HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM UTAH.
Entrance of the Army into Salt Lake City.
Visit to Provo City—Brigham Young and his Harem.
DISCOURSE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.
Speech of Gov. Powell, U. S. Peace Commissioner.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF MORMON LIFE.
From Our Special Correspondent.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T.,
SATURDAY, July 3,1858
ENTRANCE OF THE ARMY INTO SALT LAKE CITY.
The Army of Utah, under command of Brevet Brigadier-General JOHNSTON, entered this Valley on Saturday, the 26th ult., an hour or two after my letter of that date was mailed to you. It was about 9½ o'clock in the morning when the right of the advance column emerged from the cleft of the Wasatch Mountains known as Emigration Canon, and began to spread its long line over the tortuous road down the “bench" towards the city. The day was per-fectly clear, and the whole line of march could be distinctly seen as the troops trailed over the gentle slope from the mountain-foot to the river-bottom, presenting the finest possible view which could be had of an army in motion. Gen. JOHNSTON had issued an order on the evening preceding his entrance to the city, commanding the enforcement of the strictest discipline while passing through the city, and ordering the instant arrest of every man who should leave the column upon any pretence whatever. The object of this order was achieved, and the army presented an example of the most perfect decorum, neither by word or deed manifesting the least symptoms of the ill-will which it is well known was felt among the troops towards the people who had kept them freez-ing on Green River during a long and comfortless Winter.
The line of the Army, as it trailed into the city, was at least ten miles long, and when the head of the column had advanced to the temporary camping-ground west of the Jordan River flowing through the valley bottom, we could look from the General's tent and see the glistening bayonets and the snowy wagon covers of the rear still defiling out from the mount-ains. The scene was magnificent and cheering to Gentile eyes, but exceedingly humiliating to the few Mormons who witnessed it,—men who had repeated-ly prophesied "in the name of Israel's God" that the Army should never enter the Valley, and whose pri-vate conversations and public speeches for months past have been full of brave declarations of their power and determination to see that the prophesy was fulfilled. It is due to them to remark here, how-ever, that they still maintain their ability to have ex-cluded the Army, declare that they would have done it had volunteers been sent instead of "regulars," or if the Peace Commissioners had not come and made them promises which they chose to accept as condi-tions of their forbearance. But more upon these points anon.
THE MORMON LINE OF DEFENCES.
In the army the facilities of the Mormons for de-fence against the troops is a topic of general mirth, and especially the defences in Echo Canon, under-stood to have been planned by Major S. M. BLAIR—a brave and determined man beyond all doubt—a su-perior Indian fighter, but a perfect babe in military knowledge when the enemy are to be dealt with—are composed of American troops under officers famed for military science, knowledge and skill. There are in this army many officers who served in Mexico, all of whom declare that Echo Canon, even had it been crowded with Mormon militia, would have presented not a quarter of the difficulties to General JOHNSTON'S command that were so brilliantly overcome at Cerro Gordo or Molina del Rey. The heights of the Canon and its deep dells constituted nothing more nor less than a trap for those who might attempt to dispute the passage of troops, for they would require far greater resources to defend them than to assail. Such is the universal opinion in the army, whose officers crack a perfect fusilade of jokes over the Echo Canon bug-bear which had filled the public eye in the States and at Washington for months.
A MILITARY RECONNOISSANCE.
The army, as I have already said, camped on the Jordan, spreading their tents and wagons, for a mile or more, along its banks. On Monday, the 28th ult., General JOHNSTON started out, with a Board of army Officers, to examine the country, with a view to se-lecting sites for the military posts he has to establish in the Territory. You are already aware that Cache Valley has been urged upon his attention by the peo-ple here, and it was supposed at first that he would establish the Winter quarters there. Further in-formation, however, has satisfied him that, although that valley has an abundance of fine grass, water and timber, it is too bleak and cold for the comfortable quartering of the army during the Winter season,—besides being too far from this Valley to command it as readily as he deems important to the public inter-ests. The probability, therefore, is that General JOHNSTON will not select Cache Valley unless a suit-able locality cannot he found elsewhere.
The purposes of the reconnoissance upon which he started on Monday last, was to ascertain by personal inspection what is the character of Loville, Rush, Skull and Cedar Vallies, lying to the west or south of Great Salt Lake. He was accompanied by his Adjutant, Major PORTER, Lieutenant-Colonel SMITH, Captain MARCY and Captain NEWTON, and other offi-cers of the army, and by a number of civilians, in-cluding Major BEN. MCCULLOCK, DAVID A. BURR, former Deputy-Surveyor of the Territory, and Cap-tain J. M. HARBIN, of California,—all of whom are mere or less familiar with the countries to be visited. The party were escorted by Captain De LAUSSURE'S Company.
THE ARMY LEAVING THE CITY—PERMANENT QUARTERS.
During the absence of the General, the command of the camp on Jordan devolved upon Colonel ALEX-ANDER, of the 10th Infantry, under whose orders the troops moved on Tuesday to BRIGHAM'S Canon, twelve miles south of the City, and on Wednesday six miles further to West Creek Canon, for the purpose of obtaining the necessary feed for their great herds, the grass in the Valley being quite insufficient. The army will probably remain in its present neighbor-hood; its permanent locations are decided upon and designated. General JOHNSTON manifests a consider-ate desire that his command should incommode the people little as possible. And although every foot of land in the Territory still belongs to the United States, he is not disposed to deprive the citizens of their pasture ranges for cattle. They do not give him credit for any such sentiment, but some of their leaders indicate the bitterest and most captious spirit towards him, speaking of him as a "d—d hound,” &c., because he did not go at once with the entire army to some point distant from the city.
