LATE INTELLIGENCE FROM UTAH.
Early in August General Harney dispatched to Great Salt Lake City Capt. Van Vliet, of his staff, to gather the necessary information respecting the disposition of its inhabitants, the geography of the routes, and other details requisite to a proper dis-charge of the duties of his command. Capt. Van Vliet left Salt Lake City about the 15th of Sep-tember, on his return to Fort Laramie, which sta-tion lie reached on the 27th of September. A corre-spondent of the Tribune writes from that post on the 28th of September, giving the result of Capt. Van Vliet's observations.
That officer reports that the distance of Great Salt Lake City from Fort Laramie is five hundred and eighteen miles. He left his escort at Ham's Fort, about twenty miles west from Green river, and proceeded to the capi-tal, attended only by his own servants. He was, con-trary to many reports he had heard upon his route, re-ceived with much good feeling and hospitality, and every facility was afforded to him for the satisfactory fulfil-ment of his mission. He had daily interviews with Brigham Young and the other officers of the Mormon Church, and he represents that they uniformly expressed their determination to resist at all hazards the ingress of the United States troops into the valley. When re-minded that even if their resistance should be successful this year, the entrance would be effected in the following year by an overwhelming force, their reply was that they had well considered all that, but when the troops had carried the mountain passes, they would enter a valley "in which no shrub would be green and not one stone remain upon another." They seemed to be pos-sessed with the idea that if they could but make a suc-cessful resistance now, they would gain time, and that on reflection, after such a practical hint as to the diffi-culty of the task, the Federal Government would recede from asserting its authority over the Territory.
The old spirit of fanaticism and enthusiasm displayed itself in these interviews, Brigham Young declaring that the day on which the United States troops were ordered to advance upon the Territory for its subjugation would be the happiest day that ever dawned upon Mormonism, inasmuch as the more the Saints were persecuted the more they would thrive and multiply. The Tribune's correspondent thus describes a Sunday service. It is just possible that the demonstration described may have been preconcerted to impress the captain :
"On Sunday, September 18, Capt. Van Vliet was ask-ed to attend religious services in the Bowery, and was escorted to a prominent seat upon the platform, and in-vited to make an address, which invitation he declined. By counting the number of persons upon certain tiers of benches he estimated the audience to exceed forty-five hundred. After some remarks by Heber C. Kimball, a discourse was delivered by Elder John Taylor, formerly editor of the Mormon, the newspaper organ of the church in New York city. At the close Mr. Taylor called the attention of the people to the Captain, and, alluding to his business in the city, recounted the substance of his conversations, and said that he would make a request in order that Captain Van Vliet might learn that he had been made acquainted with the determination of the whole people ; he would ask that all those present who were willing to raze their houses, burn their crops, pull down what they had passed ten years in building up, make their beautiful valley a desert, and retreat to the moun-tains, in case the troops should force an entrance, would rise ; and the audience, without exception, rose to their feet, and remained standing long enough to enable him to see that they were absolutely unanimous."
There had been some movements, however, that seem to corroborate the sentiments expressed by Brigham Young and the Elders. The population were concen-trating themselves in Salt Lake Valley, and were aban-doning the outer fortifications. It is estimated that the largest force they can put in the field will not exceed six thousand. Capt. Van Vliet's inquiries satisfied him that there was some dissatisfaction with the rulers of the church, but that the dissatisfied were held in entire sub-jection, and would be until a powerful force from with-out secured them the opportunity of developing their sentiments. There was a manufactory of firearms in the Territory, but no mill for the making of powder or other ammunition. Brigham Young claimed that they had a three years' supply of provisions, which, in case of at-tack, they should take with them to the mountains, and there keep up a sort of guerilla war upon the United States troops.
These are indications of approaching trouble with the Mormons. Capt. Van Vliet is represented as having ex-tensive acquaintance among that people before this visit, and, as being a shrewd and experienced observer, not likely to be imposed upon by any specious assurances or pretences. The declarations made to him by the leaders seem to be corroborated by their teachings in their public assemblies, of which we have now more full reports in the Deseret News of September 2d and 9th. Elder Kim-ball, in a discourse on the 30th of August, seems to have had a fine time of railing against the United States authorities. We give a few passages in illus-tration:
"Well, here is Bro. Brigham; he is the man of our own choice, he is our Governor in the capacity of a Terri-tory, and also as Saints of the Most High.
