The Evening and Morning Star

Extra-July 16th, 1833.

Having learned with extreme regret, that an article entitled, "Free people of color," in the last number of the Star, has been misunderstood we feel in duty bound to state, in this Extra, that our intention was not only to stop free people of color from emigrating to this state, but to prevent them from being admitted as members of the church. On the second column of the one hundred and eleventh page of the same paper, may be found this paragraph: "Our brethren will find an extract of the law of this state, relative to free people of color, on another page of this paper; great care should be taken on this point. The saints must shun every appearance of evil. As to slaves we have nothing to say, in connection with the wonderful events of this age, much is doing towards abolishing slavery, and colonizing the blacks in Africa.

We often lament the situation of our sister states in the south, and we fear, lest, as has been the case, the blacks should rise and spill innocent blood: for they are ignorant and a little may lead them to disturb the peace of society. To be short, we are opposed to having free people of color admitted into the state; and we say, that none will admitted into the church, for we are determined to obey the laws and constitutions of our country, that we may have that protection which the sons of liberty inherit from the legacy of Washington, through the favorable auspices of a Jefferson and Jackson."

On the 20th, the mob collected, and demanded the discontinuance of the printing in Jackson county: a closing of the store: and a cessation of all mechanical labors. The brethren refused compliance, and the consequence was, that the house of W. W. Phelps, which contained the printing establishment, was thrown down; the materials taken possession of by the mob; many papers destroyed, and the family and furniture thrown out of doors.

The mob then proceeded to violence towards

Edward Partridge, the bishop of the church, as he relates in his autobiography: "I was taken from my house by the mob, George Simpson being their leader, who escorted me about half a mile, to the court house, on the public square in Independence; and then and there, a few rods from said court house, surrounded by hundreds of the mob, I was stripped of my hat, coat and vest, and daubed with tar from head to foot, and then had a quantity of feathers put upon me; and all this, because I would not agree to leave the county, my home where I had lived two years.

Before tarring and feathering me, I was permitted to speak. I told them that the saints had had to suffer persecution in all ages of the world, that I had done nothing which ought to offend any one. That if they abused me, they would abuse an innocent person. That I was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ; but, to leave the country I was not then willing to consent to it. By this time the multitude made so much noise that I could not be heard: some were cursing and swearing, saying, call upon your Jesus &c.; others were equally noisy in trying to still the rest, that they might be enabled to hear what I was saying.

Until after I had spoken, I knew not what they intended to do with me, whether to kill, to whip me, or what else I knew not. I bore my abuse with so much resignation and meekness, that it appeared to astound the multitude, who permitted me to retire in silence, many looking very solemn, their sympathies having been touched as I thought; and, as to myself, I was filled with the spirit and love of God, that I had no hatred towards my persecutors, or any one else."

Charles Allen was next stripped and tarred and feathered, because he would not agree to leave the county, or deny the Book of Mormon.

Others were brought up to be served likewise or whipped, but from such cause, the mob ceased operations, and adjourned until Tuesday the 23rd. Elder Gilbert, the keeper of the store agreed to close that; and that may have been one reason, why the work of destruction was suddenly stopped for two days.

In the course of this day's wicked outrageous and unlawful proceedings, many solemn realities of human degredation [degradation], as well as thrilling incidents were presented to the saints. An armed and well organized mob in a government professing to be governed by law, with the Lieutenant Governor, (Lilburn W. Boggs,) the second officer in the state, calmly looking on, and secretly aiding every movement, saying to the saints, "you know what our Jackson boys can do, and you must leave the country," and all the justices, judges, constables, sheriffs, and military officers, headed by such western missionaries and clergymen as the Reverends McCoy, Kavanaugh, Hunter, Fitzhugh, Pixley, Likens, Lovelady, and Bogard, consisting of Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and all the different sects of religionists that inhabited that country; with that great moral reformer, and Register of the Land Office at Lexington, forty miles east, known as the head and father of the Cumberland Presbyterians, even the Reverend Finis Ewing publicly publishing that the "Mormons were the common enemies of mankind, and ought to be destroyed" all these solemn realities were enough to melt the heart of a savage; while there was not a solitary offence [offense] on record, or proof that a saint had broken the law of the land.

And when Bishop Partridge: who was without guile, and Elder Charles Allen, walked off, amid the horrid yells of an infuriated mob, coated like some un-named, unknown biped, and one of the sisters cried aloud; "while you, who have done this wicked deed, must suffer the vengeance of God; they, having endured persecution, can rejoice, for henceforth, for them, is laid up a crown, eternal in the heavens" surely there was a time of awful reflection, that man, unrestrained, like the brute beast, may torment the body; but God, in return, will punish the soul.