| 351 George Simpson being their leader, who escorted me about half a mile, on to the courthouse, the public square in Independence; and then and there, a few rods from said courthouse, surrounded by hundreds of the mob, I was stripped of my hat, coat, and vest, and daubed with tar from head to foot, and then had a quantity of feathers put upon me; and all this because I would not agree to leave the county, my home where I had lived two years.
"'Before tarring and feathering me, I was permitted to speak. I told them that the saints had had to suffer persecution in all ages of the world, that I had done nothing which ought to offend anyone. That if they abused me, they would abuse an innocent person. That I was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ; but, to leave the country I was not then willing to consent to it. By this time the multitude made so much noise that I could not be heard: some were cursing and swearing, saying, "Call upon your Jesus," etc.; others were equally noisy in trying to still the rest, that they might be enabled to hear what I was saying.
"Until after I had spoken, I knew not what they intended to do with me, whether to kill me, to whip me, or what else I knew not. I bore my abuse with so much resignation and meekness that it appeared to astound the multitude, who permitted me to retire in silence, many looking very solemn, their sympathies having been touched as I thought; and, as to myself, I was so filled with the Spirit and love of God, that I had no hatred towards my persecutors, or anyone else.'
"Charles Allen was next stripped and tarred and feathered, because he would not agree to leave the county, or deny the Book of Mormon.
"Others were brought up to be served likewise or whipped, but from some cause the mob ceased operations and adjourned until Tuesday the 23d. Elder Gilbert, the keeper of the store, agreed to close that; and that may have been one reason why the work of destruction was suddenly stopped for two days.
"In the course of this day's wicked outrageous and unlawful proceedings, many solemn realities of human degradation,
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