The deep interest I feel at
heart for the general good interest & welfare of the inhabitants
of the State of Deserett at this critical & important crises
is the apology I offer, & the ownly motive that induces me at
this time to address you by Letter. as I may not have a
per[s]onal interview with you which I should be vary glad
to have befoe your arival at CongressWashington
or our petition is presented before Congress, I wish to suggess present a few items for your consideration. In the
first place I will ^wish to^ say I have not been Idle since I learned
that the inhabitants of the vally had organized a State Governtment
& that you was their delegate to Washington but I
have endeavored to do all in my power to assist the cause
in any way that I could, and I am fully convinced
from what I have learned from various sources & classes
that a most judicious, wise, discreet & prudent cource must
be carried out in this affair in order to secure success
I also firmly believe that you ought not to commit
yourself in the least by taking sides with the democrats
whigs, Free Soil, or any ^othr^ party for by so doing at the comm[encem]ent
of the service I belive it would be certain death, to your
success but take a Neutral groud at first & watch the signs
of the times & then act according to circustances you will
probably meet with the most exciting Congress that ever
assembled in the United States, & the parties are so even bal[anc]ed
Page 2
that to take sides with either party at first would defeat
the Bill altogether, I think have an influential friend who
is vary intimate with the members from Maine who will
use his influence for them to go with for our Bill I have
assisted Dr Bernhisel conc[ern]ing the petition what I could, &
He has had an interview with many influential men &
He has always taken a Neutral ground which I think is a
wise courcse & the ownly safe one at the commecent [commencement] of
this session And I hope you will have an [interviewed]
with him at the earliest opportunity & that you will be
enabled to unite your influece & council together
And my prayer to God is that you may be prospered
in this laudible & glorious enterprise, and that prudence
Wisdom & success may attend you in obtaining a seat for
Deseret in the circle of her sister States is the cincere desire
& warmest wish of my heart
Yours Truly
Wilford Woodruff
P.S. I should essteem it a great favor to meet in Concil
with you & Dr Bernhisel at Washington but do not now
expet to have the opportunity. I should take it as a favor
if you would write me occassoially & inform me of
your progress ^& prospets^ my address is still (Cambridgeport
Mass