The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-07-29
CARSON IN EARLY TIMES.

A few days ago we published a letter
signed "a Nevadan," which origin
ally appeared in the Salt Lake Herald,
relative to the state of affairs formerly
existing between the Mormons and
others in this State. The Corinne
journal takes issue with the author,
and in reply publishes several inter-
esting documents from the official
records of the old County of Carson,
while under the jurisdiction OF Utah,
including Judge Cradlebaugh's charge
to the Grand Jury. Among other
matter appertaining to the history OF
the early times in Carson the Journal
publishes the following letter:
The Hon. James NJ. Crane, Delegate
elect from Nevada before it was erected
into a Territory, addressed a letter to
ton, January 18th, 1859, which con-
tanned the following, tO-wit:
'.The MOrmOns and anti OrmOnS
began the settlement of Western Utah
in the latter part of 1854. The former.
however, succeeded, in 1855, in obtain
ing a numerical majority; and the
Legislature of Utah, on being informed
of this fact. organized the whole west
ern part of the Territory, under the
name of Carson county. and Gov.
Young appointed Orson Hyde, Presi-
dent of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles, its Probate Judge. Soon
after the Judge arrived, people from
California, as well as from the Atlantic
States, settled in Carson and other
valleys on the eastern side of b Sierra
Nevada, for the purpose of mining,
farming, and raising stock. AS they
increased very fast the MOriDons be-
came-siarmed and determined to expel
them. They therefore ordered them
to leave the country. OF course they
refused to do so. The Mormons then
assembled their forces and attempted
to expel them, vi ct arms. The anti
MornOnS also organized and fortified
themselves, with a view of defending
their lives and property against their
asSailants. FortwO weekStheir armies
encAmpei nearly in sight of each other,
without coming to a direct battle. by
this time, news ad reached the miners
in California of the state of affairs, and
a large number had determined to
cross the mountains, and afford pro-
lection to the anti MormOns. On hear
ing this, the MOrmOns became satisfied
that, unless they retraced their steps,
they would themselves be driven from
the country by the anti Mormons.
They therefore proposed a truce. and
agreed that all should enjoy a common
heritage IN that part of the Territory
The Journal editorially remarks in
continuation of the foregoing:
.'Mr. Crane goes on to tell in the
same letter how they repealed the
county organization, recalled the Pro-
bate Judge, and removed all the
county and court records to Salt Lake
City, where they have retained them
to this day. leaving the people OF Ne
vada for years in as complete a state OF
anarchy as American society ever gets,
with no legal protection for life or
property, and no power of obtaining
it. AfJerward they attempted, surrep-
.titiOusly, TO re-Organize the county,
sent on another Judge. who tried to
force an election for county officers.
The people defeated this by electing a
set of officers oftheir own, who refused
to qualify and act; they notified the
said Judge that they would resist the
enforcement of Mormon rule, peace-
ably if they could, forcibly if they
must; that if the MorfnOns persisted
in their effort to enforce that rule,
blood would flow"