SUFFERINGS AMOMG THE TROOPS—PROC-LAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT.
A letter received at Fort Laramie from an officer of Gen. Johnston's command, dated at Camp Scott on the 6th May, says:
"We are still existing, not living. * * * Duties are harder here, and accommodations poorer, than I ever knew them to be before. We are considered lucky if we get two out of every three nights in bed. An express has just arrived from Sale Lake City, tell-ing us that our Governor (Cumming) had started for the southern portion of Mormondom, and would not, in all probability, return here before ten days. He has been with the Mormons now over a month, and it it is reported, and believed too, that he is making every exertion to patch up a compromise. A compro-mise with those who destroyed the food for which we are now suffering—especially since on the 20th of this month we will commence to kill the mules to keep our animal existence from being extinguished—is not re-garded with much favor in the army. There is some truth in the assertion made by a member of Congress, ‘that the army was a pampered herd of paid beggars.’
"It is growing now, and has been for the last 24 hours, with the prospect of its continuing at least 24 more. All this is dreary indeed for men who have only one blanket to cover them."
Gov. Cumming, who appears by the latest accounts to have been kindly received by the Saints, has given publicity to the following proclamation, which is will be seen offers "a full and free pardon to all who will "submit themselves to the authority of the Federal “Government." This movement, according to pres-ent indications, will end the Mormon war:
BY JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, the Territory of Utah was settled by cer-tain emigrants from the States and from foreign coun-tries, who have for several years past manifested a spirit of insubordination to the Constitution and laws of the United States. The great mass of those settlers, acting under the influences of leaders to whom they seem to have surrendered their judgment, refuse to be controlled by any other authority. They have been often advised to obedience, and these friendly counsels have been answered with defiance. Officers of the Federal Government have been driven from the Ter-ritory for no offense but an effort to do their sworn du-ty. Others have been prevented from going there by threads of assassination. Judges have been violently interrupted in the performance of their functions, and the records of the courts have been seized and either destroyed or concealed. Many other acts of unlawful violence have been perpetrated, and the right to re-peat them has been openly claimed by the leading in-habitants, with at least the silent acquiescence of nearly all the others. Their hostility to the lawful Government of the country has at length become so violent that no officer bearing a commission from the Chief Magistrate of the Union can enter the Territory or remain there with safety; and all the officers re-cently appointed have been unable to go to Salt Lake or anywhere else in Utah beyond the immediate power of the army. Indeed, such is believed to be the con-dition to which a strange system of terrorism has brought the inhabitants of that region, that no one among them could express an opinion favorable to this Government, or even propose to obey its laws, with-out exposing his life and property to peril.
After carefully considering this state of affairs, and maturely weighing the obligation I was under to see the laws faithfully executed, it seemed to me right and proper that I should make such use of the military force at my disposal as might be necessary to protect the Federal officers in going into the Territory of Utah, and in performing their duties after arriving there. I accordingly ordered a detachment of the Army to march for the City of Salt Lake, or within reach of that place, and to act in case of need as a posse for the enforcement of the laws. But, in the meantime, the hatred of that misguided people for the just and legal authority of the Government had become so intense that they resolved to measure their military strength with that of the Union. They have organized an armed force far from contemptible in point of num-bers, and trained it, if not with skill, at least with great assiduity and perseverance. While the troops of the United States were on their march, a train of baggage wagons, which happened to be unprotected, attacked and destroyed by a portion of the Mor-mon force, and the provisions and with which the train was laden were nly barred were. In short heir present attitude is one of decided and undeserved enmity to the United States to all their loyal citi-zens. Their determination to oppose the authority of the Government by military force has not only been expressed its words, but manifested in overt acts of the most unequivocal character.
Fellow citizens of Utah, this is rebellion against the Government to which you owe allegiance. It is levy-ing war against the United States, and involves you in the guile of treason. Persistence in it will bring you to condign punishment, to ruin and to shame; for it is mere manners to suppose that, with your limited resources, you can successfully resist the force of this great and powerful nation.
If you have calculated upon the forbearance of the Untied States—if you have permitted yourselves to suppose that this Government will fail to put forth its strength and bring you to submission—you have fallen into a grave mistake. You have settled upon terri-tory which lea geographically in the heart of the Union. The land you live upon was purchased by the United States and paid for out of their Treasury. The proprietary right and title to it is to them, and not in you. Utah in bounded on every side by States and Territories whose people are true to the Union. It is absurd to believe that they will or can permit you to erect in their midst a Government of your own, not only independent of the authority which they all ack-nowledge, but hostile to them and their interests.
Do not deceive yourselves nor try to mislead others by propagating the idea that this is a crusade against your religion. The Constitution and laws of this country can take no notice of your creed, whether it be true or false. That is a question between your God and yourselves, in which I disclaim all right to in-terfere. If you obey the laws, keep the peace and re-spect the just rights of others, you will be perfectly secure, and may live on in your present faith or change it for another at your pleasure. Every intelligent man among you knows very well that this Government has never, directly or indirectly, sought to molest you in your worship, to control you in your ecclesiastical af-fairs, or even to influence you in your religious opin-ions.
