Minor Events in Zion and Kirtland--An Appeal to the Governor of
Missouri.
_August 21_.--At a council of High Priests in Zion, Elder Christian
Whitmer was ordained to the High Priesthood. And on the 28th, the
council resolved, that no High Priest, Elder, or Priest, shall ordain
any Priest, Elder, or High Priest in the land of Zion, without the
consent of a conference of High Priests. [1]
Soon after the arrival of Oliver Cowdery at Kirtland, [2] arrangements
were made to dispatch Elders Orson Hyde and John Gould [3] to Jackson
county, Missouri, with advice to the Saints in their unfortunate
situation, through the late outrage of the mob.
[Sidenote: Prophet's Letter to Vienna Jaques.]
_September 4_.--I wrote as follows to Sister Vienna Jaques, at
Independence, Missouri:
_Dear Sister_:--Having a few leisure moments, I sit down to
communicate to you a few words, which I know I am under obligation
to improve for your satisfaction, if it should be a satisfaction
for you to receive a few words from your unworthy brother in
Christ. I {408} received your letter some time since, containing
a history of your journey and your safe arrival, for which I
bless the Lord; I have often felt a whispering since I received
your letter, like this: "Joseph, thou art indebted to thy God for
the offering of thy Sister Vienna, which proved a savor of life
as pertaining to thy pecuniary concerns. Therefore she should
not be forgotten of thee, for the Lord hath done this, and thou
shouldst remember her in all thy prayers and also by letter, for
she oftentimes calleth on the Lord, saying, O Lord, inspire thy
servant Joseph to communicate by letter some word to thine unworthy
handmaiden, and say all my sins are forgiven, and art thou not
content with the chastisement wherewith thou hast chastised thy
handmaiden." Yea, sister, this seems to be the whispering of a
spirit, and judge ye what spirit it is. I was aware when you left
Kirtland that the Lord would chasten you, but I prayed fervently in
the name of Jesus that you might live to receive your inheritance,
agreeable to the commandment which was given concerning you. I
am not at all astonished at what has happened to you, neither
to what has happened to Zion, and I could tell all the whys and
wherefores of all these calamities. But alas, it is in vain to warn
and give precepts, for all men are naturally disposed to walk in
their own paths as they are pointed out by their own fingers and
are not willing to consider and walk in the path which is pointed
out by another, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, although
he should be an unerring director, and the Lord his God sent him.
Nevertheless, I do not feel disposed to cast any reflections,
but I feel to cry mightily unto the Lord that all things, which
have happened may work together for good; yea, I feel to say, O
Lord, let Zion be comforted, let her waste places be built up and
established an hundred fold; let Thy Saints come unto Zion out of
every nation; let her be exalted to the third heavens, and let
Thy judgment be sent forth unto victory; and after this great
tribulation, let Thy blessing fall upon Thy people, and let Thy
handmaid live till her soul shall be satisfied in beholding the
glory of Zion; for notwithstanding her present affliction, she
shall yet arise and put on her beautiful garments, and be the
joy and glory of the whole earth. Therefore let your heart be
comforted; live in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and
walk humbly before Him, and He will exalt thee in His own due time.
I will assure you that the Lord has respect unto the offering you
made. Brother David W. Patten has just returned from his tour to
the east, and gives us great satisfaction as to his ministry. He
has raised up a church of about eighty-three members in that part
of the country where his friends live--in the state of New York.
Many were healed through his instrumentality, several cripples were
restored. As many as twelve that were afflicted came at a time
from a distance to be healed; he and {409} others administered in
the name of Jesus, and they were made whole. Thus you see that the
laborers in the Lord's vineyard are laboring with their might,
while the day lasts, knowing "the night soon cometh when no man can
work."
[Signed] Joseph Smith.
