President's Office
Gt. Salt Lake City,
Jan 31, 67
Hon. Wm. H. Hooper, M. C.
House of Representatives, Washington D. C.
Dear Brother:
Your favors of the 6th. 8th and 13th instants have all been received and perused with pleasure, the contents having been duly noted. Though we have not corresponded with you as frequently as we wished, of late, through the pressure of other business, still you have been constantly remembered, and assistance and power have been invoked in your behalf that will not fail to be of great benefit to you in the discharge of your duties. Your constituents, though under-rated and despised by many of their fellow-citizens, can afford their Representative more real assistance and strength than any other people within the confines of the Union. They are the real power, for their faith is concentrated in one direction, and they exercise it. Whatever our opponents may say against us, or whatever steps they may take, there are features in our organization and practice of which they can not deprive us; we are united and will exercise faith. In this respect we differ from every other people in christendom, and the results which attend our movements are correspondingly different from those which attend the movements of others.
The Legislature performed its labors in a very harmonious and satisfactory manner. Governor Durkee signed every Bill and Resolution passed by the Assembly, and everything passed off quietly. The State Legislature met after the adjournment of the Teritoral Legislature, and transacted the necessary business to keep up the organization. Among other business they passed a Bill (corresponding with the Bill passed by the Territorial Legislature for the election of Delegate) appointing the First Monday in February for the election of a Representative to Congress. The amendments to the Constitution, erasing the work "white" where it occurs in that instrument, was passed by the Legislature, and will be submitted to the people for them to vote for or against. This has been deemed better than to call a Convention, which would have been very difficult, if not impossible, to have in time to have answered the purpose. It has been thought that, by the Legislature making these amendments, and submitting them to the people for their action, the same end would be accomplished as if a Convention were called. A Memorial has also been sent to you to present to Congress for our admission as a State into the Union. Two United States Senators were elected-- Hons. John M. Bernishel and Geo Q. Cannon-- by the Assembly. You were nominated as Representative to Congress. We want you there, and thought it wise to elect you as Representative to Congress. We want you there, and thought it wise to elect you as Representative for the State that you might be there to represent us in the House in the double capacity of Delegate and Representative.
Mr. McGrorty has been nominated as Delegate to Congress by a Mass Meeting, at which about one hundred persons assembled; about half of these were our people, and of the remainder, probably twenty voted for Mr. M G. He is out in an address this morning. But the impudence which prompts this move is only equalled by the ignorance which the candidate has manifested in pushing himself forward. Had he intended to have insulted and outraged the whole community, he could not have used language more suitable to the purpose than that in which his address is couched.
The weather has been more singular this winter; not very cold, but disagreeable, especially for canon work and all kinds of teaming. We have had considerable rain and snow, which have made our main roads almost impassable. It has been difficult to procure fuel; but the mildness of the season has not made fuel such a necessity as it was last winter. We have very quiet times in the city and throughout the Territory. There is an almost dullness in all branches of business. Money is scarce and there is but little done in merchandizing. The signers of the Card to which you allude in your letters are experiencing the legitimate effects of their folly. Should the efforts which are made to raise an Army to come out here, and to create some kind of disturbance to bring Government money into the country, fail, then will be a general clearing out of a certain class before long. Give them no chance to plunder Government, or to hoodwink and deceive the people into patronizing them, and the inducements for them to stay here are very few & feeble.
Do not borrow any trouble, or give yourself any concern as to the results of the various movements that may be made against us; but trust in God, and let things work as He sees fit, and all will be right.
Your family were well the last I heard from them, and general good health prevails. Accept my love, in which Presidents Kimball and Wells, and Bro. Geo. Q. join, and praying the Lord to bless you and to preserve you from every evil and to give you victory over your enemies bring you home in safety, I remain
Your Bro.
Brigham Young