Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 11.djvu/841

_ APPENDIX. PROCLAMATION. N0. 50. 797 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 mean time, 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 eontemptible 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 baggagewagons, 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 unreserved 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 rebellion against the overnmeut to which you owe allegiance. It is levying war against the United étates, and involves you in the guilt of treason. Persistence in it will bring you to 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 subniission—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 u on 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 interests. Do not deceive yourselves nor try to mislead others by pz·opagnting 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 aifairs, or even to influence you in your religious 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 redressecl as promptly as it could be. The laws and regulations enacted for your government by Congress have been equal and just, and their enfoircment 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 blessings 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 fiill pardon to all who will submit themselves to the authority of the federal government. If you re fuse to accept it, let the consequences fall upon your own heads. But I conjure you to panic dcfliberately and reflect well efore you reject this tender of peace and 00 -wi . g Now, therefore, I, JAMES BUCHANAN, President of the United States, have thought proper to issue this, my proclamation, enjoining upon all public officcrs in the Territory of Utah to be diligent and faithful, to the full extert of their