The Brigham Young Center

President's Office,
Gt. Salt Lake City,
February 9th, 1867.

Hon. Wm. H. Hooper, M. C.,
House of Representatives,
Washington City, D. C.

Dear Brother:

Your favor of January 20th has just been handed me, and has been perused with pleasure. I think that you act wisely in not agitating the removal of the Judiciary at present. They are as harmless as any others that you would be likely to get appointed and confirmed, and, unless you should be sure that you are getting good men, it would be better not to move in the matter. As for our Governor and Secretary it would be hard to better them. They are good officers and pay attention to their own business. So far as we know anything about the Judges, they might or might not be in the Territory; we really know nothing about them, and the people generally are equally important.

The <election> returns for Delegate are coming in, giving you a heavy vote. Mr. McGrorty has had an interview with Secy Reed, and quarreled <with> him because the latter would not give him the Certificate of election. In reply to his remark that there were many illegal votes, Mr. Reed told him that he must know as many as 500 American born citizens himself <in the City that voted for Capt. Hooper> -- that whatever might be said about the election, the bottom was sound, and that by every rule of right and justice you were entitled to your seat in Congress as Delegate from the Territory of Utah. McGrorty said that he had been told that some were afraid to vote, for fear of consequences. Secretary Reed said that it was clear that all such fears were unfounded, as the men who had voted for him were unnoticed. Mr. McGrorty then said that whether he got the position or not Mr. Hooper should not get a seat. He acted and talked like a crazy man during this conversation, so says the Secretary.

Your telegram of to-days' date, in relation to the Memorial of the Nevada Legislature came to hand today, and I replied "Change for Nevada Deseret. Go ahead, and we have our State." They can not annoy us by such a plan as this. Viewing it in many aspects, it would not be a bad move for us. There is this peculiarity about us and our position out here, they can not really do anything to injure us, after they have done their best they will wish they had done something else. Nevada all belongs to Utah by right. If they take this step, and annex the two, we would be the State. Miners have groaned under the taxes which have been levied upon them there, by proposing to pass laws that would lighten these burdens, we would have their influence. Our efforts would be to only tax enough to sustain the Government, making it more a matter of honor than of pay to serve in office, and keeping the States as free from debt as the Territory now is. When this move is effected, if it ever should be, we shall have a say in the matter of salaries, and the Governor Lieut. Governor, Members of the Legislature, Judges and other officers would find that there would not be the fat picking then there is now.

Your telegram to me reads as follows: "Nevada Legislature will telegraph Memorial just passed to extend her jurisdiction over Utah Considerable consequence is attached to the move here. Would it justify the trouble of forwarding a thorough remonstrance by our citizens."

(signed) W. H. Hooper

With love, in which Bros. Geo. A. & Geo. Q. who are present, join, and praying the Lord to bless you
and give you power over every enemy and ability to counterac t every scheme

I remain, as ever,
Your Brother,

Brigham Young