For the Register.

THE MOBBING SPIRIT OF MISSOURI REKINDLING IN ILLINOIS.

The following is a statement of facts that may be relied on:

A short time since it was ascertained that a Mr. Clark, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Logan county, had in his possession the Book of Mormon. For this glaring outrage he was severely reprimanded, deprived of his station as a class leader, and the book demanded of him by his preachers, a Mr. Martin and a Mr. Watt.

He (the said Clark) contended that the book was his own property, and unless the bought it, they could not have the same. Accordingly, the necessary sum was raised, and paid for the book. Shortly after the said book was taken into De Witt county, to a Quarterly Conference meeting, there to await its final trial, and it was condemned, and burnt to ashes -- the judges themselves being the executioners. And what is still more appalling, Mr. Watt, a preacher, has been heard unblushingly to assert, that if burning the book would not do, they would next burn the Mormons themselves. If testimony is required on this subject, it can be had at any time.   AB'M PALMER.
  Springfield, Ill., Mar. 12.


Note: The Illinois State Register was the chief mouthpiece of the Democratic Party in Illinois at this time. The Mormon leaders fleeing Missouri quickly made polical alliances with the Democrats in the western part of the state and reporting in the Register, after a brief lapse at the end of the 1840 Presidential campaign, became increasingly sympathetic to the LDS cause throughout the early 1840s.

HANCOCK  COUNTY.

                                            CARTHAGE, Ill., Aug. 4, 1840.

I hasten to communicate to you the result of the elections in this county.

The whigs have carried their entire ticket by a majority of about 300 votes. The Democracy were active and vigilant, and when the polls were closed, it was generally believed that we had elected our Representatives and Sheriff; but when the news came in from Commerce Precinct, every body was surprised. The average vote against us there was about 290. The whig vote in this county gave a majority of about 320 [votes]; so you see that you have not lost any thing in two years. If the Democrats have done as well in the other counties as in this, Illinois is safe.

Joseph Smith took an active part, and sustained the entire whig ticket.


Note: The "Commerce Precinct" spoken of in the above report was the new Mormon town of Nauvoo and its environs. Joseph Smith, having received no succor for LDS grievances from the Democratic President in Washington (Martin van Buren), temporarily allied with the Whigs and threw the Mormon political support into the camp of candidate William Henry Harrison. Smith's shift in politics was a tactical one and he soon realigned his block-voting followers with the Democrats.

WHIG  VERACITY.

The Missouri Republican and Quincy Whig both assert that the Hon. Richard M. Young and Stephen A. Douglass, Esq., were at Nauvoo, in Hancock county, on the day of the election, and it is insinuated by these Federal prints that they "induced two hundred Mormon voters to erase the name of A. Lincoln from the Whig electorial ticket, and substitute the name of James H. Ralston in its stead." Now, for part of the above, every citizen of Springfield, can answer for its falsity. Mr. Douglass was in this place on the day of the election near the polls all day

The Quincy Whig speaks of the erasure of Mr. Lincoln's name as "a trick played upon "two hundred Mormon voters." We do not view it in this light. It is very certain that Mr. Lincoln runs near 200 votes behind his ticket in Hancock county, and it is equally as certain that Judge Ralston runs near 200 ahead of his ticket, but this the voters had a perfect right to do. The "Mormon voters," as well as all other voters have the right to vote for whomsoever they please, and no editor has the right to insinuate that any voter is governed by improper motives, or has been "tricked." as this Whig editor calls it. The only think that looks like a trick, in connection with the vote of Hancock, is in the omission by the clerk of the name of Mr. Eldredge from the official returns which he has sent to the office of the Secretary of State but this was probably accidental.

There is something connected with the vote at Nauvoo precinct, which needs explanation. Two hundred Mormon voters were induced to erase the name of A. Lincoln, from the whig electoral ticket, and substitute the name of James H. Ralston, in his stead. Rumor says that the Hon. Richard M. Young, of the U. S. Senate, and the "little giant," Stephen A. Douglass, who wants to go to Congress, were present at this election, and of course their names were freely used in connection with this little petty trick. If these rumors should prove correct, we shall have a column to spare for their benefit hereafter.