_September 11_.--The following members, residing in Kirtland, viz.:
F. G. Williams, Sidney Rigdon, N. K. Whitney, with myself, and
Oliver Cowdery, delegate to represent the residue of the members in
Independence, Missouri, met in council, to consider the expediency of
establishing a printing press in Kirtland, when it was
_Resolved_, unanimously, that a press be established, and conducted
under the firm name of F. G. Williams & Co.
_Resolved_, that the above firm publish a paper, as soon as
arrangements can be made, entitled the _Latter-day Saints'
Messenger and Advocate_.
_Resolved_, also, that _The Evening and Morning Star_, formerly
published in Jackson county, Missouri, by the firm of F. G.
Williams & Co., to be conducted by Oliver Cowdery, one of the
members of the firm, until it is transferred to its former location.
The same day Bishop Partridge was acknowledged by the council in Zion,
to be the head of the Church in Zion at that time; and by virtue of his
office, was acknowledged the moderator or president of the councils or
conferences.
Ten High Priests were appointed to watch over the ten branches of the
Church in Zion. [4]
A hymn, concerning the travels, toils, troubles, and tribulations of
the Nephites, was sung in tongues by Elder W. W. Phelps, interpreted by
Elder Lyman Wight.
_September 26_.--The council again assembled in Zion, {410} and
ordained Jesse Hitchcock, Elias Higbee, [5] and Isaac Higbee, [6] High
Priests.
Brother John Tanner [7] sent his two sons to Kirtland to learn the
will of the Lord, whether he should remove to Zion or Kirtland. It
was decided by the unanimous voice of the council, on the 28th of
September, that it was the will of the Lord for all who were able and
willing, to build up and strengthen the stake in Kirtland. Brother
Tanner was counseled accordingly.
About this time, Elders Hyde and Gould arrived in Zion, and the Church
having made the necessary preparations, Elders W. W. Phelps and Orson
Hyde were despatched to the Governor of Missouri, residing at Jefferson
City, the capital of the state, with the following:
Petition.
September 28, 1833.
_To His Excellency Daniel Dunklin, Governor of the State of
Missouri_:
We, the undersigned, citizens of the Republic of the United States
of America, inhabitants of the state of Missouri, and residents of
Jackson county, members of the Church of Christ, vulgarly called
{411} "Mormons," believing in God, and worshiping Him according to
His revealed will contained in the Holy Bible, and the fullness of
the Gospel contained in the Book of Mormon, and the revelations and
commandments of God through Jesus Christ, respectfully show:--
That we, your petitioners, having purchased lands of the United
States, and of the State of Missouri, and of the inhabitants of
said state, for the purpose of improving the same, and peaceably
enjoying our rights, privileges immunities, and religion, according
to the constitution and laws of the state and national governments,
have suffered unjustly and unlawfully in property, in person, and
in reputation, as follows:--
First, in the spring of 1832, some persons, in the deadly hours of
the night, commenced stoning or brick-batting some of our houses,
and breaking in our windows, disturbing ourselves, our wives,
and our children; and also, some few days after, they called a
county meeting to consult measures to remove us, but after some
confusion among themselves, they dispersed with doing no more than
threatening on that day. In the fall of the same year, they, or
some one, burned a large quantity of hay in the stack, and soon
after commenced shooting into some of our houses, and at many times
insulting with abusive language.
Secondly, about the middle of July last, yea, in fact, previous,
they commenced brick-batting our houses again, and breaking in our
windows. At this time, July 18th, the following document was in
circulation: [8] * * * * * * *
On Saturday, the 20th of July last, according to the foregoing
document, there assembled, suddenly, in the town of Independence,
at the court house, between four and five hundred persons, who
sent Robert Johnson, James Campbell, Moses Wilson, Joel F.
Chiles, Richard Bristoe, Abner F. Staples, Garr Johnson, Lewis
Franklin, Russell Hicks, S. D. Lucas, Thomas Wilson, James M.
