Alma 51:15

And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with the voice of the people, unto the Governor of the land, desiring that he should read it, and give him, (Moroni,) power to compel those dissenters to defend their country, or to put them to death;

He sent a request to the Governor of the land with the voice of the people. He asked the Governor to read it and give him power to make the people who refused to fight either defend their country or be killed.

He sent a petition, backed by the people’s vote, to the governor asking for authority to force these dissenters to defend their country or execute them.