Note: It certainly "passeth all understanding" how the Almighty God of Heaven could object to the character and candidacy of Abraham Lincoln for a state election in Illinois, and then allow the same man to rise to fill the highest office in the land, in the presidential election of 1860. Could the answer to this riddle possibly lie in the fact that the Mormons voted against Lincoln in 1840, simply as a knee-jerk reaction to the local political whims and intrigues of "the Lord's Anointed," Joseph Smith, Jr.? What was both reprehensible and dangerous, at the time, is that the partisans of both sides were ready and willing that the Nauvoo Mormons should cast their votes in a single block, based not upon individual views of conscience, but upon decree from religious leaders. This was a slippery, immoral path that both Whigs and Democrats began to slide down, when they courted the favor of the Nauvoo hierarchy in 1839 and 1840. Within the span of the following five or six years, Illinois politicians like Stephen A. Douglass would begin to see the error of their ways, in a strategic sense -- but the tactic of seeking the block-vote support of a mentally enthralled religious sect remained, in Illinois and elsewhere in America, a great partisan temptation.

MORMONS.

An English paper has the following paragraph about a new shipment to this country. It's location of Quincy, "on the Mississippi in Michigan," is amusing, and shows wonderful precision in its knowledge of transatlantic geography -- ""The New York packet ship North America, Capt. Lowner, sailed on Tuesday week with 10 cabin passengers and 200 in the sterage. The whole of the steerage passengers belong to the sect called "Latter Day Saints," and are bound for Quincy, in the State of Michigan, on the borders of the Mississippi, where a settlement has been provided for them by one of that sect, who has purchased a large tract of land in Michigan. We understand that upwards of 2000 are in treaty to embark early next spring for the same locality. A great portion of those who sailed in the North America, are members of the total abstinence society, and are from Leicestershire and Herefordshire."

---

For the State Register.                
                               JACKSONVILLE, Illinois, Nov. 23d, 1840.

I this moment met with our democraticpaper published in this place, and was surprised to see some allusions there against Mr. Van Buren and his cabinet, and some of his immediate friends, and associates. There are now present in the room with me, a large number of our democratic friends, and every one of them to a man disapproves of the sentiments there uttered; and I am satisfied that there is not one Van Buren man out of a hundred in Morgan that would approve them. They with one voice say that Mr. Van Buren is an enlightened statesman, an honest man, a pure republican and an unflinching and uncompromising democrat; and although we are beaten the fault is not his, and to charge our misfortunes to him is unjust and ungenerous, and deserves the contempt of every honest man.

How such utterances found their way into a democratic paper is unaccountable but some people have a large stock of every other kind of sense but common sense.

The allusion in the same paper in relation to Joe Smith and the Mormons was equally unjust and uncalled for. It is true the Mormons voted against us, but this they had a right to do, and they are nevertheless in the main honest men, good citizens and democrats, and the sober second thought will bring them right.

Yours, &c,      
      A DEMOCRAT.

Notes: (forthcoming)

LETTERS  ABOUT  THE  WEST.

NUMBER  THREE.

Nauvoo -- Mormon Religion

Nauvoo city. This place is in the north western part of Hancock county, Illinois, and was formerly known by the name of Commerce, but has recently received a city charter by the name of Nauvoo, the name given by the Mormons. The town is situated upon a slightly inclined plain, or piece of ground, of from one to two miles in extent, projecting westward into the Mississippi, somewhat in the shape of a man's arm, half bent; presenting a fine appearance for some miles above and below the town. Since the Mormons, or "Latter Day Saints," (as they call themselves) were so wantonly driven from their homes and estates in Missouri, by an armed mob, under the excited authorities of that State, these persecuted people have settled in this town, and the adjacent country upon both sides of the Mississippi-and added from 75 to 100 buildings, mostly neat and painted, spread over a large extent of ground, and covering the plain and the bluffs in the rear.-These numerous new, bright looking buildings, scattered about amongst the trees and shrubbery which abound here, present, in warm weather, a delightful appearance. Under the shade of some beautiful shrubbery near the river's brink, seats are erected for the accommodation of the society, at their religious meetings. The spot selected is favorable to a calm and serene temper, and a devotional frame of mind.

Nauvoo is said to have a population of about 3000 inhabitants some 300 buildings, several small traders, Tavern keepers, Physicians, and various kinds of mechanics and laborers: and some water craft, among which is a small steam-boat called Nauvoo. The landing, soil and timber about the town, are favorable to its future growth but being at the Head, instead of the foot of the rapids, its location is not so advantageous for trade as that of Warsaw or Keokuck, mentioned in my last letter. Besides this, there being considerable low lands upon the Islands in its vicinity, their decomposing vegetable matter is supposed to send forth deleterious [exhalations] prejudicial to the health of the town. However, Nauvoo has a fine country in its rear, and if to many drones and rogues do not creep in among these generally quiet, industrious and economical people, we may expect to see a very considerable city built up here -- particularly as many of this sect in Europe, are now known to be about removing to this country -- and indeed some two hundred have already arrived at Nauvoo, and the vicinity. Mr. Smith is reported to have said that it is destined to be the largest city in the world! It is some 18 miles above Warsaw, and 6 or 8 below Fort Madison.

