The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City, U. T.
Sept. 27, 1871.

Genl. Thomas L. Kane,
Kane, McKean Co. Pa.

Dear Friend:--

My son, John W. Young, who will be the bearer of this, will inform you of the doings and tyrannical course of the 'Ring' of Judicial and other federal officers here, who by arbitrary, new, and strange rulings have deprived the old settlers here of the right to sit on all juries, and in other ways deny to us the rights belonging to the common people. By these means they have at last succeeded in what they trust will be a death blow to Mormonism -- they have I am informed, brought before their exclusive, packed grand jury one Wm Hickman who was excommunicated from our Church several years ago for his crimes, and he, evidently to save himself from justice, has laid at my door some or all of those crimes,-- an accusation which our enemies are only to eager to accept, and I am indicated and expect to be a prisoner in the Military Post, Camp Douglass, long before this reaches you, as I expect to plead and fight them in a legal way right here.

If there is any way in which you can benefit me either by coming here and giving me the benefit of your counsel and influence, or otherwise by going to Washington and endeavoring to influence the Policy which makes war upon us all the time, or in obtaining the removal of these judges who are a unit against us, or aid me in any way it will indeed be acceptable from you.

They have aimed a similar blow at several of our prominent men, as wicked and unjust, as it is false, but we expect still to live and prosper after they have done their worst.

My son will give you all the particulars more fully than I can write. With kindest love to Mrs Kane and children, and with sentiments of unchanged affection and esteem for yourself, I remain, my dear friend,

Yours faithfully,
Brigham Young