So what would happen if the Utah War was delayed; suppose that news of the Mountain Meadows Massacre (yes, I acknowledge it happened, and that high-ranking Mormons were involved; but not that Brigham Young ordered it) was delayed for a time (or the crime itself delayed), about several months to a year of delay?
What happens then, if the problems from this event are moved closer to the 1860 election? How do the candidates respond, and how does the winner (I'm assuming Lincoln still wins) react? Since Buchanan would still be in power for a few months or so, how would he act?