LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 253 



arrogant in their projects. They had hitherto been 

 considered as bad neighbours, on account of their 

 pilfering propensities, and their utter disregard of 

 the conventional decencies of society exhibiting the 

 greatest immorality, and endeavouring to establish 

 amongst their society an indiscriminate concubinage. 

 This was sufficient to produce an ill feeling against 

 them on the part of their neighbours, the honest 

 Missourians; but they still tolerated their presence 

 amongst them, until the Saints openly proclaimed 

 their intention of seizing upon the country, and expel- 

 ling by force the present occupants giving, as their 

 reason, that it had been revealed to their prophets 

 that the " Land of Zion" was to be possessed by them- 

 selves alone. 



The sturdy Missourians began to think this was a 

 little too strong, and that, if they permitted such aggres- 

 sions any longer, they would be in a fair way of being 

 despoiled of their lands by the Mormon interlopers. At 

 length matters came to a crisis, and the Saints, embold- 

 ened by the impunity with which they had hitherto 

 carried out their plans, issued a proclamation to the 

 effect that all in that part of the country, who did not 

 belong to the Mormon persuasion, must "clear out," 

 and give up possession of their lands and houses. The 

 Missourians collected in a body, burned the printing- 

 press from which the proclamation had emanated, 

 seized several of the Mormon leaders, and, after inflict- 

 ing a summary chastisement, " tarred and feathered " 

 them, and let them go. 



