Life of Heber C. Kimball, an Apostle Part 21

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

MEMORIAL TO THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE--A CHAPTER OF INFAMY--HOW MISSOURI REDRESSED THE WRONGS OF THE SUFFERING SAINTS--BRIGHAM AND HEBER SETTING IN ORDER THE CHURCH--ARRANGING FOR THE EXODUS.

The brethren who retained their liberty addressed a memorial to the Missouri Legislature, setting forth the wrongs that the Saints had suffered in that state, and humbly pet.i.tioning for redress of grievances. As a concise statement of the Missouri persecutions, with much of which the history of Heber C. Kimball is identified, and himself being one of the signers of the doc.u.ment, it is here given a place in this volume:

"We, the undersigned pet.i.tioners and inhabitants of Caldwell County, Missouri, in consequence of the late calamity that has come upon us, taken in connection with former afflictions, feel it a duty we owe to ourselves and our country to lay our case before your honorable body for consideration.

"It is a well known fact, that a society of our people commenced settling in Jackson County, Missouri, in the summer of 1831, where they, according to their ability, purchased lands and settled upon them, with the intention and expectation of becoming permanent citizens in common with others.

"Soon after the settlement began, persecutions began; and as the society increased persecution also increased, until the society at last was compelled to leave the county; and although an account of these persecutions has been published to the world, yet we feel that it will not be improper to notice a few of the most prominent items in this Memorial.

"On the 20th of July, 1833, a mob convened at Independence, a committee of which called upon a few of the men of our Church there, and stated to them that the store, printing office, and indeed all other mechanic shops must be closed forthwith and the society leave the county immediately.

"These propositions were so unexpected that a certain time was asked for to consider the subject, before an answer should be returned, which was refused, and our men being individually interrogated, each one answered that he could not consent to comply with their propositions. One of the mob replied that he was sorry, for the work of destruction would commence immediately. In a short time the printing office, which was a two-story building, was a.s.sailed by the mob and soon thrown down, and with it much valuable property destroyed. Next they went to the store for the same purpose; but Mr. Gilbert, one of the owners, agreeing to close it, they abandoned their design. Their next move was the dragging of Bishop Partridge from his house and family to the public square, where, surrounded by hundreds, they partially stripped him of his clothes, and tarred and feathered him from head to foot. A man by the name of Allen was also tarred at the same time. This was Sat.u.r.day and the mob agreed to meet the following Tuesday, to accomplish their purpose of driving or ma.s.sacreing the society.

"Tuesday came, and the mob came also, bearing with them a red flag in token of blood. Some two or three of the princ.i.p.al men of the society, offered their lives if that would appease the wrath of the mob, so that the rest of the society might dwell in peace upon their lands. The answer was that unless the Society would leave _en ma.s.se_, every man should die for himself. Being in a defenseless situation, to save a general ma.s.sacre, it was agreed one half of the society should leave the county by the 1st of January, and the remainder by the first of the following April. A treaty was entered into and ratified and all things went on smoothly for awhile. But some time in October, the wrath of the mob began again to be kindled, insomuch that they shot at some of our people, whipped others, and threw down their houses and committed many other depredations; indeed the society of Saints were hara.s.sed for some time both day and night, Their houses were brick-batted and broken open, women and children insulted, etc.

"The store-house of A. S. Gilbert and Co. was broken open, ransacked and some of the goods strewed in the streets.

"These abuses, with many others of a very aggravated nature, so stirred up the indignant feelings of our people, that when a party of them, say about thirty, met a company of the mob of about double their number, a skirmish took place, in which some two or three of the mob, and one of our people were killed. This raised, as it were, the whole country in arms, and nothing would satisfy them but the immediate surrender of the arms of our people, and they forthwith to leave the county. Fifty-one guns were given up, which have never been returned or paid for, to this day.