Hunter, and Richard Simpson to some of your petitioners, namely,
Edward Partridge, A. S. Gilbert, John Corrill, Isaac Morley, John
Whitmer, and W. W. Phelps, and demanded that we should immediately
stop the publication of the _Evening and Morning Star_, and close
printing in Jackson county; and that we, as Elders of said Church,
should agree to remove out of the county forthwith. We asked for
three months for consideration. They would not grant it. We asked
for ten days. They would not grant it, but said fifteen minutes
was the longest, and refused to hear any reasons. Of course the
conversation broke up.
The four or five hundred persons, as a _mob_, then proceeded to
demolish or raze to the ground, the printing office and dwelling
house of W. W. Phelps & Co. Mrs. Phelps, with a sick infant and
the {412} rest of her children, together with the furniture in
the house, were thrown out of doors--the press was broken, the
type pied--the bookwork, furniture, apparatus, property, etc.,
of the office, were principally destroyed, and the office thrown
down, whereby seven hands were thrown out of employment, and three
families left destitute of the means of subsistence.
The loss of the whole office, including the stoppage of _The
Evening and Morning Star_ a monthly paper, and the _Upper Missouri
Advertiser_, a weekly paper, was about six thousand dollars,
without the damages which must result in consequence of their
suspension.
The mob then proceeded to demolish the store-house and destroy the
goods of Gilbert, Whitney & Co.; but Mr. Gilbert assuring them the
goods should be packed by the 23rd inst., [July,] they then stopped
the destruction of property, and proceeded to do personal violence.
They took Edward Partridge, the Bishop of the Church, from his
dwelling house by force, and a Mr. Allen, and stripping them of
their coats, vests, and hats, or causing them to do it themselves,
tarred and feathered them in the presence of the mob, before the
court house. They caught other members of the Church to serve them
in like manner, but they made their escape. With horrid yells and
the most blasphemous epithets they sought for other leading Elders,
but found them not. It being late, they adjourned until the 23rd
inst.
On the 23rd inst., early in the day, the mob again assembled to
the number of about five hundred, many of them armed with rifles,
dirks, pistols, clubs and whips; one or two companies riding into
town bearing the red flag, raising again the _horrid yell_. They
proceeded to take some of the leading Elders by force, declaring
it to be their intention to whip them with from fifty to five
hundred lashes apiece, to demolish their dwelling houses, and let
their negroes loose to go through our plantations, and lay open our
fields for the destruction of our crops.
Whereupon John Corrill, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, A. S. Gilbert,
Edward Partridge, and Isaac Morley, made no resistance, but offered
themselves a ransom for the Church, willing to be scourged or die,
if that would appease their anger towards the Church, but were
assured by the mob, that every man, woman, and child would be
whipped or scourged, until they were driven out of the county, as
the mob declared that either they or the "Mormons" must leave the
county, or they, or the "Mormons" must die.
The mob then chose a new committee, consisting of Samuel C. Owens,
Leonidas Oldham, G. W. Simpson, M. L. Irwin, John Harris, Henry
Chiles, Harvey H. Younger, Hugh L. Brazile, N. K. Olmstead, James
C. Sadler, William Bowers, Benjamin Majors, Zachariah Waller,
Herman Gregg, Aaron Overton, and Samuel Weston, who, with {413}
Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, John Corrill, W. W. Phelps, A. S.
Gilbert, and John Whitmer, entered into the following stipulation:--
"_Memorandum of agreement between the undersigned of the Mormon
society, in Jackson county, Missouri, and a committee appointed by
a public meeting of the citizens of said county, made the 23rd day
of July, 1833_.
"It is understood that the undersigned members of the society do
give their solemn pledge each for himself, as follows, to-wit:--
"That Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, William E. M'Lellin, Edward
Partridge, Lyman Wight, Simeon Carter, Peter and John Whitmer,
and Harvey Whitlock, shall remove with their families out of
this county on or before the first day of January next; and
that they, as well as the two hereinafter named, use all their
influence to induce all the brethren now here, to remove as soon as
possible--one half, say, by the first of January next, and all by
the first day of April next; to advise and try all means in their
power, to stop any more of their sect from moving to this county,
and as to those now on the road, they will use their influence to
prevent their settling permanently in the county, but that they
shall only make arrangements for temporary shelter, till a new
location is agreed on for the society. John Corrill and Algernon
S. Gilbert, are allowed to remain as general agents to wind up the
business of the society, so long as necessity shall require; and
said Gilbert may sell out his merchandise now on hand, but is to
make no new importations.
