History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 812
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<​x​> Lord has appointed for your safety.” .” [HC 3:54] See B. page 807.
6 August 1838 • Monday, continued
(C.) <​refer back to 807 page​>
<​August. 6.​> In the afternoon the citizens of assembled in the and organized the meeting by calling Judge to the chair and appointing Secretary, I stated to the meeting that the time had come when it was necessary that we <​Weekly Newspaper​> should have a Weekly Newspaper to unite the people, by giving the News of the day &c when it was unanimously agreed that such a Paper be established and that President <​Petition for Removal of the County Seat to .​> should be the Editor. It was also voted that a Petition be circulated to remove <​locate​> the County Seat to . I addressed the meeting on the propriety of the measure and also on the duty <​Living in cities​> of the brethren to come into Cities to build and live and carry on their farms out of the Cities according to the order of God— and spoke upon the same subject— Some two weeks previous to this who lived at Mill Port informed <​Mob​> and Levi Stewart, that it was determined by the mob to prevent the Mormons <​Election at ​> from voting at the Election on the sixth day of August and thereby elect Colonel who led the mob in . He also advised them to go prepared for an attack to stand their ground and have their rights— The brethren hoping better things gave little heed to ’s friendly Counsel, and repaired to the Polls at , the shire town of without weapons. About Eleven o’clock A.M. ascended the head of a barrel and harangued the Electors for the pur[HC 3:56]pose of exciting them against the Mormons, saying that the Mormon Leaders were “a set of horse thieves, Liars, Counterfeiters” &c and you “know they profess to heal the sick, cast out devils &c and you all know that is a damned lie,” that the Members of the Church were dupes, and not too good to take a false oath on any common occasion; that they would steal and did not conceive property safe where they were; that he was opposed to their settling there; and if they suffered the Mormons to vote, the people would soon loose their suffrage; and said he addressing the Saints “I headed a mob to drive you out of , and would not prevent your being mobbed now;” when Richard (called Dick) Welding, the mob bully, just drunk enough for the occasion, began a discussion with Brother by saying the mormons were not allowed to vote in , no more than the damned negroes, and attempted to strike who gradually retreated, parrying the blow with his Umbrella, while Welding continued to press upon him, calling him a damned liar &c. and while attempting to repeat the blow on , Perry Durfee attempted to suppress the difficulty by holding Dick’s arm, when five or six of the Mobbers seized Durfee and commenced beating him with Clubs, Boards &c and crying “kill him, kill him, God dam him, kill him,” when a general scuffle commenced with fists and clubs, the mobbers being about ten to one of the Saints, Abraham Nelson was knocked down, and had his clothes torn off, and while trying to get up was attacked again, when his brother ran in amongst them and knocked the Mobbers down with the Butt of his Whip— Riley Stewart struck Dick Welding on the head, which brought him to the ground. The mob cried out “Dick Weldin’s dead by God. Who killed Dick?” and fell upon Riley, knocked him down, kicked him, and hollered ”kill him, God dam him, kill him, shoot him by God” and would have killed him, had not [HC 3:57] sprung in amongst them and knocked them down— During about five minutes it was one continued knock down, when the Mob dispersed to get fire arms. Very few of the Brethren voted. Riley succeeded in escaping across the River, had his wounds dressed and returned home. called the Brethren together and made a speech saying “We are American Citizens; our Fathers fought for their liberty, and we will maintain the same principles &c.— when the authorities of the came to them, and requested them to withdraw, stating that it was a premeditated thing to prevent the Mormons voting. The Brethren held a Council about one fourth of a mile out of town, where they saw Mobbing recruits coming in, in small parties from five and ten to twenty five in number armed with [p. 812]
x Lord has appointed for your safety.” .” [HC 3:54] See B. page 807.
6 August 1838 • Monday, continued
(C.) refer back to 807 page
August. 6. In the afternoon the citizens of assembled in the and organized the meeting by calling Judge to the chair and appointing Secretary, I stated to the meeting that the time had come when it was necessary that we Weekly Newspaper should have a Weekly Newspaper to unite the people, by giving the News of the day &c when it was unanimously agreed that such a Paper be established and that President Petition for Removal of the County Seat to . should be the Editor. It was also voted that a Petition be circulated to locate the County Seat to . I addressed the meeting on the propriety of the measure and also on the duty Living in cities of the brethren to come into Cities to build and live and carry on their farms out of the Cities according to the order of God— and spoke upon the same subject— Some two weeks previous to this who lived at Mill Port informed Mob and Levi Stewart, that it was determined by the mob to prevent the Mormons Election at from voting at the Election on the sixth day of August and thereby elect Colonel who led the mob in . He also advised them to go prepared for an attack to stand their ground and have their rights— The brethren hoping better things gave little heed to ’s friendly Counsel, and repaired to the Polls at , the shire town of without weapons. About Eleven o’clock A.M. ascended the head of a barrel and harangued the Electors for the pur[HC 3:56]pose of exciting them against the Mormons, saying that the Mormon Leaders were “a set of horse thieves, Liars, Counterfeiters” &c and you “know they profess to heal the sick, cast out devils &c and you all know that is a damned lie,” that the Members of the Church were dupes, and not too good to take a false oath on any common occasion; that they would steal and did not conceive property safe where they were; that he was opposed to their settling there; and if they suffered the Mormons to vote, the people would soon loose their suffrage; and said he addressing the Saints “I headed a mob to drive you out of , and would not prevent your being mobbed now;” when Richard (called Dick) Welding, the mob bully, just drunk enough for the occasion, began a discussion with Brother by saying the mormons were not allowed to vote in , no more than the damned negroes, and attempted to strike who gradually retreated, parrying the blow with his Umbrella, while Welding continued to press upon him, calling him a damned liar &c. and while attempting to repeat the blow on , Perry Durfee attempted to suppress the difficulty by holding Dick’s arm, when five or six of the Mobbers seized Durfee and commenced beating him with Clubs, Boards &c and crying “kill him, kill him, God dam him, kill him,” when a general scuffle commenced with fists and clubs, the mobbers being about ten to one of the Saints, Abraham Nelson was knocked down, and had his clothes torn off, and while trying to get up was attacked again, when his brother ran in amongst them and knocked the Mobbers down with the Butt of his Whip— Riley Stewart struck Dick Welding on the head, which brought him to the ground. The mob cried out “Dick Weldin’s dead by God. Who killed Dick?” and fell upon Riley, knocked him down, kicked him, and hollered ”kill him, God dam him, kill him, shoot him by God” and would have killed him, had not [HC 3:57] sprung in amongst them and knocked them down— During about five minutes it was one continued knock down, when the Mob dispersed to get fire arms. Very few of the Brethren voted. Riley succeeded in escaping across the River, had his wounds dressed and returned home. called the Brethren together and made a speech saying “We are American Citizens; our Fathers fought for their liberty, and we will maintain the same principles &c.— when the authorities of the came to them, and requested them to withdraw, stating that it was a premeditated thing to prevent the Mormons voting. The Brethren held a Council about one fourth of a mile out of town, where they saw Mobbing recruits coming in, in small parties from five and ten to twenty five in number armed with [p. 812]
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