Show I 1 copyright aured I 1 HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH t 7 I 1 july 1848 1840 I 1 at a meeting of the citizens of nauvoo han sock cook county illinois july 1840 elias higi bee was called to the chair and robert kobert son was appointed secretary I 1 on motion a committee was appointed to report resolutions expressive of the sense of this meeting consisting of the following persons to wit isaac galland robert ethompson BT hompson sidney rigdon and daniel H wells who retired and after a short absence reported the following pro pre amble and resolutions which were unanimously ado adopted ted la r the coan atee appointed to express the sense of this meeting in relation to the recent acts of abduction and other oher deeds of cruelty and inhumanity committed upon our citizens I 1 by the citizens of the state of missouri beg lelve leave respectfully to report that having under consideration the principal I matters involved inthe in the discharge of their duty r they have been forced to arrivo arrive at the following conclusions ast 1st that the people of missouri not having sufficiently staked slaked their thirst for blood and plunder are now diR disposed posed to pursue us ud with a repetition odthe of the scenes of brutality which marked their I 1 whole course ef S conduct towards us during our un anh ha ippa pv residence among them I 1 ad taut that notwithstanding they have already I 1 robbed us of our hornes homes murdered our families stolen and earned away our property and to complete the measure of their infamy as a state their executive caused offending unoffending up thousands to be banished from the state without even owe he form of ofa a trial orthe slightest evidence of crime they are now sending their aings gings of murdering and thieving brigands brigande bri gands to wreak further vengeance and satisfy their insatiable cupidity in the state of illinois and thai too before we haye have even hadi had time tinie to erect shelters for out our fa families millos ad that for the purpose of giving a semblance of justification to most unhallowed conduct the people of missouri have again commenced concealing goods the omits of our settlements as they had done before in the state of missouri in n order to raise a 4 cha charge 13 of stealing this against our citizens and under I 1 this guisa they have within a few days kidnapped and carried away se several honest and worthy citizens inthis of this cou county rity I 1 I 1 ath under uner these circumstances ces the at duty and the ottly only redress which seems to offer itself to our consideration is aik an appeal to the file executive of the state of illinois for redress edress and protection from further injuries with a confident assurance that he unlike the governor of missouri will extend I 1 f the executive arm te 0 protect from lawless outrage unoffending citizens therefore resolved firstly fire aly we view with no ordinary feelings the approaching danger as a necessary I 1 consequence following the law wess aeu and ana outrageous conduct of the citizens of missouri in ra setting at defiance the laws of this aa well as aa all A other states notates in this union by forcing from their homes and from tt the ke state civil citizens I 1 of illinois and taking them into the state of I 1 Mis missouri sovi without any legal process what everand there inflicting upon them base cruelties cruel ties in order to extort false confessions from them to give a coloring to their the iniquities and screen them themselves solves from the just indignation of an incensed public I 1 resolved secondly anat while we deatly deeply deplore the cause which lias has brought broughtes ua boget together t or on I 1 this we cannot refrain from expressing our most in st unqualified disapprobation at the infringement gement of the laws of this state as set forth in the above preamble and strongest indignation at the manner in which the people of missouri treated those these whom they had thus inhumanly taken from among us usi I 1 I 1 resolved thirdly raly that inasmuch as we are conscious olour of wr honest arid and upright intentions and are at all times ready and willing to submit to the just requirements require mente of the laws we claim of the citizens and authorities of tilis this state krokee tion from such unjust and before unheard of op pres resolved fourthly that the forcible abduction of our citizens ns by the citizens of missouri is a violation of the laws regulating the federal compact I 1 subversive to them he rights of freemen and conk contrary Fary to our ar free frae institutions and A republican 1 principles I 1 resolved fifthly that the cruel practiced practised upon our citizens since their abduction is disgraceful to humanity the height of injustice and oppression aud and would disgrace the annals of the most barbarous nations in either ancient or modern times and cau can only find its parallel in the auto de fe the inquisitions in spain resolved sixthly that such une unconstitutional institutional and unhallowed proceedings on the I 1 port part of the citizens of Mie missouri ought to arouse every patriot to exertion and diligence to put a stop slop to such procedure and use all ail constitutional means to oring the of offenders to fo justice resolved seventhly that we memorialize the executive of this