--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1845 to 1846. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 6 number: 21 published: 1846-01-15 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“Propositions of the People of Jackson County to the Mormons.,” *Times and Seasons* 6, no. 21 (January 15, 1846): 1089–1092." printed_title: '"PROPOSITIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF JACKSON COUNTY TO THE MORMONS."' source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1846-01-15_6_21 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v6n21.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1846-01-15_6_21 start_page: 1089 end_page: 1092 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1846 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1846-01-15_6_21 publication_year: 1846 --- # “Propositions of the People of Jackson County to the Mormons.” "The undersigned committee, being fully authorised [authorized] by the people of Jackson county, hereby propose to the Mormons, that they will buy all the land that the said Mermons [Mormons] own in the county of Jackson; and also, all the improvements which the said Mormons had on any of the public lands in said county of Jackson, as they existed before the first disturbance between the people of Jackson and the Mormons, and for such as they have made since. They further propose that the valuation of said land and improvements shall be ascertained by three disinterested arbitrators to be chosen and agreed to by both parties. They further propose, that should the parties disagree in the choice of arbitrators, then - - -is to choose them. They further propose, that twelve of the Mormons shall be permitted to go along with the arbitrators to shew [show] them their land and improvements while valuing the same, and such other of the Mormons as the arbitrators shall wish to do so, to give them information; and the people of Jackson hereby guarantee their entire safety while doing so. They further propose, that when the arbitrators report the value of the land and improvements, as aforesaid, the people of Jackson will pay the valuation, with one hundred per cent added thereon, to the Mormons, within thirty days thereafter. They further propose, that the Mormons are not to make any effort, ever after, to settle, either collectively or individually, within the limits of Jackson county. The Mormons are to enter into bonds to insure the conveyance of their land in Jackson county, according to the above terms, when the payment shall be made; and the committee will enter into a like bond, with such security as may be deemed sufficient, for the payment of the money, according to the above proposition. While the arbitrators are investigating and deciding upon the matters referred to them, the Mormons are not to attempt to enter into Jackson county, or to settle there, except such as are by the foregoing propositions permitted to go there. They further propose, that the people of Jackson will sell all their lands, and improvements on public lands, in Jackson county, to the Mormons,-the valuation to be obtained in the same manner,-the same per cent in addition to be paid, and the time the money is to be paid is the same, as the above set forth in our propositions to buy, the Mormons to give good security for the payment of the money, and the undersigned will give security that the land will be conveyed to the Mormons. They further propose, that all parties are to remain as they are till the payment is made, at which time the people of Jackson will give permission. (Signed) SAMUEL C. OWENS, RICHARD FRISTOE, THOS. HAYTON Sen.. THOS. CAMPBELL, JOHN DAVIS, THOS. JEFFREYS, SMALLWOOD NOLAND, ROBERT RICKMAN, ABRAHAM M. CLELLAN, S. K. NOLAND." On presentation of the foregoing, Samuel C. Owens made a flaming war-speech, and Gen. Doniphan relied on the side of peace. The Rev. M. Riley, a Baptist Priest, made a hot speech against the Mormons, and said "the Mormons have lived long enough in Clay county; and they must either clear out, or be cleared out." Turnham, the moderator of the meeting, answered in a masterly manner; saying, "let us be republicans; let us honor our country, and not disgrace it like Jackson county. For God's sake dont [don't] disfranchise or drive away the Mormons. They are better citizens than many of the old inhabitants." Gen. Doniphan exclaimed, "that's a fact, and as the Mormons have armed themselves, if they don't fight they are cowards. I love to hear that they have brethren coming to their assistance. Greater love can no man show, than he who lays down his life for his brethren." At this critical instant, the cocking of pistols, and jingle of implements of death, denoted desperation. One motioned 'adjourn" another, "go on," and in the midst of this awful crisis a person bawled into the door "a man stabbed." The mass instantly rushed out to the spot, in hopes, as some said, that "one damn'd Mormon had got killed," but as good luck would have it, only one Missourian had dirk'd another: (one Calbert a blacksmith, had stabbed one Wales, who had previously whipped one Mormon nearly to death, and boasted of having whipped many more.) The wound was dangerous, and as if the Lord was there, it seemed as though the occurrence was necessary to break up the meeting without further bloodshed, and