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ourselves hereafter against violence, whether it comes under the shadow of law, or other wise, (for we have reason to expect it both ways,) we shall then be charged with treason, and suffer the penalty—and if we continue passive and nonresistant, we must certainly expect to perish, for our enemies have sworn it.

And here, Sir, permit us to state, that Gen. Joseph Smith, during his short life, was arraigned at the bar of his country about fifty times, charged with criminal offences, but was acquitted every time by his country, his enemies or rather his religious opponents almost invariably being his judges. And we further testify, that as a peope, we are law abiding, peaceable and without crime, and we challenge the world to prove the contrary; and while other cities in Illinois, less than ours, have had special courts instituted to try their criminals, we have been stript of every source of arraigning marauders and murderers, who are prowling around to destroy us, except the common magistracy.

With these facts before you, Sir, will you write to us without delay, as a father and friend, and advise us what to do? We are, many of us, citizens of your state, and all members of the same great confederacy. Our fathers, nay, some of us, have fought and bled for our country, and we love her constitution dearly.

In the name of Israel's God, and by virtue of multipled ties of country and kin