Salt Lake City. 21
October 1868.
Elder Albert Carrington
42 Islington, Liverpool.
Dear Brother.
Your favor of the 18th Sept. reached me safely containing the welcome tidings of your pleasant journey "across the continent" and the broad Atlantic, and of your safe arrival in Old England. I was also pleased to learn from perusing its contents, that you find every thing connected with the office so satisfactory <to your feelings> and that you can take hold of your mission under such happy auspices.
Our Semi-annual conference closed on the 8th inst. after a very pleasant and profitable reunion of three days. The vacancy in the quorum of the first presidency caused by the departure of our beloved brother, Elder Heber. C. Kimball was filled during our session by the appointment of Elder Geo. A. Smith to take his place, Elder Brigham Young Jun. being sustained as one of the twelve Apostles to fill the vacancy caused by Elder Smith's removal. Elder J.T. Caine was called to act as one of the councilors of the President of this stake of Zion, in the place of Elder Joseph W. Young called to the Southern mission, while my son John W. fills bro. Caine's place in the High Council.
The remarks of the brethren, who addressed the conference were very forcible and to the point; being principally directed to the consideration of the subject if it was not wiser, more consistant, and in every way better for the saints to sustain those of the household of faith, in their deal and trading <than> those who are our avowed enemies, as many of the saints, as you yourself are aware, have been in the habit of doing. Myself, Elders G.A Smith, Orson Pratt and Geo. Q. Cannon and others were greatly blessed of the Lord, while we strove to teach the people the laws of self preservation and self sustinance. Elder Smith in his usual happy style narrated the history of our trading with our enemies from the time of the first organization of the Church, through our settlements and troubles in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois down to the present time, and plainly showed that those who had traded with the saints, and had made themselves rich out of this people, had never had the manhood and honesty, when persecution came on us to come forward and bear testimony to our character and motives, but could ever be found on the side of those who were seeking to destroy the Kingdom of God and take the lives and property of his servants. Myself and the other speakers refered to <what> those that we were at present, sustaining in our midst were doing with the means they had accumulated by trading with us. How they had supported, with the means we had give them, newspapers in our midst that were constantly misrepresenting our doctrines, defaming our characters, insulting our religion and blaspheming our God: that called us assasins, trators, aliens, and every name they could think of, that they imagined would stir the hatred of the world against us, and especially cause the interference of the Parent government, by which they hoped to fatten upon the armies that might be sent out to awe us into submissions to the ways of modern civilization. They have used this means also in sustaining McGrorty in his late attempt to oust Captain Hooper from his seat in congress, and by so doing get up a precedent that we, the Latter-day Saints have no right, as have all our fellow citizens to representation in the legislative halls of the nation and that no mormon has a right to a seat there, whoever may be his constituants, or however much he may be the choice of the people. But in this they have signally failed, still they have added another proof of the truth of the saying of Jesus, that those who are not for us are against us. We cited many more instances of the manner our own strength had been used to destroy us, and we asked the people were not those who sustained such characters, virtually traitors to the cause they espoused and the God they had covenanted to obey. The conference unanimously voted, that they would no longer fellowship those who would persist in trading with such characters, and that for the future they would deal with their brethren -- those who support the kingdom of God.
The action thus taken by the conference has necessitated the formation of some business company in our midst, that could fill up the gap caused by our refraining to deal with those who are not of us, and that would supply the retail dealers and consumers with the goods they need at reasonable rates.
For this reason a number of our merchants and leading men have associated themselves together as a Co-operative association, which I propose to call Zion's co-operative association, our motto and sign to be "Holiness to the Lord" as a forerunner of the day, when, as the prophets have fortold, even the pots, and the bells of the horses shall bear this inscription of acknowledgment of Holiness to the Lord.
At the last meeting of the Association it was organized with a board of seven directors from which were chosen a president and vice president. The directors chosen were myself as President, W.H. Hooper vice president with Geo. A. Smith, Geo. Q. Cannon, H.S. Eldredge, H.W. Lawrence and William Jennings as the balance of the board. William Clayton was elected secretary, and David O. Calder, treasurer. A committee were also appointed to draft a constitution and bye laws, which will be presented at our next meeting. We hope in time to have retail branches of the parent institution in all our wards and settlements.
The work on my grading contract is being pushed forward with considerable enerjy. We are constantly adding to our hands who are working at the big fill at the head of Echo, and on the heavy work in Weber. I expect to begin to let jobs in a few days on the work west of the mouth of Weber Canon. Dr Durant, the Vice president of the road was in the city a few days ago, he is full of zeal in pushing the work ahead and talks of laying a temporary track round the unfinished tunnels so that he can reach this Valley in sixty days. I think he has not fully taken into consideration the rigor of our mountain winters.
At the end of last month Wells Fargo & Co's contract for carrying the mails between the termini of the railroads expired. After a few days the mail stopped running. The government called for bids from various parties to carry mails for the next eight months, myself amongst the rest. I am informed different companies offered, 13, 15, 16 and 1800,000 dollars. I offered to do it for about $560,000. I learn the contract is given to some one else, as usual, a Mormon though he bid the lowest cannot get a contract.
We are enjoying the most beautiful weather, warm and bright during the days and cool and clear at night. It is helping us exceedingly in our fall labors and our work on the Railroad.
Your family and friends are well. Bros Smith and Wells join in love, Praying God our Heavenly Father to bless you and the elders associated with you.
I remain, as ever,
Your brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young