New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-30
LETTER FRON BENJAMIN Z. IEALL.

| TIE FIRST CHIEF-JUsTICE OF COLORADO RECALLS
PRIVATE OPINIONS EXPREssED To HIn BY
| MIILARD FILLMORE AND BRIGHAM YOUNG ON
| THE SUPPRESSION OF POLNGAMY IN UTAH.
| 10 thc Edttor Of Ths Trt6uHc.
| SIR: DO not suppose that auy thing the late
! President Fillmore the late Brigham Young
thought or said about methods tried for suppressng
! polygamy in Utah will have mmch influence with
the present Congress but presume u brief disclos-
uIe of the opinions of both Of those men before they
| died will do no harm to anyone in or ont Of
| Congress. 1t is possible that they may do some
good, 50 venture to relate what they were and
when and how they were expressed.
was in The city of Washington employed in
compiling the official opinions of the Attorncys-Gen-
eral from the formation of the National Govern
ment pursuant to act of Congress- at the time or
times Of the passage and approval of the five several
so-caled Compromise Measures Of 1850, and
was personally cogniZant of most OF of the
proceedings relating to their passage and approval.
Enjoying his confidence as much, presume, as any
Wing in this his native county tthe Wing party
being intact before the era OF Silver Grays, Prest-
dent Fillmore frequently expressed to ne his private
opinions respecting each OF those measures before
he approved them. He seemed to have no misgv-
ings about any of those iYs measures, except tho
one erecting part Of ancient California into
separate Territory. to be called Utah but he had
serious scrpes OF conscience aud Judgment respect
i . that As the "Joo smith fraud" was perpe-
trated in this State and had left foul tracks in its
entire course from this state 10 OHIO. to Missouri. to
Illinois, and TO what had been called "AtsCalifOr
mia. and as there were then only a very few in
habitants there except poygamists he was nstu-
rally apprehenslve that the erection of such
people in,o a government, even If it were
TO be temporary one. would lead TO public scandal
and lIa ma he fO gSk my DrI-
yate opinion whether it were best for linn, in view
of all the circumstances attending thu passage Of
those measures, 10 sign the Utah bill ! told him
plainly that in my opinion his apprehensions OF
scandal and trouble were warranted by the scandal
and trouble the MormOns had created IN Ohio, Mis-
souri, and Illinois, and that were in his place i
would decline 10 approve the bill, and send II back
TO Congress with his reasons. But his just appre-
tensions were cOunteryailcd and removed by Hr.
Clay. who was his Gamael in pOlitics, that he
signed .he bill on the 9th of September 1890, sim
ultaneOusly with his signing the bill admitting
California as a State and the bill erecting New
Mexico INTO u Territory. lie obtained tho opinion
Of his Attorney General before signing lie Fugitive
State Act, which delayed his approval OF that TO
the 10Th.
And then to the surprise Of everyone 70 whom he
had impart ed his fears of scandal aud trouble he
indorssd the nfamy by appointing Brigham Young,
the so-styed President of tho Church OF the Latter
nav Saints to the executive office Of the new Terri
tory Of Utah That appointment launched the worst
form of domestic tyranny as we'll as poygamy IN
Irtah. and gave it character in Europe, An evil
star ruled President Fillmore then and thence
forward 10 the end of his term.
After the death of his wife and daughter he came
to Cayuga County the scene of his boyhood, a sad
aud sorrowfu man, 10 seek consolation among his
former friends. Many of them gave him frigid
welcome on account of his ncreancy 10 the prin-
cipes of the party which elected him. But
while | disllked that and his treatment OF Mr.
Stewards friends, of whom was one, rs greatly as
anybody here. had no heart to withhold from
him my sympathy in his bereavement, and did not.
called upon hlm at his hotel often, invited him to
my house and TO my pew in 81. Peters Church, ana
accompanied him to Moravia and Aurora, where no
was born and where he studied grammar ana tne
law During that quiet visit here lie eoh'efSea
with me and Others very freely respecting MS
official action concerning the Utah Act and HIS ap-
pointInent of Brigham Young and several times men,