Religion of the Mormons.

In the course of two land journeis between Stephenson and Quincy, I stopped overnight at Nauvoo, rode one day in company with a Mormon preacher, and two days with one of the most respectable private members of the society. I also saw, in Stephenson, the celebrated Joseph Smith, but had no opportunity to converse with him respecting the peculiar tenets of their religion. Mr. Smith (commonly called "Joe Smith,") is a stout, muscular, course looking man, of about 32 or 33 years of age, and six feet high-and is said to be a man of good natural talents, but of inferior education-and that, as a scholar and logician, Mr. Rigdon is much his superior. Dr. Bennett, one of their preachers, and with whom I rode as above, appeared to be a man of considerable reading and general intelligence -- to possess a christian temper, and pretty correct ideas of personal piety. He was courteous and gentlemanly in his deportment, though somewhat selfish, exclusive and bigoted in notions about other sects and creeds. I, however, derived considerable information, and consequent satisfaction from conversing with him upon the subject of this strange religion. I may not be able in this brief and hasty newspaper sketch, to do full and exact justice to their creed as represented by this and the other gentleman, but I will aim to do so.

I understood from them as follows, viz: -- That their society did not recognize Mormon, as a Prophet or a Teacher sent from God to the "Latter Day Saints"-that they did not discard the Bible as used by other christian sects -- that the book, commonly called "the Mormon bible," was considered by them as an additional revelation from heaven, made by God himself, to Joseph Smith, when 17 years of age, and under deep and prayerful concern of mind about his spiritual condition-that it relates principally to the history of the house of Ephraim and their descendants, which these people say was lost, or omitted, in the compliation [compilation] of the generally accredited christian bible. That the Almighty spoke orally, and disclosed to Smith, in a vision, where to find the long buried "Brass Plates," containing some unknown hieroglyphics, the further and hitherto undiscovered history of this branch of the Jewish nation -- which history foretells, as they say, the character, condition and duty, of the "Latter Day Saints," or Mormons -- and the persecutions which they have endured in Missouri and elswhare [elsewhere], on account of their religion. They hold that the Lord made a verbal, personal communication to Smith, an uneducated and ignorant youth of 17, and instructed him to employpersons to translate the history contained in these few strange characters, engraven upon these brass plates, and directed him to communicate it to the ignorant and uninspired translators, to be by them penned down for publication. And also that at a certain stage of the proceeding, the Almighty directed Smith to cease the work of translation, and again to bury the plates until mankind should become more virtuous, and better qualified for the reception of a further and complete revelation of the whole matter, at which time the Lord would again appear upon the earth, and direct Smith how to proceed upon this momentous subject!!!

The object and plan of these letters will not admit of pursuing this matter further, or commenting upon the monstrous delusion that could take possession of so many apparently sensible and intelligent people -- or upon the success with which an uneducated man, like Smith, has impressed belief in this extraordinary imposition, which fact induces the belief that he is a man of very considerable talents. But I really believe that these people, after all, are generally quite conscientious in this matter-are more to be pitied than despised, and "more sinned against than sinning.


Note: The exact date of this article is uncertain, but it evidently appeared about the beginning of Feb., 1841. The text is taken from its reprint in the Feb. 15, 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons. The Sangamo Journal published a shortened reprint of the same article on Feb. 9, 1841.

THE  MORMONS.

In the Warsaw 'World,' of the 7th, we find a brief notice of the ceremonies at the laying of the corner stone of the Temple at Nauvoo, the city of the Mormons, on the 6th. The number assembled is variously estimated at from 7000 or 8000, and some said 12,000. The Nauvoo Legion, consisting of [630] men, was in attendance, and made a very respectable appearance. Mr. Rigdon officiated at the laying of the chief comer stone, and addressed the assembly in a very energetic manner in a speech of about an hour's length. On the whole the exercises passed off with the utmost order, without accident or the slightest disturbance. Gen. Bennett commanded the Legion, under the direction of the Prophet, and acquitted himself in a truly officer-like manner.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MR.  STUART  AND  THE  MORMONS.