A VISIT TO PROVO—SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
The army being fairly in camp in the Jordan, your correspondent started on Saturday evening for Provo City, forty-eight miles south of this place, and in the valley of Utah Lake, where the head men of the Mormon Church, and the mass of the people who abandoned their homes in this city, are at present congregated. The road to Provo lies directly south-ward up the Valley of Salt Lake—for the Jordan River runs to the northward—crossing a succession of "benches," until it strikes the "Point of the Moun-tain,"—a spur of the Wasatch, jutting out some miles from the main range, and overlooking the valley of the Jordan, hundreds of feet below where that stream bursts through its ancient wall of hills, and enters the Valley of Salt Lake, with its burden of the fresh and pure water of Utah Lake, of which Jordan is the out-let. The "Point of the Mountain" is turned by a fine road, lying upon a shelf in the crumbling rock, cut there by the Mormons, and kept in order by them. Leaving the "Point" we descended to the higher bench, bounding Utah Valley on the north, where we found the city of Lehi, about thirty-three miles from Salt Lake City. Here we halted for the night, finding "accommodations" at the house of Bishop EVANS, an elderly member of the brotherhood, who rejoices in half a dozen wives and lots of babies. Lehi is surrounded by a mud wall, some ten feet high and six feet thick at its base, reared originally for protection from Indians, who, until quite recently, were in the habit of descending upon the settlements for purposes of murder and plunder. The town ordi-narily contains perhaps a thousand to fifteen hundred inhabitants, but like all the settlements within a hun-dred miles south of Salt Lake, its population is swollen just now by the refugees from the latter valley, who are stored away in every vacant corner where the slightest shelter may be obtained. The town is any-thing but neat, and has no picturesque feature, if we except the Mountain Spur, which towers up in the east, its base within perhaps half a mile of the city wall. The people, evidently, are too hardly driven to labor for the commonest necessaries of life, to be able to pay any attention to appearances. Indeed, pover-ty marked the house of our Bishop landlord, who seemed an honest, simple-hearted man, quite content with the rude simplicity of his life, and totally ob-livious to the fact that his several wives were de-prived of many of those things known as necessaries of life—not to say comforts and luxuries—enjoyed by the families of the farmers or mechanics of the States.
Starting again at daylight the following morning, and passing through the settlements of American Fork and Battle Creek, we arrived at Provo City by 7 o'clock, putting up at a small but comfortable hotel, kept by "Brother" ISAAC BULLOCK. Provo City lies just south of a rapid mountain stream known as Provo River, and a mile or two east of Utah Lake,—while the mountain range rises in almost perpendicu-lar steeps from its eastern edge. It is better watered than Salt Lake City, has an abundance of good water passing through it, and there is more good land in its vicinity susceptible of irrigation and cultivation than in its neighboring valley on the north. It certainly possesses the finest natural advantages for a large city,—but the Salt Lake settlement has obtained too great a start for successful competition. If these mountain settlements continue to be occupied either by the Mormons or any other people, Provo must eventually become the chief seat of manufactures. It already contains several mills and a machine shop for the manufacture of agricultural implements. The rumor that it is designed to make it the head-quarters of the Church in future has no other foundation than the casual remarks of the leaders in favor of aban-doning and burning Salt Lake City, if the army should be quartered in or very near to it.
THE REFUGEES IN PROVO—BRIGHAM'S HAREM.
We found Provo overflowing with the refugees, living in all sorts of habitations,—some camping out in diminutive tents of calico or white sheeting—others in lodges of willow twigs, and still others under the shade of roofs made of strong willow blankets or carpets stretched upon a frame-work of poles. With all of these comfort was out of the question,—but thousands have nevertheless submitted in silence to the order of their Priestly leaders which consigned them to such a mode of life. A few of the more wealthy have erected board shanties for themselves, which in this climate, and during the Summer season, are very comfortable. Governor YOUNG has covered an entire block with this sort of provision for the accommodation of his "domestic institutions." The locality which he has selected is upon the bench on the eastern edge of the city, directly in the shadow of the steep mountain sides. Here he has completely inclosed a block with a row of board shanties one story high, all opening to the centre, and with no windows looking out upon the street. Thus the buildings form a hollow square, with a large court-yard in the centre, which is entered by gates placed near the corners. The buildings on two sides are fitted up for the accommodation of his numerous family, and those on the other as storehouses, stables, &c. The Gentile stranger witnessed a novel scene as he walked down the inner front of the range of family "shambles," amid the din of crying children "too numerous to mention," as he passed the long row of booths standing side by side, each with a wife at its door. I should be guilty of an unpardonable sin of omission did I fail to say something in regard to the appearance of BRIGHAM'S spirituals.
I had very little opportunity, however, for observa-tion, as I found myself within the precincts of the Prophet's home sanctuary by accident, and was not warranted, therefore, in pausing for inspection. Such glance as I obtained, however, showed me that BRIGHAM is a man of some taste, and that his spiritu-als are generally fine-looking women—some of them, indeed, quite pretty, and all of them, so far as I could judge, intelligent. I suppose I saw in the shanty "quarters" some thirty women—but whether they were all of them wives of the Prophet, or whether these constituted his entire household, of course I am not informed. The general impression here seems to be that he has nearly or quite fifty wives. He only claims to have forty children living, having had forty seven altogether. This, doubtless, is the highest figure he can claim, as the "Saints" consider a large number of children subject of pride and boast. These wives are all their own servants, and the nurses of their own children. To see them sit-ting under the overhanging eaves of the shanties just at dusk, with their numerous children hanging around them, all crying, chattering or teasing at once, was certainly suggestive of a foundling hos-pital.
I was curious to know whether these women were happy in the strange life they led, and a glance at their faces impressed me with the conviction that theirs was the happiness of stolid listlessness, an ex-istence in which all the higher and holier sentiments of refinement and affection had been sacrificed upon the altar of fanaticism. They seemed to me to be virtuous,—willing, perhaps, and resigned,—but nev-ertheless unhappy victims of self-inflicted tortures, by which they hoped to merit saintly reward. To a few of them, perhaps, these remarks would not ap-ply. Some of the younger females appeared thought-less or reckless, but the elder, who were educated in circles where woman was queen rather than vassal slave, wore their chains evidently with inward mur-murings.