give the saints a chance to consult what would be most advisable in such a critical instant, and they immediately penned the following answer to the propositions from Jackson county, presented by Owens, &c. "Gentlemen;-Your propositions for an adjustment of the difficulties between the citizens of Jackson county and the Mormons, is before us; and as explained to you in the court house this day, we are not authorised [authorized] to say to you that our brethren will submit to your proposals; but we agree to spread general notice, and call a meeting of our people in all, the present week, and lay before you an answer as soon as Saturday or Monday next. We can say for ourselves, and in behalf of our brethren, that peace is what we desire and what we are disposed to cultivate with all men: and to effect peace, we feel disposed to use all our influence, as far as would be required at our hands, as free born citizens of these United States, and as fears have been expressed, that we designed hostilities against the inhabitants of Jackson county, we hereby pledge ourselves to them, and to the hospitable citizens of Clay county, that we will not, and neither have designed, as a people, to commence hostilities against the aforesaid citizens of Jackson county or any other people. Our answer shall be handed to Judge Turnham, the chairman of the meeting, even earlier than the time before stated, if possible. (Signed) W. W. PHELPS, WM. E. McCLELLAN, A. S. GILBERT, JOHN CORRILL, ISAAC MORLEY. N. B. As we are informed that a large number of our people are on their way to Jackson county, we agree to use our influence immediately to prevent said company from entering into Jackson county, until you shall receive an answer to the propositions afore named." It may be thought, at first view, that the mob committee made a fair proposition to the saints, in offering to buy their lands at one hundred per cent, in thirty days; and offering theirs on the same terms; but when it is understood that the mob held possession of a much larger quantity of land than the saints, and that they only offered thirty days for the payment, having previously robbed them of nearly every thing, it will be readily seen that they were only making a sham to cover their previous unlawful conduct; but the tempest of an immediate conflict seemed to be checked, and the Jackson mob to the number of about fifteen, with Samuel C. Owens and James Campbell at their head, started for Independence, Jackson county, to raise an army sufficient to meet me, before I could get into Clay county. Campbell swore, as he adjusted his pistols in his holsters, "The Eagles and Turkey Buzzards shall eat my flesh if I do not fix Joe. Smith and his army so that their skins will not hold shucks, before two days are passed." They went to the ferry and undertook to cross the Missouri river, after dusk, and the angel of God saw fit to sink the boat, about the middle of the river, and seven out of twelve that attempted to cross, were drowned. Thus suddenly, and justly went they to their own place by water. Campbell was among the missing. He floated down the river some four or five miles, and lodged upon a pile of drift wood, where the Eagles, Buzzards, Ravans [Ravens], Crows and wild animals ate his flesh from his bones, to fullfil [fulfill] his own words, and left him a horrible looking skeleton of God's vengeance: which was discovered, about three weeks after by one Mr. Purtle. Owens saved his life only, after floating four miles down the stream, where he lodged upon an island, "swam off naked about day light, borrowed a mantle to hide his shame, and slipped home rather shy of the vengeance of God." We were threatened that we should not pass through Richmond, and it was reported that an army lay in wait there to intercept us. Thursday 19th; we passed through the town as soon as it was light and before the inhabitants were arisen from their slumbers, meeting with no opposition, but we had not proceeded many miles before one wagon broke down, and by the time that was repaired wheels run off from others and such like incidents continued through the day to impede our progress. When we started in the morning we intended to arrive in Clay county that day, but in vain, at a seasonable hour we encamped on an elevated piece of ground between two branches of Fishing River, having travelled [traveled] about fifteen miles. Fishing River, at this point, was composed of seven small streams, and those betwixt which we encamped were two of them. As we halted and were making preparations for the night, five men armed with guns rode into our camp and told us we should see hell before morning, and their accompanying oaths partook of all the malice of demons. They told us that sixty men were coming from Richmond, Ray county; and seventy more from Clay county, sworn to our utter destruction. The weather was pleasant at this time. During this day the Jackson county mob, to the number of about two hundred, made arrangements to cross the Missouri river, about the mouth of Fishing River, at William's ferry, into Clay county, and be ready to meet the Richmond mob near Fishing River Ford, for our utter destruction; but after the first scow load of about forty had been set over the river, the scow in returning was met by a squall, and had great difficulty in reaching the Jackson