The said the thing he wants written is a pointed document of the treatment we have received from the and a farewel warning in the name of Israels God.
He then appointed , and to be a committee to write said document.
Coun. arose to express his approbation of the views of our in regard to entering into measures immediately after conference to sell our property. The most embittered of our enemies are those who have nothing They are enemies because they want the spoil, and if they find that we sell our property to those who will settle here and maintain it, and pay [p. [67]]
According to Willard Richards, Young “suggested we lay over the title of the book” for a decision at some later point. (Richards, Journal, 4 Oct. 1845.)
It is unclear if a document was written directly in response to Young’s request. Nothing as expansive as what Young envisioned was produced, but a circular prepared by Clayton and several members of the Quorum of the Twelve a week later contained many of the elements Young called for, announcing “the exodus of the Nation of the only true Israel from these U. S.” and condemning “the ranklings of violence and intolerence and religious and political strife that have long been waking up in the bosom of this nation.” Additionally, though there is no evidence he knew about the council discussion, in the 25 October 1845 edition of the New-York MessengerOrson Pratt reprinted his letter to the editor of the New-York Daily Tribune condemning the treatment of the Saints. The reprinted letter was followed by an article titled “End of American Liberty,” which published some of the recent correspondence between Young and government representatives. (Clayton, Journal, 11 Oct. 1845; Circular, to the Whole Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints [Nauvoo, IL: Oct. 1845], copy at CHL; Orson Pratt, “An American Citizen’s Appeal in Behalf of the Long Persecuted and Exiled Mormons,” and “End of American Liberty,” New-York Messenger, 25 Oct. 1845, 133–134.)
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
Circular, to the Whole Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. [Nauvoo, IL]: Oct. 1845. Copy at CHL.