"There was danger of some expression of feeling when the song was over, for it had begun to draw tears; but, breaking the quiet with his hard voice, an elder asked the blessing of Heaven on all who, with purity of heart and brotherhood of spirit, had mingled in that society, and then all dispersed, hastening to cover from the falling dews."
With the departure of the Battalion, an agent accompanied them to Leavenworth, where he is reported to have drawn $20,000 "advance pay," and with that timely aid, Brigham Young made such outfitting purchases in St. Louis as were greatly needed. It is also understood that an agent continued with the Battalion until another draft could be made for their pay, before entering upon their march across the desert. Small as such sums were, yet in the situation and poverty of the exiles it was certainly timely aid from the Government. There has been much personal dissatisfaction expressed about the use made of these funds, yet the most bitter of his opponents acknowledged that Brigham showed great sagacity in at once furnishing the Battalion.[1]
With the presence of Col. Kane and elder Little among the apostles, the Washington proceedings were explained. On the 7th of August, the Saints assembled to choose twelve men from among the elders to act as a High Council in the new Stake of Zion, organized on the banks of the Missouri, and to transact other business pertaining to the settlement of "Winter Quarters." After this meeting, a consultation was held with Colonel Kane, and the apostles advised together. It was then resolved that an address to President Polk should be framed, expressive of the gratitude of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints towards him for his benevolent design "of arming and planting five hundred of our volunteers in California, to take possession of that country, and for our good[2] and also praying the President of the United States not to appoint Governor Boggs of Missouri–the notorious enemy
- ↑ There are very hard stories told about the use of this money in the hands of Brigham. Affidavits have been made of his heartless indifference to the wants of the wives and families of the absent soldiers. In Mrs. Waite's "Early History of Brigham Young," pp. 6-7, the affidavit of Alexander McCord is given, relating to this affair, and bears evidence of truthfulness.
- ↑ The Mormons who remained in Nauvoo voted the Democratic ticket at the August election in 1846. Almond W. Babbitt, the agent of the Church there, asserted that this change in their politics was an expression of their gratitude to President Polk. Governor Ford says they voted from the following considerations:
"The President of the United States had permitted the Mormons to settle on the Indian lands on the Missouri river, and had taken five hundred of them into the service as soldiers in the war with Mexico; and in consequence of these favours the Mormons felt under obligations to vote for democrats, in support of the administration; and so determined were they that their support of the President should be efficient, that they all voted three or four times each for member of Congress."—"History of Illinois," p. 414.
