USA > Utah > History of Utah > Part 62
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In my first address I informed them that they were entitled to a trial by their peers; that I had no intention of stationing the army in immediate contact with their settlements, and that the military posse would not be resorted to until other means of arrest had been tried and failed. I found the greatest difficulty in explaining these points, so great was the excitement. Eventually, however, the efforts of Brigham Young were successful in calming the tumult.
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It is proper I should add that more than one speaker has since expressed his regret at having been betrayed into intemperance of language in my presence."
Governor Cumming's report to the Secretary of State closes as follows: "The President and the American people will learn with gratification the auspicious issue of our difficulties here. I regret the necessity, however, which compels me to mingle with my congratulations the announcement of a fact that will occasion great 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 household furniture, the women and children often without 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 exchange the comforts of home for the trials of the wilderness. Their ultimate destination is not, I presume, definitely fixed upon. 'Going south,' seems sufficiently definite for the most of them, but many believe that their ultimate destination is Sonora.
"Young, Kimball and most of the influential men have left their commodious mansions, without apparent regret, to lengthen the long train of wanderers. The masses everywhere announce to me that the torch will be applied to every house indiscriminately throughout the country, so soon as the troops attempt to cross the mountains. I shall follow these people and try to rally them.
"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 could 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 followers of the camp,' nor of an army encamped in their cities or dense settle- ments.
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"I have adopted means to recall the few Mormons remaining in arms, who have not yet, it is said, complied with my request to withdraw from the canyons and eastern frontiers. 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 tomorrow. After I have finished my business there, I shall return 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 trains 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."
It was even as Governor Cumming stated. The people of Utah, finding that the Government was bent upon quartering its troops within the Territory, and having no faith in the assurance that their rights would be respected by General Johnston and his army,-more than ever embittered by their recent experience, and allied, as the Saints supposed, to bands of merciless savages,-had resolved upon another exodus, which they were now in the act of executing. Thirty thousand people had abandoned their homes and were moving southward, leaving behind them in Salt Lake City and the various settlements of northern Utah only a sufficient number of men to set fire to their houses, orchards and farms, in case a door latch should be lifted or a gate swung open by hostile hand. Brigham Young had said to Captain Van Vliet, when that officer spoke of the probability of the Government sending sufficient reinforcement to the invading army to overcome all opposition: "We are aware that such will be the case, but when those troops arrive they will find Utah a desert." The Mormon leader was preparing to keep his word. The troops might push their way through the mountains, but when they reached "Zion " they would find it a desolation, a city not inhabited; the
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fruitful field a desert, and the land of smiling orchards a burnt and blackened waste.
But Brigham Young had another purpose in view. While sternly resolved, if pushed to the extremity, upon carrying into effect his design to "utterly lay waste the land," he also had in mind the trial of a great moral experiment. A consummate strategist, he knew full well that the movement he and his people were now making was the best possible method of attracting to Utah the gaze of the civil- ized world, and of turning the fickle tide of public opinion in their favor. The burning of the Government trains had done something in this direction; it had brought Colonel Kane and was about to bring a Peace Commission to investigate the situation. The exodus might do the rest, but if not, the worst was known and resolved upon. At any rate the issues involved were well worth the experiment. Such was the meaning of the exodus of 1858.
Note the result. The New York Times thus reflected the general sentiment of the American press upon the subject :
Whatever our opinions may be of Mormon morals or Mormon manners, there can be no question that this voluntary abandonment by 40,000 people of homes created by wonderful industry, in the midst of trackless wastes, after years of hardships and persecution, is something from which no one who has a particle of sympathy with pluck. fortitude and constancy can withhold his admiration. Right or wrong, sincerity thus attested is not a thing to be sneered at. True or false, a faith to which so many men and women prove their loyalty, by such sacrifices, is a force in the world. After this last demonstration of what fanaticism can do, we think it would be most unwise to treat Mormonism as a nuisance to be abated by a posse comitatus. It is no longer a social excrescence to be cut off by the sword ; it is a power to be combated only by the most skillful political and moral treatment. When people abandon their homes to plunge with women and children into a wilderness, to seek new settlements, they know not where, they give a higher proof of courage than if they fought for them. When the Dutch submerged Holland, to save it from invaders, they had heartier plaudits showered upon them than if they had fertilized its soil with their blood. We have certainly the satisfaction of knowing that we have to deal with foemen worthy of our steel. * * If the conduct of the recent operations has had the effect of strengthening their fanaticism by the appearance of persecution, without convincing them of our good faith and good intentions, and worse still, has been the means of driving away 50,000 of our fellow-citizens from fields which their labor had reclaimed and cultivated, and around which their affections were clustered, we have something serious to answer for. Were
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we not guilty of a culpable oversight in confounding their persistent devotion with the insubordination of ribald license, and applying to the one the same harsh treatment which the law intends for the latter alone ? Was it right to send troops composed of the wildest and most rebellious men of the community, commanded by men like Harney and Johnston, to deal out fire and sword upon people whose faults even were the result of honest religious convictions ? Was it right to allow Johnston to address letters to Brigham Young, and through him to his people, couched in the tone of an implacable conqueror toward ruthless savages ?* Were the errors which mistaken zeal generates ever cured by such means as these? And have bayonets ever been used against the poorest and weakest sect that ever crouched behind a wall to pray or weep, without rendering their faith more intense, and investing the paltriest discomforts with the dignity of sacrifice ?
