# Letter to W. A. Cowdery on the Missouri persecutions -- Oliver Cowdery
# Date: January 23, 1834 (Evening and the Morning Star 2:16, Kirtland, January 1834)
# Source: http://www.centerplace.org/history/ems/v2n16.htm | Provenance: Signed 'OLIVER COWDERY.', addressed 'TO W. A. COWDERY', dateline Kirtland, Jan. 23, 1834. High confidence.

Kirtland, Ohio, January 23, 1834.

DEAR BROTHER,

You will excuse my freedom in giving publicity to your last to me of the 14th. The principles therein advanced, are of too great a moment, in my opinion, to be suffered to remain unnoticed, or sink in oblivion. I am aware that the heart of every true citizen of our beloved country, will, after a candid investigation of this shameful persecution, recoil with sorrow, on the reflection, that in our land men are so destitute of humanity and christian feelings as to be found disgracing themselves by violently opposing any sect or denomination, let their professed tenets be what they may.

It may be appropriate for me, however, before I proceed farther, to give you a short history of the character of the majority of the inhabitants of the county where this scene of murder and violence has transpired. It is but just to say, firstly, that there are individuals of respectability, who are kind, benevolent and very hospitable to strangers; and when this is said, all that can be spoken in justice, in favour of that people, is said. They are mostly emigrants from the southern states, and settled in that county prior to the sale of the public lands, and mostly, no doubt, because they were unable to purchase where lands were in market. They are persons of the lowest habits: swearing, drinking, gambling, horse racing, and fist and dirk fighting, are their common and frequent practices. To witness the unparalleled fights at election and business says at their county seat, defies description, and is sufficient, almost, to sicken one of human society!

One sample of their courts of justice will suffice for the present: In the summer of 1831, if I mistake not, two Kanzas Indians on their way into the white settlements from the Territory, found or took some two or three horses and led or drove them into the settlement; they were immediately taken for stealing, confined in jail for some time until a special circuit court could be called for their trial. They were liberated, but the citizens, (or a part of them,) not being satisfied, seemed to be determined to revenge themselves on their persons, and commenced stoning and brick-batting them; they were rescued by the interference of others, but not till one of them had received a wound which occasioned his death. The life of the circuit judge was threatened, and, as I was credibly informed, was under the necessity of hiring one or more individuals to protect his own person from violence. Among the mob was one of the county judges. I have given you this as an introduction of the character of their courts, and peace officers.

On the subject of the last mob you may understand also, that every officer civil or military, except a very few were either immediately engaged in the riot or bound with others to drive my friends from the county dead or alive! The Post Master at Independence Mr. Jones H. Flournoy, and Mr. R. W. Cummings Indian Agent for the General Government, also signed the bond; and still more shocking to relate, even men who professed to be preachers of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, were busily engaged with their guns, to drive from the county or destroy those who had never injured them or any individual in the slightest particular!

Under circumstances of this nature the prospect to obtain justice is not at present very favorable with my friends at the west. As regards the sentiments expressed in my address, I may say in truth, that they are the principles of my bosom. Persecution will always force men to investigate the subject of religion, and since I and my friends have thus suffered, I cannot but hope that the candid will look for themselves. Be assured that there is nothing in my profession that will ever be held back by me from investigation; and though you may not agree with the principles of my faith, on my part, that shall never be a barrier between us as brethren. I cannot believe, according to the holy prophets, but that the day is near when the elect of the Lord will be gathered from the four winds, and the voice of the Great Shepherd of Israel proclaim to the seed of Jacob, that their captivity is ended, their iniquity forgiven, and their sin remembered no more: when he shall say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth. And that we in that great day may stand among the sanctified, is the desire and fervent prayer of your brother.

OLIVER COWDERY.
