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Source: Church History Vol. 1 Chapter 18 Page: 502 (~1834)

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502 On the same day the chairman of the Jackson County mob wrote Mr. Reese, attorney for the saints, as follows:-

"Independence, Missouri, June 26, 1834.

"Mr. Amos Reese; Dear Sir:-Since my return from Liberty I have been busily engaged in conversing with the most influential men of our county, endeavoring to find out, if possible, what kind of a compromise will suit with the Mormons on their part. The people here, en masse, I find out, will do nothing like according to their last proposition. We will have a meeting, if possible, on Monday next, at which time the proposals of the Mormons will be answered. In the meantime I would be glad that they, the Mormons, would cast an eye back of Clinton and see if that is not a country calculated for them.

"Yours respectfully,

"S. C. Owens"

-Times and Seasons, vol. 6, p. 1108.

From the foregoing records it will appear that the saints had but two propositions open to them, the compliance with which would bring peace; namely: To sell their possessions in Jackson County, or to buy the whole county at double its value. The first they were religiously opposed to doing, and the second they were financially unable to do. While they were suing for peace and making every possible effort to obtain justice, always declaring allegiance to law and order, the mob were continuing their lawless deeds whenever and wherever opportunity offered. As already mentioned in the letter to the Governor, the mob crossed over into Clay County, intimidating defenseless women, and otherwise maltreating members of the church. One instance is related by Joseph Smith, that transpired on March 31, that can scarcely be too severely condemned. 2

with the cholera the same day and died In a few hours, according to his own words that he "would rather die than go forth to preach the gospel to the gentiles."-Times and Seasons, vol. 6, p. 1107

2 This day, also, Ira I Willis, a young man who had been in the church for some time, and who was driven from Jackson County into Clay, returned thither to look for a stray cow; and while at the house of Esquire Manship's, a Justice of the Peace, (where he had called with Bro. John

(page 502)

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