[sideways text]
Copy of A Letter
to J. M. Bernhisel
Cambridgepot Mass
Mach 26th 1850
Brother Bernhisel
Dear Sir
I receved your interesting Letter
of the 22nd intat and nothing but a croud of businss has
prevented me from you upon the subjet of which
you speak even befoe I receved yours. I was privileged
with the company of professor O. pratt Erastus Snow & J B.
Wallace on the Sabbath & I convrsed freely with those
Brethn upon the Subject & I find but one spirit & opinion
prevailing amog us & that is, it is far better to withdraw
the petition for the present untill you can consult
your constituents than to receive a Territorial Gove[rnmen]t
with Military polititions sent unto our midst to tyronize
[ovr] us who has no interest in our welfare it is my
firm conviction that the Citizens of Deserett will sustain
you in withdrawing your petition for the time being
rather ^than^ to receive a Terratorial Gov[ernmen]t with the spirit
of restrictions that the present Congress manifest
in disposition to lay upon us. Yes Brothe Bernhisel
watch well the signs of the times in this matter do
not let a n[e]t be flung [ovr] the people of Deserett
to their inquiry they should have the rights of Citizenship
as well as other people. The president has recomede[n]d
in his speach a thought that the people of the Basin
would not suffer materially if they did not get
a Territorial Government immediately or something to
that Effect. I am of his opinion I think so to I
think it would be a good plan to take his advise
& withdraw the petition! If we want a Territorial
Gove[rnmen]t we can call for it another session
If we want a State Govern[men]t we will be in
also be in a situation to apply for it if we are
not confined under a Territorial.
Thus you have my views & I pray God to sustain
& uphold you & lead you right.
Mr Babbitt informed me in his last that if
th[e]y gave us a Territorial Govern[men]t at all
they would send Pharaohs to rule over us. I have
expressed my feelings to you in other Letters freely
upon those points I am the same now
I wish to know if this reaches you in safety drop me
a line soon. I shall leave Here the evening of the
9th April via N York & Phila I have altered my
mind about the Northern parte as the lake is not
clear. I had a good time with O pratt
Heywood & Woolly shiped their goods on the shiped Boatnal
I also shiped about 20 tons of goods & bagga[g]e on the ship
with them please take good ca[r]e of this sheet
Yours in the [lock] of truth
W. Woodruff.