[Minutes, Quorum of Twelve] Meeting in the Council House, Wednesday, 9 Nov[embe]r. 1847.
Present[: T]he Council of the Twelve-High Council-Bishop [Newel K.] Whitney-
Pres[iden]t. Joseph Young-Capt[ai]n of Police-
The Council was in Session conversing about the Indians & Government.
G[eorge]. W. Harris moved "that we vacate this place next Spring." Alpheus Cutler sec[onde]d. [It was a] clear vote.
G. W. Harris[:] I suggest that a Committee be appointed to go into Iowa & look out a location for a city for the Saints-[T]here are mechanics who will want to be in a city instead of spreading over the country.
G[eorge]. A. Smith-[I]f the design is to sell Improvements it will be best to scatter all over the county for farms.-[T]hen they may be sold-
Joseph Young[:] If the effective young men, & the officers of the Church go to the mountains-there will not be much excitement.
B[righam]. Young[:] I want them scattered-& then they may be obliged to gather, by the mob.
N[ewel]. K. Whitney[:] There are many poor who are not able to open farms, but if they were all together, they might assist each other.
B. Young-I do not care about locating the people in a body-[I]f a committee is appointed to remove the people over the River, the people th will want them to feed them or they will turn round & curse you.
G. W. Harris[:] I withdraw my motion-
O[rson]. Hyde-[T]here is hardly a neighborhood but what there is wood & land-& they can mire in & be comfortable-
B. Young-If there is a Hi[gh] Council in the Western part of Iowa-every dirty scamp will cause trouble to the Pres[iden]t. & Council-[I]f we c[oul]d. have men to keep things right & wo[ul]d. not be harrassed to death, it wo[ul]d. be well. It will be wisest to have a Presidency & Hi[gh] Council to be kept as minute men-that when mobs drive them away others may be appointed-[A] Co[mpany]. of people can go in Sept[embe]r. & Oct[obe]r. to Black Hills & there Winter-[O]n 1 May they will have fat cattle.-[T]hey can take their bread stuff & cows-& hunt all Winter-build houses & live in all Winter & they will be all safe-
O. Hyde-Father Allred is the right sort of a man as the head of the Hi[gh] Council-[H]e is the right man to be there-
O[rson] Pratt-I motion that every man & family who cannot go West-go over into the State of Iowa & settle where they may until they can fit themselves out for the mountains-
B. Young[: T]hat motion is done /awa[y]/ with in Father Harris[ s] motion to vacate this place-[T]he Bishops had better learn as soon as they can who can go over the mountais, & those who cant, let them remove over the river as soon as they can-
O. Hyde[: T]here are many places over the river that can be located-[I]n one place I never saw finer timber in the world-it is a natural place for a Town-it is where 4 small streams descend thro a table land to Keg Creek-[T]here are within 1" mile[s] of each other-[It is the] most beautiful timber & the richest land, & any amount of Summer & Winter range. I fell in love with the place & if I were to go to speculate I wo[ul]d. not take 10,000 for my claims-I offered to go with Pres[iden]t. Young & shew him where the place is-[I]f a Saw Mill & Grist mill were set agoing it would be of great benefit-50 families could locate their well-
H[eber]. C. Kimball enquired "What shall be done with men bringing merchandize in this place[?]"
O. Hyde[:] I advised brother Woolley to submit it before the Council.
T[homas]. B[ullock]. wrote a note to Messrs. Mudge & Woolley to wait on the Council-[It was] signed by Pres[iden]t. Young & sent out to Kelina.
