THE MORMON WAR.
Important Correspondence from the Utah Expedition.
Threatenings of Brigham Young.
Determined Purpose of the Mormons to Re-sist the United States Troops by Force.
The Washington Union, of yesterday, pub-lishes the following important dispatch from Col. JOHNSTON, of the Army of Utah, inclosing com-munications from BRIGHAM YOUNG to Col. ALEX-ANDER, and other documents. We published in yesterday's issue some brief extracts from the correspondence, received by telegraph from Wash-ington :
HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF UTAH, Black's Fork,
three miles below mouth of Ham' Fork,
en route to Salt Lake City, Nov. 5,1857. }
MAJOR: I have the honor to inform you that I ar-rived here on the 3d instant. This place I desig-nated in a communication to Colonel ALEXANDER, sub-sequent to my letter to you of the 18th of October, from the South Pass, as the one at which the force, (consisting of one squadron of dragoons, two compa-nies of the Tenth Infantry, and one company of vol-unteers—in all about 300 men,) under the command of Colonel C. F. SMITH, charged with the duty of pro-tecting the trains of supplies for the army, could, with the most facility, join the main body. Colonel SMITH, with his command, and the numerous trains guarded by it, reached here on the 3d instant. The march was slow and tedious, and effected in eight days—averaging 11 miles per day. Although the road was excellent and the weather fine, it was not possible to make any more rapid progress, on account of the broken-down condition of the draught animals. Trains, including settlers and merchants, destined for Salt Lake, (which I would not allow to go on,) in as close order as they could be made to travel, occupied a space of five or six miles. No molestation what-ever was attempted by the Mormons, which maybe at-tributed to the presence of the cavalry and the judi-cious dispositions and vigilance of Col. SMITH. Yesterday and to-day have been occupied in making arrangements necessary for a forward movement, which my orders will explain. To-morrow I will march upon Fort Bridger and dislodge any force I may find there, and await the arrival of Col. COOK, when, as the approach of Winter is too near to at-tempt the passage of the Wasach range of mountains with a probability of success, I will seize upon the district mentioned in my letter from South Pass, and occupy it until an advance is practicable.
The communications from BRIGHAM YOUNG to Col. ALEXANDER, and Elder TAYLOR to Captain MARCY, and the orders of D. WELLS, the commander of the Mor-mons, (herewith inclosed,) and the acts of the legis-lative assembly at the last session, show a matured and settled design on the part of the sect of Mormons to hold and occupy this Territory independent of and irrespective of the authority of the United States. They have, with premeditation, placed themselves in rebellion against the Union, and entertain the insane design of estab-lishing a form of government thoroughly despotic and utterly repugnant to our institutions. Occupying, as they do, an attitude of rebellion and open defiance to the Government, connected with numerous overt acts of treason, (see orders and commissions here-with, issued by the leaders,) I have ordered that whenever they are met with arms they may be treat-ed as enemies.
In my letter from the South Pass, I submitted to the consideration of the General-in-Chief the neces-sity on the part of the Government of prompt and vigorous action ; that the time for further argument is past; and, in my opinion, the people of the United States must now act or submit to a usurpation of their territory, and engrafting upon our institutions a social organization and political principles incompat-ible with our own. Lest that letter may not have been received, I send herewith a copy.
The state of things now existing has not been brought about by the movements of troops in this di-rection ; for these people understand the relation of the military to the civil power of the Government as well as any other portion of the inhabitants of the Union, and that the arms of our solders are designed for the preservation of the peaceful condition of so-ciety, and not for its disturbance. Their conduct, as I have before stated as my opinion, results from a settled determination on their part not to submit to the authority of the United States, or any other out-side of their Church.
Inclosed is a statement of the Chief Commissary of the amount of subsistence desrtoyed under the orders of BRIGHAM YOUNG. The loss, although great, is less than I apprehended. A supply early in the Spring must be forwarded. It should reach here by the 1st of June. The supplies of the contractors, suttlers, &c., for the employes, have been exhausted ; so long a detention with the army was not anticipated by them. It is become necessary to give them bread, as there is no other source from which they can ob-tain it. Should a long interval intervene without hearing from me, you need only attribute it to the difficulty of sending expresses across the mountains in the Winter months. The officers and men are in fine health, and animated with an ardent desire to discharge their duties faithfully.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
