The voice of reason, the voice of humanity, the voice of the , and the voice of heaven seem to say to the honest and virtuous, throughout the State of ; Wash yourselves, make you clean, lest your negligence should be taken by the world, from the mass of facts before it, that you are guilty! Let there be one unison of hearts for justice, and when you reflect around your own firesides, remember that fifteen thousand, once among you, now not, but who are just as much entitled to the privileges and blessings you enjoy as yourselves; like the widow before the unjust judge, are fervently praying for their rights. When you meditate upon the massacre at , forget not that the constitution of your holds this broad truth to the world: that none shall “be deprived of life, liberty, or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or the law of the land.” And when you assemble together in towns, counties or districts, whether to petition your legislature to pay the damage the saints have sustained in your , by reason of oppression, and misguided zeal; or to restore them to their rights according to republican principles and benevolent designs, reflect, and make honorable, or annihilate, such statue law as was in force in your , in 1838; viz: “If twelve or more persons shall combine to levy war against any part of the people of this , or to remove forcibly out of the , or from their habitations, evidenced by taking arms and assembling to accomplish such purpose, every person so offending shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a period not exceeding five years, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars: and imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months.”

Finally, if honor dignifies an honest people; if virtue exalts a community; if wisdom guides great men; if principle governs intelligent beings; if humanity spreads comfort among the needy; and if religion affords consolation by showing that charity is the first, best and sweetest token of perfect love: then, O ye good people of , like the woman in scripture who had lost one of her ten pieces of silver, arise, search diligently till you find the lost piece, and then make a feast and call in your friends for joy.

, Ill., March 8, 1844. [p. 474]