JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , [, Hancock Co., IL], 22 June 1844; handwriting of John McEwan; signature of JS in handwriting of ; docket in handwriting of John McEwan; three pages; JS Collection, CHL.
Dear Sir:— I this morning forward you the remainder of the affidavits which are ready to present to you information on the whole subject which have been the cause of the origin of our present difficulties. I would respectfully recommend the bearers as one of my aids & men whose testimonies can be relied upon.
I presume you are already convinced that it would be altogether unsafe for me or any of the city council to come to on account of the vast excitement which has been got up by false report and libellous publications. Nothing would afford me a greater pleasure than a privilege of investigating the whole Subject before your in person, for I have ever held myself in readiness to comply with your orders and answer for my proceedings before any legal tribunal in the .
I would hereby respectfully pray your to come to , if congenial with your feelings and give us a privilege of laying the whole matter before you in its true colors, and where abundance of testimony can be forthcoming to prove every point by disinterested persons, strangers, who were here all the time, but I am satisfied your does not wish men to expose the lives of the citizens of this place by requiring them to put themselves into the power of an infuriated, blood thirsty mob, a part of whom have already several times fired upon our people without the least shadow of cause or provocation. [p. [1]]