A. S. JOHNSTON, Col. 2d Cavalry.
P. S.—We have made one day's march since the date of this, and are now (November 7) awaiting the arrival of trains, delayed yesterday by a storm. Our trains occupy, in as close order as they can travel, the road for thirteen or fourteen miles. Therefore, the rear cannot move till late in the day. A. S. J.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY,
UTAH TERRITORY, Oct. 14,1857.}
COLONEL : In consideration of our relative positions, you acting in your capacity as commander of the United States forces, in obedience, as you have stated to orders from the President of the United States, and I as Governor of this Territory, impelled by every sense of justice, honor, integrity, and patriot-ism to resist what I consider to be a direct infringe-ment of the rights of the citizens of Utah, and an act of usurpation and tyranny unprecedented in the his-tory of the United States, permit me frankly to ad-dress you as a citizen of the United States, untram-meled by the usages of official dignity or military eti-quette.
As citizens of the United States we both, it is pre-sumable, feel strongly attached to the Constitution and institutions of our common country, and, as gentlemen, should probably agree in sustaining the dear-bought liberties bequeathed by our fathers, the positions in which we are individually placed being the only apparent cause of our present antagonism ; you, as Colonel commanding, finding that you have a rigid duty to perform in obedience to orders, and I, a still more important duty to the people of this Terri-tory.
I need not here reiterate what I have mentioned in my official proclamation, and what I and the people of this Territory universally believe firmly to be the object of the Administration in the present expedition against Utah—viz : the destruction, if not the entire annihilation, of the Mormon community, solely upon religious grounds, and without any pretext whatever ; for the Administration do know from the most reliable sources that the base reports circulated by DRUMMOND, and others of their mean officials, are barefaced calumnies. They do, moreover, know that the people of Utah have been more peaceable and law-abiding than the people of any other Territory of the United States, and have never resisted even the wish of the President of the United States, nor treated with indignity a single individual coming to the Ter-ritory under his authority, although the conduct and deportment of many of them have merited, and in any other State or Territory would have met with summary punishment. But when the President of the United States so far degrades his high position and prostitutes the highest gift of the people so as to make use of the military power (intended only for the protection of the people's rights) to crush the people's liberties, and compel them to receive officials so lost to self-respect as to accept appointments since the known and expressed wish of the people, and so craven and degraded as to need an army to protect them in their position, we feel that we would be re-creant to every principle of self-respect, honor, in-tegrity and patriotism to bow tamely to such high-handed tyranny, a parallel to which is only found in the attempts made by the British Government in its most corrupt stages against the rights, liberties and lives of our forefathers.
Now, Colonel, I do not charge you, nor those serv-ing under you, with the instigation of the enormities. I consider that you are only the agent made use of by the Administration—probably unwillingly so—to fur-ther their infamous designs. What high-minded gentleman can feel comfortable in being the mere catspaw of political jugglers, hucksters, penny-a-liners, hungry speculators, and disgraced officials? Yet it is from the statements of such men only that the Administration have acted, attaching the official seal to your movements. New, I feel that when such treason is perpetrated unblushingly in open daylight against the liberties and most sacred rights of the citizens of this Territory, it is my duty, and the duty of every lover of his country and her sacred institu-tions, to resist it and maintain inviolate the Constitu-tion of our common country.
Perhaps, Colonel, you may feel otherwise ; educa-tion and associations have their influences ; but I have yet to learn that United States officers are im-plicitly bound to obey the dictum of a despotic President in violating the most sacred constitutional rights of American citizens.
We have sought diligently for peace. We have sacrificed millions of dollars' worth of property to attain it, and wandered a thousand of miles from the confines of civilization, severing ourselves from home, the society of friends, and everything that makes life worth enjoyment. If we have war it is not of our seeking; we have never gone or sought to interfere with the rights of others but they have come and sent to interfere with us. We had hoped that in this barren and desolate country we have remained unmolested, but it would seem our implacable and blood-thirsty foes envy us even these barren deserts. Now, if our real enemies, the mobocrats, priests, editors, and politicians, at whose instigation the present storm has been gathered, had come against us instead of you and your command, I would not have addressed them taus. They never would have been allowed to reach the South Pass.
In you we recognize only the agents and instru-ments of the Administration, and with you personally have no quarrel. I believe that it would have been more consonant with your feelings to have made war upon the enemies of your country than upon American citizens. But to us the end to be accomplished is the same; and while I appreciate the unpleasantness of your situation, you must be aware that circumstances compel the people of Utah to look upon you in your present belligerent attitude as their enemies and the enemies of their common country, and notwithstand-ing my most sincere desire to promote amicable rela-tions with you, I shall feel it my duty, as do the people of the Territory universally, to resist to the utmost, every attempt to encroach further upon our rights.
