Nebraska advertiser., 1859-09-01
From Salt Lake.

The Platte .4rgus, says the St. Joseph
Vest, has a very interesting statement
from F. B. Davidson, in regard to the
affairs Of Salt Lake City. Mr., D. left
that city on the 22d inst. The sales Of
government mules were Progressing
Nineteen hundred had been sold and there
we're a thousand more to be disposed Of.
They were in fine order, and were better
for their government apprenticeship, than
when they left the border. Average price
s75-cost to the government $3.50. Mr..
D. came in with Sol. Young, of Jackson
county.
The people of Salt Lake are dissatisfied
at the change made in their mail arrange
ments. The army was more especially
dissatisfied, and grumbles much at the
course Of Mr.. Buchanan in regard to the
late difficulties IN Utah. The -four con-
tract, of which we have heretofore spoken,
continues to be a matter of complaint with
the army. The soldiers aver that they
have undergone hardships and privatiOns
enough to entitle them at least to an arti-
Gle of -four that would be marketable in
the States. The quality of -four manu-
featured in Utah is of the most miserable
quality, and is worth there from five to
eight dollars per hundred yet the con-
tract is let at S28 60. No wonder the
soldiers express dissatisfaction.
We make the following extract from
Mr.. D. statementin relation to the fraud
attempted to be practiced d the Govern
ment by the Mormons, and in which
Brigham Young himself is implicated to
some extent:
"There was considerable excitement In
the Valley about the 10th Of July in re-
gard to an attempt TO swindle government
by the Mormons. It seems that a man
by the name of Mckenzie, (the Church
Engraver) and one Mr.. Brewer, concoct-
ed a plan to engrave plates for the pur-
pose Of issuing Quartermaster's drafts,
and so complete was their success that
Col. Crossman himself admitted that he
could not have told them from the genuine
had they been presented to him. Fortu-
nateIv, Brewer made known his plan to
Mr.. John Wallace, a Gentle and Mis-
sourian. Mr.. Wallace, after listening TO
all his plans and promises of fortune, Sc,
provided he would be one of the ~disbursers
of the counterfeit drafts, consented to
enter the list as a full partner. But Wal
lace, it seems, was recommended to the
partners by Brigham Young, which was
afterwards proved.
Mr.. Wallace, however, as soon as
Brewer left him, communicated immedi-
ately with Gen. johnson, informing him
of the whole plan and asking his advice
TO which Col. Johnson replied but urging
him to nurse the matter and see what
would be the result. In six weeks after
the plot was cotton up, the plates were
completed and blanks ready for filling up.
1t was then arranged that Wallace should
pass one hundred thousand dollars in the
Valley, to merchants, traders and gam
blers. (There were not to be smaller
drafts han 1885, in order to keep them
out of the hands of the Mormons.l
Wallace was then to 60 to California,
Brewer to the States, Mckenzie to branch
and sell where he could.
When all was completed and ready for
service Brewer was advised by Wallace
to take one three hundred and eightv-fve
and 65-100 draft and try how il
would go, which was presented to some
merchant and the money paid without a
word. Mr.. Brewer and Mckenzie we're
then ARRESTED and turned over to Judge
Brewer has turned States evil
dence, and exposed the whole plot as above
stated-in which he says that Brigham
Young knew that the work was going on.
The engraving was all done inside of
Brigham's walls"
A most excellent little story is to be