Among the latter I fancied I could distinguish her whose name had been secretly communicated to me by a mutual friend as one whose eyes had long since been opened to the degradation of her condition, and who was looking forward with earnest anticipations to the hour when she can safely claim protection and abandon the association with polygamy. I did not attempt to converse with any of the "sisters" in Provo in regard to the institutions amid which they live, for we Gentiles are watched with jealous eyes, and could not have introduced the subject without making trouble for the partnership wives as well as for ourselves. A couple of young Californians there on business, the other day, ventured a little of the commonest gallantry to the younger wives of an aged Bishop, who sported eight, and were suddenly brought up short by the fatherly husband with sundry significant and forcible intimations that the ladies in question were his wives. Our gallants took the hint and subsided, missing thereafter the refreshing bou-quets which gentle hands had placed in their rooms day by day. But I digress.
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
In a one-story adobe building, opposite his family block, BRIGHAM YOUNG has his office. He is a man of business, having large possessions, numerous mills and extensive herds of horses and cattle, and employs several clerks to keep his books, &c. An hour spent in this office, satisfied us that BRIGHAM fully understands the value of the axiom that "Order is Heaven's first law. BRIGHAM came here a poor man, and his adherents assure us that he receives not a cent from the Church as President, or in any other way. Yet he has become immensely wealthy. If the premises stated are true, he must have discov-ered how to "make bricks without straw"—for his riches cannot be the product of the labor of his own hands, nor the result of speculation, nor the rise of real estate in this Valley, where no man holds title to a foot of landed property.
My first view of BRIGHAM was obtained at public service on Sabbath morning. Service was held in a "Bowery," as it is called, on a public square in the centre of Provo City. This Bowery is constructed simply of posts driven in the ground, supporting a frame-work some fifteen feet overhead, upon which are laid willow brush cut on the neighboring creeks. The bower thus constructed was capable of seating perhaps two thousand persons. At one end is erec-ted a rude platform or staging for the Presidency, the preachers and elders. As the hour of meeting approached, the streets were thronged with the peo-ple of all ages and conditions flocking to the bower, each with a chair of some sort in hand, as few benches had been provided under the shelter. The City Marshal superintended the seating of the crowd, manifesting quite as much energy in closing up all gaps and making the most of the room as would the most indefatigable usher at the Academy of Music on LAGRANGE'S benefit night—for room was "an ob-ject." All around the edge of the bower, within hearing distance of the stand, wagons were drawn up, their occupants maintaining their seats in the vehicles while awaiting the words of inspiration from their Prophet's lips.
A MORMON AUDIENCE.
A glance at the audience shows us that three-fourths of it is composed of women, all dressed with exceed-ing plainness, not to say coarseness, but many of them exceedingly pretty or interesting in personal appearance, notwithstanding these disadvantages. I was struck with the fact that all seemed to have brought their children with them. There were few among them without nursing infants upon their knees. The exceeding youth of some of these moth-ers could not escape attention. One, at least, who sat near me, could scarcely have been fifteen years older than her babe, if even that. I sought the story of the tell-tale countenances of this vast female as-semblage. Generally, it was that of the ''miserably happy"—the only phrase I know of to express the desired idea. Some few of the oldest among them seemed happy and contented. The day of earthly joys and pleasures having passed away for them, they seemed to enter really into the religious fanaticism and superstition of the Mormon system. Among the younger "sisters," however, the prevailing expres-sion of countenance betrayed a listlessness and reck-lessness, resulting from the absence of any future of hope or happiness on earth. This, I know, was also the opinion of other Gentile observers on the occa-sion referred to—an opinion strengthened hour by hour during my brief sojourn in Provo.
EVILS OF POLYGAMY.
I am quite satisfied that all we have heard of fe-male misery and degradation, as the result of Polyga-my, is true. I do not mean to say that every wife who shares her lord's affections with half a dozen others, lives a life of conscious misery—but that the general tendency of the system is to make women an inferior being, deprive her of the courtesies accorded to the gentle sex under more fortunate circumstances, and to make her a soulless vassal instead of the re-fining element and pleasing ornament in the social circle, diffusing a cheerful radiance and genial warmth. How can it be otherwise when her natural affections are continually stifled, crushed or outraged, and she finds herself one of several servants rather than the companion and help mate of man? I have conversed with quite a number of the brethren here at Provo upon this subject. They talk about it with the utmost coolness, challenge us to present scripture proofs against the propriety of Polygamy, and argue its advantages with enthusiasm, claiming it to be a re-ligious duty to raise up children to the Lord, and en-forcing this duty in their public discussions and ser-mons in language which would disgrace a brothel. I do not believe that they are all insincere in this. That many of them are, I must believe, so long as I know them to be men of strong sense in regard to other matters; but the masses of the people whom I have met rather seem to me to have been willingly blinded—to have schooled themselves into the belief that they are performing a religious duty in carrying out the disgusting system of Polygamy.
The same remark will apply to this people in many other points. As a class they are industrious, they pay their debts, seem honest, brotherly, and full of religious faith and zeal. Upon one of these points we have, just at this time, a striking illustration here. Mr. H. McD. MCELRATH, member of a New-York dry goods house, arrived here about a month ago, to see whether he could possibly collect a debt of nearly forty thousand dollars, due by a Mormon citizen of Salt Lake, who failed some time since. Already he has arranged satisfactorily for the settlement of the entire debt for its full amount. There is no question that there is peace and good order among the people themselves, so long as their Church is not offended, nor the ire of their prophets excited by some act of resistance to their will. The good order which reigns is the good order of despotism; an Ecclesiastical despotism, more thorough in its hold upon this people than any which France or Russia ever saw—because its hooks fasten in the consciences of its victims, while the evidences are only too decided that these influences are enforced, when necessary, by violence, blood, or oppression.
