Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838, Copy [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]
Source Note
Minutes and Testimonies, , Ray Co., MO, 12–29 Nov. 1838, State of MO v. Gates et al. for Treason (Fifth Judicial Circuit of MO 1838). Copied ca. late 1838–ca. early 1839; unidentified handwriting; fifty-seven pages; Mormon War Papers, MSA.
give them power to possess the Kingdom— There was another writing drawn up in June last, which had for its object to get rid of the dissenters, and which had the desired effect. -[This is the paper drawn up against the dissenters refered to above by the witness]-— Since that time, and since the introduction of the scheme of the prophet made known in the above constitution, I have the prophet say that it was a fortunate thing that we got rid of the dissenters, as they would have endangered the rolling on of the kingdom of God, as introduced and to be carried into effect by the danite band, That they the dissenters were great obstacles in the way, and that unless they were removed, the aforesaid kingdom could not roll on— This paper against the dissenters was drafted by and is as follows:
“ June 1838
“To , , , and . greeting Whereas the citizens of have bourn with the abuse received from you at different times and on different occasions, until it is no longer to be endured, neither will they endure it any longer, having exhausted all the patience they have, and conceived that to bear any longer is a vice instead of a virtue. We have bourn long, and suffered incredibly, but we will neither bear nor suffer any longer and the decree has gone forth from our hearts, and shall not return to us void— Neither think gentlemen that in so saying we are trifling with either you or ourselves for we are not. There are no threats from you, no fear of loosing our lives by you, or by any thing you can say or do will restrain us, for out of the you shall go, and no power shall save you— And you shall have three days after you receive this communication to you, including twenty four hours in each day for you to depart, with your families peaceably, which you may do undisturbed by any person, but in that time if you do not depart we will use the means in our power to cause you to depart, for go you shall— We will have no more promises to reform [p. [12]]