Joseph Smith.--His anxiety on the subject of religion.--Secret
vocal prayer.--A brilliant light envelops him.--Two
personages appear.--The Lord speaks to Joseph.--Instructs
him.--He has another vision.--Is shown where records are
deposited.--Obtains and translates them.--Testimonies of the
Witnesses.--Baptisms.--Church organized.--Temple built.--Gifts
manifested.--Saints leave Kirtland.--Scenes in Jackson County.--Extreme
Suffering.--Expulsion.--Memorial to Congress.
As an appropriate historical gem, rich with _multum in parvo_ (much in
a small compass), I copy into this autobiography, a tract entitled,
"The Voice of Joseph," which my brother wrote and published for the
benefit of his Southern Europe and East India Missions.
THE VOICE OF JOSEPH.
Joseph Smith, junior, whom it pleased the Lord to select and appoint
to restore the primitive Gospel and apostolic Priesthood, was born
in 1805, in Vermont, United States. When about fifteen years of age,
being seriously impressed with the necessity of seeking the Lord and
preparing for a future state, his mind became much perplexed through
difficulties thrown in the path of his researches by the multitude of
religious sects and parties with which he was surrounded. Each system
required belief, and gave hope; but none could communicate a knowledge
of its divine authority. In comparing them one with another there
seemed too much confusion; the same also appeared in looking at each
separately. Turning, therefore, from these clashing systems, and being
encouraged and inspired with the following passage in St. James, "If
any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God," he retired to a grove a
little distance from his father's house, and in fervent prayer besought
the Lord to communicate with him, and reveal the way of salvation.
While thus engaged, a light brilliant and glorious appeared in the
heavens, gradually descending towards him till he was enveloped in it,
and wrapped in celestial vision; when he beheld two glorious beings
similar in dress and appearance, who informed him that the religious
sects had all departed from the ancient doctrine of the Apostles, and
that the Gospel, with its gifts and blessings, should be made known to
him at a future period. Many important things were manifested in this
vision, which the brevity of this work will not permit us to notice.
On the evening of the twenty-first of September, 1823, having retired
to rest, his mind became filled with anxious desires to receive the
information which he had been previously promised. While engaged
in prayer, and striving to exercise faith, the room became filled
with light far surpassing that of noonday, but in the midst thereof
appeared an additional glory surrounding a person whose countenance
was as lightning, yet so full of goodness, and innocence, and of such
a glorious appearance as to banish all apprehension. He announced
himself as an angel of God, commissioned to inform him that the
covenant with ancient Israel touching their posterity should soon be
accomplished--that the great work preparatory to the second coming of
Messiah should speedily commence, and the plenitude of the Gospel be
made known to all nations. He also informed him that the aborigines of
America were a remnant of Israel, who, when they first inhabited that
land, enjoyed the ministry of inspired men; that records of the most
important events in their history had been preserved from their first
settlement down to the period of their national degeneracy; that these
records had been concealed in the earth by one of their last Prophets,
and a promise of the Lord given that they should be revealed in the
last days.
The day following the angel returned and instructed Mr. Smith to go
to the place where those sacred registers were deposited. On reaching
the spot he found a stone projecting a little above the surface of
the ground, and covering a kind of box made of the same material. On
removing this cover, he beheld the plates on which the records were
engraved, but the angel of the Lord again appeared and said:
You cannot at this time obtain this record, for the commandment of
God is strict, and if ever these sacred things are obtained, they
must be by prayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. They are
not deposited here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth
for the glory of this world; they were sealed by the prayer of
faith, and because of the knowledge which they contain; they are
of no worth among the children of men only for their knowledge. On
them is contained the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it
was given to His people on this land; and when it shall be brought
forth by the power of God, it shall be carried to the Gentiles, of
whom many will receive it, and after will the seed of Israel be
brought into the fold of their Redeemer by obeying it also. Those
who kept the commandments of the Lord on this land desired this at
His hand, and through the prayer of faith obtained the promise,
that if their descendants should transgress and fall away, a record
should be kept, and in the last days come to their children. These
things are sacred, and must be kept so, for the promise of the
Lord concerning them must be fulfilled. No man can obtain them if
his heart is impure, because they contain that which is sacred.
