History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

506 THE GOVERNMENT IN ARMS.
the troops would not molest or interfere with them.
Though informed by parties whom he met en route
that he would not be allowed to enter the territory,
or would do so at the risk of his life, the captain met
with a cordial reception. Brigham, Wells, Bernhisel,
and other leading citizens called at his quarters on the
evening of his arrival, and a formal interview was appointed
for the following day 47 at the social hall, when
Van Vliet was introduced to a large number of prominent
Mormons, presented to Brigham an official letter
from Harney, and declared the purpose of his mission.
The governor and the captain then retired with a few
others to a private office, where a conversation took
place, from which I give a few extracts that may be of
interest to the reader.
"We do not want to fight the United States," remarked
Brigham, "but if they drive us to it, we shall
do the best we can; and I will tell you, as the Lord
lives, we shall come off conquerors. The United
States are sending their armies here to simply hold
us until a mob can come and butcher us, as has been
done before. We are the supporters of the constitu-
tion of the United States, and we love that constitution
and respect the laws of the United States; but
it is by the corrupt administration of those laws that
we are made to suffer. Most of the government of-
ficers who have been sent here have taken no interest
in us, but on the contrary, have tried many times to
destroy us."
"This is the case with most men sent to the terri-
tories," Van Vliet replied. "They receive their offices
as a political reward, or as a stepping-stone to thesenatorship;
but they have no interest in common with
the people. The greatest hold that the government
now has upon you is in the accusation that you have
burned the United States records."
"In his Life, of Briqham Young. 262, Tullidge gives Aug. 12th, and in his
Hist. Salt Lake City, 161, Sept. 12th, as the date of Van Vliet's first formal
interview with Brigham. The correct date is Sept. 9th. See Deseret News,
Sept. 1G, 1857, where is a description of the captain's visit.