History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

530
THE UTAH WAR.
allegiance. After dwelling at length on the past
offences of the Mormons and the malign influence of
their leaders, he declares the territory to be in a state
of rebellion. "This rebellion," he continues, "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 . . . 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 government." 26
The proclamation, though it served its purpose,
gave offence to both parties. The Mormons did
not regard themselves as rebels; but claimed that
when Colonel Alexander was ordered to withdraw
his forces no successor to Brigham had been legally
appointed and qualified, nor had he been removed by
the president, and that in obstructing the entrance
of an armed force into the territory he had not ex-
ceeded his powers as commander-in-chief of the
Moreover, that their complaints had been
militia. 27
ignored instead of receiving a patient hearing, and
that none of their grievances had been redressed, were
among the causes that led to the disturbance. On
the other hand, the gentile world declared that if the
Mormon question was ever to be settled, now was the
time to settle it. If the president had excepted from
26 For copies of the proclamation, see House Ex. Doc, 35th Cong. 2d
Sess., ii. 1, pt 1, pp. 69-72; Deseret News, June 16, 1858.
27 It does not appear that Brigham had been officially notified of Cumming's
appointment when he sent his despatch to Alexander by the hands of
Wells. In his answer Alexander addresses him as governor, it will be remembered;
and in his official report, in House Ex. Doc., 35th Cong. 1st Sess. , x.
pp. 24-6, Van Vliet also speaks of him as governor, dimming did not receive
his appointment until the 11th of July, 1857, and in view of the interruption
of the mails, it is probable that no official intimation had reached S. L. City
as early as Oct. 4th, when the baggage trains were burned at Simpson
Hollow.