Petition to United States Congress, circa 29 November 1839, Draft
Source Note
JS, , and , Petition Draft, , to United States Congress, Washington DC, ca. 29 Nov. 1839; handwriting of ; 35 pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.
The above statement will also shew that the on all occasions submitted to the laws of land, and yielded to its authority in every extremity and at every hazard, at the risque of life & property. The above statement will illustrate another truth. That wh[en]ever the Mormons made any resistance to the Mob. it was in self defence, and for their acts of self defence they always had the authority and sanction of the Officers of the law for so doing— Yet they to the amount <number> of <about> 15.000 souls have been driven from their homes in — Their property to the amount of Two millions of Dollars has been taken from them, or destroyed— Some of them have been murdered <beaten brusied an[d] [illegible]> and their women, have s and have all been driven forth wandering over the world without homes— without property, But the loss of property does not comprise half their sufferings— They were human beings possessed of human feelings— & human sympathies. Their agony of soul, was the bitterest drop in the cup of their sorrows. For these wrongs the Mormons ought to have some redress yet how & where shall [p. 33]