"Well, it is reported that they have another Governor on the way now, three Judges, a District Attorney, a Marshal, a Postmaster, and Secretary, and that they are coming here with twenty-five hundred men.
"The United States design to force those officers upon us by the point of the bayonet. Is not that a funny thing ? You may think that I am cross, but I am laugh-ing at their calamity, and I 'will mock when their fear cometh.' * * *
"If this people should consent to dispossess Brother Brigham Young as our Governor, they are just as sure to go to hell as they live, and I know it, for God would forsake them and leave them to themselves, and they would be in worse bondage than the children of Israel ever were.
"Supposing this thing all blows over and they don't come up here, but they begin to flatter us and be friend-ly, what will be the result ? They may flatter as long as the earth stands, but I never will be subject to one of their d—d pusillanimous curses. They may court and flatter as much as they please, but I never will be sub-ject to them again—no, never. Do you hear it ? [Voices: 'Yes.'] Do you think we will submit to them ? No, never. They have cut the thread themselves.
"You are the people who have the privilege to ac-knowledge Brother Brigham as our Governor and conti-nue him in his office, and you also have the privilege, through your agency, to reject him if you please; but it will be to your condemnation if you do, because he has got the keys of the kingdom, and the very moment you reject him you cut yourselves off from the right of the priesthood. * * *
"I am giving you a little of my feelings, for I want you to know that you are under no more obligation to receive those men than Brother Brigham's family is to receive another man, and to reject him as their husband, their father, their friend, and benefactor.
"I have a right to say the Gentiles shall never rule over me, although this people might admit of their com-ing here. I have a right to say also that we shall never be ruled over by them from this day forth, while grass grows or water runs; never—no, never. [Voices: 'Amen.']
"Well, we have got to sustain these 'Amens' and we have got to sustain these vows. You, ladies, too, will certainly have to do your part or back out. I told you last Sunday to arm yourselves; and if you cannot do it any other way sell some of your fine bonnets, fine dresses, and buy yourselves a good dirk, a pistol, or some other instrument of war.
"Arm your boys and arm yourselves universally, and that, too, with the weapons of war, for we may be brought to the test to see if we will stand up to the line."
There is more of the same kind in Elder Kimball's discourse and in the remarks by other Elders. Now, whatever these men may mean, the hearty responses from the congregation show that their followers believe them to mean all they say ; and as this style of teaching has now continued for some time, we do not see how the leaders can back out of the position they have assumed with safety to themselves, or how stem the storm of fa-naticism which they have so labored to raise. It is worthy of note, however, that Brigham Young's brief remarks on the same occasion were much more tempe-rate than those of his brethren in office. He exhorted to pity for the erring Gentiles who talked of invading Utah, on the ground of their ignorance of what they had undertaken to do, and expressed the belief that if the soldiers knew what excellent people the Saints were they would refuse obedience to their officers and turn round and go home. Perhaps it would not be far from the mark to suggest that possibly Brigham Young per-mits these exciting and treasonable harangues in order | to bring about unanimity of determination not to be sub-jected to the Federal Government, so that in a body they may abandon Utah, and locate themselves beyond its limits under his own more firmly than ever established despotism. It is difficult to believe that a man of his sagacity seriously contemplates a determined armed op- position to the military force of the United States, with the fearful consequences to the Saints, their almost cer-tain annihilation, which it would involve. If Capt. Van Vliet has not underrated the number of men who would respond to any such call from Brigham Young, the Mor-mon Highpriest's sagacity would be still more seriously impugned if he entertained any such purposes. He and his followers have gone far enough, however, to make it a point of national necessity and honor that the author-ity of the Federal Government should be asserted and demonstrated in the Territory, and it is not to be sup-posed that the Administration will quail before any threats or defiance, but will meet the responsibility with promptitude and efficiency.—New York Com. Adv.
