| 1058 (The foregoing letter and petition were forwarded by mail soms [some] days; also the following.)
"Liberty, Clay county, Mo., April 10, 1834.
To his Excellency, Daniel Dunklin,
Governor of Missouri:
Dear Sir: Notwithstanding you may have become somewhat tired of receiving communications from us, yet we beg of your Excellency to pardon us for this, as we have this day forwarded a petition to the President of the United States, Setting forth our distressed condition, together with your Excellency's views of it, as well as the limited powers with which you are clothed, to afford that protection, which we need to enjoy our rights and lands in Jackson county, a few lines from the Governor of the State, in connection with our humble entreaties for our possessions and privileges, we think, would be of considerable consequence towards bringing about the desired effect, and would be gratefully acknowledged by us, and our society, and we may add, by all honorable men.
We therefore, as humble petitioners, ask the favor of your Excellency to write to the President of the United States, that he may assist us, or our society, in obtaining our rights in Jackson county, and help protect us when there, till we are safe, as in duty bound, we will ever pray.
(Signed) W. W. PHELPS
JOHN WHITMER,
A. G. GILBERT,
E. PARTRIDGE,
JOHN CORRILL."
Also the following was sent by the same mail, to the Senator from Missouri, then in the Congress of the United States, at washington;
"Liberty, Clay county, Mo., April 10, 1834.
Dear Sir: As our society has just sent a petition and hand bill to the President of the United States, setting forth their distressed condition since expelled from their homes by the Jackson county mob; and as you may remember that I was about to establish, last summer, previous to the destruction of my office by the mob, a weekly newspaper, in favor of the present administration, I have thought best to address this communication to your honor, and refer you to said petition and handbill, and assure you at the same time, that my determination is to publish a weekly paper, in favor of the present administration, in Jackson county, as soon as onr [our] society is restored to its legal rights and possessions.
As a people we are bound to support our republican government, and its institutions and more than all, my press, which was wrested from me, is now printing a mean opposition paper, by "Kelly & Davis" Any communication from you will be received by
Your obed't serv't,
W. W. PHELPS.
Hon T. H. Benton.
Friday, April 11th, I attended meeting, and Father Tyler was restored to the fellowship of the church.
On the 12th I went to the Lake, and spent the day in fishing, and visiting the brethren in that place.
Sunday the 13th, was sick and unable to attend meeting.
On Monday 14th, I purchased some hay and oats and got them home.
Tuesday 15th, drawed a load of hay; and on Wednesday ploughed [plowed] and sowed oats for brother Frederick.
Thursday the 17th, of April, I attended a meeting agreeably to appointment, at which time the important subject of the deliverance of Zion, and the building of the Lord's House in Kirtland, was discussed by Elder Rigdon. After the lecture I requested the brethren and sisters to contribute all the money they could, for the deliverance of Zion, and received twenty nine dollars and sixty eight cents.
April 18th, I left Kirtland in company with Elder Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery and Zebedee Coltrin for New Portage, to attend a conference; dined at W. W. Williams, in Newburgh, and continuing our journey, after dark we were hailed by a man who desired to ride. We were checked by the spirit, and refused. He professed to be sick, but in a few minutes was joined by two others, who followed us hard, cursing and swearing, but we were successful in escaping their hands, through the providence of the Lord, and staid [stayed] that night at a tavern where we were treated with civility.
On the 19th continuing our journey, dined at brother Joseph Bosworth's, in Copley, Medina county. Brother Bosworth was strong in the faith, and if faithful may do much good. We arrived the same day at brother Jonathan Taylor's, in Norton, where we were received with kindness. We soon retired to the wilderness, where we united in prayer and supplication for the blessings of the Lord to be given unto his church. We called upon the Father in the name of Jesus to go with the brethren who were going to the land of Zion, and that I might have strength and wisdom and understanding sufficient to lead the people of the Lord, and to gather back and establish the saints upon the land of their inheritances, and organize them according to the will of heaven,
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