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Show 48 Brigham Young, when he received news of Hurt's intention to flee, that safe conduct would be supplied; but Hurt, for reasons of personal safety or political advantage, left without responding to the offer of the Governor. His first letter after his trip east is interesting. The mood of the man also reflects the fact that a "gentile," or non-Mormon, governor and a detachment of federal troops were resident in the territory. In a letter date'd September l4, I858, he comments: Since the advance of the civil officers into the settlements my time has been devoted chiefly to the unsettled business of Indians belonging to this agency during the Summer charging them with thefts and other serious crimes. . . The process of redeeming these wretched creatures from savage indolence to habits of industry and morality has been greatly interrupted during the past season, and it is now very difficult to induce some of the Indians who labored well on the farms last year to resume again these useful exercises.° Hurt complains further that in his absence those remaining had given the surplus >the farms had produced to the Indians in the manner he describes: "The abundant crops of last season have been disposed of, having been lavished profusely upon those who took no part in producing them...besides there is scarcely a Bishop in the territory who has not large claims against the government for flour and other pro- •7 visions furnished the Indians during the same period." 6pr- Garland Hurt to Jacob Forney, September l4, 1858, in OIA, Utah, I858, Microfilm copy, Marriott Library. 7lbid. |