Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-03
Exciting News from Utah.

Advices from Utah represent affairs in thai
territory as worse than they have ever been, eli
Their before or since the arrival fthe army there
The ill-teelDg had reached its eliminating point
and the people were on the eve OF open hostili
ties. ~ " =
Differences also exist between Governor Gum
ming and General Johnson, touching their res
pective powers, and there is likewise an oper
rupture between the Executive and the Judi
ciary. ~ rt.g
The Federal courts find it impossible to exer
else their functions, the Grand Jury refusing te
find bills, and using every other means to screer
parties accused of murder and other crimes.
Judge Cradlebaugh had discharged the jury
and had been compelled to discharge also oil the
prisoners in custody On the occasion OF the dis
charge of the juries, the Judge charged the Nor
mons with having obstructed the officers OF the
Court, suppressed testimony, and refused to make
provision for the confinement and maintenance
of prisoners. 80 i|+-
Owing to the excited state of the popular feel.
ing, detachment of one thousand troops had
moved from Camp Floyd, and encamped near
Provo. Governor Cumming had issued proc
lamation, defending the Mormons from the char
ges made against them. 1t is not stated whether
he had demanded the withdrawal of the troops
from Provo.
Much bad feeling also existed between the
Mormons and the United States troops, though
those of the latter who are stationed at Provo
had behaved with remarkable forbearance. A
collision, however, between the two parties was
considered imminent.
A series of letters published in the Salt Lake
Valley Ian giving the proceedings of Judge Ora
dlebaughs Court at Provo, explain to some ex-
tent the difficulties and disturbances in the Ter
rtory. The misunderstanding between Govern
or Cumming and General Johnson seems to have
grown out of the refusal of the latter to with
draw the troops from Provo, which had been
sent there under o requistion of the Court, to
protect witnesses Judge Cradlebaugh passed
severe structures upon Governor Cumming proc
lamstioD, (Which has not been received here,)
characterizing it as Informal, as evidently design
ed to exaeperate the people against the troops,
to obstruct the course justice, and to excite in
subordination in the army. He also says that
instead of the presence of the troops tending to
terrify the inhabitants and to intimidate wit
nesses, the jurors and parties testifyng in behalf
Of the prosecution have been compelled to seek
the protection of the troops against the threats
and intimidations of the very inhabitants said to
be so terrified 8tt-
Judge Cradlebaugb, who was sitting merely as
a committing magistrate, would go to Camp
Floyd the following week to continue the inves-
tigaions, the testimony ELECTED duplicating sew.
eral Bishops and Presidents, civil authorities of
the Territory, in murders OF various times, all of
whom fled to escape arrest. Four Grand Jurors
discharged by Cradlebaugh had also fed.
Cedar City and several other towns in the vi
cinity of the Mountain Meadows massacre are al
most depopulated. 1t is also stated that the In
dams, about thousand strong, headed by white
men, had mustered in that neighoorhood, who
express determination to prevent the arrest OF
any one in that section. ~
Judge Oradebsugh emphatically denies that
the Grand Jury protested against their discharge,
as stated by the Deseret News.