| Though he acknowledges the Mormons have been
illegally evicted from their homes, the governor does not want to get involved.
Appoints Col. Thornton his aid and suggests alternatives to pursue in
negotiating with the two sides. Jackson county citizens have a right to
parade their militia, but other counties may not participate with them.
Mormons have a right to protect themselves, but those coming from outside
have no right to get involved. |
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"From the Missouri Enquirer" |
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, 484–488. |
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Copy of a letter from Daniel Dunklin. Governor of the State
of Missouri. To Col J. Thornton. Dated "City of Jefferson, June 6th,
1834. |
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The Missouri Enquirer issue
has not been located, but the letter is also found in the Niles'
Weekly Register, July 26, 1834, at UDR. Link. |
| Regret
no progress |
|
Dear Sir,—I was pleased at the receipt{ion} of your
letter, concurred in by Messrs. Rees, Atchison and Doniphan, on the subject
of the Mormon difficulties. I should be gratified indeed, if the parties
could compromise on the terms you suggest, or, indeed, upon any other terms
satisfactory [485] to themselves. |
|
Punctuation, capitalization, etc. follows .
Underlined words are not underlined or italicized in Niles version.
Red: in , not in Niles version
Blue: in Niles version, not in |
Not my job
Sorry |
|
But I should travel out of the line of my strict
duty, as chief executive officer of the government. were I to take upon
myself the task of effecting a compromise between the parties. Had I not
supposed. it possible, yes, probable, that I should, as executive of the
state, have to act, I should before now. have interfered individually,
in the way you suggest, or in some other way. in order if possible to effect
a compromise. Uncommitted, as I am, to either party, I shall feel no embarrassment
in doing my duty; though it may be done with the most extreme regret. |
|
| What
if I failed? |
|
My duty in the relation in which I now stand to the parties.
is plain and Straight forward. By an official interposition, I might embarrass
my course, and urge a measure for the purpose of effecting a compromise.
and {in the end}, should it fail, and in the end, should I find feel it
my duty to act contrary to the advice I had given, it might
be said, that I either advised wrong: or acted wrong; or
that I was partial to one side or the other, in giving advice that I would
not, as an officer, follow. |
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| Mormons
entitled to rights |
|
A more clear, and indisputable right does not exist, than that
of the Mormon people, who were expelled from their homes in Jackson county,
to return and live on their lands, and if they cannot be persuaded as a
matter of policy, to give up that right, or to qualify it, my course,
as the chief officer executive of
the state is a plain one. The constitution of the United States, declares, "that
the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all priviliges and immunities
of citizens in the several states." |
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| Cannot
hinder Mormons immigrating |
|
Then we cannot interdict any people who have a political franchise in
the United States, from emigrating immigrating to
this state, nor from choosing what part of the state they
will settle in, provided they do not trespass on the property or rights
of others. |
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Red: in
, not in Niles version
Blue: in Niles version, not in
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State
constitution gives them right to bear arms
Obligated to
Right to worship
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Our state constitution declares that the people's "right
to bear arms, in defense of in themselves,
and of the state, cannot be questioned." Then
it is their constitutional right to arm themselves. Indeed our military
law makes it the duty of every man, not exempted by law, between the ages
of eighteen and forty five, to arm himself with a musket, rifle, or some
firelock, with a certain quantity of [486] ammunition: &c. And again,
our constitution says, "that all men have a natural and indefeasible
right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences, |
|
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| But
their religion is the problem |
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[¶] I am fully persuaded that
the eccentricity of the religious opinions and practices of the Mormons.
