Letter from William W. Phelps, 27 February 1834
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Source Note
, Letter, , MO, to “Dear Brethren” (including JS) [, Geauga Co., OH], 27 Feb. 1834. Featured version published in “The Outrage in Jackson County, Missouri,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Mar. 1834, 139. For more complete source information on The Evening and the Morning Star, see the source note for Letter, 30 Oct. 1833.
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Historical Introduction
sent this 27 February 1834 letter to JS and other leaders in , Ohio, to update them on the situation in . This account was the first news Kirtland church leaders had received since the fall of 1833 of the continued attacks and violence against members of the in Missouri. In November 1833, leaders of the Mormon exiles in Missouri initiated criminal proceedings against their opponents. On 24 November 1833, , judge of Missouri’s Sixth District Circuit Court, informed , a circuit attorney and member of the Mormon legal counsel, that Missouri governor wanted Ryland to “take steps to punish the guilty & screen the innocent.” Ryland asked Rees whether “the Mormons [were] willing to take legal steps against the citizens of Jackson Co.” Mormon leaders did not want to immediately pursue an inquiry, according to , because their potential witnesses were scattered across several different counties and because they believed that “the rage of the mob” would endanger the lives of anyone going to , Jackson County, to testify. In December, church leaders informed Dunklin that they wanted a court of inquiry to be convened after “arangements are made to protect us in our persons and property.” Even then, most church leaders were skeptical that they would receive justice.On 5 February 1834, instructed Captain , the leader of the Liberty Blues, a volunteer militia unit of about fifty men, to protect Mormons who would testify at an upcoming grand jury hearing in , presided over by . Dunklin also dispatched Robert W. Wells, the state attorney general, to assist at the hearing. On 24 February 1834, the Liberty Blues escorted approximately a dozen Mormon witnesses into Independence. After waiting for three hours the following morning, the witnesses were informed by Wells and Rees that “the Grand Jury were composed exclusively of such as had been concerned in the recent outrages! and that consequently it would be useless to prefer bills before such a Jury.” In other words, the jury was composed of Missourians who had committed the violence against the Mormons, and thus attempting to bring charges at that hearing would prove fruitless. The constitution indicated that members of a jury were to be from the same area as the accused: “The accused has the right . . . to an impartial jury of the vicinage.” Thus it is unclear whether it was possible for the Mormons to change the venue of the hearing. Eventually, the witnesses were escorted out of Independence.In the meantime, violence and malice against Mormons in escalated. Several families who had been evicted in November 1833 returned to their homes in February 1834. On 20 February 1834, a group of Jackson County residents attacked these individuals, threatening them with guns, beating several with whips and sticks, and informing them that they would lose their lives if they did not again abandon their homes. wrote the letter featured here to inform church leaders in of these developments. After Kirtland church leaders received this letter, published it in the March 1834 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star.
Footnotes
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1
John F. Ryland, “Near Lexington,” MO, to Amos Rees, 24 Nov. 1833, copy, William W. Phelps, Collection of Missouri Documents, CHL.
Phelps, William W. Collection of Missouri Documents, 1833–1837. CHL. MS 657.
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2
Sidney Gilbert, Liberty, MO, to Daniel Dunklin, Jefferson City, MO, 29 Nov. 1833, William W. Phelps, Collection of Missouri Documents, CHL.
Phelps, William W. Collection of Missouri Documents, 1833–1837. CHL. MS 657.
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3
William W. Phelps et al., Petition to Daniel Dunklin, 6 Dec. 1833, copy, William W. Phelps, Collection of Missouri Documents, CHL.
Phelps, William W. Collection of Missouri Documents, 1833–1837. CHL. MS 657.
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4
“Mormon Difficulties,” Missouri Intelligencer and Boon’s Lick Advertiser (Columbia), 8 Mar. 1834, [1].
Missouri Intelligencer and Boon’s Lick Advertiser. Franklin, MO, 1819–1827; Fayette, MO, 1827–1830; Columbia, MO, 1830–1835.
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5
“The Mormons,” Missouri Intelligencer and Boon’s Lick Advertiser (Columbia), 8 Mar. 1834, [2], italics in original.
Missouri Intelligencer and Boon’s Lick Advertiser. Franklin, MO, 1819–1827; Fayette, MO, 1827–1830; Columbia, MO, 1830–1835.
