The republic., 1851-06-11
From the Detroit Daily Aduertissr.
Tho ReaVer lsiand King Il orn

From the Detroit Daily 4dUerfisH.
The Beaver Island Kingdom
We publish below certain documents throwing
light upon the nature of the circumstances which
led to the arrest of his majesty James ]. Strang
the political head of the Beaver Island settlement
of Mormons, which we are impelled to do in con-
sequence Of some misapprehension which exists in
the public mind in regard to that circumstance,
which Misrepresentation, instead of being euci-
dated by the press, has been befogged and misrep-
resented.
First in order we publish the original complaint,
being one among many of the same nature which
seemed to draw the attention of the Department Of
State to the moral condition of the settlement and
the proceedings Of Strang and his associates. 1t
emanates from respectable magistrate at Macki-
nav, and was designed to reach the appropriate
source of remedy, although the writer seems not
very clear in his own mind to who that may be.
Here it is
MAcKINAw, April 8, 1851.
His honor the Presidsnfand authorities Of the United
States:
SiR: On the llth day Of March started from
this place to go to Beaver island, the Mormon set
Element, on the ice, on business to carry the Uni
ted States mail. After arriving at ST. Helena,
found that Mr.. Gould had arrived from that place
with the United States mail, where waited until
his return back from Mackinaw, on his return to
the Beaver island. When he Mr.. Gould) inform
ed that it would not be safe for to go to the
said Beaver island, they had determined 10
kill mo as soon as had even made my appear
ance in that neighborhood. On arriving at Gar
den island, about three miles from said Beaver
island, we were informed that King James J.
Strang, the Mormon prophet, sent a gang Of some
eight ten men to Hog island to intercept and rob
the mail; that they, after staying ON Hog island
two nights and the ice breaking up soon,
turned to Beaver island without seeing the mail.
Not being allowed to GO near said Beaver island
Hho rfv
Mr.. Gould to take myself and wife to Mackinaw
with his dog train After starting and going
come six or eight miles, we were overtaken by two
Indians, who were sent post haste after us, TO in
twenty men after us, all armed with revoyers and
bowie knives, to intercept and rob the United
States mail, and to kill whoever should be found
with said mail, and especially myself; after being
Garden island On our way back we met five
persons that had beeR~ sent from the island by
Mr.. Mckinley, the deputy postmaster, to our res
cue. When arriving within fcw-fods from the
house from which we started in tho\ morning,
there were some fifteen persons marched out in
regular file, under the command of Geneta Geo.
Miller, the commanding officer Of KinR James
J! Strangs army, and come to the halt and front
face. Seeing them come to halt within a few
rods of US, turned and run back to where we had
left the Indians, and the robbers following me on
| run, and the four persons that the postmaster
had sent to our assistance were come TO a stand;
when they, tho Mormon robbers thus seeing US
in body, also came to a stand. Pcan, the act
ing chief of the Beaver Island Indians, went for
ward and met the said band Of robbers, and in
formed them that they must leave and go home
and mind their business, or they would take
of them, when they were marched off by their gen.
cral, George Miller The next day the most Of the
Indians met together and went over TO said Beaver
Island harbor On board of the steamer Lexing-
ton, where King James j. Strang has been staying
the most of the winter, and making it his head
quarters, few days afterwards, at the request of
the deputy postmaster, p Mckinley, and the people,
the Indians and people of said Beaver island went
again on board Of said steamer Lexington and had
| another long talk with said Mormon prophet, King
James J. Strang, and his privy council. They, the
| said Mormons, have been stealing the past winter
every thing they could lay their hands on and have
stolen large quantities of fish that left the
fishing grounds by the fishermen, going in gangs of
fifteen or twenty in body, with hand sleds, and
one time with horse sleigh. being gone three days
at time. His highncss, King James J. Strang.
the Mormon prophet, has issued his orders, and
has organized several bands of his people to go
through the nation to burn cities and villages, to
steal and plundcr every thing they can lay their
hands on, and especially to plunder all and MS
many guns and as much ammunition ne they pos
sibly can; that they all armed to the teeth with
revolvers and bowie knives, and with orders from
come in their way; that they are all loaded down
with counterfeit money-as one man said that he
had fourteen hundred dollars in the roll he had In
his hands; that they had made and dug a cave on
saiu ibuuu, WneTc tuey nave Deeu making the past
winter and season counterfeit coins of the United
States, and that they have large quantities on hand
rerdy for use. They say in their paper that the
United States Congress- or the Legislature of this
State. Michigan, has control over that place,
and call strang their king; defying all laws, both
Of this State and the United States. and call the
sheriff. when actngin HE office, a mob, and threat
cning him of his life If he attempts TO serve any
process on any Of their people.
The sheriff has Nhken some fifteen or twenty OF
the people under James j. Strang, and is expected
here in Mackinaw with them in one or two days !;
and If il is possible, wish you would be here on
the examination, which Will probably last six or
eight days. Owing to the Mormon difficulties, We
have no legal county officers, which will make il
very difficult for us to proceed through with our
Please come Immediately and do what you can
Tor US. Yours, &C.,
ERR JAMES MOORE,
Justice Of the Peace.
The result OF this, and other similar applications
to the Government, letter of instruct
from the Secondary of State TO the Hon. George G.
Bates, United States District Attorney for Mchi.
gan, drawing his attention to the nature and con.
tents OF the above complaint, and setting forth that
there was reason to believe that Strang and his as
sociatcs had been guilty OF the violations of the
laws