[ Full-text transcription of: Letter from Governor Boggs, Jefferson City, MO to the House of Representatives, Jefferson City, MO ]
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To the Honorable
The House of Representatives
of
The State of
In compliance
with a Resolution of The House of Representatives of the
22nd ultimo requesting the Governor to communicate to the
House “(all information in his possession in relation to the
recent difficulties, between the people called Mormons
and a portion of the people of this state, copies of all orders
issued by the Executive calling into Service Volunteers
and militia and for the government thereof and for the
conduct of the military operations, with copies of all corres-
=pondence in relation to said difficulties, and the military
operations authorized by the Governor”.) I have now the
honor herewith to transmit the information required
including Major General Clarks report [ ]
of the testimony taken upon the examination of the
Mormon prisoners before the Hon: Austin A. King
Judge of the fifth Judicial Circuit at
County. It will be seen from the report of Genl.
the residue of the testimony which when received will
be transmitted to the house.
As formidable as the insurgents were represented
and as they are now known to have been – still the
number of Troops ordered on this service may appear large.
In detaching So many the Executive was influenced
solely by a desire to prevent the effusion of blood – It
appeared to me every way best to send such a force
as would awe them into Submission – a Smaller number
could undoubtedly have conquered and subdued the
disaffected in combat but many valuable lives would
have been lost and I did not consider that I should
truly reflect the wishes and opinions of the people, had I
Stopped to weigh the expenditure of a few thousands
against the best blood of the land.
I received information of the partial interruption
of the peace in
from the Seat of Government but took no order on
the subject, knowing that the officer in command of
the militia of that division was fully authorised under
the law and had ample force to preserve the peace –
It will be Seen from the report of Major Genl. Atcheson
that measures were promptly adopted by him to
meet the emergency.
Immediately upon receiving intelligence of the
last Mormon outrages Generals Atcheson & Lucas
repaired to the Scene of difficulty with [ ]
force. Although this movement was not directed
by the Executive and was unknown to him, it was
justified by the Circumstances and meets his fullest
approbation; much injustice, I have reason to
believe has been done to this part of the command
by the public press, which it is hoped a thorough
investigation will make manifest to the world.
The conduct of Major General Clark has fully
justified the high expectations entertained of him by the
Executive, when he was assigned to this delicate and
important command; Among the papers submitted, I am
happy to lay before the house a voluntary tribute from
the principal men amongst the Mormons to the humanity
and kindness with which he executed this disagreeable
duty and to the good conduct of his Troops.
The information herewith transmitted under
the Call of the House of Representative Supercedes the
necessity of a Special communication to both houses
of the legislature which it was my intention to have made
as announced in my message at the opening of this session
and will it is hoped be taken as a redemption of
that pledge. The undersigned therefore respectfully
requests that the House of Representatives at such
time as they may deem convenient and proper will
Cause this communication and the documents submitted
to be laid before the Senate for the Consideration
of that body.
I have the honor to be
Most respectfully
Lilburn W Boggs
City of
December 5th 1838
The House of Representatives
Dec., 1838