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6
Missouri Constitution of 1820, art. 13, sec. 9. John Corrill, one of the Missouri church leaders, interpreted this passage in the Missouri Constitution to mean “that criminals shall be tried in their own county.” If they had to be tried in their own county, then changing the venue to another location, which would have decreased the possibility of having a jury that was involved in the conflict, may have been impossible. (“From Missouri,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1834, 126.)
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
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7
Abigail Calkins Leonard, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 11 Mar. 1840, Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845, CHL; Tullidge, Women of Mormondom, 165–168.
Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845. CHL. MS 2703.
Tullidge, Edward W. The Women of Mormondom. New York: Tullidge and Crandall, 1877.
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1
Page 139
Feb. 27, 1834.
Dear Brethren.—The times are so big with events, and the anxiety of every body so great to watch them, that I feel some what impressed to write oftner than I have done, in order to give you more of the “strange acts” of this region. I have just returned from , the seat of war in the west. About a dozen of our brethren, among whom were br. , and , were subpoenaed in behalf of the , and on the 23d (Feb.) about twelve o’clock we were on the bank, opposite , where we found company of “Liberty Blues,” near fifty rank and file, ready to guard us into . The soldiers were well armed with U. S. muskets, bayonets fixed, &c, and to me the scene was one “passing strange,” and long to be remembered. The martial law in force to guard the civil! About 25 men crossed over to effect a landing in safety, and when they came near the warehouse, they fired six or eight guns, tho’ the enemy had not gathered to witness the landing.
After we were all a cross, and waiting for the baggage wagon, it was thought not advisable to encamp in the woods, and the witnesses with half the company, marched nearly a mile towards , to build night fires, as we were without tents, and the weather cold enough to snow a little. While on the way the Quarter Master, and others, that had gone on a head to prepare quarters in town, sent an express back, which was not the most pacific appearance that could be. continued the express to for the 200 drafted militia; and also to for more ammunition; and the night passed off in war like style, with the sentinals marching silently at a proper distance from the watch-fires.
Early in the morning we marched strongly guarded by the troops, to the seat of war, and quartered in the block house, formerly the tavern stand of S. Flournoy. After breakfast, we were visited by the District Attorney, , and the Attorney General, Mr. Robert W. Wells. From them we learned that all hopes of criminal prosecution, was at an end. Mr. Wells had been sent by the to investigate, as far as possible, the outrage, but the bold front of the mob, bound even unto death, (as I have heard) was not to be penetrated by civil law, or awed by Executive influence. Shortly after informed me that he had just received an order from the , that his company’s service was no longer wanted in , and we were marched out of town to the tune of Yankee-doodle in quick time, and soon returned to our camp ground without the loss of any lives. In fact much credit is due to , for his gallantry and hospitality, and I think I can say of the officers and company, that their conduct as soldiers and men, is highly reputable; so much so, knowing as I do the fatal result, had the militia come, or not come, I can add that the ’s safe return, refreshed my mind, with Zenophon’s retreat of the ten thousand. Thus ends all hopes of “redress,” even with a guard ordered by the , for the protection of the court and witnesses.
Before a crop is harvested, it becomes ripe of itself. The dreadful deeds now done in , with impunity, must bring matters to a focus shortly. Within two or three weeks past, some of the most savage acts, ever witnessed, have been committed by these bitter branches. Old father Linsey, whose locks have been whitened by the blasts of nearly seventy winters, had his house thrown down, after he was driven from it; his goods, corn, &c, piled together, and fire put to it, but fortunately, after the mob retired, his son extinguished it.
The mob has quit whipping, and now beat with clubs. Lyman Leonard one of the number that returned from Van Buren, had two chairs broke to splinters about him, and was then dragged out doors and beat with clubs till he was supposed to be dead—but he is yet alive. Josiah Sumner and Barnet Cole were severely beat at the same time. The mob have commenced burning houses, stacks, &c. and we shall not think it out of their power, by any means, to proceed to murder any of our people that shall try to live in that county, or perhaps, only go there.
Such scenes as are transpiring around us, are calculated to arouse feelings, and passions in all, and to strengthen the faith and fortify the hearts of the saints for great things. Our Savior laid down his life for our sakes, and shall we, who profess to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God; shall we, the servants of the Lord of the vineyard, who are called and chosen to prune it for the last time; shall we, yea, verily, we, who are enlightened by the wisdom of heaven, shall we fear to do as much for Jesus as he did for us. No; we will obey the voice of the Spirit, that good may overcome the world.
I am a servant, &c,
. [p. 139]
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