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.
The Legislative powers shall reside in the President and his counsellors togeather and with the Gener[als] and Colonels of the society By them all laws shall be made regulating this society
Article 4th
All offices shall be during life and good behaviou[r] or to be regulted by the law of God.
Article 5th
The society reserves the power of electing all its officer[s] with the exception of the Aids and Clerks which the officers may need in the various stations The nomination to go from the Presidency to his second and from the Second to the third in rank and so down thro all the various grades each branch or department retains the power of electing its own particular officers
Article 6th
Punishments shall be inflected administered to the guilty in accordannce to the offence and no member shall be punished without law or by any others than those appointed by law for that purpose The Legislature shall have power to make laws regulating punishments as in their judgements shall be wisdom and righteousness
Article. 7th
There shall be a secretary whose business it shall be to keep all the Legislative records of the Society and also to keep a Register of the names of any member of the Society also the rank of the officers He shall also communicate the laws to the Generals as directed by laws made by the regulation of such business by the Legislature.
Article 8th
All officers shall be subject to the Commands of the Captains General given to the through the secretary of War and so all officers shall be subject to their superiors in rank according to laws made for that purpose. [p. [9]]