<​December 17 Petition presented the Legislature​> very anxious to hear from , as there were many reports in circulation, such as “the Mormons kept up the Danite System”, “were going to build the ,” and “more blood would be spilled, before they left the ” &c. which created a hardness in the minds of the people— In the P.M. had an interview with , who enquired about our people and property with as much apparent interest as though his whole soul was engaged for our welfare, and said he had heard that the Citizens were committing depredations on the Mormons and driving off their Stock &c. informed him that armed forces came in the place, and abused men women and children, stole horses, drove off cattle, and plundered houses of every thing that pleased their fancy. said that he would write and to go to , and put down every hostile appearance, he also stated that the Stipulations entered into by the Mormons to leave the , and sign the deed of trust, were unconstitutional, and not valid— replied we want the Legislature to pass a law to that effect showing that the stipulations [HC 3:234] and deeds of trust are not valid and are unconstitutional— and unless you do pass such a law, we shall not consider ourselves safe in the . You say there has been a stain upon the character of the , and now is the time to pass some law to that effect, and unless you do, farewell to the virtue of the ; farewell to her honor and good name, farewell to her Christian virtue, until she shall be peopled by a different race of men; farewell to every name that binds man to man; farewell to a fine soil and a glorious home, they are gone, they are rent from us by a lawless banditti.