"The next day parties of the mob, from fifty to seventy, headed by priests, went from house to house, threatening women and children with death if they were not off before they returned. This so alarmed them that they fled in different directions: some took shelter in the woods, while others wandered on the prairies till their feet bled. In the meantime, the weather being very cold, their sufferings in other respects were very great.

"The society made their escape to Clay County as fast as they possibly could, where the people received them kindly and administered to their wants. After the society had left Jackson County, their buildings, amounting to about two hundred, were either burned or otherwise destroyed; and much of their crops, as well as furniture, stock etc., which if properly estimated would make a large sum, for which they have not as yet received any remuneration.

"The Society remained in Clay County nearly three years, when at the suggestion of the people there, they removed to that section of the country known now as Caldwell County. Here the people purchased out most of the former inhabitants, and also entered much of the wild land. Many soon owned a number of eighties, while there was scarcely a man that did not secure to himself at least a forty.

"There we were permitted to enjoy peace for a season; but as our society increased in numbers and settlements were made in Daviess and Carroll Counties, the mob spirit spread itself again.

"For months previous to our giving up our arms to General Lucas'

army, we heard little else than rumors of mobs collecting in different places, and threatening our people. It is well known that the people of our Church, who had located themselves at De Witt, had to give up to a mob, and leave the place, notwithstanding the militia were called out for their protection.

"From De Witt the mob went towards Daviess County, and while on their way there took two of our men prisoners and made them ride upon the cannon, and told them they would drive the Mormons from Daviess to Caldwell and from Caldwell to h.e.l.l, and that they would give them no quarter, only at the cannon's mouth. The threats of the mob induced some of our people to go to Daviess to help to protect their brethren, who had settled at Diahman on Grand river.

The mob soon fled from Daviess County; and after they were dispersed and the cannon taken, during which time no blood was shed, the people of Caldwell returned to their homes, in hope of enjoying peace and quiet; but in this they were disappointed, for a large mob was soon found to be collecting on the Grindstone forks of Grand River, from ten to fifteen miles off, under the command of Cornelius Gillium, a scouting party of which came within four miles of Far West and drove off stock belonging to our people in open day light.

"About this time word came to Far West, that a party of the mob had come into Caldwell County to the south of Far West, and were taking horses and cattle, burning houses and ordering inhabitants to leave their homes immediately; and that they had then actually in their possession three men prisoners. This report reached Far West in the evening and was confirmed about midnight. A company of about sixty men went forth under the command of David W. Patten to disperse the mob as they supposed. A battle was the result, in which Captain Patten and two of his men were killed and others wounded. Bogart, it appears, had but one killed and others wounded. Notwithstanding the unlawful acts committed by Captain Bogart's men previous to the battle, it is now a.s.serted and claimed that he was regularly ordered out as a militia captain to preserve the peace along the line of Ray and Caldwell Counties.

That battle was fought four or five days previous to the arrival of General Lucas and his army. About the time of the battle with Captain Bogart a number of our people who were living near Haun's mills, on Shoal Creek, about twenty miles below Far West, together with a number of emigrants who had been stopped there in consequence of the excitement, made an agreement with the mob which was about there, that neither party should molest the other, but dwell in peace. Shortly after this agreement was made a mob party of from two to three hundred, many of whom are supposed to be from Chariton County, some from Daviess, and also those who had agreed to dwell in peace, came upon our people there, whose number in men was about forty, at a time when they little expected any such thing and without any ceremony, notwithstanding they begged for quarter, shot them down as they would tigers or panthers. Some few made their escape by fleeing, eighteen were killed and a number more were severely wounded.

"This tragedy was conducted in the most brutal and savage manner.

An old man, after the ma.s.sacre was partially over, threw himself into their hands and begged for quarter when he was instantly shot down; that not killing him they took an old corn cutter and literally mangled him to pieces. A lad of ten years of age, after being shot down also begged to be spared, when one of them placed the muzzle of his gun to his head and blew out his brains.

"The slaughter of these not satisfying the mob they then proceeded to rob and plunder.

