| 1057 there can be no doubt entertained of their ample award. Justice is sometimes slow in its progress, but is not less sure on that account.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't,
DANIEL DUNKLIN.
To Messrs. W. W. Phelps, Isaac Morley, John Whitmer, Edward Partridge, John Corrill & A. S. Gilbert.
By the foregoing letter from the Governor, the President will perceive a disposition manifested by him to enforce the laws as far as means have been furnished him by the legislature of this State. But the powers vested in the Executive of this State appear to be inadequate for relieving the distresses of your petitioners in their present emergency. He is willing to send a guide to conduct our families back to their possessions, but is not authorized to direct a military force to be stationed any length of time for the protection of your petitioners.-This step would be laying the foundation for a more fatal tragedy than the first, as our numbers, at present are too small to contend single handed, with the mob of said county,-and as the federal Constitution has given to Congress the power to provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, or repel invasions,"-and for these purposes the President of the United States is authorized to make the call upon the Executives of the respective States." Therefore, we your petitioners, in behalf of our society, which is so scattered and suffering, most humbly pray that we may be restored to our lands, houses, and property in Jackson county, and protected in them by an armed force, till peace can be restored, and as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Here followed one hundred and fourteen signatures, viz: "Edward Partridge, John Corrill, John Whitmer, Isaac Morley, A. S. Gilbert, W. W. Phelps," &c. &c.
The following letter, accompanied the foregoing Petition:
"Liberty, Clay county, Mo., April 10th 1845.
To the President of the United States:
We the undersigned, whose names are subscribed to the accompanying petition, some of the leading members of the church of Christ, beg leave to refer the President to the petition and hand bill herewith, (See Times and Seasons, Vol. VI: Page 881.) We are not insensible of the multiplicity of business and numerous petitions, by which the cares and perplexities of our chief ruler are daily increased; and it is with diffidence we venture to lay before the executive at this emergent period, these two documents, wherein is briefly portrayed the most unparalleled persecution, and flagrant outrage of law that has disgraced the country, since the Declaration of Independence; -But knowing the independent fortitude, and vigorous energy for preserving the rights of the citizens of this Republic, which has hitherto marked the course of our chief magistrate, we are encouraged to hope, that this communication will not pass unnoticed, but that the President will consider our location on the extreme western frontier of the United States, exposed to many ignorant and lawless ruffians, who are already congregated, and determined to nullify all law that will secure to your petitioner the peaceable possession of their lands in Jackson county. We again repeat, that our society are wandering in adjoining counties at this day, bereft of their houses and lands, and threatened with death by the aforesaid outlaws of Jackson county.
And lest the President should have been deceived in regard to our truo [true] situation, by the misrepresentations of certain individuals, who are disposed to cover the gross outrages of the mob, from religious, political, and speculative motives, we beg leave to refer him to the Governor of this State, at the same time informing, that the number of men composing the mob of Jackson county, may be estimated at from three to five hundred, most of them prepared with fire arms.
After noting the statements here made, if it should be the disposition of the President to grant aid, we must humbly entreat, that early relief may be extended to suffering families, who are now expelled from their possessions by force of arms, our lands in Jackson county, are about thirty miles distant from Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri river.
With due respect, we are Sir,
Your obed. serv'ts,
A. S. GILBERT
W. W. PHELPS
EDWARD PARTRIDGE.
P. S. In February last a number of our people, were marched under guard furnished by the Governor of the State, into Jackson county, for the purpose of prosecuting the mob criminally; but the Attorney General of the State, and the District Attorney, knowing the force and power of the mob, advised us to relinquish all hope of criminal prosecution to effect any thing against the band of outlaws, and we returned under guard, without the least prospect of ever obtaining our rights and possessions in Jackson county, with any other means than a few companies of the United States' regular troops to guard and assist us till we are safely settled
(page 1057) |
