FEOM UTAH.
Gov. Cumming's Official Account of his Reception at Salt Lake City.
Additional Intelligence from Utah—Reported Abandonment of Salt Lake City-Brigham Young at Provo City.
The following is Gov. COMMING'S dispatch to the Secretary of State, narrating his experiences in Salt Lake City :
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T., May 2, 1858.
SIR : You are aware that my contemplated journey was postponed in consequence of the snow on the mountains, and in the canons between Fort Bridger and. this city. In accordance with the determination communicated in former notes, I left camp on the 5th and arrived here on the 12th ult. Some of the incidents of my journey are related in the annexed note, addressed by me to Colonel A. S. JOHNSTON, on the 15th ult.:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T., April 15, 1858.
SIR : I left camp on the 5th, en route to this city, in accordance with a determination communicated to you on the 3d inst., accompanied by Col. KANE as my guide, and two servants. Arriving in the vicinity of the spring, which is on this side of the "Quaking Asp" hill, after night, Indian camp fires were dis-cerned on the rocks overhanging the valley. We proceeded to the spring, and, after disposing of the animals, retired from the trail beyond the mountain. We had reason to congratulate ourselves upon having taken this precaution, as we subsequently ascertained that the country lying between your outposts and the "Yellow " is infested by hostile renegades and out-laws from various tribes.
I was escorted from Bear River Valley to the West-ern end of Echo Cañon. The journey through the canon being performed, for the most part, after night, it was about 11 o'clock P. M. when I arrived at We-ber Station. I have been everywhere recognized as Governor of Utah ; and. so far from having encoun-tered insults or indignities, I am gratified in being able to state to you that, in passing through the set-tlements, I have been universally greeted with such respectful attentions as are due to the representative of the Executive authority of the United States in the Territory.
Near the Warm Springs, at the line dividing Great Salt Lake and Davis Counties, I was honored with a formal and respectful reception by many gentlemen, including the Mayor and other municipal officers of the city, and by them escorted to lodgings previous-ly provided, the Mayor occupying a seat in my car-nage.
Ex-Governor BRIGHAM YOUNG paid me a call of ceremony as soon as I was sufficiently relieved from the fatigue of my mountain journey to receive com-pany. in subsequent interviews with the Ex-Gov-ernor he has evinced a willingness to afford me every facility which I may inquire for the efficient perform-ance of my Administrative duties. His course in this respect meets, I fancy, with the approval of a majori-ty of this community. The Territorial seal, with other public property, has been tendered me by WIL-LIAM H. HOOPER, Esq., late Acting Secretary pro tem.
I have not yet examined the subject critically, but apprehend that the records of the United States Courts, Territorial Library, and other public proper-ty, remain unimpaired.
Having entered upon the performance of my of-ficial dudes in this city, it is probable that I will be detained for some days in this part of the Territory.
I respectfully call your attention to a matter which demands our serious consideration. Many acts of depredation have been recently committed by Indians upon the property of the inhabitants—one in the im-mediate vicinity of this city. Believing that the In-dians will endeavor to sell the stolen property at or near the camp, I herewith inclose the brand book (incomplete) and memoranda (in part) of stock lost by citizens of Utah since Feb. 25,1858, and two letters addressed to me on the same subject by WM. H. HOOP-ER, Esq., late acting Secretary pro tem., which may en-able you to secury the property and punish the thieves.
With feelings of profound regret I have learned that Agent HURT is charged with having incited to acts of hostility the Indians in Uinta Valley. I hope that Agent HURT will be able to vindicate himself from the charges contained in the inclosed letter from WILLIAM H. HOOPER, late Secretary pro tem., yet they demand a thorough investigation.
I shall probably be compelled to make a requisition upon you for a sufficient force to chastise the Indians alluded to, since I desire to avoid being compelled to call out the militia for that purpose.
The gentlemen who are intrusted with this note, Mr. JOAN B. KIMBALL and Mr. FAY WORTHEN, are en-gaged in mercantile pursuits here, and are represent-ed to be gentlemen of the highest respectability, and have no connection with the church here. Should you deem it advisable or necessary, you will please send any communication intended for me by them. I beg leave to commend them to your confidence and courtesy ; they will probably return to the city in a few days. They are well known to Messrs. GILBERT, PERRY and BARE, with whom you will please commu-nicate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. CUMMING,
Governor of Utah Territory.
A, S. JOHNSON, Col. of Cavalry, commanding Army of Utah, Fort Scott, U. T.