O. Hyde-"I motion that all merchants & traders be permitted /invited/ to come here with the sanction of this Council & they to conform to the laws of this place.["]
Mr. Mudge & Mr. Woolley came in-
B. Young requested to know Mr. Mudges views.
Mr. Mudge wished to know if this p[eo]pl[e] desired me to bring up a Stock of Goods to fit out this p[eo]pl[e] in the Spring. I co[ul]d. make it a little profitable to myself & to those who bought. I co[ul]d. make my arrangements for the best. [W]hen I came here I labored under difficulty-I had an Idea that Flour might be wanted & I co[ul]d. furnish it a little cheaper than you co[ul]d. get it at St. Jo[seph] or elsewhere. I bel[ieve]. I co[ul]d. buy it cheaper in St. Louis & ship it up in the Spring-I wish to have an understanding-[T]he Goods are in St Louis & any am[oun]t. of provision can be furnished-[A] small profit on a barrel of Flour wo[ul]d. ans[we]r. very well but on 100 barrels wo[ul]d hardly ans[we]r. I wo[ul]d. certainly wish to know how much each person would sign his name for-
When Mr. Beach was up here last Summer there was a conversation ab[ou]t. making Wagons-Mr. Beach gave an impression that he wo[ul]d employ men to make Wagons & pay in Store Goods-that he wo[ul]d. bring up no more tin ware but tin, & w[oul]d. arrange to make up the ware. Mr. Beach was sick when I chose the goods to come here-[T]he Shoemakers are also some dissatisfied ab[ou]t. our bringing boots & shoes-I am led to believe that Mr. Beach did not give any promises to decide any thing. Mr. Beach is /an/ proprietor of the Goods-4 of us [are] interested [[including] Beech & Eddy-the young man & myself. Beach & Eddy furnish Goods.
E. D. Woolley got up to explain the causes of the hard feelings which exist against him-
Mr. Mudge[:] I wish to know if you are satisfied with the course I have pursued.
O. Hyde-Mr. Mudge has formed an acquaintance with the p[eo]pl[e]. [H]e can form his opin[ion]: what amount of goods & flour will be sold here-also other arr[t]icles-[I]f it is known in Season in the East that they can purchase heavy articles cheaper here than in the East-they wo[ul]d. certainly buy here in preference to purchasing elsewhere-I have no doubt a large quantity of Flour & goods will be sold here. I sho[ul]d. think he co[ul]d. form an opin[ion]: what will be wanted for the outfit of the Emigrants &-it is my feelings that he bring such a stock of Goods as he feels warranted in bringing-
W[illia]m. Major[: H]ow large soever he may fill his Store with Goods-it is my opinion we shall want more than he can bring-
N. K. Whitney[:] I think Mr. Mudge sho[ul]d. make such a selection of Goods as we shall most need-& Mr. Woolley & Mr. Mudge can make such a selection as they think best-
Mr. Mudge[:] I had no idea that you wo[ul]d. consider yourselves bound to purchase what I brought. I might think 3 bales of dry goods for Waggon covers [is a deal] & yet you might want 10-
I might think 1000 barrels of Flour [is] a deal & yet you might want 5,000.
E. T. Benson[:] It will be difficult to tell how much will be wanted-& if we buy Flour at the Wharf we shall want to know that it is the very best-& not packed up warm from the Stores.
B. Young[: A]ll the Flour sent from St. Louis, is sent out inspected-& the Inspector will be held responsible for it-
Mr. Mudge[:] I sho[ul]d. want it understood that St. Louis-inspection wo[ul]d. answer-I am given to understand that you want more woollen that cotton goods-
E. D. Woolley[:] We wish to know if the Store has given satisfaction this Season. [I]f this Council is satisfied, he will bring lots of goods.
G. W. Harris[:] Is there one individual in this room who has found any fault with the Store[?]-/Woolley/ I dont see any one.
O. Hyde[:] If we co[ul]d have an assurance how low the Flour co[ul]d. be sold here-it wo[ul]d. give us a better assurance how much we sho[ul]d. want & what calculations we could make-
Mr. Mudge[:] Mr. Cutler has my ideas exactly-I wo[ul]d. be perfectly willing to shew you my bill, all I want is a reasonable profit-I sho[ul]d. be happy to receive letters from you & that wo[ul]d. give me some more light. I never dealt with a set of people that I am better pleased with than you Mormons, as you are called, & if you are not prejudiced against us, we will continue-
B. Young-I am perfectly satisfied with the Store myself.
Mr. Mudge[: T]here are many men in this community that I wo[ul]d. as willingly trust on credit-& yet you have some not worthy of credit-I have openly refused some-[O]ne man openly jumped upon us & said they wo[ul]d. do us all the injury they co[ul]
d. I have an idea of those who did it.
