THE MORMON CONTROVERSY.
The Report which reached us some time ago, in the shape of a private letter published in an Ohio paper, of a battle between the Mormons and the inhabitants of Jackson County, in Missouri, turns out to be un-true. How near they have been to a Battle, and a very bloody one, will appear from the following infor-mation, (which, as to facts, may be relied upon,) copied from a Kentucky paper.—Nat. Intelligencer.
From the Maysville, (Ky.) Eagle.
The following extracts of letters, from a young gen-tleman of Missouri to his father, in Mason county, have been politely furnished us for publication. They con-tain the latest and most authentic intelligence from the seat of the Mormon operations:
"LEXINGTON, MO., June 20, 1834.
"In a former letter I wrote at some length about the Mormons, and promised to write again on the subject. They have just received a large re-inforeement from the East, which makes their numbers amount to 800 or 1000 men—all well armed, with guns, tomahawks, knives, and from two to four braces of pistols each. They went through the county on the North of the river, yesterday. We understood that the people of that county intended to stop them, and for the pur-pose of assisting them, we raised about forty men, but could not overtake them, (the Mormons,) as they raised a dog trot, and kept it up most of the day.
"Next Monday is supposed to be the day they in-tend crossing the river, to take Jackson county. The whole county is in an uproar. Volunteers are pre-paring to go to the scene of action. Should they cross the river, there will be a battle, and probably much blood shed. Among others, I shall start on Saturday next, at 8 o'clock."
"LEXINGTON, June 28.
"From my last letter, you may possibly be expect-ing to hear of a severe battle between the Mormons and Jacksonians—but you will not. We went up to Jackson county, armed with guns, knives, &c., in full expectation of meeting an enemy determined on vic-tory or death. Nothing less could have been antici-pated; for Smith, their prophet, had promised to raise all of them that should be slain in fighting the Lord's battles.
You may recollect that, some months ago, the peo-ple of Jackson drove all the Mormons out of the coun-ty, on account, as they alleged, of improper conduct, such as stirring up a seditious feeling in the slaves and indians, stealing hogs, cattle, &c., and, worst of all, threatening to take possession of the whole of this upper country, either (according to Smith's revelation) by purchase or by blood. Some of them had even pre-dicted that Independence, the county seat of Jackson, would flow with blood—the men should be slain, and the women become their slaves. In addition to this, they are of odious fame in several particulars. When driven from Jackson, they took refuge in the adjoin-ing counties, principally in Clay county, where they remained in peace and inaction. Some time in May there was a great bustle among them—selling off their little patches of corn for guns, buying gun locks, pow-der and lead, manufacturing pistols and swords, and collecting themselves into a body in Clay county, from which place they threatened to cross over and attack their old neighbors, to recover the New Jerusalem from the infidels.
"About the same time, letters were written from the State of Ohio, informing the people of Jackson of the party that were starting from that place to join their brethren in Missouri. At first we thought it was all a hoax, not believing it possible that so many knaves and fools could be mustered in that State; nor could we believe it, until they had actually arrived. The arri-val of such a body of armed troops, whose object was to butcher a portion of our citizens, aroused the whole county against them.
"The Jackson people offered them twice the valuation of all their possessions, which was refused. They had collected in Clay county, and built a number of boats, to cross their forces over. Last Monday was, no doubt, the time they intended to cross, and would most probably have done so, had it not been for the numbers who went from this county to oppose them. Jackson county could raise about 900 men, and 400 went from Lafayette; about 300 more would have marched in a day or two, if they had been required. I know we had neither law nor gospel on our side, but self-preserva-tion urged us to pursue that course, for we knew that our county would be the next to suffer from their pres-ence. If they had crossed the river I very much question if one would have been left to tell the tale. No quarter would have been given. We could have killed most of them before they got across the river.
"Smith now tells them, (the Mormons,) that it does not matter about building the temple yet—that they may wait 50 or 100 years longer. Meanwhile, they will locate somewhere else. I am told there are a goodly number about to leave the country."
