History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

MILITARY ARRESTS. 573
the United States treasury. 2 The officers deputed
to make the arrest repaired to the governor's quarters
and besought his cooperation, but were promptly refused,
Cumming protesting against the measure as an
unjustifiable outrage, 3 whereupon they returned in discomfiture
to Camp Floyd.
But the trouble was not yet ended. In May, Judge
Sinclair was to open his court at Salt Lake City, and
threatened to station there a detachment of troops.
On Sunday the 17th of April it was reported that
two regiments were on their way to the city for the
purpose of making arrests, whereat General Wells at
once ordered out the militia, and within a few hours
five thousand men were under arms. 4
It was now ex-
2 Stenhouse says that a counterfeit plate was engraved at S. L. City, resembling
the one used by the quartermaster at Camp Floyd for drafts drawn
on the assistant U. S. treasurers at New York and St Louis. When the fraud
was discovered the culprit turned state's evidence, and testified that a person
in the employ of Brigham had furnished the paper. It was supposed that the
latter was implicated, and thereupon the writ was issued. Rocky Mountain
Saints, 410-11. Cradlebaugh says that the plate was seized by Marshal Dotson,
by order of Judge Eckles, and that Brigham afterward obtained judgment
against the former for §2, GOO damages, the marshal's house being sold to
satisfy the judgment. Mormonism, 15. See also Burton's City of the Saints, 507.
I find nothing about this matter in the files of the Deseret News; but the fact
that the writ was issued is mentioned by Tullidge, Hist. S. L. City, 228, and
in the Hand-book of Reference, 77. Peter K. Dotson, a native of Virginia,
came to Salt Lake City in 1851, and was first employed by Brigham as manager
of a distillery, afterward becoming express and mail agent. In 1855 he
was appointed U. S. marshal for Utah, and in 1857 proceeded to Washington,
returning with the army during that year. Dotson's Doings, MS.
3 In a conversation with Stenhouse, the governor stated that, in case of resistance,
the wall surrounding Brigham's premises was to be battered down
with artillery, and the president taken by force to Camp Floyd. So, at least,
said the officers. 'I listened to them, sir, as gravely as I could,' continued
Cumming, 'and examined their papers. They rubbed their hands and were
jubilant; "they had got the dead-wood on Brigham Young." I was indignant,
sir, and told them, "By , gentlemen, you can't do it! When you
have to take Brigham Young, gentlemen, you shall have him without creeping
through walls. You shall enter by his door with heads erect, as becomes
representatives of your government. But till that time, gentlemen, you can't
touch Brigham Young while I live.' Rocky Mountain Saints, 411. Wells,
Narr., MS., 63-5, states that Brigham attended court, though his followers
were very unwilling to allow it, as they feared a repetition of the Carthagejail
tragedy, but that no proceedings were taken against him.
4 A correspondent of the New York Herald, writing from S. L. City, May
23, 1S59, says that the governor notified W'ells to hold the militia in readiness
to resist the troops. A copy of his letter will be found in Tidlidje's
Hist. S. L. City, 228-30. See also Hand-book of Reference, 11. It is very
improbable that Cumming would have taken such an extreme measure, and I
find no mention of it in his official despatches, in those of General Johnston,
or in the files of the Deseret News. Gen. Wells himself gives the following