Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-03-25

laws, yet we should be very careful not to
proceed to this fatal extremity except under
the most imperative necessity. The Spanish
Republics on this continent could never set
tie any dispute without the sword. The re,
suit is they are all dying out from The fatal
effect of their own violence. For my part,
I shall be sorry to see question involving
the fate of so large portion of our popula'
tion as this Utah question, incapable of any
other solution than civil war. We have had
two rebellions in our history; the frsr, Shay's
rebellion in Massachusetts during The Con-
federation, and the Whiskey Insurrection in
Pennsylvania, since the formation Of the ex-
listing Constitution In both of these in
stances order was finally restored without the
effusion of blood. Massachusetts,, by course
of singular prudence and frnness, succeed,
ed in subjugating their rebels without bat
tie; though hostile armies were actually in
the field.
It became the duty of Gen. Washington,
the then President, to deal with the Penn
sylvania insurgents. In reading the history
of that period, we are struck with the for
bearance with which Washington treated the
insurgents. He sent commissioners to re.
monstrate with them, and exerted every pos.
sible means tosolve the difficulty by peace.
full solution. When all peaceful means
seemed to have failed, he displayed strong
military force, and advanced against the in
surgents with the power of the Government,
still rendering peace. The result justified
the wisdom of Washington. The suprema'
cy of the law was established without blood
shed. General Washington was man Of
profound wisdom; though it was an easy
matter for the Government to beat down the
rebellion, and extinguish it in the blood Of
the insurgents, yet he knew that the Gov
ernment could not strike any portion of the
people without wounding itself, The same
grave consideration which made Gen. Wash.
ington reluctant to shed the blood of mis-.
guided men in Pennsylvania, makes me anx-
ious, if possible, to avoid the calamity in
Utah. I am unwilling, if it can possibly be
avoided, to put whole community of our
people to the sword, great as their errors OF
as their crimes may be. 1t is dangerous
precedent. I would avoid it if possible. !
fear its consequences.
Peaceful solution costs nothing; whereas
war will entail an expenditure of the most
astonishing amount. 1t will be the most ex'
pensive military expedition, to the force en-
ployed, ever set on foot in modern times
Utah is eleven hundred miles from the Mis-.
souri,; land passage through an uncultiya.
ted wilderness; portion of the way through
deserts and difficult mountains. Subsistence
will have to be carried by wagons from the
Missouri; even the animals with the army
cannot be sustained at all seasons along the
route by the native grasses. The expedi-
tion of Napoleon to Moscow has been looked
upon as great folly. Yet Moscow was only
five hundred miles from Napoleon's supplies
in Poland. 1t will take tons of gold to sup
port our troops in Utah. The expense Of
the army there will, I believe, amount to
$4,000 per man for the year. The Seminole
war cost something in the neighborhood Of
one hundred million dollars. The Seminole
war was war with few hundred savages,
in a country easily approachable By sea, and
to which supplies could be readily carried.
A war with the Mormons will have to be
carried on at vast distance from our sup.
plies, eleven hundred miles, againsta people
mad with fanaticism, and able to bring ten
thousand fighting men into the field. 1t is
true, the Mormons have not the swamps Of
Florida; but they have the mountains and
boundless plains, and vast desert steppes Of
Utah. To prosecute successfully the war in
Utah will require an expenditure absolutely
astounding. say, then, that the peaceful
adjustment of this difficulty is great econ
omy.
The peaceful mode of solving the Mormon
question is the most conformable to human
ity. No one wishes toshed the blood of this
misguided people. However great may be
their errors or their crimes, they are still a
portion of our people, entitledto our protec
tion and good Offices. To devastate theil
country and shed their blood, cannot but be
most painful alternative. A government
glori6es itself on the victories gained by it,
armies over foreign foe; it regrets those
gained over its own people. 1t erects tri
umphal arches to perpetuate the memory o.
the first: it draws veil of oblivion over the
second. When we consider the infinite mis-
cries we shall iDAict upon hepeople of Utah
by an offensive war, we cannot but deplort
the necessity, and if possible, endeavor tt
avoid it. If we could punish the guilt,
leaders alone, it would be we'll enough; bu
we cannot reach them, except by destroying
vast number of their misguided followers
As matter of humanity, then, we shoult
be glad to escape from the necessity of ma
king war upon this people.
The peaceful solution of the question
besides the advantages have already men
toned, is also by far the most cfficacious.
If we can restore order in Utah withou
bloodshed, then we will have accomplished
all we desire. Law and order will reigl
there; we will have avoided all the evil
and sacrifices of war, and secured the objec
we have in view; the rebellion will bav
ceased to exist, and our communications vii
be open and undisturbed to the Pacific I