Officials among us.” Young attributed the problems to Utah’s isolation, the
inadequacy of territorial salaries, and the cultural and religious differences
between outsiders and the Saints. Finally, Young speculated that, unlike other
territorial positions, a Utah post would not provide a “stepping stone” to more
prestigious appointments. Young thus asked Pierce to select either local resi-
dents or officials who would remain in Utah during their entire term in office,
as the service of past officials had “not only proved abortive, but also a bur-
lesque, and aggravation upon the people of this Territory.” Demonstrating that
he may not have understood the depth of growing anti-Mormon national sen-
timent, Young also alluded to his own possible reappointment, indicating that
he made the request presuming he would “have the honor to be continued in
the Office I now hold.”1
In July 1854, Bernhisel met with Pierce to urge him to reappoint Young.
Surprised, Pierce replied that he had not realized that Young’s appointment
was already ending and he told Bernhisel he would consider the matter.
Bernhisel asked Kane, “If you can bring any influence to bear on the President
with a view to the reappointment of Gov. Young you will add to the many and
valuable favors already conferred on the Mormon people.”2
1. Y
oung to Pierce, March 30, 1853, BYOF.
2. Bernhisel to Kane, July 26, 1854, Kane Collection, BYU.
172
the prOphet And the refOrmer
The question of Young’s reappointment became more urgent when Kane
learned that Almon Babbitt, whom Pierce had appointed as territorial secre-
tary, was “pressing a hostile nomination.” In early September, Kane warned
Pierce against relying on Babbitt, “an entirely untrustworthy and unprin-
cipled person.” Explaining the history of Young’s appointment to his fellow
Democrat Pierce, Kane wrote that Millard Fillmore, a Whig, had originally
appointed Young, “an avowed Democrat,” not because of any political affinity,
“but from the simple necessities of the case.” Fillmore saw “no alternative
between his accepting the unanimous choice of a large American constitu-
ency, and adopting the principle of monarchy and centralism by naming a
Viceroy or Governor-General over the Mormons as a subject people.” Kane
praised Young’s service as governor, citing the “masterly management of his
territorial affairs” and his “conduct of the late Indian War.” The dissatisfac-
tion with Young was not due to mismanagement, but “because charges are
brought against his private life.” Young’s polygamy, Kane wrote, was a private,
religious matter and should not prevent his reappointment.3
Should Pierce proceed with replacing Young, Kane predicted difficul-
ties in finding a qualified candidate. No faithful Mormon would accept the
nomination, leaving Pierce the options of “some Utah dissident or excom-
municated unfortunate” (whom the Saints would oppose) or an outsider.
Young would continue as the de facto ruler in Utah even if replaced. As such,
Kane warned Pierce, “no honourable man will consent to live in the false
position in which he would be placed—without wife or family, in that rude
country isolated from all society, without political or business connections to
occupy him.” Furthermore, Kane argued, the principles of the Democratic
Party—particularly its emphasis on local self-government and protection of
religious liberty—supported Young’s reappointment.4
Kane’s health problems prevented him from actively lobbying Pierce dur-
ing the fall of 1854. In July, his wife Elizabeth recorded that Kane was “just on
the threshold of Life.” Until mid-October, she recorded, “we had more misery
than I can even now think of, or write about. Tom was so very, very ill.”5 In
November, Bernhisel advised Young that Kane “has been very ill, and is still
feeble, but he has been, and is doing all he can to secure your reappointment.”6
3. Kane to P
ierce, September 3, 1854, enclosure in Bernhisel to Young, January 18, 1855, BYOF.
4. Kane to Pierce, September 3, 1854.
5. Elizabeth W. Kane, journal, July 16, 1854 and December 31, 1854, Kane Collection, BYU.
6. Bernhisel to Young, November 18, 1854, BYOF.
Young to Kane, October 30, 1854
173
The following month, Bernhisel added that Kane had “nearly recovered his
usual health, and has done what he could to secure your reappointment.”7
As Bernhisel and Kane considered strategy in the east, Young proposed at
a council meeting in late October 1854 that Kane be elected as Utah’s next con-
gressional delegate, a suggestion which the council approved unanimously.8
Jedediah Grant had indicated to Young that Kane would likely accept the offer.
Young wrote the following letter to Kane, urging him to accept the appoint-
ment and assuring him that he would be unanimously elected. In addition,
he asked Kane to also be his “Official business Agent at Washington,” a role
Bernhisel had played. On the same day he wrote Kane, Young sent a letter to
Bernhisel informing him of the invitation. Young also sent a copy of the letter
to Kane to Bernhisel (along with two other copies which Young sent by mail),
so that he could “perfectly understand the nature of its contents.” After read-
ing the letter, he was to “forward it to Col. Kane.”9
Source
Young to Kane, October 30, 1854, MSS 4096, BYU. Retained copy is
in Brigham Young Letterbooks, box 2, vol. 1, 722–727. Very minor dif-
ferences, mostly in punctuation and capitalization, exist between the
versions.
