History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day...

John Whitmer.

P. S. Many of the brethren who are expected here soon, had made {491} arrangements to emigrate to this state before the outrages of the mob last fall. We hope the painful emergency of our case will plead an excuse for our frequent communications.

Letter of Governor Dunklin Replying to the Communication of April 24th from the Brethren in Clay County.

City of Jefferson, May 2, 1834.

To Messrs. W. W. Phelps and others:

Gentlemen:Yours of the 24th ultimo is before me, in reply to which I can inform you, that becoming impatient at the delay of the court of inquiry in making their report in the case of Lieutenant-Colonel Pitcher,on the 11th ultimo I wrote to General Thompson for the reasons of such delay; last night I received his reply, and with it the report of the court of inquiry, from the tenor of which, I find no difficulty in deciding that the arms your people were required to surrender on the 5th of last November, should be returned; and have issued an order to Colonel Lucas to deliver them to you or your order, which order is here enclosed.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

(Signed)

Daniel Dunklin.

Following is the order referred to above:

City of Jefferson, May 2, 1834.

To Samuel D. Lucas, Col. 33rd Regiment:

Sir:The court ordered to inquire into the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Pitcher, in the movement he made on the 5th of November last, report it as their unanimous opinion that there was no insurrection on that day, and that Colonel Pitcher was not authorized to call out his troops on the 5th of November, 1833. It was then unnecessary to require the Mormons to give up their arms. Therefore, you will deliver to W. W. Phelps, Edward Partridge, John Corrill, John Whitmer, and A. S. Gilbert, or their order, the fifty-two guns and one pistol reported by Lieutenant-Colonel Pitcher to you on the 3rd December last, as having been received by him from the Mormons on the 5th of the preceding October, [November].

Respectfully,

Daniel Dunklin,

Commander-in-Chief.

Letter to Governor Dunklin Answering His of April the 20th Wherein He Cautioned the Saints to Keep Their Enemies in the Wrong.

Liberty, Clay County, May 7, 1834.

Dear Sir:Your favor of the 20th ultimo, came to hand the 1st {492} instant, which gives us a gleam of hope that the time will come when we may experience a partial mitigation of our sufferings. The salutary advice at the conclusion of your letter is received with great deference.

Since our last of the 24th ultimo, the mob of Jackson county have burned our dwellings; as near as we can ascertain, between one hundred and one hundred and fifty were consumed by fire in about one week; our arms were also taken from the depository (the jail) about ten days since, and distributed among the mob. Great efforts are now making by said mob to stir up the citizens of this county (Clay) and Lafayette, to similar outrages against us; but we think they will fail of accomplishing their wicked designs in this county. We here annex a copy of the petition to the President, signed by about one hundred and twenty.

With great respect, etc.,

(Signed)

A. S. Gilbert,

W. W. Phelps.

Daniel Dunklin, Governor of Missouri:

Letter to Colonel S. D. Lucas Asking about Arms Surrendered at Independence.

Liberty, Clay County, Missouri,

May 15, 1834.

Colonel S. D. Lucas:

Sir:We have this day received a communication from the Governor of this state, covering the order herewith, and we hasten to forward the said order to you by the bearer, Mr. Richardson, who is instructed to receive your reply. We would further remark that under existing circumstances, we hope to receive our arms on this side the river, and we would name a place near one of the ferries for your convenience: as the arms are few in number, we request that they may be delivered with as little delay as possible.

Respectfully yours,

(Signed)

A. S. Gilbert,

W. W. Phelps,

John Corrill,

Edward Partridge,

John Whitmer.

P. S.We will thank you for a written communication, in answer to this letter, and the accompanying order.[6]

{493}All hope for relief from the general government was destroyed on receipt of the following communication from the city of Washington:

Reply of the General Government to the Petition of the Saints.