Details
YOUNG, BRIGHAM. Letter signed ("Brigham Young") to Colonel Thomas Lieper Kane, Great Salt Lake [Utah Territory], 29 June 1854. 3 pages, 4to, closely written on rectos only of three sheets, stained, a slip pasted over the signature professionally removed (but brushstrokes still faintly visible in this area), four lines at bottom of second page very pale, all three sheets deacidified and professionally backed with tissue.
"THIS QUESTION OF SLAVERY IN THE U.S. IS A VEXED QUESTION, AND HAPPY WILL THEY BE IF THEY CAN PASS THIS ORDEAL IN SAFETY"
A remarkable letter to a trusted friend of Young and the Mormons, expressing deep satisfaction with his peoples' situation in their new home (Utah), describing their relationships with native tribes, and makiing pointed observations on the "vexed question" of slavery. Young begins with generous praise for Kane, "a ready sympathizer with the distressed." On their first meeting Kane "learned us as we were, and found a people, few in number it is true, yet a people full of faith, of good works, struggling for an existence upon this earth....Pardon me for alluding to these times, now happily past, but fraught with important consequences to us as a people. Our course has been onward....
"I thank you for your trouble in relation to the May case. The formality of law in some places may hang the innocent...It is a sorry time for a prisoner to be hanged, and then impeach, or otherwise punish those, who through malfeasance in office have caused his death, it is not my way of doing business.... The President [Franklin Pierce] has declined acting in the matter, consequently left the prisoner to his fate. I am very much of the opinion that he will not be hanged.
The Rail Road project under consideration in Congress, is "truly worthy of the enterprize of the nation..." Young believes Congress "could much better employ their time" on railroads than in debating the subject of slavery, "which, however it may be determined upon will assuredly only set afloat existing Compromises, and leave the question of Slavery upon the same basis, which existed previously...Whether the principle be right or wrong it seems a very inopportune time and wholly unnecessary, to introduce it at the present, for it is bound to disturb...the quiet of the community, or country. There are plenty of useful subjects for the nation to employ their energies upon....This question of slavery in the U.S. is a vexed question, and happy will it be for them if they pass this ordeal in safety."
"In our Mountain home, we feel not the withering soulless influence of Political, or even fashionable despotism. We breathe free air, drink from the cool Mountain stream, and feel strong in the free exercise of out door Life. I have traveled over several Hundred Miles this season among the Native Tribes, to conciliate their hostile feelings, and cause them to be friendly. I have the proud satisfaction of having been eminently successful, and peace again smiles upon all our settlements, and that too without resort to arms....if we do not have compassion upon the poor Indian who will? We have ever pursued the policy towards them, to feed and cloth[e] them," though on occasion they have "been compelled to chastise them....But I am lengthening my letter beyond my intention ...therefore close praying my Father in heaven to bless you & yours, with heaven's choice blessing, through Time & eternity. I remain as ever Your friend in the bonds of Truth."
"THIS QUESTION OF SLAVERY IN THE U.S. IS A VEXED QUESTION, AND HAPPY WILL THEY BE IF THEY CAN PASS THIS ORDEAL IN SAFETY"
A remarkable letter to a trusted friend of Young and the Mormons, expressing deep satisfaction with his peoples' situation in their new home (Utah), describing their relationships with native tribes, and makiing pointed observations on the "vexed question" of slavery. Young begins with generous praise for Kane, "a ready sympathizer with the distressed." On their first meeting Kane "learned us as we were, and found a people, few in number it is true, yet a people full of faith, of good works, struggling for an existence upon this earth....Pardon me for alluding to these times, now happily past, but fraught with important consequences to us as a people. Our course has been onward....
"I thank you for your trouble in relation to the May case. The formality of law in some places may hang the innocent...It is a sorry time for a prisoner to be hanged, and then impeach, or otherwise punish those, who through malfeasance in office have caused his death, it is not my way of doing business.... The President [Franklin Pierce] has declined acting in the matter, consequently left the prisoner to his fate. I am very much of the opinion that he will not be hanged.
The Rail Road project under consideration in Congress, is "truly worthy of the enterprize of the nation..." Young believes Congress "could much better employ their time" on railroads than in debating the subject of slavery, "which, however it may be determined upon will assuredly only set afloat existing Compromises, and leave the question of Slavery upon the same basis, which existed previously...Whether the principle be right or wrong it seems a very inopportune time and wholly unnecessary, to introduce it at the present, for it is bound to disturb...the quiet of the community, or country. There are plenty of useful subjects for the nation to employ their energies upon....This question of slavery in the U.S. is a vexed question, and happy will it be for them if they pass this ordeal in safety."
"In our Mountain home, we feel not the withering soulless influence of Political, or even fashionable despotism. We breathe free air, drink from the cool Mountain stream, and feel strong in the free exercise of out door Life. I have traveled over several Hundred Miles this season among the Native Tribes, to conciliate their hostile feelings, and cause them to be friendly. I have the proud satisfaction of having been eminently successful, and peace again smiles upon all our settlements, and that too without resort to arms....if we do not have compassion upon the poor Indian who will? We have ever pursued the policy towards them, to feed and cloth[e] them," though on occasion they have "been compelled to chastise them....But I am lengthening my letter beyond my intention ...therefore close praying my Father in heaven to bless you & yours, with heaven's choice blessing, through Time & eternity. I remain as ever Your friend in the bonds of Truth."