UTAH.
ONE WEEK'S LATER NEWS.
THE TERRITORY QUIET.
Departure of Judge Eckels—Tender of a Complimentary Dinner—Army Intelli-gence-An Amusing Trial—A Phase of Mormonism—The Indian Outrages—Im-morality—The Mail Service-Miscella-neous.
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T.,
Saturday, Sept. 18,1858.
Chief Justice ECKELS, who has, by the deter-mined and independent position which he has taken and maintained in regard to the affairs of this Terri-tory, earned the regard and respect of every good citizen of the Territory, left this city on Wedeesday last for the States, on a leave of absence, for three months. He travels in a private conveyance, and it will, therefore, take him about forty days to reach the frontier. Before leaving, he was tendered a public dinner by his friends and supporters in this city, which he, however, declined. The following is the cor-respondence containing the invitation and the reply :
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, Utah Territory,
Sept. 11, 1858.
Hon. D. R. Eckels, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Utah, Territory :
DEAR SIR : The undersigned have heard that you are about to leave the Territory on a journey to the States, whither you are called by business. While they envy you the satisfaction which you will feel in rejoining your family and friends in a moral and civil-ized community, they regret that your services will be withdrawn from the Territory during the coming Winter. That regret, however, is lessened by their belief that your presence at Washington will do much to remove misapprehensions which seem to prevail there, and to cause measures to be taken for the bet-ter security of the persons and property of loyal citi-zens of the United States who are resident in this community.
They will be gratified to have an opportunity before you leave to express to you their sentiments of per-sonal regard, and, accordingly, they request that you will favor them with your presence at a dinner in this city on whatever day during the coming week you may be pleased to designate.
JOHN HARTNETT, GARLAND HURT,
CHAS. E. SINCLAIR, C. MAURICE SMITH,
A. G. BROWNE, Jr., PETER K. DOTSON,
SAMUEL A. GILBERT, ABEL GILBERT,
THOS. S. WILLIAMS, DAVID A. BURR,
C. L. CRAIG, WILLIAM GERRISH,
JOHN D. RADFORD, H. F. MORRELL,
W. J. MCCORMICK, R. H. DYER,
CHAS MOGO, L. M. STEWART,
KIRK ANDERSON, EDWARD BURR,
F. H. BURR, A. B. MILLER,
R. HEREFORD, C. A. PERRY,
JOHN W. POWELL, WILLIAM SLOAN,
H. CABOT, E. H. PERRY,
B. F. FICKLIN, JACOB FORNEY,
JOHN B. COOPER, A. V. BROOKIE.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T., Sept. 13, 1858.
GENTLEMEN : I have received your note of the 11th requesting me to meet you at a dinner before my de-parture from the Territory. I thank you for the ex-pressions of kind feeling which accompanied the in-vitation, and shall welcome as cordially as yourselves every opportunity for the expression of our mutual regard. The social relations into which we have been forced by the events of the last twelve months are such that it is impossible that we should not have formed close friendships, which will be more durable than the state of affairs in which they had their origin.
But my arrangements have been made for starting on the 15th, and that fact alone would prevent an ac-ceptance, were there not other reasons to induce me to decline an invitation to any gathering involving pub-licity.
In the assurance and desire of rejoining you after a brief interval,
I am, with great regard,
Yours Respectfully,
D. R. ECKELS.
To Dr. GARLAND HURT, JOHN HARTNETT, Esq., the Hon CHAS. E. SINCLAIR, CHAS. MAURICE SMITH, Esq., and others.
All the Government Officers in the City—except the Governor to whom we understand it was not present-ed—signed the invitation, as well as all the principal business men of the City.
Seven companies of the Seventh Regiment of In-fantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. MORRISON and Major LYNDE, passed through this city on Tuesday last, with colors flying and the band playing national airs. They presented a very fine and imposing ap-pearance, as they proudly marched through our streets. There was nothing fancy about them, but as they passed along in their traveling uniform of blue pants and blue-and-white woolen overshirts covered and begrimed with dust, they looked almost invincible. They were accompanied by the Corps of Topographical Engineers, under Captain SIMPSON. There are attached to this corps two experienced photographers, Messrs. MILLS and YAGIELLO, with ap-paratus complete for taking views of the scenery, &c. along the route. They have, we understand, secured some very fine pictures on the road between here and the frontier.
An amusing trial took place last week, before his Honor Judge SINCLAIR, of this District, upon the appli-cation of a Mormon named ALMEIRON GROW, for the possession of his little daughter, about thirteen years of age, who was bound out by the Probate Court during her father's absence.
During the trial, it was proven that the man was deranged and unfit to be the guardian of his own child, but it was also proven that after he had attempted to have improper, connection with his own child, instead of punishing him for the abominable crime with which they charged him, they appointed him Territorial Prosecuting Attorney for the Southern District of the Territory, and afterwards sent him on a mission to preach Mormonism in England.
