Gt. Salt Lake City,
Dec. 18th, 1866.
Hon. Wm. H. Hooper, M. C.
House of Representatives,
Washington City, D. C.
Dear Brother:
We received a Telegram from you upon your arrival in Washington informing us that you had reached there in safety, which we were rejoiced to hear. Your trip was full as speedy as could have been anticipated when you left here. I replied to your Telegram as follows: "Your family are well. Peace prevails, and every thing is moving on smoothly. Glad to hear of your safe arrival." We have had very quiet times here since you left. Good health has generally prevailed among the people; some few old people have died of late, but the health of children has been much better so far this Winter than it was during the Summer. Our winter, thus far, has been very open. The continued moist weather has almost made our Kanyon roads impassable; also the principal roads leading to and from the City. But the mildness of the weather enables the poor to get along much better than they would do if the weather were severe and fuel as dear as it is usually.
Ex-Governor Weller, Capt. Jocelyn and [?] Gilbert have started East, with the intention, it is reported, of bringing the case of Dr. Robinson up before the authorities in Washington. The clique here expect that they will represent them. The Store where they have been in the habit of going to loaf, drink whisky and con(coct) plans against our citizens, has been almost deserted of late. Patronage has been almost entirely with drawn from the <owners> and they have had to discharge several of their clerks. They feel that their case is desperate, and that unless they can create some new excitement, and revive every prejudice that has ever existed, and have the attention of the Government directed to us, and an Army sent here, they will be compelled to give up business here. There are no lengths to which they will not go to accomplish their ends; but they will be disappointed in their efforts, as they have been before. They never reckon on the Lord's power or His interference, and they are, therefore, perpetually deceived respecting the results of their labors. The people are awakening to the importance of ceasing to trade with men who are their open and avowed enemies, and who use the means they collect from the people for the latter's injury and destruction. When we reflect upon the indifference manifested by our people upon this point in the past, it is astonishing. Here are numbers of men here, who have flattened and grown rich from the patronage of the people, and yet, in the most flagrant and defiant manner, they have used the means thus obtained to destroy the very people who furnished it. They have spared no means, no pains to malign us and to bring us into disrepute with the nation of which we form a part. They have originated and circulated the most atrocious slanders respecting us, <at the same time, have,> in the most shameless manner, solicited our patronage, and in many instances have obtained it too. Their unblushing impudence and effrontery have only been equalled by the blindness and folly of the individuals who have sustained them. We now feel that this should stop. To continue in this course would not only be impolitic but sinful. This will prepare you to watch the moves of the individuals named, and to guard against their machinations. You are acquainted with all these things, and scarcely need reminding about them
We would like you to pay some attention to our land interests. There is no doubt but there is a class of individuals who are anxious to possess our lands, and prompted by this desire will spare no pains to establish, or file claims wherever they can to give color to their pretensions. We have land warrants and money with which to purchase the lands we occupy, whenever they can be obtained; besides, we are the original settlers and the present occupants. We have the incontroversible right to the possessions which we have wrested, at such immense toil and expense, from the wilderness of nature; and we should take every step that we can to strengthen us in our legal possession and enjoyment of our lands. Will you please inquire at the proper Department and learn all you can about claims, if any, which have been filed there from here, and whether we can not obtain our Town sites, or get the benefit of the Homestead Act.
My health is pretty good with the exception of the rheumatism, which has confined me to my room for a few days; but I am now better. Write to me as often as you can. Accept my love in which President Kimball and Wells and Bro. Geo. Q. join. May the Lord bless you and make you adequate to every labor.
Your Brother,
Brigham Young