The Utah War: Part 1

 

Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is--oh dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate! – Alice in Wonderland

The Mormon Conspiracy(1) by Charles Wood, Ph.D., describes a short period in Mormon history when leaders of the Mormon religion granted individual religious and political freedoms, advocated the separation of church and state and encouraged Mormon subjects to vote for candidates who belonged to both political parties. Coincidentally, this period of “Mormon freedom”, which all other Americans take for granted, began around 1890, around the same time the Mormon hierarchy began lobbying Congress for their own State, just after the “Utah War”. The sinister implication here is that the hierarchy of the Mormon religion may have purposely adopted this policy to strategically create the impression in Washington that Utah was no longer a theocracy, that Mormons were loyal and patriotic Americans and to encourage Congress to admit Utah as the next State. After the “Utah War” ended in 1858, which resulted in the surrender of the Mormons, the Mormon hierarchy also desperately wanted what remained of their Mormon nation of Deseret to be transformed into their very own State, and knew that the United States Government would need to cede the Mormons that power and legitimacy for such an occurrence to happen.  They also knew full well that having their own State would be paramount to maintaining any semblance of Mormon autonomy in Utah. Unbeknownst to most Americans, the Mormons had already been fighting for this over the course of two other wars and conflagrations during their previous 28-year existence.

“Conspiracy” goes on to explain that the Mormon hierarchy maintained their magnanimous policy of “individual religious and political freedoms” for about another 70-years, and that during this 70-year “golden period of freedom” Mormon citizens were free to campaign and vote for whomever they pleased without any guidance or pressure from the Mormon Church whatsoever. But then, around 1960, the Mormon hierarchy began signaling “new shift” that represented a move away from this policy of “Mormon freedom”. Oddly, this “new shift” only resulted in greater control and fewer individual political and religious freedoms being granted to the "subjects" of the Mormon religion. Today, the Mormon religion, which was officially founded in 1830, is 179-years old. Consequently, this 70-year period of “Mormon freedom” only represents about 34% of the entire history of the Mormon religion. And, while this “new shift” towards less freedom may seem a bit odd to the average American, the same person might also believe that the policies of the Mormon religion aren't really worth contemplating very much. But, the knowledge that there even is such a place inside of America, which “grants” fewer individual freedoms to Americans, seems to contradict the very principles of the Constitution, and should be a cause of concern to every loyal American.

The only thing stranger than this limitation of rights in America, is realizing that the organization driving this change professes to be a “mainstram Christian religion”. In actuality, this entire phenomenon should be viewed as an endangerment to the freedoms of every citizen of the United States, lest the same thing happen to them. Those not familiar with the actual 178-year history of the Mormon religion may be shocked to learn that this apparent “new shift”, towards less freedom, doesn’t actually represent a “new policy shift” at all, either. The Mormon hierarchy’s shift away from their policy of 70-years of “Mormon freedom” actually represents a reversion back to the same fundamental theological doctrines the Mormon religion that were originally taught and imposed on its citizenry beginning in 1830. And remember, in 1890, the Mormon hierarchy in Utah desperately needed to make the right impression in Congress in order to be granted their own semi-autonomous State, especially after years of conflict with the United States Government that included three wars. Even after Congress finally granted statehood to Utah in 1896, a special clause was required to be inserted into State Constitution that would ban polygamy in Utah forever. Further, the Mormon culture, which had been governed as a “religious theocracy” for over 60-years was also forced to adopt the same Judeo-Christian principles that governed the rest of America. Saying that this was a period of adjustment for the Mormon culture would be an understatement for the ages.

If you look at this from another perspective, it becomes clear that the Mormon religion did not allow “Mormon freedom” for approximately 120-years of its 179-year history, which means that “subjects” of the Mormon religion have routinely been denied the same religious and political freedoms, which are supposedly guaranteed to all Americans by the Constitution of the United States during this period of time. The novice will also find it interesting to note that the Mormon religion secretly claims its members are actually “subjects” of the "Mormon Kingdom of Zion" who are to be ruled over. But, more about this later. Therefore, anyone who understands the real history of the Mormon religion may also understand that this “new policy shift” may actually constitute a potentially terrifying development. Gordon B. Hinckley, the late President of the Mormon Church, always said during his presidency, "No new prophecies are needed because the only ones needed are the ones that have already been made". Again, any non-Mormons who may have heard this comment, and then even bothered to give it another thought may have just thought Hinckley’s comment reflected the same mainstream religious beliefs held by any other “mainstream” religion. Hinckley’s comment was well thought out and actually quite enlightening, especially if you understand Mormon theology. Hinckley’s comment was actually designed to provide a secret dose of Mormon symbolism to faithful members of the Mormon religion, who are also his "subjects".

