AFFAIRS IN UTAH.
Judicial Proceedings—Young's Appearance In Court—The Troops—Prices of Prod-uce, &c.
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U.T.,
Saturday, Dec. 11, 1858.
We have had interesting times here lately, and the tedious monotony of a residence in these far-off regions has been considerably enlivened bthe legal proceedings of the United States District Court, Judge SINCLAIR presiding. For awhile back it has seemed that serious trouble would arise between the Federal officers and the Mormons. Brother BRIGHAM was wanted before the United States Court for this Dis-trict, D, H. BURR, Esq., claiming, by affidavit, that he was an important witness ; but the United States Marshal had some difficulty in serving a subpoena on him. Three times the officer tried to obtain an en-trance to the Prophet's premises, but in vain. Before matters came to the extremity hoped for by many, Judge SINCLAIR received a note from YOUNG, stating that he would obey the process of the Court. The Marshal then served the summons on him.
At Camp Floyd, lively hopes are entertained that a detachment of the troops would be needed to enforce ; the civil process and compel the attendance of the Ex-Governor, and preparations were made at the Camp to prevent delay in case a demand should be made. Notwithstanding all that has transpired, how-ever, there is but little prospect of a difficulty between the troops and the Mormons. However much the leaders and the ambitious spirits among them may desire an outbreak, the masses are undoubtedly at heart opposed to it. They have nothing to gain, but everything to lose, by a rupture between themselves and the troops. The overflow of Uncle Sam's Treas-ury in this direction is too convenient, and been at-tended by too many substantial benefits, to be stopped by any act of theirs. Their past difficulties with the Government have so far paid very handsomely; but the lay members, blind as they are on many subjects, understand their true interests too well not to per-ceive that another difficulty would be injurious to them in every respect.
The change that has taken place here since the ar-rival of the troops and the heavy trains of the con-tractors and merchants, has been very great. This movement has played into the Mormons' hands. Treason has been well remunerated. They were almost destitute of everything but women and chil-dren, and the scanty produce of the soil, when these troubles commenced; now they are, as a general thing, well supplied. A few items might be men-tioned, to give you a better idea of how matters have went here. Every kind of produce, immediately upon the advent of the Army and merchants, found an excellent and cash market. Throughout the past Summer and Fall, the "Christians" in this City and at Camp Floyd had to pay 50 cents per dozen for eggs; 50 cents per pound for butter; 40 cents per pound for cheese ; 75 cents per head for fowls; 30 cents per pound for fresh fish ; $2 50 to $3 per bushel for potatoes ; 20 cents per head for cabbage ; $2 per bushel for turnips ; $3 per bushel for onions, and oth-er vegetables in proportion. Since the commence-ment of cold weather, everything of this kind sells at much higher figures—in some instances at least 25 per cent, higher—than they did early in the Fall. In fact, for many of these articles, owing to their scarcity, almost any price that is asked is paid. Hay readily brings $30 per ton, and before the Winter is over it will doubtless command $40. Firewood has sold at $12 per cord. The adobes used in building the quarters for the troops at Camp Floyd have cost $15 per thousand, and the lumber $60 per thousand, including the hauling. A mechanic could not be hired to work on the quarters for less than $3 per day, and in many instances demanding and receiving $4; nor a common labor or less than $2. You will readily per-ceive that at the above prices for produce, building materials and labor, the Mormons have made a good thing of the difficulty, at the expense of the Government and merchants.
There is no timber growing anywhere in this Ter-ritory suitable for wagons, yokes, &c.; neither is there any iron, though much has been said about the mineral of Iron County, excepting what is imported ; consequently, hard timber, iron, yokes and wagons were very scarce here before the trains arrived. An ordinary wagon formerly brought $100 very readily. Wrought iron $20 per 100 pounds. Since our arrival, however, the heavy freight wagons, which cost us about $150, and which average nearly 800 pounds of iron to the wagon, will not sell for more than $20 or $25 apiece, while yokes and chains can scarcely be sold at any price.
Money was never in more brisk circulation here than of late. All kinds of merchandise yield fair profit; but groceries, cotton yarn, and a few other articles, have been in extraordinary demand. Sugar is selling at $1 per pound, with a prospect of the stock being exhausted, even at that price, before supplies can be obtained. It is expected that the Sorghum Sucre will be raised more plentifully another year; but there can be but little certainty about any calcu-tion made here with regard to crops. Hopes have been freely indulged in that there would be a good yield of cotton this year in the Southern part of the Territory, but I learn that, in consequence of the late frosts, the crop has proved an almost total failure—thirty-three acres yielding but 650 pounds of ginned cotton.
The Indian difficulties, which commenced with the killing of PINTETS, son of the chief PETEETNEET, are not yet settled. There has been a great want of vigor exhibited in the prosecution of these difficulties. The killing of this Indian was doubtless an unjustifiable, wanton act; but proper precautions should have been taken to guard the defenceless traveler against the re-taliation of the enraged savage. When the blow was struck, it should have been followed up. The Indians should have been pursued to their retreats, and taught by sad experience that they could not waylay and murder defenceless whites with impunity. American prowess should have been vindicated, and the reputation of the Army established and main-tained.
The Army has, I fear, lost its prestige with the In-dians. The disposition which has been evinced to remain contiguous to the settlements and enjoy the comfortable quarters and attractions of Camp Floyd, is attributed by the savages to cowardice; and they are, therefore, emboldened to maintain a hostile atti-tude. They have never yet experienced the weight of our national arm, and they have not the respect for the American name which the presence of the Federal Army should always inspire. This is to be deplored. The enormous cost to the country of fitting out, transporting and housing and sustaining the Utah expedition, might have been borne more cheer-fully if the results were in any wise commensurate with the expenditures. But this, I am sorry to say, has not been the case. Our influence over the In-dians of this Territory was not what it should have been when we arrived here. All their intercourse with the Mormons had had the effect to strengthen their associations with these fanatics, and imbue them with their rebellious views. The Indians had little, if any, idea of the power of our Government, and they were disposed to treat with contempt and indignity all who bore the name of American.
It should have been the duty of the Army to have removed these impressions. With the means that have been at command nothing could have been easier. Excellent opportunities of doing so have not been wanting, and had they been seized and improved with energy, every particle of Mormon influence might have been effectually destroyed, and a lesson taught these tribes that would have made the Ameri-can name both feared and respected, and would not have been lost on neighboring tribes. P.