To return to the subject of Polygamy,—I find it is admitted that there is a great deal of contention among the plurality wives. Mr. CANDLAND, the keep-er of the Globe Restaurant, at which I board, rejoices in four wives. He is earnest in his declara-tions that all his family nevertheless, is most orderly, peaceable and quiet; but he states that eminent qualities of government are necessary in the head of the family to maintain such order. His testimony is that of many others, who are strong in the faith. They say that the husband of many wives must be very circumspect, taking care that he shows no pref-erence for one over the other,—else there is the Old Harry to pay. They argue with much earnestness that Polygamy checks sensuality, and that the chil-dren of a polygamous community are greater in number and healthier than among monogamists. Modern history does not sustain this assertion. It was not true of MOHAMMED and his disciples, is not true of the Turks,—and is clearly false so far as this people is concerned, as the notorious facts clearly show. In speaking of their domestic economy the Polygamists here say that each wife is left to magni-fy her office by a display of the virtues of patience, meekness and economy. Each in turn is made the stewardess of the household for a given time, and thus each is induced to strive to gain the approval of their common lord, as the wife who by her deport-ment and her success in domestic economy merits it, will get the best position in the husband's affec-tions, and the greatest quotient of his love.
This, the brethren tell me, sometimes bears very hardly upon the first wife, who, while the only part-ner of her husband's lot, gets into the habit of prodi-gality and waste; and who suddenly finds herself obliged to engage in active competition with several others, for any share in the affections which she has been accustomed to claim and receive all alone! This sketch is drawn in the precise language in which it was given to me, by one of the most honest and out-spoken men among the faithful. How do my fair readers like the picture? In justice to these American Turks, however, let me say that when they find themselves unable to quell the strife in their families, they provide them separate residences, if able to do so. "Lady YOUNG," the first wife of BRIGHAM, has always succeeded in maintaing her ti-tle to a separate residence of her own, and the best one at that.
BRIGHAM AS AN ORATOR—HIS INFLUENCE OVER THE MOR-MONS—PERSONAL DESCRIPTION.
On Sabbath morning, June 27, BRIGHAM YOUNG de-livered a sermon to the Saints in the Bowery, at Provo. As he rose, every eye was turned upon him at once, and the stillness of the grave pervaded the place. The power which BRIGHAM holds over his people is almost incomprehensible. They hang upon his lips with reverence and awe, catching and treas-uring his lightest word as though it were a pearl of inestimable value. Having repeatedly witnessed ev-idences of this worship of the Prophet, I was dis-mally disappointed with his personal appearance. I had imagined a fine-looking man, upon whose ex-pansive brow dignity and power sat enthroned, a man whose presence would inspire respect for his genius, even in the scoffer or unbeliever. Nothing of the sort. He is a man a little above the medium height, somewhat inclined to corpulency, with a dull, bullet-looking sort of a head, sandy complex-ion, and an exceedingly sensual-looking mouth. When walking in the wind he usually wears a great pair of green goggles. With these upon his nose we would naturally take him for a country school-mas-ter, who had wielded the birch years enough to ac-quire a chronic back-ache. Without them, he looks the willful, unrestrained, and vulgar man of the world, who has just lost a heavy stake at a rat-fight. Far be it from me to caricature the man—I have no such intention. I do not mean to charge him with any of the vulgarities shadowed in his face, for I have not had sufficient opportunity for observation to be able to judge of his tastes in such connections; but the language employed above will give a clearer idea of his expression of countenance than any other I can employ. He is affable in his manners, exceed-ingly kind, but patronizing, to his associates and in-feriors, easily excited at times, and always aping the dignity of royalty, with a mock gravity that is ludi-crous to the unawed beholder. He is evidently a man of much shrewdness in worldly matters, a good business manager, a judge of human nature, and skillful player upon the weaknessess of his fellow-men, knowing exactly how to touch the chords which shall produce the music he wishes.
The order of his mind, nevertheless, is low and vulgar. He is not a logician, and is easily cornered in an argument upon almost any question with which any ordinarily skillful opponent is familiar. Every-body knows that he is uneducated. He is withal full of self-righteousness and vanity, and it would probably be difficult to find any more certain mode of giving him offence than by exposing his ignorance on any point, no matter how trivial, before his subjects. Among educated men of mind and mark, stripped of the glitter with which his position of Prophet and Priest surround him among his deluded followers, he would sink to the level of quite an ordinary man. Elder TAYLOR of New-York, formerly editor of the Mormon, is far his superior in personal appearance and in intellect.
Such is BRIGHAM YOUNG as he appeared to your cor-respondent. Now for his "sermon." He has a fine, full clear voice, which may be heard by a large au-dience. His speech is rather fluent than otherwise, and his attitude and gestures quite oratorical. Its effect upon his proselyted hearers is marked and de-cided. His sermon on Sunday last was certainly a very ordinary affair. I send you a verbatim report of his discourse:
SERMON OF BRIGHAM YOUNG—MR. BUCHANAN DENOUNCED AS AN OLD DOTARD—COUNSEL TO THE SAINTS.
Previous to the arrival of our brethren, the lately-returned missionaries, I had requested Brother HAR-VEY WHITLOCK to address the congregation to-day, for my own satisfaction, and I will give you the reason. In 1834 I went to Missouri. After the brethren had been driven from Jackson County I saw Brother HARVEY WHITLOCK, and heard him converse only a very few minutes, and from that time I have not had the privilege of hearing him preach, until today, al-though I have greatly desired it, from the short con-versation we had twenty-four years ago.
I shall give way for the missionaries when I have said enough to satisfy my own mind.
I am very well satisfied with Brother WHITLOCK'S discourse, but I wish to make a little addition.
The people called Mormons by the world have a peculiarity about them that is understood by very few; in a great degree it is not comprehended even by the Church, and yet they acknowledge it. The nature of that peculiarity is simply this, the Gospel of Salvation—the Priesthood of the Son of God—is so ordered and organized, in the very nature of it, being a portion of that law of Heaven by which worlds are organized, that it is calculated to enlight-en the children of men, and give them power to save themselves. It is of the same nature as the further principles of eternal existence by which the worlds are and were, and by which they will endure; and these principles are pure in their nature, from the fact that they are of God, who is pure, but without the revelation of the SPIRIT OF GOD NO MAN can un-derstand them. That is the peculiarity there is about this mysterious work; and the whole world are astonished at the unity of this people.