O. Hyde[:] "I motion that there is no prejudice in this Council against that establishment." seconded. Carried.
Mr. Mudge[:] I dont recognize the face of any of those three, here present-
Joseph Young[:] I have learnt from many months that the persons in this Store have dealt gentlemanly & honorably & all have spoken well of Mr. Beach-
Mr. Mudge[:] I am perfectly satisfied. [T]he goods you will get here are not remnants. [They are] shop stocks-but perfect[ly] new sound goods-& they shall be hereafter. I have ax [asked] 1/3rd interest in the concern-[W]hen I went down a dividend was [?] struck[?]
B. Young[:] I dont want the least inducement held out to any merchant or business man-that we are not prompt to fulful. [I]f merchants come I dont want to be responsible for the acts of any o[the]r. man-without my assurance to them-I dont want my bre[thre]n to purchase goods-devote the avails to their own purposes & cheat the merchant-I say you shall dispose of your goods so & so & you shall have your pay-I buy on my own responsibility-[I]f a man cheats me I am the only one to blame. [T]he man who cheats me-all are friends & brethren in the ties of nature-[W]e are here to promote each others happiness instead of poverty & confusion-[W]e are poor now but shall not be always so-If the goods were brought here that ought to have been there, wo[ul]d. [there] not be a five cents worth left in the store[?]-I never did see any thing but bogus-& we keep exchanging one with another-[I]f Mr. Mudge had a few thousand barrels of Flour it wo[ul]d. have been a great accommodation-[T]he Co[mpany]. started was large. [D]id you bring any Flour, cotton goods-
Molasses, or any thing of the sort that you have now on hand[?]-I wont pledge myself to buy one barrel of Flour-yet if you would bring 2 boat loads of Flour I know he would not have a barrel on 1st June-If he will pledge himself to sell Flour as cheap as any man I will buy it of him-If I can get any thing to pay with-[T]here will be 3 or 400 barrels wanted within the circle of this room-I want 100 barrels of Flour next Spring & 50 between this & Spring-I want him to bring at least 5000 barrels of Flour & he will sell it it. [H]e has faith as much as I have & he has a perfect right to his privileges-[J]ust let me find out who writes insulting letters & I will politely invite the police to politely kick their arses across the river-[I]f a man is wrong, set him right but blackguardism I despise as the gates of hell-[A] man to write vulgar verses & stick them in the hands of his enemy I pray he may go no further. Mr. Beach saw the money laid out for wagons. [T]his will be a point to fit out thousands of dollars for every year-to pay for Wagons, horses &c &c & fit out to go out with- but I tell you he has not begin to tell what Mormonism [is]-[I]t is the voice of the Almighty, & the more we are kicked, the more we will flourish-[B]ring on your 50, & 100,000 a year & we will lick you up-Mormonism is but a babe-[W]rite that down & if they fail, tell me of it-[S]uppose we say to England, send you 1000s. [T]here are 25,000 Saints wo[ul]d. ship from Enlgland in 2 months-I want men to live in merchandize who live by it. [B]ut I have things of Eternity-I want an /A/nvil-& if Woolley had a Soul big enough to tell Mr. Beach to bring a dozen anvils & leather to make a dozen bellows he wo[ul]d. have done right-Mr. Beach is a Saint-[O]ur Tinners are driven into missouri-[B]ring on your plate & set those men to work, we want our cups & plates-
[B]ro Woolley is so small that if he had a 1000 picayunes he wo[ul]d pinch them out one at a time, & yet I wo[ul]d. sow them broadcast-I shall have to use hooks to hook them out of hell-while Sectarians use pitch forks to picth [pitch] them in-
If Mr. Mudge brings goods here, he brings them as a Partner. [W]e shall be under the necessity of having correspondence with St Louis so that he may know our plans & we know his-
