As the writer is fully posted in relation to the recent history of the Territory, I have given other quotations also, from the same letter:—
"Chicago, Dec. 28, 1866.
"It has been my fortune to reside in Utah Territory during the last four years, whence I have recently arrived in your city. While en route, and since my arrival in 'America'—for so the gentiles are accustomed to call the Eastern States—I have observed a great and universal interest existing on all hands concerning affairs among the Mormons.
"As early as last spring threats were made by the Mormon authorities toward certain parties, not Mormons, then doing business of one kind or another in Salt Lake City, looking to the forcible entry of their premises and the destruction of property without due process of law. These threats were of a general character, and it was believed that, under cover of breaking up certain places where disreputable business was carried on, it was the intention to destroy other establishments of a different character, but interfering with certain monopolies of the city and church patriarchs. To prevent this, the local military commander, under constructive orders from Gen. Sherman, called upon Brigham Young to exact a promise that no violence should be done to private property without due process of law, which, after some
hesitation, was obtained. Matters progressed smoothly until the adjournment of Congress, for, fearing the effect on that body of any violent measures inaugurated against gentiles, Brigham kept his promise strictly. But no sooner did the telegraph flash across the continent the announcement of the adjournment of Congress, than his pent-up wrath broke forth, and he openly urged the policy of violence toward the gentiles. With regard to the public lands, he said repeatedly that he owned land, and plenty of it, and any man who attempted to 'jump' the same should have 'a preëmption title which would last till the resurrection.' This was called forth by the fact that a number of locations had already been made by discharged soldiers and others upon unoccupied land lying along the west bank of the Jordan River, contiguous to Salt Lake City, and there was considerable talk of many others following in the same course, induced by the prospective coming of the Pacific Railroad, and a desire to obtain as eligible situations for homes convenient thereto as possible. But the idea of allowing gentiles to settle in any considerable numbers in the vicinity of Mormon communities is totally at variance with the well-understood policy of the leaders, and must, therefore, be prevented by every possible means—else, what would become of polygamy? Hence the hostility of Brigham Young to any such scheme as they contemplated, for in it he scented danger to his favorite institution, and hence, too, his threat of death to 'land jumpers.'
"Now the fact is that there has never been, to my knowledge, one foot of land 'jumped' in Utah; in other words, no locations whatever have been made or attempted by gentiles except upon totally unoccupied lands. But, in violation of the Territorial organic act, the Legislative Assembly of Utah has, from time to time, granted away to Brigham Young, and others, certain valuable timber and tracts of arable lands for a nominal consideration, and it is to protect these from gentile intrusion, as well as for reasons already stated, that a reign of terror has been inaugurated.
"As early as last August, the writer of this article called attention, in the columns of the 'Salt Lake Vedette,' to the threats being made by the Mormon Head Centre to inflame the passions of his followers, predicting the result which has already been reached, and putting his language on record, that it might be known who should be held responsible when the event transpired.
"On the night of September 24th occurred the Jordan outrage, in which a number of land preëmptors were attacked about midnight by a gang of some forty or fifty ruffians, disguised and armed, and flagrantly abused, their houses destroyed, themselves thrown into the river, and their lives only saved by a promise to leave the Territory within forty-eight hours. One in attempting to get away, was fired upon and wounded, but effected his escape—very fortunately for the entire party beyond a doubt, for there can be little question that the original purpose was to put them all out of the way, which would certainly have been accomplished had any of the forty or fifty shots fired at the fugitive taken fatal effect. The better nature of some of the party prevailed over the malignant influence of the master whom they served, and they probably hoped to reach the result he desired—terror to gentiles—by less sanguinary means than those he contemplated. The result proved them wrong, for the parties warned did not leave the Territory, though any further attempts to secure homesteads were abandoned. Then followed the demolition of a portion of Dr. Robinson's premises, three of the city police, including the chief, being identified as accomplices, and held to answer therefor. Then the abduction of Mr. Weston, of the 'Vedette,' to a remote part of the city, where he was subjected to the most shameful indignities at the hands of a half score of miscreants, some of whom, at least, he recognized as belonging to the city police."
These outrages were closely followed by another atrocious murder, only equalled in ferocity and cold-blooded cruelty by that of Brassfield.
On the 22d day of October, 1866, Dr. J. K. Robinson, a prominent and influential citizen of Salt Lake City, who had recently had some difficulty with the city authorities, was shot in the streets, but a few steps from his own door. He had retired for the evening, when he was called up and requested to go a short distance to attend upon a neighbor, who, it was alleged, had broken his leg.