During his presentation at the Mormon Church’s semi-annual General Conference in Salt Lake City, in October of 1999, Hinckley made another statement that may have otherwise gone unnoticed, when he said:

“All of the history of the past had pointed to this season. The centuries with all of their suffering and all their hope had come and gone. The Almighty Judge of the nations, the Living God, determined that the times of which the prophets had spoken had arrived. Daniel had foreseen a stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands and which became a great mountain and filled the whole earth(2).”

Members of the Mormon religion, and those who study Mormon theology and its culture understand that “Mormonism” invokes the thought of many prophetic visions, most of which involve the destruction of America. In fact, there is almost an overabundance of prophecy in the Mormon religion. Because of this, even the most faithful members of the Mormon religion seem to have a hard time understanding the real significance of every prophecy that makes up the body of Mormon theology. And, again any non-Mormons who even know about Hinckley’s comment may have thought it just sounded like every other rhetorical religious comment that is made every Sunday, in every Church in every city of America. But, to the most loyal and faithful members of the Mormon religion, this statement was meant to be an historic utterance that would evoke the secret grandeur and very promise that the Mormon religion has to offer. As Hinckley uttered his prophetic words, he was quite comfortable in knowing that only his most faithful “subjects” would fully understand the significance of his reference to “Daniel”, and the deep prophetic meaning it really held.

Hinckley knew that the darker and more sinister meaning hidden within his words would go completely unnoticed by anyone who was not a member of the Mormondom's inner-circle. And, what virtually no one outside of the religion knew was that Hinckley’s reference to “Daniel” was a purposeful and strategic reference to one of the very cornerstones of Mormon theology, which prophecies that America will one day become a "Mormon Kingdom of Zion". The full title of this secret religious prophecy is known as “Daniel’s Prophecy of the Rise of the Kingdom of God in the Last Days”(3), which prophesies that the “Church” founded by Jesus Christ and his apostles, or the “Christian Church”, is really not the fulfillment of Daniel’s great prophecy of the true Kingdom that God, which God promised to restore in the last days. The prophecy goes on to teach the faithful “subjects” of the Mormon religion that there will be another “dispensation of the Church”, which will come after “dispensation of the Christian Church” has ended, and this “new dispensation" of the church will be the Mormon religion. It also teaches that this “new dispensation of the Church”, or Mormon religion, will culminate in the "conquering of the kingdom of America and the rest of the kingdoms of the World" and that these conquered kingdoms will become followers of “…Our God and his Christ”.

The Mormon spirit that guided Hinckley during his address in October of 1999 appears to be the same Mormon spirit that guided Joseph Smith on September 10, 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio, as Smith wrote a new prophecy in his Doctrine and Covenants after being forced out of New York because of escalating violence with non-Mormons. The angry Smith penned his 24th revelation referencing September the 11th, on September 10, 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio:

"For after today cometh the burning for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon(4).”

Before the Mormons began lobbying Congress for statehood in the 1890’s, after the “Utah War”, they initially lobbied Congress for statehood in December of 1849. In fact, the Mormon’s old political ally from Illinois, Steven A. Douglas, recommended that the entire Mormon nation of Deseret should be admitted as the next state in the union during a Congressional debate on the subject in Washington, DC. But, four-days later, on December 31, 1849 Mr. Underwood, a Whig from Kentucky, counter-recommended Douglas’s recommendation based on an affidavit signed by William Smith, the brother of the slain-prophet Joseph Smith, and Isaac Sheen who also referred to themselves as the “true Presidents” of the Mormon Church.

