President's Office
Great Salt Lake City
February 26, 1867
Hon. Wm. H. Hooper, M.C.
House of Representatives
Washington City, D.C.
Dear Brother:
Your letters of the 1st. and 3rd instant have both reached me, with the accompanying enclosures, that of the latest date to-day. We are pleased to hear that your health is better, and that you are feeling so well in spirit. You have our prayers constantly, and we exercise all the faith for you that is in our possession that you may be blessed and preserved and obtain victory over every foe, and we certainly feel that it will be so with you, and that you will come off triumphant if you are only humble and faithful and put your trust in God. He is helping us, and there is no use for us to borrow trouble and lose our peace about what is going to happen and for fear everything will not move on all right. Our Father has more at stake than we can conceive of. His word has gone forth, His promises are made, and though Heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or tittle of His word can fail. There can be no possible comparison between the interest we feel and His great interest in the success and triumph of this work. And there is no reason why we should try and steady the ark. Let us do all that we can, and then leave the results with Him, He will manage them. As for man, what is he, and what is his power that we should think that he can bring about his plans and purposes without the aid of or in defiance of heaven? They will find (many of them when it is too late to be of vice to them so far as this life is concerned) that they are but the creatures of His will, that the life which they have He gives them, and that when it is His good pleasure to snap the thread and withdraw the breath from their nostrils, they are powerless to resist.
We have received the Land bill which you enclosed. There are Six Sections; but we think there must be more back, as there are no provisions in it respecting the occupancy of the lands contiguous to the City. I think the Bill will do pretty well, if they have not got a twist in it by which they will euchre, by having the land knocked off to the highest bidder. We can see no necessity for the land being knocked off to the highest bidder unless they calculate to take advantage of it. There is lot in the town that is not occupied. With that clause in <it> and if they could get [us] to cater to their wishes they might deceive us af That is the only point that struck me as being doubtful Still I think the Bill a good one and I hope you will be able to get it through
The circular of which you send a copy on the subject of the Postal restrictions, will do good, and if there is any sense of justice in Congress they will repeal such odious and unjust restrictions. I have written you in one of my previous letters respecting the Judges. As I then said they are probably 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. There is no probability of the present temper of Congress, of your succeeding in getting better men confirmed, and therefore, it would be better not to move in the matter. It is a curiosity why President Johnson should tremble or feel xx weakkneed. If he would erect an Insane Asylum and put most of the Congress <men> in it, and put guardians over them, I think it would be a suitable place for them.
Everything is quiet and peaceable in the City and Territory. Times continue dull, and the prospect is that we will have the pleasure of raising our own flour and eating it, and raising our own wool and manufacturing and wearing it. But it will be all right. We can do so and enjoy ourselves. Your family are all well, and, with the exception of colds there is no sickness prevalent. We have had stormy weather of late, and it has been colder for a week past than we have had before through the winter.
With love, in which Presidents Kimball and Wells and Bro. Geo. Q. join, and praying the Lord to be with you at all times, and grant unto you every righteous desire of your heart. I remain
Your Brother
Brigham Young