CHAPTER XXXII.
MEMORIAL TO THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE—A CHAPTER OF INFAMY—HOW MISSOURI REDRESSED THE WRONGS OF THE SUFFERING SAINTS—BRIGHAM AND HEBER SETTING IN ORDER THE CHURCH—ARRANGING FOR THE EXODUS.
The brethren who retained their liberty addressed a memorial to the Missouri Legislature, setting forth the wrongs that the Saints had suffered in that state, and humbly petitioning for redress of grievances. As a concise statement of the Missouri persecutions, with much of which the history of Heber C. Kimball is identified, and himself being one of the signers of the document, it is here given a place in this volume:
"We, the undersigned petitioners and inhabitants of Caldwell County, Missouri, in consequence of the late calamity that has come upon us, taken in connection with former afflictions, feel it a duty we owe to ourselves and our country to lay our case before your honorable body for consideration.
"It is a well known fact, that a society of our people commenced settling in Jackson County, Missouri, in the summer of 1831, where they, according to their ability, purchased lands and settled upon them, with the intention and expectation of becoming permanent citizens in common with others.
"Soon after the settlement began, persecutions began; and as the society increased persecution also increased, until the society at last was compelled to leave the county; and although an account of these persecutions has been published to the world, yet we feel that it will not be improper to notice a few of the most prominent items in this Memorial.
"On the 20th of July, 1833, a mob convened at Independence, a committee of which called upon a few of the men of our Church there, and stated to them that the store, printing office, and indeed all other mechanic shops must be closed forthwith and the society leave the county immediately.
"These propositions were so unexpected that a certain time was asked for to consider the subject, before an answer should be returned, which was refused, and our men being individually interrogated, each one answered that he could not consent to comply with their propositions. One of the mob replied that he was sorry, for the work of destruction would commence immediately. In a short time the printing office, which was a two-story building, was assailed by the mob and soon thrown down, and with it much valuable property destroyed. Next they went to the store for the same purpose; but Mr. Gilbert, one of the owners, agreeing to close it, they abandoned their design. Their next move was the dragging of Bishop Partridge from his house and family to the public square, where, surrounded by hundreds, they partially stripped him of his clothes, and tarred and feathered him from head to foot. A man by the name of Allen was also tarred at the same time. This was Saturday and the mob agreed to meet the following Tuesday, to accomplish their purpose of driving or massacreing the society.
"Tuesday came, and the mob came also, bearing with them a red flag in token of blood. Some two or three of the principal men of the society, offered their lives if that would appease the wrath of the mob, so that the rest of the society might dwell in peace upon their lands. The answer was that unless the Society would leave en masse, every man should die for himself. Being in a defenseless situation, to save a general massacre, it was agreed one half of the society should leave the county by the 1st of January, and the remainder by the first of the following April. A treaty was entered into and ratified and all things went on smoothly for awhile. But some time in October, the wrath of the mob began again to be kindled, insomuch that they shot at some of our people, whipped others, and threw down their houses and committed many other depredations; indeed the society of Saints were harassed for some time both day and night, Their houses were brick-batted and broken open, women and children insulted, etc.
"The store-house of A. S. Gilbert and Co. was broken open, ransacked and some of the goods strewed in the streets.