A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in Missouri

CONTINUED.

The Governor, D. Dunklin, was disposed to bring the mobbers to justice; consequently, ten or twelve, witnesses were subpoened to attend the February term of the circuit court Capt. Atchison was ordered to guard them over to Jackson, and back, with his company of Liberty Blues. The attorney Gen. was also ordered, or requested, by the Gov. to attend the court, to assist the circuit attorney, in the investigation. The witnesses were guarded over to Independence, and after having been there a short time, they were visited by the circuit attorney, accompanied by the attorney General. They informed the witnesses, that such was the excitement prevailing there; that it was doubtful whether any thing could be done to bring the mobbers to justice; that if any should be convicted, they would only be fined in some trifling sum, not to exceed $5, at most, just enough to answer the law. And they advised the witnesses not to go before the grand jury, intimating at the same time, that they might be in danger.-The witnesses replied, that they had been ordered there by the court, and they supposed, that they were still subject to the court, or to them, the attornies [attorneys]. As to the danger, in going before the grand jury they feared it not: they were ready and willing to go and testify to the truth. The attornies [attorneys] left them, and in a short time after, they were informed by Capt. Atchison, that the Judge, Mr. Ryland, had sent him word, that the witnesses and guard, were not wanted there any longer; Capt. A. paraded his men, as soon, and as well as he could for the crowd, and immediately marched off, the witnesses following him. All hopes were now given up of ever bringing that people to justice; their hatred towards the saints, appeared to be unabating; they frequently sent over word to Clay co. that they were coming over to drive them from that place; they even went so far, as to circulate a paper in Clay county, the object of which was to obtain volunteers there, to assist them in driving the saints away.-In Clay county however, they had but a few friends, (for some time,) and could not obtain many signers.

A wealthy farmer, by the name of Arthur, living in Clay county, who was then friendly to the saints, and who was in the habit of sending flour and whiskey into Jackson to sell, (it generally being higher there than in Clay, in consequence of the Indian trade,) sent over one of his negroes and team with a load, sometime that fall or winter, they were stopped on the road by some of the good people of Jackson, who mounted the load, and with axes cut the barrels to pieces, and wasted the flour and whisky upon the ground.

In 1834, if we mistake not, an inoffensive Br. by the name of Ira J. Willes went into Jackson co. to hunt for a lost cow; he was taken by some of the ruffians residing there, who, after stripping off his clothes, whipped him unmercifully. For the credit of Missouri, we would state that he was taken from the house of a Justice of the Peace; this is an ensample of upper Missouri peace makers. The same year, Br. Lewis Abbot, a very peacible [peaceable] man, went to Jackson to see a man who owed him; on his way he was discovered, and overtaken by some of that lawless banditti, who beat him with handspikes, no doubt with an intent to kill, for that was what they swore they would do; but his life was preserved, and he escaped out of their hands. Thus have that people, unceasingly abused, and persecuted the saints whenever they could get an opportunity.

Governor Dunklin appeared willing to guard back the saints to Jackson co.

at any time when they should get ready to go; but said, that he had not authority to keep a guard there for their protection. That being the case they were advised, by some of the most influential men in the upper country, who were friendly to them, but not believers in their faith, to have enough of their brethren emigrate to that country, to enable them to maintain their rights, should the mob ever attemp [attempt] to trample upon them again: and then get the Governor to set them back upon their lands. Accordingly word was sent forth to the churches to that effect; and in the summer of 1834, a large company emigrated from the eastern churches, to Clay co. for that purpose.

Whilst this company was forming and going up to Missouri, rumor, with her ten thousand tongues, was busily engaged, in circulating falsehoods about them; insomuch [inasmuch], that before they arrived at Clay co., there was considerable excitement, even there.

The Jackson co. people went over into Clay, and called a meeting and stired [stirred] up all the feelings there, that they possibly could against the saints. The anger of the people of Jackson co. rose to a great height; they had furnished themselves with a number of cannon, and their neighbours [neighbors] of the adjoining counties, on the south side of the Missouri river, volunteered by hundreds to assist them, provided that the Gov. should attempt to set the saints back upon their land in Jackson co.

The company from the eastern churches arrived in Clay co. and their gentle manners, and peaceable deportment, soon convinced the people of that country, of the false reports which had been circulated about them. The excitement was very soon done away, and the people appeared more friendly than before.

After the arrival of the brethren from the east, a council was held, and it was concluded, considering the great wrath of the people, south of the river, that it would not be wisdom to ask the Governor to set them back at that time.