* * * By them will the Lord work a great and marvelous work; the
wisdom of the wise shall become as nought, and the understanding
of the prudent shall be hid, and because the power of God shall be
displayed, those who profess to know the truth but walk in deceit
shall tremble with anger; but with signs and with wonders, with
gifts and with healings, with the manifestations of the power of
God, and with the Holy Ghost, shall the hearts of the faithful be
comforted. You have now beheld the power of God manifested, and
the power of Satan; you see that there is nothing desirable in the
works of darkness; that they cannot bring happiness: that those who
are overcome therewith are miserable; while, on the other hand, the
righteous are blessed with a place in the kingdom of God, where
joy unspeakable surrounds them. There they rest beyond the power
of the enemy of truth, where no evil can disturb them. The glory
of God crowns them, and they continually feast upon His goodness
and enjoy His smiles. Behold, notwithstanding you have seen this
great display of power by which you may ever be able to detect
the evil one, yet I give unto you another sign, and when it comes
to pass, then know the Lord is God, and that He will fulfil His
purposes, and that the knowledge which this record contains will
go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people under the
whole heaven. This is the sign: and when these things begin to be
known, that is, when it is known that the Lord has shown you these
things, the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow. They will
circulate falsehoods to destroy your reputation, and also will
seek to take your life; but remember this, if you are faithful,
and shall hereafter continue to keep commandments of the Lord, you
shall be preserved to bring these things forth; for in due time
He will give you a commandment to come and take them. When they
are interpreted, the Lord will give the Holy Priesthood to some,
and they shall begin to proclaim this Gospel and baptize by water,
and after that they shall have power to give the Holy Ghost by
the laying on of their hands. Then will persecution rage more and
more; for the iniquities of men shall be revealed, and those who
are not built upon the Rock will seek to overthrow the Church; but
it will increase the more opposed, and spread farther and farther,
increasing in knowledge until they shall all be sanctified, and
receive an inheritance where the glory of God will rest upon them;
and when this takes place, and all things are prepared, the ten
tribes of Israel will be revealed in the north country, whither
they have been for a long season; and when this is fulfilled will
be brought to pass that saying of the Prophet, "And the Redeemer
shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression
in Jacob, saith the Lord." But notwithstanding the workers of
iniquity shall seek your destruction, the arm of the Lord will be
extended, and you will be borne off conqueror if you keep all His
commandments. Your name shall be known among the nations, for the
work which the Lord will perform by your hands shall cause the
righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage; with the one it shall
be had in honor, and with the other in reproach; yet with these it
shall be a terror, because of the great and marvelous work which
shall follow the coming forth of this fulness of the Gospel. Now,
go thy way, remembering what the Lord hath done for thee, and be
diligent in keeping His commandments, and He will deliver thee from
temptations and all the arts and devices of the wicked one. Forget
not to pray, that thy mind may become strong, that when He shall
manifest unto thee thou mayest have power to escape the evil and
obtain these precious things.
During the following four years he frequently received instruction from
the mouth of this heavenly messenger, and on the 22d of September,
1827, the records were placed in his hands.
They were engraved in Egyptian characters on plates having the
appearance of gold, and measuring about seven or eight inches in length
and breadth; not quite so thick as ordinary tin. All were held together
by three rings, and formed a volume of about six inches in thickness;
one portion of which was sealed; the characters or letters on the
unsealed part were very diminutive, but perfectly engraved.
By the gift and power of God, Mr. Smith translated them into the
English language, but as he could not write well, he received the aid
of a person who wrote down the translation which he gave by word of
mouth. This important work is called the Book of Mormon, from the name
of an ancient Prophet who by divine commandment had been engaged in
its compilation. We there find an account of two distinct races who
inhabited the American continent.
The first came from the Tower of Babel; but after fifteen or sixteen
centuries their iniquity became so great that they were entirely
destroyed, even as the Lord had threatened them by the mouth of holy
Prophets, the last of whom left their history engraved on plates of
gold. These were found by the second race, who were a remnant of
Joseph, led forth in a miraculous manner from Jerusalem during the
first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah. Their history is
brought down to the year four hundred and twenty of the Christian era,
when by commandment of God, it was hid in the earth till revealed as
before stated. After the Book of Mormon was translated, the Lord called
witnesses, who have left the following testimony to the world:
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people unto
whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which
contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and
also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of
Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we
also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of
God, for His voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a
surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen
the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shewn
unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with
words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and
he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the
plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the
grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld
and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvelous in
our eyes; nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that
we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the
commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know
that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the
blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat
of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And
the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery,
David Whitmer,
Martin Harris.
