FESTIVAL AT KANESVILLE. A festival was held at Kanesville on the 8th September, on occa-sion of the arrival ol A. U. Babbitt, Esq, the del egate to Congress appointed by the Legislature of the State of Deseret. Mr Babbitt made a speech at the festival, from which we extract the following:
We want to build up the Kingdom of God—that object has carried our brethren to the Val-ley. I was present on the 24th of July, when they held the anniversary of the entering of the Pioneers into the Valley; it was like the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock; they arrived there destitute, and when they had raised bread enough to satisfy the demands of nature, they re-joiced, and I rejoiced with them; they rejoiced and shouted ''Hosanna;" and my soul rejoiced ex-ceedingly. I rejoiced in view of the future.
The Lord has opened unto us the windows of Heaven and bestowed bountifully the fruits of the earth. Two tables were spread one mile and a half in length, and seven thousand persons sat down to the feast. The Liberty Pole was raised one hundred and sixty-five feet in the air, and the Banner floated sixty-three feet. I report then a place where the honest can live in the enjoyment of truth, &c. I might say much on the storm that has been bursting over the nation for the two years past—I now call upon you to sustain the little State of Deseret, that it may be added a star on the Banner of the Union.
This is neither a political nor a religious speech; but such an one as the circumstances of the day call forth. This people has given the greatest proof to our government of their truly republican feeling, in their sacrifices, having of-fered fathers, sons, and brothers upon the altar of duty, who, after gaining for their country a terri-tory highly important both as to wealth and com-merce; many have again re-enlisted to support the American flag in that country. I hope to hear from your honorable Committee. And may God bless you is the prayer of your humble ser-vant.
Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Wil-lard Richards, write from Valley to the Church in Pottawatamie Co, Iowa, as follows :
The Saints live up to the old Mormon motto, and "Mind their own business," by which the valley of the Great Salt Lake is bursting into a city of habitations. Lawsuits and mobs are far from this valley of peace, and may they ever re-main so.
We came to this Valley when there was no house nor fence, and no corn nor wheat save what we brought with us, and our every nerve and all our energies will be exerted to sustain ourselves, to build houses, fences, and raise grain, which, from all appearances, must command as high a price as from $5 to $10 per bushel for wheat, and from $2 to $6 for com, and other things in pro-portion.
When these small matters of journeying more than 1000 miles over the sage plains, and settling and preparing to live and sustain ourselves with the common necessaries of life are overcome, then the poor shall feel our helping hand to as-sist them to remove to this valley.
19th Century Mormon Article Newspaper Index