The people of Clay co. were mostly friendly to the saints, but there were a few exceptions. Nothing of importance occurred, however, for some time, a few threats and insults from those who were disaffected, was all the hostility manifested till the summer of 1836.

The suits which had been commenced against the Jackson co. people, for damages, progressed so slow, and were attended with such an amount of cost, that they were all dropped but two; which were considered sufficient to try the experiment; to ascertain whether or not any thing could be obtained by the law. Near $300 cost had been paid by the brethren, to obtain a change of venue; the suits were then removed to Ray county. Court after court passed, and the trials were continued. At last, in the summer of 1836, the time drew near, when it was supposed that the trials must come on: which was very gratifying to those who planted the suits. When the court came, their lawyers, instead of going to trial, as they should have done, made a sort of compromise, with the mobbers, by dropping one suit, without even having the cost paid, and that too without the knowledge or consent of their employers. On the other suit the defendants agreed to pay a few hundred dollars; though not as much as the lawyer's fees had been. Thus the lawyers, after getting their pay, managed the cases; had they been true to the brethren, as they were bound to be by oath, and brought their suits to a trial, instead of making a compromise, and laboured [labored] faithfully for them, as they ought to have done; and laboured [labored] as though they meant to earn their thousand dollar fee; there is no doubt but that, on the two suits, they would have obtained as many thousands of dollars, as they did hundreds by the compromise. No further attempts have ever been made to obtain a compensation for the losses and damages, sustained by the saints in Jackson co., except last winter in petitioning the Legislature of Missouri, among other things they asked the State, for remuneration for them; which the Legislature did not see fit to grant.

In the summer of 1836 the mob party, in Clay co. strengthened itself considerably, and became quite bold; insomuch [inasmuch] that they on one of two instances, began to whip the saints; and

one day some sixty of seventy of them assembled, rode off a few miles east, and stopped a few waggons [wagons], which were moving to Clay co., and turned them back. It was manifested from their threatnings [threatenings] and actions, that they were determined, to fall upon the saints and drive them out of the county, if they could. It was equally manifest, that the saints were disposed to defend themselves against mobs, even to the sheding [shedding] of blood.

At that time it was seen that if something was not done to stop it, blood would be shed; (for the mob party were resolved on driving, and the saints were determined not to be driven by them, without first trying their strength;) Wherefore the most intelligent, and respectable citizens of the county, who had always appeared friendly to the saints, held a meeting, in which they appointed a committee, and also requested the saints to appoint a committee, to meet their committee near Liberty, on a day appointed to confer with each other; and see if something could not be done, to evade the storm, which appeared to be fast gathering.

The committee met at the appointed time, and a proposition was made by the citizen's committee, to the other, to this effect.

That whereas, the people of Clay co. had kindly received the saints in their distress, when it was expected, that they would soon return to Jackson co., and not think of making Clay co. a permanent home; and whereas, almost three years had passed away since, and the prospect of their returning to Jackson co. was less at that time than it was years before; and that a portion of the citizens of Clay co. were dissatisfied, to have them remain where they were any longer. Therefore the committee in behalf of the citizens requested, that they (the saints) should look themselves a new location, either in some unsettled part of the State, or otherwise go out of the State, as suited them best. The committee disclaimed all right, to request any such thing; they said, that they knew very well, that the saints had just as good a right there, as themselves, but they thought that considering the opposition that there was to them it would be better for them, to go where they could be more by themselves; and they even recommended their gathering together, and living altogether by themselves. They further said, that if they would consent to go., and seek a new location, they would send a committee with them, who was acquainted with the country, who would pilot them, in looking it out. However a location had already been selected, and about sixteen hundred acres of land purchased but a short time previous; and they were willing to go, and some of them were making preparations to move there soon before the meeting of the committee: Wherefore the committee, on the part of the church, consented to the proposition made to them; and then all parted with apparent good feelings.-Soon afterwards three, on the part of the church, and two pilots, started to view the country; they travelled [traveled] a number of days, the new settlements, towards the N. W. corner of the State; and they finally concluded, that the place previously selected, now known as Caldwell Co. should be the place, where they would settle; there being but a few inhabitants, in a district of country large enough for a county; and they, in general, willing to sell out.

Upon these movements the mob spirit in Clay Co. measurably subsided, and the saints prepared, and moved to their new settlement, as fast as their circumstances would permit; pleased with the idea of settling together by themselves.