Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"Smith, Joseph Fielding
History
Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History
"There is a discretionary power vested in my hands which I shall
exercise in your favor for a season; for this lenity you are
indebted to my clemency. I do not say that you shall go now, but
you must not think of staying here another season or of putting in
crops, for the moment you do this the citizens will be upon you.
If I am called here again, in case of a non-compliance of a treaty
made, do not think that I shall act any more as I have done--you
need not expect any mercy, but extermination, for I am determined
the governor's order shall be executed. As for your leaders, do not
once think--do not imagine for a moment--do not let it enter your
mind that they will be delivered, or that you will see their faces
again, for their _fate is fixed--their die is cast--their doom is
sealed."_
He then very graciously pleaded with them, and invoked the "Great
Spirit, the unknown God," to make them sufficiently intelligent to
break the chains of superstition, that they no longer worship man, and
never again organize with bishops, presidents, etc., but to become like
other men.
Trial in Daviess County
About this time Governor Boggs wrote General Clark to hold a military
court in Daviess County, and try those "guilty of the late outrages,
committed towards the inhabitants of said county." He was desirous
of having the whole matter "settled completely, if possible" before
the forces should be disbanded. "If the 'Mormons' are disposed,"
said Boggs, "voluntarily to leave the state, of course it would be
advisable in you to promote that object, in any way deemed proper.
The ringleaders of this rebellion, though, ought by no means to be
permitted to escape the punishment they merit." General Robert Wilson
was detailed to Daviess County to take possession of the prisoners. All
the men in the town of Adam-ondi-Ahman were placed under arrest, and a
court of inquiry instituted with the mobber Adam Black on the bench.
Notwithstanding this, after three days of examination, Black acquitted
them all. No one knew better than he of their innocence.
The Charges Against Joseph Smith and Companions
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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