Judge Drake still remains in Utah, and with all the talent, energy, and experience necessary to fill his position to the great benefit of the people, he is obliged to remain entirely inactive, and goes through the forms of holding court, with scarcely an attempt to administer justice to the whole people, so well persuaded is he that all such attempts are futile in the present condition of affairs.
Gen. Connor also remains, and, considering the small force at his command, has accomplished wonders. By his bold and fearless vindication of the rights and interests of the Government, guided, at the same time, in all his acts by great discretion and moderation, he has compelled some show of respect for the federal authority.
Neither Gen. Connor nor Judge Waite had the slightest intention of arresting Brigham Young at the time alluded to in March, 1863. The astute leader of the Mormons had a spy listening to the conversation of those gentlemen, and the spy aforesaid heard some things, and thought he heard others. He reported to headquarters the supposed result of his discoveries, and it must be admitted that those who had been placed under this insulting espionage took no great pains to correct the impression which prevailed, and which so quickly and so thoroughly developed the disloyal sentiments which the people had imbibed under the infamous teachings of Brigham and his corrupt priests, apostles, and bishops.
Mark the language used by Mr. Calder. "On Monday last, a reliable person overheard," &c. Here the infamous system of espionage maintained over the federal officers by Young, stands plainly confessed. But the fact was well known, and he reaped no great benefit from it.
So thoroughly was he frightened, that, to save himself the ignominy and humiliation of a public and forcible arrest, he went privately to his friend, Chief Justice Kinney, and gave his bonds for his appearance at Kinney's court, to answer to any indictment that might be found against him for polygamy.
The grand jury, of course, found no indictment, and the incident is only worth mentioning as curiously illustrative of the extent to which he was operated on by his fears on that occasion.
A brief notice of the federal officers stationed and residing in Utah, while the writer was living in that Territory, will close the present chapter.
Hon. Stephen S. Harding, who was Governor from the spring of 1862 for about one year, is from Milan, Indiana. He is about fifty years of age; is a sound lawyer, and a man of extraordinary energy and decision of character. These traits are modified, in some degree, by considerable ambition, and great love of approbation. In his administration of Utah affairs, so far as he was governed by this feeling, he labored for the respect and approval of the great body of the American people, rather than of the masses by whom he was immediately surrounded.
That he possesses much personal courage is evidenced by many of his official acts, some of which he had reason to believe would subject him at once to personal danger. The presence of the military in the immediate neighborhood was sufficient to prevent any open outbreak; still there were many ways in which his personal safety might be jeopardized, without subjecting the perpetrators of the acts to punishment.
So well is this understood in Salt Lake, that it requires a high degree of moral courage to enable one to do any act offensive to "the powers that be" in the Holy City.