but little more
than that to San Diego, and the interVen-
ing country more thickly settled and more
! nroductiva Once in GuaVmas there WOuld