AND ALSO THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto
whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator
of this work, has shewn unto us the plates of which hath been
spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the
leaves as the said Smith has translated, we did handle with our
hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the
appearance of ancient work and of curious workmanship. And this we
bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shewn
unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the
said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give
our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we
have seen; and we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
Christian Whitmer, Hiram Page,
Jacob Whitmer, Joseph Smith, Sen.,
Peter Whitmer, Jun., Hyrum Smith,
John Whitmer, Samuel H. Smith.
In the year 1829, Mr. Smith and Mr. Cowdery, having learned the
proper mode of baptism from the instructions contained in the Book of
Mormon, they desired to receive that ordinance; but knowing that no
one among the different denominations had authority to administer,
they sought for a revelation upon the subject, and an angel appeared
unto them while they were in prayer, laid his hands upon their heads,
and ordained them to the Priesthood, and commanded them to baptize one
another.
In the year 1830, a large edition of the Book of Mormon was printed;
and as some began to read its sacred pages, the Spirit of the Lord bore
witness to its truth, and they obeyed its requirements; repenting in
humility before the Lord, they were immersed in water for the remission
of sins, and received the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
On the 6th of April, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints was organized in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, State of
New York. Several persons were called, and ordained by the spirit of
revelation and prophecy, and began to preach and bear testimony; and
although they were the feeble things of the earth, they became mighty
by the Holy Spirit.
As they traveled forth, bearing their testimony, the attention of all
classes was aroused. Many honest hearted persons came forward, were
baptized, received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and knowledge of the
truth of the principles. Others mocked, derided, slandered and raised
the weapons of persecution. Not stopping a moment to examine whether
the restoration of ancient Gospel privileges was or was not scriptural
doctrine, they foolishly reasoned themselves into the conclusion that
it was justifiable to use any means, however wrong and cruel, to
hinder the progress of those principles. I am sorry to say, yet duty
requires the statement, that, in many instances, ministers of religious
denominations would indulge in the same reasoning, and by false
reports, misrepresentations and slanders, stir up the evil minded to
persecute the servants of God. It is to instances of this kind that we
have often traced the original cause of many scenes of spoliation and
murder, which we have experienced during the past twenty years of our
pilgrimage.
In the year 1831, the Saints established a settlement in Lake County,
State of Ohio. One thousand miles from this place, in Jackson County,
State of Missouri, they also made another settlement about the same
time. The history of the Saints who settled in Ohio will first be
noticed, afterwards that of those at the last mentioned location.
In Lake County, having increased in numbers to several hundreds, and
having no convenient place for public worship, a Temple was commenced
for this purpose. Its dimensions, form and order were shown of the
Lord in vision; and it was built according to the pattern shown. In
accomplishing this work they experienced severe opposition from their
enemies, who were determined no such building should be erected, and
sought every means in their power to harass, perplex and annoy them;
employing the most wicked and disgraceful measures to hinder their
operations. At this infantile stage of the Church's progress, mobs had
not become so emboldened in that part of the country as to appear and
come against the Saints in daylight, but in the night time, in parties
of fifty or sixty, clothed in disguise, they would steal in upon them
for the purpose generally of destroying their property. Guards were
obliged to be kept up by the Saints, to preserve themselves against
these depredations. Notwithstanding their utmost vigilance, however,
in many instances property was plundered and destroyed. Lawsuits would
frequently be instituted, without the least cause whatever, except
to weary, harass and torment an unoffending and innocent people.
