165 years ago today - Aug 22, 1851

... ["]H[yde] advised the people to beat the Indians out of [Pottawattomie] County. [I] saw two Indians whipped there unmercifully. I said this was a bad policy. Thought such a course would stir up the Indians to prevent emigration, and thought it was done to prevent emigration. When he came through he met with the Indians. [Logan] Fontainelle complained and he told [the Indians] to take Hyde's skelp [scalp] but let the people alone.["] O[rson] Hyde-Has never had any difficulty with brother P[hin ehas]. ["]The difficulty has been with him alone. I have said or done little.["] In regard to P[hinehas] going East. He [Hyde] wanted [Bill] Hickman to let him have a horse, and advised Hickman to steal another.

… [In the afternoon] H[eber] C. Kimball [said:]. ["]The difficulty between Joseph Young and Bro. Hyde seems to be settled. But the matter between Bro Hyde and Phineas Young does not appear to be settled. Bro. Phineas Young has laid plains [plans] with the Indians to take the life of one of the anointed of the Lord, of a member of this council and we all know what our obligations are, and we cannot fellowship brother Phineas as a member of this council unless he makes full satisfaction. O[rson] Spencer accords with the sentiments advanced by coun[selor] Kimball. Also referred to the case between E[lde]r Hyde and Jos[ep]h Young. P[hinehas] Young. Wish[ed] the Council to understand that in consequence of what had taken place he had said what he did say. He acknowledges he has done wrong and wishes brother Hyde and the council to forgive him. Bro. Hyde need have no fears of him for he will not injure him. David Fullmer made remarks similar to those by O Spencer. O Hyde wished to know why P[hinehas] Young believed that H[yde] wished to kill him. P[hinehas] Young. Related the circumstances of his being at Kanesville during the election. Of his hearing of a plan being laid to assassinate him. Of his being shot at one night after dark. This made him think there were designs against his life and did not know why men should do it unless they were told to. A[lexander] Badlam thinks if bro. Hyde is willing to forgive P[hinehas Young] he don't know why he should withstand. There is wrong all around according to the acknowledgments, but he could not consent to taking life. A[lmon] W. Babbit. Referred [to the fact] that there had been wrong on both sides. Bro. Hyde acknowledged to having had [ill] feelings [against Young ever] since O[liver] Cowdrey came to Winter Quarters. Referred to what his [Babbit's] own feelings would have been towards bro. Hyde if the reconciliation had not taken place. Thinks there is more gass in Bro. Phineas than intention to injure bro. Hyde. Thinks they ought to settle the matter as it was [done] last evening. ... J[edediah] M. Grant. Said that bro. Phineas has boasted to the citizens of this place that he had advised the Indians to kill bro. Hyde. He considers the crime a great one. If the U.S. Officers become informed of the fact, the U.S. will not deal with brother Phineas as mercifully as we do. If one member of this council can be trampled upon with impunity, [then] the wild savages can be set on him with impunity. H. C. Kimball. Spake of his good feelings towards brother Phineas. He will tell brother Phineas some things which will lead him down to hell [if he persists], i.e., if he don't bind himself up and not talk so much carelessly and it will do so [anyway] by any man if they don't quit it. Pres[ide]nt Brigham Young. His feelings are if Bro. Phineas will take back what he has said wherever he has stated it, and write the letter, and then make a solemn covenant never to take a step against any member of this council or an anointed of the Lord again without proper evidence, he will feel to forgive him. If he will make a covenant to never let his tongue make a fool of him again and make restitution he may be forgiven. The above decision of the president, was then put to a vote and passed in the affirmative.

[Source: Selected Minutes of the Council of Fifty, Quinn Papers, Beinecke Library, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]

3 comments:

  1. There was/is no Pottawatomie County in Utah. This should read Piute County. There are only 2 Pottawatomie counties in the US - one in Oklahoma, the other in Kansas.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wonder if "county" was used differently in this text than how we use it today. The saints had a settlement among the Pottawatomie in Council Bluffs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you're spot on. There was/is a 3rd such county in the US, in Iowa:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pottawattamie_County,_Iowa

      Delete

Please Enter your Comment: