“On the first day of this month, we marched for the “seat of war,” but General Clark, Commander-in-chief, having reached Far West on the day previous with a large force, the difficulty was settled when we arrived, so we escaped the infamy and disgrace of a bloody victory.  Before General Clark’s arrival, the mob had increased to about four thousand, and determined to attack the town.  The Mormons upon the approach of the mob, sent out a white flag, which being fired on by the mob, Jo Smith and Rigdon, and a few other Mormons of less influence, gave themselves up to the mob, with a view of so far appeasing their wrath as to save their women and children from violence.  Vain hope!  The prisoners being secured, the mob entered the town and perpetrated every conceivable act of brutality and outrage—­forcing fifteen or twenty Mormon girls to yield to their brutal passions!!!  Of these things I was assured by many persons while I was at Far West, in whose veracity I have the utmost confidence.  I conversed with many of the prisoners, who numbered about eight hundred, among whom there were many young and interesting girls, and I assure you, a more distracted set of creatures I never saw.  I assure you, my dear sir, it was peculiarly heart-rending to see old gray headed fathers and mothers, young ladies and innocent babes, forced at this inclement season, with the thermometer at 8 degrees below zero, to abandon their warm houses, and many of them the luxuries and elegances of a high degree of civilization and intelligence and take up their march for the uncultivated wilds of the Missouri frontier.

“The better informed here have but one opinion of the result of this Mormon persecution, and that is, it is a most fearful extension of Judge Lynch’s jurisdiction.”

The present white population of Missouri is but thirty thousand less than that of New Hampshire, and yet the insecurity of human life in the former state to that in the latter, is probably at least twenty to one.

ALABAMA.

This state was admitted to the Union in 1819.  Its present white population is not far from three hundred thousand.  The security of human life to Alabama, may be inferred from the facts and testimony which follow: 

The Mobile Register of Nov. 15, 1837, contains the annual message of Mr. McVay, the acting Governor of the state, at the opening of the Legislature.  The message has the following on the frequency of homicides: 

“We hear of homicides in different parts of the state continually, and yet how few convictions for murder, and still fewer executions?  How is this to be accounted for?  In regard to ’assault and battery with intent to commit murder,’ why is it that this offence continues so common—­why do we hear of stabbings and shootings almost daily in some part or other of our state?”

The “Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser” of April 22, 1837, has the following from the Mobile Register: