UTAH.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 237, 27 January 1860, Page 3

UTAH.

By way of California,; we have news from the Great Salt Lake to the 2nd of November.

The Valley Tan announces that there is no truth whatever in the rumour that General Harney is on his way to Utah to relieve General Johnston, who, it was stated, was about to return to the States in consequence of ill health.

A correspondent of the same paper writes from Camp Floyd:—We received a slight addition to the numerical strength of this command by the arrival of two companies of the Fourth Artillery from Fort Laramie. They are armed and equipped as infantry, and are acting as such at present.

There are thousands of women, writes a correspondent of the Valley Tan, in Utah Territory, between the ages of fourteen and twenty, who would gladly walk barfooted all around the world to find some place to hide from these hoary headed ravishing bishops, elders, and priests, and the time is close at hand when those who wish to escape from the lustful turks can have the opportunity, for it is generally understood that a very gallant old gentleman, known all over the world as " Uncle Sam," has the means and the ability to furnish transportation and rations to every woman that wishes to escape from the territory; and we assure them that they can trust their gentle bodies with this good old man, without a precaution of sealing or endowments. A detachment of United States troops (mounted), under command of Lieutenant Thomas Hight, had passed through Salt Lake City last week on their way to winter quarters at Camp Floyd. They seemed in good health and spirits, considering their long and toilsome march ot more than eighteen hundred miles. This gallant young officer left Camp Floyd on the 12th June last, with instructions, as we understand, to scout the country in pursuit of Indians, who were said to be on the road harassing immigrants en route to the Pacific. He found no Indians but friendly ones, but had the melancholy task to perform of burying in one grave the bones of the twelve unfortunate men, women, and children who were murdered in June last on Marsh River.

Execution of Thomas H. Ferguson.— Thomas H. Ferguson, convicted of the murder of Alexander Carpenter, during the late term of the District Court in Salt Lake City, and who was sentenced by the Court to pay with his life the violation of the law which he had committed, was, in conformity with the sentence passed upon him, executed October 29th, says the Valley Tan, about one o'clock, near the wall, on the north side of the city. The escort, consisting of a portion of the " Nauvoo Legion," that had been furnished by request as a guard, left the county jail in the city, with the prisoner in charge, about eleven o'clock a.m. A large crowd of men and boys followed the escort and the waggon containing the condemned man, to the place of execution ; but no irregularities, either of word or deed, so far as we have heard, took place. We could not help thinking, however, on seeing the throng that followed the sad procession, that greater consideration for the unfortunate man who was about to suffer, would have been evinced by taking some other direction to the gallows than the one pursued by those conducting him, even if they desired to witness his execution. On reaching the gallows, the handcuffs were removed from his wrists, after which, with his own hands he unscrewed the shackles from his ankles, and then ascended the gallows, with apparently a firm and steady step. On reaching the top he engaged for some time in conversation with one of the gentlemen who defended him during his trial, after which he proceeded to address the throng of persons assembled on all sides of the gallows. His remarks possessed little of interest, and nothing worth recording. Hesaidbutlittle about the crime that he had committed, except that he was stupified with liquor when the deed was done. He complained of some of the unfairness of his trial, alleging that witnesses necessary to his defence were absent, and that the Judge would not postpone the trial till they could be obtained. Afterwards his remarks assumed a desultory and irregular form, and appeared to be made more for the purpose of postponing the fatal moment than for any interest he felt in making them. He seemed to anticipate until almost the last moment, that a reprieve would be granted him, or that he woutfd meet with a rescue from some source, After talking for more than half on hour, he requested prayer. Some difficulty and delay was experienced in finding any one willing or suitable to officiate in this ceremony. At length one of the guard came forward and offered prayer, arid shortly after the cap was placed over the face of the doomed man—the rope which held the trap was cut, and Thomas H. Ferguson, with a fall of several feet, was launched into eternity, with scarcely a struggle. The execution of Ferguson, we have been informed, is the first that has ever taken place in this territory by a regular judicial sentence. Of the many murders that have taken place here, the perpetrators of them have in all instances escaped, or n,o notice whatever has been taken of their crime, the general belief* being that they were authorised or commanded by those who. wield a despotic power over the lives and actions of the deluded and fanatical people that dwell in this territory.

Si^eep. in U;TA«.-^.QoJonel T. & Smith's droye of sh,eep, to, wjiich reference was mada a few weeks since, passed through Salt Lake. City, October 21, says the Deserei News. They were in excellent condition, as reported, looking nearly as well as those thas have not been driven across the plains this season. The importation of sheep into this territory is a matter of great importance, and will be till the number of

those useful animals is greatly increased above what it is at the present time, and if those who are engaged in the imporation of merchandize into this inland region, and are investing capital in the products and manufactures of other countries, would turn their attention to the introduction of sheep, they would increase the wealth of the people generally, instead of impoverishing them as the present system is most undoubtedly tending. The raising of sheep in these mountains is admitted by all who have had experience in the business to be very profitable, and if the people of Utah ever become wealthy, there will be more shepherds in the country, and less number of importers and counter-hoppers than there are now by far, according to the number of inhabitants. Others may think differently, and if the time does not soon come when the man that has a " young cow and two sheep" will be more independant and possess more real wealth than the dealers in fabrication of Babylon, we shall be mis-

taken.