| 149 hope that by so doing it will have a tendency to allay the excitement at present existing in the public mind.
"We have the honor to subscribe ourselves,
"Respectfully yours,
"JOHN J. HARDIN.
"W. B. WARREN.
"S. A. DOUGLAS.
"J. A. MCDOUGAL."
"NAUVOO, Illinois, October 1, 1845.
"To Gen. J. J. Hardin, W. B. Warren, S. A. Douglas, and J. A. McDougal.
"Messrs.:-In reply to your letter of this date, requesting us to submit the facts and intentions stated by us in writing, in order that you may lay them before the Governor and the people of the State, we refer you to our communication of the 24th ult., to the Quincy committee, etc., a copy of which is herewith inclosed [enclosed].
"In addition to this we would say that we had commenced making arrangements to remove from the country, previous to the recent disturbances; that we have four companies of one hundred families each, and six more companies now organizing, of the same number each, preparatory to a removal.
"That one thousand families, including the Twelve, the High Council, the trustees, and general authorities of the church, are fully determined to remove in the spring, independent of the contingencies of selling our property; and that this company will comprise from five to six thousand souls.
"That the church, as a body, desires to remove with us, and will, if sales can be effected, so as to raise the necessary means.
"That the organization of the church we represent is such that there never can exist but one head or presidency at any one time. And all good members wish to be with the organization; and all are determined to remove to some distant point where we shall neither infringe nor be infringed upon, so soon as time and means will permit.
"That we have some hundreds of farms and some two
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