The Missouri Republican a few days since contained some absurd remarks, pretended to be founded upon the report of a steamboat Captain, to the effect that the Mormons were erecting a fort at Warsaw under the pretence of erecting a temple, and that Gov. Carlin had united with them, not only in their creed, but also in some embryo schemes, which were darkly shadowed forth, the objects of which were to revolutionize the state, and subvert our institutions, which the Republican, with all "the kind mendacity of hints" would have it understood they designed shortly to put into execution. We were a little surprised at the time that our unscrupulous neighbor of the Journal, as he is accustomed to do, did not copy this villainous article, without reference to its truth or untruth. The design of the Republican was to make political capital out of the slander it originated. The scheme however was not like the almanacs, "calculated for Missouri and the adjoining States." -- Here the whigs have another game to play. It is their great object to palter with the Mormons. They need their votes to elect John T. Stuart. Therefore he and they are coquetting with this sect, and have made great efforts, if not pledges, to secure their votes, by making them believe that their particular views will be promoted, by the instrumentality of Mr. Stuart.

We have not any prejudices against the Mormons, believing that every man has a right under his own vine and fig tree to worship God as to him shall seem right. But we think it portends some danger, when a candidate for Congress, bargains in advance with any particular sect, to foster their especial interests at all hazzards -- without reference to such christian sects, as have, to say the least of them, equal claims to attention and patronage. Ket Mr. Stuart veware that he does not dig a pit for himself to fall inro; he may meet the fate of Mr. Little of Hancock, who after having paid his addresses with great assiduity to the Mormons, while he was toying with others, has been jilted, and he now finds himself the discarded of all. A word to the wise is said to be sufficient, but to John T. Stuart, many words may be necessary.


Notes: (forthcoming)

We have become so much accustomed to the ,isrepresentations of the Journal, that we seldom deem them worthy of notice. The public are too well acquainted with its mendacious character to take its statements as even prima facie evidence of truth. In the last number of that print, we are regaled with a gross sample of this kind, on the subject of the Mormons. It says we had a long article against them. The motive of this statement is as base as the statement itself is false. We never conceived such a thing. We assailed the insidious and hypocritical course of Stuart and the Junto; and the Journal man, with cool impudence, shifts it off and says it was intended for the Mormons. We look upon them as we do upon the rest of our felloe citizens. With their peculiar faith we have nothing to do. This is a matter between them and their God. We have, it is true, sympathised with them on account of the reported barbarity of their expulsion from Missouri. We received them as fellow beings in distress, and believed, and we are now confirmed in the belief, that, with equal and impartial treatment, they make good, peaceable and orderly citizens. The intention of the Journal is obvious. It is attempting to induce the Mormons in a body to vote for John T. Stuart, regardless of the public good, which demands no religious sect should become a political faction. The democratic party seek to sustain their principles upon their own intrinsic merit; but it has ever been the policy of federalism to seek support and strength from every sect and faction, and desert them afterwards when they have gained power. We protest against the unworthy course of the Journal, the Junto, and John T. Stuart, in thus dragging the Mormons before the public.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                                                   Monmouth, June, 1841.

My Dear Sir: -- Before this reaches you -- I have no doubt you will have heard of the trial of Joseph Smith; familiarly known as the Mormon Prophet. As some misrepresentations have already gone abroad in relation to Judge Douglass' decision and the merits of the question decided by the Judge; permit me to say that the only question decided, though many were debated, was the validity of the executive writ which had once been sent out, I think in Sept. 1840, and a return made on it that Mr. Smith could not be found. The same writ was issued in June 1841. There can really be no great difficulty about this matter -- under this state of facts.

The judge acquitted himself handsomely, and silenced clamors that had been raised against the Defendant. Since the trial I have been at Nauvoo on the Mississippi, in Hancock co. Ill, and have seen the manner in which things are conducted among the Mormons. In the first place I cannot help noticing the plain hospitality of the Prophet Smith, to all strangers visiting the town, aided as he is, in making the stranger comfortable by his excellent wife, a woman of superior ability. The people of the town appear to be honest and industrious, engaged in their usual avocations of building up a town, and making all things around them comfortable. On Sunday I attended one of their meetings, in front of the Temple, now building, and one of the largest buildings in the State. -- There could not haste been less than 2,500 people present, and as well appearing as any number that could be found in this or any State, -- Mr. Smith preached in the morning, and one could have readily learned then the magic by which he has built up this Society, because as we say in Illinois -- "they believe in him," and in his honesty. Dr. Bennett a talented man, preached in the evening-he is the mayor of the city and cannot but be a useful man to them and to his country, as he has learning and great force of character. I wanted to hear Elder Rigdon of whom so much has been said by the talkers and slanderers of this Society. His name is closely identified with Mr. Smith as one of the persecuted, and builders up of the Mormons; a word I am happy to learn is no longer a word of reproach in this free land.

