LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
HOW TO MANAGE THE MORMONS.
To the Editor of The N. Y. Tribune.
SIR: The public mind appears to be at the present time much interested in regard to the probable issue of the expedition of the United States forces against the rebel Mormons in Utah Territory. Many persons are of opinion that the Saints will resist unto the death any force which may be sent against them; others think they will quietly submit, if an overwhelming force is sent forward in the Spring, and the rebellion will be no more heard of; while others, again, regard the Mor-mons to be in sober earnest when they threaten, rather than submit, to destroy their dwellings, crops, and all the property they cannot take with them, and, leaving the Territory a desolate waste, take up their abode within the Russian or British possessions.
Now, all these speculations are made by persons who are ignorant of the true character of the men with whom our Government has to deal. The writer of this communication was a prominent actor in the struggle which resulted in the expulsion of the Mormons from Hancock County, Illinois, and in the course of that con-test narrowly watched every maneuver which they were accustomed to resort to in order to attain the ends which they desired to bring about. From my observa-tions of Mormon management during the period re-ferred to, I became satisfied that nothing could be learned as to their intended course of action from their public threats and demonstrations. The more loudly and vehemently these threats are made, and the more boldly they are published by their press, the more cer-tain you may be that they do not truly indicate the policy they intend to pursue. The Mormon leaders un-derstand well the game of "bluff,'' and they play it adroitly. When an officer was sent among them to ascertain their intentions, they were particularly anxious to impress upon his mind that it was their unanimous intention to resist unto the death, and leave their Ter-ritory a wreck, rather than submit to the United States forces. Their object was to bluff, and thereby gain time. They wished to deter the troops from entering their city this Winter, because the Summer is more fa-vorable for the game they intend to play.
The Mormons will not fight any force unless they are certain of victory. They have no idea of surrendering their possessions and leaving the Territory; neither have they any thought of quietly submitting to the United States officers sent among them. Well, what will they do? Simply this: When the troops are re-enforced in the Spring they will march into Salt Lake City, and will there find all the people at their peace-able employments—no resistance—every man will be busy at his work, and stare with seeming wonder at the troops as they pass; but the leaders—those whom the Government may desire to arrest and bring to trial for treason—will be non est inventus. They will be hid in some secure retreat in the mountains where they can bid defiance to all search. No man will be found whose name has ever been heard of in connec-tion with this rebellion. Now, what is to be done? No enemy to conquer—no traitor to be found worth ar-resting and bringing to trial—a large army in Salt Lake City, sent on a fool's errand. How long, with nothing to do, will it be retained there by Government? A month or two, perhaps; and then, leaving a small force to protect the Governor and other officers, the main body of the troops will be withdrawn. Brigham and his fellow-leaders will then return to their places. They will submit to arrest, and after a mockery of a trial by a Mormon Jury, they will be acquitted. If an attempt is made to take them out of the Territory they will be rescued. The Governor, Judges and other officers will be snubbed an insulted on all occasions—their life in the Territory will be rendered so unpleasant by threats and every species of annoyance which these hounds can invent, that they will be compelled to withdraw, as their predecessors have done before them, and then the farce of sending another body of troops to Utah may be reenacted.
Well, says one, how would you manage the Saints? It is not my object to point out the remedy, but to indicate the difficulty, and leave to wiser heads than mine to devise the best plan of meeting it. I will, however, premise that the leaders of the Saints care nothing for United States troops, for they know full well that they will never harm the rank and file of their followers unless resisted. A volunteer force, which would be under less restraint than regulars, would be far more formidable in their estimation; and, in this connection, I would ask whether a large volunteer force got up by the Government, with a view to per-manent settlement in Utah, would not afford the most reliable means of completely quelling the Mormons?
Warsaw, Ill., Feb. 15, 1858. G.
