| 1089 In answer to Judge Ryland's the Elders wrote
"Near Liberty, 14th June, 1834.
Hon. J. F. Ryland,
Dear Sir, Your communication of the 9th inst. from Richmond, was duly received, and at a public meeting of our society this day its contents made known. Our brethren unanimously tender their thanks for the laudable disposition manifested on your part to effect peace between our society and the inhabitants of Jackson county, and as many as conveniently can will be present on Monday next, entertaining some fears that your honor in his zeal for peace, might unwarily recommend a sale of our lands in Jackson county, we have thought it expedient to give seasonable notice that no such proposition could possibly be acceded to by our society.
We have not heard that it was the intention of your honor to urge any such measure, but our enemies in Jackson county have long been trying to effect this object. In a letter from the Governor to us, he says 'I have been requested to advise the Mormons to sell out and move away, but believing that it could have no good effect I have withheld my advice.' We give this quotation from the Governor's letter to disprove the statement made in the "Upper Missouri Enguirer [Inquirer?]" of last Wednesday, and conclude by adding that 'home is home' and that we want possession of our homes, from which we have been wickedly expelled, and those rights which belong to us as native free born citizens of the United States.
We are respectfully,
Your friends and serv'ts
JOHN CARRILL, Chairman.
A. S. Gilbert, Secretary.
The foregoing was enclosed in the following letter to their lawyers:
Gentlemen, Will you be so good as to read the enclosed, then seal and hand to the Judge. We have given him an early hint fearing that he might be induced by the solicitations of our enemies to propose a sale of our hands, which you well know would be like selling our children into slavery, and the urging of such a measure would avail nothing, unless to produce an excitement against us in this county. As requested last Thursday, we hope you will be present on Monday.
Your friends and serv'ts
JOHN CARRILL,
A. S. GILBERT.
To Messrs. Doniphan & Atchison.
Monday, June 16th, The citizens of Clay county (to the number of eight hundred or a thousand, among whom were the brethren,) assembled at the Court House in Liberty agreeably to the request of Judge Ryland, and a deputation from Jackson who presented the following:
"PROPOSITIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF JACKSON COUNTY TO THE MORMONS."
"The undersigned committee, being fully authorised [authorized] by the people of Jackson county, hereby propose to the Mormons, that they will buy all the land that the said Mermons [Mormons] own in the county of Jackson; and also, all the improvements which the said Mormons had on any of the public lands in said county of Jackson, as they existed before the first disturbance between the people of Jackson and the Mormons, and for such as they have made since. They further propose that the valuation of said land and improvements shall be ascertained by three disinterested arbitrators to be chosen and agreed to by both parties. They further propose, that should the parties disagree in the choice of arbitrators, then - - -is to choose them. They further propose, that twelve of the Mormons shall be permitted to go along with the arbitrators to shew [show] them their land and improvements while valuing the same, and such other of the Mormons as the arbitrators shall wish to do so, to give them information; and the people of Jackson hereby guarantee their entire safety while doing so. They further propose, that when the arbitrators report the value of the land and improvements, as aforesaid, the people of Jackson will pay the valuation, with one hundred per cent added thereon, to the Mormons, within thirty days thereafter. They further propose, that the Mormons are not to make any effort, ever after, to settle, either collectively or individually, within the limits of Jackson county. The Mormons are to enter into bonds to insure the conveyance of their land in Jackson county, according to the above terms, when the payment shall be made; and the committee will enter into a like bond, with such security as may be deemed sufficient, for the payment of the money, according to the above proposition. While the arbitrators are investigating and deciding upon the matters referred to them, the Mormons are not to attempt to enter into Jackson county, or to settle there, except such as are by the foregoing propositions permitted to go there. They further propose, that the people of Jackson will sell all their lands, and improvements on public lands, in Jackson county, to the Mormons,-the valuation to be obtained in the same manner,-the same per cent in addition to be paid, and the time the
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