We stand on the vantage ground of higher knowledge, purer faith and acknowledged strength. We can afford to be merciful. At all events, the world looks to us now for an example of political wisdom such as few people, now-a-days, are called on to display. Posterity must not have to acknowledge with shame that our indiscretion, or ignorance, or intolerance drove the population of a whole State from house and home, to seek religious liberty and immunity from the presence of mercenary troops, in any part of the continent to which our rule was never likely to extend."
The London Times, the journalistic "thunderer" of Europe, gave utterance to the following:
The intelligence from Utah is confirmatory of the news that came by the last steamer. This strange people are again in motion for a new home, and all the efforts of Governor Cumming to induce the men to remain and limit themselves to the ordinary quota of wives have been fruitless. We are told that they have left a deserted town and deserted fields behind them, and have embarked for a voyage, over 500 miles of untracked desert, to a home, the locality of which is unknown to any but their chiefs. Does it not seem incredible that, at the very moment when the marine of Great Britain and the United States are jointly engaged in the grandest scientific experiments that the world has yet seen, 30,000 or 40,000 natives of these countries, many of them of industrious and temperate habits, should be the victims of such arrant imposition ? Does it not seem impossible that men and women, brought up under British and American civilization, can abandon it for the wilderness and Mormonism ? There is much that is noble in their devotion to their delusions. They step into the waves of the great basin with as much reliance on their leader as the descendants of Jacob felt when they stepped between the walls of water in the Red Sea. The ancient world had individual Curiatii, Horatii, and other examples of heroism and devotion ; but these western peasants seem to be a nation of heroes, ready to sacrifice everything rather than surrender one of their wives, or a letter from Joe Smith's golden plates.
* His manner, said the Times, was " worthy of Bajazet dealing with a rebellious Paslıa."
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Governor Cumming had indeed striven in vain to induce the people to remain in their homes. Returning from a visit to Camp Scott, whither he went about the middle of May to bring his wife to Salt Lake City, he had found the place almost deserted; only a few men being left to guard the city and set fire to it if the troops attempted to occupy the town, molest any person or seize upon a piece of property. In the gardens were heaped bundles of straw and other combustible materials, and every preparation had been made for "the burning." Mrs. Cumming was so affected at the sight, and by the tomb-like stillness everywhere prevailing, that she burst into tears, expressing her deep sympathy for the migrating Saints. She entreated her husband not to allow the army to stay in the city, and begged him to do something to "bring the Mormons back."
"Rest assured, madam," said the kind-hearted old Governor,- his eyes glistening with compassion, and his lip quivering with suppressed emotion,-"rest assured I shall do all that I can. I only wish I could be in Washington for two hours. I am persuaded I could convince the Government that we have no need for troops."
President Buchanan, on receiving from Secretary Cass the report of Governor Cumming, setting forth the state of affairs in Utah, addressed the following communication to Congress:
To the Senate and House of Representatives :
I transmit the copy of a dispatch from Governor Cumming to the Secretary of State, dated at Great Salt Lake City on the 2nd of May, and received at the Department of State yesterday. From this there is reason to believe that our difficulties with the Territory of Utah have terminated, and the reign of the Constitution and laws has been restored. 1 congratulate you on this auspicious event.
1 lose no time in communicating this information and in expressing the opinion that there will be no occasion to make any appropriations for the purpose of calling into service the two regiments of volunteers authorized by the Act of Congress approved on the 7th of April last, "for the purpose of quelling disturbances in the Territory of Utah, for the pro- tection of supply and emigrant trains and the suppression of Indian hostilities on the frontier."
