The Mountaineer. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1859-1861, 1860-02-04
UTAH.
[ From he Secretary Of Vars Report

From h1e Secretary Of Vars Report.
Affairs in the Territory Of Utah re-.
main very much as at the date Of nv
last annual report. The army is inactive.
and stands In the attitude of 4 menac.
ing force towards q conquered and sullel
people. | am satisfied that the preser-
walton Of rights and justice, through
means Of any Jurisprudence known or
recognized by the people Of the United
States, is impossible in that Territory.
tits governed practically, BY system
which Is in total disregard 81 the laws 81
constitution Of the land. The laws Of
the Mormon church and the will Of the
hierarchy are alone potential there. Be.
yond mere outward show Of acquies.
oence in federal authority, they are as
irresponsible 40 3. y fssssgss na.sos..
There Is, in the present attitude Of
affairs, scarcely any necessity for the
presence Of troops in Utah, and they will
be otherwise disposed Of in the coming
season There are no complaints Of In.
dian hostilities towards the Mormon neo-
pie. All other territories and people
upon our vast frontiers suffer from In
dian depredations, but the Mormon peo-
lple enjoy an immunity from all their
outrages. For the protection of these
people against Indians there is no neces-
sity Tor the presence ofa single soldier.
Murders and robberies OF the most atro-
cicus character have been perpetrated IN
the Territory upon emigrahts from the
States Journeying towards the Pacific,
ana IN some OF the most shocking instan-
ces BY white men disguised as Indians.
The general impression, SO far as / have
been able 70 ascertain it, amongst those
having opportunity to know, is that
these murders are the work OF the Nor
mon people themselves, sanctioned If
not directed, by the authority Of the
Mormon church. I
cannot commend in terms to high
the wise prudence and officer-like con.
duct Of the General COMMANDING the
army in Utah, The discipline 81. his
command Is admirable, and its efficiency
Y unsurpassed. Much has been done
through the army under command Of
General Johnston, towards improving
the roads IN Utah. and TO give TO the
lpuohc fuller knowledge Of the condition
ana resources Of the Territory. Captain
y: =. simpson. Of the Typographical en-.
glneers, has, during the past season, ex-
Eplored and opened two new routes from
camp Floyd to California, either Of
which Is about ESQ miles shorter than
.ne old emigrant route by the way OF the
Humboldt river and far better for grass.
wood and water.
Over both these routes he conducted
party Of sixty five men and train Of
fourteen wagons, and since his return to
camp Floyd, many emigrants with large
nerds OF cattle have passed over the
route by which he returned, which is the
oetter OF the two Itineraries for both
nave been furnished to the public
through the press in California and Utah.
Inc saving in time Of travel by these
ROADS TO ernigrants for California is
ABOUT hlteen days and for the mails about
four. The saving in stock and draught
cattle on these routes over those form.
erly travelled, owing to the pure water
and abundant grass, is estimated at.
twenty-five per cent. Captain Simpson
has also, under the instructions of Gem
.eral Johnston, found new wagon road
pass from the valley Of the Great Salt
Lake, by the way Of the TimpaBagos.
river valley and Des Chesney's fork of
the Einta river, into the valley OF Green
liver, which viii shorten he route pur-