It has been a matter of astonishment to me, after seeing the prophet, as he is called, Elder Rigdon and many other gentlemanly men, any one may see at Nauvoo, who will visit there, why it is that so many professing christianity, and so many professing to reverence the sacred principles of our constitution, which gives free religious toleration to all, have slandered, and persecuted this sect of Christians? There can be no danger in the United States from any denomination. If they are in an error, (and who is to decide that ) let freedom of opinion combat it, and nothing is to be apprehended from such error. I know the time when the "Methodist's were said to be a deluded ignorant set." What sect now equal them in the U. States? For the honor of our State I hope no such degrading brutish persecutions, will he got up in Illinois as was in Missouri, against the Mormons.

You would admire the manner in which the town of Nauvoo is situated and laid out. It covers over 1000 acres and laid off into acre lots. The Temple is building on the hill nearly a mile from the river in front. The river running here in a half circle. I am told that it numbers now over 5,000 persons and they are fast arriving from Europe and different parts of the United States.

So much for the present, when I see you I will give you further particulars of Nauvoo, and this part of our State which is certainly beautiful.


Note: The exact date of the above article is unknown. The text is from its reprint in the Aug. 2, 1841 issue of the Times & seasons. The "Juliet Courier" was soon after re-named the "Joliet Courier," and then the "Joliet Signal."

Steamer  President.

This splendid vessel, with more than one hundred persons, is undoubtedly lost. All hopes of her safety seem to be at an end. The probability is that she struck an iceberg in the night, and sunk. Among the persons on board was the Rev. G. Cookman, late Chaplain of the H. of Representatives, and who was favorably known as a Minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.


Our exchange papers teem with accounts of bank swindling, forgeries, robberies &c.; the contemplation of which must be painful to the patriotic mind. Notwithstanding the great revivals which for several years have excited this continent, and the high pretensions to piety and virtue, there appears to be an evident lack of morality and common honesty. At this rate it will be some considerable time before the millennium!!


Note 1: The above notice, of the sinking of the U. S. S. President in the Atlantic, should be considered in connection with a report given by Dr. Robert D. Foster, in the item "A Testimony of the Past," in the Apr. 15, 1875 issue of the RLDS Saints' Herald. There Dr. Foster purports to give a personal reminiscence, from January, 1840, of Joseph Smith, Jr. pronouncing a curse against the Rev. George Grimston Cookman and his family. Most 1841 newspaper accounts of the sinking of the Steamship President do not provide the detail of Rev. Cookman having been aboard -- thus, it is possible that the Times and Seasons' report was meant to bring to its readers' attention the fact that Cookman died under tragic circumstances, only a year and a half after Smith pronounced a curse upon him. The Mormon newspaper, however, gives no other details that might help confirm this possibility.

Note 2: Dr. Foster's recollection of a preaching and prophecy session held by Joseph Smith, Jr., at Carusi's saloon in Washington, D. C. is not otherwise documented. Smith left Washington for Philadelphia on Dec. 21, 1839 and apparently remained in the latter city until Jan. 27, 1840. Therefore, if Joseph Smith, Jr. really did preach before a distinguished audience in Carusi's saloon, it must have been on or about Jan. 27, 1840. On about Feb. 10, 1840 Smith left the nation's capital for Nauvoo. Therefore, if there is any record of his preaching and prophecy in Carusi's saloon, it should be preserved as a newspaper article, journal entry, mention in a letter, etc., from the short period between Jan. 27 and Feb. 10. In fact, there are sketchy reports of Smith having preached in Washington on Wed., Feb. 5, 1840, but that can hardly be the session held at Carusi's saloon, when Joseph Smith, Jr. had "just come in on the train from Philadelphia."

