“It may be thought that there has already been too much delay in proceeding against the murderers, that a further delay will give an opportunity for many of the guilty to escape, and that the apparent impunity for the present will greatly encourage further outrages against you. This last consideration is one of considerable force, and on that account I could wish to proceed without delay if it could be done without exciting further troubles, or if I had a force at my command on which I could rely to suppress them. I do not fear that any of the leaders will escape or flee from justice: they are determined to remain and brave it out to the end. In my humble opinion there is no utility in proceeding against any but the leaders. As to the misguided multitude who were the mere followers of others, and the instruments of mischief, it has never been the practice of civilized States to proceed against them with rigor. The punishment of some of the principal offenders has always been looked upon as sufficient to vindicate the majesty of the law, and to deter others from the commission of the like offences, and this is the whole object of human punishments.

“I do not apprehend that anything requiring my further stay here will happen immediately, and will return home tomorrow

“Beloved Bro ,

I sit down a few minutes to write to you, as Bro is going to start for tomorrow: he has been laboring in .

“We cannot get one word from our families by letter of late. Sister has received a letter from her , that, I understand gives some information which seems to be satisfactory. According to what we hear in this country about the Mormons in the West, I should suppose that there is an election about to take place, or the Prophet had offered himself for some office in the ; for of all the howlings of devils and devils whelps, this season cannot be beat. [HC 7:209] Sometimes [p. 283]