[I]f I can be apprized of the fact that Flour, Sugar, cloths, & other articles will be here-I want to exact from Mr. Mudge a pledge that he charters boats for freight & passengers-so he work[s] into our hands & we work into his hands-[I]f we can be assured of having these things we can say to England, Ohio, & elsewhere, come here & we can fit you out-[W]hat am I to do for Sugar, can you supply me[?]-(Mudge[:] No) I have to send a team clear to St. Jo[seph s]-I want to see a Store 100 feet long where I can get every thing I want. I want 100 Barrels of Flour, 1 Ton of Sugar-a Web of Wire-I want another mill here-as quick as there is Grain enough here-[Y]ou will see men come here to fit out-
Mr. Mudge[:] I must say it is not mr. Woolley s fault that the Stock of Fall Goods was not bought-I expected it wo[ul]d. be a small snug country business-
B. Young[:] If Mr. Beach & Eddy are willing to furnish a Store in this place, or elsewhere-I am willing-Beach & Eddy are Gentlemen-but talk about 5 or [$]10,000 worth of goods. I want a Store of [$]50,000 worth of goods-& in regard to apothacaries I want to see a Store where a man co[ul]d. buy a picayune or 500. worth-I want you to have a Store on the other side also-
Mr. Mudge[:B]efore the conversation this morning I sho[ul]d. have thot. 100 kegs of nails [was] a large fit out-there is one thing.
B. Young[:] It is the generally the custom of Merchants to rise on their goods when Winter sets in-but I am determined to put an end to all that kind of work, of raising prices on other peoples necessities-I have greatly desired & in a few instances verified-[and] found bills fitted out in the exact mannner wanted-[B]ut in most cases I am gulled-I want to see righteousness in all deals-I propose that Mr. Mudge give us his mind in a letter & we will give our views-I have all confidence in the firm of Beach & Eddy.
Moved & seconded that we have an adjournment for one hour. 20 min[utes] to 1-
At the time appointed those of the Council /who/ were present opened council with prayer by Isaac Morley-[P]resent[:] Pres[iden]t. Young, [Heber C.] Kimball, [Orson] Pratt, [Willard]
Richards-Joseph Young, N[ewell] K Whitney, & 9 of the Hi[gh] Council-[A]fterwards came in [Wilford] Woodruff, [George A.] Smith-[and Ezra T.] Benson.
An order was written authorizing Joseph Young to sell the books that came from Nauvoo, to pay the freight-
Hosea Stout stated that it had been suggested to raise [$]75 for each [$]100. of property on the other side of the river to assist paying the Police tax-
B. Young-Elder Hyde will see to it-[H]e is like a piece of clear mercury.
Mr. /James/ Kimball wishes to bring a Stock of goods here for Sale.
E. T Benson[:] "I motion that a letter be sent to Mr. Kimball giving him the privilege of bringing his Store of goods here." A[lpheus]. Cutler sec[onde]d. Carried.
B. Young[: W]e understand that the Stockbridge & Delaware Indians want some school teachers. [And also] A Blacksmith, wheelwright, carpenter, Joiner & Farmer-[T]he old Chief wanted the Mechanics to be preachers & they want a Stake of Zion built there.
G[eorge]. W. Harris[:] "I motion that we take notice of it." [S]ec[onde]d.-& carr[ie]d.
B. Young[: I]t wo[ul]d. be my mind that a man H. C. Kimball /H C Kimball/[:] "I motion that Father Cutler be the a man to go down there to find out what they want & learn the particulars.["] L[evi] Richards sec[onde]d. Carried.
G. [E.] T. Benson[:] "I motion that Father Cutler be the man." I[saac]. Morley sec[onde]d.
Carried.
B. Young[:] I want Father Cutler to tell what he wants doing for him.
T[homas] Bullock read [a] letter from Cha[rle]s. Bird to John Taylor about the missionary &c.
G. A. Smith motion[ed] that this Council adjourn until call-W Richards sec[onde]d.
Carried.
[source: Minutes, Quorum of Twelve]
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