Hon. W.H. Hooper, M.C.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Bro:-
This morning we send you by Wells, Fargo & Co's Express, a Memorial to Congress remonstrating against the annexation of the northern portion of this Territory to Utah. accompanying this were 920 signatures from Box Elder County, & 1850 from Weber County. Yesterday 2769 names on the same subject were sent you from Cache Co. and 288 from Farmington, the day previous, both by the regular mail. Those from the other portions of Davis Co. & Rich Co. will be forwarded soon as received.
Your favor of the 27th with enclosed circular relative to Dacotah & Sioux Scrip came to hand on the 9th inst & as you requested the circular was submitted to Bro. L.S. Hills. So straitened are we for money at the present time that we cannot invest in this scrip. Bro. Wells has been looking after those fractions of land adjacent to the Military Reserve, which you alluded to in a former letter. He says that some of those fractions have already been secured, the others he is looking after, which he thinks he can secure, like the rest, without this scrip. Still it may possess advantages with which we are not accquainted. From a remark in your last letter, I am of the opinion that some of my letters have failed to reach you; the following is a list of letters sent from this Office since Nov. 19. On that day we sent you one concerning Internal Revenue. Dec. 8 -- in answer to your telegram of Dec. 2. Jan. 11. -- General News. Jan. 17. List of land claims for patents. Jan. 24. To Hon. C. Delano, under cover to you. Jan 27. Concerning U.C.R.R. bill. Feb. 4 -- General News. Feb 7. -- Petitioners names from Farmington. Feb 9. -- Petitioners names from
Cache Valley.
Last evening we had a mass meeting in this city of a somewhat peculiar nature. It appears that a few nights ago the Godbe-Planchette church held a caucus & got up an opposition ticket for City Officers, and this <yesterday> morning the City was placarded quite extensively with Bills, the object of which was as set forth, "for the nomination of a people's free & independent ticket for Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors, &c. to be voted for on Monday the 14th. inst."; this bill was headed "Come one, come all!" and was subscribed "Many voters" The "Evening News" published the notice in a sub-editorial & the result was that at an early hour "Walker's original Store" was crowded with our citizens, who, in an orderly and systematic manner proceeded to elect a chairman, Secretary, Reporter &c &c. After which, upon the chair's announcement that nominations for the forth coming election were in order, the legitimate ticket was put, & sustained with extraordinary unanimity.
Col. J.C. Little was Chairman, (not Eli B. Kelsey) and, of course, this was not the turn things were expected to take, but when all were invited, it was very natural that the citizens should assert their will when this opportunity was presented.
Should you hear any hints about mobs, &c. you need not fear to give them the lie, the meeting was conducted as orderly as any meeting could possibly be, there was no noise, no unruly demonstration, but on the contrary there was a remarkable ananimity, as, after the first nomination or two, the voting was unanimous. It is true, in the first rush into the building, for the crowd was quite large, that a few slimsy benches were crushed, but it is understood, that, rather than have any growling, the proprietors can be indemnified, though it is not known by whom they were broken. We are informed that Mr. Hollister remarked, "that it was the d---dest, cleverest thing he had seen for some time" & others remarked (of the clique) "We are out generaled, the least said about it the better."
In relation to Wheeler's bill, in case my letter failed to reach you I will briefly repeat the substance of it:-
If we were receiving a grant of ten miles of land on each side of the road, & a subsidy of from 12 to 20,000 dollars per mile; we might give such control of the road, but, unless we can have the first section only, we would rather withdraw the bill.
We expect to start for Dixie about the 24th inst. if the weather permits. Bro. Wells will remain in the City to attend to business. We propose to adjourn Conference until the 5th of May.
The Woman Suffrage bill, which has passed both houses is now waiting the signature of the Acting
Governor.
My health I am happy to say is quite recovered, and the brethren who co-labor with me are also well.
Trusting this will find you quite restored to health, & in the enjoyment of the peace of this Holy Gospel, that you may have comfort in your labors. We realize your situation, surrounded by men who are opposed to us, & whose energies are directed to that end, but we have no fears for the result. Our faith & prayers are constantly exercised in your behalf, and so long as we are assured that God is for us, it
matters not who or what is arrayed against us, as the end will most assuredly demonstrate.
Your brother in the Gospel
Brigham Young