state of the gross outrage which has bas been committed on our citi citizens zenaL and pledge ourselves to aid him iu in such measures as may be deemed necessary to restore our citizens to freedom and have satisfaction for the he wrongs we ve have suffered I 1 ELIAS HIGBEE chairman thompson secretary isto to his excellency governor carlin the undersigned undersigner under signed being a committee toi draft ameco a memorial to your excellency relative to the recent outrages would respectfully repress represo represent at that after being driven from our homes and pleasant places of abode aboda in the state of missouri bythe by the authorities ti 0 said states state Jilin illinois seemed to be the first or asylum juni wrab presented itself to our bew that having left the state of missouri your memoria lists found an aslam asylum f iu in the state of if illinois and notwithstanding tine the false reports which were circulated to our prejudice we were received with kind kindness nees by th noble hearted otti citi tons of illinois who relieved our and I 1 I 1 I 1 bade us welcome for for w which bich kindness we feel thankful I 1 that under your excellences administration we have had every encouragement given us and have every reason from the kindness and thy which you have ever manifested towards us in our sufferings to feel confident that your aid will ever he be offered to us in common with the rest fast of the citizens of the a state that feeling ourselves so happy and secure and beginning again to enjoy the comforts of life we are sorry to say that our quiet has been disturbed our fears alarmed and our families annoyed by the citizens etti zens of missouri who with malico malice and hatred which is characteristic of them have unconstitutionally sent an armed force and nd abducted some of our friends namely jmes james allred noah rogers I 1 alanson brown shad mid oue boyce and carried them into ip the state of missouri and treated them with ith the greatest barbarity and cruelty even now their wives and children aswell as well as their friends are alarmed for the safiy safety of their lives therefore There forb debare we have felt it our duty to place the circumstances of this unheard of outrage before you and ad appeal to your excellency for protection from such marauders and take such meas i ute ures as you n I 1 may r deem proper that our friends madbea may be again restored i to the bosom of their families and t the a 0 offenders n ers punished for their crimes ye have the greatest confidence in your excellency that every constitutional means will be resorted to to restore our friendly friend to the society of their families famil fes ac that we in common with wath other citizens of the state of illinois may enjoy all the rights and privileges of freemen your memoria lists nave have un derall circumstances paid the greatest respect to the laws of the country wd sad if any should break the samp they have never felt a disposition to screen such from justice but when under false pr presences pretences etnes to gratify and satiate a revengeful disposition for oe he citizens of another S state takes re regardless adless of both of god and ana man mail to lo come com T and kidnap our friends to carry aff our citizens to cruelly treat our brethren such offenders we thinks think should be brought to an account to be dealt with according to their merit or demerit that we ye may enjoy the privileges guaranteed tous tomi by the constitution I 1 of the united states I 1 s we therefore humbly pray that your excellency will satisfy yourself of bf the tho gross outrage which has been committed on an the citizens of this state and with that energy which is so characteristic of your excellences administration take one sueh b steps as you way may deem best c alou to repair the injuries which your memoria lists have sustained that you will vindicate the injured taws laiva of the I 1 I 1 1 state 1 in conclusion we beg leave to assure your excellency cel lency larkey that in the discharge of this as as well as aa every other constitutional movement you may ral rely upon the hearty ci co of your memo ri realists ria T lists at who respectfully submit to ager excel lency the accompanying resolutions which were passed at a large meeting shod held in this olace on this day and also the affidavit of one of those persons who was kidnapped but fortunately lias has made his ll 11 escape extract of a let letter r from elder william illiam barratt dated deptford depthford Dept ford luty july 15 1840 11 on his bis way to south australia pear dear brother in christ I 1 write to inform form you of my arrival in the metropolis this berning mer ning after a tedious journey in the midst of much profaneness and pw swearing earing such as I 1 never heard 1 in my life before I 1 feel as the apostle expresses it like a lamb among wolves going into a land of strangers to preach the gospel I 1 therefore I 1 desire your prayers in my behalf I 1 fethe have witnessed i much of the spirit cirit of revelation since sunday in fact t only thought it a chere mere thought when the elders testified that they were called callea by revelation Rey Ray elation but now I 1 know the truth of tile ane asler assertion tion which proves to me who ought to preach and that none ought without they are called by