During this reply the Committee sat quiet, with the exception of Elder Taylor, who several times attempted to make some explanation; but the Governor refused to hear him, and went through with his remarks without stopping to listen, or reply to any new matter.
Elder Taylor then turned to Judge Drake, and remarked that he might consider the resolutions as addressed also to him.
The Judge responded as follows:—
"The communications you have made are of some importance, and as they are intended to affect me, I desire to say something before you go.
"It is no small thing to request a citizen to leave his country. Are you aware of the magnitude or of the baseness of what you have undertaken? I deny that you have any cause for such conduct toward me. I am an American citizen, and as such have a right to go to every part of the Republic. I have the right to petition, or ask the Government to pass laws; or to amend them. You, Taylor and Pratt, are men of experience, and reputed to be men of learning, and ought to know better than to insult a man by such means.
"It is mean and contemptible. On your part, Taylor, a
foreigner, it is impudence unequalled; and Pratt, a citizen, ought to know better than to trample on the rights of a citizen by engaging in such a dirty enterprise. Your resolutions are false, and those who drafted them knew them to be so; and I am informed that in the meeting at the Tabernacle, Brigham Young called me a fool, and a tool of the Governor. [Here Taylor admitted that such was the fact.]
"Go back to Brigham Young, your master,—that embodiment of sin and shame and disgust,—and tell him that I neither fear him, nor love him, nor hate him,—that I utterly despise him. Tell him, whose tools and tricksters you are, that I did not come here by his permission, and that I will not go away at his desire, or by his directions. I have given no cause of offence to any one. I have not entered a Mormon's house since I came here; your wives and daughters have not been disturbed by me, and I have not even looked upon your concubines and lewd women.
"I am no skulk from the punishment of crimes. I tell you, if you, or the man whom you so faithfully serve, attempt to interfere with my lawful business, you will meet with trouble of a character you do not expect.
"A horse-thief or a murderer has, when arrested, a right to speak in court; and unless in such capacity, or under such circumstances, don't you ever dare to speak to me again."