History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

THE MORMONS MUST GO. 211
erty and leave the country. 33 The meeting at Quincy,
notice of which with a copy of the resolutions was sent
to Nauvoo, named six months as the time within
which the Mormons must depart. In answer, the
council of the church replied, on the 24th of September,
that they could not set forth so early in the spring,
when there would be neither food for man or beast,
nor even running water, but that it was their full intention
to depart as soon as possible, and that they
would go far enough, God helping them, forever thereafter
to be free from their enemies. Meanwhile all
they asked was that they should not be further molested
by armed bands or suits at law, but rather
assisted in selling their property and collecting their
effects. 39
To this the men of Quincy gave assent; at the same
time pledging themselves to prompt action in case of
failure on the part of the saints to keep their promise,
and taking measures to secure a military organization
of the people of Adams county. 40
It was not to
remain idle while
be expected that Carthage would
other towns were acting. A convention
of delegates from nine surrounding counties
was held there about the end of September, and
four commissioners, among whom were Hardin, commander
of the state militia, and Douglas, senator,* 1
were sent to Nauvoo to demand the departure of the
Mormons. The deputation was met by the council
of the twelve with the president at their head, and
answer was promptly made that the removal would
38 One thousand families, including 5,000 or 6,000 souls, would remove in
the spring. Hist. B. Young, MS., 1845, 134. Hundreds of farms and some
2,000 houses were offered for sale in Nauvoo city and county. 'There was
grain enough growing within 10 miles of Nauvoo, raised by the Mormons, to
feed the whole population for two years, if they were to do nothing but gather
it in and feast upon it.' Id., MS., 35.
39 A lengthy communication to this effect was drawn up and signed by Brigham
Young, president, and Willard Richards, clerk. Printed in full in Fullmer'8
Expulsion, 20-1.
40 Answer in full in Id., 22.
41 The other two were W. B. Warren and J.. A, McDougal. Tullidge's
Life of Young, 8.