Essentials in Church History / A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"

by Joseph Fielding Smith

[5. ] Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pages 228 –9.

Chapter 26

The Expulsion from Missouri

1838–1839

The Case Before the Legislature

In December, 1838, the Legislature of Missouri met. Governor Boggs laid before that body the information in his hands relative to the difficulty with the Latter-day Saints. This information was woefully lacking in the matter of the petitions and documents sent to him in defense of the Saints. On the 10th of that month Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor and other brethren petitioned the legislature, setting forth their side of the case. This petition was presented to David R. Atchison and others, December 17. The following day Mr. Turner, from a joint committee, presented before the senate a report of findings, based on the governor’s information. This report stated that the evidence was “not authenticated,” and was confined chiefly to investigation of criminal charges against individuals under arrest; the evidence was ex parte; and without aid of further evidence, the committee could not form a satisfactory opinion in relation to the material points. For these reasons, and because “it would be a direct interference with the administration of justice, the committee reported that this document ought not to be published, with the sanction of the legislature.” December 19, the petition of the brethren was presented by John Corrill, who had but recently departed from the Church. It was read in profound silence, but at the close of the reading, the house was in an uproar. A Mr. Childs, of Jackson County, denounced the petition saying there was not a word of truth in it. Mr. Ashley, of Livingstone County, denounced the “Mormons” as did also Mr. Young, of Lafayette. Ashley was one of the murderers at Haun’s Mill, and even boasted of that slaughter before the house. Mr. Redman, of Howard County, and Mr. Gyer, of St. Louis, and a few other members, demanded a full investigation, for they believed there was truth in the petition, and the actions of those members in opposing an investigation was because they feared their evil deeds might be brought to light. The result of it all was that the petition was laid on the table, “until the 4th day of July next,”—Independence day. January 16, 1839, Mr. Turner introduced in the senate a bill “to provide for the investigation of the late disturbances in this state.” The bill passed the senate, but when it came to the house (Feb. 4) it followed the petition and was laid on the table, also to be taken up on Independence day. Many considered this an approval of the wrongs committed on the “Mormons” in Missouri. David R. Atchison and a few others vigorously protested against such criminal action, but found themselves in the minority, for the motion prevailed by a majority of eleven votes.

Legislative Appropriations

In December, the legislature of Missouri appropriated two thousand dollars “to be distributed among the people of Daviess and Caldwell Counties.” The “good” people of Daviess were very “generous” and felt that they could do without their portion of this appropriation, and let it be given to the people of Caldwell. They could well afford to do such a thing, for they had robbed the “Mormon” people of nearly all they possessed. They had ransacked their homes and carried off their household furniture and goods, and otherwise enriched themselves at the expense of the Saints who had dwelt among them. This sum, so it was pretended, was distributed among the people in Caldwell. Judge Cameron and others attended to the “distribution.” The way they did it was to drive off the hogs belonging to the “Mormons” and shoot them, and without further bleeding, cut them up and deliver them to the Saints, at four or five cents a pound. They also “gave them a few calicos,” and the “sweepings of an old store,” charging them an extra price for the goods, and thus was the “munificient” sum of two thousand dollars distributed among the “Mormons.” Later the same legislature appropriated two hundred thousand dollars to pay the troops for their work in driving the “Mormons” from the state. In this manner were law and justice administered in Missouri in the years 1838 and 1839.

Extent of “Mormon” Losses

The total value of the property destroyed in Missouri, which belonged to the Saints, is beyond our knowledge. It was estimated to be not less than two million dollars, from the time they first settled in that state until their expulsion. About twelve hundred members of the Church were driven from Jackson County in 1833, and all their property was lost to them. When again they were forced to leave Clay County, though they went peaceably at the request of the other citizens, they left behind them a vast amount of property for which no remuneration was ever received. When they were expelled from the state in the winter of 1838 –9, the Saints numbered between twelve and fifteen thousand souls. All their property, except the little they were able to gather hastily and carry with them, was either destroyed or stolen by their enemies. In the appeal made to Congress and the President of the United States, in 1839, the amount of their losses was estimated at two million dollars. Claims against Missouri for the losses were presented to Congress in the sum of $1,381,044.00, and this represented only 491 individuals; many others who lost property, entered no claims for damages against that state.