[ Full-text transcription of: Letter from John Corrill, Quincy, Illinois ]
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Messrs Samuels & Arthur
tithing
10th
Mo
Sir I have Just returned from
Nauvoo and to confess the truth to
You I Consider the prospects for collecting
debts this Season very poor the fact is
the Mormons are naturely poor and what
property there is among them Jo and his
associates contrives to make use of for
public or Church uses buildings &c –
He has got large quantities of land in his
hands & although it is encumbered with
claims on it, bad tittles &c Yet he sells
it to the brethren at a great advance
and dreams them of all he can__And
the most that is going among them is
building the
tithing, that is, each man gives every
10th day & thus they keep the work a going
on but this only serves to reduce and enslave
these people, & besides this they have a
Legion, You know, which they spend much
time in disciplining, they trained every
day while I was there, Your Missourians
must look out. They have about 800 men
and more coming in every day
Moreover I discovered by talking with
Smith and others that they feel very hostile
toward You and Mr Arthur & others there
In fact Smith Said to me that if You or
Arthur come about collecting debts you
would not be safe for he had boys
there that would put a ball through you
as quick as he would snap his thumb
From all I could learn and discover
I think that You would be in danger
among them unless they were restrained
through feoer alone, and I must confess
that I found their feelings much more
hostile than I expected, and I state the
facts to You, but I do it in confidence
hoping you will not expose me in so
doing---- They say that you and Mr
Arthur turned their enemy &c &c
I am Satisfied that they will not be
disposed to compromise, or do anything
about the debts, and I confess I know
not what course would be best to pursue
Yours with respect John Corrill
N. B. Do not forget to send the pamphlet
as soon as it is out J C
Apr
7
Mo
Samuel Arthur His Excellency Tho Reynolds
Governor of
Jefferson City
Liberty Clay Co
Messrs Samuel &
Arthur, requesting
Gov: to correspond with
Gov: of
of Mormon debts
Auser o Apl 16 1841
(see letter Book Gv: page 79)
J L Minor
Sir.
We enclose for your perusal
the enclosed letter from John
Corrill, formerly a Member of
the Mormon church, and late
of the Legislature of Mo
We have claims on the Mormons
to amt sums 6 or $8.000 dollars
and they are due to other Merchants
of our place Sums $20 to 25.000.
From this letter of Corrill you will
see what chance we have to collect
it-Now without wishing to expose
Mr Corrill to the vengeance of the
Mormons We respectfully request
you to correspond with the Gov
of Ills in order to see if there be
no way by which innocent
Creditors can go in safety to
This letter portrays the true character
of Smith & we have no doubt he
is villain enough to do as he
says he would—
We are [Dprs] very truly
His Excellency yr frd, & obt srvt
Tho Reynolds Samuel, &, Arthur
Gvr