| 494 which we have been wickedly expelled, and those rights which belong to us as native freeborn citizens of the United States.
We are respectfully,
"Your friends and servants,
"John Corrill, Chairman.
"A. S. GILBERT, Secretary.
"Gentlemen-Will you be so good as to read the inclosed [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 lands, 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 servants,
"John Corrill,
"A. S. Gilbert.
"To Messrs. Doniphan and Atchison."
-Times and Seasons, vol. 6, p. 1089.
On Monday, June 16, 1834, the meeting referred to was held at the courthouse in Liberty, of which Joseph Smith in his history gives the following account:-
"Monday, June 16. The citizens of Clay County (to the number of eight hundred or a thousand, among whom were the brethren,) assembled at the courthouse 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 authorized by the people of Jackson County, hereby propose to the Mormons, that they will buy all the land that the said 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
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