[ Full-text transcription of: The proceedings of a Public Meeting in Ray County, Richmond, MO ]
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At a very numerous Public meeting held at the
Court house in Richmond Ray county on Wednesday
the 24th. day of October 1838. for the purpose of taking
into consideration the difficultiez of the Mormons.
The Object of the meeting having been explained
by Thomas C. Burch Esqr.. The following resolutions
were unanimously adopted after reading the report
of Charles R. Morehead, William Thornton and
Jacob Gudgel, which is hereunto attached,
To wit . Resolved, That the report
here made by Charles R. Morehead, William
Thornton and Jacob Gudgel Esqr’s be transmitted
by expresz to the Governor of this State, together
with these Resolutions.
Resolved, that this meeting
have the most implicit confidence in Said
report as well from the known veracity of Said
Gentlemen, as from numerous other facts and
circumstancez in our knowledge corroborating
the Same.
Resolved, that in the Opinion
of this meeting the time has arrived when it is
the imperious duty of the executive by an
armed force, to quell the insurrection put on
foot by the Mormons, and that to effect the Same
the Civil authoritiez are wholly inadequate.
Resolved, That Wiley C. Williamz,
and Amos Rees Esqrs. be requested to visit
the Governor, and lay before him the proceedingz
of this meeting, and urge upon him the necessity
of Ordering out forthwith an armed force against
the mormons Sufficient to meet the (word crossed out, exigency)
Emergency.
Resoved, that we view with the
Utmost concern the conduct of the Mormons
in the Counties of Daviesz & Livingston, and
that immediate action is necessary for the
protection of our property and homes from this
lawlesz Bandittei.
Resolved, that heretofore as
Citizens desireing to abide by the laws of the
land we have been disposed to see this People
called mormons dealt with for their Offensez
by the civil authoritiez; but that in the opinion
of this meeting from their past and present
lawlesz course, a resort to the laws will be
worse than uselesz, and wholly insufficient
to afford the country that protection to which
it is entilled.
Resolved, that we appeal to
the Governor of this State to give the people
of upper Missouri Protection from thiz
fearful body of thievez and robberz.
Resolved, That it would at
this time be inexpedient to take any offensive
Step, but that we should at present act on
the defensive.
Resolved, That all who have
in good faith renounced the mormon religion
Should be protected, either those in this county
or in
Resolved, That some
men should now be raised to go to the most northern
border of this County, and guard it from intrusion
by the Mormons, to act entirely on the
defensive for the present; and that Genl.
Parks be requested to raise three companiez
for that purpose, or that they be raised by
Volunteers.
Meeting at
Resolution of
copied