It, therefore, becomes a matter for your serious consideration, whether it would not be more in accord-ance with the spirit and institutions of our country to return with your present force rather than force an issue so unpleasant to all, and which must result in much misery and perhaps bloodshed, and, if persisted in, the total destruction of your army. And, further-more, does it not become a question whether it is more patriotic for officers of the United States army to ward off, by all honorable means, a collision with American citizens, or to further the precipitate move of an indiscreet and rash Administration, in plunging a whole Territory into a horrible, fratricidal and san-guinary war.
Trusting that the foregoing consideration may be duly weighed by you, and that the difficulties now pending may be brought to an amicable adjustment, with sentiments of esteem, I have the honor to re-main, most respectfully, &c.,
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, Great Salt Lake City,
Utah Territory, Oct. 16, 1857. }
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th inst., at 8 h. 36 m. this morning, and embrace the earliest opportunity to re-ply, out of courtesy to your position at this late sea-son of the year.
As you officially allege it, I acknowledge that you and the forces under your command have been sent to this Territory by the President of the United States, but we shall treat you as though you were open enemies, because I have so many times seen armies in our country, under color of law, drive this people, commonly styled "Mormons," from their homes, while mobs have followed and plundered at their pleasure, which is now most obviously the design of the General Government, as all candid thinking men know full well. Were not such the fact, why did not the Government send an army here to pro-tect us against the savages when we first settled here, and were poor and few in number? So contrary to this was their course, that they sent an infernal requisition for five hundred of our most efficient men, (while we were in an Indian country, and striving to leave the borders of the United States, from which its civilization (?) had expelled us,) with a preconcerted view to cripple and destroy us. And do you fancy for a moment that we do not fully under-stand the tender (?) mercies and designs of our Gov-ernment against us? Again: if any army was or-dered here for peaceful purposes, to protect and pre-serve the rights and lives of the innocent, why did Government send here troops that were withdrawn from Minnesota, where the Indians were slaughtering men, women and children, and were banding in large numbers, threatening to lay waste the country?
You mention that it is alone in my gubernatorial capacity that you have any business with me, though your commanding officer, Brevet Brigadier-General HARNEY, addressed his letter by Captain VAN VLIET to "President BRIGHAM YOUNG, of the Society of Mor-mons."
You acknowledge the receipt of my official procla-mation forbidding your entrance into the Territory of Utah; and upon that point I have only to again in-form you that the matter set forth in that document is true, and the orders therein contained will be mast strictly carried out.
If you came here for peaceful purposes, you have no use for weapons of war. We wish, and ever have wished, for peace, and have ever sued for it all the day long, as our bitterest enemies no full well; and though the wicked, with the Administration now at their head, have determined that we shall have so peace except it be to lie down in death. In the name of Israel's God we will have peace, even though we be compelled by our enemies to fight for it.
We have yet studiously avoided the shedding of blood, though we have resorted to measures to resist our enemies, and, through the operations of those mild measures, you can easily perceive that you and your troops are now at the mercy of the elements, and that we live in the mountains, and our men are all mountain-eers. This the Government should know, and also give us our rights, and then let us alone.
As to the style of those measures, past, present or future, persons acting in self-defence have of right a wide scope for choice, and that, too, without being very careful as to what name their enemies may see fit to term that choice, for both we and the Kiom of God will be free from all hellish oppressors, the Lord being our helper. Threatenings to waste and exterminate this people have been sounded in our ears for more than a score of years, and we yet live. The Zion of the Lord is here, and wicked men and devils cannot destroy it.
If you persist in your attempt to permanently lo-cate an army in this Territory contrary to the wishes and constitutional rights of the people therein, and with a view to aid the Administration in their unhal-lowed efforts to palm their corrupt officials upon us, and to protect them, and black-legs, black-hearted scoundrels, whoremasters, and murderers, as was the sole intention in sending you and your troops here, you will have to meet a mode of warfare against which your tactics furnish you no information.
As to your inference concerning "public and pri-vate letters," it contains an ungentlemanly and false insinuation, for, so far as I have any knowledge, the only stopping or detaining of the character you men-tion has alone been done by the Post-office Depart-ment in Washington, they having, as you must have known, stopped our mail from Independence, Mo., by which it was but fair to presume that you, as well as we, were measurably curtailed in mail facilities.