"The scene that presented itself after the ma.s.sacre to the widows and orphans of the killed is beyond description. It was truly a time of weeping, of mourning and of lamentation.

"As yet we have not heard of any being arrested for these murders, notwithstanding there are men boasting about the county that they did kill on that occasion more than one "Mormon;" whereas all our people who were in the battle with Captain Patten against Bogart, that can be found, have been arrested, and are now confined in jail to await their trial for murder.

"When General Lucas arrived near Far West and presented the Governor's order, we were surprised greatly, yet we felt willing to submit to the authorities of the state. We gave up our arms without reluctance. We were then made prisoners and confined to the limits of the town for about a week, during which time the men from the country were not permitted to go to their families many of whom were in a suffering condition for the want of food and firewood, the weather being very cold and stormy. Much property was destroyed by the troops in town during their stay there, such as burning house logs, rails, corn cribs, boards, etc., the using of corn and hay, the plundering of houses, the killing of cattle, sheep, and hogs and also the taking of horses not their own; and all this without regard to owners or asking leave of anyone. In the meantime men were abused, women insulted and abused by the troops--and all this while we were kept prisoners.

"Whilst the town was guarded we were called together by the order of General Lucas, and a guard placed close around us, and in that situation were compelled to sign a deed of trust for the purpose of making over our individual property, all holden as they said, to pay all the debts of every individual belonging to the Church, and also to pay for all damages the old inhabitants of Daviess may have sustained in consequence of the late difficulties in that county.

"General Clark now arrived and the first important move made by him was collecting of our men together, on the square, and selecting out about fifty of them' whom he immediately marched into a house and confined close. This was done without the aid of the sheriff or any legal process. The next day forty six of those taken were driven, like a parcel of menial slaves, off to Richmond, not knowing why they were taken, or what they were taken for. After being confined in Richmond more than two weeks, about one half were liberated. The rest, after another week's confinement, were most of them required to appear at court and have since been let to bail.

"Since General Clark withdrew his troops from Far West, parties of armed men have gone through the county, driving off horses, sheep and cattle and also plundering houses. The barbarity of General Lucas' troops ought not to be pa.s.sed over in silence. They shot our cattle and hogs merely for the sake of destroying them, leaving them for the ravens to eat.

"They took prisoner an aged man named Tanner, and without any reason for it, he was struck on the head with a gun, which laid his skull bare. Another man by the name of Carey was also taken prisoner by them and without any provocation had his brains dashed out by a gun. He was laid in a wagon and there permitted to remain for the s.p.a.ce of twenty-four hours, during which time no one was permitted to administer to him comfort or consolation; and after he was removed from that situation, he lived but a few hours.

"The destruction of property at and about Far West is very great.

Many are stripped bare as it were and others partially so.

Indeed, take us as a body, at this time we are a poor and afflicted people, and if we are compelled to leave the state in the spring, many, yes a large portion of our society, will have to be removed at the expense of the state, as those who might have helped them are now debarred that privilege in consequence of the deed of trust we are compelled to sign, which deed so operated upon our real estate that it will sell for little or nothing at this time.

"We have now made a brief statement of some of the most prominent features of the troubles that have befallen our people since our first settlement in the state, and we believe these persecutions have come in consequence of our religious faith, and not for immorality on our part. That instances have been, of late, when individuals have trespa.s.sed upon the rights of others and thereby broken the laws of the land, we will not attempt to deny; but yet we do believe that no crime can be substantiated against any of the people who have a standing in our Church of an earlier date than the difficulties in Daviess County.

"And when it is considered that the rights of this people have been trampled upon from time to time with impunity, and abuses heaped upon them almost innumerable, it ought in some degree to palliate for any infraction of the law which may have been made on the part of our people.

