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G. S. L. City, Nov. 3rd 1864
Hon J. F. Kinney, M. C.
Washington, D. C
My Dear Sir:
Your welcome favors of Aug. 29th and Oct 9th the latter of which was first received have come safely to hand, and have been perused with interest. I have been much pleased to hear from you and to learn the particulars of your movements and also your feelings. I am glad to learn that Mrs. Kinney's health is improving, and hope that as she grows stronger, she will recover the wonted use of her leg.
We are having most beautiful weather here for the season at present. We had a slight storm a few days ago, which powdered our mountains all around us with snow. Now we have cold nights, but the days are warm and pleasant and admit of much work being done, which is not unfrequently entirely suspended at this season of the year. The season has been very favorable for our emigrating companies, some of which had rather a late start from the Frontiers. The last of the Companies (Captain Warren S. Snows') reached the City last night, and the people which compose it look and feel remarkably well -- much better than might be expected under the circumstances, most of them being from Great Britain and utter strangers to the mode of life on the plains. There has been some sicknes among the companies which have crossed this year, and more deaths than is usual Among others one of our Elders, whom I think you know John M. Kay who turning from a four years mission
to England, died on the 27th of September and was buried on the Little Laramie. The Indian disturbances on the plains have not interfered with the traveling of our emigration, and the Stages which were stopped for about two months, have resumed service, and are now running regular
Every thing is peaceable in the city; and the people on the Bench are attracting but little notice -- their importance is and has been decreasing daily. One of the Volunteers recently committed an abominable outrage upon a boy of about 12 years of age, whom he found alone in an out-of-the-way place and threatened him with death if he would tell any person what he had done. The boy upon his return to the City described the crime which had been perpetrated upon him, and measures were taken to find the offender. He was arrested, and the offence was fully proved; but our legislators, never having contemplated the possibility of such a crime being committed in our borders, had made no provision for its punishment, and the criminal had to be discharged. In evening, after his discharge he was shot by some person unknown, while he was passing from the City up to Camp. The father of the boy was arrested; but he proved an alibi so clearly that he was discharged-- Capt. Hempstead, the prosecuting counsel, fully exonerating him in his remarks. There has been but little apparent excitement about this occurrence.
I am pleased to hear that the new Post Office service for Utah has been placed in the estimates, and it is to be hoped that the necessary appropriation will be made this coming session.
The general opinion on here accords with your view that the army and purse of Mr Lincoln will prove too powerful for the opposition, and that his re-election is almost, if not quite sure. This election will undoubtedly be a very important one, but what encouragement is there for yourself,--or for any other lover of his country, to take part in politics under present circumstances and in the present condition of the parties? Wisdom has fled, and folly and madness have taken possession of men in its stead, and the sober man-- the true patriot, who would fain life his voice in tones of solemn warning and remonstrar to his countrymen, is silenced by the clamor of contending factions. Your abstinunce from party discussion at the present crisis is, in my opinion, most commendable, and you can best subserve the interests of your constituents as well as serve <save> yourself a great deal of anxiety and vexation, by so doing.
Respecting the renting of a piece of ground, and the building of an Office and lodgings, you can probably see advantages in so doing which would make the project appear feasible; but I scarcely think that we will want a place of that kind there, and would therefore, think it preferable to rent lodgings with some respectable family.
There is an effort being made by certain parties here to have T. B. H. Stenhouse removed from the Post Office, and Geo. W. Carlton who is in charge of the Eastern Telegraph Office in this City, appointed Post Master in his stead. It would be well for you to see the Post Master General respecting this matter. He should be told that we do not wish the present incumbent changed for such a change would inevitably create dissatisfaction here. If such a change be in contemplation and they are determined to carry it out, you can tell them plainly that we do not want their Post Master, and that we shall have no futher use for their Governor and Judges, and they can take them away also.
The army on the Bench is still using the water of one of our main creeks much to the injury of our City. I am not over estimating the damage which have inflicted upon us in their occupancy of that point when I place it at $50,000. There is plenty of employment can be found for these Volunteers on the plains or elsewhere, where their services are more needed and their presence are desired than they are here. The administration should understand this. If the Government wish to locate them at any other point we are willing to be at the expence of removing them, building them barracks, and doing the labor necessary to make the change. This we are willing to do for the Government withcharge, if they require it or we are willing to protect the Overland Mail line through our Territory; but we feel that their continued residence here over another Season would be quite unbearable. Enclosed please find a copy of a letter which I have received from your friend, Marshal Gibbs. The letter explains itself sufficiently to obviate the necessity of my making any remark respecting it.
With love to yourself and kind regards to your family,
I remain truly Your Friend
Brigham Young