The note omits to state that I met parties of armed men at Lost and Yellow creeks, as well as Echo Cañon. At every point, however, I was recognized as the Governor of Utah, and received with a mili-tary salute. When it was arranged with the Mormon officers in command of my escort that I should pass through Echo Cañon at night, I inferred that it was with the object of concealing the barricades and other defences. I was therefore agreeably surprised by an illumination in honor of me. The bonfires kindled by the soldiers from the base to the summits of the walls of the cañon completely illuminated the valley, and disclosed the snow-colored mountains which surrounded us. When I arrived at the next station I found the "emigrant road" over the “Big mountain" still impassable I was able to make my way, however, down "Weber Cañon."
Since my arrival I have been employed in examin-ing the records of the Supreme and District Courts, which I am now prepared to report as being perfect and unimpaired. This will doubtless be acceptable information to those who have entertained an im-pression to the contrary. I have also examined the legislative records, and other books belonging to the office of the Secretary of State, which are in perfect preservation. The property return, though not made up in proper form, exhibits the public property for which W. H. HOOPER, late Secretary of State, is responsible. It is, in part, the same for which the estate of A. W. BABBITT is liable, that individual having died whilst in the office of Secretary of State for Utah.
I believe that the books and charts, stationery and other property, appertaining to the Surveyor-Gen-eral's office, will, upon examination, be found in the proper place, except some instruments, which are supposed to have been disposed of by a person who was temporarily in charge of the office. I examined the property, but cannot verify the matter, in conse-quence of not having at my command a schedule or property return.
The condition of the large and valuable Territorial library has also commanded my attention, and I am pleased in being able to report that Mr. W. C. STAINES, the librarian, has kept the books and records in the most excellent condition. I will, at an early day, transmit a catalogue of this library, and schedules of the other public property, with certified copies of the records of the Supreme and District Courts, ex-hibiting the character and amount of the public busi-ness last transacted in them.
On the 21st instant I left Great Salt Lake City, and visited Tuilla and Bush Valleys, in the latter of which lies the military reserve selected by Colonel STEP-TOE, and endeavored to trace the lines upon the ground from field-notes which are in the Surveyor-General's office. An accurate plat of the reserve, as it has been measured off, will be found accompanying a communication, which I shall address to the Secre-tary of War, upon this subject.
On the morning of the 24th instant, information was communicated to me that a number of persons who were desirous of leaving the Territory were un-able to do so, and considered themselves to be un-lawfully restrained of their liberty. However desi-rous of conciliating public opinion, I felt it incumbent upon me to adopt the most energetic measures to as-certain the truth or falsehood of this statement. Post-poning, therefore, a journey of importance which I had in contemplation, to one of the settlements of Utah county, I caused public notice to be given im-mediately of my readiness to relieve all persons who were, or deemed themselves to be, aggrieved, and on the ensuing day, which was Sunday, requested the following notice to be read, in my presence, to the people at the Tabernacle ;
"NOTICE
It has been reported To me that there are persons re-siding in this and in other parts of the Territory who are illegally restrained of their liberty. It is, therefore, proper that I should announce that I assume the protec-tion of all such persona, if any there be, and request that they will communicate to me their names and places of residence, under seal, through Mr. FAY WORTHEN, or to me in person, during my stay in the City.
A. CUMMING, Governor of Utah Territory,"
I have since kept my office open at all hours of the day and night, and have registered no less than 56 men, 38 women, and 71 children, as desirous of my protection and assistance in proceeding to the States. The large majority of these people are of English birth, and state that they leave the congregation from a desire to improve their circumstances, and realize elsewhere more money by their labor. Certain lead-ing men among the Mormons have promised them flour, and to assist them in leaving the country.
My presence at the meeting in the Tabernacle will be remembered by me as an occasion of intense in-terest. Between three and four thousand persons were assembled for the purpose of public worship ; the hall was crowded to overflowing ; but the most profound quiet was observed when I appeared. President BRIGHAM YOUNG introduced me by name as the Governor of Utah, and I addressed the audience from "the stand." I informed them that I had come among them to vindicate the national sovereignty ; that it was my duty to secure the supremacy of the Constitution and the laws ; that I had taken my oath of office to exact an unconditional submission on their part to the dictates of the law. I was not in-terrupted. In a discourse of about thirty minutes' duration, I touched (as I thought best) boldly upon all the leading questions at issue between them and the general Government. I remembered that I had to deal with men embittered by the remembrance and recital of many real and imaginary wrongs, but did not think it wise to withhold from them the entire truth. They listened respectfully to all that I had to say—approvingly even, I fancied—when I explained to them what I intended should be the character of my administration. In fact, the whole manner of the people was calm, betokening no consciousness of having done wrong, but rather, as it were, indicating a conviction that they had done their duty to their religion and to their country. I have observed that the Mormons profess to view the Constitution as the work of inspired men, and respond with readiness to appeals for its support.
