LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 207 



Mormons became rather unpopular in the settled States, and at 

 length moved bodily into Missouri, where they purchased several 

 tracts of land in the neighborhood of Independence. Here they 

 erected a large building, which they called the Lord's Store, 

 where goods were collected on the common account, and retailed 

 to members 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 arrogant 

 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 — exhibit- 

 ing the greatest immorality, and endeavoring to establish among 

 their society an indiscriminate concubinage. This was sufficient 

 to produce an ill feeling against them on the part of their neigh- 

 bors, the honest Missourians ; but they still tolerated their pres- 

 ence among them, until the Saints openly proclaimed their inten- 

 tion of seizing upon the country, and expelling 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 

 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 

 Mormon 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 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 inflicting a sum- 

 mary chastisement, " tarred and feathered" them, and let them go. 



