History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE GOVERNMENT IN ARMS,
1853-1857.
Brigham as Dictator—Utah Seeks Admission as a State—Dissatisfaction
among the Saints—Conflicting Judiciaries—The New Federal
Officials—Disputes with Judge Drgmmond—Colonel Steptoe
—An Expedition Ordered to Utah—Official Blunders—The Troops
Assemble at Fort Leavenworth—Hockaday and Magraw's Mail
Contract—The Brigham Young Express—Celebration of the Pioneer
Anniversary—News of the Coming Invasion—Its Effect on
the Mormons—Arrival of Major Van Vliet—The Nauvoo Legion
—Mormon Tactics.
"I am and will be governor, and no power can hinder
it," declared Brigham in a sabbath discourse at
the tabernacle in June 1853; "until," he added with
characteristic shrewdness, "the Lord almighty says,
'Brigham, you need not be governor any longer.'" 1
After the departure of the runaway officials in September
1851, there were none to dispute the authority
of the governor, and for several years his will was
law. At the opening of the joint sessions of the assembly,
a committee was appointed to escort him to
the hall of the representatives, where he took his seat
in front of the speaker's chair, the members and spectators
rising in a body as he entered. The message
was then read by his private secretary ; it was ordered
that a thousand copies of it be printed for the use of
both houses, and that it be published in the Deseret
News for the benefit of the people. The assembly
then adjourned, and at the meetings which followed
1 Journal of Discourses, i. 135.
Hist. Utah. 31 I 481 )