Thus the meeting might have ended. But, after closing my remarks, I rose and stated that I would be glad to hear from any who might be inclined to ad-dress me upon topics of interest to the community This invitation brought forth in succession several speakers, who evidently exercised great influence over the masses of the people. They harangued on the subject of the assassination of JOSEPH SMITH, Jr., and his friends; the services rendered by a Mormon battalion to an ungrateful country ; their suffering on "the plains" during their dreary pilgrimage to their mountain home, &c. The congregation became greatly excited, and joined the speakers in their in-temperate remarks, exhibited more frenzy than I had expected to witness among a people who habitually exercise great self-control. A speaker now repre-sented the Federal Government as desirous of need-lessly introducing the national troops into the Ter-ritory," whether a necessity existed for their em-ployment to support the authority of the civil officers or not;" and the wildest uproar ensued. I was fully confirmed in the opinion that this people, with their extraordinary religion and customs, would gladly en-counter certain death rather than be taxed with a submission to the military power, which they consid-ered to involve a loss of honor.
In my first address I had informed them that they were entitled to a trial by their peers ; that I had no intention of stationing the army in immediate con-tact with their settlements, and that the military posse would not be resorted to until further means of arrest had been tried and failed, I found the greatest diffi-culty in explaining these points, so great, was the ex-citement. Eventually, however, the efforts of BRIGHAM YOUNG were successful in calming the tumult and restoring order, before the adjournment of the meeting. It is proper that I should add that more than one speaker has since expressed his regret at having been betrayed into intemperance of language in my presence.
The President and the American people will learn with gratification the auspicious issue of our diffi-culties here. I regret the necessity which compels me to mingle with my congratulations the announce-ment of a fact which will occasion grave concern.
The people, including the inhabitants of this city, are moving from every settlement in the northern part of the Territory. The roads are everywhere filled with wagons loaded with provisions and house-hold furniture, the women and children, often with-out shoes or hats, driving their flocks they know not where. They seem not only resigned, but cheerful. "It is the will of the Lord," and they rejoice to ex-change the comforts of home far the trials of the wil-derness. Their ultimate destination is not, I appre-hend, definitely fixed upon. "Going South " seems sufficiently definite for most of them, but many be-lieve that their ultimate destination is Sonora.
YOUNG, KIMBALL and most of the influential men have left their commodious mansions, without ap-parent regret, to lengthen the long train of wanderers. The masses everywhere announce to me that the torch will be applied to every house, indiscriminate-ly, throughout the country, so soon as the troops at-tempt to cross the mountains. I shall follow these people, and endeavor to rally them. Numbers whom I have met appear to be in dread of the Indians, whom the distressed condition of the whites has encouraged to commit extensive depredations. I may at least quiet the apprehensions of these persons, and induce some of them to return.
Our military force could overwhelm most of these poor people, involving men, women and children in a common fate ; but there are among the Mormons many brave men, accustomed to arms and horses ; men who would fight desperately as guerrillas, and, if the settlements are destroyed, will subject the country to an expensive and protracted war, without any compensating results. They will, I am sure, submit to trial by their peers, but they will not brook the idea of trials by " juries composed of teamsters and fol-lowers of the camp," nor of an army encamped in their cities or dense settlements.
I have adopted means to recall the few remaining Mormons in arms who have not yet, it is said, com-plied with my request to withdraw from the cañons and Eastern frontier. I have also taken measures to protect the buildings which have been vacated in the Northern settlements. I am sanguine that I will save a great part of the valuable improvements there.
I shall leave this city for the South to-morrow. After I have finished my business there, I shall re-turn as soon as possible to the army, to complete the arrangements which will enable me before long, I trust, to announce that the road between California and Missouri may be traveled with perfect security by teams and emigrants of every description.
I shall restrain all operations of the military for the present, which will probably enable me to receive from the President additional instructions, if he deems it necessary to give them.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. GUMMING, Governor of Utah.
Hon. LEWIS CASS, Secretary of State, Washington City, D. C.
Additional News from Utah.
By way of California we have intelligence from Utah, but not of so late dates as the news con-tained in our special dispatches, published in the TIMES of Saturday.
The San Francisco papers had received tidings from Salt Lake City, purporting to have come direct by private hand, to the effect that the Mormons had begun to evacuate the Territory ; that BRIGHAM had retired to Provo city, a point 50 miles distant from Salt Lake City ; that the Mormons were eagerly offering their stock for sale, and other rumors of similar char-acter. This news is only partially confirmed by the later accounts received here.
