Great Salt Lake City, June 13th 1854.
Captain Walker,
I have been home but a few days from visiting you, and now I am informed that you are threatening the people if they do not stop building forts, and walling in their cities. You are a fool, and do not understand your own true interest, or you would not do so. Do you not know that if your enemies came against you, that you and the Utahs can go inside the walls, where you and they can get something to eat and be safe from the snakes, or any other Indians which may come against you. Do you not see that almost every year more or less of the Utahs are killed by their enemies. You say that your fort is in the Mountains, you cannot travel any where but that others can travel there too just as well as you can. You cannot travel nights any better than other folks can.
I tell you Bro Walker as a friend, as one friend talks to another, that if you do not do as I tell you and abide my counsel to you, your enemies will destroy you, & your nation. The game in the Mountains is scarce. You told me so, there is not a hundredth part as much as there was a few years ago, when you was young. You said so, now do you not know that it is better to raise grain and cattle to live on, than to depend on game, and you say that our people cannot harvest their grain if they go on building their Wall. You stand in your own light. You can travel off and go to the Navajoes, and Moquis, and trade, and get your living, but your men cannot all do so, neither can you support all your men. You cannot furnish them Guns, nor ammunition, nor fix them up when they get out of repair.
Tis strange that you cannot see that we are the very best friends that you have got, and that we want to do you good, give you provisions, ammunition, and everything which you want, trade with you, and always be friends, it is as much & more to your advantage than ours to be friends to us, and build Forts, if you could only see it. I hope & trust that you will see it, and continue to be friendly, and make the Utahs be friendly too, Your good peace does not last long, if you can break it as soon as this, after traveling with me & my men so long, I should think that you would know that we were your good friends. Bro George W. Bean O. P. Rockwell, and Amos Neff are going to see you, and trade with you as they agreed at Sanpete. Now you must be friendly, and trade with them, and not go off and act so foolish, for that is the worst thing that you can do for your own interest. The more you try to injure us, the more you injure yourself, & your men; the more you destroy, the less you and your men will have to eat and wear.
We have been poor, very poor, and could not help you much, but now we are just beginning to be able to help you some. We were never able to make such presents before as we have this year. Now if we can be let alone, we shall be able to do more and more for you and your Nation every year.
These men which we send you, will tell you all about me, and my people. Grosepin & Washear will go out with them, they can tell you, how well they have been treated, here. Why cannot you come here and live with me. we would not have any difficulty. You know that. Suppose you come and live here with me, and keep cattle, and raise grain. I think myself, that if Bro Love had given those men a little bread, and sit down and laughed at them, when they would not, let him nor his folks go in, nor out of the house it would have been better, than to get angry about it, but it was a small affair for either you or me to interfere with. Now dont you think so! I would a great deal rather give you a Gun for good feelings, than for bad ones.
If you want me to make you presents, you must be good friends, and keep good peace, then I can give you Big presents, but if you do not, I shall not be half as well able to.
You must be good, and do as I tell you, and let me govern my men as I please, and may God bless you with his Spirit, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.