In regard to myself and certain others having placed ourselves "in a position of rebellion and hos-tility to the Government of the United States,” I am perfectly aware that we understand our true and most loyal position far better than our enemies can inform us. We of all the people are endeavoring to preserve and perpetuate the genius of the Constitu-tion and Constitutional laws, while the Administra-tion and the troops they have ordered to Utah are, in fact, themselves the rebels, and in hostility to the General Government. And if GEORGE WASHINGTON was now living and at the helm of our Government, he would hang the Administration as high as he did ANDRE, and that, too, with afar better grace, and to a much greater subserving the best interests of our country.
You write,"It becomes you to look to the conse-quences; for you must be aware that so unequal a contest can never be successfully sustained by the people you govern." We have counted the cost it may be to us; we look for the United States to en-deavor to swallow us up, and we are prepared for the contest, if they wish to forego the Constitution in their insane efforts to crush out all human rights. But the cost of so suicidal a course to our enemies we have not wasted our time in considering rightly, deeming it more particularly their business to figure out and arrive at the amount of so immense a sum. It is now the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil. If God is for us, we will prosper; but if he is for you and against us, you will prosper, and we will say "Amen! let the Lord be God and Him alone we will serve."
As to your obeying "orders," my official counsel to you would be for you to stop and reflect until you know wherein are the just and the right, and then, David Crockett like, go ahead. But if you undertake to come in here and build forts, rest assured that you will be opposed, and that you will need all the force now under your command, and much more. And in regard to your warning, I have to inform you that my head has been sought during many years past, not for any crime on my part, or for so much as even the wish to commit a crime, but solely for my religious belief, and that, too, in a land of professed constitutional re-ligious liberty.
Inasmuch as you consider your force amply suf-ficient to enable you to come to this city, why have you so unwisely dallied so long on Ham's Fork at this late season of the year?
"Carrying out the views of the Government," as those views are now developing themselves, can but result in the utter overthrow of that Union which we in common with all American patriots have striven to sustain; and as to our "failure" in our present efforts to uphold rights justly guaranteed to all citi-zens of the United States, that can be better told hereafter.
I presume that the "spirit" and tenor of my reply to your letter will be unsatisfactory to you, for, doubt-less, you are not aware of the nature and object of the service in which you are now engaged. For your better information, permit me to inform you that we have a number of times been compelled to receive and submit to the most fiendish proposals made to us by armies virtually belonging to the United States, our only alternative being to comply therewith. At the last treaty, forced upon us by our enemies, in which we were required to leave the United States, and with which we as hitherto complied, two United States Senators were present, and pledged themselves, so far as their influence might reach, that we should be no more pursued by her citizens. That pledge has been broken by our enemies, as they have ever done when this people were a party; and we have thus always proved that it is in vain for us to seek or expect protection from the officials of the ad-ministrators of our Government.
It is obvious that war upon the Saints is all the time determined, and now we for the first time possess the power to have a voice in the treatment that we will re-ceive, and we intend to use that power so far as the Con-stitution and justice may warrant, which is all we ask for. True, in struggling to sustain the Constitution and constitutional rights belonging to every citizen of our Republic we have no arm nor power to trust in but those of Jehovah and the strength and ability that he gives us.
By virtue of my office as Governor of the Territory of Utah. I command you to marshal your troops and leave this Territory, for it can be of no possible ben-efit to you to waste treasures and blood in prosecuting your curse upon the side of a rebellion against the General Government by its administrators. You have had, and still have, plenty of time to retire within the reach of supplies at the East or to go to Fort Hall. Should you conclude to comply with so just a command, and need any assistance to go East, such assistance will be promptly and cheerfully ex-tended. We do not wish to destroy the life of any human being, but, on the contrary, we ardently de-sire to preserve the lives and liberty of all, so far as it may be in our power.
Colonel, should you or any of the officers with you wish to visit this city, unaccompanied by troops, as did Capt VAN VLIET, with a view to personally learn the condition and feelings of this people, you are at liberty to do so, under my cheerfully proffered assu-rance that you will be escorted from our outposts to this city and back; and that, during your stay in our midst you will receive all that courtesy and attention your rank demands.
Doubtless you have supposed that many of the peo-ple here would flee to you for protection on your ar-rival; and if there are any such persons they shall at once be conveyed to your camp in perfect safety so soon as such fact can be known.
