There is no legal power in the to compel them to leave & no such power will be exercised during my administration
The spirit of the people how ever is up, and the signs are very evident that an attempt will be made by the surrounding counties to drive them out. Such an attempt may fail once or even twice, but if undertaken in earnest and persevered in it must finally succeed— Those who may think it wrong to drive out the Mormons cannot be made fight in their defence & indeed the people of the will never tolerate the expense of frequent military expeditions to defend them. The Mormons may think themselves strong enough to defend themselves. But do they want [p. [52]]