I am the more gratified at this satisfactory intelligence from Utah, because it will afford some relief to the treasury at a time demanding from us the strictest economy ; and when the question which now arises upon every appropriation is, whether it be of a char-
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acter so important and urgent as to brook no delay, and to justify and require a loan, and most probably a tax upon the people to raise the money necessary for its payment.
In regard to the regiment of volunteers authorized by the same act of Congress to be called into service for the defense of the frontier of Texas against Indian hostilities, I desire to leave this question to Congress, observing, at the same time, that in my opinion this State can be defended for the present by the regular troops, which have not yet been with- drawn from its limits.
WASHINGTON CITY, June 10, 1858.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Meantime a Peace Commission had been sent by the President to treat with the Mormon leaders, and offer a full and free pardon to the people for all past treasons and seditions, if they would return to their allegiance to the Federal Government. The Commissioners were Governor L. W. Powell, of Kentucky, and Major Ben Mccullough, of Texas. On the 11th and 12th of June, they met with the First Presidency, the Apostles and many other prominent Mormons at the Council House in Salt Lake City; the Church leaders having returned from the south for that purpose. President Buchanan's proclamation of pardon was to this effect: After reciting the various crimes alleged against the people of Utah by Judge Drummond and others, virtually affirming the truth of those tales, and giving that as his reason for ordering the army to Utah, His Excellency detailed the events that had subsequently taken place in the Territory, dwelling particularly upon the burning of the Government trains and the opposition presented to the Federal troops by the local militia. He reminded the citizens that this was rebellion against the government to which they owed allegiance, involving them in the guilt of treason, which if persisted in would bring them to condign punishment. He disclaimed any intention of interfering with their religion, which he admitted was a question between God and themselves. But said the President : "This rebellion is not merely a violation of your legal duty; it is without just cause, without reason, without excuse. You never made a complaint that was not listened to with patience. You never exhibited a real grievance that was not redressed as promptly as it could be. The laws and regulations enacted for your government
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by Congress have been equal and just. Human wisdom never devised a political system which bestowed more blessings or imposed lighter burdens than the Government of the . United States in its operation upon the Territories." He then said : "But being anxious to save the effusion of blood and to avoid the indiscriminate punishment of a whole people for crimes of which it is not probable that all are equally guilty, I offer now a free and full pardon to all who will submit themselves to the authority of the Federal Government."
Such was the substance of the document presented by the Peace Commissioners to the Mormon council. After hearing from Governor Powell, Major Mccullough and others upon the subject, President Young addressed the assembly. He said :
"I have listened very attentively to the Commissioners, and will say, as far as I am concerned, I thank President Buchanan for forgiving me, but I really cannot tell what I have done. I know one thing, and that is, that the people called 'Mormons' are a loyal and a law-abiding people, and have ever been. Neither President Buchanan nor any one else can contradict the statement. It is true, Lot Smith burned some wagons containing Government supplies for the army. This was an overt act, and if it is for this we are to be pardoned, I accept the pardon.
% *
"What has the United States Government permitted mobs to do to us ? Gentlemen, you cannot answer that question ! I can, however, and so can thousands of my brethren. We have been whipped and plundered; our houses burned, our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children butchered and murdered by the scores. We have been driven from our homes time and time again; but have troops ever been sent to stay or punish those mobs for their crimes ? No! Have we ever received a dollar for the property we have been compelled to leave behind ? Not a dollar! Let the Government treat us as we deserve ; this is all we ask of them. We have always been loyal, and expect to so continue; but, hands off! Do not send
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your armed mobs into our midst. If you do, we will fight you, as the Lord lives ! Do not threaten us with what the United States can do, for we ask no odds of them or their troops. We have the God of Israel-the God of battles on our side; and let me tell you, gentlemen, we fear not your armies.
*
"Now let me say to you Peace Commissioners, we are willing those troops should come into our country, but not to stay in our city. They may pass through it, if needs be, but must not quarter less than forty miles from us.
"If you bring your troops here to disturb this people, you have got a bigger job than you or President Buchanan have any idea of. Before the troops reach here, this city will be in ashes, every tree and shrub will be cut to the ground, and every blade of grass that will burn shall be burned.
"Our wives and children will go to the canyons, and take shelter in the mountains; while their husbands and sons will fight you; and, as God lives, we will hunt you by night and by day, until your armies are wasted away. No mob can live in the homes we have built in these mountains. That's the program, gentlemen, whether you like it or not. If you want war, you can have it; but, if you wish peace, peace it is; we shall be glad of it."
