160 years ago today - Feb 20, 1861

Mail arrives via Pony Express containing news of the southern states seceding from the union. At Brigham Young's office a letter is read "to many of the brethren who had assembled themselves at the Office. A remark of Abraham Lincolns that was read, in which he likened the Union to a Free love arrangement elicited a hearty laugh from the President and brethren." The next day "Pres. [Young] again remarked it was a pretty cute remark of Abraham Lincoln comparing the Union to a Free love arrangement."