Note 3: Dr. Foster does not specify exactly when it was that Rev. Cookman preached to his Washington congregation, telling them that Joseph Smith's "new" Bible (the Book of Mormon) had been "dug up in Palmyra, New York; and that it was nothing but an irreligious romance, and that Smith had obtained it from the widow of one Spaulding, who wrote it for his own amusement." Presumably this occurred on or about Jan. 5, 1840, in Cookman's first Sunday sermon of the new year. Dr. Foster had time to write about the matter to Smith, who was then in Philadelphia, and to obtain Smith's reply by mail, telling him (Foster) to do "some preaching in Washington to counteract these statements" of Cookman's. Thus, it is more than likely that when elders Joseph Smith, Parley P. Pratt, Dr. Foster, Sidney Rigdon and Benjamin Winchester sat down to hold a "special conference" in Philadelphia on Jan. 13, 1840, that the subject of Rev. Cookman's repetition of the Solomon Spalding authorship claims was a fresh matter of importance and instantly became one of the important topics discussed by those same men at their "special conference." Pratt was then able to inform the group how he had counteracted similar claims about the Spalding authorship then being made in the New York papers. Winchester subsequently consulted with Pratt at length in Liverpool, and returned to Philadelphia to produce his 1840 pamphlet, the first major Mormon response to the Spalding claims.

Note 4: Assuming that Joseph Smith, Jr. really did preach at Carusi's saloon, on or about Jan. 27, 1840, he had plenty of time to prepare himself for a public refutation of Rev. Cookman's allegations concerning the origin of the Book of Mormon and the "irreligious romance... of one Spaulding." Exact details are lacking, but this reported preaching session may have marked Joseph Smith, Jr.'s first (and only known) formal, public disavowal of the Spalding authorship claims.

Note 5: The Rev. George Grimston Cookman (1800-1841) served as the Chaplain of the United States Senate from December 31, 1839 to June 11, 1841. As Dr. Foster points out in his letter, Rev. Cookman sailed from New York City for Liverpool, England, March 11, 1841, on the steamship "President." The ship apparently sank during its crossing of the Atlantic, as it was never heard from again. His first son, Rev. Alfred Cookman was born Jan. 4, 1828 in Columbia, Lancaster, Pennsylvania and died Nov. 13, 1871 in Newark, New Jersey. Another son, Rev. John Emory Cookman, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1836, and died in New York City some time after 1886. Given this documented survival of two of Cookman's sons, it is difficult to understand why Dr. Foster says that "his whole family were suddenly cut off, both root and branch." During the early years of the 20th century, the Herald twice published an admission of the facts, implying that Foster's memory had failed him when it came to the fate of Cookman's family.

MORMONS.

Within the last ten days between three and four hundred Mormons passed through this place on their way to the Mormon settlement in Hancock county, in this State. On Tuesday last we counted seventeen wagons, occupied with men, women and children, all wending their way towards the settlement of the "Latter Day Saints." We understand they were from Western New York, and their appearance was quite respectable, apparently being chiefly composed of farmers.

We notice that a large number from Europe have recently arrived at the same settlement, and that others from different portions of the old and new world are on their way. The settlement is now said to contain between ten and fifteen thousand inhabitants, and the town of Nauvoo is represented as being in a flourishing condition. A large Temple is being created, which is to contain a Baptismal Font, supported by twelve oxen, overlaid with gold, all the most costly and magnificent structure.

We notice by the Warsaw Signal, published in the vicinity of Nauvoo, that considerable prejudice exists in that section against this class of people. The editor battles Prophet Smith with much spirit, and denounces him as a hypocrite and impostor, and comments severely on their military parades and warlike preparations.

Whether these charges are correct we are not prepared to say, having never had an opportunity of witnessing their conduct or operations. We have always thought that little danger need be apprehended from this class of people, as respects the welfare and happiness of the people in general, even if the many charges brought against them are partly founded in truth. That they are a misled and deluded people is the opinion of almost every intelligent mind, but that delusion cannot be remedied by persecution and lawless opposition -- the reserve will be the result, as their treatment in Missouri clearly demonstrates.

If they violate the laws of our State, a remedy can be found at the bar of justice. Our constitution throws its protecting aegis over every religious doctrine and suffers every man to worship Omnipotence in any manner suitable to the dictates of his conscience. The Mormons enjoy this privilege in common with every other citizen, be their religious opinions true or false -- sinners or hypocritical. From the peculiar nature of their doctrine their creed must soon fall of itself, if founded on fiction, and this alone should exempt them from a lawless spirit of persecution, unbecoming American citizens and our free institutions.


Note: At this date, the newspaper's masthead still read: "Illinois Free Trader and La Salle County Commericial Asvertiser."

                From the Peoria Register. -- After the Election.

JOE  SMITH  THE  PROPHET.

