A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAnderson, Nephi
Religion
A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Anderson, Nephi
Latter Day Saint churches
When that friend of the Latter-day Saints, Colonel, afterwards General
Thomas L. Kane, heard of the troubles in Utah, he left his home in
Philadelphia and went to Washington to see the president. Though feeble in
health, he offered to go to Utah and try to settle the difficulties in a
peaceable manner. The offer was accepted. Colonel Kane arrived in Salt Lake
City in February, 1858, where he was gladly received. In the cold and snow
of that winter he went to the camp of the army and had a talk with the new
governor whom the president had appointed to take Brigham Young's place.
Colonel Kane told the officers with the army that they would be welcomed in
the valley and kindly treated, but the troops must not locate in or near
any settlement of the territory. The Colonel also convinced Governor
Cumming that he had no need of an army to help him take charge of his
office, and even prevailed on him to go back to Salt Lake City with him.
To this, General Johnston of the army was very much opposed. The president
had sent him with an army to put the governor into his office, aided by
sword and cannon; but now, if the governor could enter peaceably upon his
duties there would be no need of him or his soldiers. The general didn't
like it a bit; but nevertheless, Governor Cumming went with Colonel Kane to
Salt Lake City in charge of some of the Utah militia.
Governor Cumming was received with the respect due such an officer, and
duly installed into his position. He found the records and books of the
courts safe, and learned that the reports which had led the president to
send the army were not true.
The new governor was a good man. He said the troops would have to come into
the valley in the spring, but the people's rights would be respected, and
no harm should be done to any of them. The Saints, however, could not trust
the army. They remembered the scenes of the past, and resolved that they
should not be enacted over again in the valleys of Utah. So, early in the
spring, the order came for all the Saints to pack up their goods, get
together their stock, and move southward, leaving their deserted homes in
the care of a few guards who were to set fire to everything should the army
attempt to locate in the settlements.
On seeing the Saints thus leaving their hard-earned homes, the kind-hearted
old governor entreated them not to do so, promising them full protection.
When his wife arrived from the camp of the army and saw the towns lonely
and deserted, she burst into tears and pleaded with her husband to bring
the people back. The governor, however, could do nothing. The 30,000 people
in Salt Lake City and northward took all their goods and moved south, most
of them into Utah Valley.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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