IN THE OLD WEST 305 



of the Church at moderate prices. All this time 

 their numbers increased in a wonderful manner, 

 and immigrants from all parts of the States, as 

 well as Europe, continually joined them. As they 

 became stronger, they grew bolder and more arro- 

 gant in their projects. They had hitherto been 

 considered as bad neighbors, on account of their 

 pilfering propensities, and their utter disregard of 

 the conventional decencies of society — exhibiting 

 the greatest immorality, and endeavoring to estab- 

 lish amongst their society an indiscriminate con- 

 cubinage. This was sufficient to produce an ill 

 feeling against them on the part of their neighbors, 

 the honest Missourians ; but they still tolerated 

 their presence amongst them, until the Saints 

 openly proclaimed their intention of seizing upon 

 the country, and expelling by force the present oc- 

 cupants — giving, as their reason, that it had 

 been revealed to their prophets that the " Land of 

 Zion " was to be possessed by themselves alone. 

 The sturdy Missourians began to think this was 

 a little too strong, and that, if they permitted such 

 aggressions any longer, they would be in a fair 

 way of being despoiled of their lands by the Mor- 

 mon interlopers. At length matters came to a 

 crisis, and the Saints, emboldened 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 



