MEETING AT NEWTON COUNTY
At a public meeting of
the citizens of Newton county, held in Jasper on the 15th day of March,
1858, in pursuance of public notice, the following proceedings were had,
viz:
Mr. John McCoy
explained the object of the meeting.
On motion, Henry
Brewer, Esq., was called to the chair, and J. S. Bennett was appointed
Secretary. On motion, it was determined that the President appoint a
committee of three to draft suitable resolutions expressive of the
feelings of this meeting.
Thereupon the
following gentlemen were appointed such committee: R. W.
Harrison, Esq., Joseph Bennett and A. W. Gage.
On motion of Mr. John
Cecil the Secretary was added to the committee.
The committee after
deliberating, reported the following preamble and resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, The painful
intelligence has reached us that in July last, an emigrant train, with
130 persons, from Arkansas, known as Baker’s train, was attacked by the
Mormons and Santa Clara Indians, near the rim of the Great Basin, and
about fifty miles from Cedar City, in Utah Territory, and that all the
emigrants, except 15 children, were then and there inhumanly massacred
that the children, thus saved from the dreadful fate of their parent and
company, were delivered over to the custody of the Mormons of Cedar
City; and that among those who were with said train at the time of the
massacre, were many of our most worthy, and much esteemed citizens from
Carroll, Marion, Newton, and Johnson counties. And whereas a public
meeting was held by the citizens of Carroll county, on the 1st day of
Feb. last; therefore
Resolved,
That we heartily concur in the resolutions passed by them.
Resolved,
That as it appears from reliable information, there were as many as
fifteen children saved from destruction in said massacre, that we hereby
call on the general government for assistance in reclaiming said
children from their captors, and restoring them to their friends in
Arkansas.
Resolved,
That we request our representatives and senators in Congress to use
their utmost influence to have passed an act making an appropriation for
the purpose of defraying the expenses which it may be necessary to incur
in bringing home and restoring to their friends, the aforesaid children,
who were saved from the massacre.
Resolved,
That we offer our heartfelt sympathy to the parents and relatives of
those unfortunate emigrants, who, as above stated, met such a lamentable
fate.
Resolved,
That in our opinion the government should immediately adopt decisive
measures for subduing the spirit of insubordination and treason now rife
among the Mormons; and to that end should call on Arkansas for
volunteers, and that we, the people of Newton county, hold ourselves in
readiness to respond to such call.
Resolved,
That the True Democrat, and Gazette and Democrat be requested to publish
the proceedings of this meeting.
Henry Brewer,
President
J. S. Bennett, Secretary
