From the National Intelligencer.
From the Territory of Utah.
Extract of a Letter from a Judicial Officer of the Gov-ernment at Great Salt Lake City, dated,
SEPTEMBER 20, 1851.
I shall leave for the States on the 1st October; and most gladly will I go, for I am sick and tired of this place—of the fanaticism of the people, followed by their violence of feeling towards the gentiles, as they style all persons not belonging to their church. I have had a feeling and personal proof of fanatical in-tolerance within the last few days. I will give you a cursory view of the circumstances and the scene.
As soon after my arrival here as my illness would permit, I heard from Judge B. and Mr. Secretary H. accounts of the intolerant sentiments of the commu-nity toward the Government officers and the Gov-ernment itself, which filled me with surprise. I learned that not only were the officers sent here treated with coldness and disrespect, but that the Government of the United States, on all public oc-casions, whether festive or religious, was denounced in the most disrespectful terms, and often with in-vectives of great bitterness. I will mention a few instances. The 24th July is the anniversary of the arrival of the Mormons in this valley. It was on that day of this year that they assembled to comme-morate the interesting event. The orator of the day on that occasion spoke bitterly of the course of the United States toward the church of "Latter Day Saints," in taking a battalion of their men from them for the war with Mexico, while on the banks of the Missouri river, in their flight from the mob at Nau-voo. He said the Government of the United States had devised the most wanton, cruel, and dastardly means for the accomplishment of their ruin, over-throw and utter extermination.
His excellency Governor Young on the same occa-sion denounced in the most sacrilegious terms the memory of the illustrious and lamented General and President of the United States, who has lately gone to the grave, and over whose tomb a nation's tears have scarcely ceased to flow. He exclaimed, "Zacha-ry Taylor is dead and gone to hell, and I am glad of it!" and his sentiments were echoed by a loud amen from all parts of the assembly. Then rising, in the excess of his passion, to his tip-toes, he vociferated, "I prophecy, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the priesthood that is upon me, that any other President of the United States who shall lift his finger against this people will die an untimely death and go to hell." This kind of feeling I found pervading the whole community, in some individuals more marked than in others.
You may remember that I was authorized by the managers of the Washington National Monument So-ciety to say to the people of the Territory of Utah that they would be pleased to receive from them a block of marble, or other stone, to be deposited in the mon-ument "as an offering at the shrine of patriotism." I accordingly called upon Gov. Young, and apprised him of the trust committed to my hands, and express-ed a desire to address the people upon the subject, when assembled in their greatest number. He repli-ed that on the following Monday the very best oppor-tunity would be presented. Monday came, and I found myself at their Bowery, in the midst of at least three thousand people. I was respectfully and hon-orably introduced by "his Excellency" to the vast as-semblage; I made a speech, though so feeble that I could scarcely stand, and staggered in my debility several times on the platform.
I spoke for two hours, during which time I was fa-vored with the unwavering attention of my audience. Having made some remarks in reference to the judi-ciary, I presented the subject of the National Monu-ment, and, incidentally thereto, (as the Mormons sup- posed,) I expressed my opinions in a full, free, unre-served, yet respectful and dignified manner, in re-gard to the defection of the people here from the Government of the United States. I endeavored to show the injustice of their feelings toward the Gov-ernment, and alluded boldly and feelingly to the sa-crilegious remarks of Gov. Young toward the memo-ry of the lamented Taylor. I defended, as well as my feeble powers would allow, the name and charac-ter of the departed hero from the unjust aspersions cast upon them, and remarked that, in the latter part of the assailant's bitter exclamation that "he was glad Gen. Taylor was in, hell," he did not exhibit a Chris-tian spirit, and that, if the author did not earlier re- pent of the cruel declaration, he would perform that task with keen remorse upon his dying pillow.
I then alluded to my nativity—to my citizenship—to my love of country—to my duty to defend my country from unjust aspersions, wherever I met them—and trusted that, when I failed to defend her, my tongue, then employed in her advocacy and praise might cling to the roof of my mouth, and that my arm, ever ready to be raised in her defence, might fall palsied at my side. I then told the audience if they could not offer a block of marble in a feeling of full fellowship with the people of the United States, as brethren and fellow-citizens, they had better not offer it all, but leave it unquarried in the bosom of its native mountain.
At the close of my speech the Governor rose, and denounced me and the Government in the most bru-tal and unmeasured terms.
The ferment created by his remarks was truly fear ful. It seemed as if the people (I mean a large por-tion of them) were ready to spring upon me like hyenas and destroy me. The Governor, while speak-ing, said that some persons might get their hair pull-ed or their throats cut on that occasion. His manner was boisterous, passionate, infuriated in the extreme; and, if he had not been afraid of final vengeance, he would have pointed his finger at me, and I should in an instant have been a dead man. Ever since then the community has been in a state of intense excite-ment, and murmurs of personal violence and assassi-nation toward me have been freely uttered by the lower orders of the populace. How it will end I don't know.
I have just learned that I have been denounced, to-gether with the Government and officers, in the Bow-ery again to-day, by Gov. Young. I hope I shall get off safely. God only knows. I am in the power of a desperate and murderous set. I, however, feel no great fear. So much for defending my country.
I expect all the officers of the territory, at least Chief Justice B., Secretary Harris, and Captain Day, Indian agent, will return with me, to return here no more.