Said the Commissioners in their report of the speeches: "They (the Mormons) denied that they had ever driven any officials from Utah, or prevented any civil officer from entering the Territory. They admitted that they burned the army trains and drove off the cattle from the army last fall, and for that act they accepted the President's pardon."
At the close of the conference the Commissioners addressed the following epistle to General Johnston :
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, June 12th, 1858.
DEAR SIR: We have the pleasure of informing you that after a full and free confer- ence with the chief men of the Territory, we are informed by them that they will yield obedience to the Constitution and laws of the United States ; that they will not resist the
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execution of the laws in the Territory of Utah; that they cheerfully consent that the civil officers of the Territory shall enter upon the discharge of their respective duties, and that they will make no resistance to the army of the United States in its march to the valley of Salt Lake or elsewhere. We have their assurance that no resistance shall be made to the officers, civil or military, of the United States, in the exercise of their various functions in the Territory of Utah.
The houses, fields and gardens of the people of this Territory, particularly in and about Salt Lake City, are very insecure. The animals of your army would cause great destruc- tion of property if the greatest care should not be observed in the march and the selection of camps. The people of the Territory are somewhat uneasy for fear the army, when it shall reach the valley, will not properly respect their persons and property. We have assured them that neither their persons nor property will be injured or molested by the army under your command.
We would respectfully suggest, in consequence of the feeling of uneasiness, that you issue a proclamation to the people of Utah, stating that the army under your command will not trespass upon the rights or property of peaceable citizens during their sojourn in or march through the Territory. Such a proclamation would greatly allay the existing anxiety and fears of the people, and cause those who have abandoned their homes to return to their houses and farms.
We have made inquiry about grass, wood, etc., necessary for the subsistence and convenience of your army. We have conversed with Mr. Ficklin [U. S. deputy marshal] fully on this subject, and given him all the information we have which he will impart to you.
We respectfully suggest that you march to the valley as soon as it is convenient for you to do so.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servants,
L. W. POWELL, BEN MCCULLOUGH, Commissioners to Utalı.
To General A. S. Johnston, commanding Army of Utah, Camp Scott, U. T.
General Johnston, who had already started for Salt Lake Valley, on June 14th replied to the Commissioners from his camp on Bear River. He expressed surprise at the uneasiness felt by the people at the treatment they might receive from the army; stated that it had duties to perform in execution of orders from the Department of War which, from their nature, could not lead to interference with the people in their varied pursuits, and that if no obstructions were presented to the discharge of said duties, there need not be the slightest apprehension that any person whatever would have any cause for complaint. He complied with the suggestion relating to the
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issuance of a proclamation, in which he assured the people that no one should be "molested in his person or rights or in the peaceful pursuit of his avocations."
On the same day Governor Cumming issued the following pro- clamation :
To the inhabitants of Utah and others whom it may concern:
Whereas, James Buchanan, President of the United States, at the City of Washington, the sixth day of April, eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, did, by his proclamation, offer to the inhabitants of Utah who submit to the laws, a free and full pardon for all treasons and seditions heretofore committed, and
Whereas, The proffered pardon was accepted with the prescribed terms of the Proclamation by the citizens of Utah ;
Now, therefore, I, Alfred Cumming, Governor of Utah Territory, in the name of James Buchanan, President of the United States, do proclaim, that all persons who submit themselves to the laws, and to the authority of the Federal Government, are by him freely and fully pardoned for all treasons and seditions heretofore committed. All criminal offenses associated with or growing out of the overt acts of sedition and treason are merged in them, and are embraced in the free and full pardon of the President, and I exhort all persons to persevere in a faithful submission to the laws, and patriotic devotion to the Constitution and Government of our common country. Peace is restored to our Territory. All civil officers, both Federal and Territorial, will resume the performance of the duties of their respective offices without delay, and be diligent and faithful in the execution of the laws. All citizens of the United States in this Territory will aid and assist the officers in the performance of their duties.
Fellow-citizens, I offer to you my congratulations for the peaceful and honorable adjustment of recent difficulties. Those citizens who have left their homes 1 invite to return as soon as they can do so with propriety and convenience. To all I announce my determination to enforce obedience to the laws, both Federal and Territorial. Trespasses upon property, whether real or personal, must be scrupulously avoided. Gaming and other vices are punished by Territorial statutes with peculiar severity, and I commend the perusal of these statutes to those persons who may not have had an opportunity of doing so previously.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Territory to be affixed at Great Salt Lake City, in the Territory of Utah, this fourteenth day of June, one thousand eight SEAL hundred and fifty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-second.
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