Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1858 — Highly Important from Utah. [ARTICLE]

Highly Important from Utah. -----

[From the New York Times.

<The Peace Rumors Partially Confirmed—Mormons Deserting the Valley>. ----- FORT BRIDGER, UTAH TERRITORY, } Friday, April 9, 1858. } We were very much surprised and gratified this afternoon by the arrival in our midst of Abel Gilbert, Esq., of the established firm of Gilbert & Gerrish, late merchants in Salt Lake City, from California, by way of Salt Lake City. During .a short interview which we have had with him, we have obtained the following particulars: He left San Francisco, California, on the 19th day of March, and arrived at Salt Lake City on the evening of the 2d day of April. In his passage through the Mormon settlements he was kindly received and entertained. The people were all preparing to leave the Valley. On his way to the City, he found the road lined with families moving South, among whom, near Provo City, he met Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball with their families. Brigham himself, however, subsequently returned to the City, arriving there the evening following Mr. G.’s arrival. He also passed a number of wagons going up from the southern settlements to assist the brethren residing in the northern settlement to move. The current report was, that they were all to move to the White Mountains in the south-western part of the Territory, on the western side of the Great Desert. The women and children were to move immediately, whilst all the fighting men were to remain as a rear guard. The families were starting at the rate of two or three hundred wagons a day. The mass of the people, however, are not favorable to this movement, although they are preparing to participate in it, and are earnestly wishing that the army may enter the valley before they start. They are beginning to open their eyes somewhat to the deception which has been practiced upon them, finding that, instead of the Lord fighting for them, as Brigham preached last Fall, and destroying their enemies by cold and starvation, and the Indians becoming a bat-tle-ax in their hands to overcome all adversaries, they now see that our army has passed the winter more comfortably than they have, that the Indians are nearly all against them, and they have the fact staring them in the face that they are to be surrounded on every side and forced to surrender. And yet, so closely are they bound together, so complete are their habits of implicit obedience and subjection to their leaders, that they dare not take the least step, or make the least effort toward throwing off themselves the yoke of oppression which goads them. They simply rest content in the hope and desire that the United States army will yet arrive in time to relieve them. They have not planted any crops of importance this Spring, and have not, as is usual at this season, commenced making and planting their gardens; but instead, are packing up and boxing up the provisions which they have on hand, and which they estimate to be more than one year’s supply in wheat and flour. The foundations of the Temple have been carefully covered up and protected. The Sunday before Mr. Gilbert’s arrival, Brigham preached a most abusive and treasonable sermon against the President and the United States Government. This sermon had not been published in the <Deseret News>, but was printed in pamphlet form and distributed throughout the settlements. On his way up, Mr. Gilbert passed and visited the scene of the massacre of the California emigrants last Fall. He says the ground is strewn with human skulls and bones of all sizes, whilst the place was covered in every direction with locks and tresses of women’s hair. The sight of these relics of the most inhuman and barbarous massacre that can he found on the pages of our country’s history, was truly striking, causing a cold shudder to pass through the whole frame; and yet, on such a spot, the Mormon guide jocularly remarked that “<this would be an excellent place for a dentist's shop>." Mr. Gilbert was much surprised to find, on his arrival in the city, that they were making preparations there for the expected arrival of Governor Cumming. “A room had been prepared expressly, and was in readiness for him.” (The Governor did not start from here until the 6th inst.) Brigham did not object to Mr. Gilbert coming through to our camp, but refused to allow a gentleman traveling with him to leave the city. Mr. Gilbert left the city on the 6th inst., and met Governor Cuinming on the evening of the 7th inst., in Echo Canon, about fortyfive miles from the city; he was escorted by a guard of some thirty picked men who had been sent by Brigham to meet him, and who were paying him every attention in their power. He expected to reach the city this evening, and will no doubt meet with a flattering reception. Brigham now says that, if we will permit him and his people to move from the valley unmolested, he will immediately move; but if we persist in following and disturbing him, he will “send us to hell across lots.” Brigham acknowledges having taken all books, papers, maps, &c., from the office of the Surveyor-General of Utah, but says he did so in order to preserve them, as he did not deem the person left in charge of them competent or trustworthy. -----