| 569 one letter. I find myself almost destitute of that confidence necessary to address a person holding the authority of your dignified and respectable office; and I would now offer, as an excuse for intruding upon your time and attention, the justice of my cause. Was my cause the interest of an individual, or a number of individuals, then perhaps I might be justified in remaining silent. But it is not! Nor is it the pecuniary interest of a whole community alone, that prompts me again to appeal to your excellency. But, dear sir, it is for the peace and safety of hundreds, I may safely say, of this community, who are not guilty of any offence [offense] against the laws of the country; and also the life of my husband; who had not committed any crime whatever; neither has he transgressed any of the laws, or any part of the constitution of the United States; neither has he at any time, infringed upon the rights of any man, or of any class of men, or community of any description. Need I say he is not guilty of the crime alleged against him by Governor Boggs? Indeed it does seem superfluous for me, or any of his friends in this place, to testify to his innocence of that crime, when so many of the citizens of your place, and of many other places in this state, as well as in the territory; do know positively that the statement of Governor Boggs is without the least shadow of truth; and we do know, and so do many others, that the prosecution against him, has been conducted in an illegal manner; and every act demonstrates the fact, that all the design of the prosecution, is to throw him in the power of his enemies without the least ray of hope that he would ever be allowed to obtain a fair trial, and that he would be inhumanly [inhumanely] and ferociously murdered. No person having a knowledge of the existing circumstances, has one remaining doubt; and your honor will recollect that you said to me, that you would not advise Mr. Smith, ever to trust himself in Missouri. And, dear sir, you cannot for one moment indulge one unfriendly feeling toward him, if he abides by your council. Then sir, why is it that he should be thus cruelly pursued?-Why not give him the privilege of the laws of this state. When I reflect upon the many cruel and illegal operations Lilburn W. Boggs, and the consequent sufferings of myself and family, and the incalculable losses and sufferings of many hundreds who survived, and the many precious lives that were lost, all the effect of unjust prejudice and misguided ambition, produced by misrepresentation and calumny; my bosom heaves with unutterable anguish. And who that is as well acquainted with the facts as the people of the city of Quincy would censure me, if I should say that my heart burned with just indignation towards our calumniators, as well as the perpetrators of those horrid crimes? But how happy would I now be to pour out my full heart in gratitude to Governor Boggs, if he had rose up with the dignity and authority of the chief executive of the state and put down every illegal transaction and protected the peaceable citizens and enterprizing [enterprising] emigrants from the violence of plundering out-laws, who have ever been a disgrace to the state, and always will, so long as they go unpunished. Yes, I say, how happy would I be to render him not only the gratitude of my own heart, but the cheering effusions of the joyous souls of the fathers and mothers, of brothers and sisters, widows and orphans, whom he might have saved by such a course, from now drooping under the withering hand of adversity, brought upon them by the persecutions of wicked and corrupt men.-And now may I entreat your excellency to lighten the hand of oppression and persecution, which is laid upon me and my family, which materially affect the peace and welfare of this whole community; for, let me assure you that there are many whole families that are entirely dependent upon the prosecution and success of Mr. Smith's temporal business for their support. And if he is prevented from attending to the common avocations of life, who will employ those innocent and industrious poor people, and provide for their wants. But, my dear sir, when I recollect the interesting interview, I and my friends had with you when at your place, and the warm assurances you gave us of your friendship and legal protection from every encroachment upon our legal rights, as loyal citizens, as we always have been, still are, and are determined always to be a law-abiding people; and I still assure myself that when you are fully acquainted with illegal proceedings practiced against us in the suit of Governor Boggs, you will recall those writs which have been issued against Mr. Smith and Rockwell, as you must be aware that Mr. Smith was not in Missouri, and of course he could not have left there: with many other considerations which if duly considered will justify Mr. Smith in the course he has taken. And now I appeal to your excellency as I would unto a father, who is not only able but willing to shield me and mine from every unjust prosecution. I appeal to your sympathies and beg you to spare me and my helpless children; I beg you to spare my innocent children the heart rending sorrow of again seeing their father unjustly dragged to prison or to death; I appeal to your affections as a son, and beg you
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