His holiness, if we may believe his own declarations, has, likeEmanuel Swedenborg, a direct communication with Heaven, and walks through the "everlasting gate" just as familiarly as one neighbor would walk in at the door of another's house. According to a late revelation he happened to be there on Gen. Harrison's arrival, and was a witness to the manner of his reception, The old hero was received as an honored guest, but still there was a balance in the books against him, and he was directed to turn to the left, where a big arm-chair, nicely cushioned, had been prepared for accomodation. This was not exactly a place of punishment, though it appeared he had, on account of some unexpiated sin, forfieted the more effulgent glories on the right hand. The prophet does not say so, but leaves us to infer that the general had incurred some slight degree of punishment for not embracing Mormonism before he died. Another big arm-chair, in close vicinity to the general's, was in reserve for Old Hickory, when he shall have "shuffled off this mortal soil." No seat was left for Mr. Van Buren, and the prophet learned upon inquiry, or knew it without, that a dark corner of the nether regions was awaiting his arrival. On earth he could tread in "the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor," but it appears their paths diverge very much after entering the other world. If Jo Smith himself be half as great an impostor as we think he is, a temporary residence in Pandemonium would be but a fit punishment for his hypocrisy.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMON  VOTE.

Many of our readers having been under the impression that Judge Ralston received the vote of the Mormons, we extract from the Sangamo Journal, the vote at Nauvoo, by which it appears that Stuart received 452 votes and Ralston 16! We learn that there are about 12 or 15 democrats, not Mormons, who reside in that precinct.

Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM  IN  ALL  AGES.

Professor Turner of Illinois College has prepared for the press a work of the above title to be comprised in about three hundred octavo pages. The work will be furnished to the public at as reasonable a price as [possible], but not to exceed one dollar per single copy and it is hoped for a still smaller price. The general subject is discussed under the following heads:

Chap. 1. History of Mormonism from its first origin to the present time, embracing the biography of Joseph Smith, Jr. from the most authentic sources.

Chap. 2. Brief history of similar fanaticism in all ages.

Chap. 3. Exhibition of the grounds on which a professed revelation can be rendered creditable to mankind.

Chap. 4. Book of Mormon and other writings of Smith examined on this ground and their claims shown to be absurd from a comparison of proof texts from their own writings.

Chap. 5. Doctrines of the Mormon Church, examined and refuted from a similar comparison of their own professedly inspired writings

Chap. 6. Exhibition of facts never before published, showing the real origin of the book of Mormon, and the true causes of Smith's success.

Chap. 7. Philosophy of the progress of Mormonism in our own age, and remedies for the evil.
The facts and arguments eshibited in the above work have been gathered from a careful perusal of all the published documents of the Mormon Church and their leading antagonists amounting to some twenty of thirty volumes of books, pamphlets, periodicals, &c. and from extensive correspondence with original witnesses both east and west of the Mountains, bounding the quiet valley of the west. References are given throughout the work to the chapter and page of the several authorities so that all errors and misstatements may be detected if any occur.

It is believed that the rise and progress of Mormonism in such a Country and age as this, is in and of itself one of the most singular and interesting events of the age. The scholar, the statesman, the philosopher, and the republican as well as the christian may here find matter for reflection and indeed reason for deep concern. Not because Mormonism exists, for in itself it is [too?] contemptible to create alarm. But because those deep and silent causes which have produced it, and which are daily adding thousands to its victims, exist and work and triumph in a free and enlightened land in spite of all opposition. If Mormonism should become extinct in name in a week, then some great causes would engender another fanaticism equally hidious if not equally apparent and absurd before another year was past. But considering the rapid progress of Mormonism in Europe and the immense influx of Mormon emigrants we may expect from that quarter and the inevitable conflict which must ensue with the citizens of a sister State if not with their own. The good people of Illinois have immense temporial as well as spiritual interests at stake in this great game of folly and delusion. It behooves us to look to it with all that earnest solicitude which our peculiar position demands, and still with all that calmness, justice, and inflexible regard to law and right -- (the rights of the Mormons as well as our own) which is due to our own character as freemen to our beloved State and to the American name. The author of the above work has taken the ground neither of an alarmist nor of a declaimer. Those who have perused the Manuscript fully agree with him both as regards the existence and the undoubted proofs he has given of our danger as well as of the absurdity of Mormonism.

