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

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 814
image
<​August​> but deliver up all offenders to be dealt with according to law and justice— The assembly dispersed on these friendly terms, myself and friends returning to where we arrived about Midnight and found all quiet
10 August 1838 • Friday
<​10.​> Friday 10th. Being somewhat fatigued I spent the day with my family transacting but little business.
<​Camp​> Sickness continued in the Camp. Brother Carrico’s child died, Elder Tyler was healed by the prayer of Faith.
The Spirit of Mobocracy continued to stalk abroad, notwithstanding all our treaties of peace, as will be seen by the following Affidavit [HC 3:60]
<​’s affidavit​> “State of Missouri— — Personally appeared before me the undersigned judge of the fifth judicial circuit and makes oath that he has good reason to believe, and that he verily does believe that there is now collected &— embodied in the a large body of armed men, whose movements and conduct are of a highly insurrectionary and unlawful character, that they consist of about five hundred men, and that they, or a part of them to the number of one hundred & twenty have committed violence against by surrounding his house, and taking him in a violent manner, and subjecting him to great indignities, by forcing him under threats of immediate death to sign a paper writing of a very disgraceful character and by threatening to do the same to all the old Settlers & Citizens of , and that they have as a collected and armed body, threatened to put to instant death this affiant, on sight, and that he verily believes they will accomplish that act without they are prevented, and also that they have threatened the same to Wm. Bowman, and others, and this affiant states that he verily believes all the above facts to be true, and that the body of men now assembled do intend to commit great violence to many of the citizens of , and that they have already done so to , and this affiant verily believes from the information of others that Joseph Smith Jr. & are the leaders of this body of armed men, and the names of others thus combined are not certainly known to this Affiant, and he further states the fact to be that it is his opinion and he verily believes that it is the object of this body of armed men, to take vengeance for some injuries or imaginary injuries done to some of their friends, and to intimidate and drive from the all the old Citizens & possess themselves of their lands, or to force such as do not leave, to come into their measures and submit to their dictation. .— Sworn to & subscribed before me the undersigned judge as aforesaid this 10th. day of August 1838. .”—
the above was also sworn to by William Bowman, Wilson McKinney and John Netherton— So it is that when Men’s hearts become so hard and corrupt as to glory in devising, robbing, plundering, mobbing and murdering innocent men women and children by wholesale, they will more readily swear to lies than speak the truth— At this time <​in some of​> the brethren had removed with [HC 3:61] their families from the vicinity of , to , and , for safety.
11 August 1838 • Saturday
<​11. Joseph goes to ​> Saturday 11th. This morning I left with my Counsel and Elder to visit the Brethren on the , who had come from with and settled at that place contrary to Counsel. In the afternoon, after my departure, a Committee <​ Committee​> from arrived at to enquire into the proceedings of our Society, in going armed into , complaint having been entered in by , and others. The committee from requested an interview with a Committee of , and a general meeting was called at the city Hall at six in the evening. When it <​Public Meeting​> was stated that they were assembled to take into consideration the doings of the Citizens of , wherein they have accused the Mormons of this place of breaking the peace, in defending their rights and that of their brethren in the ; and the meeting organized by appointing Bishop Chairman, and Clerk—
Resolved first that this Committee of seven be appointed to confer with the Committee from — Resolved second that this Committee with their Secretary, be authorized to answer such questions as may be offered [p. 814]
August but deliver up all offenders to be dealt with according to law and justice— The assembly dispersed on these friendly terms, myself and friends returning to where we arrived about Midnight and found all quiet
10 August 1838 • Friday
10. Friday 10th. Being somewhat fatigued I spent the day with my family transacting but little business.
Camp Sickness continued in the Camp. Brother Carrico’s child died, Elder Tyler was healed by the prayer of Faith.
The Spirit of Mobocracy continued to stalk abroad, notwithstanding all our treaties of peace, as will be seen by the following Affidavit [HC 3:60]
’s affidavit “State of Missouri— — Personally appeared before me the undersigned judge of the fifth judicial circuit and makes oath that he has good reason to believe, and that he verily does believe that there is now collected &— embodied in the a large body of armed men, whose movements and conduct are of a highly insurrectionary and unlawful character, that they consist of about five hundred men, and that they, or a part of them to the number of one hundred & twenty have committed violence against by surrounding his house, and taking him in a violent manner, and subjecting him to great indignities, by forcing him under threats of immediate death to sign a paper writing of a very disgraceful character and by threatening to do the same to all the old Settlers & Citizens of , and that they have as a collected and armed body, threatened to put to instant death this affiant, on sight, and that he verily believes they will accomplish that act without they are prevented, and also that they have threatened the same to Wm. Bowman, and others, and this affiant states that he verily believes all the above facts to be true, and that the body of men now assembled do intend to commit great violence to many of the citizens of , and that they have already done so to , and this affiant verily believes from the information of others that Joseph Smith Jr. & are the leaders of this body of armed men, and the names of others thus combined are not certainly known to this Affiant, and he further states the fact to be that it is his opinion and he verily believes that it is the object of this body of armed men, to take vengeance for some injuries or imaginary injuries done to some of their friends, and to intimidate and drive from the all the old Citizens & possess themselves of their lands, or to force such as do not leave, to come into their measures and submit to their dictation. .— Sworn to & subscribed before me the undersigned judge as aforesaid this 10th. day of August 1838. .”—
the above was also sworn to by William Bowman, Wilson McKinney and John Netherton— So it is that when Men’s hearts become so hard and corrupt as to glory in devising, robbing, plundering, mobbing and murdering innocent men women and children by wholesale, they will more readily swear to lies than speak the truth— At this time some of the brethren had removed with [HC 3:61] their families from the vicinity of , to , and , for safety.
11 August 1838 • Saturday
11. Joseph goes to Saturday 11th. This morning I left with my Counsel and Elder to visit the Brethren on the , who had come from with and settled at that place contrary to Counsel. In the afternoon, after my departure, a Committee Committee from arrived at to enquire into the proceedings of our Society, in going armed into , complaint having been entered in by , and others. The committee from requested an interview with a Committee of , and a general meeting was called at the city Hall at six in the evening. When it Public Meeting was stated that they were assembled to take into consideration the doings of the Citizens of , wherein they have accused the Mormons of this place of breaking the peace, in defending their rights and that of their brethren in the ; and the meeting organized by appointing Bishop Chairman, and Clerk—
Resolved first that this Committee of seven be appointed to confer with the Committee from — Resolved second that this Committee with their Secretary, be authorized to answer such questions as may be offered [p. 814]
Page 814