<​Saturday 9 Decr.​> At home—

Prayer meeting <​in the Assembly room.​> over the .

I copy from the Neighbor “At a very numerous <​large​> (135) Sec”

Received the following “ (copy) N. L”

<​10​> rainy day— I staid at home.

Eve a prayer meeting over the in the eve <​evening in the Assembly Room​>— <​I was not present— presiding <​presided​>​> when several sick <​persons​> were prayed for

By letter from J. White dep<​uty​> Sheriff of Clark Co. Mo., I learn that our is in <​Marion Co.​> prison, without trial— <​the sheriff and requests several men to go there as witnesses​> it is evidently a trap to get some more of our people into their power, when I was in prison in , my witnesses were first arrested <​whenever [2 words illegible]​> before they got into court, to testify, except one, who was kicked out of <​the​> court by an officer, <​(Lieut Cook) damd him &​> who ordered some soldiers standing by <​militia men of his company​> to shoot him— after which the States turned to me tauntingly saying “why <​the hell​> dont you bring on your witnesses” & laughed at my discomforture— <​the Saints have had enough of ’s mob justice.​>

<​11​> The following affidavit (see Neighbor 134 & copy) JP. <​which I sent to the with this following letter Sir (copy) Joseph Smith​>

<​At a​> Meetings were held in the of the Citizens of the 3rd. Ward (copy) Secretary

Similar meetings were held & <​similar​> resolutions passed in <​all​> the other wards of the —

Last night two ruffians <​who<​se names​> are unknown​> went to the house of Mr <​brother,​> <​a wealthy farmer, living​> on the prairie, robbed the house of 4.50— threatened his life— stabbed him in the abdomen, when part of his caul gushed out— Dr. dressed his wounds <​to day​> & he thinks there is a prospect of his recovering—

<​12​> In at 9 a m and dictated <​wrote​> a letter to my Uncle “President (Copy) Joseph Smith

at 10 attended City Council, which passed an Ordinance exempting property belonging to the from Taxation for City purposes.

In accordance with the petitions from the several Wards The Council passed the following “Ordinance for selecting forty policemen (copy) Mayor

The Council also passed “An Ordinance for the health & convenience of Travellers (copy it)

<​13​> At home

The follo We insert the following <​an​> Editorial from the Neighbor Public meeting (see page 130 & copy) from ”

<​14​> At home

arrived in , having made his escape from the mob <​his kidnappers​> in —

I received the following <​milk and water letter​> from “ (Copy)

It appears from this letter that has never taken pains to examine the evidences placed before him <​in his hands “& probably never will”​> in relation to the writs; & probably” <​evidently​> as little pains to examine the Constitution of the or even reflect upon the ordinary principles of human rights; to suppose that a State after having by a union of Executive, Judicial, & military powers, exterminated 15,000 of its <​innocent​> inhabitants <​who were not even charged with any crime;​> robbing them of all they possessed on Earth, murdering 100s of innocent men women & children; & expelling all <​the​> others from the <​among Strangers​> in midwinter; destitute of every thing upon the face of the Earth that would possibly have a tendency to make life <​living​> <​life​> desirable; should be constitutionally entitled to demand each from banishment, persons who have <​thus​> offered its absolute decrees <​of exile​> to satiate a yet <​*​> <​* unsatisfied thirst for human blood; <​& cruel torture:​> Oh! reason where art thou fled? Oh, Humanity where hast thou hidden thyself? Shades of Patriots of ’76 how has thy <​your​> blood been spilt in vain? that in 1843 the Executive of a great republican State, can coolly say, “I never yet have not yet read them, & probably never will” while the lives is Liberty only a name? is Protection of person & property fled from free ? must the children of the heroes of ’76 die for the want of the protection Let those answer, who can—​> [p. 84]