"The _Star_ is not again to be published, nor a press set up by any
of the society in this county.
"If the said Edward Partridge and W. W. Phelps move their families
by the first day of January as aforesaid, they themselves will
be allowed to go and come in order to transact and wind up their
business.
"The committee pledge themselves to use all their influence to
prevent any violence being used so long as a compliance with the
foregoing terms is observed by the parties concerned.
"To which agreement are subscribed the names of the above-named
committee, as also those of the Mormon brethren named in the report
as having been present."
The damages which your petitioners have sustained in consequence
of this outrage and stipulation are, at present, incalculable.
A great number of industrious inhabitants who were dependent on
their labors for support, have been thrown out of employment, and
are kept so by the threatenings of those who compose the mob. [See
their resolutions as published in the _Western Monitor_, numbers
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, August 2, 1833.] In estimating the damages which
have resulted from {414} the beginning to this time from those
illegal and inhuman proceedings against your poor and persecuted
petitioners, were they to name many thousands of dollars, it would
be short of a remuneration. Most of the mechanics' shops have been
closed; two pair of blacksmith's bellows have been cut in pieces;
our merchant, as you will see by the foregoing stipulation, has
been forbidden to import or bring into the country any more goods,
by which his business has been ruined.
Soon after the above stipulation was made, some of your petitioners
proceeded to make a new location in Van Buren county on the
south, but the settlers in that county drew up an agreement among
themselves to drive us from that county, after we had commenced
laboring there; they threatened to shoot our cattle, and destroy
our labor, and in fact, "the foxes have holes, and the birds of the
air have nests, but we have no where to lay our heads." We were
obliged to return.
Since the stipulation was entered into, some of our houses have
been broken open, and the inmates threatened to be shot if
they stirred; and also some of our houses have been stoned or
brick-batted.
Also, that since some publications have appeared in the _Western
Monitor_ and other papers, censuring the conduct of the mob, the
_leaders have begun to threaten life_, declaring that if any of the
Mormons attempted tempted to seek redress by law or otherwise, for
character, person, or property, they shall _die_!
_Now therefore_, for ourselves, as members of the Church, we
declare, with the exception of poverty, which has not yet become
a crime by the laws of the land, that the crimes charged against
us, so far as we are acquainted, contained in the documents above
written, and those in the proceedings of the mob, as published in
the _Western Monitor_ of August 2nd, _are not true_. In relation
to inviting free people of color to emigrate to this section of
country, and other matters relative to our society, see the 109th,
110th, and 111th pages of _The Evening and Morning Star_, and the
_Extra_ accompanying the same, dated July 16th, which are annexed
to this petition. Our situation is a critical one; we are located
on the western limits of the state, and of the United States; where
desperadoes can commit outrages, and even murder, and escape in a
few minutes beyond the reach of process; where the most abandoned
of all classes from almost every state may too often pass to
the Mexican states, or to the more remote regions of the Rocky
Mountains to escape the grasp of justice; where numerous tribes
of Indians, located by the General Government amid the corrupting
influence of mid-day mobs, might massacre our defenseless women and
children, with impunity.
