to lay our case before the world to be weighed
in the balances of public opinion.
Now, therefore, as citizens of the United
States and leading Elders in the Church of
the Latter-Day Saints residing in the state
of Missouri, in behalf of the Church we the
undersigned do make this solemn appeal
to the people and constituted authorities of
this nation and to the ends of the earth,
for Peace; that we may have the privilege
of enjoying our religious rights and immu-
nities and worship God according to the
dictates of our own consciences as guaran-
teed to every citizen by the constitutions of the
national and State governments. That although
the laws have been broken arend are defied
in Jackson County, we may be enabled to re-
gain and enjoy our rights and property agree-
able to law in this boasted land of liberty.
Since the disgraceful combination of the
inhabitants of Jackson County has set the
law at defiance and put all hopes of
criminal prosecution against them in that
vicinage beyond the reach of judge and
jury, and left us but a distant expectation
of civil remuneration for the great amount
of damage we have sustained, necessity
to lay our case before the world to be weighed
in the balances of public opinion.
Now, therefore, as citizens of the United
States and leading Elders in the Church of
the Latter-Day Saints residing in the state
of Missouri, in behalf of the Church we the
undersigned do make this solemn appeal
to the people and constituted authorities of
this nation and to the ends of the earth,
for Peace; that we may have the privilege
of enjoying our religious rights and immunities and worship God according to the
dictates of our own consciences as guaranteed to every citizen by the constitutions of the
national and State governments. That although
the laws have been broken and are defied
in Jackson County, we may be enabled to regain and enjoy our rights and property agreeable to law in this boasted land of liberty.
Since the disgraceful combination of the
inhabitants of Jackson County has set the
law at defiance and put all hopes of
criminal prosecution against them in that
vicinage beyond the reach of judge and
jury, and left us but a distant expectation
of civil remuneration for the great amount
of damage we have sustained, necessity