The rebellion is not merely a violation of your legal duty; it is without just cause, without reason, without excuse. You never made a complaint that was not listened to with patience. You never ex-hibited a real greivance that was not redressed as promptly as it could be. The laws and regulations enacted for your government by Congress have been equal and just, and their enforcement was mani-festly necessary for your welfare and happiness. You have never asked their repeal. They are simi-lar in every material respect to the laws which have been passed for the other Territories of the Union, and which everywhere else (with one partial ex-ception) have been cheerfully obeyed. No people ever lived who were freer from unnecessary legal restraints than you. Human wisdom never devised a political system which bestowed more blessings or imposed lighter burdens than the Government of the United States in its operation upon the Terri-tories.
But being anxious to save the effusion of blood, sad to avoid the indiscriminate punishment of a whole people for crimes of which it is not probable that all are equally guilty, I offer now a full and free pardon to all who will submit themselves to the authority of the Federal Government. If you refuse to accept it, let the consequences fill upon your own heads But I conjure you to pause deliberately and reflect well be-fore you reject this tender of peace and good-will.
Now, therefore, I, James Buchanan, President of the United States, have thought proper to issue this, my proclamation, enjoining upon all public officers in the Territory of Utah to be diligent and faithful, to the full extent of their power, in the execution of the laws; commanding all citizens of the United States in said Territory to aid and assist the officers in the per-formance of their duties; offering to the inhabitants of Utah who shall submit to the laws a free pardon for the seditions and treasons heretofore by them com-mitted; warning those who shall persist after notice of this proclamation, in the present rebellion against the United States, that they must expect no further lenity, but look to be rigorously dealt with according to their deserts; and declaring that the military forces now in Utah, and hereafter to be sent there, will not be withdrawn until the inhabitants of that Territory shall manifest a proper sense of the duty which they owe to this Government.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sat my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents.
[L. S ] Done at the City of Washington, the sixth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-second. JAMES BUCHANAN.
By the President: Lewis CASS, Secretary of State.
SITUATION OF THE TROOPS.
Correspondence of The St. Louis Democrat.
LEAVENWOSH CITY, June 4, 1858.
I proceed to give you the authentic information from Camp Scott, which was brought to Fort Leavenworth by the last mail.
An officer of high rank in Col. Johnson's army, writes to an officer at Fort Leavenworth, under date of the 7th of May, stating that the Mormon's would accede to no terms which the United States authori-ties could accept. The former had virtually proposed an ultimatum, and evinced every disposition to ad-here to it under all circumstances and to the last ex-tremity. The men who had accompanied the wagons which Gilbert met going South toward the White Mountains had returned or were returning. In the opinion of the officer who writes and whose position gives him every opportunity for obtaining a correct knowledge of the facts from which the opinion is de-rived, a collision was imminent.
Captain Stewart, of Col. Huffman's escort, writes from a point nearly 100 miles beyond Fort Laramie on the 14th of May. It will be seen by an extract of a letter published below, that Hoffman's train had in fourteen days (from the 1st to the 14th of May) ad-vanced not more than 40 miles. They had encoun-tered a severe and protracted snow-storm, which swelled the streams and rendered the country almost impassable. Large numbers of the animals perished. They had no hope of being able to join Col. Johnston before the 10th or 15th of June.
An officer about Col. Johnstone's headquarters, who writes on the 6th of May, says that they were to have struck their tents on the 30th, and march on to Salt Lake. The same authority states that they had "small ratiors'' to last them until about the 1st of June. The mest ration had almost disappeared, but a herd of two or three hundred fat oxen was expected in a day or two.
It would appear that this expectation was not ful-filled, for Gov. Powell, at a later date writing to Capt. McCown, commander of Fort Kearny, says that Johnson’s men would be feeding on mule meat on the 20th of May. Powell had not reached the camp when he wrote thus, but he had learned probably of the non-arrival of the oxen.
The following is the extract from the letter from Col. Hoffman's camp alluded to above:
"CAMP ON LA BONTIS'S CREEK,
Sixty-two Miles West of Laramie.
"This evening, a Mr. Ficklin, a gentleman who went out with Landers' Engineers' party, and who re-mained there with the army, came in from Camp Scott by express in eight days to this point with im-portant dispatches, which are to be forwarded from Fort Laramie, post haste. I believe they are from Gov. Cumming, and I'll not be surprised to hear that inconsequence the further movements of troops in this direction is suspended or countermanded. We have heard that the Governor had gone on a visit to Brigham Young, and these dispatches doubtless an-nounce the result of his negotiations. He has not yet returned from Camp Scott. After hearing of the ar-rival of the Envoy Kane at headquarter, I gave up all expectation of the army having anything more than to be spectators of the settlement.