The following, from the Sacramento Union, had just been received by telegraph from Placerville :
By the arrival here May 9 of Mr. KEYSER, Superin-tendent of the Placerville and Carson Valley Stage Company, we are in receipt of important intelligence from Salt Lake and the Utah army. He reports the arrival at Genoa, May 8, of a company of 42 men, who belong to Col. JOHNSTON'S command in the ca-pacity of carriers or teamsters, having had the privi-lege offered them of remaining with the army as regu-lars or be discharged at Fort Bridger, They accept-ed the latter and have come through safe. The ad-vance of this party, Mr. KEYSER passed at Cottage Rock. They will arrive here this evening. From JOHN MCCUSH, one of the party, we learn that they were discharged April 15, and received their pay and immediately left for Salt Lake City, where they pur-chased animals for their trip to California, and left Salt Lake April 18. MCCUSH'S statement is as fol-lows, in reference to matters in general: "On April 1, Col. JOHNSTON sent a courier to Salt Lake, informing them that he should take up his line of March for that city immediately on his return of the express. The reception of this news caused great excitement throughout the city. BRIGHAM immediate-ly ordered a carriage to be sent to Fort Bridger, to bring Governor CUMMING and suite, welcoming them to Salt Lake City. YOUNG, at the same time, issued a proclamation to all the Saints to evacuate the holy city, and take up their line of march south. At this order, the Saints rebelled, declaring that they would not leave until they had first laid the city in ashes. BRIG-HAM then commanded them to leave immediately, ta-king what they could carry, leaving untouched what they could not take. This last, order they obeyed ; and when this party arrived at the city, one-half had already left, and others were leaving in scores, as fast as possible. In the city, all was bustle and confu-sion. The Mormons were eager to sell their stock to the teamsters. All the party could learn was, that a rendezvous would be formed in Iron county, prepar-atory to further movements to the south."
When this party left Salt Lake they were joined by over one hundred apostates, who, with hundreds of others, had the assurance given them that they could leave after settling their dues to the Church.
No reinforcements had arrived to Col. JOHNSTON, but BARNEY'S command was expected daily.
This party had come through within 20 days to Ge-noa.
The Los Angelos Star says :
“Having visited San Bernardino during the past week, we had an opportunity of conversing with par-ties who had just arrived at that city from Salt Lake, and who assume to give authentic information of the proceedings thereat.
It is stated that there will be no fight between the United States troops and the Mormons. This has al-ways been our own opinion. We supposed that the leaders of the Mormons were too wily and politic to risk a collision, well knowing that their undisciplined hordes could not withstand the steady blaze of trained troops. While the army is in the cañons and defiles of the mountains, a firm front will be pre-sented, and every opposition will be thrown in the way of their progress. But as soon as they force the passes, all opposition will disappear, and the multi-tude will seek safety in flight. It is stated that the city will be laid in ruins, and if the army enter, they will find ashes for their reward.
We understand that considerable dissatisfaction ex-ists among the people of Salt Lake City, in regard to the course of events there. YOUNG feels that his hold on the masses is rapidly slackening, and hence he has had recourse to the old system of declaring a “vision" commanding him to destroy the cities, and occupy the southern settlements. The result of this movement will depend a good deal on the discipline of the army, which should be kept strictly within bounds, and forbidden to intermingle with the people of the cities. In this case, the predictions of YOUNG as to the conduct of the soldiery will be falsified, and it will be seen that the troops have come as friends, and not as the destructive and avenging enemy which they have been declared to be."
The editor of the Placerville Index has seen Messrs. FULTON and SWICHEL, who were of the party from Salt Lake. FULTON says that the Mormons are temporarily removing into Iron County, in the ex-treme southern part of Deseret, but that their ultimate destination will be in some part of sonora. Their mode of leaving the settlements is somewhat pecu-liar, All those living in the southern part of the Territory left first, in order that their vacant houses might serve as a shelter and resting-places for those who should follow from the north. In this way the evacuation commenced. The southern settlements were under way, and those of the north were rapidly assembling at Salt Lake City, for the purpose of fol-lowing at the bid of their leaders.
FULTON and SWICHEL also say that the frightful mas-sacre at Big Meadows last Fall, was undoubtedly the work of the Mormons. In fact they have fre-quently seen and conversed with one of the lads whom the Mormons purchased from the Indians, a sprightly American boy about twelve years of age, who persistently declares that he wilt swear a white man murdered his father at Big Meadows, and that he should know the man if he should see him again. About the 1st of January last, three Gentiles were killed by the Mormons near the town of Provo. The name of one of the party was PETER RILEY, from Bal-timore, Maryland ; the names of the other two are unknown to our informants. One, however, was an Irishman, and the other a man from Iowa. The most diabolical part of this affair was, that after the men were murdered, their bodies were horribly mutilated, and their limbs cut off to bait wolf traps!
