As respects things in I have nothing to say but good; Although the Mobocrats of this breath<​e​> out their shame with a continual foam and threaten extermination &c. the citizens of are at peace, they fear no danger, for the report of mobs have become so common, that the Mormons pay no attention to it whatever. Each man minds his own business and all are making improvements as fast as they can. In fact things in general seem prosperous and pleasing, and I never saw a better feeling amongst the Saints than at the present time.

My family have been some sick of late and continue so, especially, my youngest . [HC 6:213]

Accept dear Sir the warmest respects of myself and and please present the same to your lady. In the meantime I remain your friend and brother.

“Who shall be our next President?

This is an enquiry which to us as a people, is a matter of the most paramount importance, and requires our most serious, calm, and dispassionate reflection. Executive power when correctly wielded, is a great blessing to the people of this great commonwealth, and forms one of the firmest pillars of our confederation. It watches the interests of the whole community with a fatherly care; it wisely balances the other legislative powers, when overheated by party spirit, or sectional feeling; it watches with jealous care our interests and commerce with foreign nations, and gives tone and efficacy to legislative enactments. The President stands at the head of these , and is the mouth-piece of this vast republic. If he be a man of an enlightened mind, and a capacious soul— if he is a virtuous man, a statesman, a patriot, and a man of unflinching integrity; if he possess the same Spirit that fired the souls of our venerable sires, who founded this great commonwealth, and wishes to promote the universal good of the whole republic, he may indeed be made a blessing to community. But if he prostrates his high and honorable calling, to base and unworthy purposes; if he makes use of the power which the people have placed in his hands for their interests, to gratify his ambition, for the purpose of self aggrandisement, or pecuniary interest; if he meanly panders with demagogues, loses sight of the interests of the nation, and [HC 6:214] sacrifices the union on the altar of sectional interests or party views, he renders himself unworthy of the dignified trust reposed in him, debases the nation in the eyes of the civilized [p. 1889]