The Mormon migration out of Nauvoo, Illinois was the result of only the Mormon’s most recent conflagration with the United States Government, which ended with the arrest of Joseph Smith for "treason" against the United States and his death a few dasy later in Carthage, in 1844. In the wake of what happened, Brigham Young decided lead the “Saints” out of America altogether, in order to form their own sovereign Mormon nation outside of the United States; in lands that belonged to Mexico. Smith and Sheen, along with twelve other members of “their” Mormon Church, seemed to expose the true spirit of the Mormons again, when they swore under oath that fifteen hundred of the “Saints” who left Nauvoo with Brigham Young had taken the Mormon “Oath of Vengeance” against America. The version of the “Oath” that Young administered, according to Smith and Sheen, is referenced below:

"You do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, his holy angels, and these witnesses, that you will avenge the blood of Joseph Smith upon this nation; and so teach your children; and that you will from this day henceforth and forever begin and carry out hostility against this nation, and keep the same a profound secret now and ever. So help you God (5)."

The Mormon “Oath of Vengeance” against America actually originated in 1831, after the newly formed Mormon religion was forced to move from New York. And, every Mormon in the world who passed through the Mormon religion’s temple endowment ceremony was required to swear this “Oath”, and other variations of it, until the Mormon religion lost a court battle and was forced to ban it in 1927.

On September 11, 1857, this same spirit of Mormonism seems to have guided members of Mormon’s Nauvoo Legion (which was now in Utah) and their secret police, otherwise known as danites, as they dressed-up as Indians and massacred 120 innocent men, women and children who were traveling through southern Utah on their way to California. In this heinous act of domestic terrorism, which is now known as the "Mountain Meadows Massacre", Mormons, disguised as Indians, attacked the wealthy Fancher-Baker wagon train, which was laden with livestock, valuables and gold bullion. Further, the actual massacre occurred only after the perpetrators first persuaded everyone in the party to surrender their weapons. The only Mormon who was ever convicted of this atrocity was Brigham Young’s adopted son, John D. Lee, a danite, who later claimed that Brigham Young himself had ordered the massacre in retaliation for being removed as Territorial Governor of Utah. And, on September 15, 1857, 4-days later, the same spirit of Mormonism seems to have guided Brigham Young as he declared Utah’s complete independence from the United States of America, and declared martial law in the Utah Territory. Brigham Young’s proclamation is shown below:

PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR

September 15th, 1857 Citizens of Utah: We are invaded by a hostile force, who are evidently assailing us to accomplish our overthrow and destruction.

For the last twenty-five years we have trusted officials of the government, from constables and justices to judges, governors, and Presidents, only to be scorned, held in derision, insulted, and betrayed. Our houses have been plundered and then burned, our fields laid waste, our principal men butchered, while under the pledged faith of the government for their safety, and our families driven from their homes to find that shelter in the barren wilderness and that protection among hostile savages, which were denied them in the boasted abodes of Christianity and civilization.

The constitution of our common country guarantees unto us all that we do now or have ever claimed. If the constitutional rights which pertain unto us as American citizens were extended to Utah, according to the spirit and meaning thereof, and fairly and impartially administered, it is all that we can ask, all that we have ever asked.

Our opponents have availed themselves of prejudice existing against us, because of our religious faith, to send out a formidable host to accomplish our destruction. We have had no privilege or opportunity of defending ourselves from the false, foul, and unjust aspersions against us before the nation. The government has not condescended to cause an investigating committee, or other persons, to be sent to inquire into and ascertain the truth, as is customary in such cases. We know those aspersions to be false; but that avails us nothing. We are condemned unheard, and forced to an issue with an armed mercenary mob, which has been sent against us at the instigation of anonymous letter writers, ashamed to father the base, slanderous falsehoods which they have given to the public; of corrupt officials, who have brought false accusations against us to screen themselves in their own infamy; and of hireling priests and howling editors, who prostitute the truth for filthy lucre's sake.

The issue, which has thus been forced upon us compels us to resort to the great first law of self-preservation, and stand in our own defense, a right guaranteed to us by the genius of the institutions of our country, and upon which the government is based. Our duty to ourselves, to our families, requires us not to tamely submit to be driven and slain, without an attempt to preserve ourselves; our duty to our country, our holy religion, our God, to freedom and liberty, requires that we should not quietly stand still and see those fetters forging around us which were calculated to enslave and bring us in subjection to an unlawful, military despotism, such as can only emanate, in a country of constitutional law, from usurpation, tyranny, and oppression.

Therefore, I, Brigham Young, Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Territory of Utah, in the name of the people of the United States in the territory of Utah, forbid:

First    -    All armed forces of every description from coming into this Territory, under any pretence whatever. Second    -    That all forces in said Territory hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice to repel any and all such invasion. Third    -    Martial law is hereby declared to exist in this Territory from and after the publication of this proclamation, and no person shall be allowed to pass or repass into or through or from this Territory without a permit from the proper officer.

