In the early part of 1857, the published libels upon the people
received many serious additions, the principal of which was
promulgated in connection with the resignation of Judge Drummond
of the Utah federal court. In his last letter to the United
States attorney-general, he declared that his life was no longer
safe in Utah, and that he had been compelled to flee from his
bench; but the most serious charge of all was that the people had
destroyed the records of the court, and that they had resented,
with hostile demonstration, his protests; in short, that justice
was dethroned in Utah, and that the people were in a state of
open rebellion.

With mails three months apart, news traveled slowly; but as soon
as word of this infamous charge reached Salt Lake City, the clerk
of the court, Judge Drummond's clerk, sent a letter by express to
the attorney-general, denying under oath the judge's statements,
and attesting the declaration with official seal. The records,
he declared, had been untouched except by official hands, and
from the time of the court's establishment the files had been
safe and were then in his personal keeping. But, before the
clerk's communication had reached its destination, so difficult
is it for stately truth to overtake flitting falsehood, the
mischief had been done. Upon the most prejudiced reports utterly
unfounded in fact, with a carelessness which even his personal
and political friends found no ample means of explaining away,
President Buchanan allowed himself to be persuaded that a
"Mormon" rebellion existed, and ordered an army of over two
thousand men to proceed straightway to Utah to subdue the rebels.
Successors to the governor and other territorial officials were
appointed, among whom there was not a single resident of Utah;