1839-09-19-New York Spectator-Meeting on Behalf of the Mormons
Meeting on Behalf of the Mormons
- Source: New York Spectator, 19 September 1839, col. A.
- Identical: New York Commercial Advertiser, 18 September 1839, p. 2.
Meeting on Behalf of the Mormons
On Monday evening, pursuant to public notice, a large meeting assembled at National Hall, to listen to the recital of the wrongs and sufferings of the Mormons, and to devise means for the relief of their women and children.
The meeting was organized by placing Mr. Charles King in the Chair, and Mr. Marcus Spring, as Secretary.
The Chairman having briefly stated the object of the meeting, and read the circular letter signed by Gov. Carlin, of Illinois, Senator Young, from that State, and other residents thereof——vouching for the trustworthiness of Mr. Green, who is deputed by his people to make their case known to the country,——the Chairman introduced Mr. Green to the meeting.
Mr. Green proceeded to give a plain, unadorned, and, as is believed, unexaggerated narrative of the settlement of the Mormons in Missouri, of the constant outrages to which they were subjected—and the series of persecutions, which were only ended by their forcible expulsion, from the State, and the surrender, without compensation, of the lands and houses they had acquired by their own money or built with their own hands. Mr. Green was himself an actor and witness in many of the scenes he described and he related them without any attempt at ornament or appeal to passion.
He said that it was with no ordianry feelings that he addressed the meeting this evening upon the subject of the sufferings of his brethren. He himself had been a sufferer with the rest of them. He had seen the flow of widow's tears, and had listened tot he orphan's cry. He had seen those, who had been in a state of comparative affluence, reduced to the state of the most abject misery—without food to sustain life, or clothes to cover their nakedness—stripped of all, and turned adrift with no dependence but upon the humanity of mankind. The events he was about to disclose, were of long standing—they had been maturing for a number of years; since 1833. In the year 1831 the "latter day saints," in number about 100 families, came from some of the eastern states, and settled in Jackson county, Missouri.——They purchased land, built themselves houses, and cultivated the soil for the purpose of obtaining a livelihood. So far as he knew there was no intimation, there was nothing upon record, that would show that there had been any altercation between the latter day saints, and the other inhabitants of the county.
In the year 1833, on the 20th of July, an armed mob of three or four hundred men assembled at Independence, in Jackson Co. They appointed a delegation to wait upon his people and inform them, that they must leave the county immediately. This they refused to do, and violence was the result. A two story brick building, which cost seven or eight hundred dollars, occupied as a dwelling, and printing office, was assailed, the women and children were roughly ejected from the premises, the type were thrown into pi, the press was broken, and the building torn down. The publisher of the paper was violently dragged to the public square, where he was, together with another individual, stripped, and tarred and feathered.
These events occurred upon a Friday. On the following Tuesday the mob was again assembled, and its force had increased to about seven or eight hundred men. About nine o'clock they came marching along, bearing a blood red flag, in token that those whom they were about to assail were to look for no mercy. They were all armed; then who had not arms and bayonets were provided with clubs. They violently took several of the leaders of the society into custody, and drove them at the point of the bayonette to the public square, where they were stripped and tarred and feathered. The commanding officer, Mr. Pitcher, then called twelve of his men, ordered them to cock their pieces, present them at the prisoner's hearts, and fire at his command. He then addressed the prisoners, and told them that if they would abjure the book of Mormon and acknowledge it to be an imposture, they should be set at liberty—if not, they should die. But they were not to be intimidated by the fear of death; they were willing to lay down their lives, rather than to declare that book a lie which they believed to be the book of truth. They were subsequently set at liberty, upon entering into a written agreement that one half of the society should leave the county by the first of January, and the other half by the first of April next coming. After this all was quiet for a while.
In the succeeding October, instigated by the belief that the Mormons would not remove, in accordance with the stipulations which they had entered into, the organized mob again commenced their persecutions. They burned their houses, destroyed their property, and even sent negroes to abuse their helpless women. This treatment stirred up the indignation of the sufferers,and a part of their people had recourse to arms. A party of the latter-day saints, about thirty-three in number, met with a mob of about seventy persons, and a battle ensued. One of the Mormons, and two or three of their antagonists, fell, and several were wounded.
The result of this movement was to arouse the whole county, and in two or three days the number of the mob had augmented to seven or eight hundred. They were under the command of Lieutenant Governor Boggs. A treaty was entered into between some of the principal men of the Mormons, on the one part, and Governor Boggs and Mr. Pitcher on the other, and in pursuance of its stipulation the Mormons gave up their arms, in return for an assurance that they should be protected from molestation, and should be allowed to remain peaceably in their possessions, until the stipulated time of removal, in January and April. The next day after this convenant was entered into, the mob, which was then composed of three or four hundred persons, was divided into bands, and proceeded to attack their three settlements, situated from ten to twenty miles apart. They drove their people from their homes, and that during the most inclement season of the year, on the 13th of November. No less than two hundred and forty houses were burned or destroyed, and the inhabitants driven into the forests or the prairies to seek for shelter. Before noon of the next day after their flight, their course could be traced by the blood which flowed from their feet. Several of the women had given birth to children during their retreat, at a time when they had no clothing to shield them from the inclemency of the season, no canopy bt the firmament, and no resting place but the cold and frozen earth. The whole number of persons who were expelled from Jackson county amounted to about 1200.