I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 give my love to all the saints and tell them that as muy many as romain remain faithful I 1 will meet them at zion bringing bringing my sheaves with me tell them my faith is fixed and my resold resolution tion is strong to meet you all there whom iove iu in the lord pray ray that a door doer may be opened nd a gift of utterance may be given unto me in a foreign und land I 1 to preach the gospel brethren sorrow not for me ag aa those that haye have no hope for we have 4 a hope of living and eating together in the kingdom of oui our god friday IT 17 bemy by my suggestion high Co council voted that samuel I 1 bent and george V W harris go on a mission to procure money for printing certain booked saturday bellao smith was ordained bishop I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 sunday 19 an answer to brigham letter of the ath may was sent by lorenzo snow which gavotte gave the twelve permission to publish tha book of mormon doctrine and covenants and H hymn ali book boob but not to ordain any into the quo arti ruin m of the seventies and likewise some general instructions monday 90 SOEl elder dei john moon and company arrived in new york being tile the first arrival of saints in 1 n Arri america erica wednesday ft 93 nauvoo hancock cou county uty ill III july aly 94 aw dear brother phelps I 1 must say that is it as with no ordinary feelings I 1 endear or to write a few hoes fanes to you in answer to of the P 96 at the same time I 1 am rejoiced at the privilege granted inay in n some measure realize what my ft feelings elings as well as elder Rig donSi ii and brother hyrams were werd when we read your letter truly our oar hearts were melted into tenderness and compassion a s s ll 11 ion when we ascertained your resolves ao fp acan e a u assure you I 1 feela feel a disposition to act on cue case in a th that atwill will meet the approbation of jehovah whose servant I 1 am and agreeably to the principles of truth and righteousness which have been ro revealed aled and inasmuch as long suffering patience and mercy have ever characterized characterized the dealings off of our heavenly beaven y father towards the humble and penitent I 1 feel disposed to copy the example cherish the same principles P less and by so doing be a savior of my fellow men I 1 it is true that we have suffered much in cone con sequence ence or of your behavior the tt wp eup already na enot enough for mortals to drink was indeed jilted I 1 to overflowing when you turned again against us one with whom we had oft taken sweet council together an and a enjoyed wany litany refreshing sea seasons sons from the lord had it bee been an enemy we could have I 1 borne it in the day that thou sto odest on the other side in the day when strangers earned carried away captive his forces and foreign foreigners ere entered into his gates and cast lots upon far west vest even thou wast as oue one of them but thou should st not 1 have looked on the day of thy brother in the tha day that he became a stranger neither should st thou have halve spoken proudly in the day of distress however the cup has been drunk the will of our father has been done and w are yet aliver alive r for which we thank the lord and having been delivered f from rom the hands of wicked men by the mercy memy olour of our god we say it is your privilege to be delivered from the powers of the adversary be brought into the liberty of gods dear children and again take your stand among amog the saints of the most high and by diligence humility and love unfeigned commend yourself to our god and your god and to the church of jesus christ Bi believing lieving your confession to be real and your repentance gen genuine ulue t shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship and rejoice over the returning prodigal your letter was read to the saints last S sunday and au an expression of their feeling was was it was unanimously I 1 I 1 res resolved vea that W W phelps should be received into fellowship come on dear brother since the war ie I past for friends at first are friends again at last laso youra as ever I 1 JOSEPH SMITH junior 1 I ail to all whom it may concern this is t to certify lifto that elders samuel bent and george W harris are authorized agents of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints bring being appointed by the first presidency and council oft of said church to visit the brAn branches clies of the church in the east or wherever they may inq be led in the providence of god to obtain donations and ana su subscriptions for the purpose of printing ting the book of mormon marmon doctrine and covenants hymn books the now new translation of the sari scriptures aw they are likewise instructed and t to make loans in behalf of the church for carrying into operation the above and other important works I 1 necessary to the well being of sid church from out our long acquaintance with these our oar beloved brethren their long tried friendship under circumstances the most trying and painful their zeal pal tor for the cause of truth and their strict moral honesty we most cheerfully them to the jaines of the most high any statements they way make relative to their mission mission may be implicitly relied upon and any loans which alch they may efrece will be considered abin binding ding on the |