Letter
Great Salt Lake City U. Territory
October 30th 1854.
Col Thos L. Kane
Phila Pa
Dear Colonel,
Your very acceptable, and highly valuable present of a splendid copy
of the Grimmel Expedition,10 with a large bundle of papers, and several
7 . Bernhisel to Young, December 18, 1854, BYOF.
8. General Church Minutes, October 22, 1854, CHL.
9. Young to Bernhisel, October 31, 1854, BYOF.
10. Kane had promised to send Young a copy of his brother’s book, The United States Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, in his April 28, 1854 letter.
174
the prOphet And the refOrmer
detached plates illustrative of the Expedition, came safe to hand, for
which please accept my thanks not merely for the real value of the pres-
ent, but more particularly for its indicating a kindly, and still enduring
personal regard. I take it for granted that you are sufficiently acquainted
with me and my course, to know that when I speak, or write, I do so in
all frankness, and candor, for the best interests of the people of Utah,
and their friends, and the lovers of truth in all the world, and I think
I am not mistaken in your feelings when I presume that you will can-
didly receive, weigh, and act upon my business views in this letter as
proceeding from one truly your friend.
After reflecting carefully upon the Territorial circumstances of Utah,
and the expressed feelings, and the actio
n of the majority of the mem-
bers of Congress toward us, I have come [to]11 the conclusion that it might
[p. 2] not seriously interfere with your arrangements, and be mutually
advantageous to all parties, if you will consent to be returned as the
Delegate to Congress from this Territory, at the next August election.12
I have suggested this idea to my Council, and other prominent citi-
zens, and all unanimously concur in the excellence of the plan, and you
know this people well enough to be certain that they will vote as they
may be counseled, hence you will have no dubiety as to the result of the
election, in case you accept the nomination now proferred.13 This prof-
fer is not made as a matter of compliment, nor for flattery, but in con-
sideration of your past faithfulness and zeal in our behalf in the days of
our adversity, and as the only suitable remuneration therefor at present
in our power; and since you have endured with us in the storm, we are
anxious to enjoy your society in the calm, and trust from past experience
that we shall not be disappointed in our expectations.
Your undeviating friend Mr Grant, assures me that this proposition will
be cordially received by you as a token of our high respect, and regard, and
that it will doubtless please you to comply with our wishes in this matter.14
11. Letter slightly damaged at this point.
12. See Kane to Young, January 5, 1855, on Kane’s rejection of the offer.
13. For Latter-day Saints’ views of their political system, which they sometimes termed “theodemocracy,” see Patrick Mason, “God and the People: Theodemocracy in Nineteenth-Century Mormonism,” Journal of Church and State, vol. 53, no. 4 (2011): 349–375.
14. Kane responded, “At no time (and I wish you take this with meaning) have I allowed any person whatever to believe that I wd. under any circumstances accept any office or place of position or profit in connexion with Utah. My gallant friend [Jedediah M.] Grant will best explain how his mistake arose, if it has been one.” Kane to Young, January 5, 1855.
Young to Kane, October 30, 1854
175
Trusting that you may conclude to coincide with the frank proposition
so cordially made, and knowing the uncertainty of mail communication
during the winter, I will take the liberty of offering a few suggestions. To
secure a residence in Utah, it will be [p. 3] best to see Mr McGraw, or Mr
Reeside, of the
other portion of your family as you may wish to have accompany you, and
be in readiness to start from the frontier with the mail by the first of April,
or May next.
As some of The streams may be high, and difficult to cross, it will be
much safer, and more pleasant for your family, and beneficial to the mail
carriers, if the contractors will provide a suitable India Rubber Boat,16 as
The expenses & Transportation would be Trifling, and it would enable
them to cross over their passengers, and the mail sacks, with far less risk
of accident, and would last several years, with proper care and usage.
Upon your arrival here, you can easily purchase, or rent a house and
lot, you are then a resident, and eligible to any elective office in our
bestowal, and upon advices from you touching renting, or purchasing
a house, furniture therefor &c, and any other suggestions for arrange-
ments here, I shall be pleased to carry out your wishes.
