The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-08-11
From the Asis;lle IN. c. Aess.neer.
THE MORMONS.

I The following extract Of letter
to the editor of this paper; though 10. de-.
signed for publication, will, no doubt, be
read with much interest, inasmuch as it
gives some interesting facts as TO the in.
PRODUCTION Of Mormonism into the State
of Missouri. The statements here may
be relid on, as they come from gentle
man Of resPectability and unquestioned
yeracity.
"Fiye in number first came to Jackson
county during my residence there. They
took their lodgings at a tavern in lnde.
pendence (the county scat.) Not being a
tavern. .haunter myself, formed no per.
sonal acquaintance with them. They liv.
ed somewhat retired, (having a hired
room) for several weeks; presently, how
ever, they made some attempts TO nego.
.iate with the neighboring Indians, whom
they style their brethren the Caaaanites.
Being repulsed by the agents. they secur.
ed, several tracts Of land in the vicinity Of
independence, and few lots in town.
About this time they began to come on by
considerable numbers from the east, and
settle in little hnts which they bull! on the
lands which had been bought, which were
cut in very smsll+lraets for eash. family,
under the name of al inheritance. Inde.
pendence being the then designed site for
their New jerusalem. All except their
leaders, being poor people, and Of low
class, ,hey employed as many as they
needed in building the Lords Printing
Office. as they call it. aid the balance
were compelled to hire out to the citizens,
in order 10 get sustenance for themselves
and families. About this time they OPEN
ed store, which they called the Lords
store, and began to publish in the Lords
printing Office, paper entitled "The Eve
ming and the Morning STAR w. Philips edi.
tor. In this appeared great many of their
pretended revelations from the Lord, shew.
ing them, (.he Mormons,) TO be the righ,ful
inheritors of the land Of Missouri.
'.Their number now growing. both from
emigration and proselytcs, and finding no
room in the vicinity of Independence.
(about this time l moved to Clay county.)
and finding vacant lands from 6to Is miles
off, on Big Blue river, they pretended to
have received revelation leading them
to that part Of the country. for the erec-
lion Of their New Jarusalem. There they
settled in considerable numbers, growing
all the while still more bold in the publi-
cation of their pretended revelations. as
having in them promised immense armies
for the final subjuga.ion Of their enemies
(the cilizens) and final and complete pos
session of their inheritance, the land of
Missouri. The citizens having, in the
mean time, become tired Of the repeated
pilfering Of their poor, and finding legal
redress troublesome, II not impracticable,
treated few Of them roughly. This,
(although their leaders would Acondemn
the pilfering) caused rhemsto show, still
more Of their pretended authority, and
here the citizens called council, and
agreed to have no more dealings with. the
Mormons, either buying or selling. This
very much, so that the Mormons, profess
ing TO be under the influence of inspira.
lion, and under the immediate protection
of the angels of God. defed the citizens
to touch or injure them or their property;
and about this time The Mormons on Blue
river marched their forces, in obedience
10 pretended revelation, to take posses
sion of independence by force. But |
think after the revelation came out, and
before the above march, the citizens col
lected in sufficient numbers around the
Lords printing ciice," to lay tin ruins,
and took possession OF number of their
papers, &c. Now the citizens being by
this time apprised of the approach of the
Mormons, collected their forces and re.
pulsed them without fight. Then skir.
mishing, irregular fight ensued. in which
several were killed on both sides, and the
Mormons put to flight, making their es-
cape by crossing the Missouri river into
Clay county, into my neighborhood. II
was fall. and the fast approach Of winter
finding number of fellow-beings without
homes or the means of sustenance, called
to exercise the clemency of the citizens of
Clay county for them. Here they winter.
ed. All that could labor, were employed
but many were gratuitously fed through
the winter.
"Having, however, been received here
with the express understanding and agree
ment that they would leave the county
whenever a respectable majority OF the
cit;1epc hacanoe dissatisfed thew remain: