The Committee rose to depart, and one of them said, "We have our opinions." "Yes," replied the Judge, "thieves and murderers can have opinions;" and thus closed the interview.
The Committee then proceeded to call on Judge Waite at his residence, where they were received politely and with due consideration. In answer to their request for his resignation and withdrawal from the Territory, he replied as follows:—
"To comply with your wishes, gentlemen, under such circumstances, would be to admit, impliedly at least, one of two things,—either that I was sensible of having done something wrong, or that I was afraid to remain at my post and perform my duty.
"I am not conscious either of guilt or fear. I must therefore respectfully decline to accede to your request."
These replies were published in California, and in the Eastern papers, and gave general satisfaction. The people rejoiced that at last the Government had representatives in Utah who could neither be wheedled nor bullied out of their rights, nor frightened from the performance of their duty.
In Utah the excitement for a time ran high, and doubtless nothing but the presence of the military saved the federal officers from personal violence.
The state of popular feeling there is well shown by the following extracts from the correspondence of the "Chicago Tribune":—
"Excitement ran high, and groups of men were to be seen on the corners of the various streets, busily engaged in canvassing the subject, their earnest gestures and eager attitudes portraying the depth and intensity of the frenzied feeling which actuated them.
"One of the Judges sought to be ostracised (Judge Waite) was accosted, while passing quietly along the sidewalk, by a group of excited men, and threats of an alarming character made use of to intimidate him.
. . . "The few 'gentiles' resident here were also to be observed in earnest discussion of the question, and with compressed lip and countenance, on which 'thought sat sedate,' awaited, cold and determined, the approach of coming events. I opine that many a bowie and revolver were hastily examined and adjusted, of which the passer-by had no thought or knowledge, which, in an emergency, might have been made useful.