The following papers, which we find in the Fayette Monitor of July 8, will be acceptable to all such as desire to understand more particularly the nature of this Western feud:
FROM THE MISSOURI ENQUIRER.
Being a citizen of Clay county, and knowing that there is considerable excitement among the people thereof; and also knowing that different reports are arriving almost hourly, and being requested by the Hon. J. F. Ryland to meet the Mormons under arms, and obtain from the leaders thereof the correctness of the various reports in circulation—the true intent and meaning of their present movements, and their views generally regarding the difficulties existing between them and the citizens of Jackson county—I did in company with other gentlemen, call upon the said leaders of the Mormons, at their camp, in Clay county; and now give to the people of Clay county their written statement, containing the substance of what passed between us.
CORNELIUS GILLIAM.
PROPOSITIONS OF THE MORMONS.
Being called upon by the abovenamed gentlemen, at our camp, in Clay county, to ascertain from the leaders of our men our intentions, views, and designs in approaching this county in the manner that we have: we, therefore, the more cheerfully comply with their request, because we are called upon by gen-tlemen of good feelings, and who are disposed for peace and an amicable adjustment of the difficulties existing between us and the people of Jackson county. The reports of our intentions are various, and have gone abroad in a light calculated to arouse the feel-ings of almost every man. For instance, one report is, that we intend to demolish the printing office in Lib-erty; another report is, that we intend crossing the Missouri River on Sunday next, and falling upon wo-men and children, and slaying them; another is, that our men were employed to perform this expedition, being taken from manufacturing establishments in the East that had closed business; also, that we carried a flag, bearing peace on one side, and war or blood on the other; and various others, too numerous to men-tion. All of which, a plain declaration of our inten-tions, from under our own hands, will show are not correct. In the first place, it is not our intention to commit hostilities against any man or body of men. It is not our intention to injure any man's person or property, except in defending ourselves. Our flag has been exhibited to the above gentlemen, who will be able to describe it. Our men were not taken from any manufacturing establishment. It is our intention to go back upon our lands in Jackson, by order of the Executive of the State, if possible. We have brought our arms with us for the purpose of self defence, as it is well known to almost every man of the State that we have every reason to put ourselves in an attitude of defence, considering the abuse we have suffered in Jackson county. We are anxious for a settlement of the difficulties existing between us, upon honorable and constitutional principles. We are willing for twelve disinterested men, six to be chosen by each party, and these men shall say what the possessions of those men are worth who cannot live with us in the county, and they shall have their money in one year; and none of the Mormons shall enter that county to reside until the money is paid. The damages that we have sustained in consequence of being driven away shall also be left to the above twelve men. Or they may all live in the county if they choose, and we will never molest them if they will let us alone, and per-mit us to enjoy our rights. We want to live in peace with all men, and equal rights is all we ask. We wish to become permanent citizens of this State, and wish to bear our proportion in support of the Gov-ernment, and to be protected by its laws. If the above proposals are complied with, we are willing to give security on our part; and we shall want the same of the people of Jackson county for the performance of this agreement. We do not wish to settle down in a body, except where we can purchase the lands with money; for to take possession by conquest or the shedding of blood is entirely foreign to our feelings. The shedding of blood we shall not be guilty of, until all just and honorable means prove insufficient to re-store peace. Attest:
Joseph Smith, Jr. John Lincoln,
F. G. Williams, C. R. Morehead,
Lyman Wight, John Sconce,
Roger Orton, James H. Long,
Orson Hyde, James Collins.
John S. Carter,
Clay County, June 21,1834.
In answer to the above, a letter is published by Sam-uel C. Owens, chairman of the Jackson County Com-mittee, in which he denies that a majority of the sign-ers of the foregoing document are owners of land in Jackson County, and indirectly charges them with an intention to deceive in promulgating that they have been expelled from lands in which they have no in-terest. The fact of the Mormons coming from another state, with an armed force, is considered as evidence of an intention, not to rely on the arm of the civil law for protection, but to redress of themselves their wrongs real or pretended. Their conduct is charged to a pertinacity and infatuation, which threatens to convulse not only Jackson, but all the surrounding counties.
