Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-10-11
Lee County Mass aleeting.

ouhty, without distinction 81 party, will
e held Il .Montross o. Wednesday ner5
the LIST October, to take into considera-
ION the propriety Of requesting the Nor
mons now residing among them, to seek
mother place Of abode.
A full attendance Il earnestly requested.
MANY CITIZENS.
September 9th, 1916.
In accordance with the foregoing notice
! large and respectable meeting Of the cit
xens Of Lee county, met At Montrose On
w Wednesday, the Isl Of October.
/, On motion Of Gen: Browne. Col. WIZ.
PATTERSON. was selected a President
Of the meeting. ass a
REuBEN CoNLEE, ESQ.,, DR.. JoHN Clay
rooIE, ALEX. KERR, and WIN. SrorTs,
Esqs., were appointed vice presidents, and
DR.. J. C.. Walker and Was. Dunn, Esqs.,
secretaries. sE W
/ On motion, ,Eo. johnston, Esq, stated
the object Of the meeting, and moved the
of committee to draft re-
port expressive of the sense thereof.
The president appointed Ed. Johnston,
Esq, Hawkins Taylor, John Burns, Jas.
Wiley, H. ]. Campbell, Jas. T. Blair, J.
F, Kinney, Esq, Isaac A. Lefore and Jas.
lIedrick, the above committee.
After being absent for some time the
committee returned and by their chairman
reported as follows: s.
The committee appointed to embody and
express the sentiments Of this meeting,
make the following report: ea
That owing to the recent and still unad-
iusted difficulties between the people cal
led "Mormons" (many Of whom reside in
this county and the citizens Of Hancock,
H., the public mind here has become much
excited, and this meeting is called that the
people of Lee county, Iowa, may exercise
their constitutional privilege Of peaceably
assembling together, and ascertaining pub
lie opinion.
That it is not the intention Of this meet
ing to express any opinion on the subject
of the recent killing and burning in the
county of Hancock, and they hereby dis
approve of the conduct of the citizens OF
this county, who were found aiding or as
sisting either Mormon or Anti-Mormon,
in the State of Illinois.
That this meeting however feels lively
interest in the subject not only on sccoun!
of the large number of Mormons residing
in this county. but also on account Of the
proximity OF Nauvoo, the metropolis Of
Mormonism, and the county Of Hancock,
where civil discord has 50 frequently and
recently reigned.
That in tracing back the history of the
Mormo people, it is found that they have
ever unfortunately been engaged in fierce
bickeringsand contentious wiihthose among
whom they have lived IL the States Of Ohio
Missouri and Illinois.
That it is satisfactorily shown BY their
present and past history, that they canno,
reside in peace among those, who do moi
adhere to their peculiar organization, ant
that the increase Of their numbers tends L
increase strifes and dissen,ions.
That since the settlement Of the Nor.
mons in the county Of Lee, crime has in.
creased, murder most heinous, and rob.
berries most daring have been committed
petty pilferings have become rife, personal
property is rendered utterly insecure ant
general distrust and alarm pervades large
portions OF the community.
That among the many persons, belong
ing To or protesting TO belong to the Nor
mon church, indicted in this county for
bailable offences, but one or two at the
most, appeared at the time appointed for
trial, and in the other cases both principals
and securities removedto Nauvoo.
That many of the perpetrators of recent
murders and thefts have been traced to
Nauvoo, and in some instances, persons
charged with swinding and other crimes
have received, as it is alleged, the protec-
ton and support Of the authorities Of that
place.
That since the arrival Of the Mormons
in this county, the expenditures thereof
have been largely augmented by the arres,
and attempted arrests Of offenders belong
ing to or protesting 10 belong TO their
church, and thereby the taxes have become
burdensome which are levied off our cit
liens.
That is not the intention Of this meet
ing to charge the murders, robberies aud
misdemeanors alluded to upon the Nor
mons, but they are stated as unquestioned
facts, which compel the belief, that such
crimes arise either from their loose system
Of morals, or that felons, attracted by their
peculiar organization, seek refuge among
them.
That the dissentions which do, and will
inevitably occur between the hormons and
the citizens of this county will tend to re-
tard the prosperity Of the county, and de-
ter emigrants from seeking their homes
smo:a.ss US.
Tha, thus meeting fears that if the Nor
mons should be compelled uy :sasrce o. ether
wise to leave the state Of Illinois, they will
take up their abode in this county, and
thus may spring up an excitement which
will tend to acts OF violence.
That much as this meeting depricates
all acts Of lawless forge, much as all illegal
proceedings are reprobated it il impossible
TO forsee what course might be pursued
BY community whose ears are daily as
sailed by the report Of crimes charged to
be perpetrated by an organized body Of
people residing among them.
That much as it would be deplored, acts
Of aggression might suggest the opinion,
that there were peculiar cases in which q
sfrcn~or 0pI -. oAsorarf inter nne ;f,,,,