FROM UTAH.
Correspondence of The N. Y. Tribune.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, April 19,1861.
Since my last communication to THE TRIBUNE I have been wandering to and fro, and going up and down in that portion of the earth presently, and familiarly, known as the dominions of the prophet of the nineteenth century; and taking notes of men and things. Within those twenty-one days a conference has been held by the disciples of the new faith, and a number of Ponies have arrived from the Atlantic States with the engrossing subject of Revolution, and a variety of other matters have claimed pressing attention.
Utah is probably the only portion of the American Continent that is perfectly neutral to the present contest—not indifferent but neutral, strictly so. Speaking of the changing of rulers in Italy, one of their editors recently said: " It is of little importance whether a Napoleon of peace or a Napoleon of war occupy the palace of the Tuileries, or whether a Bourbon fly from his kingdom, or a scion of the House of Savoy march from victory to victory, till his ambition is satiated on the throne of the Caesars. The choice of men is nothing to us, one Pharoah is the same as another," and so would have added the same writer, had his theme been the contest between the North and South: it is of very little matter to us whether Abraham Lincoln whips Jeff. Davis or vice versa; one President "is the same as another."
It is somewhat refreshing to witness this coolness at the present momentous epoch of our nation's history. Elsewhere it is excitement, and everybody personally and directly interested; in Utah, the people are simply the spectators of the struggle; but whether the man whips the bear, or the bear whips the man is of no personal interest to any body from the prophet downward to the last arrival in the "Valleys of the Mountains." The community has an unwavering confidence in their ultimate triumph over all enemies, and seriously believe that they will be the dominant party on the American continent. This I have particularly noticed in traveling among them recently. The troubles in the Atlantic States naturally enough feed this faith, for as they witness the nation created by the blood of our honored fathers going to shivers, while in the bloom of youth, and no governing spirit to command men in their heedless and mad career, they instinctively rush to the conclusion that because have they a master-spirit to rally them, to command order, and to direct in one channel their undivided labors for the attainment of one purpose, that they now tread in the pathway that leads to universal dominion. I need not add, then, that Utah will remain quiet from choice—she has everything to gain by neutrality and nothing to lose.
Nothing has yet been heard of Utah appointments—nothing definite respecting the appointment of any person. On this score there is some anxiety, as certain names have been mentioned in that connection, and, though the foregoing statement is a faithful picture of feelings and interests if let alone, I am fully satisfied that an obnoxious person appointed to the Gubernatorial chair would lead to the immediate dismissal of all the Federal officers, and the reorganization of the State of Deseret. Of that I am satisfied; but I claim not to read from the book, though the fact has been traced in a book. The Delegate was to have presented the Constitution of the Beehive State to Congress, and probably did so during its last session—in fact, I think he did, and the document was taken in charge by the Committee on Territories. Nothing, however, was done; and, honestly, I think nobody was disappointed or cared anything about it. To speak plainly, the Mormons have certain conclusions of their own, among which is that they think that they have a right to self-government but, being great sticklers for Providential interference in the affairs of this mundane sphere, they cultivate patience and "bide their time." The present looks favorable for an interpretation of the wishes of Providence touching the organization of their long looked-for State of Deseret. I shall add no more, only this will serve as a cue to more, and if Mr. Lincoln has no disposition to increase his embarrassments, a careful discrimination in Federal appointments will be very profitable.
The Conference alluded to was a great preaching occasion, and from the character of the sermons, since published, I should that the Saints rejoiced much. "The brethren” seemed to be very free of speech. Of the present condition of things, the Prophet spoke in this wise:
"Our present President, what is his strength? It is like a rope of sand, or like a rope made of water; he is as weak as water. What can he do? Very little. Has he power to execute the laws? No. I am an American-born citizen—born under the Green Mouutains in Vermont, from whose summits you can look down upon the Atlantic States, and I feel chagrined and mortified when I reflect upon the condition of my nation. Of late, at times, I have almost wished that I had been born in a foreign nation. I feel disgraced in having been born under a Government that has so little power, disposition, and influence for truth and right, but I cannot help it. What is the cause of their weakness and imbecility? They have left the paths of truth and virtue, they have joined themselves to falsehood, they have made lies their refuge, they have turned aside the innocent from their rights, and justified the iniquitous doers; they have justified thieving and lying, and every species of debauchery; they have fostered those who have purloined money out of the public treasury—those who have plundered the coffers of the people—and have said, ' Let it be so; you secrete my faults, you assist me to plunder and deceive, and I am with you to cover up your iniquity.' Shame, shame on the rulers of the nation! I feel myself disgraced to hail such men as my countrymen, though I think I shall live through it. I will endure it as well as I can, but the corruption, the iniquity, and the deception of men in high places no man can tell."
I hardly think that many will dispute the prophet's version of the Unterrified Democracy. He was pleased, however, with his own position:
"I am thankful ? ? live to see this day, and have the privilege of assembling ourselves in these valleys We are not now mingling in the turmoils of strife, warring, and contention, that we would have been obliged to have mingled in, had not the Lord suffered us to have been driven to these mountains—one of the greatest blessings that could have been visited upon us. It has been designed, for many generations, to hide up the Saints in the last days until the indignation of the Almighty be over. His wrath will be poured out upon the nations of the earth. We see the nations steadily driving along to the precipice. The Lord has spoken from the heavens, and he is about to fulfil the prophecies of his ancient and modern prophets. He will bring the nations into judgment, and deal with them, and make a full end of them. Do you wish to see it done to-day? Are you prepared for the crisis that will eventually come? No."
