President's Office
Gt Salt Lake City
May 3rd 1866.
Hon. Wm. H. Hooper, M. C.
House of Representatives
Washington City, D. C.
Dear Brother:-
Your favor of April 1st, with accompanying enclosures, came safely to hand since I last wrote to you, and was perused with much interest.
We are sorry to hear from various sources that the political atmosphere in the Committee on Territories is disturbed on our account and that they are disposed to operate against us. But God reigns, and it will be as He permits, and every thing they do, and every plan they propose will be overruled by Him for His purposes. This has been plainly shown in the events of the past. The world has always hated us as badly as it does at present, and our enemies have been as diligent in seeking our overthrow as they are now, but they have failed, and failed so signally that the only wonder is that they should have any courage left to make another attempt. The word of God has gone forth respecting this work, and its fulfilment cannot be prevented. As long as the people will continue to be faithful and obedient, their enemies cannot obtain power over them. The scriptures say "the just shall live by faith," and in the experience which we are gaining it seems to be the design of the Almighty that we shall learn to live by faith--learn to trust Him as freely, and with as little doubt, when every thing looks stormy and threatening, as we would in the midst of sunshine and prosperity. He has promised, and we must rely upon and have implicit confidence in those promises. As a people we are gaining this confidence very fast. What other people on the face of the earth could enjoy life if they were plotted against and threatened as we are by such powerful enemies? Let any other community on the face of the earth, religious or irreligious, be placed in our position, and have that to meet which presents itself before us, and their hearts would fail and life would become burdensome and undesirable to them; but we are happy and rejoice from morning until night. The equanimity of our people in the situation that we occupy ought to excite the inquiry of thinking men every where, and be an evidence to them that we are sustained by a power that is not of man. All the threats and preparations that we hear indulged in and made - against us do not disturb us or deprive us of sleep for five minutes. It is not a work of our originating that we are engaged in; it is God's, and He will take care of it and carry it off triumphantly without our fretting and being disturbed and alarmed respecting it.
Every thing is calm and peaceful here at present. The excitement consequent upon the Brassfield case among the miserable Clique of whom he was the tool, has passed off and they are as quiet and meek to all outward appearance, as if they had concluded that it was no use to try any more schemes to injure us. But under this exterior the bitterest hatred exists, and finds vent against us in secret and treacherous ways. They are like their master their chief enjoyment is to form plans to injure and destroy the pure and the virtuous and to perpetuate wickedness. Late occurrences, however have been a rebuff to them, and they are foiled and disconcerted.
The city has put on its gayest dress; the air is fragrant with the odor of fruit blossoms, and the present prospects are most pleasing for excellent fruit and grain crops. We have very refreshing rains.
The teams which are to go down to help the poor have mostly started. Including those sent for the Telegraph wire, there are upwards of 500 on the road. Considering the amount of stock which has been driven off by the Indians, and perished in last winter's storms the brethren have done very well.
The Indians have been hostile of late in Sanpete, Sevier, Piute and Kane Counties. Two young men of the name of Berry (brothers of John W. Berry), with the wife of one of them, were killed not far from the place where Dr. Whitmore and Bro. McIntyre were killed. There was evidence of their having fought some time before they were overpowered, a Navajoe Chief being found dead on the ground, and there being signs of others wounded or killed and carried off. Instructions have been given to the people of those counties to abandon their small, unprotected settlements, and concentrate into Forts, with not less than 150 well armed men in each, and to take proper measures to secure their stock.
There have been a set of brass weights prepared for our Territory which we can have, I understand, by freighting them here. They could be sent to Bro. Isaac Bullock at the frontiers and be brought across in the Church train, if they could be obtained with a proper understanding. We do not want to be at the expense and trouble of bringing such articles here, and be deprived of their use whenever it might suit the whim or caprice of some official who would choose to make himself disagreeable, or whenever some petty clerk in some department at Washington should write here to have them transferred into somebody's hands. They ought to be placed at the disposal of the Legislature, and they should have the control of them and a voice in the disposition that shall be made of them. If the department leave them in charge of the Legislature, you might send them on; if they do not, I should advise you to have nothing to do with them.
With love to yourself, in which Presidents Kimball and Wells and Bro. Geo. Q. join, and praying the Lord to bless and uphold you in all things,
I remain Your Brother
Brigham Young