President's Office,
Gt. Salt Lake City,
March 5th, 1866.
Elders Geo. A Smith & Erastus Snow,
St George, Washington County.
Dear Brethren:-
We have received several letters from you while en route to Dixie, and also one of the 13th ult. from Parowan, and one of the same date from St George, and one of the 19th ult. from Toquerville. This latter is the last that we have heard from you. We have felt greatly relieved at learning of the safety of Peter Shirts and his family. He has had a narrow escape; but it should make him more careful in the future. There is an old saying, and a very true one, that "the pitcher that goes often to the well gets broken at last"; having escaped this time he should be doubly careful, and be willing to take counsel about taking care of himself and family.
The weather is much milder now than it was when you left, and it looks at present as though we might have an early Spring. Many of the troops are being discharged here, thousands of miles from home, <without much> destitute of means to take them back; numbers of them have made applications for passage back to the States in the Church teams which go for the poor. They feel very much dissatisfied with their treatment, and, if rumor be corret, they are doing their best to make their out-fit by stealing. The command that were in Sanpete and Utah Counties, are being marched up here to supply the places of those who have been discharged. Connor is gone back to the States. McLeod was to have accompanied him, but he is still here. There is a report that Titus is sending back for funds; but his friends here say they have none to send him. He would like Connor and McCleod to join him as assistant strikers. Capt. Hooper in his last letter describes Titus' attempt to gain an interview with the president, and remarked that he guessed he would find out <that> the cheif justices of Territories were not very large potatoes in Washington.
Of course you will have heard that our City election passed off quietly and that 2433 votes were polled. The new Mayor has entered upon the discharge of his duties with earnestness and Zeal. We had a Mass meeting at the tabernacle on saturday last to organize a Joint Stock Company for the sale of flour and other produce in the northern Territories. By co-operation we think we can secure that trade and sell our flour at remunerative rates, and yet so reasonable that we can prevent the importation of flour up from Missouri or from Oregon. Heretofore, as you are aware, there has been a great deal of unwise and unnecessary competition between our own people in disposing of their products in those Territories, which has given speculators the advantage and yet been of no benefit to the consumers up there. This has not been because there has been no demand, but for the lack of concert of action on the part of those having the produce to sell. It is proposed by this organization to put an end to that, and have an agency here for the purchase of produce and an agency in the north for the sale of the same articles. a great many doubtless who have not money to get shares in the company can subscribe flour and freight which can soon be converted into money. There are a great many small dealers who are under the necessity of selling immediately, and the agent here will be provided with funds to purchase their lots as they are offered. Bishop Hunter was elected president, and A. O. Smoot, H. S. Eldredge, Henry B. Lawrence, W. S. Godbe, and William Jennings were elected directors.
You will see by the "Daily Telegraph, and the News, that we intend commencing our two days' meeting on the 4th of April before conference. You will not forget this yourselves, nor let the brethren who intend coming to conference forget it.
You can marry Sister Eager to Bro. Andrew J. Workman if they so wish, and are both single.
In respect to Indians you must be careful and not injure those who are innocent. Reports have reached here that those who were killed were not the murderers of the brethren; but they cannot be called innocent, for it is evident that they had justified the proceeding and probably were accessory to it, even viewing their conduct in its mildest light, as they had the articles with them which had been plundered from the murdered men. In such a case it really matters but little whether they killed them or not, as they undoubtedly are guilty. With love to yourselves and the brethren with you, and praying the Lord to bless you, and preserve you and give you wisdom to bring to pass much righteousness and salvation I remain your brother,
Brigham Young
P. S. The people of Chicken Creek have written to me desiring to be organized; I have told them that bro Geo. A will attend to it as he returnes from the South. There is also some friction between the people of Santa Quin and bro. Benn. F. Johnson about his mill privileges and road. I have written to them also to the same effect, that bro Geo. will attend to it as he comes up.
B. Y