The Brigham Young Center

G. S. L. City, April 1, 1863.

Col. Ben Holladay
88 Wall Street, New York City, N. Y.

Dear Sir:-

Your favor of Feb. 13, probably having fallen into some P. O. eddy, did not come to hand until after Gen'l Hughs. arrival and attention to the case mentioned therein. I trust the General managed the affair to meet your wishes, so far as the nature of the case would admit; and presume he at once advised you how it had been disposed of for the present. 

Your favor of March 9, with inclosure, came duly to hand, and for your prompt and friendly action and kind request please accept my thanks.

As you well know, we want and delight in peace, and we also want the privilege of fully and freely enjoying and exercising all our constitutional rights as American citizens. Is there anything wrong in these wants?

They are the reasons for our action in the Mass Meeting held here on the 3d of March last, for Harding, Waite and Drake were operating and plotting, from the best information in my possession, against our enjoyment of many, if not all, those just rights.

You are also aware that the people of Utah are always ready to extend all needed protection to the mail and telegraph within her borders, and that they do so at a far cheaper rate to the Government than can troops from abroad. S[word cut off] being facts, why are troops from abroad ordered within our borders, and especially quartered within the corperate limits of this City? The reason appears obvious to us; and a recent hair's breadth avoidance of a collision between citizens and soldiers, consequent upon Harding & co's course, pointedly proves the folly of ordering within our borders troops from abroad.

To place the subject in a small compass, Utah justly asks the speedy removal of Harding, Wait and Drake, and the appointment of good men in their pl[word cut off] and that all troops from abroad be soon ordered beyond her borders, and she be permitted to keep peace and protect property within her limits These are just and Constitutional requests, but what disposition will be made of them we are as yet unadvised, though Col. Hooper telegraphs, March 30, "interview not satisfactory," as he doubtless informed you at the time.

Whether you prove able to accomplish much or little in relation to the aforenamed wants, we feel assured you will do the best that circumstances and opposition will permit. In either even we wish you a pleasant trip across the plains and safe arrival here, when you will meet a hearty welcome by,

Your friend,

Brigham Young