1857-06-11-New York Tribune-Mr Appleby and Brigham Young
Mr Appleby and Brigham Young
New York Tribune, 11 June 1857, p. 5
To the Editor of The N. Y. Tribune.
SIR: In The Tribune of June 6, I perceive the following passage in a letter, extracted from The Missouri Democrat:
- "A Mormon by the name of W. I. Appleby, Clerk of the Supreme Court, was the author of several letters, sent on to the States and published, which pretend to give a correct account of affairs in Utah, during the many charges made against Young and his followers, and signed 'A Gentile.' "
- "His communications are not reliable, as he is one of the principal men in Salt Lake City devoted to the Mormon Church, and all his pretensions of being a Gentile were humbug."
As I am the person alluded to, I wish to reply to the gentleman, whoever he may be, who made the foregoing statement. I pronounce it an unmitigated and base falsehood, in relation to my writing any article referred to, or signing "A Gentile," &c.; and the author knew it was false at the time, and hence was afraid and ashamed to sign his name.
I left Utah last April one year ago, and arrived in the States the last of May following, and have been in the States all the while since, a good portion of that time in New-York, and in Washington City. I have never, in all my life, wrote an article in relation to "affairs in Utah," Governor Young, or any one else, while residing in Utah, neither have I since my arrival in the States, ecept one to The Washington Star last June or July in reply to Col. Benton's remarks made in his political speech at St. Louis, wherein he attacked Gov. Young and the gallant Col. Steptoe. My name to that communication was signed "W. I. Appleby of Utah." Neither have I signed "A Gentile" to any article I have ever written. I write no article to which I am either ashamed or afraid to sign my name.
My character for truth and honesty is with those with whom I am best known, both in Burlington County, New-jersey (my native place), also in Utah, and generally more or less in the States, and I am at the defiance of all the poor, miserable poltroons and falsifiers of Gov. Young and the Mormons to substantiate the first charge, in truth, derogatory to my character.
It is true I have been associated with the United States Courts in Utah ever since their first organization there, and I am pretty well posted up in relation to all the officials who have been sent there, and the course they have pursued. Some have behaved like gentlemen and attended to their duties; others, the history of their doings would make a book, and the title should be "The History of the Judges,and other Officials of Utah." I am a true and personal friend of Gov. Young; have known him for some fourteen years; been with him by day and by night, and I do know him to be a good, noble, and upright man; one that is not afraid of men or devils, but will contend for his rights; a protector of the weak and a terror to evil doers.
It is also true, I am a Mormon; have been for nearly seventeen years, and I am not ashamed of it; neither do I care who knows it. I rejoice in the truth and light of their faith. We know it is invulderable, adn falsehood and vituperation, mobbing and driving, are all the arguments produced to refute it. No editor of priest dare meet Mormonism on its merits; and the reason why I am a Mormon is because they have more light, truth and intelligence in relation to the plan of salvation and Bible truths than I can find among any other people, sect, or denomination; and I have searched deep and proved well.
The next time any of those maligners write in relation to me, I wish them to give their names, so that I may know who they are. If they desire anything whatever, they can be accommodated by calling on me, almost any day in the week, at my office, No. 102 Nassau street, New-York. I speak bold—Truth makes me so.
By giving the foregoing an insertion you will much oblige me.
- W. I. Appleby of Utah.
- New-York, June 10, 1857.
