In the year 1838 the Saints in and around Far West numbered about twelve
thousand. Thus you see they began to be a power in the land, especially
when it came to voting for officers of the state and county. At these times
the Saints would of course vote for good men, men who were their friends,
and this often made the Missourians angry.

At an election in Gallatin, the county seat of Daviess county, August 6,
1838, a mob of Missourians tried to prevent the brethren from voting. A
general fight was the result, in which the "Mormons" defended themselves
with umbrellas, sticks, whips, and their stout fists.

Reports came to Joseph and the people in Far West that some of the brethren
had been killed and that the mobbers would not let their bodies be buried.
At this, Joseph, with about twenty armed men, rode towards the scene of
trouble. On the way he learned that the report was not true. They then
called on a justice of the peace, named Adam Black. Mr. Black promised
Joseph that he would not aid the mob, but would enforce the laws justly.
Next day Joseph and his party held a meeting with some leading men of the
county, wherein both parties promised to keep the peace, and if any person
broke the law in this respect he was to be given up to the officers of the
law and punished.

Some twenty days after Mr. Black had made such good promises, he and some
others had papers made out for the arrest of Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight
for coming into Daviess co., and doing all kinds of wicked deeds. When the
constable called on Joseph at Far West, Joseph said he was willing to stand
trial, but he wanted it to be in Caldwell, instead of Daviess county, as in
the latter there existed too much excitement and ill-feeling. The officer
did not arrest the Prophet at this time, but the report spread that Joseph
had resisted the officer and would not be arrested. To prove how false this