Another Gentile named BEN PHILIPS, made up his mind to emigrate to California with his wife and children. Three days before the California party left, the Mormons drove off 26 of PHILIPS' COWS, to-gether with two yoke of his oxen, and then sent a team to haul away his family.
Messrs. FULTON and SWICHELL further state, that agreeably to BRIGHAM YOUNG'S orders, the Mormons cached or hid in the mountains large quantities of pro-visions, wheat and grain. It is not known precisely where these stores are hid, but, it is thought, some-where in the neighborhood of the White Mountains. If these provisions can be found, they will be of great, value to the Incoming United States troops.
Another report has it that BRIGHAM YOUNG was at Provo, 50 miles this side of Salt Lake City. A grand council was to be held at Provo on the 6th ult., that being the anniversary of the commence-ment of Mormon worship in 1830. We understand that Capt. HUNT writes, that at the council the future policy and plans of the Saints will be determined.
AMASA LYMAN, one of the original purchasers of San Bernardino, with about. 300 men, subdivided into small parties, left about the 1st ult., on a tour of ex-ploration towards and into the Apache country.
BRIGHAM YOUNG had issued a circular to his people that they abstain from fighting the United States troops, and that they retire, as the army ad-vances, to the south. He forbids his followers living among the soldiers, and orders them to abandon all the invaded country, Salt Lake City is not to be de-stroyed, but given up to the use of the soldiers for a military post.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN BRIGHAM'S ORGAN—THE MOR-MONS "DOWN " ON THE NEW YORK TIMES.
We have received, by the Star of the West, full files of the Deseret News, but the paper is singularly bar-ren of information in relation to Mormon movements. The News has published, every week, for years past, full reports of the discourses of BRIGHAM YOUNG and the Elders, as delivered in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. These publications have entirely ceased. The size of the News has also decreased one-half, and the Editor announces that the number print-ed has been materially lessened. These changes are probably the result of orders from head quarters. They are made silently, without explanation.
The following somewhat mysterious paragraph ap-pears at the editorial head of the News of March 24:
"UNCIVILIZED MODE OF WARFARE.—At a Special Conference held in the Tabernacle of this city, on the 21st inst., it was unanimously agreed to abandon ‘Sebastopo!' to our enemies, without the consent of Lord Raglan, if they persist in carrying out the unconstitu-tional policy adopted by the present Administration."
The NEW-YORK TIMES seems to have raised the ire of the "Saints." At a meeting held in Lehi, Utah County, on the 22d of February, resolutions were adopted sustaining BRIGHAM to the furthest limit, breathing defiance against the Federal Government, and denouncing the Army as "a legalized mob ;" and when the Saints got through with these fulminations, they voted unanimously the following somewhat re-markable declaration of independence:
Wheras, A certain correspondent of the NEW-YORK TIMES seems very fearful that we shall go to Sonora and thereby baffle their murderous designs, therefore Resolved, That we will go just where the Lord our God wants us to go, independent of all hell.
Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resolu-tions be forwarded to the editor of the Deseret News for publication.
Resolved, That the following persons, the Commit-tee, sign the resolutions in behalf of the citizens of Lehi.
DAVID EVANS,
JOHN BROWN.
WILLIAM HYDE, }Committee
THOMAS TAYLOR,
JAMES McGAW,
ISRAEL EVANS,
THOMAS TAYLOR, Secretary.
Another meeting, held in the town of Santa Quin, voted to burn houses, desolate the country, &c., in case the army advanced. Various interesting items are sprinkled through the columns of the News. The Agricultural and Manu-facturing Association publishes two columns of "sug-gestions and recommendations" to the Saints, as to the culture of grains, vegetables, sheep-raising, &c. The Deseret Typographical Association had held a public meeting, at which a good time was experienced. The biography of BRIGHAM YOUNG is in course of publica-tion, and HEBER C. KIMBALL favors the Saints with his autobiography, from which it appears that HEBER is 57 years old, and formerly "suffered much in conse-quence of fear, bashfulness and timidity;" com-plaints that he has since outgrown. The last chapter of BRIGHAM'S private history contains a phrenological description of his characteristics. The News an-nounces the death of Brother THORIT PECK, one of the "Quorum of Seventies," who was a native of Cayuga County in this State.