"The late order of Governor Boggs to drive us from this state, or exterminate us, is a thing so novel, unlawful, tyrannical and oppressive, that we have been induced to draw up this memorial, and present this statement of our case to your honorable body, praying that a law may be pa.s.sed, rescinding the order of the Governor to drive us from the state, and also giving us the sanction of the Legislature to inherit our lands in peace.

"We ask an expression of the Legislature, disapproving of the conduct of those who compelled us to sign a deed of trust, and also disapproving of any man or set of men taking our property in consequence of that deed of trust, and appropriating it to the payment of damage sustained in consequence of trespa.s.ses committed by others.

"We have no common stock; our property is individual property and we feel willing to pay our debts as other individuals do. But we are not willing to be bound for other peoples' debts also. The arms which were taken from us here, which we understand to be about six hundred and thirty, besides swords and pistols, we care not so much about, as we do the pay for them, only we are bound to do military duty, which we are willing to do, and which we think was sufficiently manifested by the raising of a volunteer company last fall at Far West, when called upon by General Parkes to raise troops for the frontier.

"The arms given up by us we consider were worth between twelve and fifteen thousand dollars; but we understand they have been greatly damaged since taken, and at this time probably would not bring near their former value. And as they were both here and in Jackson County, taken by the militia, and consequently by the authority of the state, we therefore ask your Honorable Body to cause an appropriation to be made by law, whereby we may be paid for them, or otherwise have them returned to us and the damages made good.

The losses sustained by our people in leaving Jackson County, are so situated that it is impossible to obtain any compensation for them by law, because those who have sustained them are unable to prove those trespa.s.ses upon individuals. That the facts do exist that the buildings, crops, stock, furniture, rails, timber, etc., of the society, have been destroyed in Jackson County, is not doubted by those who are acquainted in this upper country; and since trespa.s.ses cannot be proven upon individuals, we ask your Honorable Body to consider this case and if in your liberality and wisdom you can conceive it to be proper to make an appropriation by law to these sufferers, many of whom are still pressed down with poverty in consequence of their losses, would be able to pay their debts, and also in some degree be relieved from poverty and woe; whilst the widow's heart would be made to rejoice, and the orphan's tears measurably dried up and the prayers of a grateful people ascend on high, with thanksgiving and praise to the author of our existence for that beneficent act.

"In laying our case before your Honorable Body, we say that we are willing, and ever have been, to conform to the Const.i.tution and laws of the United States, and of this state. We ask in common with others the protection of the laws. We ask for the privilege guaranteed to all free citizens of the United States and of this state, to be extended to us, that we may be permitted to settle and live where we please, and wors.h.i.+p G.o.d according to the dictates of our conscience without molestation. And while we ask for ourselves this privilege we are willing all others should enjoy the same.

"We now lay our case at the feet of your Legislature, and ask your Honorable Body to consider it, and do for us, after mature deliberation, that which your wisdom, patriotism and philanthropy may dictate.

"And we as in duty bound will ever pray.

"A committee appointed by the citizens of Caldwell County, to draft this memorial and sign it in their behalf. {

EDWARD PARTRIDGE, HEBER C. KIMBALL, JOHN TAYLOR, THEODORE TURLEY, BRIGHAM YOUNG, ISAAC MORLEY, GEORGE W. HARRIS, JOHN MURDOCK, JOHN M. BURK.

"Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, Dec. 10, 1838."

The only recognition given by the Legislature to this pathetic appeal, this soul-harrowing recital of "bitter, burning wrongs," enough to melt a heart of stone,

"To stir a fever in the blood of age, And make the infant's sinews strong as steel,"

was the appropriation of the paltry sum of two thousand dollars, to be distributed among the people of Daviess and Caldwell Counties, "_the Mormons not excepted_."

O lavish generosity! Two thousand dollars for a city sacked and pillaged, fields and farms laid waste, and homes given to the flames; not to mention murders, rapes, expulsions and other outrages nameless for their enormity, committed upon a helpless people by a ruthless mob, in the sovereign name of the state of Missouri!

"THE MORMONS NOT EXCEPTED!"