"How is it that this great people can be controlled by one man?" is the question. To a certain extent, they can be controlled and form a unity, though not as much so as they will when they rightly learn and practice the true principles of union. You may theorize and prove by philosophy—in fact convince the world, theoretically, of the blessings of unity—and yet there is no union among them. What is the reason? Because they will not be governed by the Spirit of God.
We may correctly say that there is no difficulty in convincing people of the truth of the work in which we are engaged. We send our elders into the world, in the midst of all the religion and philosophy of the day, and Mormonism takes them up and weighs them "in balance," as the prophet says of the Lord's "measuring the seas in the hollow of his hand, and taking up the mountain as a very little thing." A person who understands the truth of the principles and doctrines we preach and believe in can handle the religions and philosophy of the day as a small matter; consequently it is not difficult to convince the world—there is but very little difficulty in con-vincing every person who will hearken to reason. You can convince them, but what is the difficulty brother WHITLOCK was speaking of? The majority of the human family do not love the truth, and many forsake it after they have embraced it.
To me it is evident that many who understand the truth do not govern themselves by it; consequently, no matter how true and beautiful truth is, you have to take the passions of the people and mould them to the law of God, and nothing less will accomplish that union and salvation which we are striving for. There is no other principle, spirit or power that will cause people to adhere to the truth. Take this whole people: they know that "Mormonism" is true, as well as they know that the sun now shines; their judgments, their feelings and their hearts convince them that it is true. There is no saving faith merely upon the principle of believing or acknowledging a fact. Take a course to let the Spirit of God leave your hearts, and every soul of you would apostatize.
Do you think that people will obey the truth be-cause it is true, unless they love it? No, they will not. Truth is obeyed when it is loved. Strict obedi-ence to the truth will alone enable people to dwell in the presence of the Almighty. Do people know this?
We see men and women leaving this people—this community. Are their judgments convinced that "Mormonism" is not true? No, for they know that it is true. What did OLIVER COWDERY—one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon—say, after he had been away from the Church years and years? He saw and conversed with the Angel, who showed him the plates, and he handled them. He left the Church because he lost the love of the truth, and after he had traveled alone for years, a gentleman walked into his law office and said to him; "Mr. COWDERY, what do you think of the Book of Mormon now? Do you believe that it is true?" He replied, "No, Sir, I do not." "Well," said the gentleman, "I thought as much, for I concluded you had seen the folly of your ways, and had resolved to renounce what you once declared to be true." "Sir, you mis-take me; I do not believe that the Book of Mormon is true; I am past belief on that point, for I KNOW that it is true as well as I know that you now sit before me." "Do you still testify that you saw an Angel?" "Yes, as much as I see you now, and I know the Book of Mormon to be true." Yet he forsook it. Every honest person who has fairly heard it, knows that "Mormomism" is true, if they have had the testimony of it; but to practice it in our lives is an-other thing.
When the people cleave to the Lord Almighty, re-ceive of His spirit, and purify themselves continually and walk in the light of the Lord, they will never forsake their religion; they will be Mormons by day and by night, and forever; in other words, they will be Latter Day Saints. Every one of you knows that these things are true. When men come into this Church merely through having their judgments con-vinced, they still must have the Spirit of God bear-ing witness to their spirits, or they will leave the Church, as sure as they are living beings. The Saints must become one, as Jesus said his disciples should be one; they must have the Spirit testifying to them of the truth, or the light that is in them will become darkness, and they will forsake this King-dom and their religion. I wished to bear this testi-mony, and make this addition to what has been said by brother WHITLOCK.
Many of this congregation have left their homes, and, no doubt, are anxious to learn the news. It is needless for me to rehearse the past; that we have all experienced. It is best to speak of that which is before us, for our present acts prepare us to meet the future. And for the encouragement of the Latter Day Saints I will ask, When and where has the Lord our God deceived us? Never, and in no place. When have our leaders—those whom God has placed to guide the affairs of His Church and Kingdom upon the earth—deceived us? Let any person, if he can, rise up and point out the time and place when and where this people have been deceived by their lead-ers. We have not been deceived by them, for which God be thanked. He is on Israel's side. His arm is Almighty to save, and we have a refuge that the world have not. Whether in peace or war, in pover-ty or wealth, the Saints have a refuge that the un-godly have not. We have the wisdom that the Al-mighty has incorporated in our organization.
When people are dictated by the power of the Holy Ghost, there is but little danger of that people or that community being led wrong; the danger con-sists in your own neglect of your duty.
Are we in danger from our enemies? No, there is no danger, only in our neglecting the duties of a Saint. Are we in danger now? Have we been? No. Shall we be? No, we shall not.
It has been written that many should be slain for the testimony of Jesus, and in my humble opinion, there have already been enough slain to fulfill that prophecy. If I can live until I am one hundred and thirty-five years old, I shall be perfectly satisfied to die a natural death, and to believe the revelation ful-filled, without being slain by mine enemies. I strive to live to do good on this earth; and I have all the time asked my Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, to let me depart, when I cease to do good, for I do not want to live any longer than while I con-tinue to do good. I don't know that I shall quite come up to 135 years, but I intend to come near it as I can, to fight all the time, and kick off the earth, the devils that infest it, though at times it is pretty hard work to get faith enough to desire to live, to stem such floods of ignorance and sin.
We are not in opposition to anything in earth or hell, except the principle of death. God has intro-duced life, and it is the principle of life that we are after. The power of the enemy is all the time try-ing to destroy this life, and I am opposed to that pow-er; I am at war with it, and expect to be. I do not expect to cease my exertions in a million of years hence no more than I do to-day; but the world is seeking that which will cause them to perish.
We are striving for eternal life, and are opposed to those who love and have the power of death. We have the influence and the power of life, and that ne-cessarily brings us in opposition to those who prefer the principles of death.
I do not wish to say anything in regard to the life and conduct of this people; those things are before the world; and, as we have often published, we chal-lenge them to prove that we are not loyal subjects of this Government and the Kingdom of Heaven. We have everything that produces peace and com-fort, and will advance all men in life and happiness, so far as they will permit us.
Let this suffice, and I will give you the news.
