Letter from George Albert Smith, 15 July 1856
Washington D. C.
Elder W. Woodruff
I received from you a very welcome
and instructing letter for which I return
you my thanks. My mission to Wash-
ington appears to be a dull affair
Secretary Babbitt left here this morning
for Salt Lake. bBy him I have sent letters
to President Young—My family, yourself
and many others—I write this to send by
mail. Our Know Nothing Congress or rather
Black Republican House of Representatives
are a regular Blue Law set of fellows, but the
House has been occupied ever since I came
here with Kansas quarrels and Sumners
Caneing—evry kind of business seems to be
at a stand. The House passed a Bill
to admit Kansas as a Free State on the
Constitution framed last winter. They
done this for political effect knowing that it
could not pass the Senate. The Senate
have passed a Bill to authorize Kansas
to form a Constitution fully believing
that the House would reject their Bill.
In this manner our statesmen fool
away from their time and the real business of the
Country rejected; while foolish men
quarrel with each other.
