The Mormons—A Card from Mr. Bern-hisel.
The Pennsylvania Inquirer says:—
The Hon. John M. Bernhisel has spoken at last. We copy his card, as given in the New York Express. It will be seen that he asks a suspension of public opinion, in rela-tion to the Mormons, their views and their policy. Doubtless, many extravagant stories have been circulated, and the only wonder is, that the Mormon Delegate has deemed it expedient to keep quiet so long. He now speaks of the Mormon war as “a wicked en-terprise;” but he does not venture to say a word in relation to the institution of polyga-my. The Mormons, in our view, or at least the leaders, have been treated in the most generous manner by the Government.—Months ago, they announced themselves in open rebellion, and threatened to defy the entire authority of the United States. It thus became necessary to send a large body of troops against them, and at an expense of many millions of dollars. The provisions for the troops were cut off, their cattle were destroyed, and many other outrages were perpetrated. Nevertheless, the Government, still unwilling to shed blood and take life, made another attempt at conciliation, and with results, it is hoped, of a satisfactory character. Not a solitary leader has been arrested, and even Brigham Young, the arch chief of the rebellion, has been dealt with rather at the head of an independent power, than as a braggart and traitor. It is under these circumstances, that Mr. Bernhisel asks a suspension of public opinion. We give his card for what it is worth, and as part of the history of times, but we confess that it appears to us as conceived in very had taste.
THE MORMONS AND THE GOVERNMENT—MR. BERNHISEL. ASKS FOR A SUSPENSION OF PUB-LIC OPINION.
To the Editors of the New York Express.
Upon the advice of experienced friends, I have carefully avoided presenting my name in print. The most obnoxious individual, however, is, by popular custom, entitled to ask for himself and for others, when malice is busy against them, what is termed a sus-pension of public opinion
I would most respectfully ask my fellow citizens to distrust the letters with which the journals now abound, coming or purporting to come from the station of the army now in Utah, and which are composed without any regard to truth of statement by those who are persevering in the wicked enterprise denom-inated the Mormon War.
Why are you told by these cruel and mer-cenary persons that there is reason to doubt the sincerity of the Mormon's desire for peace! Why did the press at their command deny the authenticity of the despatches of Governor A. Cumming to the commander at Camp Scott and the president ? Can they hope, after we have entirely abandoned our plans and sacrificed all our preparations for defence—after we have opened a way into Utah to troops whose existence no reasona-able man will doubt was at our mercy—do they still hope to bring on a war by follow-ing after our flying people so closely that the conduct of a licentious soldiery will compel our citizens to defend themselves from their outrages by force?
I do not understand it. My advices show that four months have passed since we were invited by the President of the United States, or by a gentleman who claimed to have his confidence and represent his views, to re-ceive the assurance of his own and the na-tion's good will—and to welcome peace and free intercourse again with the forgetfulness of all past differences. Four months have elapsed since that gentleman came among us with his message of peace, and upon our na-tional faith we felt safe to call back our troops who were upon a hostile march, and salute the flag which should protect every Ameri-can citizen who has a right to gaze upon it. But the hostile preparations against us still continue, the armed men at the camp still threaten to pursue our families and flocks.
They even write of their success in preju-dicing against us the minds of the two gen-tlemen who have lately reached them bear-ing the title of Commissioners of Peace.
With all these evidences of dark plotting, I still have the hope that they will not be able to cover up the truth with fire and blood. I will not yet place the national administra-tion with those who are striving to destroy us. I believe the President to be a man from whom the truth may be kept by covert intrigue, but I trust in him as one in every case incapable of perfidy.
I think it enough for me to beg a suspen-sion of public opinion. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN M. BERNHISEL,
Delegate from Utah.
New York, July 3, 1858.
