Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-08-28
From the Missouri Republican

Gently taken place in Jackson county, in
this State, against the sect Of fanatics
called Mormons.-These proceedings may
find some justification in the necessity Of
the case, but they are wholly at war with
the genius of our Institutions, and as sub
versive of good order as the conduct Of
X the fanatics themselves. Perhaps, how.
ever, it was the only method which could
have been effeotually put in practice to
get this odious description Of population
out Of the way. Banshed as they are
from that frontier, it may well be asked
!. 10 what place will they now remove; and
will they enjoy any better security in the
new abode which they may select? But
to the proceedings:
a meeting Of the citizens Of Jackson
county, to the number of four or five hun
dred, was held at independence on the
Goth of July. Their avowed object was
to take measures to rid themselves of the
Mormonites. Col. Richard Simpson was
called to the chair, and Jones H. Flour
noy and Samuel D. Lucas appointed Sc
cretaries. committee was then APP
pointed to report an address to the public,
in relation TO the object of the meeting.
After having retired for some tune, they
submitted an address, which was unani.
mously adopted; and in which the con-
duct and views Of the obnoxious sect, are
exposed. They represent, that the Nor
monites number some 1860 souls in that
country, and that each successive spring
and autumn pours forth its swarms among
them, with gradual falling off in the
character of the people, until they have
now nearly reached the low condition of
the black population. That the citizens
have been daily told, that they are TO be
cut off, and their lands appropriated to
the Mormons for inhertances; but they
are not fully agreed among themselves as
to the manner in which this shall be ac-
complished, whether by the destroying
angel, the judgment of God, or the arm
of power. The committee express their
fears that, should this population contin-
ue to increase, they will soon have all the
offices of the county in their hands; and
that the lives and property Of the other
ciizens would be insecure, under the ad-
mnistration of men who are 81 ignorant
and superstitious as TO believe that they
have been the subjects of miraculous and
supernatural cures; hold converse with
God and his angels, and possess and eXer'
else the gift of divination, and OF I'M
known tongues; and are, withai, so poor
as to be unable TO procure bread and
meat. The committee say, that ''one OF
the means resorted to by them, in order
to drive US to emigrate, is an indirect in
vitation to the free brethen of color in
Illinois, to come like the rest to the land
of Zion. True, The Mormons say this
was not intended to invite, but to prevent
Emigration; but this weak attempt TO qui-
ct our apprehension, is but poor compli>
ment to our understandings" The invi-
tation alluded to, contained all the neces
sary directions and cautions, to enable the
free blacks, on their arrival there, to claim
and exercise the rights of citizenship.
Finally. the committee say
"Of their pretended revelations from
Heaven-their personal intercourse with
God and his Angels--the maladies they
pretend to heal by the laying on of hands
and the contemplate gibberish with
which they habitually profane the sab
bath, and which they dignity with the APP
pelation of unknown tongues, we have
nothing to say. Vengeance belongs to
God alone. But as to the other matters
set forth in this paper, we feel called on
by every consideration of self preserva-
ton, good society, public morals, and the
fair prospects that, if not blasted in the
germ, await this young and beautiful
county, at once 10 declare, and we do
hereby most solemnly declare"
/. That no Mormon shall in future
move and settle in this county.
9. That those now here, who shall give
a definite pledge of their intention within
a reasonable time to remove out Of the
county, shall be allowed to remain unmo-
Tested until they have sufficient time to
sell their property and close their business
without any material sacrifice.
8. That the editor of the ''Star" be
required forthwith to close his office, and
discontinue the business of printing in
this county; and as to all other stores and
shops belonging to the sect, their owners
must in every case strictly comply with
the terms of the second article of this
declaration, and upon failure, prompt and
efficient measures will be taken to close
the same.