Notwithstanding these oppositions and perplexities, a magnificent
Temple was completed and dedicated to the Lord in the presence of
thousands. The day of blessings, and of rejoicings in the history of
the Saints, had now arrived. While assembling themselves together, from
time to time, in the House of the Lord, to fast and pray, speaking to
each other of the goodness of God, offering up their spiritual and
enlivening songs of gratitude and thanksgiving to Him who had again
spoken from heaven, and spoken of good things near at hand for His
people of all nations, they often experienced remarkable visitations of
the goodness and power of God, showing His approval of their conduct
and acceptance of His House. The aged fathers, leaning upon their
staffs, would rise in the midst of their brethren, being filled with
the Holy Ghost, and express their gratitude in flowing tears for the
mercies of God towards them in giving them knowledge, before going down
to the grave, of the restoration of the Priesthood and fulness of the
Gospel; exhorting the young Elders to be virtuous, upright and holy;
to go forth manfully, without fear, depending upon the God of heaven,
bearing a faithful testimony of the knowledge given them; for, though
deficient in worldly wisdom, the power of the Lord would be with them,
and they should not be confounded. The youth, the middle aged, both
men and women, clothed with the spirit of inspiration, would speak, as
with the tongue of angels, of the marvelous blessings which they had
experienced, and the knowledge God had imparted unto them, concerning
this great work preparatory to the coming of the Son of God. One would
exercise the gift of tongues, another that of interpretation, and some
would have the gift of prophecy. One would speak of the blessings of
faith, another would testify of knowledge, and some would have the
spirit of exhortation. Thus were their gifts exercised, and all edified
together, proving they lived in the time of the fulfilment of Joel's
prophecy, which saith: "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants,
and upon the handmaids, in those days, will I pour out my Spirit." (ii:
28, 29.) Those indeed were happy days. The sick were healed by the
laying on of hands and anointing with oil; and, in some instances the
dumb spake; the deaf had their hearing restored; and the blind received
their sight. Hard indeed must be that heart that envies the Saints the
possession of such blessings, when it is known what was the expense of
the purchase which they afterwards paid. Indeed, we little suspected
the fiery trials that were in store, and scenes of devastation and
bloodshed which followed.
As the testimony of these things was proclaimed from time to time,
and the faith of the Saints became known among the people in the
surrounding country, opposition and persecution increased. The wicked
and more disorderly portion of the community became more bold in their
attacks upon the Saints and their property. Not unfrequently they were
secretly influenced and supported by those who professed piety and
religion and to be ministers of Jesus Christ. At last, wearied of this
endless scene of molestation and such insufferable vexations, they
concluded, like Abraham of old, to contend no longer for their rights;
but, leaving the fruits of their labor with their enemies, flee to some
more peaceful clime. Accordingly, they commenced leaving the country,
and in the course of one year nearly all had left, numbering about
two thousand, having left at a sacrifice of at least two-thirds of
all their property. They journeyed westward, some locating themselves
in one place and some in another, according to their means and
circumstances. The major part went into the State of Missouri, many of
whom located in Caldwell County. This occurred in the year 1838.
The attention of the reader will now be directed to that branch of
the Church which located in Jackson County. Here we shall be under
the necessity of relating troubles of a more serious character. The
land being only one dollar and a quarter per acre, the Saints, though
generally poor, were enabled, many of them, to make very extensive
purchases. By industry and perseverance large farms were soon opened,
orchards planted, mills and public buildings erected, institutions
for education formed, a printing press established, the foundation
for a Temple laid, and beautiful private dwellings began to appear
in all directions upon those broad and beautiful prairies. To the
settler having but little capital, it is presumed no country was ever
discovered possessing so many advantages as that which the Saints
here occupied. It is described in the following language by one of
the members of the colony: "Unlike the timbered States in the east,
except upon the rivers and water courses, which were verdantly dotted
with trees; from one to three miles wide, as far as the eye can
glance, the beautiful rolling prairies lay spread around like a sea of
meadows. The timber is a mixture of oak, hickory, box, elder, and bass
wood, together with the addition of cotton wood, bullon wood, pecon,
soft and hard maple, upon the bottoms. The shrubbery was beautiful,
and consisted in part of plums, grapes, crab apples and persimmons.
