IV.

REMARKS OF MR. COLFAX ON THE RESOLUTION TO EXPEL THE DELEGATE FROM UTAH TERRITORY.

DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DECEMBER 23D, 1857.

Mr. Colfax.-I dislike, Mr. Speaker, to dissent from the views which have been so ably presented by distinguished gentlemen, who are emphatically leaders of this House, the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Banks], the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Davis], the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Bocock], and the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Marshall]; but I think that the self-respect of the American Congress, the representatives of twenty-five millions of American freemen, demands at least that this investigation should be had.

Gentlemen say that this resolution is extraordinary in its character. If so, sir, it is introduced for the purpose of meeting an extraordinary state of affairs, anomalous in its character, and without precedent in the history of this nation. I say nothing in regard to the immoral practices which prevail in the Territory of Utah, and have made that Territory a by-word and

reproach in all Christendom. But I desire to speak of the civil state of affairs there, and of her relations towards the General Government. What are they? Do we not know, sir-is it not a fact that has been proclaimed throughout this broad land, officially, and in every other way in which it could reach the public ear-that the authority of the United States has been openly defied and trampled under foot there, that your United States courts have been broken up, and that the United States officers have been compelled to leave the Territory, some of them fleeing from it for their lives? Is it not known that the people of the Territory are in hostile array against the army of the United States, cutting off the Government trains, and warning, officially, through their treasonable Governor, the Army of the United States not to set foot in the Territory, except upon condition of laying down their arms? While they throw off entirely, as a whole body, their allegiance to the General Government, they, at the same time, have the presumption to come here and demand that they shall be represented upon the floor of the council-hall of the nation against which they have stretched forth the gauntleted hand of defiance, and whose authority they have openly defied and scorned.

The President's message tells us the condition of affairs in the Territory of Utah. He says:

"Without entering upon a minute history of occurrences, it is sufficient to say that all the officers of the United States, judicial and executive, with the single exception of two Indian agents, have found it neces

sary, 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."

And yet, with this condition of affairs, officially proclaimed to us by the chief Executive of the nation, we are hesitating here, whether we shall pass a mere resolution of inquiry on the subject, which, it seems to me, the self-respect of Congress demands.

Mr. Banks. Will the gentleman from Indiana have the kindness to read the conclusion of the Presi dent's remarks, referring to the restoration of the gov ernment under the Constitution and laws?

Mr. Colfax.-I will, with pleasure.

"Governor Young has, by proclamation, declared his determination to maintain his power by force, and has already commenced 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."

Now, I desire to read something more:

"He has, therefore, for several years, in order to maintain his independence, been industriously employed in collecting and fabricating arms and munitions of war, and in disciplining the Mormons for military service. As superintendent of Indians affairs, he has had an opportunity of tampering with the Indian tribes, and 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 remained 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 the powers of the Government.""

And, sir, since that message was written, the news has come from the Territory of Utah that the military equipage, and arms and munitions of war, accompanying the force on that frontier, were cut off by these Mormons, openly and insultingly.

Now there has not been a mere declared intent to oppose the Government of the United States, but it has been actually carried into effect. And we are to say here whether a people like this, having openly and defiantly and insultingly thrown off all allegiance to the General Government; having sent a message through their Legislative Assembly, to the President, that they will have such and such men as officers, and no others; having thus disrobed themselves of their allegiance to the Government, shall be allowed to send their representatives here with equal rights, as to his speaking, with ourselves, to occupy a seat on this floor as our peer, and to draw his salary and per diem from the Treasury of the United States? The matter has been trifled with too long. This Brigham Young has been making treasonable threats against the General Government from the days of the administration of Mr. Fillmore to the present day; and he has over and over again declared publicly in the face of the assembled people, that he will be the Governor of Utah, not so long as the Government of the United States

may see fit, but so long as God says he shall be Governor, declaring that he derives his commission from God instead of from the President. He has gone on fostering rebellion, till it has broken out into open war. And yet he sends, with credentials signed by the same hand which penned his proclamation of defiance to our Government, a representative here; and we are not to be allowed, because, forsooth, there has been no precedent for it, to have a committee of inquiry to ascertain if we cannot purge ourselves from the presence of a Delegate from such a Territory. I trust the resolution will be adopted.