Our election is held annually on the first Monday in August, and
you will perceive That leaving the frontier with the April, or May mail,
gives you opportunity to get [p. 4] fully rested to enjoy yourself while
in the Society of your true friends, to become generally acquainted with
our influential citizens before The election, and the privilege of starting
back with the August, or September, mail, as you may prefer, and affords
15. W
illiam M. F. Magraw and John Reeside received a federal contract to carry mail between Independence and Salt Lake City in July 1854. They “incurred heavy operating losses due to inefficencies and the ravages of Indian attacks” and petitioned to be released from their contract, which Congress granted in 1856. Magraw harshly criticized the Mormons to President James Buchanan, to whom he had political ties, in the lead-up to the Utah War. See “Eastern Mail Matter,” Deseret News, August 17, 1854; William P. MacKinnon, At Sword’s Point, Kingdom in the West, vol. 10 (Norman, OK: Arthur H. Clark Co., 2008), 56–58, 245–247; John S. Gray, “The Salt Lake Hockaday Mail,” Annals of Wyoming (Fall 1984): 12.
16. The India Rubber Boat was a flotation device known as a quick mode of navigation on rivers not large enough for steamboat transportation. It had two cylinders made from India rubber and connected by several rods of plank with a deck for the passengers. The cylinders were inflatable and fairly durable; one magazine boasted that they could support up to one ton of weight. The Mechanics Magazine, Museum, Register, Journal, and Gazette, vol. 23
(1835), 176.
176
the prOphet And the refOrmer
your family The pleasantest season of The year for a Trip out—and
back in case you do not wish to leave any of them here, in which event
your house can be left with a good Tenant, or in my care.
Not Knowing your financial circumstances, and being aware That a
Trip to this place with your family, and perhaps an interruption of your
business arrangements, will envolve considerable expense for which
you may be unprepared, I am ready, and cheerfully anxious to extend
any assistance you may desire, whether of a pecuniary, or other charac-
ter, to enable you to carry out The design herein proposed.
The Hon J. M. Bernhisel, our present Delegate, is my Official busi-
ness Agent at Washington, and in case you become our Delegate, it
would be highly satisfactory to me if you would accept of that Agency.
Again, as Utah from her isolated position is much interested in the
Pacific Rail Roads question, and as I am sanguine that the route advo-
cated by The Legislative assembly last winter is the best for the whole
Union,17 for the first main Trunk, and at The same time Known That it
is The best for us, any aid your position and influence will permit you to
extend to [p. 5] Dr Bernhisel, to enable him to bring That route favor-
ably before The next Session of Congress will be duly appreciated, as
also your co-operation with the Doctor on any other matter interesting
This Territory.
I am perfectly aware That President Peirce, when exercising his
appointing power, has to rely, more or less upon the representations of
his friends, as to the capabilities, and fitness of applicants for Office, and
perhaps Utah has fared no worse than other regions; for Chief Justice
Kinney appear to be much of a gentleman, the Official course of Judge
Shaver, and Marshal Heywood is highly satisfactory to The people, and
The District Attorney evinces a frank demeanor, but Secretary Babbitt,
and Judge Styles are broad exceptions to judicious selections.18
I probably should not have Thought it worth while to allude to
our U.S. Officers, had I not been informed That Babbitt and Styles
are claimed by the party as being appointed t
o The credit and for the
17
. The Utah legislature requested the “right of way and such immunities and privileges as will leave the Legislature of Deseret free to construct a Rail Road from [Salt Lake City] to San Diego.” Young believed that this railroad could serve as a model for the rest of the country.
See Memorial to Congress, undated (grouped with 1853 memorials), BYOF.
18. Young referred to Chief Justice John F. Kinney, Associate Justice Leonidas Shaver, Marshal Joseph L. Heywood, District Attorney Joseph Hollman, Secretary Almon W. Babbitt, and Associate Justice George P. Stiles.
Young to Kane, October 30, 1854
177
gratification of Utah, when The fact is, They are persons we never
should have dreamed of petitioning for, are not fit for The Offices They
hold, and have no influence here, only for evil; and neither of them could
get any office depending upon The petition, or votes of our population.
To change The Topic, I Take pleasure in informing you That our
missionaries who pass Through Phila report to me highly commenda-
tory of your Kindness and [p. 6] courtesy Toward Them, which They
prize much, and none more so Than myself, not alone from your posi-
tion, and the rare occurrence of such Treatment from those not of our
faith, but as evidencing That high toned fellow feeling, so indicative of
upright, sympathetic magnanimity.
My health, and that of my family, of Prests Kimball & Grant, and
Their families, of your tried friend Dr Richard’s family, and of your other
numerous friends here, is good, as also That of The people generally.
Peaceful relations continue between us, and our red neighbors, and
union and prosperity attend our efforts in the vallies of The mountains.
A change of our Delegate, will make it obligatory upon me to
acquaint Dr Bernhisel therewith at The earliest date, that he may make
arrangements accordingly, hence you will be pleased to favor me with
your answer, as soon as it may be convenient for you to determine on
the subject now presented for your consideration.
Should you prefer to come out in your own conveyance, many of
your friends here will be glad of The opportunity of meeting you on
The route, and aid in accompanying you in.
The Prophet and the Reformer Page 26