Great Salt Lake City U. T.
March 5th. 1858
Hon. J. M. Bernhisel,
Dear Brother:-
Your letter of Dec. 31st. was presented to me, on Feb. 24th, by our highly esteemed and gallant friend, Col. Thomas L. Kane, and that of the 17th came to hand per mail of the 3rd inst.
Since writing to you by the last mail, nothing of peculiar import has transpired, except the very welcome arrival of Col. Kane, whose presence in our midst is a source of great gratification to his numerous and <warm> friends in Utah. The Colonel arrived in as good health as could have possibly been expected, and in most excellent spirits. His visit to the U. S. Troops near Bridger Ruins has been necessarily deferred on account of the deep snow yet in the mountains, but he now purposes starting for Col. Johnson's camp on monday next, the 8th. inst.
We have not heard from the Army since a short time after they went into winter quarters, hence you are probably better informed than we are in regard to the condition and feelings of those troops.
As to Mr. Warren's Preamble and Resolution concerning Utah, presented in the House on the 22nd. of Dec., and referred to the Committee on Territories, I trust, if they prefer to act in so unjust and altogether unwarranted a manner, that they may succeed in excluding you from your seat; but we intend, as we do now and have hitherto, to cling to the Constitution and observe all Constitutional laws, even though others reject and trample upon them. Mr. Morrell's remark to you that there were no laws to enforce in Utah is quite correct, for Utah has transgressed no laws, neither has she nor will she have occasion to, so they are but Constitutional, for acts in justifiable self-defence cannot be fairly construed into transgression of law.
Your labors with the different Departments meet with anticipated attention and in any event will result satisfactorily.
The people are energetic and even enthusiastic in every effort requisite for maintaining civil and religious rights, and oppressors, if they persist in the present attempts to crush out those rights, will learn that they have undertaken a job with which they are entirely unacquainted.
Our farmers are busily engaged in sowing wheat, and city lot owners are equally busy in planting and sowing such seeds as can early be deposited in the soil, and in setting out fruit and shade trees, for all which operations the weather is very favorable. The enemies of liberty and the peaceful avocations of honorable toil may deem it strange that we should be so engaged in laudable industrial Pursuits. while they are straining every nerve to exterminate us from the earth on account of our religious belief and worship; but sooner or later they will know that the things of God were ever counted strange and foolish by the world.
It will be best to present our petition for admission into the Union as a State, and trust the result with Him who controlleth all things wisely, though at present we look for nothing only to have our petition rejected. The cars will start when the time comes.
As heretofore, in case brother Horace S. Eldridge needs any pecuniary assistance in arranging the financial affairs of the Church in St Louis and the West, it is presumable that you will render him such assistance as may be conveniently in your power. I hope you will be enabled to obtain my salary and more or less of the sums justly due us from the Government.
We have our eyes upon the Russian possessions.
The blessings of general health and increasing union are enjoyed throughout our settlements, and your family are well.
Praying for your guidance by the Spirit, I remain, as ever,
Your brother in the Gospel
Brigham Young
P. S. Postmasters, Clerk,s and others:-- when you have read this letter, please close it again and forward it to its destination.
B. Y.