Given under my hand and seal, at Great Salt Lake City, Territory of Utah, this 15th day of September, A.D. 1857, and of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-second.

Brigham Young(6).

The combination the Mountain Meadows Massacre and Young’s proclamation officially constitute the beginnings of the “Utah War” in 1857, but there is much more to the story than this. The Mormon religion had already been forced out of New York and Ohio, and they had fought wars in Missouri and Illinois between 1832 and 1845. And, President Buchanan’s removal of Brigham Young as Territorial Governor of Utah only exacerbated the situation. Apologists also claim today that Young was angered because he never received any official notification of his impending removal, or that the U.S. Military was being sent to support the installation of the new non-Mormon Governor. But, the seemingly incompressible phrase, “and of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-second“, which appears above Brigham Young’s signature in his “proclamation” seems to bely this legend. The reason is because all official Congressional documents were recorded with the phrase, “and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and seventeenth”. The number references which session of Congress issued the official proclamation, and in example, it is the one hundred and seventeenth Congress. It is ridiculous to think that Congress actually ratified Young’s proclamation, thus it appears more likely that Young included the phrase to mock Congress and to show his complete disdain for the United States Government. The phrase is also evidence that Young did receive some kind of official notice from Congress about his impending removal. How else would Young know about the phrase? Further, the Mormons themselves had a U.S. Government contract to carry all of the mail that passed through the Utah Territory; surely any correspondence would have reached him.

The following excerpts from the Congressional Record of the United States further corroborate the shocking events that were occurring in Utah during this period of time. They also reveal the discussions being held in Congress that referred to the “Mormon Insurrection” in the Utah Territory. It seems appropriate to provide official transcripts of the United States Congress that were recorded during this period of time, which further illustrate Congress’ perspective regarding these events. One benefit of presenting Congressional transcripts is to eliminate any potential bias that might inadvertently be infused by an author. But, more importantly, they provide a unique insight and historical account of the circumstances surrounding the Utah War, and clearly illustrate the sentiment of the American Presidents and their respective Congresses as they were forced to contemplate the contemptuous nature of the Utah Territory and the Mormon Church. It’s also important for the reader to understand that the Mormons were previously involved in wars in Missouri and Illinois in 1838 and 1844 respectively, and that the Mormons were already a well-known subject in Congress. The following transcripts are presented in their unedited form, and note the recurring prase at the end of each transcript (and of the Independence of the United States the XX), which denotes which session of Congress the transcript comes from (7).

Congressional Transcripts Pertaining to the “Mormon Insurrection” in Utah

December 8, 1857 – President James Buchanan’s first annual message Congress: “A Territorial government was established for Utah by act of Congress approved the 9th of September 1850, and the Constitution and laws of the United States were thereby extended over it so far as the same of any provision thereof my be applicable. This act provided for the appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, of a governor (who was to be ex-officio superintendent of Indian affairs), a secretary, 3 judges of the Supreme Court, a marshal, and a district attorney. Subsequent acts provided for the appointment of the officers necessary to extend our land and our Indian system over the Territory.

Brigham Young was appointed the first governor on the 20th September 1850, and has held the office ever since. Whilst Governor Young has been both governor and superintendent of Indian affairs throughout this period, he has been at the same time the head of the Church called the Latter-Day Saints and professes to govern its members and dispose of their property by direct inspiration and authority from the Almighty. His power has been therefore absolute over both church and state. The people of Utah almost exclusively belong to this church and believing with a fanatical spirit that he is governor of the Territory by divine appointment, they obey his commands as if these were direct revelations from Heaven. If therefore, he chooses that his government shall come into collision with the Government of the United States, the members of the Mormon Church will yield implicit obedience to his will.

Unfortunately, existing facts leave but little doubt that such is his determination. Without entering upon a minute history of occurrences, it is sufficient to say that all of officers of the United States, judicial and executive, with the single exception of two Indian agents, have found it necessary for their own personal safety to withdraw from the territory, and there no longer remains any government in Utah but the despotism of Brigham Young. This being the condition of affairs in the Territory, I could not mistake the path of duty. As Chief Executive Magistrate I was bound to restore the supremacy of the Constitution and laws within its limits. In order to affect this purpose, I appointed a new governor and other Federal officers for Utah and sent with them a military force for their protection and to aid as a posse comitatus in case of need in the execution of laws.