Were you and your fellow-officers as well ac-quainted with your men as I am with mine, and did they understand the work they are now engaged in as well as you may understand it, you must know that many of them would immediately revolt from all connection with so ungodly, illegal, unconstitu-tional, and hellish a crusade against an innocent people ; and if their blood is shed, it shall rest upon the heads of their commanders. With us it is the Kingdom of God or nothing I have the honor to be your obedient servant, BRIGHAM YOUNG,
Governor and Superintendent of Indian
Affairs of Utah Territory.
E. B. ALEXANDER, Colonel 10th Infantry, U. S. A., Commanding. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE,
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 28, 1857. }
SIR: Having learned that Mrs. MAYO, with her in-fant child, wishes to join her husband in your camp, also that Mr. JESSE JONES, who has been in this city a few weeks, was anxious to see Mr. ROUP, it has af-forded me pleasure to cause the necessary arrange-ments to be made for their safe conveyance to your care, under the conduct and protection of Messrs. JOHN HARVEY. JOSEPH SHARP, ADAM SHARP and THOMAS J. HICKMAN, the bearers of this communication.
Mrs. MAYO and her infant are conveyed to your camp in accordance with my previously often ex-pressed readiness to forward to you such as might wish to go ; and is the only resident of that descrip-tion in Utah, as far as I am informed. Her husband made his first appearance here in the capacity of a teamster for Capt. W. H. HOOPER. He was then in very destitute circumstances ; has since been in the employ of the late United States Surveyor General of Utah ; and I am not aware that he has any property or tie of any description in this Territory, except the wife and child now conveyed to him in your camp.
Should Colonel CARBY and lady wish to partake of the hospitalities proffered by Mr. HAYWOOD and fami-ly, and should Capt. R. B. MARCY desire to favor me with a visit, as I infer from his letter of introduction forwarded, and in my possession ; or should you, or any other officers in your command, wish to indulge in a trip to this city, you will ye kindly welcomed and hospitably entertained, and the vehicle and es-cort now sent to your camp are tendered for the con-veyance of such as may receive your permission to avail themselves of this cordial invitation.
It is also presumed that your humane feelings will prompt you, in case there are any persons who wish to peacefully leave your camp for this city, to permit them to avail themselves of the protection and gui-dance of the escort now sent.
Trusting that this communication will meet your entire approval and hearty cooperation, I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
BRIGHAM YOUNG,
Governor and Superintendent of
Indian Affairs, U. T.
Col. E. B. ALEXANDER,
10th Inf., U. S. A., Camp Ham's Fork.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 21, 1857.
CAPTAIN MARCY—My Dear Sir : I embrace this the earliest opportunity of answering your communica-tion to me, embracing a letter from Mr. FULLER, of New-York, to you, an introductory letter to me, and also one from W. J. APPLEBY, to Governor YOUNG ; the latter, immediately on its receipt, I forwarded to his Excellency ; and here let me state, Sir, that I sin-cerely regret that circumstances now existing have hitherto prevented a personal interview.
I can readily believe your statement, that it is very far from your feelings, and most of the command that are with you, to interfere with our social habits or religious views. One must naturally suppose that among gentlemen educated for the army alone, who have been occupied by the study of the art of war, whose pulses have throbbed with pleasure at the contemplation of the deeds of our venerated fathers, whose minds have been elated by the re-cital of heroic deeds of other nations, and who have listened almost exclusively to the declamations of patriots and heroes, there is not much time, and less inclination, to listen to the low party bicker-ings of political demagogues, the interested twaddle of sectional declaimers, or the throes and con-tortions of contracted religious bigots. You are stand on elevated ground, representing the power and securing the interests of the whole of a great and mighty nation. That many of you are thus honorable, I am proud as an American citi-zen to acknowledge; but you must excuse me, my dear Sir, if I cannot concede with you that all your officials are so high-toned, disinterested, humane, and gentlemanly, as a knowledge of some of their ante-cedents expressly demonstrates. However, it is not with the personal character, the amiable qualities, high-toned feelings, or gentlemanly deportment of the officers in your expedition, that we at present have to do. The question which concerns us is one that is independent of your personal, generous, friendly and humane feeling, or any individual predi-lection of yours ; it is one which involves the dearest rights of American citizens, strikes at the root of our social and political