After undergoing incredible hardships, they made their way across the Missouri river into Clay county, where the people were hospitable enough to allow them a shelter for the winter. In the meantime they petitioned that a county should be set apart for them by the Missouri Legislature. It was done, and they entered into possession, purchasing the preemption rights for the land. They built themselves homes, tilled and improved the land, and were again pursuing their peaceful vocations. From this time there were none but the most friendly feelings manifested between them and their neighbors, until August of last year,when difficulties again commenced.
At the state election of that year, at Gallatin, in Davis county, one of the candidates for the legislature mounted a barrel and assailed the latter day saints with the most invective language. He stigmatised them as a band of robbers, who were not worthy of the privilege of voting, and said that they should not vote in Davis county. This excited the anger of the Mormons. He did not say that they acted wisely, but there were some among them who could not curb the spirit of '76 in their bosoms, nor forget that they were American citizens. One of these remarked that he believed that the speaker had told a falsehood, for he at least was determined to vote. For this he was struck at with a club, and with another who interfered in his behalf, terribly beaten. A general engagement ensued in which stones, clubs, and dirks were used. A compromise was finally effected and order restored.
Although there was subsequent to this event a better state of feeling between the parties, yet hostilities soon re-commended—the mob re-assembled, and declared that the Mormons should not remain in the country. They petitioned the Governor of the state for assistance, but he would render them none but upon the condition that they should leave the state, declaring that if they did not they would be massacred. Mr. G. then entered into a detailed statement which it is impossible to abridge to the limits of a daily paper, of the sufferings which the people had undergone in being driven from their homes, through the wilderness, in the depth of winter,without money or clothing, or teams with which they could transport their women and children. Twelve hundred families were thus thrown upon the world, without the necessaries for supporting life, and travelling all the time in the fear of being massacred by a pursuing enemy. One incident of brutal outrage will suffice to give an insight into the character of the whole.
A number of the Mormons—some thirty families—emigrating there to join them, were living at Horn's Mills, on Shoal Creek, about twenty miles from Far West. Notwithstanding an agreement which was entered into between them and the mob, that neither party should disturb the other, they were attacked. One of the Mormons swung his hat and cried for peace, which was answered by the discharge of a rifle at him, which was scceeded in a few moments by a whole volley. The Mormons fled for safety to a blacksmith's shop. Thither they were pursued, and deliberately shot at through the interstices of the logs. Eighteen persons were killed, and a number of others were severely wounded. Among others who took shelter in the shop were two boys, who concealed themselves under the blacksmith's bellows. They were found, and while one of them was begging for mercy, a rifle was presented, and the top of his head was blown off. The other boy was shot through the hip, and only saved his life by pretending that he was dead.
Mr. Greene then gave a detailed account of the escape, under the most heart-rending circumstances, of the remainder of the people, and of their finding a refuge at last, in Quincy, Illinois. The people of that state had relieved them as far as they were able, but their means were not as extensive as their inclinations were good. He therefore appealed to the meeting to assist in the work of relieving the necessities of a suffering and oppressed people.
When Mr. Green took his seat, Joseph Blunt, Esq. addressed the meeting with ability and great effect, and offered the resolutions that will be found below. He was eloquently followed and seconded by Hiram Ketchum, Esq. The resolutions were farther supported by several speakers, among whom were Dr. D. M. Reese and William L. Stone, when the question was taken on them separately, and they were carried almost without a dissentient voice.
Upon a suggestion from the Chair, that as the wants of the sufferers were urgent, good might arise from some immediate contribution—a mechanic, in his working jacket, stood up, saying that having often witnessed the good effect of example on such occasions, he proposed—although, as he added, the sum he could give was humble—if nine others would do likewise, to give five dollars, and immediately walked up to the table and deposited the money. The challenge was accepted by several others, and a sum exceeding fifty dollars was collected on the spot.
The meeting then adjourned, it being understood that the Committee named to receive and distribute contributions, would at once enter upon their duties.
- Resolved, That as Americans we have heard with shame and indignation, the narrative given by Mr. Greene, of the persecutions, sufferings and lawless violence of which a body of American citizens have been the objects and the victims, for no other apparent cause than that without hindrance to others, or violation of any law of the land, they acted on the right guarantee to them by the Constitution of the United States of a "free exercise of religion."
- Resolved, That without meaning to express any opinion whatever as to the religious tenets or practices of the Mormons as a sect, we condemn and desire to bear our testimony against mob law, Lynch law, and all other forms of violence and outrage,where an excited populace becomes at once jury, judge, and executioner.
- Resolved, That the Mormons, as wronged, persecuted, exiled and defrauded Americans, are entitled to the sympathy and support of their countrymen, and that especially in behalf of the women and children driven from their homes at the point of the bayonet, we appeal to the known benevolence of our fellow citizens at large for pecuniary aid.
- Resolved, That the Chairman and Secretary be a committee, with power to add to their numbers—to obtain subscriptions in aid of the women and children of the Mormons—such subscriptions to be applied after due investigation by the committee themeslves.
- Resolved, That these resolutions be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and published in the newspapers.
- CHARLES KING, Chairman
- Marcus Spring, Secretary.