What is the present situation of affairs? For us the clouds seem to be breaking. Probably, many of you have already learned that General JOHNSTON passed through Great Salt City, with his command under the strictest discipline. Not a house, fence, or sidewalk has been infringed upon by any of his com-mand. Of course, the camp-followers are not under his control; but so far as his command is concerned, while passing through the city, he has carried out his promises to the letter.
We told Commissioners POWELL and MCCULLOCH, in conference, in answer to questions, that we most as-suredly believed all they said, and all that President BUCHANAN dictated them to say, so far as their inter-est was concerned. We said that we believed that President BUCHANAN would fulfill his words, when his own interest prompted him so to do. We did not say whether he would or not, in opposition to his in-terest.
We have reason to believe that Colonel KANE, on his arrival at the frontiers, telegraphed to Washing-ton, and that orders were immediately sent to stop the march of the Army for ten days. That savors of an anxiety for peace, I expect to see, if the late ad-vices of the Government are carried out, that portion of the United States Army now here have the priv-ilege of going where the interests of the country de-mand them; and the portion that was to start for this place ordered in other directions.
[Here the Prophet became excited and burst into a tirade against President BUCHANAN, calling him a driveling old dotard, whose own party allow should have been President 25 years ago, when he had a little sense about him, if ever. But the Saints did not court war. They preferred peace, if it could be had, and they had made it. They were willing that "the world" should have the shadow of the settlement, provided the Saints had the substance, as he maintained they had. He cared nothing for his own name. He cared not if they trampled it under foot, but he had told them "don't trample me under foot, for if you do you’ll have trouble." [Great laughter.]
Gen JOHNSTON will soon repair to Winter quarters. When that is done, and we get the news good and solid that there are no more troops coming here, we will believe that the Government means peace, just as their Commissioners have told us, and will go to our homes again, and have no more trouble during this King; for, my word for it, if old BUCK ever gets his foot decently out of this scrape, he will never put it in again.
And now, sisters, don't tease your husbands to go back to your homes again. Don't be in a hurry. You are better off where you are. What would have been the case if you had been home this last week? Why, it would have been much as ever that those ruffians— [Here BRIGHAM stopped short. He evi-dently remembered that there were Gentiles report-ing his words, and that such language, applied to the Army of the United States, was not politic. He turned off suddenly in a tangent, stumbled over a few confused words about Indians, and then declared that these mountains would have been full of bands of robbers and murderers, had not the Mormons settled the Valley. He continued:] Stay where you are, un-til you get counsel to move back. Some sisters say it makes their heads ache to live all the time in tents. Well, now, sister, if your head aches, just get a chip and put upon it. [Laughter.] If the sun hurts you, go and cut brush from the willows and make you a good barn-house. Is there any healthy woman here that can't do it? I tell you you can, and you'll look a good deal better doing it, at least in my eyes, than you do in running about the streets.
I can say, so far as the moves have been made since the President sent his messengers of peace, that everything bids fair for the fulfillment of so de-sirable a result, and that the President is doing all he can to correct past bad management.
We have no shirt-collar dignity to sustain, for we have no character, only such as our friends and ene-mies give us; it is only a shadow, and we are willing that they should have the shadow, and make the name of our President honorable, if we can, so long as we have the substance. They are welcome to trample my name under foot, but I told them that they must not undertake to trample me under foot, and that if they did they would have trouble. The char-acter of those who are such sticklers for it will perish, for they are taking the downward road to destruc-tion. They will be decomposed, both soul and body, and return to their native element. I do not say that they will be annihilated, but they will be disorgan-ized, and will be as though they never had been; while we will live and retain our identity, and con-tend against those principles which tend to death or dissolution. I am after life; I want to preserve my identity, so that you can see BRIGHAM in the eternal worlds just as you see him now. I want to see that eternal principle of life dwelling within us, which will exalt us eternally in the presence of our Father and God. If you wish to retain your present identity in the morn of the resurrection, you must so live that the principle of life will be within you, as a well of water springing up unto eternal life.
I frequently think, when our enemies try to destroy us, and are afraid that "Mormonism" is going to overrun the country, what a pity it is that they cannot see that "Mormonism" is the very principle that preserves them. They cannot understand that. If they could see things as they are, they would change their present course, and be the disciples of the Savior. They would say, "We will be one with you, for we wish to dwell in all eternity, and enjoy our rights and happiness without molestation."
There has been much prejudice raised against us on account of Indian depredations, notwithstanding the great trouble and expense to which we have been subjected in preventing them, and without which no person could have traveled across these moun-tains and plains. What is the reason Indians have acted so badly? Because of the practice, with ma-ny emigrants, of killing the Indians wherever they could find them. I can say to the nations of earth that they may take these Indians, with all their ig-norance, and their not being brought up to labor, and their being taught from their infancy to steal, and there are as noble spirits among them as there are upon the earth. In this there is one man in the Sen-ate of the United States who, I think, agrees with me, if there is nobody else, and that one is General SAMUEL HOUSTON. He has had experience and has good sense. You will find as fine natural talent among those Indians as among any people, and often when one of them, who has as kind a heart and good appearance as need be, walks up to an emigrant camp with kindly feelings, he is shot down, and be-cause they are ignorant they commit the error, in wreaking vengeance, of confounding the innocent with the guilty.
Brethren, tarry where you are for a short time, and make yourselves comfortable. We came to these mountains about ten years ago, and have you not as good kitchens, parlors and bedrooms, as there were there? I can offer to you what I offered to Judge SNOW when he came into Great Salt Lake City. He came to me and said: "Governor, I would like to rent a house to comfortably shelter my family." I replied, "I will offer you the same kitchen and parlor that I came into when I first came here. I had a large room, canopied by the sky, and walled by these mountains, and if you can find any place that the people do not occupy, you are welcome to it; but, as for my hunting a house for you, I have not time to do it. You can take the same liberty I did, and have the same privilege I had, when we first came here." Brethren and sisters, God bless you all, Amen.
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR POWELL, UNITED STATES PEACE COMMISSIONER—TERMS OF SETTLEMENT.