The prairies were decorated with a growth of flowers that seemed as
gorgeous and grand as the brilliancy of stars in the heavens, and
exceed description. The soil is rich and fertile, from three to ten
feet deep, and generally composed of a rich black mould, intermingled
with clay and sand. It produces in abundance wheat, corn and many other
commodities, together with sweet potatoes and cotton." Here, then, was
the place appointed of the Lord for His people to locate and build Him
a house in which they might worship Him in purity and holiness, and
His servants receive wisdom, knowledge and power, and be prepared to
go forth among all nations, kindreds, people and languages, carrying
the everlasting Gospel, in fulfilment of John's prophecy, that all
people might understand the near approach of the coming of the Son of
Man, and the wise virgins trim their lamps and be prepared. While they
were peaceably and industriously pursuing this object, Satan began to
stir up the people around to jealousy, envy and hatred. Mob meetings
were held in different parts of the country; resolutions passed, and
measures entered into to drive the Saints from their possessions. In
the month of November, 1833, a ruthless and murderous mob, composed of
many hundreds, armed with weapons of destruction, came suddenly upon
the Saints, who were unprepared for defense, and drove men, women and
children from their lovely habitations. Their deep distress, and the
severity of their sufferings, it is no pleasing duty to relate. Women
were shamefully abused in the presence of their husbands, daughters
in the presence of their parents; defenceless men were shot down like
wild beasts of the forest; some, while fleeing for their lives, were
pursued, caught, tied to trees and whipped till their bowels gushed
out and death ended their sufferings. Over two hundred of their houses
were burned, the remainder were plundered, and their horses and cattle
driven away. So suddenly were they compelled to flee, that only in a
few instances sufficient apparel could be taken to preserve them from
the cold, wintry blasts. The extreme sufferings of women and children
may easily be imagined. In consequence of these severities, many
perished by the way, before any kind hand of hospitality offered its
relief. While the Saints lay upon the cold, bleak prairies, without a
home and without a friend except the God of heaven, a very singular
phenomenon appeared in the heavens, which created quite a panic among
the mob, viz.: the meteoric shower, or shooting stars, which was seen
in various parts of the world by many millions.
After this expulsion from Jackson County, they located in the upper
portion of the same State, till the year 1838, when again they were
assailed by a murderous mob, and having suffered the loss of many lives
and nearly all their property, were compelled to leave the State. To
give the reader more particular information respecting the persecutions
of the Saints, and their expulsion from the State of Missouri, we
present entire a memorial which was laid before the Congress of the
United States:
AMERICAN EXILES' MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.
_To the Honorable Senators and Representatives of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled_:
We, the undersigned, members of the City Council of the city of
Nauvoo, citizens of Hancock County, Illinois, and exiles from
the State of Missouri, being in council assembled, unanimously
and respectfully, for ourselves, and in behalf of many thousands
of other exiles, memorialize the honorable Senators and
Representatives of our nation, upon the subject of the unparalleled
persecutions and cruelties inflicted upon us, and upon our
constituents, by the constituted authorities of the State of
Missouri; and likewise upon the subject of the present unfortunate
circumstances in which we are placed in the land of our exile. As
a history of the Missouri outrages has been extensively published,
both in this country and in Europe, it is deemed unnecessary to
particularize all of the wrongs and grievances inflicted upon
us, in this memorial, as there is an abundance of well attested
documents to which your honorable body can at any time refer; hence
we only embody the following important items for your consideration:
First. Your memorialists, as free born citizens of this great
republic, relying with the utmost confidence upon the sacred
"Articles of the Constitution," by which the several States are
bound together, and considering ourselves entitled to all the
privileges and immunities of free citizens in what State soever
we desired to locate ourselves, commenced a settlement in Jackson
County, on the western frontiers of the State of Missouri, in
the summer of 1831. There we purchased lands from government;
erected several hundred houses; made extensive improvements; and
shortly the wild and lonely prairies and stately forests were
converted into well cultivated and fruitful fields. There we
expected to spend our days in the enjoyment of all the rights and
liberties bequeathed to us by the sufferings and blood of our noble
ancestors. But, alas! our expectations were vain. Two years had
scarcely elapsed before we were unlawfully and unconstitutionally
assailed by an organized mob, consisting of the highest officers in
the county, both civil and military, who boldly and openly avowed
their determination, in a written circular, to drive us from said
county. As a specimen of their treasonable and cruel designs,
your honorable body are referred to said circular, of which the
following is but a short extract, namely: "We, the undersigned,
citizens of Jackson County, believing that an important crisis is
at hand as regards our civil society, in consequence of a pretended
religious sect of people that have settled and are still settling
in our county, styling themselves Mormons; and intending, as we do,
to rid our society, 'peaceably,' if we can--'forcibly,' if we must;
and believing, as we do, that the arm of the civil law does not
afford us a guarantee, or at least a sufficient one, against the
evils which are now inflicted upon us, and seem to be increasing
by the said religious sect, deem it expedient and of the highest
importance, to form ourselves into a company for the better and
easier accomplishment of our purpose." This document was closed in
the following words: "We therefore agree, after timely warning, and
receiving an adequate compensation for what little property they
cannot take with them, they refuse to leave us in peace, as they
found us, we agree to use such means as may be sufficient to remove
them, and to that end we each pledge to each other our bodily
powers, our lives, fortunes, and sacred honors."
