The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-04

The History Of the Military
Difficulty.
TEE couRrs CRIPPLED.
Congressional InvestiEa-
ton Required.
A POSSIBLE FUSS TOMORROW

A POSSIBLE FUSS TOMORROW.
The HERALp's correspondent IN Salt Lake City
mas during the past week acquainted our readers
with a threatening difficulty between the federal
ofncers and the Mormon representatives over the
preparations for celebrating the nations birthday,
and as there is another view of the trouble than
what could well be gwen in teegr ans. We propose
give that view, that II the "tug OF war'' should
come with the dawnng OF this mornings sun the
nation may fully comprehend ii.
The diriculry IN Utah now Is properly traceable to
the negligence or Congress- and not to either OF the
direct litigants Had the assembled wisdom OF the
nation ever given to the laws in force within that
Territory their attention. was their duty ana obll
CATION, the scandal that has excited the nation for
the last ten months would have been unknown
THE MILITARY DIFFICULTY.
Taking cognzance OF the last report as first In or
der and stripping 1t of the coorng OF excitement 1t
means this: military organization Of citizen sodiery,
designated "the Nauvoo Legion" propose to take
part IN the procession OF tradesmen, artists farmers
and schools IN honor OF l776, and the Acting Gov
ernor, Mr.. Black, has issued q proclamation for
bidding the militia to appear in arms that day, as
being contrary 10 preceding proclamation forbid
ding "all musters, drills and all gatherings Of any
Kind or description Of armed persons"
To reach the pith OF this and its substance 1t is
proper here to state that since the Territory Of
Utah has been organized portion Of the United
States domain this 'Nauvoo Legion" has been
the designation OF the militia organic alton
OF the Territory. Indeed, 1t dates back
TO the soJourning OF the Mormons in
Illinois in 1910. At that time the Legislature OF
Illinois gave to Nauvoo, the home Of the saints, on
the borders Of the Mississippi, an extraordinary
charter, Incorporating the militia OF Nauvoo, Han
cock county, LEGION" and by the political innu.
ence OF a very popular, deceased Senator Of the
United States, the Governor OF Illinois commissioned
the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, its Lieutenant
General. In course Of time the Illinois Legislature
repeDted OF the tinsel glory it had shed over the
cooked hat and laced coat and stripes OF the pro-
phet and revoked the city charter and that OF The
Legion. But 1t was too late; the organization had
been effected and or1cered. 1t made no difference
to the Mormons who had drilled; what Illinois might
call them-they were drilled and disciplined.
Moving westward to the Rocky Mountains, they
took with them the experience of the past, carried
with the travelling sun their arms and ammunition
and were ablo to hold their own against the rowing
indians till the country was fully settled. Among
the first acts Of the Territorial Legislature OF Utah
was the resurrection OF the Nauvoo Legion In all
Its glory OF titles Brigham Dung was then Gov
ernor, by the appointment OF President Miard Fill.
ana was actually reappOlnted, Tor a second term OF
office, the Governor OF Utah, er OfctO Superntend
snt Of Indian Affairs and Commander-in- Chief Of
During this Rubernatorial reign OF over seven
years Brigham was every thing tn at his appointment
made him, and consequently controlled the militia;
but seeing the probability IN 1857 that new Cover
nor would be appointed and by virtue OF his office
Legislature made provision for the election by the
militia OF the Lieutenant General, who would be
actually the head OF the militia, though the Governor
The Governors who succeeded Brigham have done
some grumbling and III their messages have recon-
mended the acknowledgment OF the Governor as
COMMANDMENTS Chief OF the militia in more d.
rect, Tangible way than what they had been treated
to- but Legislatures everywhere have ways OF their
own. and so have had the Legislatures Of Utah.
of which is special duness OF comprehension when
the opposite faculty would bring along unpleasant
changes. Nothing was ever done.
j. Wilson Shaffer had been chief OF Buffers stan
during his campaign In louisiana and, educated by
example to be all that he was. he very naturally ex
he militia. The Norman isentenaat Genera d. IT. r.
Wells, with accustomed routine, was proceeding
In his usual way Win IN militia business ordering
dozen years before, when suddenly was Issued the
following
PROCLAMATION:
EXECUTIVE DErARTMEST SALT LAKE CITY,
Know We that wilson shaer Goveraor Of the Terri
tory Of Utah and Chief OF the Militia of the
s Or M Of militia Of the Ierrpry of Utah and
order the United States Marsha,
wise And hereby further ordered that al
territory 81 Of Utah %n s.a the
Of nd states be e 9 She
liam Johns mt Ssnsrs And 1 further
se% TO enforce any order Of the courts or preserve
ne " MAJOR o
soa,su armed force and Major General E. Common
other.
Here was the beginning Of fine muss. The mill
tia were everywhere crilng and preparing for their
annual three days MUSTER" and the Mormon cau
dron was boiling hercely. What could be done2
Shar1er was gritty, meant fight, II need be- and so
the Mormon Lieutenant General humbled himself TO
already ordered. shaier was SICK. rapidly going
on In consumption, and with such a life as his had
been for years in the tented neid accustomed to be
obeyed, he was MEMORABLE and evidently would have
been happy TO have died under the shadow of the
stars and stripes enforcing his proclamation, than
TO have quietly expired a few hours after.
To the Lieutenant General he dictated heavily
shotted letter ripping hum up nercely; and
charging him and his associates as being turbulent,
sedliious men. He signed me document, sent IL,
and in few hours alter he passed the river to
another shore.
ANOTHER PROCLAMATION.
EXECUTIVE DEpAErMEST, SALT LAKE. Crit
Know that IL; Wilson shaGer Governor q he Ter
sad eo by y Virtue o ta aed au t me
By The United states have his ap
s %a Of gan IerI.oTy aSd NJ john @ GOcne and
ordered that they be obeed and respected accord
Witness nv hand and the great said Terrory a,
sA' Lake CITY, this the 10Th dgy % sspiepppgr A. D. LEO
NEgNoN H. VAUGHAN. Secretary Utah territory.
The most calling humiliation that had ever been
offered 10 them was the appointment OF ''p T.. Con
nor, MAJOR General OF the militia OF Utah Territory
There never was man "a Utah Territory SO cor
dially hated by the Mormon leaders as General Con-
nor and that feature oil dislike was I'm parted TO the
saints everywhere. Tue General Is a man oil stern
resolve ana what he believed 10 be his duty he
would carry out III all HE'LL as ne once expressed
IT, ''was gaping 20 receive him. Governor Shaffer
died. but the procamations lived, and last year the
great militia musters In Salt Lase county did not
take place, as they bad annually done before These
Are the circumstances that give understanding TO
the present report and the possibility OF some
trouble.
THE GRoUNDs oy THE CONTROVERSY.
The renewed assumption or Lieutenant General
Wells 70 control the militia In ordering them out 10
take part In the procession to-day, has furnished