Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-16
MEETING FOR THE RELIEF OF THE DISTRESS
ED MORMONS.

MEETING FOR THE RELIEF OF THE DISTRESS
ED MORMONS.
Pursuant to the public invitation of the Clergy of the city,
number of citizens assembled at Odd. Fellows Hall,
Tuesday evening last to adopt for contributing
lief to the body Of destitute Mormon people, aryng in
the wds of Iowa. and danger of perishng during the
ing winter for want of food.
The meeting being organized by calling the Mayor of the
city to the chair Mr. DANA, of the Mormon brotherhood
by request, rose and made the following address
Mr. DANA said In rising TO address you, genemen feel
incompetent the task However, if you will give your
attention and your prayers will do my best to before you
OF the moving that led the expulsion of the
Mormons from Illinois,
In the early part of the fall of ls45, when all peace
and abundant harvest had crowned the abos of beth
rem and plenty seemed to smile around astonished
when we heard that parties of going about cooy
and in open daylight setting fire the houses of brethren
who were located in different parts of Hancock county, only
giving the inmates few moments TO of the
choicest of their goods The sick carried out and laid
upon the cold ground with naught but the broad canopy Of
heaven 10 shelter them.
Not satisfied with burning dwellings and turning helpless
and children of DOORS they carried their ravages
still further by setting fire to barns filed with grain. Stacks
OF hay and grain consumed and fences thrown down.
that and other crops should be destroyed This work Of
destruction carried day after day and night after night
the perpetrators by DOING in hopes to drive people to
desperate act, which would lead determination
occupations in Nauvoo, seemed mind it. Finally
Sheriff Bacens,o (not Momon) called posse, and
ceeded in checking these outbreaks This greatly exapeated
hem and they determined that should not rest in the
State Consequently, after mature deliberations in order to
the effuson Of blood entered into treaty with them
The conditions follows Provided they would let
remain peaceably through the winter that, grass
should and water rum would leave the State
This secured temporary peace of duration
They became restless and began TO excite the public by
holding forth that would not keep covenant and began
TO drive scattered brethren into Nauvoo procamng that
they would drive them all into Nauvoo and there make
general massacre.
Compelled once more to call council in order to study the
best of saving life and of giving an that
would keep covenant decided that the heads of the
church, with their families and many OF the brethren as
could, should leave the State forthwith Accordingly about
thousand families crossed the Mississippi river the ice
in the month of February, travelling wagons and living in
tents The poorer part OF this company, after travelling two
hundred miles, compelled to tay by the way and made
sort of rude settlement at place by them called Mount
Pisgah others in like circumstances have joined from
time to tme until numbers have increased to than
twelve hundred souls.
Notwithstanding there general during the spring
and of 1885, yet there remained in Nauvoo another
class Of poor besides the widow and the Orphan that could
not leave until compelled do the point of the bayone
They crossed the by hundreds and along
the Iowa sde without shelter without food the necessary
cohng and many must have persisted the spot but for the
charitable and phanhropic citizens of Quincy, who noby
and voluntarily sent them temporary relief and they
hundred miles, unable to proceed.
would be proper here to add my testimony that of Col
Thomas L. Kane Of PHILADELPHIA and Col. s. d. Walker
of Baltimore, that they moral and industrious people
and will say further that there solitary licensed
gogshop in all Nauvoo, in population Of twelve thou
sand souls.
But, before close, wish advert for one moment to the
suerngs Of the camp that called TO represent During
the latter of the and fall the changes Of
the climate combined with all exposures brought on
desoamg Sickness and many whose heightened feelings and
aspirations for liberty and freedom had sweled from their bo
lie hushed in the stiffness Of DEATH while many Of the
widows and orphans left TO in the solitary wilder
ness the bereavement of friends
And woudfulher add, gentlemen, that the comforts Of
Eastern life, the comforts Of this people, are
changed for the most wants and the coarsest
food to sustain nature and only deprived Of these
FORTS but almost Naked and destitute of the necessary clothing
to them from the ncemency Of the weather and the vi
cssudes OF a changing climate
Thus situated, gentlemen, compelled look back
TO the land of adoption and the land which gave BIRTH
and humby and mast earnestly appeal to your sympahies
your magnanmity and your benevoence and knowing
your hands have been ouseched foreign
tries suffering from fires famine and other national caames
and the highest virtues which have characterized any
people have always distinguished the American character
and condng in your beneVocnce, believe you will assist
with your liberal donations commensurate with the suffering
circumstances Of an afflicted and oppressed people.
And, while your generous spirits shall administer to peo
pie oucast and downtrodden from the face of civilization
Time shall yet raise lasting monument to you fame the God
oil Nations shall smile upon your national greatness, and
great growing and vuous people shall hand down your
names 10 posteriy beneactor in the age in which you
lived.
The Rev. Mr.. GURLEr and Gen. GREEN followed in adj
dresses 10 the meetings urging the claims of the destitute pes
pie the humanity and assistance OF the community after
which he present meeting being thin in consequence of the
unfavoable weather. and in order obtain fuller one) il
moved adjourn the meeting Thursday evening next
at the Baptist Church on street. and il adjourned ac
cordingly.
AT the meeting Thursday evening
Gen. w JOKES moved that General Committee be APP
pointed to aid Mr. Dana, agent Of his brethren, (he Nor
mons in the object Of bis visit this city; to prcren him
to the inhabitants in their respective neghbohoods associate
other citizens with them in the duty assigned and general
to adopt any which they may deem proper effect
the object in view, viz the obtaining relief for the aforesaid
sufferers
This course adopted and committee appointed.