G.S.L. City, May 24, 1860.
Hon. W.H. Hooper, M.C.,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Brother:-
Your very welcome letter, May 8, by Pony Express, came to hand on the 18th inst. soon after the departure of the mail of that date: and yours of April 24 and 25 arrived by due course of mail on the 20th inst., accompanied by letter to you from Mr. J.J. Flournoy and his pamplet on trigamy.
Please accept my thanks for your personal attention to purchases in New York, and for the discretion you exercised in so doing.
Unbound Ex. Doc's, Vol's. 1, 2, and 3, came to hand, but the 21 bags of documents are resting somewhere, as are nearly all the books that have been forwarded.
I coincide with your views in relation to the Pony Express. It will be beneficial in matters of importance reauiring speedy transmission of information, but is too high priced for every day use.
From your latest date I was highly gratified to learn that your health was improving, and trust that you are again enjoying that measure of vigor necessary for the agreeable and successful prosecution of your perplexing duties, and for the accomplishment of all your righteous desires.
As I have already informed you, May 16, I entirely concur in your views in relation to the land question, and deem it altogether best to by no means press the matter.
In case you find the location of land warrants on Deer Creek Station, &c. as you anticipate in your last, please learn, if convenient, whether Hiram Kimball, late Mail Contractor, would be permitted to hold the mail stations he made under that contract and in accordance with the provisions of law in relation thereto, or whether it would be worth while for him to take any steps in reference to the matter. As to location of land warrants, we were aware of the law upon that subject, but wished to learn whether Government or the Land Office Department could or would permit us to locate previous to survey and protect us in such locations, as mentioned in letter of April 12, against Indian and Military reservations.
I learn from the Washington Globe of April 26, that Mr Morris of Illinois proposed, introducing a Joint Resolution for buying out the "Mormons", conditioned that "they remove beyond the jurisdiction of the United States." The Mountaineer of this week will contain a communication recommending that the commissioners be authorized to give or take, that the matter may be based upon a fairer footing. presuming that they are more willing to sell than we are; at any rate we shall not sell our birthright, but think, the way matters are moving, that the Government is in a fair way to be deprived of theirs, without so much as a mess of pottage in return. The proposed amendment to Mr. Morris' Resolution is a decided improvement upon it, though of course both it and the Resolution are perfectly ridiculous. What a luminous idea, for one portion of the people of the same professedly great, free, and magnanimous nation to buy out and remove another? If the Government really wishes to keep meddling with affairs with which they have no business, and desire to settle the "vexed question" upon fair and equitable principles, why don't they admit us as a State, or give or sell to us the Territory we occupy, with a guarantee that we shall be unmolested therein?
In Vol. 2 Ex. Doc. 1859-60, page 172, you have dounbtless read a letter written by Dr. Forney to Gen. Johnston. you of the spirit therein manifested? What think It certainly appears to have been written without the least regard to justice, or fairness. But he now has plenty of occupation in answering and defending questions propounded by the Commissioners appointed to inquire into his official acts, and how the affair will result is still in the future, for it is yet dragging along its tedious detail without any material development.
I understand that the withdrawn troops are all enroute for their several points of destination, and that Camp Floyd and Frogtown are very thinly settled. East Temple street is also resuming the quiet appearance which characterized it previous to the influx of "modern civilization", and the backbone of lawlessness appears to be considerably limbered or broken.
C.A. Perry has just arrived from Western Mo., which he left on the 1st inst. He met br. Judson Stodard at Karney City, 2 miles west of Fort Kearney; br. E.D. Woolley and company at the Red Buttes on the Platte; and br. Joseph W. Young and company eight miles above the three crossings of Sweetwater. They were all getting along well, and their teams looked well, except that br. Stodard's were somewhat jaded. The down going companies have thus far made very good time.
A rumor from the west, this afternoon, reports that Indians have broken up the express and mail stations from the Sink of Carson to Diamond Springs, killing several persons and driving off animals. This report, if it prove correct, accounts for the non-arrival of the last Pony Express from Cal. Some of the "gentiles" are considerably aroused by the report, and declare, quite emphatically, that for repressing and preventing Indian aggressions, they had rather have 50 men whom they could select in this city than all the lazy, worthless do-nothing troops in Camp Floyd.
Should Congress not adjourn until July 15, as indicated in your last, you will hardly be able to join us on the 24th, but we doubt not you will be with us as soon after adjournment as possible.
The weather has been and continues to be quite cool for May, which is highly favorable to wheat and grass, and not particularly injurious to other products.
Your family and your friends generally are well, and our moral atmosphere is daily improving.
As heretofore, "Do what is right, let the consequence follow" in which may God ever bless you.
Your Brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young