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Source: Church History Vol. 1 Chapter 17 Page: 472 (~1834)

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472 bloodshed. He advised us to relinquish our rights, for the sake of peace, and to sell our lands from which we had been driven. To this we replied with firmness, that we would hold no terms with land pirates and murderers. If we could not be permitted to live on lands which we had purchased of the United States, and be protected in our persons and rights, our lands would, at least, make a good burying ground, on which to lay our bones; and, like Abraham's possession in Canaan, we should hold on to our possessions in the county of Jackson, for this purpose, at least. He replied that he did not blame us in the least, but trembled for the country, and dare not carry out the plain, acknowledged, and imperative duties of his office. We retired, saying to ourselves: 'That poor coward ought, in duty, to resign; he owes this, morally at least, in justice to his oath of office.'

"We returned to the camp, which was then on the march, somewhere below the county of Ray. President Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, L. Wight, and others, repaired with us into a solitary grove, apart, to learn the result of our mission.

"After hearing our report, the President called on the God of our fathers to witness the justice of our cause and the sincerity of our vows, which we engaged to fulfill, whether in this life or in the life to come. For, as God lives, truth, justice, and innocence shall triumph, and iniquity shall not reign."-Pp. 123, 124.

This sounds strangely out of harmony with Governor Dunklin's character as indicated in his actions in this trouble both before and after this time. If this account of Mr. Pratt is true, he must have weakened in his intention to restore and protect the saints, being intimidated by the lawless element. But in justice to Mr. Dunklin it is but fair to say that Lyman Wight, who was the commanding officer of the "camp," states in his daily journal under date of June 13, 1834, when Messrs. Hyde and Pratt returned and reported, as follows:-

"Traveled five miles and met Parley P. Pratt and Orson Hyde, who had been sent to the Governor to seek redress for the saints who had been driven from Jackson County.

(page 472)

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