History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

Source Note

History draft; handwriting of
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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; 71 pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 6 August 1838 to 30 December 1839.
Historical Introduction

See Introduction to History Drafts, 1844–1856.

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minds of the people. In the P. M met had an intevew [interview] with , who enquir[e]d about our people & prope[r]ty with as much apparent intent as tho[u]gh his whole soul was engag[e]d for our welfare, said he had heard that the citizens were committing depredations on the Morm[o]ns & driving off their popety stock &c. inf[o]rmed him that arm[e]d forcess came in the place, & abused women, & children, stole hors[e]s, drove off cattle, & plunderd houses of eve[r]ything that pleased their fancy. said that he would write & to go to & put down every hostile appearance. he also stated that the stipulations ente[re]d into by the Mormon to leave the , & sign the deed of trust was <were> unconstitutional, & not valid. repli[e]d we want the Legislatu[r]e to pass a law to that effect showing that the stipulati[o]ns & deeds of trust are not valid & unconstitutional, & unless you do pass such a law we shall not consider ou[r]selves safe in the . You Say there has been a stain upon the chara[c]ter of the , & now is the time to pass some law to tht effect, & unless you do farewell to the vi[r]tue of the ; farewell to her honor & good name: farewell to her Christian virtue until she shall be peopled by a diffe[re]nt race of men: farewell to eve[r]y name that binds man to man: farewell to a fine soil & a [illegible] a home home, they are gone they are rent from us by a lawless banditti.

18 December 1838 • Tuesday

<18> Tuesday 18 (X Doc 1, 2, 3, 4) law.”

19 December 1838 • Wednesday

<19> Wednesday 19. Mr presntd [presented] the petion [petition] to the House, when it was read<ing,> it was still <the members were silent> as the house of death. when after which the debate commncd [commenced], & excitement increa[se]d till the house was in an uproar, their faces tur[ne]d red their eyes flash[e]d fire, & their coutnancs [countenances] spoke volumes. Mr Childs of said there was not a w[o]rd of truth in it so far as he had heard, & that it ought never to have been presen[te]d to that body. Not long ago we approp[r]iated $2000 to their releif, & now they have petition[e]d for this pay for their lands which we took away from them. We got rid of a great evil when [p. 39]

minds of the people. In the P. M had an intevew [interview] with , who enquired about our people & property with as much apparent intent as though his whole soul was engaged for our welfare, said he had heard that the citizens were committing depredations on the Mormons & driving off their stock &c. informed him that armed forcess came in the place, & abused women, & children, stole horses, drove off cattle, & plunderd houses of everything that pleased their fancy. said that he would write & to go to & put down every hostile appearance. he also stated that the stipulations entered into by the Mormon to leave the , & sign the deed of trust were unconstitutional, & not valid. replied we want the Legislature to pass a law to that effect showing that the stipulations & deeds of trust are not valid & unconstitutional, & unless you do pass such a law we shall not consider ourselves safe in the . You Say there has been a stain upon the character of the , & now is the time to pass some law to tht effect, & unless you do farewell to the virtue of the ; farewell to her honor & good name: farewell to her Christian virtue until she shall be peopled by a different race of men: farewell to every name that binds man to man: farewell to a fine soil & a home, they are gone they are rent from us by a lawless banditti.

18 December 1838 • Tuesday

18 Tuesday 18 (X Doc 1, 2, 3, 4) law.”

19 December 1838 • Wednesday

19 Wednesday 19. Mr presntd [presented] the petion [petition] to the House, when it was reading, the members were silent as the house of death. after which the debate commncd commenced, & excitement increased till the house was in an uproar, their faces turned red their eyes flashed fire, & their coutnancs [countenances] spoke volumes. Mr Childs of said there was not a word of truth in it so far as he had heard, & that it ought never to have been presented to that body. Not long ago we appropriated $2000 to their releif, & now they have petitioned for this pay for their lands which we took away from them. We got rid of a great evil [p. 39]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]
ID #
8472
Total Pages
74
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 127
  See 18 Dec. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 874.
2. 128
  See 19 Dec. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 874–876.

History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

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