History draft; handwriting of , John L. Smith, Jonathan Grimshaw, Robert L. Campbell, , , and ; 101 numbered pages plus several inserted pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 1 March 1843 to 31 December 1843.
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 soldiersstanding by <militia men of his company> to shoot him— after which the States 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> The following affidavit (see Neighbor 134 & copy) JP. <which I sent to the with this followingletter 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—
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 protectionLet thoseanswer, who can—> [p. 84]
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