existence, if it does not threaten our entire annihilation from the earth. Excuse me, Sir, when I say you are mere-ly the servants of a lamentably-corrupt Ad-ministration ; that your primary law is obedience to orders ; and that you came here with armed for-eigners—with cannon, rifles, bayonets, and broad-swords—expressly and for the openly-avowed pur-pose of "cutting out the loathsome ulcer from the body-politic." I am aware what our friend FULLER says in relation to this matter, and I entertain no doubt of his generous and humane feelings, nor do I of yours, Sir. But I do know that he is mistaken in relation to the rabid tone and false, furious attacks of a venal and corrupt press. I do know that they are merely the mouth-piece, the tools, the barking dogs of a corrupt Administration. I do know that Mr. BUCHANAN was well apprised of the nature of the testimony adduced against us by Ex-Judge DRUM-MOND and others; for he was informed of it, to my knowledge, by a member of his own Cabinet. And I further know, from personal inter-course with members of the Senate and House of Representhtives of the United States, that there have been various plans concerted at "head-quarters" for some time past for the overthrow of this people. Captain, Mr. FULLER informs me that you are a poli-tician. If so, you must know that, in the last Presi-dential campaign, the Republican Party had opposi-tion to Slavery and Polygamy two of the principal planks in their platform. You may know, Sir, that Utah was picked out, and the only Territory exclud-ed from a participation in the preëmption rights to land. You may also be aware that bills were intro-duced into Congress for the prosecution of the Mor-mons ; but other business was too pressing at that time. I might enumerate injuries by scores; and if these things are so, why is it not that Utah is so "knotty a question?"
If people were no more ready to interfere with us and our institutions than we are with them and theirs, these difficulties would vanish into thin air. Why, again I ask, could DRUMMOND and a host of other mean scribblers palm their barefaced lies with such impunity, and have their infamous slanders swallow-ed with such gusto? Was it not that the administra-tion and their satellites, having planned our destruc-tion, were eager to catch at anything to render spe-cious their contemplated acts of blood? Or, in plain terms, the Democrats advocated strongly popular sovereignty. The Republicans tell them that if they join in maintaining inviolable the domestic institutions of the South, they must also swallow polygamy. The Democrats thought this would not do, as it would interfere with the religious scruples of many of their supporters, and they looked about for some means to dispose of the knotty question. BUCHANAN, with DOUGLAS, CASS, THOMPSON, and others, after fail-ing to devise legal measures, hit upon the expedient of an armed force against Utah, and thus thought by the sacrifice of the Mormons to untie the knotty question; yes, by destroying or killing a hundred thousand innocent American citizens, satisfy a pious, humane, patriotic feeling of their constituents, take the wind out of the sails of the Republicans, and gain to themselves immortal laurels. Captain, I have heard of a pious Presbyterian doctrine that would inculcate thankfulness to the All-wise Creator for the privilege of being damned. Now, as we are not Presbyterians, nor believe in this kind of self abne-gation, you will, I am sure, excuse us for finding fault at being thus summarily dealt with, no matter how agreeable the excision or expatriation might be to our political, patriotic, or very pious friends. We have lived long enough in the world to know that we are a portion of the body politic, have some rights as well as other people, and that, if others do not re-spect us, we at least have manhood enough to respect ourselves.
Permit us here to refer to a remark made by our friend, Mr. FULLER, to you, viz.: "That he had ren-dered me certain services in the City of New-York, and that he had no doubt that when you had seen and known us as he had you would report as favorably as he had unflinchingly done." Now, those favors, to which Mr. FULLER refers, were simply telling a few plain matters of fact that had come under his own ob-servation during a short sojourn at Salt Lake. This, of course, I could duly appreciate, for I always ad-mire a man who dares tell the truth. But, Captain, does it not strike you as humiliating to manhood and to the pride of all honorable American citizens, when among the thousands that have passed through and sojourned among us, and knew as well as Mr. FULLER did our true social and moral positions, that perhaps one in ten thousand dares state his honest convic-tions; and, further, that Mr. FULLER, with his knowl-edge of human nature, should look upon you as a raravis, possessing the moral courage and integrity to declare the truth in opposition to the floods of false-hood that have deluged our nation. Surely, we have fallen on unlucky times, when honesty is avowed to be at so great a premium.