"The day before yesterday, soon after we got into camp, it commenced to snow till sometime last night, and this morning we found ourselves in about two feet of snow. Of course, we were compelled to lie by yes-terday and to-day, and may have to remain here two or three days longer, certainly to morrow, and when we can move the roads will be in such a condition that we will have to travel very slow. It will be very hard on our animals, which up to this time, have kept in very fine condition with few exceptions. Fifteen mules died last night. But if the sun comes not fine to-morrow, as it promises to day, with a warm wind, so as to carry off the snow rapidly, the horses and mules will soon recover from their draw-back. The grass is very fine, and as soon as the animals get at it they will revive. But for this very unreasonable snow we would have got along admirably well, and we do not despair yet.
"Five days ego Lieut. Bell, with a party, was sent out to the Platte Bridge, to intercept a party of Mor-mons, who, it was accidentally discovered, were trav-eling up the opposite side of the river, carrying an ex-press probably; but they (the Mormons) were too quick tor him, having passed the day before he arrived there, although be traveled 40 miles a day."
The writer of the letter was evidently disappointed in his expectation of good weather, for Captain Stuart writes fourteen days later, and but thirty-eight or forty miles further; and as both letters arrived simultane-ously, it may be inferred that the dispatches brought by Ficklin and the later news, including dates from Camp Scott of the 7th ult., also came in together. The advices per Ficklin are doubtless of a peaceful character; and, as such, are rendered nugatory by the less formal, though equally authentic, intelligence of a later date. The verbal message (that Gov. Cum-ming had been driven out of Salt Lake city), seat through the medium of the carrier by Capt. McCown to Col. Monroe and Gen. Harney, is, I think, entitled to credibility, for it accords with the several letters of the 6th and 7th of May from the Camp, although none of them expressly verifies it.
ARMY MOVEMENTS.
Capt. McCans at 7th Infantry, with 45 picked men of his company, will form the escort of Gen. Harney's headquarters on the route to Salt Lake. Orders have been issued establishing a post at Platte Bridge, the garrison of which, it is understood, will consist of two companies of the 4th Artillery.
One Company of the Second Artillery, under com-mand of Capt. Anderson, are going out to the agency of the Sacs and Foxes, with the agent of these tribes, to protect him and the annuity funds in his charge. Two companies of the Second Infantry, under Capts. Lyon and Gardener, are to relieve the company of the Second Artillery, which were ordered to Fort Riley some time ago. Upon Capt. Lyon and Capt. Gardener will devolve the duty of restoring order in Southern Kansas. Lieut. Du Barry, Third Artillery, went with his command to assume charge of the section of artil-lery at Fort Scott.
Company I, 6th Artillery, which had been stationed at Fort Kearney for many years, accompanied the 1st column, commanded by Col. Andrews. It is under-stood that Major Williams's company (4th Artillery), with another company of the same regiment, will gar-rison Fort Kearney; aid that Capt. McCown, with his company, now stationed there, will proceed to Utah immediately.
The second column (Col. Monroe's) left the Blue, 135 miles west, yesterday, having been detained there several day a by the high freshets, which prevented his teams jrona crossing. Col. May's column (the third) was 67 miles west on the 31st, and progressing rapidly. Col. Morrison's column (the fourth) had reached the Chain Pump on the 1st. It is possible that, owing to the late unprecedented rains, the de-parture of the fifth column may be deferred for a few days. This will produce no inconvenience, as the division of contractors' trains which this column is to escort is not yet ready.
Correspondence of the St. Louis Republican.
FORT LEAVENWORTH, K. T., May 31, 1858.
Agreeable to your request, I seat myself to give you a synopsis of the different companies which make up the 4th column Utah forces, for the benefit of the friends of those who accompany the command.
The following officers compose the staff of the column, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Piscairn Morrison:
Capt. R. R. Garland, 7th Infantry, acting Quarter-master for the column.
Lieut. E J. Brooks, Adjutant to the column.
Lieut. D. P. Hancock, Commissary.
Citizen Udolpho Wolfe, Chief Clerk in the Quarter-master's department of the column.
The column is composed of one company of dragoon recruits, under the command of Lieut. Norris; Light Battery Artillery, commanded by Capt. Berry; one company recruits (infantry) commanded by Brevet-Lieut. Col. Ruggles, and tour companies Seventh In-fantry, under the command of Capt. Little, Capt. Hayman, Capt. Potter, and 1st Lieut. Evans. Two companies of cavalry under the command of Major Sedgwick, are on the detached service at present, but will join the columns at Fort Laramie.
Col. Johnson inspected the column, and I assure you that it was a grand eight; before us stood the gal-lant 7th Infantry, only four companies, it is true, but enough to remind one of the great service they done in the Mexican war; the whole command moves at 10 o'clock to-day, and will proceed, “without delay," to Utah, and even if the rumor of the Mormons laying down their arms be true, this column will advance to relieve the 5th Infantry and others that are out there. The troops all teemed to be is good spirits, and seemed anxious to "beard the lion in his den." Col. May's column left on the 28th also en route for Utah.