Influenced by the precepts of our beloved Savior when we have been
smitten on the one cheek, we have turned the other also; when we
have {415} been sued at the law, and our coat been taken, we have
given them our cloak also; when they have compelled us to go with
them a mile, we have gone with them twain; we have borne the above
outrages without murmuring; but we cannot patiently bear them
any longer; according to the laws of God and man, we have borne
enough. Believing with all honorable men, that whenever that fatal
hour shall arrive that the poorest citizen's person, property, or
rights and privileges, shall be trampled upon by a lawless mob with
impunity, that moment a dagger is plunged into the heart of the
constitution, and the union must tremble! Assuring ourselves that
no republican will suffer the liberty of the press, the freedom of
speech, and the liberty of conscience, to be silenced by a mob,
without raising a helping hand to save his country from disgrace,
we solicit assistence to obtain our rights, holding ourselves
amenable to the laws of our county whenever we transgress them.
Knowing as, we do, that the threats of this mob, in most cases,
have been put into execution, and knowing also that every officer,
civil and military, with a very few exceptions, has pledged his
life and honor to force us from the county, dead or alive; and
believing that civil process cannot be served without the aid of
the executive; and not wishing to have the blood of our defenseless
women and children to stain the land which has once been stained
by the blood of our fathers to purchase our liberty, we appeal to
the Governor for aid, asking him to raise by express proclamation,
or otherwise, a sufficient number of troops, who, with us, may be
empowered to defend our rights, that we may sue for damages for the
loss of property, for abuse, for defamation, as to ourselves, and
if advisable try for treason against the government; that the law
of the land may not be defiled, or nullified, but peace be restored
to our country. And we will ever pray.
This petition was signed by Edward Partridge and nearly all the members
of the Church in Jackson county.
Footnotes
1. There were twenty High Priests present at the council meeting. The
minutes of the meeting are found in the _Far West Record_ pages 35, 36.
2. The exact date of Elder Cowdery's arrival in Kirtland as a special
messenger from the brethren in Zion cannot be ascertained.
3. This was the same John Gould who was subsequently ordained a member
of the First Council of Seventy.
4. The minutes of the council are contained in the Far West Record,
page 36. The names of the presidents of the branches and the number of
the branch each presided over respectively are given as follows: Newel
Knight, Branch No. 1; Daniel Stanton, Branch No. 2; David Whitmer,
Branch No 3; John Corrill, Branch No 4; Thomas B. Marsh, Branch No. 5;
Peter Dustin, Branch No. 6; Lyman Wight, Branch No. 7; Parley P. Pratt,
Branch No 8; Simeon Carter, Branch No. 9; Calvin Beebe, Branch No. 10.
5. The Higbee family subsequently became very prominent in the Church.
Elias Higbee was the son of Isaac and Sophia Higbee. He was born 23rd
of October, 1795, in Galloway, Gloucester county, New Jersey. At the
age of twenty-two he married Sarah Ward and removed to Cincinnati.
He received the Gospel in the spring of 1832, and during the summer
following went to Jackson county, Missouri, but returned to Cincinnati
the following winter, where he was ordained an Elder by his Brother
Isaac, on the 20th of February, 1833. He returned to Missouri with his
family, arriving in Zion in the month of March, 1833, and on the 26th
of September following he was ordained a High Priest.--(_Millennial
Star_, vol. xxi, page 203; also Far West Record, page 37.)
6. Isaac Higbee was also the son of Isaac and Sophia Higbee. He was
born in Galloway, Gloucester county, New Jersey, on the 23rd of
December, 1797. When between five and six years old he removed with
his parents to Ohio. February 11th, 1819, he married Heziah String.
About the first of May, 1832, his parents received the Gospel, and a
few months afterwards himself and wife did the same. In the spring of
1833 he removed with his family to Zion, and in September following, as
stated by the Prophet, was ordained a High Priest.
7. John Tanner was the son of Joshua and Thankful Tefft Tanner. He
was born at Hopkinton, Rhode Island, August 15, 1778. According to
the tradition of the family, Francis Tanner, the grandfather of John
Tanner, the subject of this sketch, came from England with his two
brothers--Nathan and William--and settled in the state of Rhode Island,
about the year 1718.
8. Document will be found on pages 374-376. It was the mob's "secret
constitution."
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