With the religious opinions of the Mormons as long as they remained mere opinions, however deplorable in themselves, and revolting to the moral and religious sentiments of all Christendom, I had no right to interfere. Actions alone, when in violation of the constitution and laws of the United States, become the legitimate subjects for the jurisdiction of the civil magistrate. My instructions to Governor Cumming have therefore been framed in strict accordance with these principles. At their date a hope was indulged that no necessity might exist for employing the military in restoring and maintaining the authority of the law, but this hope has now vanished.

Governor Young has by proclamation declared his determination to maintain his power by force. And has already committed acts of hostility against the United States. Unless he should retrace his steps, the Territory of Utah will be in a state of open rebellion. He has committed these acts of hostility notwithstanding Major Van Vliet, an officer of the Army, sent to Utah by the Commanding General to purchase provisions for the troops, had given him the strongest assurances of the peaceful intentions of the Government and that the troops would only be employed as a posse comitatus when called on by the civil authority to aid in the execution of the laws.

There is reason to believe that Governor Young has long contemplated this result. He knows that the continuance of his despotic power depends upon the exclusion of all settlers from the Territory except those who will acknowledge his divine mission and implicitly obey his will, and that an enlightened public opinion there would soon prostrate institutions at war with the laws both of God and man. He has therefore for several years, in order to maintain his independence, been industriously employed in collecting and fabrication of arms and munitions of war and in disciplining the Mormons for military service.

As superintendent of Indian affairs he has an opportunity of tampering with the Indian tribes an exciting their hostile feelings against the United States. This according to our information, he has accomplished in regard to some of these tribes, while others have true to their allegiance and have communicated his intrigues to our Indian agents. He has laid in a store of provisions for three years, which in case of necessity, as he informed Major Van Vliet, he will conceal “and then take to the mountains and bid defiance to all powers of the Government.” A great part of this may be idle boasting, but no wise Government will lightly estimate the efforts which may be inspired by such frenzied fanaticism as exists among the Mormon in Utah.

This is the first rebellion, which has existed in our territories, and humanity itself requires that we should put it down in such a manner that it shall be the last. To trifle with it would be to encourage it and to render it formidable. We ought to go there with such an imposing force as to convince these deluded people that resistance would be vain, and thus spare the effusion of blood. We can in this manner best convince them that we are their friends, not their enemies. In order to accomplish this object it will be necessary, according to the estimated of the War Department, to raise four additional regiments; and this I earnestly recommend to Congress. At the present moment of depression in the revenues of the country I am sorry to be obliged to recommend such a measure; but I feel confident of the support of Congress, cost what it may, in suppressing the insurrection and in restoring and maintaining the sovereignty of the Constitution and laws over the Territory of Utah.” (Vol. 5, pp. 454-456).

April 6, 1858 – President James Buchanan’s proclamation to Congress: “Whereas the Territory of Utah as settled by certain immigrants from the States and from foreign countries who have for several years past manifested a spirit of insubordination to the Constitution and laws of the United States. The great mass of those settlers, acting under the influence of leaders to whom they seem to have surrendered their judgment, refuse to be controlled by any other authority. They have been often advised to obedience and these friendly counsels have been answered with defiance. The officers of the Federal Government have been driven from the Territory for no offense but an effort to do their sworn duty, others have been prevented from going there by threats of assassination, judges have been violently interrupted in the performance of their functions, and the records of the courts have been seized and destroyed or concealed.

Many other acts of unlawful violence have been perpetrated, and the right to repeat them has been openly claimed by the leading inhabitants with at least the silent acquiescence of nearly all the others. Their hostility to the lawful government of the country has at length become so violent that no officer bearing a commission from the Chief Magistrate of the Union can enter the Territory or remain there with safety, and all those officers recently appointed have been unable to go to Salt Lake or anywhere else in Utah beyond the immediate power of the army. Indeed, such is believed to be the condition to which a strange system of terrorism has brought the inhabitants of that region that no one among them could express an opinion favorable to the Government, or even propose to obey its laws without exposing his life and property to peril.

