The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-09

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state of open rebellion, and, cost what it
might, the character of the Government requir
ed that this rebellion should be suppressed, and
the Mormons compelled to yield obedience to
the Constitution and the laws In order to ac-
complish this object, as / informed you in my
last annual message, ] appointed new Gov
ernor instead of Brigham Young, and other
Federal officers to take the place of those who,
consulting their personal safety, had found it
necessary to withdraw from the Territory. To
protect these civil officers, and to aid them, as
posse cOmitatuS, in the execution of the laws
in. case of need, / ordered detachment of the
army TO accompany them to Utah. The neces-
sity for adopting these measures is now demon
strated.
On the 18th September, 1857, Gov. Young
issued his proclamation, in the style of an
independent sovereign, announcing his purpose
to resist by force of arms the entry of the Uni
ted States troops into our own Territory OF Utah.
BY this he required all the forces in the Terri
tory to hold themselves in readiness to march
at a moments notice to repel any and all such
INVASION" and established martial law from its
date throughout the Territory. These proved
to be no idle threats. Forts Bridger and Sup
ply were vacated and burnt down by the Nor
mons, to deprive our troops of a shelter after
their long aud fatiguing march. Orders were
issued by Daniel H. Wells, styling himself
{" Lieutenant General Nauvoo Legion" 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 tanks, to keep them from
sleeping by night surprises, and to blockade
the road by telling trees, and destroying the
fords of rivers, &C., &c, &c.
These orders were promptly and ef1ectually
obeyed. On the 4th October, 1857, 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 pro
visions so materially, that General Johnston
was obliged to reduce the ration, and even with
this precautiOn, there was only sufficient left to
subsist the troops until the first of June.
Our little army behaved admirably in their
encampment at Fort Bndger, under these try
ing privations. In the midst of the mountains,
in dreary, unsettled, and inhospitabe region,
more than thousand miles from home, they
passed the severe and Indictment winter without
a murmur. They looked forward with conf
dence for relief from their country IN due sea-
son, and in this they were not disappointed.
The Secretary of War employed all his ener-
gies to forward them the necessary supplies,
and to muster and send such a military force
to Utah as would render resistance on the part
OF the MormOHs hopeless, and thus terminate the
war without the efusion of blood. In his eff
forts he was efficiently sustained by Congress.
They granted appropriations sufficient to cover
the deficiency thus necessarily created and
also provided fer raising two regiments of vol
unteers, " for the purpose of quelling disturb
ances III the Territory of Utah, for the protec-
ton OF supply and emigrant trains, and the sup
preston of Indian hOstilities on the frontiers
Happily, there was no occasion to call these
regiments into service. If there had been,
should have felt serious embarrassment in Sc
lecting them, SO great was the number of our
brave and patriotic citizens anxious to serve
their country in this distant and apparently
dangerous expedition. Thus it has ever been,
and thus may it ever be
The wisdom and economy Of sending sufii-
cient reinforcements to Utah are established not
only by the event. but in the opinion of those
who, from their position and opportunities, are
the most capable of forming a correct judg-
ment. General Johnston, the commander Of
the forces, in addressing the Secretary of War
from Fort Bridger, under date of October lS,
1851, expresses the opinion, that unless large
force is sent here, from the nature of the coun-
try, a protracted war on their the MormOnsl part
is inevitable" This he considered necessary,
to terminate the war speedily and more eco
nomically than if attempted by insufficient
means
In the mean time, it was my anxious desire
that the Mormons should yield obedience to the
Constitution and the laws, without rendering it
necessary to resort to military force. To aid
in accomplishing this object deemed it ad-
visable, in April last to dispatch two distin-
guished citizens of the United States, Messrs.
Powell and McCullOch, to Utah. They bore
with them proclamation addressed by myself
to the inhabitants of Utah, dated on the sixth
day of that month, warning them of their true
condition, and how hopeless it was on their
part to persist in rebellion against the United
States, and offering all those who should sub
NIT to the laws q full pardon for their past Sc
ditions and treasOns. AT the same time ] as
sured those who should persist in rebellion
against the United STATES, that they must ex-
pect no further lenity but look TO be vigorously
dealt with according to their deserts. The in
structions to these agents, as well as a copy of
the proclamation, and their reports, are here
with submitted. 1t will be seen, by their report
OF the Sd of July last, that they have fully CON
hrmed the opinion expressed by General John
ston in the previous October, as to the necessity
of sending reinforcements to Utah. In this
they state, that they ARE firmly impressed with
the belief that the presence Of the army here,
and the large additional force that had been
ordered to this Territory, were the chief induce
ments that caused the Momons to abandon the
idea of resisting the authority of the United
States. A less decisive policy would probably
have resulted in a longs bloody, and expensive
war"
These gentlemen conducted themselves to
my entire satisfaction, and rendered useful SER
vices III executing the humane intentions of the
Government.
1t also affords me great satisfaction to state,
that Governor Cumming has performed his
duty IN an able and conciliatOry manner, and
with the happest effect | cannot in this CON
nectiOn refrain from mentioning the valuable
services of Col. Thomas l.. Kane, who from
motives of pure benevolence, and without any
official character or pecuniary compensation,
visited Utah during the last Indictment winter,
for the purpose Of contributing to the pacifca-
ton Of the Territory.
am happy to inform you that the Governor
and other civil officers Of Utah are now per-
forming their appropriate functions without re-
sistance. The authority of the Constitution
and the laws has been fully restored, and peace
prevails throughout the Territory.
portion of the troops sent to Utah are now
encamped in Cedar Valley, forty-four miles
southwest of Salt Lake City and the remainder
have been ordered to Oregon, to suppress Indian
hostihties.
The march of the army to Salt Lake CITY.
through the Indian Territory, has had a power
full effect in restraining the hostile feelings
against the United States which existed among
the Indians IN that region, and in securing emf
grants to the Far West against their depreda-
tons. This will also be the means of estab-
fishing military posts and promoting settlements
along the route.
recommend that the benefits of our land
pra l. Il