, 1859-01-14
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY JANUARY H. 1852

be suppressed and the Mormons compelled 70 yield
obedience to the constitution and the laws In urdei
to accomplish this object, as | informed you IN my
/ last annual message, appointed new governor in
stead of Brigham Young, and other federal officers T.
take the place OF those Who consulting their personal
safety, had found it necessary u withdraw from the
Territory. To protect these civil officers, and to aid
them as a posse cOBfGtas, in the execution Of tic
laws in case of need, | ordered detachment OF the
army to accompany them To Utah. The necessity iOl
adopting these measures is now demonstrated.
On the 18th September 1857, Governor Young is,
sued his proclamation, in the style OF an independent
sovereign, announcing his purpose to resist by force
Of the entry Of the United States troops into our
own Territory of Utah. By this he required all the
forces In the Territory to hOld themselves in leadi
ness to march at psOmeuts notice to rcpel any and
all such invasion, aud establish martial law nom its
date throughout the Territory. These proved to be
no idle threats. Forts Brdger and Supply were va
Gated and burnt down by the Mormons todeprye our
troops Of shelter after their long and iatigning
march. Orders were issued by Daniel II. Wells,
styling himself "Lieut. 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 aud destroy
ing the fords Of rivers, etc, etc. etc.
These orders were promptly and efectually obeyed.
On the 4th October, 1851 the MUrmons captured and
burned Green river three of supply trains con
si5tng OF sevenyfive wagons loaded with provisions
dred animals. This diminished the supply OF provis-
ions materially that General Johnston was obliged
to reduce the ration, and with this pecauton,
there was only Sufficient left to subsst the troops until
the first Of June.
Our little army behaved admirably in their encamp-
ment at Fort Brdger, under these trying privatens
In the midst OF the mountains in dreary, unsettled
and inhospitable REGION more than Thousand miles
from home, they passed the and inclement win
ter without murmur They looked forward with
confidence for relief from their country in due season.
and in this they were not disappointed
The Secretary of War employed all his energies to
forward them the necessary supplies. and to muster
and send such military froce to Utah would
der resistance on the part of MormOns hopeless, and
thus terminate the war without the euSiGn Of blood
u his efforts he was efficiently sustained by Congress
They granted appropriations sufficient 10 cover the
deficiency thus necessarily created and aso provided
for raising two regiments Of volunteers "for the pur
pose OF quelng disturbances in the Territory Of Utah.
for the protection of supply and emigIant trains and
the suppression Of Indian hosttes on the frontiers"
Happily, there no occasion to/call these regi-
ments into service. IL there had been, should have
felt serious embarrassment In selecting them, great
was the number of our brave and patriotic citizens
anxious to serve their country in this distant and ap
parenty dangerous expedition. Thus il has ever been,
and thns may it ever be.
The wisdom and economy OF sending sufficient rein
forcements to Utah are established not only by the
event. but in the opinion of those whO from their po
son and opportunities, most capable Of forming
n correct judgment General Johnston, the cOmman-
der Of the forces, in addressing the Secretary Of War
from Fort Brdger, under date OF October l8, 1857,
sent here from the nature Of the country prUtTacted
war on their Qhe Mormons) part is inevitable" This
he considered necessary TO terminate the "speedi
ly and more economically than II attempted by INSULT
cent means.n
In the meantime II was my anxious desire that the
Mornons should yield obedience to the constitution
and the laws without rendering it necessary to resort
to military force. To aid in accomplishing this object
in April IN ttrO1
tingushed citizens Of the Cnited States Messrs. Pow
ell and McCulloch. to Utah. They bore with them
proclamation addressed by myself TO the inhabitants
Of Utah, dated on the 9Th day Of that month warning
them Of their true condition and how hopeless it
their part to persist in rebellion against the Uni
ted States and offering all those who would submit to
the laws full pardon for their past seditions and
treasons. At the same time, | assured those who
should persist in rebellion against the United States
that they must not expect further leny hut look TO
lie vigorously dealt with according to their deserts.
The instructions TO these agents, well copy Of
the proclamation and their reports. are herewith sub
mtted. 1t will be by their report Of the Sd of
July last, that they have fully confirmed the opinion
expressed by General johnson in the previous 0ct0-
ber tn the necessity Of sending reinfrcements TO
Utah. In this they state that they are finally i'm
pressed with the belief that the presence Of the army
here and the large additional force that had been
dered TO this Territory, were the chief inducements
that caused the MormOns 10 abandon the idea of re-
sistng the authority Of the United States less de-
oisve policy would probably have resulted in long,
bloody, and expensive war;
These gentlemen conducted themselves to my entire
satisfaction and rendered useful services IN executing
the humane intentions Of the government.
1t also affords me great satisfaction IN state that
Governor Cumming has performed his duty in an able
and concatOry manner, and with the happest effect.
cannot, In this connection refrain from mentioning
the valuable services Of Col Thos. l.. Kane, who,
from motives Of pure benevolence, and without any
official character or pecuniary compensation visited
Utah during the last inclement winter, for the pur-
pose OF contributing to the purcation Of the Terri
tory.
lam happy to inform you that the Governor aud
other civil officers OF Utah. are performing their
appropriate functions without resistance. The au-
thority Of the constitution and the laws have been
fully restored and peace prevail throughout the Ter
ritOry.
A portion of the troops sent to Utah are now en-
camped in Cedar valley, fory-four miles west OF Salt
Lake City; and the remainder have been ordered to
Oregon to suppress Indian hostilities.
The march of the army to Salt Lake City through
the Indian Territory, has had a powerful effect in
restraining the hostile feelings against the United
States, which existed among the Indians in that
region, and in securing emgnnts to the Far West
against their depredatons. This will also be the
means Of establishing military posts and promoting
settlements along the route.
recommend that the benefits Of our land laws and
pre-emption system lie extended to the people of
Utah by the establishment Of a land Office in that
Territory
Our Relations with China.
have occasion also TO congratulate you on the re-
suit Of our negotiations with China.
You were informed by my last annual message, that
our minister had been instructed to occupy neutral
position In the hosttes conducted by Great Britain
and France against Canton, He was, however at the
same time, directed to cooperate cordially with the
British and French ministers, in all peaceful measures
to secure by treaty those just concessions to foreign
commerce, which the nations Of the world had right
to demand It was impossible for me 10 proceed fur
ther than this, on my own authority without usurping
the warmakng power, which, under the constitution
belong exclusively TO Congress.
Besides after a careful examination Of the nature
and extent of our grievances did not believe they
were Of such pressing and aggravated character.
would have justified Congress in declaring against
the Chinese empire, without first making another
earnest attempt to adjust them by peaceful negota-
ton. was the more inclined to this opinion because
Of the chassement which had then but recent
y been inflicted upon the Chinese by squadron in
the capture and destruction Of the Barrier forts, to
avenge an alleged insult TO our flag.
The event has proved the wisdom Of our neutrality.
Our minister has executed his instructions with emi
nent kill and ability. In conjunction with the Rus
sian plenPotentiary he has peacefully but eectually
co-operated with the English and French penipoten-
tiaFies. and each a. the has