History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CHAPTER XXIY.
THE LAST DAYS OF BKIGHAM YOUNG.
1869-1877.
Visit of Schuyler Colfax—Godbe's Interview with President Grant
—Governor Shaffer—Military Riot at Pkovo—Governor Woods
—Judge McKean—Burlesque of Justice—Arrest of Brigham
Young and Others—George Q. Cannon Chosen Delegate—Axtell's
Administration—Governor Emery—Death of Brigham—His Obsequies—His
Character—His Will.
"Will Brigham Young fight?" inquired Schuyler
Colfax of Elder Stenhouse, during his sojourn at Salt
Lake City in 1869. 1 "For God's sake, Mr Colfax."
answered the elder, "keep the United States off. If
the government interferes and sends troops, you will
spoil the opportunity, and drive the thousands back
into the arms of Brigham Young who are ready to
rebel against the one-man power. Leave the elders
alone to solve their own problems. We can do it;
the government cannot." But with the exception of
Abraham Lincoln, none of the presidents were of the
opinion that it was best to leave the Mormons alone.
At this date there is little doubt that Grant was resolved
on the suppression of polygamy, even if need
be at the cost of war. Meanwhile the famous Cul-
1 Colfax also visited Utah in 1865. For reception and purpose of visit, 3ee
Richardson's Beyond the Miss., 345-6, 34S-9; Bowies' Our New West, 203-4;
Tidlidge's Life of Brigham Young, 355-8; Stenhouse'a Rocky Mountain Saints,
613-15. For speech of Colfax, in 1SG9, in which, probably, the sentence most
acceptable to the Mormons was the concluding line, 'I bid you all good night
and good by,' see The Mormon Question (S. L. City, 1870), wherein is also a
reply by John Taylor, an article on the Mormon question by the vice-president,
published in the New York Independent, and a rejoinder by Taylor.
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