He is the same man who was arrested and confined for a short time by the army, whilst on its march to Fort Bridger last Fall, having been taken on the road walking across the Plains, on his return from his mission. He pretended, before this trial, to be an apostate, and stated that he wished his child to take with him to California, but from the following letter which he sent to BRIGHAM YOUNG, and which was pro-duced as evidence during the trial, it would appear otherwise.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 9, 1858.
President YOUNG,— DEAR SIR : Since my interview with you this morning I have procured a writ of habeas corpus for the recovery of my little girl AMY. It will be served to-morrow morning by Marshal DOTSON. I feel impressed with the kindness and sym-pathy you showed me this morning, and on that ac-count I now address you again. I do very much de-sire to avoid litigation, but my children I am deter-mined to have custody of; I am not particular about taking them to California, if I could have my Priest-hood restored and my children with permission to marry, I would be willing to go to Fillmore and re-side and try it once more with the people. I will say to you that while in California I did some work. I made an appointment on Putah Creek, about 16 miles from Sacramento, and delivered an address to the people upon Mormonism, preached the first princi-ples of the Gospel, urged an entire consecration of property and life to the Church ; after the meeting. I baptized some fifteen persons and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Previously, however, I was rebaptized my-self and ordained an Elder by Brother DOWELL, a re-turning missionary from the Sandwich Islands. I or-ganized a branch there, appointed a President, and instructed them to come to Utah this Fall as soon as possible. I then requested Brother DOWELL, and the brethren to relieve me and let me stand as I did be-fore, which they did. I succeeded in reconcillating some family difficulties of long standing between par-ties whom I baptized, and feel that I did a good work. I think I could live at Fillmore and support my family. If you think this suggestion merits any con-sideration from you, please let me know. I know that my heart is honest, but I am human and have my weaknesses, but cannot be forced not even into Celes-tial Glory, but would rather exercise my own free will. I want my priesthood, my children, and a wife, and would then be willing to sacrifice myself to serve you, if need be.
Most respectfully,
(Signed) ALMEIRON GROW.
This may undoubtedly be taken as a fair sample of Mormonism, in one of its phases,—but this does not suit BRIGHAM, as it sets forth certain conditions of obedience to his will, whilst he requires a perfect and implicit obedience.
The Court has, for the present, taken the child into its own custody.
As an example of how impartially "Gentiles" are treated here by the Mormon authorities, I will cite an instance which has recently occurred. As is usual in all cities, all persons engaged in selling liquors, & c., are required to obtain a license. Messrs. MOGO and WILLIAMS, "Gentiles," have built a large brewery be-tween this city and Camp Floyd, which is now com-pleted and in operation. Last week they applied to the authorities of this city for a license for the sale of their beer. This they were informed would be granted to them for the sum of $75 per month, while HEBER KIMBALL, in whose building the only public bar-room in the city is kept, pays for his license only $15 per month, and has the permission to sell any and all kinds of liquors.
By a city ordinance passed lately by the Common Council of the city, no merchant is allowed to sell li-quor in less quantity than a gallon, and it is strictly forbidden that any shall be drank on the premises.
We are happy to be able to state that during the past week the city has been very quiet; we have not seen a single turbulent person, and have heard of no difficulties. The fatal affray of last week seems to have had a sobering influence upon a certain portion of the "Gentiles," who were disposed to be violent and noisy, and the Mormons cannot complain of any misconduct on the part of the Gentiles during the past week.
A report has reached us that a man and a boy froze to death during the storm of last week, near Fillmore (190 miles south of this city.) We are, however fur-ther informed that these persons lived near the scene of the massacre of the 109 emigrants on the southern road to California, and that they were on their way to this city, from whence they intended to go either to California or to the States ; this we think furnishes a clue to their death and the manner in which it was brought about, more plausible than that they froze to death in a storm in the month of September, which, although it clothed the high moun-tain peaks with snow, was nothing more than a pleas-ant shower in this city, nearly 200 miles north of the place where it is reported they died.
The body of the boy, only, was found ; that of the man, whose name was HOLDEN, has not been found, although we are positively informed that he froze to death.
A letter was received to-day by Gov. CUMMING, from the Bishop of Spanish Fork Settlement, stating that three Indians, on the 10th inst., committed a rape on a woman and her daughter, whilst they were out gleaning in a field near the town. Dr. HURT, the In-dian Agent, to whose agency the Indians who com-mitted this alleged outrage belong, was in this city at the time, but has started down to inquire into the cir-cumstances, and, if the report be true, to arrest the offenders. The report, however, may be a ruse of the Mormons, to prevent the permanent establishment of the Indian Reserve on Spanish Fork, which has been inclosed and improved at great expense by Agent HURT.
