Isaac Higbee's "reply to request for council regarding the Indians" to Brigham Young, dated October 18, 1849

In response to a request for "council regarding the Indians" Issac Hibee wrote to Brigham Young telling him the issues that he felt prevented the Indians from responding to the missionary efforts of those Young sent out. Higbee warned Young that settlers spent too much time "smoking and chatting"with the Indians , which encouraged "idleness and ignorance" instead of teaching them to labor. Higbee told Brigham Young to council settlers to stop becoming too "familiar"with the Indians, to not allow the children of settlers to "fraternize" with the Indians, and instead to treat the Indians as inferiors rather than "equals." Higbee claimed that treating the Indians as "equals" would slow down the missionary work of the church. Higbee also instructed Young to instruct settlers to "take care of their own business"and the Indians would "take care of their own business."