side by dare,. Soon after the five men left the camp swearing vengeance, we discovered a small black cloud rising in the West, and in twenty minutes, or thereabouts, it began to rain and hail, and this was the squall that trouble the Jackson boat. The storm was tremendous; wind and rain, hail and thunder met them in great wrath, and soon softened their direful courage, and frustrated all their designs to "kill Joe Smith and his army." Instead of continuing a cannonading, which they commenced the sun about one hour high, they crawled under wagons, into hollow trees, filled one old shanty, &c. till the storm was over, when their ammunition was soaked, and the forty in Clay county were extremely anxious in the morning, to return to Jackson, having experienced the pitiless peltings of the storm all night, and as soon as arrangements could be made, this "forlorn hope" took the "back track" for Independence, to join the main body of the mob, fully satisfied, as were those survivors of the company who were drowned, that when Jehovah fights, they would rather be absent. The gratification is too terrible. Very little hail fell in our camp, but from half to a mile around, the stones or lumps of ice cut down the crops of corn and vegetation generally, even cutting limbs from trees, themselves were twisted into withs by the wind. The lightning flashed incessantly, which caused it to be so light in our camp through the night, that we could discern the most minute object; and the roaring of the thunder was tremendous. The earth trembled and quaked; the rain fell in torrents, and, united, it seemed as if the mandate of vengeance had gone forth from the God of battles to protect his servants from the destruction of their enemies, for the hail fell on them, and not on us, and we suffered no harm except the blowing down of some of our tents and getting some wet, while our enemies had holes made in their hats and otherwise received damage, even the breaking of their rifle stocks, and the fleeing of their horses through fear and pain. Many of my little band sheltered in an old meeting house through this night, and in the morning the water in Big Fishing River, was about forty feet deep, where, the previous evening it was no more than to our ancles [ankles], and our enemies swore that the water rose thirty feet in thirty minutes in the Little Fishing River. Friday the 20th, we went five miles on the prairie to procure food for ourselves and horses, and establish ourselves for the moment, in some secure place where we could defend ourselves from the rage of our enemies, and while in this situation, on Saturday the 21st, Col. Sconce, with two other leading men from Ray county, come to see us, desiring to know what our intentions were; for, said he, "I see that there is an almighty power that protects this people, for I started from Richmond, Ray county, with a company of armed men, having a full determination to destroy you, but was kept back by the storm, and was not able to reach you." When he entered our camp he was seized with such a trembling that he was obliged to sit down to compose himself; and when he had made known his object of their visit; I arose, and addressing them, gave a relation of the sufferings of the Saints in Jackson county, and also of our persecution generally, and what we had suffered by our enemies for our religion; and that we had come one thousand miles to assist our brethren, to bring them clothing, &c. and to reinstate them upon their own lands: and that we had no intention to molest or injure any people, but only to administer to the wants of our afflicted friends; and that the evil reports circulated about us were false, and got up by our enemies to procure our destruction. When I had closed a lengthy speech, the spirit of which melted them into compassion, they would use their influence to allay the excitement which every where prevailed against us, and they wept when they heard of our afflictions and persecutions, and that our intentions were good. Accordingly they went forth and rode among the people, and made unwearied exertions to allay the excitement. The brethren in Clay county wrote the committee of the Jackson mob the same day: "Clay county, 21st June, 1834. Gentlemen:-Your propositions of Monday last have been generally made known to our people, and we are instructed to inform you that they cannot be acceded to. Honorable propositions to you are now making on our part and we think we shall be enabled to deliver the same to you the early part of next week. We are happy to have it in our power to give you assurances that our brethren here, together with those who have arrived from the East, are unanimously disposed to make every sacrifice for an honorable adjustment of our differences that could be required of free citizens of the United States. Negotiations at the camp are now going on between some gentlemen of this county and our brethren which are calculated to allay the great excitement in your county. We are informed that the citizens of Jackson entertain fears that our people intend to invade their territory in a hostile manner. We assure you that their fears are groundless; such is not and never was our intentions. (Signed) W W. PHELPS, A. S. GILBERT, W. E. McCLELLAN, JOHN CORRILL, ISAAC MORLEY. To S. C. Owens, and others of the Jackson committee."