Great Salt Lake City Nov 2. 1863
Hon J. F. Kinney, M. C.
Nebraska City, N. T.
Dear Sir:-
Your favors of Sep 14 and Oct 10 came duly to hand, gratifying us with the intelligence of your speedy and safe journey across the plains, the joyful meeting with your family, and your continued good health. We were also much pleased with your strongly expressed and continued satisfaction in the step you have taken, and feel to commend the course you persued in relation to home affairs.
Of course you could not well expect that all would at once view affairs in the same light that you do, and for this reason, which is very natural and common, you will probably need to very patiently continue in the course you have so wisely adopted, trusting the ordering of the future as you have so wisely properly done. I deem your course, so far as reported very wise and judicious, and trust that A continuous therein will result in accordance with the desires of your heart in righteousness.
Please say to friend Gibbs, should you see him, that we rejoice in his continuance in well doing, and hope ever to hear a goodly report of his conduct and conversation.
While in Washington br Bernhisel made an arrangement with Simpson P. Moses Esq., of that City, in reference to my accounts with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. If you can make it convenient, I should be pleased to have you acquaint yourself with what and how much he is doing in the case, and keep me advised of his proceedings therein.
Notwithstanding the enormous amount of the public debt, and the fearful daily rate of increase, it seems that the Government are disposed to add to the burthen a very large figure in expenditures for troops stationed near this City when they are of no use to themselves nor any one else, further than scattering money in the Territory for really less than any compensating benifit in return. If this is not wilfully squandering the public funds when both the funds and the troops are actually needed in so many places elsewhere, it would be difficult to define what is squandering means. It is self-evident that, if they will thus waste the nations strength in a period so perilous, there is great lack of wisdom in some quarter.
It is very likely that, should the troops near this City not be previously ordered elsewhere, petitions will be presented for their removal early in the spring, for, aside from their uselessness where they are, they are a serious injury to and infringement upon the rights of quite a number of citizens, by both spoiling the water and [gap in typescript] it in the time of irrigation, and wasting the timber already scarse, &c. and the mountains in this vicinity have been an almost continuous sheet of flame that past season. This has been endured without much complaint, but how long it may continue to be so patiently endured, when there is no reason for it, I am not prepared to say.
Home affairs continue peaceful.
Please write as freely and as often as may suit your feelings, and in so doing oblige,
Your Brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young