| 488 CHAPTER 18
1834.
AS MENTIONED in a former chapter, efforts were made in the early part of the year 1834 to compromise the differences which existed between the Jackson County people and the saints. Col. J. Thornton wrote a letter to Governor Dunklin with a view to accomplishing this, which was indorsed [endorsed] by Messrs. Reese, Atchison, and Doniphan, attorneys for the saints; to which the Governor replied as follows:-
"From the Missouri Enquirer of June 25.
"Copy of a letter from Daniel Dunklin, Governor of the State of Missouri, to Colonel J. Thornton, dated
"'CITY OF JEFFERSON, June 6, 1834.
"'Dear Sir:-I was pleased at the receipt of your letter, concurred in by Messrs. Reese, Atchison, and Doniphan, on the subject of the Mormon difficulties. I should be gratified indeed, if the parties could compromise on the terms you suggest, or, indeed, upon any other terms satisfactory to themselves. But I should travel out of the line of my strict duty, as chief Executive officer of the Government, were I to take upon myself the task of effecting a compromise between the parties. Had I not supposed it possible, yes, probable, that I should, as Executive of the State, have to act, I should before now have interfered individually, in the way you suggest, or in some other way, in order if possible to effect a compromise. Uncommitted, as I am, to either party, I shall feel no embarrassment in doing my duty; though it may be done with the most extreme regret. My duty in the relation
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