is at the bottom of the outrages committed against them. |
|
[¶] marks paragraph break
in the Niles' Weekly Register transcript. |
Their right
As long as they don't interfere
with others
|
¶ |
They have the right constitutionally guaranteed to them,
and it is indefeasible, to believe, and to Worship Jo Joe Smith as
a man. an angel, or even as the only true and living God, and to call
their habitation Zion, the Holy Land, or even heaven itself. Indeed there
is nothing so absurd or ridiculous. that they have not a right to adopt
as their religion. so that in its exercise they do not interfere with the
rights of others. |
|
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| Others not bothered |
¶ |
[¶] It is not long since an impostor
assumed the character of Jesus christ and attempted to minister as such;
but I never heard of any combination to deprive him of his rights. |
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| Compromise |
¶ |
[¶] I consider it the duty of
every good citizen of Jackson county and the adjoining counties to exert
themselves himself to
effect a compromise of these difficulties, and were I assured that I would
not have to act in my official capacity in the affair, I would visit the
parties in person and exert myself to the utmost to settle it. |
|
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| Options: Mormons sell out |
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My first advice would be to the Mormons. to sell out their lands in Jackson
county. and to settle Somewhere else. where they could live in peace, if
they could get a fair price for them, and reasonable damages for injuries
received. |
|
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| Or residents abide by laws |
|
If this failed I would try the citizens and advise them to meet and rescind
their illegal resolves of last summer; and agree to conform confirm to
the laws in every particular, in respect to the Mormons. |
|
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| Or segregate |
|
If both these failed, I would then advice the plan you have suggested,
for each party to take separate territory. and confine their members within
their respective limits, with the exception of the public right of egress ingress and regress egress upon
the highway. |
|
Red: in ,
not in Niles version
Blue: in Niles version, not in
|
| Or enforce laws (rather not) |
|
If all these failed then the simple question of legal right would have
to settle it. It is this last that I am afraid I shall have [487] to conform
my action to in the end. And hence the necessity of keeping myself in the
best situation to do my duty impartially |
|
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| Cannons illegal |
¶ |
[¶] Rumor Says that each
party both parties are preparing
themselves with cannon. That would be illegal. It is not necessary to
Self defense, as guaranteed by the constitution. And as there are no
artillery companies organized in this state, nor field pieces provided
by the public, any preparation of that kind will be considerered considered as without right, and, in the present state of things, would be understood
to be with a criminal intent, |
|
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| Outsiders not to interfere |
|
I am told that the people of Jackson county expect assistance
from the adjoining counties. to oppose the Mormons in taking or keeping
possession of their lands. I should regret it extremely if any should be
so imprudent as to do so: it would give a different aspect to the affair. |
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Citizens have right to arms
But not from other counties
|
¶ |
[¶] The citizens
of Jackson county have a right to arm themselves and parade for military
duty in their own county independent of the commander-in-chief; but if
citizens march there in arms from other counties, without order from
the Commander-in-chief, or some one authorized by him, it would produce
a very different state of things.
|
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Mormons have right to arms
But not to levy war
|
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Indeed the Mormons have no right to march to Jackson
county in arms, unless by order or permission of the commander-in-chief.
Men must not "levy war." in taking possession of their rights, any more
than others should, in opposing them in taking possession. {of theirs}. |
|
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| Appoint you aide |
¶ |
[¶] As
you have manifested a deep interest in a peaceable compromise of this
important affair, I presume you will not be unwilling to be placed in
a situation, in which perhaps, you can be more serviceable to these
parties: I have therefore taken the liberty of appointing you an aid
to the commander in chief, and I hope it
will be agreeable to you to accept. |
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Red: in
, not in Niles version
Blue: in Niles version, not in
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| Neither of us have to commit |
|
In this situation you can give your propositions
all the influence they would have were they to emanate from the executive
without committing yourself or the commander-in-chief in the event of
failure. |
|
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| Communicate daily |
¶ |
[¶] [488] I should be glad, if
you, or some of the other gentlemen who joined you in your communication,
would keep a in close
correspondence with these parties, and by each mail write <to> me. |
|
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| Delicate situation |
¶ |
[¶] The character of the state
has been injured in consequence of this unfortunate affair; and I sincerely
hope it may not be disgraced by it in the end.
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¶ |
With high respect, your Obedient Servant, |
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¶ |
(Signed.) Daniel Dunklin |
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Missouri 1834
Zion's Camp
Missouri
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