The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-12-11

piSy oN SASiIibS aux
political contests among themselves, for ii
benefit Of aspiring leaders. 1t is surely r
hardship for embryo governors, senator
number Of inhabitants shall equal those Of
single congressional district. They sursl
ought not to be permitted to rush into th
! Union With a population less than one ha
Of several Of the large counties in the inter
or Of some Of the States. This was the col
dition Of Kansas when it made applicable
to be admitted under the Topeka constitr
ton. Besides, it requires some time to rer
der the mass Of population collected in
new territory at all homogeneous, and t
Establish the rule, and all will look lorwar
to 1t and govern themselves accordingly.
But justice to the people Of the ssvcrs
States requires that this rule should be es
tablished by Congress. Each State is emit
tied to tive Senators and at least one Repre-
sentative in Congress- Should the peo pie Q
the States fail to elect \ Vice President, tn
power devolvos upon the Senate to selee
this officer from The two highest candidate
on the list. In case CT the death of the Pre-
sident, the Vice President thus elected By
the Senate becomes President Of the United
Senators from the smaller States Of the Uni
on have an equal vote with those from th'
largest. The same may be said in regard t.
the ratification Of treaties and executive ap
pon.ments. All this has worked admirably
in practice. whilst it conforms in princpl.
with the character of government inst.tu-
ted Dy sovereign states. I presume no Anne
rican citizen would desire the slightest
change in the arrangement. Still, is it not
unjust and unequal to the existing Sta,es TO
invest some forty or fifty thousand people
collected in territorv with the attributes
Of sovereignty, and place than en- an equal
footing ~i.h Tirgiuia and New York in the
Senate Of the United States.
For these reasons ! earnestly recommend
the passage Of a genera &C: which shall pro-
vide that, upon the application OF a tarritori-
q s:Isia;urc, declaring their belief that the
tsrritery contains a number Of inhabitants
which, if in a State, would entitle theln 10
elect . member Of Congress, it shall be the
duty CT the President to cause census OF
the inhabitants to be taken, ard if found
sufficient, then by the terms Of this act to
authorize them TO proceed Sin their own
way to frame State constitution prspara-
tory to admission into the Unin. also re-
commend that An appropriation may tie
made TO enable tAs President t, take a cen
gus OF the people Of Kansa,.
Tue present condition Of the territory of
Utah, when contT:sted with what it was one
year ego, r subject FOR congratu!s.ion-
l. vas then il state o. e2sn rebellion, and,
,0st what it might, the character OF the gov
.rnnant required that this rebellion shou d
1e suppressed and the nornons compelled
70 yield obedience 20 the constitution and
be laws. In order TO accomplish this Oh
ect IS Informed you in ny last annual
message, appointed new Governor in
stead of Brigham Young, and ether federal
officers 10 take the place Of those who, con-
,ulting their personal safety, had found it
-ecessary to withdraw from the territory
10 protect these civil officers, and to AZ
hem, as I yosse comitatus, in the execution
IF the laws in case Of need, ordered de-
aehr1ent Of the army TO accompany them
0 U:ah. The necessity for sdoptin. these
measures is now demonstrated
On the 18th OF September, 1857, Governor
ouns iscUed his proclamation, in the style
# an independent sovereign, announcing
rs purpose TO resist by force Of arms the
ntry OF the United States troops into our
'wn territory Of | tab. By this he required
u the forces in the territory TO hold thsm-
elves in readiness to march at a moments
lo;ice to repel any and ali such INVASION"
nd establish marital law frem its date
hroug ghout the territory. These proved TO
'e ne idle threats. Fort Bridger and Sup
'ly were vacated and burnt down by the
iormops. 10 deprive our troops OF shelter
fer a long and faticuing march Orders
rere issued by DAME! II Wells, styling him
elf Lieut.. General, Nauvoo Legion" 10
the animals of the United States
roops On their march, to set fire TO their
rains, 10 burn the grass and the whole
ountry before them and on their hanks, to
eep them from sleeping by night surpri-
ea, and to blockade the road by telling
rses. and destroying the fords of rivers,
&C., &c.
These orders were promptly and eflectu-
lily obeyed. On the 4th of October, 1857,
he Mormons captured and burned on Green
liver three or four Of our supply trains, CEN
isting of seventy five wagons loaded with
PROVISIONS and tents for the army, and drove
way several hundred animals. This d.
nini.hed the supply of provisions SO matsri-
lily that Gen. Johnston was obliged to re-
ucs the ration, aad even with this prscau-
ION there was enly sufficient left to subsist
he troops until the st Of June.
Our little army behaved admirably In their
at Fort Bridger, under those
rving privations. In the midst Of the noun
Ans, in a dreary, unsettled and inhospitable
esjsn. more than q Thousand miles frem
ONE thev passed tie severe and inclemsnt
linter without murmur. They looked for
,ard with confidence for relief from their
ountrv in due season, and in this they were
OF disappointed.
Tne Secretary of War employed all his
nergies to forward them the necessary sup
lies, and to muster and send such a militia
n the part of the Mormcns hopeless, and
hus terminate the war without the ettusion
blood. In his Efforts be was efficiently
u.tained by Congress. They granted ap-
repristions sufficient 10 cover the deiicien-
= thus necessarily created, AND also provi-
ed for raising two regiments of volunteers
for the purpose of queling disturbances in
he territory of Utah, for the protection of
upply and emigrant trains, and the sup
rcssian Of Indian hostilities on the from /
ers. Il
Happily, there was nc occasion to call
lese regiments into service. If there had
cen, should have felt serious embarrass-
lent IN selecting them, SO great was 'ue
lumber of our brave and patriotic citizens
nxious to serve their countay in this dis
int and apparently dangerous expedition.
has it has been, and thus may it ever be.
The wisdom end economy Of sending suf- |
cient rsnforcements to Utah are establish
not only by this event, but in the opinion
those who, from their position and oppor-
mites, are the most capable Of forming a !
,rreet Judgment. General Johnston, the |
Of the forces, in addressing the
ecrstary of War from Fort Bridger, under
ate of October Is, 1867, expresses the opin-
N that "unless a large force is sent here, !
ON the nature Of the country, protracted
ar on their Uhe MOrmons) part is inevita'
le." This he considered necessary, to ter
innate the war speedily and more econom-
ally than If attempted by insufficient
,eans." ,,