THE MORMON DIFFICULTIES.
The following letter appears in the St. Louis Repub-lican of the 11th inst. That paper says, "the writer is one of the most respectable citizens of the upper coun-try." The Republican adds, that a messenger, bearing despatches to Gov. Boggs, arrived in St. Louis on Thurs-day:
GLASGOW, Oct. 7th, 1838.
As one of a committee of six from the counties of Howard and Chariton, appointed to visit the county of Carroll, where the disturbance exists between the Mor-mons and the citizens, and to examine into the causes and to endeavor to effect a reconciliation between the parties, I have thought proper to communicate to you the facts as they exist. The Mormons reside at a town six miles above the mouth of Grand River, called De Witt. For the last week, some citizens of Carroll, and others from Saline and Chariton counties, to the number of about two hundred persons, have been assembled within one mile of De Witt, all well armed, and have one piece of artillery, threatening every day to attack the Mormons in De Witt; in fact, on the 4th there was an attack made and many guns fired from both sides but only one man wounded of the mob party, as they are called we were there on yesterday, and endeavored to bring about a reconciliation between the parties; —the citizens proposed, that if the Mormons would leave the country and not return again, they would pay them back the amount their property cost, with ten percent, interest thereon, and return them the amount of their expenses in coming in and going out of the country. The Mormons replied, that ever since they have been a people they have been driven from place to place, and they had determined they should be driven no more, and they had determined, every one of them, to die on the ground. There are about 100 families of Mormons who are there, and are now encamped with their wagons in town, having just arrived; what number of men they have we could not ascertain, but presume they have considerable assistance from their principal town—Far West—in Caldwell county, about sixty or seventy miles; in fact within the last 24 hours their numbers have increased so much that the mob have de-clined an attack until reinforced from other counties. A messenger has just arrived, who left there at daylight this morning, and reports that the guards were fired on by the Mormons about one o'clock last night and con-tinued until but no one had been shot of Some 20 or 30 from our county have volun-teered their assistance. The commanders of the mob are Dr. Austin (Gen) and Col. Jones. The Mormons are commanded by Hinkle. I don't think I ever saw more resolute and determined men than the Mormons. It was our unanimous opinion, that if some force suffi-cient to suppress them does not interpose immediately, there will be great slaughter, and many valuable lives lost—some of our first citizens have engaged in it. Our country is under great excitement in consequence of it, and there is no telling where it will end.
Your obedient servant,
WM. F. DUNNICA.
FARTHER FROM THE MORMONS.—We learn by the Pirate, which arrived at noon to day, (observes the St. Louis Republican of the 13th inst.,) that, on Tuesday night, the Anti-Mormons were still in force near Dewitt. The Pirate lay at Greenville, seven miles above Dewitt, on Tuesday night. At that time information had come in, that the Anti-Mormons had given their opponents notice that they must take up their line of march next morning, at 8 o'clock. This, the Mormons refused to do. It was reported also, that the Anti-Mormons had sent word to the Mormons that, if they would collect their women and children in one house—that house should not be fired on. As the Pirate passed down on Wednes-day morning by Dewitt, a flag was seen flying over one of the largest houses there. From all appearances, there is reason to believe that a conflict took place on Wed-nesday.
The St. Louis Bulletin of the same date remarks:—"We fear that hostilities have actually commenced be-tween our citizens and these misguided people. We understand, that the prejudice against them, is even greater than that against the Indians, and it is appre-hended that public feeling has been to much excited, to let these troubles pass off in quiet."
The Boonslick Democrat of the 6th inst. says: "We were yesterday shown a letter written by a gentleman of Carrollon, stating that hostilities had actually commenc-ed between the Mormons resident at De Witt, and a portion of the citizens of Carroll county, aided by some volunteers from Saline; that some skirmishing had tak-en place, and the most serious consequences were likely to ensue."
We also learn from a different source, that a fight oc-curred at De Witt on Wednesday last, between the bel-ligerent parties, which resulted in the death of four Mor-mons, and the wounding of one or two of their oppo-nents; but we trust for the credit of the State, that this latter statement may be untrue.
