The President considers the improved con-dition of Utah affairs as a subject for congrat-ulation. A year ago in a state of open re-bellion, which should be suppressed cost what it would.
The President appointed a new Governor instead of Brighain Young, and other federal officers to take the place of th0se who, consulting their own personal salety, found it necessary to withdraw from the Territory. To protect these civil officers, and to aid them, as a posse comitatus, in the execution of the laws in case of need, I ordered a detachment of the army to accompany them to Utah. The necessity for adopting these measures is now demonstrated.
On the 15th of September, 1857, Governor Young issued his proclamation, in the style of an independent sovereign, announcing his purpose to resist by force of arms the entry of United States troops into our own territory of Utah. By this he required all the forces of the territory "to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice to repel any and all such invasion," and established martial law from its date throughout the territory. These proved to be no idle threats.
The Message, following up the history of the Utah troubles, describes how the troops were harassed by the Mormons, who drove off the horses, burned the supply trains at Fort Bridger, and who threatened to impede the progress of the soldiers by destroying river fords, falling trees across roads, burning grass and surprising the troops by night. The President praises the behavior of the army under their trying privations while encamped at Fort Bridger through the winter of '57 and '58. The Secretary of War exerted all his energies to forward supplies and a sufficient number of troops to make resistance hopeless, and prevent the effusion of blood. Congress assisted and granted the necessary appropriations, and provided for the raising of two regiments of troops, which, happily, there was no occasion to call into service. If there had been it would have been embarrassing to have selected from the great number of brave and patriotic citizens offering themselves.
The wisdom and economy of sending sufficient reinforcements to Utah are established not only by the event, but in the opinion of those, who, from their position and opportunities, are the most capable of forming a correct judgment. General Johnston, the commander of the forces, in addressing the Secretary of War from Fort Bridger, under date of Oct. 18, 1857, expresses the opinion that "unless a large force is sent here, from the nature of the country, a protracted war on their [the Mormons,] part 13 inevitable."- This he considered necessary to terminate the war "speedily and more economically than if attempted by insufficient means."
The President, desirous of a peaoeable termination of the difficulty, despatched Messrs. Powell and MoCulloch to Utah in April, with a proclamation, warning the inhabitants of their hopeless and rebellious situation, and offering pardon to all who should submit to the laws, and assuring them if they persisted they could expect no further lenity, but be rigorously dealt with according to their deserts. Their report of July confirms the propriety of previously adopted measures.
In this they state that they "are firmly impressed with the belief that the presence of the army here and the large additional force that had been ordered to this Territory, were the chief inducements that caused the Mormons to abandon the idea of resisting the authority of the United Scales. A less decisive policy would probably have resulted in a long, bloody and expensive war."
The President commends the conduct of Messrs. Powell and McCullcoh, and Gov. Cum-ming, and adds:
I cannot, in this connection, refrain from mentioning the valuable services of Col Thos. D. Kane, who, from motives of benevolence, and without official character or pecuniary compensation, visited Utah during the last inclement winter for the purpose of contributing to the pacification of the Territory.
I am happy to inform you, that the Governor and other civil officers of Utah, are now performing their appropriate functions without resistance. The authority of the Constitution and the laws has been fully restored, and peace prevails throughout the Territory.
A portion of the troops sent to Utah are now encamped in Cedar Valley, forty-four miles south-west Salt Lake City; and the remainder have been ordered to Oregon to suppress Indian hostilities.
The influence of the troops' presence has been to restrain the hostile feeling of the Indians, to enhance the safety of Western settlers and promote settlements along the route between military posts.
I recommend that the benefit of our land laws and pre-emption system be extended to the people of Utah, by the establishment of a land office in that Territory.