To this unconstitutional document were attached the names of nearly
every officer in the county, together with the names of hundreds of
others. It was by this band of murderers, that your memorialists,
in the year 1833, were plundered of their property, and robbed of
their peaceable homes. It was by them their fields were laid waste,
their houses burned, and their men, women and children, to the
number of about twelve hundred persons, banished as exiles from the
county, while others were cruelly murdered by their hands.
Second. After our expulsion from Jackson County, we settled in
Clay County, on the opposite side of the Missouri River, where
we purchased lands both from the old settlers and from the Land
Office; but soon we were again violently threatened by mobs, and
obliged to leave our homes and seek out a new location.
Third. Our next settlement was in Caldwell County, where we
purchased the most of the lands in said county, besides a part
of the lands in Daviess and Carroll counties. These counties
were almost entirely in a wild and uncultivated state; but by
the persevering industry of our citizens, large and extensive
farms were opened in every direction, well stocked with numerous
flocks and herds. We also commenced settlements in several other
counties of the State, and once more confidently hoped to enjoy
the hard earned fruits of our labor unmolested; but our hopes were
soon blasted. The cruel and murderous spirit which first began to
manifest itself in the constituted authorities and inhabitants
of Jackson County, and afterwards in Clay and the surrounding
counties, receiving no check either from the civil or military
power of the State, had, in the meantime, taken courage, and
boldly and fearlessly spread its contaminating and treasonable
influence in every department of the government of said State.
Lieutenant-Governor Boggs, a resident of Jackson County, who acted
a conspicuous part in our expulsion from said county, instead of
being tried for treason and rebellion against the Constitution,
and suffering the just penalty of his crimes, was actually elected
Governor, and placed in the executive chair. Thus the inhabitants
of the State were greatly encouraged to renew with redoubled fury
their unlawful attack upon our defenceless settlements. Men, women
and children were driven in every direction before their merciless
persecutors. Robbed of their possessions, their property, their
provisions and their all; cast forth upon the bleak snowy prairies,
houseless and unprotected, many sunk down and expired under their
accumulated sufferings, while others, after enduring hunger and
the severities of the season, suffering all but death, arrived
in Caldwell County, to which place they were driven from all the
surrounding counties only to witness a still more heart rending
scene; in vain had we appealed to the constituted authorities of
Missouri for protection and redress of our former grievances; in
vain we now stretched out our hands and appealed as the citizens
of this great republic to the sympathies--to the justice and
magnanimity of those in power; in vain we implored, again and
again, at the feet of Governor Boggs, our former persecutor, aid
and protection against the ravages and murders now inflicted upon
our defenceless and unoffending citizens. The cry of American
citizens, already twice driven and deprived of liberty, could not
penetrate their adamantine hearts. The Governor, instead of sending
us aid, issued a proclamation for our EXTERMINATION and BANISHMENT;
ordered out the forces of the State, placed them under the command
of General Clarke, who, to execute these exterminating orders,
marched several thousand troops into our settlements in Caldwell
County, where, unrestrained by fear of law or justice, and urged
on by the highest authority of the State, they laid waste our
fields of corn, shot down our cattle and hogs for sport, burned our
dwellings, inhumanly butchered some eighteen or twenty defenceless
citizens, dragged from their hiding places little children, and
placing the muzzles of their guns to their heads, shot them, with
the most horrid oaths and imprecations. An aged hero and patriot
of the revolution, who served under General Washington, while in
the act of pleading for quarters, was cruelly murdered and hewed
in pieces with an old corn-cutter; and in addition to all these
savage acts of barbarity, they forcibly dragged virtuous and
inoffensive females from their dwellings, bound them upon benches
used for public worship, where they, in great numbers, ravished
them in a most brutal manner. Some fifty or sixty of the citizens
were thrust into prisons and dungeons, where, bound in chains, they
were fed on human flesh, while their families, and some fifteen
thousand others, were, at the point of the bayonet, forcibly
expelled from the State. In the meantime, to pay the expenses of
these horrid outrages, they confiscated our property, and robbed us
of all our possessions. Before our final expulsion, with a faint
and lingering hope, we petitioned the State Legislature, then in
session, unwilling to believe that American citizens could appeal
in vain for a restoration of liberty, cruelly wrested from them
by cruel tyrants. But in the language of our noble ancestors,
"our repeated petitions were only answered by repeated injuries."