As we foretold, the Mormons are endeavoring to make capital out of the disgraceful conduct of a few of the Gentiles who have been lately arriving in this city, and the Deseret News in its last number, publish-ed on Wednesday, the 15th inst., has become quite spicy over it; the following is its editorial on the sub-ject :
"Since the introduction of civilization (!) within our borders, it is so singular and so new to us, especially to those who have been reared in the mountains, that it is a wonder that our citizens have not previously understood enough to petition to have an army sent here, and for the introduction of gamblers we masters, and every variety of rowdies, that we might not have been deemed so unfashionable, unpopular and behind the times. But for the gratification of all lovers of modern civilization (!), we now enabled to chronicle evidences of its unquestioned progress in this far-off and hitherio benighted region.
For want of space we omit the details of rapidly increasing profanity and drunkenness, of the progress of gambling, w-edoms, &c., and for the present merely note the fights as yet most prominent. A short time past two colored gentlemen quarreled in the streets ; one was stabbed and the other shot dead by his antagonist. On the 9th inst., (a date, by the by which was enlivened by five other fights between newly arrived citizens, LONGFORD M. PEEL and OLIVER H. RUCKER, from Fort Leavenworth, met and fought with pistols, in MILLER, RUSSELL & Co.'s store, PEEL killing RUCKER, and himself receiving three wounds from which it is not yet known whether he will re-cover.
As there is a fair prospect for a weekly crop of the thrilling and exciting incidents so common in the world, it is but fair to presume that news from this isolated portion of our country will no longer be quoted as 'unimportant.' "
If drunkenness, profanity and vice are becoming too frequent occurrences in this city, why do not the police attempt to quell it ; where are those valiant policemen who, when there was but twenty "Gen-tiles" in the City, would follow them through the streets, would walk without warning into their pri-vate assemblies, in the hope of finding something going on which would give them some shadow of an excuse for vilifying their characters; who would bravely arrest some poor teamster who, in a fit of ill-temper, would allow some stray oath to fall from his lips? The laws of the Territory are very severe against gambling—let them be enforced if there are any gamblers to be found in the city. The punish-ment of adultery is death in this Territory. If, then, it is known that there are adulterers there, let them be punished. If there are none, then let this ranting be hushed.
Again, in the same column, we find the following editorial in regard to the mails, intended to cast an imputation upon all connected with them :
"Through circumstances at present useless to men-tion, and conduct probably unknown to us, since June last but few letters have been received by persons holding important positions in our community and many of the letters then received were in a bad con-dition when we saw them. While our postal facili-ties from here to Missouri remain as they have for more than a year past, we do not feel justified in committing any important business communications to the care of that mail, nor have we done so.
Whether letters and other mail matter will anymore certainly reach their destination if forwarded to us by Panama and California, remains to be learned but for the present, we carefully avoid committing letters to either route, and would commend that course to our friends abroad, in all matter of the least importance until the mails are more reliable.
We can let the mails alone and avail ourselves of other channels for communication, while present abuses exist, which will not be treasonable. If postal affairs throughout the Union cannot be managed any better than they are, it is time to abolish the present system and leave the transmission of let-ters, papers, drafts, &c., to untrammeled individual competition and enterprise, that all may rejoice and profit in being rid of a Department which rests like an incubus upon this Great Republic."
The Post-Office has heretofore been one of the most powerful auxiliaries, in the hands of BRIGHAM, for the accomplishment of his nefarious designs ; through it he could ascertain the feelings of many of his subjects towards himself and the Church, when they dared to put their thoughts on paper. He could discover the plans of his opposers, and thwart them in their very beginning. He could prevent all communication to and from the States, except such as he dictated.
Now that the way is perfectly free and open, that the mails run with unprecedented regularity and ra-pidity, and that there is no espionage exercised in the Post-Office, he dreads the effects of the stream of in-telligence, of knowledge, and of truth which flow un-restrained and unrestricted through the Territory from this channel.
A new cut-off has been lately discovered by a party sent out for that purpose, by the California and Salt Lake City Mail Company. The party left this city and, passing round the southern shore of Salt Lake, struck nearly due west, varying only sufficiently to follow very nearly the base of the mountains; they struck into the old road on the Humboldt River, near Haw's Runch, some distance above the Gravelly Ford. This route is about one hundred miles shorter, and contrary to the general opinion entertained in regard to the country west of the Lake, the longest drive without water is not more than twenty-five miles. The mail to California will shortly commence travel-ing on this route.
It is rumored about town, probably without any foundation in truth, that Heber Kimball was presented by some of his "spirituals" with eleven children, night before last. Just to think of a man's own im-mediate family increasing at the rate of eleven each night. A. B. C.
