1844-06-15-Jeffersonian Meeting
The Prophet v1n5 15 June 1844 pg 3
JEFFERSONIAN MEETING.
At a meeting of the friends of General Joseph Smith convened in the Military Hall, (Bowery) pursuant to notice, June 11, 1844. Geo. T. Leach Esq. was called to the chair and Wm. H. Miles was appointed Secretary. Garry T. Newell, was called to act as Pres. Pro. Tem. until Mr. Leach should arrive at the meeting. Parley Pratt, Esq. then arose and said:
Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen and Ladies, we are met this evening for the purpose of serving God, and this is the service he requires, according to Isaiah, viz:
- "THAT WE BREAK EVERY YOKE AND LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE."
As we have been in bondage in this country for about ten years, and without any Government as a general thing, is it not high time for the people to awake from their lethargy and begin to attend to the weightier matters of justice, judgment, right and protection, as well as to pay so much attention to "tythe," "mint" and "cummin." I again repeat that for some years past we have had no Government. My reasons are, that white men have been shot and hung, and negroes burned without trial, judge or jury; abolitionists have been mobbed and shot; Catholic churches, dwellings and convents burned, and fifteen thousand American citizens robbed of millions, and driven from a State, and many of them murdered, and this by executive and legislative authority, without shadow of law or justice, and still there is no redress or protection, though years have past since the perpetration of these horrid crimes: who then shall dare to say there is a Government? If we know it at all, it is only by having to pay taxes occasionally, and not from any protection we receive from it. Is not the Governor of Missouri a murderer and a robber? are not the legislators of Missouri murderers and robbers, in passing acts to pay the criminals for committing these crimes? Surely they would if justly administered. Is not Martin Van Buren a murderer by being accessory to these crimes while President of the United States, by fellowshipping Missouri and refusing redress when appealed to by thousands of the sufferers? He is a murderer in this respect, and we can prove it. Are not the members of Congress murderers and robbers, as accessories after the fact, when, after coming to use redress?