The Legislature, instead of hearing the cries of fifteen thousand
suffering, bleeding, unoffending citizens, sanctioned and sealed
the unconstitutional acts of the Governor and his troops, by
appropriating two hundred thousand dollars to defray the expenses
of exterminating us from the State.
No friendly arm was stretched out to protect us. The last ray of
hope for redress in that State was now entirely extinguished. We
saw no other alternative but to bow down our necks and wear the
cruel yoke of oppression, and quietly and submissively suffer
ourselves to be banished as exiles from our possessions, our
property, and our sacred homes; or otherwise see our wives and
children coldly murdered and butchered by tyrants in power.
Fourth. Our next permanent settlement was in the land of our
exile, the State of Illinois, in the spring of 1839. But even
here we are not secure from our relentless persecutor, the
State of Missouri. Not satisfied in having drenched her soil in
the blood of innocence, and expelling us from her borders, she
pursues her unfortunate victims into banishment, seizing upon
and kidnapping them in their defenceless moments, dragging them
across the Mississippi River, upon their inhospitable shores,
where they are tortured, whipped, immured in dungeons, and hung by
the neck without any legal process whatever. We have memorialized
the former executive of this State, Governor Carlin, upon these
lawless outrages committed upon our citizens, but he rendered
us no protection. Missouri, receiving no check in her murderous
career, continues her depredations, again and again kidnapping
our citizens, and robbing us of our property; while others, who
fortunately survived the execution of her bloody edicts, are again
and again demanded by the executive of that State, on pretence
of some crime, said to have been committed by them during the
exterminating expedition against our people. As an instance,
General Joseph Smith, one of your memorialists, has been three
times demanded, tried, and acquitted by the courts of this State,
upon investigation under writs of habeas corpus, once by the United
States court for the district of Illinois; again by the Circuit
court of the State of Illinois; and lastly, by the Municipal court
of the city of Nauvoo, when at the same time a _nolle prosequi_
had been entered by the courts of Missouri, upon all the cases of
that State against Joseph Smith and others. Thus the said Joseph
Smith has been several times tried for the same alleged offence,
put in jeopardy of life and limb, contrary to the fifth article
of the amendments to the Constitution of these United States; and
thus we have been continually harassed and robbed of our money to
defray the expenses of those vexatious prosecutions. And what at
the present time seems to be still more alarming, is the hostility
manifested by some of the authorities and citizens of this State.
Conventions have been called, inflammatory speeches made, and many
unlawful and unconstitutional resolutions adopted, to deprive us
of our rights, our liberties, and the peaceable enjoyment of our
possessions. From the present hostile aspect, and from bitter
experience in the State of Missouri, it is greatly feared that the
barbarous scenes acted in that State will be re-acted in this. If
Missouri goes unpunished, others will be greatly encouraged to
follow her murderous examples. The afflictions of your memorialists
have already been overwhelming, too much for humanity, too much
for American citizens to endure without complaint. We have groaned
under the iron hand of tyranny and oppression these many years. We
have been robbed of our property to the amount of two millions of
dollars. We have been hunted as the wild beasts of the forest. We
have seen our aged fathers who fought in the Revolution, and our
innocent children, alike slaughtered by our persecutors. We have
seen the fair daughters of American citizens insulted and abused in
the most inhuman manner, and finally, we have seen fifteen thousand
souls, men, women, and children, driven by force of arms, during
the severities of winter, from their sacred homes and firesides,
to a land of strangers, penniless and unprotected. Under all these
afflicting circumstances, we imploringly stretch forth our hands
towards the highest councils of our nation, and humbly appeal to
the illustrious Senators and Representatives of a great and free
people for redress and protection.
Hear! O hear the petitioning voice of many thousands of American
citizens who now groan in exile on Columbia's free soil! Hear! O
hear the weeping and bitter lamentations of widows and orphans,
whose husbands and fathers have been cruelly martyred in the land
where the proud eagle exultingly floats! Let it not be recorded
in the archives of the nations, that Columbia's exiles sought
protection and redress at your hands, but sought it in vain. It
is in your power to save us, our wives, and our children, from a
repetition of the bloodthirsty scenes of Missouri, and thus greatly
relieve the fears of a persecuted and injured people, and your
petitioners will ever pray.
The names of the petitioners are omitted for want of room.
The foregoing memorial was presented in the spring of 1844, making
the third time those horrid scenes of murder had been laid before the
Congress of the United States.