Copy of extract of January 6, 1858 letter from Brigham Young as Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs to James W. Denver, Commissioner of Indian Affairs

The following is an extract from a letter under heading and date as follows

Office of Supt of Indian Affairs G.S.L. City U.T. Jany 6th 1858

Hon. James W. Denver, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City, D.C.

Sir:-

On or about the middle of last September a company of emigrants travelling the southern route to California poisoned the meat of an ox that died and gave it to the Indians to eat causing the immediate death of four of their tribe and poisoning several others. This company also poisoned the water where they were encamped. This occurred at Corn Creek fifteen miles south of Fillmore City. This conduct so enraged the Indians that they immediately took measures for revenge. I quote from a letter written to me by John D Lee Farmer to the Indians in Iron and Washington Counties. "About the 22nd of Sept Capt Fauchers & Co fell victims to the Indians wrath near Mountains Meadows: their cattle and horses were shot down in every direction their wagons and property mostly committed to the

flames." Lamentable as this case truly is it is only the natural consequence of that fatal policy which treats the Indians like the wolves or other ferocious beasts. I have vainly remonstrated for years with travellers against pursuing so suicidal a policy and repeatedly advised the Government of its fatal tendency. It is not always upon the heads of the individuals who commit such crimes that such condign punishment is visisted, but more frequently the next company who follows in their fatal path become the unsupecting victims, though peradventure entirely innocent. Of this character was the massacre of Capt. Gunnison and party in 1853. He was friendly and unsuspecting but the emigrant company who immediately preceded him had committed a most flagrant act of injustice and murder upon the Indians, escaped unscathed causing the savage feeling and vengance which they had so wantonly provoked to be poured upon the head of the lamented Gunnison. Owing to these causes the Indians upon the main traveller's roads leading from this Territory to California have become quite hostile so that it has become quite impossible for a company of emigrants to pass in safety. The citizens of this Territory have frequently compromised

their own safety and otherwise peacful relations with the Indians by interposing in behalf of travellers, nor can they be expected to be otherwise than hostile so long as the travelling community persist in the practice of indiscriminately shooting and poisoning them as above set forth.

In all other parts of the Territory except along the North and South routes to California, as above mentioned, the Indians are quiet and peaceful. It is owing to the disturbed state of our Indian affairs that the accounts of this quarter have been so considerably augmented. It has always been my policy to concilate the native tribes by making them presents and treating them kindly, considering it much more economical to feed and clothe than to fight them. I have the satisfaction of knowing that this policy has been most eminently successful and advantageous, not only to the Settlements but the Government as well as the emigrants and travellers; but the most uniform judicious and humane course will sometimes fail in holding ignorant wild revengeful Indians by the wrist to be indiscriminately murdered. We trust hence forward such scenes may not be reenacted, and that they existing bad feeling among

the native tribes may become extinguished by a uniform consistent humane and conciliating course of superior acts by those who profess superior attainments.

Respectfully I have the honor to remain Your obedient Servant

(Signed) Brigham Young Gov. & Supt of Ind Affairs UT

Territory of Utah County of Salt Lake S.S.

I James Jack a Notary Public in and for said County, certify that I have carefully compared the foregoing document with an impression taken of the original, and do hereby certify that the same is a true and correct copy thereof.

I do further certify that I am well acquainted with the signature of Brigham Young and hereby testify that the signature to the letter of which this is a copy is his genuine signature.

I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal at my office in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory this fifteenth day of August A.D. 1876

James Jack Notary Public for Salt Lake County U.T.

96 Letter to Hon. James W Denver January 6, 1858

No 3

Filed Sept 20 1876 James R Wilkins Clerk

2d Report of B. Y. based on Lee's Report of the M. M. Massacre