Petition to United States Congress, circa 29 November 1839, Draft
Source Note
JS, , and , Petition Draft, , to United States Congress, Washington DC, ca. 29 Nov. 1839; handwriting of ; 35 pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.
of Persecution again raged over the heads of the , and the fierce Demon <of the mob> drove them forth, houseless and homeless. and penniless, upon the charities of the world, which to them thank God! have been like Angel visits, but not few or far between.
This last persecution had its origin at an election which was held in the County of on the first Monday in of August 1838 A Mormon went to the polls to vote A <one> Citizen <of the mob> standing by opposed his voting contending that a Mormon had no more right to vote, <than a negro> One angry word brought on another, and blows followed. They are however happy to state, that the Mormon was not the aggressor, but was on the defensive. Others interfered not one alone but many assailed the Mormon. His brethren seeming [seeing] him thus assailed by numbers, rushed to the rescue, then came others of the Citizens <Mob> until finally a general row commenced, The mormons were victorious—
A Rumor soon <the same the next day> reached the Mormons of that two of their bretheren had been killed in this fight, and that a refusal had been made to surrender their bodies for burial. Not knowing at the time that this rumor was false, they became much excited and several of them started [p. 13]