UNITED STATES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 606, 28 August 1858, Page 4

UNITED STATES.

Advices from America to the 21st of May Tiring us news of especial interest. The Kansas -question was settled in 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.

The ' Republican' learns from a source entitled to credit that an express messenger passed through this city, about two weeks ago, with instructions from the war department' to Gen. Johnston, ordering him not to commence offensive operations against 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, May 20th. The following is from the ' California News Letter,' of May 19th, whereby it would appear ■4hat 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 '■Gity accompanied by Colonel Johnston and the United States army. This hegira of the Mormons may 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.> 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 Placervilie 9th May, supplies some very interesting1 particulars of _ the exodus of the Mormons from. Salt "Luke 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. Parowau is 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 privilege was denied them, although the elders and priests,-with Brigham at their head, had publicly announced that all who desired to leave could Ido so. During one week there were one thout sand 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 tJtcir 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." A, telegraphic despatch from Toronto, dated 2Sth April, announces that two fires occurred there on the night of the 27 th, destroying much property. Great alarm was felt in consequence of the extraordinary number of fires that had occurred during the last fortnight. Scarcely a night passed without one or more of a destructive character. It was supposed that they were the work of a band of incendiaries.

The Red Republicans of New York celebrated the memory of Orsini and Pierri by a torchlight procession and public meeting in the Park. About 2,500 participated fh the celebration, and some 15,000 witnessed the spectacle on the line of march. Several violent speeches were made.

The lust for annexation is more rife than ever: The House of Representatives lias beeu discussing the question of a Protectorate over Mexico, of which, with similar examples before our eyes, we may easily fortell the result. New Grenada, at the same time, is seeking adoption as a child of the Union. There can be no doubt that before the lapse of many years nearly all Central America will be absorbed into the Federal system.

Reinforcements and supplies have been pushed forward to Utah, and General Harney has been appointed to assume the command iv the event of the inability of Major-General Smith.

It is proposed to amalgamate all the banks of New York city into one great institution, similar to the Bank of England or of France.

A letter from the Panama correspondent of the Washington ' States' alleges that for some time Colonel Kinney has been treating -with the Mormons with a view to their settlement on the Mosquito coast, and that his propositions have been most favorably received.