Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-09-30
GREAT MEETING OF ANTI-MORMoNs

GREAT MEETING OF AUTONOMOUS.
meeting of the citizens of Hancock county, held the
Court House in Carthage the 10th of August for the pur
of giving expression of their feelings and uniting their
influence to reform Mormon abuses in that The meet
adjourned that until the 9th of September when
assembled and reported the following preamble and
resoluons
This meeting having convened for the purpose taking under
advsemen subject of vital Importance only to this county,
but to all the surrounding countless regret that necessarily
and essby forced to the conclusion that certain class of
people have obtruded themselves upon u.s. calling themselves
Christianity assumed honestly believe that they may the
more easily under such cloak the most awess and
daboca Deeds that have ever any age the world dis
graced the human species.
In evidence of the above charge find them yielding imp
cit obedience the osenbe head and founder of this who
pretended Prophet of the Lord and under this Heaven
ing assumption claiming aside by his vile and basphe
nous es all those moral and religious institutions which have
been established by the Bible and which have all been
cherished by man. the only of obtaining those social
blessings which ndspensaby for happiness
We believe that such an individual regardless as he must be
of his obligations God and the time entertaining the
most absolute contempt for the laws of cannot fail to be-
come most dangerous character especially when he shall have
been able place himself the head Of horde ell
Their equally reckless and unprncpaed as HIMSELF else made
his plant by the absurd reduy that has astonhed
the world since its foundation.
In the opinion of this meeting. crisis has arrived when
ny of the evils to be expected from state of things so threat
have occurred which to most vey
Joseph Smith the false Prophet before alluded to has evnced
and restraint of Law; by boldly and presumpuousy calling
question the of certain officers who had fearessy dis
charged the duties absolutely imposed upon them by the laws
particularly when they have in conac. with his
ded and selfish interests.
He has been heard theaten-nay, he committed vio
ence upon the of officer because that officer dared
honestly to do his duty according TO law.
He has caused his City Council laws contrary to the
laws of the State and subversve of the rights of citizens of
this State.
Citizens have been arrested tied punished for breaches of
mock laws from time in such that they have been
compelled to the humiang necessity of seeking asylum
eewhe in orde. the and oppression of this
modern Cagula. .-
basc IF no NV
Municipal Court of the City of Nauvoo provided
for the Charter of that city, and indeed contrary 10 the letter
of that instruments and himself prisoner arrested under
charges made by nghbong State brought before said
court tried and acqutedhereby procuring his rescue
from the custody of the law ......-. ...
Citizens from the adjoining counties have been denied the
right regain property stolen and taken Nauvoo after
they have discovered both the thief and the roper and them
selves under the most frivolous preences arrested fined and
other property rifcd from the to satisfy the mock Judgments
and costs of his cormoran officers.
Persons whom stolen property has been found IN the
city of Nauvoo have been brought before this rcgo political
Chief and he in the capacity of Mayor of the city, has refused
convict hem where the have been most clear and pal
pable. ....... s.....
We had men of the vicious abomnabc habits
imposed upon u.s. to fill our most important county Offices by
dcum order, verify believe that he may
tainy control desnes and render himself through the
strunenay of these of his i'll directed power alb
soue despot the citizens of this county, he now
over the serfs of his servie clan
And to all, he claims merge all religion, all law, and
both moral and political justice in the knavh pretenson that
he receives fresh from Heaven divine instructions in all matters
pertaining to these things thereby making his depaved
Will The by which ne would nave all men governed
He has caused large bodies of his ruan sodey them
selves and turn out pursuit Of officers legally authorized to
himself he being charged with high crimes and INSIDE
meanor committed in the State of Missouri and those officers
by the Ves hypocrcy aud placed dures that he
might enable himself march triumphany into Nauvoo and
bid defiance the laws of the land. .
In view of the above grievances this meeting feel that is
their bounden duty to resist by every audabe all such
unwarranabe attacks their Liberties: Therefore,
d Resolved st That nasmuch honestly believe that th
combination of people calling themselves Momons latte
day saints have given strong indications in their recent
ubTnitt
of law therefore forced the conclusion tina
the time not far distant when the citizens of this county vii
be compelled assert this light in way.
Resolved 2nd That while would desecrate any thing k
awess violence without usfabe yet pledge
selves in the most solemn resist all the wrong
which may be hereafter attempted be imposed this
nifty by the Mormons the of ability; peaceab
. if we can, but forcibly f we ..- 4 . PEI"
Resolved 3d. That in the of being forced into
collision with that People pledge ourselves, that wi
by and support each other in every emergency up til
,el death. a. seaT.og 0' .'''F'-
ID Resolved 4th That believe that it also the interest
friends in the neshborng and also the neighbo
ling States begin take firm and decided stand agans, III