In regard to our religion, it is, perhaps, unnecessa-ry to speak: yet, whatever others' feelings may be about it, with us it is honestly a matter of conscience. This is a right guarantied unto us by the Constitution of our couutry; yet it is on this ground, and this alone, that we have suffered a continued series of persecutions, and that this present crusade is set on foot against us. In regard to this people, I have traveled extensively in the Unied States and through Europe, yet I have never found so moral, chaste, and virtuous a people, nor do I expect to find them. And if let alone, they are the most patriotic, and appreci-ate more fully the blessings of religious, civil and political freedom than any other portion of the Uniled States. They have, however, discovered the difference between a blind submission to the caprices of political demagogues, and obedience to the Constitution, laws, and institutions of the United States ; nor can they, in the present instance, be hoodwinked by the cry of "treason." If it be treason to stand upon our conssitutional rights ; f it be treason to resist the unconstitutional acts of a vitiated and corrupt administration, who, by a merce-nary armed force, would seek to rob us of the rights of franchise, cut our throats to subserve their party, and seek to force upon us his corrupt tools, and vio-lently invade the rights of American citizens; if it be treason to maintain inviolate our homes, our fire-sides, our wives, and our honor from the corrupting and withering blight of a debauched soldiery ; if it be treason to keep inviolate the Constitution and insti-tutions of the United States, when nearly all the States are seeking to trample them under their feet, then, indeed, are we guilty of treason. We have carefully considered all these matters, and are prepared to meet the “terrible vengeance"we have been very po-litely informed will be the result of our acts. It is in vain to hide it from you that this people have suffered so much from every kind of official that they wilt en-dure it no longer. It is not with them an idle phan-tom, but a stern reality. It is not, as some suppose, the voice of BRIGHAM YOUNG only, but the univer-sal, deep-settled feeling of the whole community. Their cry is, “Give us our constitutional rights; give us liberty or death." A strange cry, indeed, in our boasted model Republic, but a truth deeply and indel-ibly graven on the hearts of a hundred thousand American citizens by a series of twenty-seven years' unmitigated and unprovoked, yet unrequited wrongs. Having told you of this, you will not be surprised that when fifty have been called to assist in repelling our aggressors, a hundred have volunteered, and when a hun-dred have been called the number has been more than doubled; the ouly feeling is, "Don't let us be overlooked or forgotten.” And here let me inform you that I have seen thousands of hands raised simultaneously voting to burn our property rather than let it fall into the hands of our enemies. They have been so frequently robbed and despoiled without redress that they have solemnly decreed that, if they cannot enjoy their own property, nobody else shall. You will see by this that it would be literally madness for your small force to attempt to come into the settlements. It would only be courting destruction. But, say you, have you counted the cost? have you considered the wealth and power of the United States, and the fearful odds against you? Yes; and here let me inform you that, if necessitated, we would as soon meet one hundred thousand as a thousand, and, if driven to the necess-ity, will bura every house, tree, shrub, rail, every patch of grass and stack of straw and hay, and flee to the mountains. You will then obtain a barren, desolate wilderness, but will not have conquered the people, and the same principle in regard to other property will be carried out. If this people have to burn their property to save it from the hands of legal-ized mobs, they will see to it that they shall be with-out fuel; they will haunt them by day and by night; such is in part our plan. The $300,000 worth of our property destroyed already in Green River county is only a faint sample of what will be done through-out the Territory. We have been thrice driven by tamely submitting to the authority of corrupt offi-cials, and left our houses and homes for others to in-habit ; but we have now determined that if we are again robbed of our possessions our enemies shall also feel how unpleasant it is to be houseless at least for once, and be permitted, as they have sought to do to us,
"To dig their own dark grave,
Creep into them and die."
You see we are not backward in showing our hands. Is it not strange to what lengths the human family may be goaded by a series of oppression? The Administration may yet find leisure to pause over the consequences of their acts, and it may yet become a question for them to solve, whether they have blood and treasure enough to crush out the sacred princi-ples of liberty from the bosoms of 100,000 freemen, and make them bow in craven servility to the men-dacious acts of of a perjured, degraded tyrant. You may have heard already that it is anything but pleas-ant for even a small army to contend with the chil-ling blasts of this inhospitable climate. How a large army would fare without resources you can picture to yourself. We have weighed these matters; it is for the Administration to post their own books. It may not be amiss, however, here to state that, if they continue to prosecute this inhuman, fratricidal war, and our Nero would light the fires, and, sitting com-placently in the chair of State, laugh at burning Rome, there is a day even for Neroes. There are generally two sides to a question. As I have said be-fore, we wish for peace, out we are determined on having it if we have to fight for it. We will not have officers forced upon us who are so degraded as to submit to be sustained by the bayonet point. We cannot be dragooned into servile obedience to any man.
