12^th Wilford commenced drawing rock for the Dam on Jordon
I called at President Youngs office & was introduced
to the Attorney General Mr Wilson. Gov Cummings was
also Present. it was merely an introductory meeting &
but little said A report reached us that Maj Beal & his
party was cut off & his camels runing around loose Gov
Cummings thought the contractors for the Mail would
use camels on this Northern route for the transporting
of the Mail President Young thought they would not
answer in a cold or wet climate. Bishop Tarlton
Lewis arived from Parewan had an interview with
President Young & presented him with some specimens
of led & copper oar from the surface. I spent the remainder
of the day in the office on History

Nov 16
Nov 12. friday night I met with BPresident Young G A. Smith
O. Hyde E. T. Benson & Elder Wall & A. J. Stewart President Young
in speaking of the 3 metn that was cut off from the Church
Chesley & James Phelps and anoth[er] He hoped they would not
come back for they were a stink in any place Jiames Phelps
will steal & Get Drunk. William Hickman had his Horse
stolen in the streets to day with saddle & Bridle He was offered
$500 for him in the morning the thieves are getting vary
bold in this city they are stealing horses in our streets in
open day & waggons out of the yard by night. Brother Wall
related a circumstance of an officer of the Armey who ask
him if he was a Mormon yes, I supose you are an out & in
mormon Just as it suits you? I am a thorough mormon I believe
in all their principles. What poligamy and all? Yes. How
many wives have you? I have three & Twelve children.
How do you suppose those children will look upon you when
they get Groan up? I will tell you how they will look upon
me they will point to me & say theire is my Father
who has raised me fed, clothed, & Educated me and owned
me through persecution oppression & scorn and I will
own honor & obey him, while your children at Fort
Levensworths St Louis & all places whare you have been
which you will not own nor provide for they will not
own you & their mothers will point to you as they see you
pass & will say there is your father but dont say a word
about it for the world those children will both Hate &
despise you & the vary Ground upon which you tread
Capt Wolf replied scratching his head By . . . that is
true but I never looked upon it in that light "what
would you do if the Government should give orders to put
you to death if you did not put away your wives? I would
take my wives & wives children & go to some secluded spot
of Earth whare I could enjoy my wives & children & liberty
"what if Government should pounce onto you & not give you the
privilege? then I would take my family into the mountains
& I would fight you over evry hill & dale as long as I lived

cCapt Woolf replyed I will not shoot at you. Capt
Woolf said Governor Young ought to be the next President
for He is the smartest man in the United States He has
been playing a game of Ucre [Euchre] with the United States and
has beat them. he has gained five points while the
United States has ownly had a march & he ought to be
president & I would vote for him.

The man who was
a waggon master of the train which Lot Smith burned
said Capt Smith & his men were Gentlemen it was the
best thing for me & your people that could have been done
it released me & sent me back to the states or I should
have suffered with the rest in the mountains and it was well
for the mormons for if this train had not been burned the Armey
would probably have pushed on had a fight & blood been spiled
The Gentiles have undertaken to build a city on Provo Bench
Wall offered to take the water out for $200000. President Young
thought they would do not much in it.