The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
June 26th, by agreement among the elders of the "Mormons," a letter
was prepared to Governor Dunklin, informing him of their arrival in
Clay County, of their having been met by General Doniphan, of their
present condition and the nature of the negotiations then pending, of
the character of the proposals made by them, and notifying the governor
that if the present effort for peace failed they should do all that
could be required of them by human or divine law to secure peaceably
their homes in Jackson County, their claim to which they would not
abandon. They further notified the governor that within the week one
of their brethren was taken by some citizens from Jackson County, and
forcibly carried from Clay County across the Missouri, and after being
detained in custody for a day and night was threatened and released.
Also, that the houses of a number of their members in Clay County had
been broken into and rifled of guns and arms during the absence of the
men folks, the women being threatened and intimidated. On the same day
they received a rejection of the proposals to Mr. Owens, by the way of
their attorney, Mr. Reese.
While encamped on Rush Creek the cholera broke out among them, and out
of sixty-eight attacked thirteen died, among them John S. Carter, Eber
Wilcox and Algernon S. Gilbert, he who was expelled from Independence.
Mr. Gillium published the result of his visit to the "Mormon" camp,
and the propositions made by them as stated above, in the _Enquirer,_
July 1st, 1834, and the whole country then became acquainted with the
purposes and wishes of these worshipers. We quote from this publication
the following:
"We wish to become permanent citizens of the State, and bear our
proportion in support of the government and to be protected by its
laws. If the above propositions are complied with we are willing to
give security on our part, and we shall want the same of the people of
Jackson County, for the performance of this agreement. We do not wish
to settle down in a body, except where we can purchase the land with
money; for to take possession by conquest or the shedding of blood
is entirely foreign to our feelings. The shedding of blood we shall
not be guilty of, until all just and honorable means among men prove
insufficient to restore peace."
This declaration was signed by Joseph Smith, Jr., F. G. Williams,
then acting president of The Church, Lyman Wright, Roger Orton, Orson
Hyde and John S. Carter, all leading men among the "Mormons." It was
directed to John Lincoln, John Sconce, George R. Morehead, James H.
Long and James Collins. The "Mormons" also appointed a committee
of their number, who drafted an appeal to the people of the United
States, in which they set forth the purposes expressed by them in their
statement to Mr. Gillium. This appeal was published and scattered
abroad, but it is not known what effect it had, other than possibly to
exasperate the feeling in Missouri against them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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