The following is a report of the speech made by Ex-Governor POWELL, of Kentucky, at a meeting in the Bowery at Provo, U. T., Wednesday, June 16. Ex-Governor YOUNG introduced Ex-Governor POW-ELL, one of the Commissioners to Utah, who ad-dressed the audience in substance as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS OF UTAH: It is with pleasure that I appear before you this evening, under the pe-culiar circumstances which surround us. Only a few days ago, a dark cloud hung over the inhabitants of this Territory, which threatened the most direful calamity that can befall a free people—intestine war. It is pleasant to me and to you, and will be to all lib-erty-loving men throughout the Union—that that cloud has been dispelled.
My gallant colleague, Maj. MCCULLOCK, was de-puted with myself, by the President of the United States, to make known to you the disposition of the National Government towards this people. We have come to this Territory, and after the fullest and freest conversation with your chief men, every mat-ter likely to cause misunderstanding between the People of Utah and the Government of the United States seems to be adjusted; and now, fellow-citi-zens, there is no reason why any relation should exist between that Government and this people other than the profoundest peace. We are grateful that we have been agents in the hands of Providence to accomplish so desirable a result. The Federal Government demands nothing of you, fellow-citizens, to-day, which it does not require of the in-habitants of every State and Territory within the Union, that you shall be obedient to the laws of your country, that you will respect the civil authority, and that its officers shall be received by you, and enter upon the discharge of their duties unmolested. All this, I am happy to say, you assure me you are willing to yield, and you claim that you never have been otherwise.
Another matter—the stationing a portion of the national army among your settlements—was a topic of debate. The President claims, and will exercise the right to send the army whenever he pleases, wherever his judgment directs; indeed, it is necessa-ry for him to have that right in order to perform the functions of his office. His intention in sending troops to this Valley was not to despoil you of any rights, civil, political or religious, but to see that the author-ity of the nation was respected, and the laws executed in this Territory.
In a few days, fellow-citizens, the army of Utah will be in your midst; but when it comes do not fear, it does not come as an enemy. When you hear the roll of its drums do not trouble. Be assured that its pur-pose is not to disturb you; it comes to protect loyal citi-zens in all their rights, if necessary, by force of arms. I know that a fear exists in some quarters that that army will not respect your rights; but I entreat you to entertain no such apprehension, there is no cause for it. I know the commander of that army, he is a brave and honorable officer. He will not have the stain rest on his character that any por-tion of the troops under his command have injured the person or property of any loyal citizen of the United States. I assure you it will be his studious endeavor to guard against any such results as some have anticipated. Allow me, fellow-citizens, to say another thing. It is the intention of the President to secure to you your con-stitutional rights, and to use the army to protect you in their possession just as readily as if you were in-habitants of any other portion of the United States. All the National Government claims of you is obe-dience to the Constitution and the laws. That it is ever its duty to require. Its right to that you ac-knowledge.
If war had ensued I cannot count the ills which might have befallen not only the people of this Ter-ritory, but the whole nation. It might have resulted in the extermination of part of this people; and what a spectacle would that have been to the other nations of the earth. Liberty-loving men throughout the world would have mourned at the sight, while des-pots would have rejoiced, for we are hated abroad for the principles of our forefathers, by Kings who fear that their people may be contaminated by our love of liberty. They call it contamination. But there is a Providence which has disentangled this country from many such difficulties. It Is God who rules our des-tiny. When the feelings of sections of our country have become virulent against each other and civil war has seemed to threaten, it has needed but a few friendly words to restore harmony and peace. Like the rings which rip-ple the surface of a stream around the spot where a pebble has been thrown, such difficulties often look greatest the instant before they disappear. In the early days of the Republic, GEORGE WASHINGTON found it necessary to send an army into Pennsylvania to enforce laws, and commissioners to exhort the people to submission. Men yet live who were impli-cated in that rebellion, who are now the firmest sup-porters of the National Government; and as for Pennsylvania, they call her now the Keystone of the Union. Within the memory of most of us South Car-olina assumed an attitude of resistance to the Federal Government, and before it submitted Gen. JACKSON was obliged to assure the people that the laws should be enforced there, if necessary, by the bayonet. Per-haps this Utah difficulty may result like those, in gen-eral good. It will surely make us know each other better, and the better all loyal citizens of this confed-eracy know each other, the more mutual regard they ought to acquire.
Your past difficulties I do not propose to discuss. I have only to say to you, that the cause which led you to leave your homes, and induced your young men to take to a camp-life among the mountains, have ceased to exist. I exhort you to return to your homes in peace, and enjoy the fellowship of your friends quietly and decorously. You can return to your city without fear of harm, and enjoy the fruits of your labor without molestation.
I have been struck by one thing on coming into your midst, which is truly complimentary to you. It has been recorded by your worst enemies, (and you have enemies, I assure you, who speak in not very honied words about you,) they concede that the Mormons are an industrious people. Nobody can travel through the Territory without seeing abun-dant evidences of that fact; and nobody can reflect upon it, and consider your remoteness from all the conveniences of the world which are calculated to make a people grow with rapidity, the barrenness of your soil, the difficulties of your position, and your poverty when you arrived here, without acknowl-edging that the Bee Hive which I see emblazoned on your public buildings, is an appropriate emblem of the people of this Valley. The elements of your prosperity are evident—industry and economy. But necessity has brought distress upon you. The road has been blocked up so that you could not procure anything from your neighbors. This prohibition has now been removed, and you can enjoy the blessings and the benefits of trade. If you continue loyal, peaceful, industrious and economical, you must in time become a great and powerful people, reflecting glory upon this great confederacy, and redundant with prosperity to yourselves.
