144 PUBLIC SENTIMENT AMONG THE MORMONS. 



When it is remembered that within the space of four years 

 this country was but a wild and dreary wilderness, where the howl 

 of the wolf and the yell of the miserable Indian alone awoke the 

 echoes of the mountains, and where the bear, the deer, and the 

 antelope roamed securely over what is now a compact and popu- 

 lous city ; that the physical obstacles to the occupation of a region 

 so unpromising were sufficient to discourage the most sanguine 

 imagination and to appal the stoutest heart, — the mind is filled 

 with wonder at witnessing the immense results which have been 

 accomplished in so short a time, and from a beginning apparently 

 so insignificant. 



Apprehensions have been entertained as to the expediency of 

 giving any countenance to the founding, in our midst, of an asso- 

 ciation of men so peculiar in views, and so distinct in principles, 

 manners, and customs, from the rest of the American people. 

 Serious doubts, too, have been expressed in regard to the policy 

 of appointing Mormons to offices of high trust in the administra- 

 tion of the afi'airs of the newly-erected territory; and direct 

 charges have been widely published, seriously affecting the patriot- 

 ism and personal reputation of the Mormon leaders, as well as 

 the loyal feelings of the people toward the General Government. 

 Such doubts and apprehensions are, in my judgment, totally 

 groundless, and the charges I believe to be either based upon pre- 

 judice or to have grown out of a want of accurate information. 

 A residence of a year in the midst of the Mormon community, 

 during the greater part of which period I was in constant inter- 

 course with both rulers and people, afforded much opportunity for 

 ascertaining the real facts of the case. 



That a deep and abiding resentment of injuries received and 

 wrongs endured in Missouri and Illinois pervades the whole Mor- 

 mon community, is perfectly true ; and that among many of the 

 less informed, and, I regret to add, some even whose intelligence 

 and education ought to have enabled them to form more correct 

 opinions, this exasperation has extended itself to the General Go- 

 vernment, because of its refusal to interpose for their protection 

 at the time of these difficulties, is also true ; but, from all that I 

 saw and heard, I deem it but simple justice to say, that notwith- 

 standing these causes of irritation, a more loyal and patriotic peo- 

 ple cannot be found within the limits of the Union. This, I think, 

 was emphatically shown in the promptitude and cheerfulness with 

 which they responded to the call of the Government to furnish a 



