History Draft [1 March–31 December 1843]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 84
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9 December 1843 • Saturday
<​Saturday 9 Decr.​> At home—
Prayer meeting <​in the Assembly room.​> over the .
I copy from the Neighbor “At a very numerous <​large​> (135) Sec”
Received the following (copy) N. L”
10 December 1843 • Sunday
<​10​> rainy day— I staid at home.
Eve a prayer meeting over the in the eve <​evening in the Assembly Room​>— <​I was not present— presiding <​presided​>​> when several sick <​persons​> were prayed for
By letter from J. White dep<​uty​> Sheriff of Clark Co. Mo., I learn that our is in <​Marion Co.​> prison, without trial— <​the sheriff and requests several men to go there as witnesses​> it is evidently a trap to get some more of our people into their power, when I was in prison in , my witnesses were first arrested <​whenever [2 words illegible]​> before they got into court, to testify, except one, who was kicked out of <​the​> court by an officer, <​(Lieut Cook) damd him &​> who ordered some soldiers standing by <​militia men of his company​> to shoot him— after which the States Attorney Birch [Thomas Burch] turned to me tauntingly saying “why <​the hell​> dont you bring on your witnesses” & laughed at my discomforture— <​the Saints have had enough of ’s mob justice.​>
11 December 1843 • Monday
<​11​> The following affidavit (see Neighbor 134 & copy) JP. <​which I sent to the with this following letter Sir (copy) Joseph Smith​>
<​At a​> Meetings were held in the of the Citizens of the 3rd. Ward (copy) Secretary
Similar meetings were held & <​similar​> resolutions passed in <​all​> the other wards of the
Last night two ruffians <​who<​se names​> are unknown​> went to the house of Mr <​brother,​> <​a wealthy farmer, living​> on the prairie, robbed the house of 4.50— threatened his life— stabbed him in the abdomen, when part of his caul gushed out— Dr. dressed his wounds <​to day​> & he thinks there is a prospect of his recovering—
12 December 1843 • Tuesday
<​12​> In at 9 a m and dictated <​wrote​> a letter to my Uncle “President (Copy) Joseph Smith
at 10 attended City Council, which passed an Ordinance exempting property belonging to the from Taxation for City purposes.
In accordance with the petitions from the several Wards The Council passed the following Ordinance for selecting forty policemen (copy) Mayor
The Council also passed “An Ordinance for the health & convenience of Travellers (copy it)
13 December 1843 • Wednesday
<​13​> At home
The follo We insert the following <​an​> Editorial from the Neighbor Public meeting (see page 130 & copy) from
arrived in having made his escape from the Mob in
14 December 1843 • Thursday
<​14​> At home
arrived in , having made his escape from the mob <​his kidnappers​> in
I received the following <​milk and water letter​> from (Copy)
It appears from this letter that has never taken pains to examine the evidences placed before him <​in his hands “& probably never will”​> in relation to the writs; & probably” <​evidently​> as little pains to examine the Constitution of the or even reflect upon the ordinary principles of human rights; to suppose that a State after having by a union of Executive, Judicial, & military powers, exterminated 15,000 of its <​innocent​> inhabitants <​who were not even charged with any crime;​> robbing them of all they possessed on Earth, murdering 100s of innocent men women & children; & expelling all <​the​> others from the <​among Strangers​> in midwinter; destitute of every thing upon the face of the Earth that would possibly have a tendency to make life <​living​> <​life​> desirable; should be constitutionally entitled to demand each from banishment, persons who have <​thus​> offered its absolute decrees <​of exile​> to satiate a yet <​*​> <​* unsatisfied thirst for human blood; <​& cruel torture:​> Oh! reason where art thou fled? Oh, Humanity where hast thou hidden thyself? Shades of Patriots of ’76 how has thy <​your​> blood been spilt in vain? that in 1843 the Executive of a great republican State, can coolly say, “I never yet have not yet read them, & probably never will” while the lives is Liberty only a name? is Protection of person & property fled from free ? must the children of the heroes of ’76 die for the want of the protection Let those answer, who can—​> [p. 84]
9 December 1843 • Saturday
Saturday 9 Decr. At home—
Prayer meeting in the Assembly room.
I copy from the Neighbor “At a very large (135) Sec”
Received the following (copy) N. L”
10 December 1843 • Sunday
10 rainy day— I staid at home.
a prayer meeting evening in the Assembly Room— I was not present— presided several sick persons were prayed for
By letter from J. White deputy Sheriff of Clark Co. Mo., I learn that our is in Marion Co. prison, without trial— the sheriff requests several men to go there as witnesses it is evidently a trap to get some more of our people into their power, when I was in prison in , my witnesses were arrested before they got into court, to testify, except one, who was kicked out of the court by an officer, (Lieut Cook) damd him & who ordered some of his company to shoot him— after which the States Attorney Birch [Thomas Burch] turned to me tauntingly saying “why the hell dont you bring on your witnesses” & laughed at my discomforture— the Saints have had enough of ’s mob justice.
11 December 1843 • Monday
11 The following affidavit (see Neighbor 134 & copy) JP. which I sent to the with this letter Sir (copy) Joseph Smith
At a Meeting of the Citizens of the 3rd. Ward (copy) Secretary
meetings were held & similar resolutions passed in all the wards of the
Last night two ruffians whose names are unknown went to the house of brother, a farmer, living on the prairie, robbed the house of 4.50— threatened his life— stabbed him in the abdomen, when part of his caul gushed out— Dr. dressed his wounds to day & he thinks there is a prospect of his recovering—
12 December 1843 • Tuesday
12 In at 9 a m and wrote a letter to my Uncle “President (Copy) Joseph Smith
at 10 attended City Council, which passed an Ordinance exempting property belonging to the from Taxation for City purposes.
In accordance with the petitions from the several Wards The Council passed the following “Ordinance for selecting forty policemen (copy) Mayor
The Council also passed “An Ordinance for the health & convenience of Travellers (copy it)
13 December 1843 • Wednesday
13 At home
We insert an Editorial from the Neighbor Public meeting (see page 130 & copy) from
14 December 1843 • Thursday
14 At home
arrived in , having made his escape from his kidnappers in
I received the following milk and water letter from (Copy)
It appears from this letter that has never taken pains to examine the evidences placed in his hands “& probably never will” in relation to the writs; & evidently as little pains to examine the Constitution of the or even reflect upon the ordinary principles of human rights; to suppose that a State after having by a union of Executive, Judicial, & military powers, exterminated 15,000 of its innocent inhabitants who were not even charged with any crime; robbing them of all they possessed on Earth, murdering 100s of men women & children; & expelling all the others from the among Strangers in midwinter; destitute of every thing upon the face of the Earth that would possibly have a tendency to make life desirable; should be constitutionally entitled to demand each from banishment, persons who have thus offered its absolute decrees of exile to satiate a yet * * unsatisfied thirst for human blood; & cruel torture: Oh! reason where art thou fled? Oh, Humanity where hast thou hidden thyself? Patriots of ’76 has your blood been spilt in vain? that in 1843 the Executive of a great republican State, can coolly say, “I have not yet read them, & probably never will” is Liberty only a name? is Protection of person & property fled from free ? Let those answer, who can— [p. 84]
Page 84