Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-06-14
Presidents Proclamation to the MOrmOns'
Bv James Buchanan, PrssideHt Of the OH'iea
States Of Ameriea

f31,eign countries. who have for several years
nast manifested 4 spirit of insubOrdinatlon 70
In !, constitution and laws OF the U United Stats'
the GREAT mass of those settlers, acting under
the ioduenee of leaders 10 whom they seem 70
have surrendered their judgment, refuse 10 DC
controlled BY any other authority. They have
heen often advised to obedience, and these inend-
Iy counsels have been answered win deiiahee-
Officers of the federal Government have been
driven from the territory for no otiense but an
effort to do their sworn duty. Others have been
prevented from going there by threats OF assas
sination. Judges have been violently interrupt
"A in the performance of their functions, and
the records of the courts have been seized and
either DESTROYED or concealed. Many other acts
of unlawful violence have been peTpetrated, and
the rigbt 70 repeat them has been openly claim
/ ed by the leading inhabitants, with at least the
| silent acuuiesceuce Of nearly all the others
/ Their hostility TO the lawful government of the
country has at length become 80 violent, that no
officer bearing a commission from the chief
magistrate of the Union can enter the territory
/ or remain there with safety; and all the officers
reeently appointed have been unable To 60 TO
/ Salt Lake or anywhere else in Utah beyond the
| immediate power Of the army. Indeed, such
Is believed TO be the condition TO which a strange
system ofterrorism has brought the inhabitants
OF that region, that no one among them could
express an opinion favorable TO this government,
or even propose to obey its laws, without expo
sing his life and properly 10 peril
| After carefully considering this state Of af
fairs, and maturely weighing the obligation |
was under TO see the laws faithfully executed.
| il seemed 10 mo right and proper that should
make such use of the military force at my dis
posal as might be necessary 10 protect the fed
eral officers in going into the territory Of Utah,
and in performing theiE duties after arriving
there. / accordingly ordered q detachment Of
the army TO march for the City of Salt Lake, or
within reach Of that pace, and to actin case OF
need as posse for the enforcement of the laws.
But, in the meantime the hatred of that mis-
guided people for the just and legal authority Of
the government had become so intense that they
resolved TO measure their military strength with
that Of the Union. They have organized an
armed force far from contemplate in point OF
numbers and trained II, If not with skill, at least
with great assiduity and perseverance,. While
the troops of the United States were on their
march, train of baggage wagons, which hap
lrsned TO be unprotected, was attacked and des-
troyed by portion of the Mormon forces, and
the provisions and stores with which the train
was laden were wantOnly burnt. In short, their
present attitude ia one Of decided aud unTessv-
Cd enmity to the United States and to all their
loyal citizens Their determination TO oppose
the authority of the government by military
force has not only been expressed IN words, but
manifested in overt acts Of the most unequiyo-
cal character.
Fellow citizens of Utah, this is rebellion
against the government to which You owe ale
gisnce. 1t is leyying war against the United
States and involves you in the guilt Of treason.
Persistence in II will bring yoa To eondign pun
ishment, to rnin and TO shame for it is mere
madness to suppose that, with your limited re-
sources, you can successfully resist the Tore Of
this great ond powerful nation
II you have calculated upon the fOTbearance
of the United States-if YOU have permitted
yourselves to suppose that this Government
will fail TO put forth It's strength and bring you
to submissiOn-yOu have fallen into grave
mistake. You have settled upon territory that
lies geographically in the heart Of the Union.
The land you live upon was purchased by the
United States and paid for out of their treasury.
The proprietary right and title to 1t Is in them,
and not in you Utah Is bounded on every side
lby States and Territories whose people are
true to the Union Il is absurd 10 believe that
they will OF can permit you TO erect in their
very midst ! government Of your own, not only
independent of the authority which they all
acknowledge, but hostile to them and their IN
terests.
Do not deceive yourselves nor to try to mis-
lead others by propagating the idea that tins Is
a crusade against your religion The coDstitu-
ton and laws of this country can take no no
tice of your creed, whether it be true OF false.
That Is question between your God and your
selves, in which I disclaim all right to inter-
fere. Ifyou obey the laws, keep the peace and
respect the Just rights Of others, you viii be
lperiectly secure, and may live on in your pres
ent faith or change it for another at your plea
sure Every intelligent man among you knows
yery well that this government has never di-
reeily or indirectly sousht TO molest you IN
YOUR ecclesiastical Affairs, or even 10 influence
YOU in your religious opinions
This rebellion is not merely a violation of
your legal duty; it is without just cause, with
out reason, without excuse. You never made
a complaint that was not listened to with pa
thence. You never exhibited real grievance
that was not redressed as promptly as 1t could
be- The laws and regulations enacted for your
government by Congress have been equal and
Just. and their enforcement was manifestly ne
lcessary for your own welfare and happiness
You have never asked their repeal They are
similar in every material respect TO the laws
which have been passed for the other territories
of the Union, and which everywhere else with
one partial exeeptiOn) have been cheerfuly
obeyed No people ever lived who were ireer
from unnecessary legal restraints than you
Human wisdom never devised political system
which bestowed more blessings or imposed
lighter burdens than the government of the
United States in Its operation upon the terrific
ries.
But being anxious to save the effusion Of
blood, and to avoid the indiseriminate punish
ment of whole people for crimes OF which IT
is not probable that all are equally guilty, |
offer now a full and free pardon TO all who will
submit themselves to the authority OF the fed
eraI government If you refuse 70 accept it,
let the consequences fall upon your own heads
But eonjure you to pause deliberately and re-
/ fleet well before you reject this tender OF peace
and good will
Now, therefore, /. James Buchanan, Presi.
! dent of the United States, have thought proper
TO issue this, my proclamation, enjOlning upon
all public officers IN the territory of Utah 70 be
diIieent and faithful, to the fun extent of their
power, in the execution OF the laws; command
ing all citizens Of the United States in said ter
ri5ory TO aid and assist the officers in the per-
4 formance Of their duties; offering TO the inhab-
itan.s Of Utah, who shall submit to the laws,
free pardon for the seditions and treasons here
tofore by them committed; warning those who
shall persist, after notice of this proclamation,
in the present rebellion against the United
States, that they must expect no further lenity,
but look to be vigorously dealt with according
to their deserts; and declaring that the military
forces now in Utah, and hereafter to be sent
there, will not be withdrawn until the inhabi
tanis of that territory shall manifest proper
sense of the duty which they owe to the gov
eminent.
In testimony whereof 1 have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal OF the United
States to be affixed to these presents
IL 81 Done at the city Of Washington, the