The Brigham Young Center

G. S. L. City, Dec 30, 1861.

Hon, John M. Bernhisel, M.C.
Washington City, D. C.

Dear Brother:
Since my last to you, Dec. 21, yours of Dec. 4 (with inclosures) has come to hand, and its contents have been duly noted. We were gratified that you had [gap in typescript] presented our Constitution and Memorial for admission (into the) union as a State, but lest objections should be urged against such a measure on account of the date of the papers, the Assembly passed an Act to provide for electing Delegates to meet in Convention in this City on the 20th of January, to form a State Constitution, draft Memorial, &c. to be submitted to the people, and when ratified by them to be forwarded to you to present for our being admitted into the Union as a State. The Governor declined signing that Act, whereupon the people took the matter in hand, and on the 6th of Jan. will meet in their several election precincts and elect Delegates to meet in this City on the 20th of Jan. to prepare the documents necessary to be presented for our admission. So soon as said documents are ready they will be forwarded to you, but in the meantime if we are admitted on the papers already presented, though under our present boundaries, except the blunder of a degree square on our northeast border, all right.

Please accept my thanks for a copy of the "List of Post Offices" for 1859, and shall be glad to have a later edition when published. Your action in relation to the article in the Baltimore Sun was judiciously prompt and very commendable.

On the 21st inst. Gov. Dawson called upon Widow Thomas Williams, and on the 26th inst. a Dr Chambers, who came here this season hailing from Minnesota, made a call upon her. A copy of Mrs Williams' affidavit is herewith inclosed, which will enable you to readily judge for yourself of the fitness of Mr. Dawson for the office to which Pres. Lincoln appointed him. How long does the Government intend to persist in foisting such characters upon us, when they at least should appoint from residents of our selection, or, better still, permit us to elect our own officers, or, still more just, admit us at once into into the Union, especially when so pressed for funds with which to keep the governmental machinery in motion?

So soon as the convention have completed their labors, and they are accepted and ratified, if need be, by the people, it is our purpose to no more endure the imposition of such men as Bill Drummond, Cradlebaugh, Crosby, Eckles, Govr. Dawson, and others. This information you are at liberty to impart to whom and when you please. I wish you to inform the Government that it is our right to be admitted as a State, and that, if they do not admit us, they do not know their friends. I also wish you, if the question arises whether we will furnish troops beyond our borders for the war, to tell them no, but that, if necessary, we are ready to furnish a home guard for the protection of the telegraph and mail lines and overland travel within our boundaries, upon such terms as other volunteer companies are employed by the Government.

It is reported that Gov. Dawson, Judge Crosby, and Ex-Superintendent Martin expect to start east in the morning. What course, if any, they will take in relation to us, upon their arrival in the States, you will of course be acquainted with before we are informed; but we doubt not your ability to meet and head off any evil influence of theirs as readily as you did that of the writer to the "Sun".

You may now wish to know what you are to do, in case we are not admitted as a State. Stay in Congress and represent us as a Territory, or a State, just as they may choose to call us, for at present it is designed to proceed, at the time before signified, and elect two Senators, and elect you for our Representative.

Before long I purpose sending you Livingston, Bell &Co's Draft no 6, for 200.00, favor of Howard Egan, and endorsed by him in your favor, upon Reeve, Case, and Banks, No 229 & 231 Front St. New York City, Please advise the aforesaid House that you are about to receive said draft, requesting them to refuse paying it unless it is endorsed by you and forwarded by you to them.

If anything transpires of importance we wish you to telegraph at once, and we will do the
same.

All is well, the weather is still very mild, and affairs are moving favorably for Utah.

Your Brother in the Gospel,

Brigham Young