Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-01-17
RU LAND HERALD.
MoNBAY, JANUARY IA, 1867.
Utah and It's Relation 60 the Govern.
meut.

ture "Across the Continent" and con-
firmed by the narrative of Mr.. Bowles OF
theSpringheld Republican in his book up
on the same subject, is calculated to at
tract our attention and lead us to consider
in what relation Mormonism stands TO
our national government, and to ask
what is the remedy for such state
of things as exist in that Territory
We do not presume to point out the
remedy or In any way to Indicate the
course TO be pursued, only so far as to
awaken the people to the importance OF
early removing the stigma which rests
upon our nation.
We have been quietly believing here
at the East that when the late civil war
overthrow the usurped authority OF
president Davis" as well as the illegal
functions of the self-constituted "Con-
federate Congress" organized and sys-
tematzed opposition to the general gov
eminent within the limits Of the ter |
titory belonging of right to the United
States, ceased but the Developments |
made and the opinions expressed by in
tellgent eastern travellers brings to |
licht the fact that in what is generally
supposed 10 be, as yet, territorial gov
eminent there really exists sovereign
State, known to its subjects the Nor
mons, as the State Of Deseret, with an
army. treasury and officers OF its own.
While we are given to understand that
General Grant is in command Of all the
troops from Maine to Oregon, yet we
learn that a Gen. Daniel II. Wells &C
knowledges no superior except his Com
mander-in- CHIEF, "President Brigham
Young
We may look at and consider this
self constituted government small al
cair but our people may have reason to
regret their OWE folly in not sooner
raising the popular voice against the
temporizing policy the government has
hitherto adopted in relation to affairs
in Utah.
Brigham Young estimates that there
is more than double the number of peo-
ole in Utah than in Colorado and Ne
vsda united. This is q fact that intel
ligent men should consider. There are
more than twice as many people in this
territory as in two other adjoining dis
trcts of country, where one has been
alread yadmltted as State to all the priv
ileges of the Union and the other was only
prevented from becoming a State by
the veto of the President This large
population is, to all intents and pur-
poses, hostile to the present government
of the United States and is constantly
receiving accessions to its strength.
Every single day that the solution OF
this question is deferred makes the
leaders more defiant and arrogant, and
they undoubtedly have the intention OF
declaring themselves entirely tndepend-
ent Of the United States, whenever
an opportunity occurs. The question
rises, will the government permit them
70 select their own time and its hour OF
weakness ? We are aware that some
contend that this question will right
itself, but is there any more probability
than that slavery should have disap-
peared without the pressure that was
brought to bear upon it. The assumed
President of the State of Deseret has
emphatically declared that he will not
give up the peculiar institution Of the
tlatter dav saints and that if he has
to resign the valley of the Salt Lake, he
will "leave it as desolate as it was
found"
The fact of the immense 'mot@1ol
benefit which has accrued to that section
of the country in consequence OF the
Mormon occupation is not to be denied,
and great credit is due for their energy
and patient perseverance in retaining
that desert region. The leaders are bold
who use their deluded followers for thell
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT and selfish pur
poses, and it would be mercy to the
majority of the latter-day saints if the
general government should at once inter
fere and enforce the laws against polyg
amy. If they do not so interfere ant
time Is given the leaders to concentrate
and organize for resistance, there viii
sooner or later be bloodshed and civil
war in that Territory which could bt
avoided by frmness and prudence on the
part of our rulers. Let the people anC
statesmen of America take warning
from the history of secession. They did
not believe the South dared to lift
its hand against the Federal govern
ment and listened to its threats with
indifference, and the result has beer
written in blood upon the heartsof almos
every family in the nation. This ques
ton is but small cloud upon the polit
ical horizon as yet but if no attention
be paid toit, storm will burst upon III
he hy re fin p