The Brigham Young Center

Great Salt Lake City
Nov 22. 1858.

Joel H. & Joseph E. Johnson

Dear Brethren, Having an opportunity to send by private conveyance we improve it to write to you.

We have just received a line from Bro. Eldredge announcing his and company's safe arrival accross the plains. We also learn that they left their animals or a part of them with you at Genoa, which we hope will be taken good care of, so as to be ready for service early in the spring.

Our news if we chose to relate it, would consist at present of the exertions of our enemies to overwhelm us with vexatious and malicious law suits and the corrupting influences of "Christian civilization" exemplified and sought to be carried into effect by the Buchanan and Mr Cass Administrations policy, to solve the Mormon problem. The Army withdrawn, the filth and which follows, will speedily follow their exit. Wonder if the Administration feels any better satisfied now, after spending their Millions in Utah, and all for the purpose of depriving the citizens of a Territory in this free Republican Government of their constitutional liberty! They purposely and knowingly acted upon false statements and doubtless had others manufactured to sustain them before the people with some degree of consistency, and all this to gratify their own thirst for the blood of the Saints; but the Lord has foiled them, thwarted their purposes and is now begining to make their folly manifest before all men. Governor Cumming and Mr Wilson appear to take a correct course, but it will be as much as they can do to restrain the vicious and unprincipled in their mad career. The Mobocratic party are at present headed by a portion of the old clan of Drummond notoriety, Burr, Hurt, Craig and now Kirk Anderson, and I regret to add Judge Sinclair. Failing to create a collision, their object will unquestionably be to try to make it appear that it is necessary to retain the troops in the Territory to preserve order, and to discredit the statements of Governor Cumming and others, that they are in no way needed and entirely unnecessary for any purposes of the Territory. If the miserable devils that follow after the army, to gamble and speculate would leave, there would be less objection to the Army remaining, but where the carrion is, there will the vulture and other unclean birds of prey congregate; hence we have no hopes of their leaving until the army goes away.

We are now enjoying good health and until quite recently fine weather, it has however now commenced snowing, and altho falling lightly in the vallies, yet sufficiently to give both the vallies and the mountains of Mother earth, a mantle of white.

May the Lord continue to bless you and all Israel, and help them to triumph over all their enemies.

I remain as ever your Brother in the Gospel of Christ

Brigham Young

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