After carefully considering this state of affairs and maturely weighing the obligation I was under to see the laws faithfully executed, it seemed to me right and proper that I should make such use of the military force at my disposal as might be necessary to protect the Federal officers in going into the Territory of Utah and in performing their duties after arriving there. I accordingly ordered a detachment of the Army to march for the City of Salt Lake, or within reach of that place and to act in case of need as a posse for the enforcement of the laws. But, in the meantime, the hatred of that misguided people for the just and legal authority of the Government had become so intense that they resolved to measure their military strength with that of the Union.

They have organized an armed force far from contemptible in point of numbers and trained it, if not with skill, at least with great assiduity and perseverance. While the troops of the United States were on their march a train of baggage wagons, which happened to be unprotected was attacked and destroyed by a portion of the Mormon forces and the provisions and stores with which the train was laden were wantonly burnt. In short, their present attitude is one of decided and reserved enmity to the United States and to all their loyal citizens. Their determination to oppose the authority of the Government by military force has not only been expressed in words, but manifested in overt acts of the most unequivocal character.

Fellow-citizens of Utah, this is a rebellion against the Government to which you owe allegiance; it is levying war against the United States, and involves you in the guilt of treason. Persistence in it will bring you condign punishment, to ruin and to shame for it is mere madness to suppose that with your limited resources you can successfully resist the force of this great and powerful nation. If you have calculated upon the forbearance of the United States, if you have permitted yourselves to suppose that this Government will fail to put forth its strength and bring you to submission, you have fallen into a grave mistake. You have settled upon territory, which lies geographically, in the heart of the Union. The land you live upon was purchased by the United States and paid for out of their Treasury, the proprietary right and title to it is in them and not in you. Utah is bounded on every side by States and Territories whose people are true to the Union. It is absurd to believe that they will or can permit you to erect in their very midst a government of your own, not only independent of the authority which they all acknowledge, but hostile to them and their interest.

Do not deceive yourselves nor try to mislead others by propagating the idea that this is a crusade against your religion. The Constitution and laws of this country can take no notice of your creed whether it be true or false. That is a question between your god and yourselves, in which I disclaim all right to interfere. If you obey the laws, keep the peace, and respect the just rights of others, you will be perfectly secure, and may live on in your present faith or change it for another at your pleasure. Every intelligent man among you knows very well that this Government has never, directly or indirectly sought to molest you in your worship, to control you in your ecclesiastical affairs, or even to influence you in your religion opinions. 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 by Congress have been equal and just, and their enforcement was manifestly necessary for your own welfare and happiness. You have never asked their repeal. They are similar in every material respect to the laws, which have been passed for the other Territories of the Union, and which everywhere else (with one partial exception) have been cheerfully obeyed. No people ever lived who were freer from unnecessary legal restraints than you. Human wisdom never devised a political system, which bestowed more blessing or imposed lighter burdens than the Government of the United States in its operation upon the Territories. 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 just authority of the Federal Government.

If you refused to accept it, let the consequences fall upon your own heads. But, I conjure you to pause deliberately and reflect well before you reject this tender of peace and good will. Now, therefore I James Buchanan, President of the United States, have thought proper to issue this my proclamation, enjoining upon all public officers in the Territory of Utah to be diligent and faithful, to the full extent of their power in the execution of the laws; commanding all citizens of the United States in said territory to aid and assist the officers in the performance of their duties; offering to the inhabitants of Utah who shall submit to the laws a free pardon for the seditions and treasons heretofore by them committed; warning those who shall persist after notice of this proclamation, in the present rebellion against the United States that they must expect no further lenity, but look to be rigorously dealt with according to their deserts and declaring that the military forces now in Utah and hereafter to be sent there will not be withdrawn until the inhabitants of that Territory shall manifest a proper sense of the duty which they owe to this Government.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents. Done at the city of Washington the 6th day of April, 1858, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty–second James Buchanan. By the president: Lewis Cass, Secretary of State.” (Vol 5. pp 493-495).

December 6, 1858 – President James Buchanan’s second annual message to Congress: “The present condition of the Territory of Utah, when contrasted with what it was one year ago, is a subject for congratulation. It was then in a state of open rebellion, and cost what it might, the character of the Government required that this rebellion should be suppressed and the Mormons compelled to yield obedience to the Constitution and the laws. In order to accomplish this object, as I informed you in my last annual message, I appointed a new governor instead of Brigham Young, and other Federal officers to take the place of those who, consulting their personal safety, had found it necessary to withdraw fro the territory. To protect these civil officers and to aid them, as a posse comitatus, in the execution of the laws in case of need, I ordered a detachment of the Army to accompany them to Utah.

