, 1860-09-28
The MOrmOnS-Their Proposed EmIgra-
lion.

uOu.
The people of California entertained a
hope, sometime ago, that the MOrmons
were about to emigrate, and parties, resi-
dents Of this city, undertook q visit to
Brigham Young, for the purpose Of per-
suading him to accept broad lands in Cen
trail America, the reputed property Of Geo.
Law, Of New York, as a consideration for
the lands and improvements Of the Nor
mons in Utah. Nothing, however, resulted
from the negotiation. The Latter Day
Saints appear to have simply laughed at
the propositions submitted to them. We
find in the Boston 7raUeler the following
statement, from which it would appear the
project has not been entirely abandoned:
eve stated few days since, on the au-
thority of the New York 7Ymss, that Capt
Walter NJ. Gibson-Whose romantic histo-
ry in connection with his travels in and ex-
ploration OF the Eastern Archipelago, fol- b
lowed by persecution and Imprisonment at
the hands of the Dutch authorities, must be
familiar to many of our readers-had In
contemplation plan for the entire removal
Of the Mormon community to one Of the
large East India Islands. Yesterday we
were favored with visit from Capt. Glib
son, who has furnished US with some inter
esting facts in regard to the proposed emf
grafton.
capt. Gibson states that he submitted
his plan of removal to DR.. Bernhisel, the
Mormon delegate at Washington, some
three years sinee!l DR.. BernhiseI referred
the matter to Brigham Young, and the
feelings Of the MOrmons, Wearied with their
continual difficulties. appeared to be thath
they could obtain pay for their improve
ments in Utah they would be willing to
emigrate in body. President Buchanan
was then applied to, the favorerS Of the
project urging that it would be much bet
ter to spend few hundred thousand dol
lars in the purchase Of the property at Salt
Lake than to throw away millions in the
support Of the army stationed IN that dis
tant region. Mr.. Gibson received areply
from Gen. Cass, 10 substance that the Ex-
ecutlve could not entertain any such propo-
sition, holding that the duty Of The Govern
ment consisted In maintaining peace and
ensuring due enforcement Of the law.
This was about the time that the C0mmia-
siOners were sent on BY the President when
a collision between the Mormons and the
troops was quite imminent.
"But Capt. Gibson does not appear to be
disposed to abandon the scheme. He has
consulted with a number Of leading men in
Washington, and is sanguine Of ultimate
success BY means Of an act Of Congress. In
the meantime an expedition Of about three
hundred MormOns. led BY Capt Gibson,
will start on an exploring tour, probably to
the Island Of New Guinea. which possesses
an ample territory, Is heavily timbered, and
has other requisites for the support Of .
large population. II the report ofthe CON-
pany shOuldbe favorable, the main body
may be disposed to emigraso across The
waters Of the Pacific, should means be fur
nished to remunerate them for the posses
slons they leave behind. We can sec no
objection to the proposition, ,.and i is esr-
tainly cheap way Of settling a trouble
some question.
capt. Gibson states that the Mormons
in Utah now number about one hundred
and twenty thousand. The army Of the
United States stationed there has dwindled
down to few companies On bis way to
the States, Capt. Gibson met band-cart
trains Of Mormons making their way 10
Utah, to the number Of about 2IO0, and
the extent Of emigration this year is esti-
mated at about -four thousand. The emf
grants were IN good condition, and seemed
to be we'll supplied with the necessariss Of
life."