The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-08-08
COlfax ut Salt Lake City.
Correspondence N. Y. Tribune. Al rs.iiee
~ GssAr Salt LAKE ClrY, UrAa
lfalN no w flIlH June l8. 1865.

1
j Brigham Young has never callet
npon strangers, whether public officer
or private citizens, until they first show
their respect to him. But Mr.. Cola,
declining to give the initial visit, OF
Wednesday morning Brigham Young
Heber Kimball and eight or ten othcl
conspieoWs Latter Day Saints, made {
call of two hours upon the Speaker and
his party at the Salt Lake Hotel. The
conversation was long and rambliRg
give few detached portions, no,
complete or in their order; but,
think, with substantial correctness and
fairness. a.. ....
Mr.. Colfax-How large Is the new
tabernacle which you are completing
this summer ? 3a dl
Brigham Young-l0O feet by $50
1t will seat 5000 or 10000. The sides
will be entirely open for ventilation du'
ing the warm season.
Colfax-We have decided to remain
over next Sabbath, hoping to hear you
preach. We want to learn more aiont
the doctrines of your Church from its
highest authority. e
iBrigham-I am surprised that you
have not learned them before. But,
educated rs you have been, you said
Its only new delusien, a fresh form
of religious fanaticism."
Colfax-That is merely Your as.
sumption. Who are authorized. to
preach among you?
Brigham-Everybody who is ordain-
ed. We set lawyers, farmers, and me-
chanics-all who have the gift-to
preach. I suppose we have more Ian
guages among us than any other com
munity in The world. In the congre.
CATION next Sunday / could probably
call up fifty men who would all preach
good sermons in as many different Ian
guages. 'i
Citizen You certainly ought to be
good takers.
B.-You must be Judge of that
Laughter. If any of you are reli-
giously inclined we shall be glad to
have you occupy part of the day on
Sunday, Do not some of you preach
CT think not. fear we have not
had any religion-to speak of.
R-(Very emphatically.) i have.
C,-rhen wo certainly hope to hear
you speak of tin the Tabernacle,
H,-Men talk great deal about the
mysteries Of God, when they know
nothing about it. Religion must dis,
play itself in the lifo, have dealt
largely with the people here, Of all
classes-Indiahs and white, Latter Day
Saints and others. If l have ever
wrongcd any man, let him come for
ward and / will restore it fourfold.
C.-That is the religion l believe IN
the religion of daily life-of justice,
charity and love, But, of course, there
is one feature Of your system from
which we entirely dissent, and which
we do not consider religion.
B.-You mean plurality of wivns p
We have no more delioacy in talking
about that than any other topic.
CT have read in one of the old
writers-St. Augustine, think-that
it is better to converse of the things
about which we agree than Of those
upon whom we differ,
B.-Yes, in social intercourse.
Brigham-Thc rebels always seem
to mo like pampered children, who,
after having all the cakes and candy
whistles, finally in pet began to kick
their father and mother and declare
they would set up for themselves. We
of the North always supported them.
/ knew they could not sustain them
selves, and now they i have proved it.
have always discouraged our peo-
plefrom trying to find gold. 1t is the
greatest curse to any country. Every
dollar taken out by the United States
has cost aloo, 1t produces anarchy,
murder, theft, vigilance committees aud
idleness. If we in Utah were to en-
act the lawless scenes which are COM
mon to our gold countries, the troops
would be sent out against us at once.
Colfax-If you do not dig the gold,
others will come in and do it for you,
Why do you think that God has put it
in the mountains? e. r +.
B.-That the people might show just
what they have shown-their own folly.
If GOULD perform the miracle-if my
faith was suffioent-I would seal up all
the gold mines and keep them sealed.
During this de esultory talk Brigham
strongly intimated that the success and
prosperity of his people were miraeu-
lous. He twice repeated that they
could not be annlhllated.
Yesterday we returned the call. lie
resides in the Presidents Block" an
inolosure Of nearly ten acres, contain
ing the Printing Office, Dcseret News
Office, school house for his own chill
dren, Lion House, with lion couchant,
out in sandstone, over the front door,
Bee Hive House, which bears q bee
hive upon Its dome, other buildings for
his domestic and business uses, ample
room for flower and fruit gardens
The whole 10 surrounded by wall elcv.
on feet high, of bouldcrs laid in mortar
Tho porter in his lodge on sentry
box, (whcre ! think ! saw revolver
hanging beside him. eyed us closely
but permitted MS to pass, as we were
accompanied by leading Mormon
"Presidcnt" Young, with several dig
lnitaries of the church received us IN
his largo niry office, with high walls
maps, photographs Of prominent Lat
ter Day Saints, lithographic copy oi
Bierstadt's Sunlight and Shadow, scales
for weighing gold dust, account books
desks and arm chairs.