The necessity for adopting these measures is now demonstrated. On the 15th of September 1857, Governor Young issued his proclamation, in the style of an independent sovereign, announcing his purpose to resist, by force of arms, the entry of the Untied States troops into our own Territory of Utah. By this he required all the forces in the Territory to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment’s notice to repel any and all such invasion, and established martial law from its date throughout the Territory. These proved to be no idle threats. Forts Bridger and Supply were vacated and burnt down by the Mormons to deprive our troops of a shelter after their long and fatiguing march. Orders were issued by Daniel H. Wells styling himself, Lieutenant-General, Nauvoo Legion, to stampede the animals of the United States troops on their march, to set fire to their trains, to burn the grass and the whole country before them and on their flanks, to keep them from sleeping by night surprises and to blockade the road by felling trees and destroying the fords of the rivers, etc.

These orders were promptly and effectually obeyed. On the 4th of October 1857, the Mormons captured and burned, on the Green River, three of our supply trains, consisting of seventy-five wagons loaded with provisions and tents for the army, and carried away several hundred animals. This diminished the supply of provisions so materially that general Johnston was obligated to reduce the ration, and even with this precaution there was only sufficient left to subsist the troops until the 1st of June. Our little army behaved admirably in their encampment at Fort Bridger under these trying privations. In the midst of the mountains, in a dreary, unsettled and inhospitable region, more than a thousand miles from home, they passed severe and inclement winter without a murmur. They looked forward with confidence for relief from their country in due season, and in this they were not disappointed.

The Secretary of War employed all his energies to forward them the necessary supplies and to muster and send such a military force to Utah as would render resistance on the part of the Mormons hopeless, and thus terminate the war without the effusion of blood. In his efforts he was efficiently sustained by Congress. They granted appropriations sufficient to cover the deficiency this created, and also provided for raising two regiments of volunteers for the purpose of quelling disturbances in the Territory of Utah, for the protection of supply and emigrant trains and the suppression Indian hostilities on the frontiers. Happily, there was no occasion to call these regiments into service. If there had been, I should have felt serious embarrassment in selecting them, so great was the number of our brave and patriotic citizens anxious to serve their country in this distant and apparently dangerous expedition.

General Johnston, the commander of the forces, in addressing the Secretary of War from Fort Bridger under date of October 18th 1857 expresses the opinion that unless a large force is sent here, from the nature of the country a protracted war on the part of the Mormons is inevitable. This he considered necessary to terminate the war speedily and more economically than if attempted by insufficient means. In the meantime it was my anxious desire that the Mormons should yield obedience to the Constitution and the laws without rendering it necessary to resort to military force. To aid in the accomplishment of this objective, I deemed it advisable in April last to dispatch two distinguished citizens of the United States, Messrs. Powell and McCulloch, to Utah. They bore with them a proclamation addressed by myself to the inhabitants of Utah, dated on the 6th day of that month warning them of true condition and how hopeless it was on their part to persist in rebellion against the United States, and offering all those who should submit to the laws a full pardon for their past seditions and treasons.

At the same time I assure those who should persist in rebellion against the United States that they must expect no further lenity, but look to be rigorously dealt with according to their deserts. The instructions to these agents as well as a copy of the proclamation and their reports are herewith submitted. It will be seen by their report of the 3rd of July last they have fully confirmed the opinion expressed by general Johnston in the previous October as to the necessity of sending reinforcements to Utah. In this they state that they are firmly impressed with the belief that the presence of the Army here and the large additional force that had been ordered to this Territory were the chief inducements that caused the Mormons to abandon the idea of resisting the authority of the United States. A less decisive policy would probably have resulted in a long, bloody and expensive war. These gentlemen conducted themselves to my entire satisfaction and rendered useful services in executing the humane intentions of the Government.

It is also affords me great satisfaction to state that Governor Cumming has performed his duty in an able and conciliatory manner and with the happiest effect. I cannot in this connection refrain from mentioning the valuable services of Colonel Thomas L. Kane, who from motives of pure benevolence and without any official character or pecuniary compensation visited Utah during the last inclement winter for the purpose of contributing to the pacification of the Territory. I am now happy to inform you that the Governor and other civil officers of Utah are now performing their appropriate functions without resistance. The authority of the Constitution and laws has been fully restored and peace prevails throughout the territory.” (Vol. 5 pp. 503-506).