UNITED STATES.

Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1858, Page 4

UNITED STATES.

Advices from America to the 21st of May bring us news .of especial interest. : The Kansas question was settled iri Congress on the 30th ult. The Conference Committee's report was agreed to in both branches—in the Senate—by a majority of nine. The proceedings in the latter were of a very strong character. In money affairs at New York there was continued ease and quiet.y., ' ;.,;,-; I.>\. •,'.;■■■■

The 'Republican' learns■ from a.source entitled to credit that an express Tinessehger passed through this city, about two weeks ago, with instructions from the wardepartment to Gen. Johnston, ordering him not to commence offensive operations agairist the Mormons before the arrival of the peace commissioners. Secretary Hartwell arrived here yesterday en route to Utah.' He will leave about the 25th. —New York Tribune, M&y 20th. The following is from, the ' California News Letter,'of May 19th, whereby it would appear that Brigham Young is giving in:— The ravings and; rantings of Brigham Young have ended by this high priest singing low and inviting Governor Cummings to enter Salt Lake Cit-f accompanied by Colonel Johnston and the 'United ;State» army. This hegira of the Mor-

mons mav or may not lead them to abandon Utah entirely. It is possible that Brigham and his saints may have placed goods in the mountains, and sought^a refuge in the inaccessible hills with their Indian associates with the view of carrying on a predatory and harrassing warfare on all immigrants as well as on the soldiery of the United States. Whether these zealots have left Utah or not, a wagon road, with a line of military forts extending from California to Missouri, with a telegraphic line between the forts, seems inevitable. Mr. J. A. Thompson, the Norwegian expressman from Carson Valley, who arrived at Placerville 9th. May, supplies some very interesting particulars of the exodus of the Mormons from Salt Lake city, derived from forty-three teamsters made prisoners by the Mormons last winter. They were escorted to Bear River by an armed band of seventy-two Mormons. They endeavoured to get away at different times, but their departure was resisted by the Mormons, until their affairs grew complicated, and they finally gave consent. Thompson represents their men as in a most wretched condition; dirty, ragged, and limping. They unite in stating that all the settlements and buildings above Box Elder, are being evacuated by the Mormons, and the crops left standing. The departure of Brigham's harem was an interesting one. The train which conveyed his family. consisted of thirty waggons, each one containing a wife with her respective offspring and other incidentals. Parowauis to be his present residence during the win-ter—one-third of the Mormons would have left Salt Lake, and also seven-tenths of the women, had they been able to get away, but the privK lege was denied them, although the elders and priests, with Brigham at their head, had public-: ly announced that all who desired to leave could do so. During -one week there were one thousand five hundred applications made to Brigham for papers. These men represent also that some thirteen men whom the Mormons call Gentiles, were killed during the winter at Salt Lake by the Mormons, and they also say, what can be scarcely credited, that the flesh of their bodies was taken to bait the wolf traps. Thompson accosted some of the men between Genoa and Placerville, saying, " You are the men from Salt Lake ?" " Yes," replied they, from " Hell."