These things settled, Captain, and all the like pre-liminaries of etiquette are easily arranged ; and per-mit me here to state that no man would be more courteous and civil than Gov. YOUNG ; nowhere could you find in your capacity of an officer of the United States a more generous and hearty welcome than at the hands of his Excellency. But when, instead of battling with the enemies of our country, you come (though probably reluctantly) to make war upon my family and friends, our civilities are naturally cooled, and we instinctively grasp the sword. Minie rifles, Colt's revolvers, sabres, and cannon may display very good workmanship and great artistic skill, but we very much object to having their temper and capa-bilities tried upon us. We may admire the capabili-ties and gentlemanly deportment, heroism, and pat-riotism of United States officers, but in an official ca-pacity of enemies we would rather see their backs than their faces. The guillotine may be a very pretty instrument, and show great artistic skill, but I don't like to try my neck in it.
Now, Captain, notwithstanding all this, I shall be very happy to see you, if circumstances should so transpire as to make it convenient for you to come, and to extend to you the courtesies of our city, for I am sure you are not our personal enemy. I shall be happy to render you any information in my power in regard to your contemplated explorations.
I am heartily sorry that things are so unpleasant at the present time, arid I cannot but realize the awk-wardness of your position, and that of your com-patriots ; and let me here say that anything in my power compatible with the conduct of a gentleman you can command. If you have leisure, I should be most happy to hear from you. You will, I am sure, excuse me if I disclaim the prefix of Rev. to my name. Address JOHN TAYLOR, G. S. L. city.
I need not here assure you, that personally, there can be no feelings of enmity between us and your officers. We regard you as the agents of the Ad-ministration in the discharge of a probably unpleasant duty, and very likely ignorant of the ultimate designs of the Administration. As I left the East this Summer, you will excuse me when I say I am probably better posted in some of these matters than you are, having been one of a delegation from the citizens of this Territory to apply for admission into the Union. I can only regret that it is not our real enemies that are here instead of you. We do not wish to harm you, or any of the command to which you belong, and I can assure you that in any other capacity than the one you now occupy, you would be received as civilly and treated as courteously as in any other portion of our Union.
On my departure from the States, the fluctuating tide of popular opinion against us seemed to be on the wane. By this time there may be quite a reac-tion in the public mind. If so, it may probably affect materially the position of the Administration, and tend to more constitutional, pacific and humane measures. In such an event our relative positions would be materlally changed, and, instead of meeting as enemies, we could meet as all Americans should—friends to each other, and united against our legiti-mate enemies only. Such an issue is devoutly to be desired, and I can assue you that no one would more appreciate so happy a result to our present awkward and unpleasant position than
Yours, truly, JOHN TAYLOR.
HEAD-QUARTERS EASTERN EXPEDITION,
CAMP NEAR CACHE CAVE, Sunday, Oct. 4, 1857. }
MAJOR JOSEPH TAYLOR : You will proceed with all possible dispatch, without injuring your animals, to the Oregon road, near the bend of Bear River, north by east of this place. Take close and correct ob-servations of the country on your route. When you approach the road, send scouts ahead to ascertain if the invading troops have passed that way. If they have passed, take a concealed route and get ahead of them. Express to Col. BENTON, who is now on that road and in the vicinity of the troops, and effect a junction with him, so as to operate in con-cert. On ascertaining the locality or route of the troops, proceed at once to annoy them in every possible way. Use every exertion to stam-pede their animals and set fire to their trains. Burn the whole country before them and on their flanks. Keep them from, sleeping by night sur-prises. Blockade the road by felling trees, or destroying river fords where you can. Watch for opportunities to set fire to the grass on their windward, so as, if possible, to evelop their trains. Leave no grass be-fore them that can be burned. Keep your men con-cealed as much as possible, and guard against sur-prise. Keep scouts out at all times, and communica-tion open with Col. BENTON, Major MCALLISTER and O. P. ROCKWELL, who are operating in the same way. Leep me advised daily of your movements, and every step the troops take, and in what direction. God bless you and give you success. Your brother in Christ, DANIEL U. WELLS.
P. S.—If the troops have not passed, or have turned in this direction, follow in their rear, and continue to annoy them, burning any trains they may leave. Take no life, but destroy their trains, and stampede or drive away their animals at every opportunity
D. U. W.
True copy in the hands of Major JOSEPH TAILOR when captured.
