G. S. L. City, April 15, 1862.
Hon. John M. Bernhisel, M C.
Washington City, D. C.,
Dear Brother:
Since my last to you, Mar 22, I have received yours of Jan. 25 to ex-superintendent Davies and his very fair reply on the 29th, yours of March 7, 21, and 24; and Mr Moses' to you of the latter date, also some seeds, a copy of the report of the Com. of Ind. Affr's and of the report of the Van Wyck com., for all which please accept my thanks. Mr Etheridge's letter was handed to Mr. Camp.
I received your 24th and Mr. Moses' letters to-day, and after a careful purusal of both I at once telegraphed to you as follows:-- "I accept your proposition March twenty fourth. All peace. Indians quiet. Mr. Moses may rest assured that the agreement, as mentioned in your letter of the 24th ult., will be strictly complied with on my part.
I yesterday learned that a telegram, a copy of which is herewith inclosed, marked A, was forwarded on the 11th inst., and I immediately, on the 14th, telegraphed to you the inclosed, marked B. Since telegraphing B, I have made many inquiries of reliable persons well informed on these points, and my previous knowledge and present best information satisfy me, as I was before well advised, that no depredations have been committed by Indians upon the mail or any mail station this side the Rocky Mountains, nor between here and our western border; and the Indians throughout the Territory are and for quite a time pas[?] have been unusually quiet and friendly. As to the Shoshones coming into the northern settlements that is merely in accordance with a frequent and long used custom of theirs, and particularly at this time, in addition to visit ing the settlements, should they come at all, it is to meet their head Chief, Washekeek, who has with several of his band wintered in this City and near, and has at all times manifested the most friendly feelings toward the Whites. From our first settlement here Indians were starving and at times some ugly ones have occasionally killed, and stolen animals here and there, but without the least design or thought or waging war upon the whites. And the best information I have and can get convinces me that all the Indians in our borders are unusually harmless and peacefully inclined, and expenditures for an armed force in their account at present would be an unwise waste of money when it is so much needed for necessary and legitimate purposes.
The General Assembly convened on the 14 inst., organized and went into joint Session, when the Governors message was presented and read, after which the Senate repaired to their room, and the two Branches entered upon their several duties. I herewith inclose you a copy of the Message.
The Assembly purpose meeting to-morrow in Joint Session to elect the officers the Constitution makes elective by them, and mostly talk of electing Brs. W. H. Hooper and George Q. Cannon Senators to Congress. For this reason I to-day telegraphed br. George Q. to join br. Hooper in Washington on the 25th of May, leaving the Liverpool Office in charge during the short time he may be required this side the water.
A few days will probably suffice for the business before the Assembly, as they do not design acting any farther than to fix all the machinery in readiness to be put in motion when the appropriate time shall arrive.
Your family, friends and the people generally are well.
Accept the kind regards, for your industry and perseverance in your office labors, of, Your Brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young