FELLOW-CITIZENS: Reverting to a topic on which I have already spoken, it has been exceedingly gratify-ing to me that in the various conversations I have had with you, both public and private, I have not heard a single expression of disloyalty to the Consti-tution and the Union of the States—not one word against the Union. I have listened to harsh words against officials, but to none against the Government, I have been gratified because I did not expect to hear the people of Utah speak in favor of the Govern-ment. I speak plainly; I did not expect it. Allow me to say that you display sound judgment when you extol the system of Government of the United States. I have been a careful observer of the systems of government which prevail among the nations of the earth, and there is no one which extends to its subjects such liberties as you and I enjoy. It guaran-tees to every citizen every right which a Government can bestow on man to make him prosperous and hap-py. The development of the Confederation in wealth,
population, industry and virtue, is the proof and the evidence of its blessings. Since the day—the Fourth of July, 1776—when our fathers righted all their wrongs at once—when a nation sprang into existence by the stroke of a pen, and, armed cap-a-pie, like Mi-nerva from the brain of Jove, leaped into the arena of battle to maintain its right to existence through a seven-years' war, how stupendous has been our progress! Then we had four million of inhabitants, now we have over thirty millions; we then had thirteen States, we now have thirty-one, no, thirty-two—God bless Minnesota—I had not for-gotten to baptize her. The army of Utah will have to put another star upon its flags, and I hope that star will follow star. A nation badly governed would have been incapable of such progress. Why, then, should there be any people, here or elsewhere, who should hesitate to acknowledge their loyalty to that Government and its institutions? There may occasionally come a little difficulty, but I tell you that whether it comes in Pennsylvania, South Caro-lina or Utah, it will die out. I know there is pat-riotism enough in the nation, if any part of the peo-ple refuse obedience to the laws, to enforce submis-sion. But, I believe that there ought never to be oc-casion for the Government to use force to compel its children to submit. It is a Government, whose right to existence is the love of the people, and if it ever ceases to deserve that love, then farewell to the Con-stitution and the Union of the States!
I have told you what the Government requires of the people of this Territory, and you have told me that you will comply with its requirements. I as-sure you now that it will sustain you in all your constitutional rights—will listen with patience and attention to the details of any grievances of which you may complain, and will protect you in all your rights guaranteed by the National Constitution, using its military power for that purpose, if necessa-ry. Should it fail in these promises, I will be the foremost to denounce it. I believe that I ex-press the feelings of the President of the United States upon this subject. His desire is that you will submit quietly to the laws. He asks nothing more of you. He has acted in this matter according to the duties imposed on him by his official oath. But I trust that all is settled. I hope that seeds of contention will not germinate among the people of this Territo-ry. War is a calamity which I ever wo-uld avert; but if we do ever come to war I hope it will be to vindicate the honor of our national flag. I want to see our soldiers facing the enemies of the Republic—but American fellow citizens never! If this day the nation should be so unfortunate as to become in-volved in war, and the Government should call on the people to fly to arms to maintain our republican unity and glory, I hope there would be more than one Mor-mon battalion to rally to battle for our common coun-try. [Cheers.]
Gov. POWELL, in conclusion, expressed his thanks for the courtesy with which the Commission had been treated at Provo, and for the attention which had been paid to his remarks.
Maj. MCCULLOCH was then called upon to address the audience, but excused himself with a brief apology. Then Gov. POWELL again rose and spoke substantially as follows:
FELLOW-CITIZENS: One single word more. When I spoke of the army, I was, perhaps, not so explicit in my remarks as I should have been. I said that the President of the United States would exercise his right to send the army wherever its presence, in his judgment, would contribute to the general wel-fare of the country. But when I said that it would soon be in your midst, it was not with the intention of conveying the idea that it would be quartered in this town. I am advised that the President has or-dered the establishment of additional military posts in Utah Territory. (Turning to Ex-Governor YOUNG, he inquired the number. Ex-Governor Young re-plied: "One, but not more than two.") He has or-dered the establishment of one or two more military posts in this Territory for various purposes, but chiefly to protect travelers from Indian depredations. While he claims, and will exercise, the right to send the army wherever he may please, his object is not to make encampments in any of your cities. General JOHNSTON told me that he did not wish his army to be stationed near a city. He said that it would cor-rupt the morals of the army, as you know is al-ways the case when an army is in such a neigh-borhood. I am not advised where the army of Utah will be stationed; but if Cache Valley is the best place for an encampment, as you inform me, I believe that he will take them there. I believe that he will be very prudent in the disposition of the troops. If I were at the head of the army I would wish to station it where it would be convenient to protect the great highways to the Pacific from Indian depredations, and where it would have grass, wood and water in abundance. In relation to the large force now under orders to march to the Territory, I have no idea that so large an army will be perma-nently stationed in Utah, if the Territory shall remain at peace. It is needed to garrison the forts along our sea-coast from Texas to Maine, and to guard our frontier all along the British line.
I have said this much to correct any misapprehen-sion which may prevail in your minds as to the dis-position of the army, but as to the exact places where the General may establish his posts I am unable to give any information.
THE MORMONS RETURNING.
The people are returning rapidly to their homes. BRIGHAM himself informed me, on Wednesday last, that the people of Grantsville, in Loville Valley, had just received permission to return, and introduced me to Bishop WM. G. YOUNG, their leader, who was then about to start with his flock. The prophet himself, with seventeen of his families, arrived on Thursday night, and the road between here and Provo is lined with the returning refugees. On Monday next the order is to be issued at Provo for the return of all the families, and it will be obeyed with cheerfulness and alacrity.
POSTSCRIPT.
The Army to be Permanently Located in Utah.
CAMP OF THE ARMY OF UTAH, WEST CREEK, NEAR
SALT LAKE, Saturday, July 3,1858.
The army will not move from here for several days. The Anniversary of American Independence will be celebrated by the firing of a national salute and by other appropriate ceremonies.
General JOHNSTON has returned from his visit to various Valleys, with a view of selecting a location for Winter quarters. He considers the country over which he has passed to be essentially a desert. He has seen no point which he considers well adapted to the uses of a permanent post.
The army will move within two or three days, however, to Cedar Valley, about forty-five miles from Salt Lake City, ten or twelve from Lehi, and fifteen or twenty from Provo, where barracks and store-houses will be immediately erected. The location is a favorable one from which to command the chief settlements with promptness and efficiency.
Grass is very scarce, however, for large herds, and it has been decided to send back to Fort Leaven-worth all the animals not absolutely necessary to be retained in camp.
There is no other Army news of importance. S.