X. Y.

Note: It is perhaps significant that "X. Y." had the foresight to predict that the activities of Mormon theocracy at Nauvoo, increasingly strengthened by a seemingly endless flow of devoted converts from abroad, would sooner or later result in an "inevitable conflict" with the "Gentiles" in that region of the country. The writer perhaps did not realize that, even as he was having his article published, that the non-Mormons of Hancock county were sturdily responding as a growing backlash to the Mormon presence there. It would be the local hostile response (not one from the Missourians) that would eventually force the Mormons from the state of Illinois.

Mormons. -- The St. Louis Gazette says the Gen. Pratte brought up last week, two hundred and fifty Mormons. They are from England and are going to Nauvoo, the city of the Latter Day Saints.

Notes: (forthcoming)

NAUVOO  AND  THE  MORMONS.

MR. EDITOR:

Having recently had occasion to visit the city of Nauvoo, I cannot permit the opportunity to pass, without expressing the agreeable disappointment that awaited me there. I had supposed from what I had previously heard, that I should witness an impoverished, ignorant and bigoted population, completely priest ridden and tyranized over by Joseph Smith, the great prophet of these people. On the contrary, to my surprise, I saw a people apparently happy, prosperous and intelligent. Every man appeared to be employed in some business or occupation, I saw no idleness, no intemperance, no noise, no riot, all appeared to be contented; with no desire to trouble themselves, with any thing except their own affairs. With the religion of these people, I have nothing to do, if they can be satisfied with the doctrines of their new Revelation, they have a right to be so. The Constitution of the country guarantees to them the right of worshipping God according to the dictates of their own conscience, and if they can be so easily satisfied, why should we, who differ with them, complain. But I protest against the slanders and persecutions that are continually heaped on these people. I could see no disposition on their part to be otherwise than a peaceable and law-abiding people, and all they ask of the country is to permit them to live under the protection of the laws, and to be made amenable for their violations, they may have among them men of bad and desperate characters, and what community has not? but I am satisfied as a body the Mormon people will never be the aggressors or violators of the law.

While at Nauvoo, I had a fine opportunity of seeing the people in a body. There was a Masonic celebration, and the Grand master of the State was present for the purpose of Publicly installing the officers of a new Lodge. An immense number of persons assembled on the occasions, variously estimated from 5 to 10,000, and never in my life did I witness a better dressed or a more orderly and well behaved assemblage; not a drunken or disorderly person to be seen, and the display of taste and beauty among the females, could not well be surpassed any where.

During my stay of three days, I became well acquainted with their principal men, and more particularly with their Prophet, the celebrated 'Old Jo Smith." I found them hospitable, polite, well informed and liberal. With Joseph Smith, the hospitality of whose house I kindly received, I was well pleased; of course on the subject of religion, we widely differed, but he appeared to be quite as willing to permit me to enjoy my right of opinion, as I think we all ought to be to let the Mormons enjoy theirs; but instead of the ignorant and tyranical upstart, judge my surprise at finding him a sensible, intelligent, companionable and gentle manly man. In frequent conversations with him, he gave me every information that I desired, and appeared to be only pleased at being able to do so. He appears to be much respected by all the people about him and has their entire confidence. He is a fine-looking man, about 36 years of age and has an interesting family.

The incorporated limits of Nauvoo, contains, it is said, about 7,000 persons; the buildings are generally small and much scattered. The Temple and Nauvoo House now building will probably, in beauty of design, extent and durability, excel any public buildings in the State, and will both be enclosed before winter. From all I saw and heard, I am led to believe that before many years the city of Nauvoo will be the largest and most beautiful city of the west, provided the Mormons are unmolested in the peaceable enjoyment of their rights and privileges, and why they should be troubled while acting as good citizens, I cannot imagine; and I hope and trust that the people of Illinois have no disposition to disturb unoffending people who have no disposition but to live peaceably under the laws of the country and to worship God under their own vine and fig tree
                                              AN OBSERVER.
Adams co., March 22, 1842.


Note 1: The exact date of the above article is unknown -- evidently it appeared shortly after Mar. 22, 1842. The text is taken from a reprint in the April 1, 1842 issue of the Times & Seasons.

Note 2: The "Observer" who wrote the letter was Illinois Grand Master Abraham Jonas of Columbia. Early in the summer of 1841 some of the Mormon Freemasons in Nauvoo petitioned the Bodley Lodge No. 1, in Quincy for a charter to establish a new lodge at Nauvoo. The Bodley Lodge members appeared to have been against the idea, but on Oct. 15, 1841 Grand Master Jonas agreed to authore the lodge at Nauvoo. On March 15, 1842, Jonas visited Nauvoo to set the new lodge in proper order. After returning to Columbia, Jonas penned an unusually positive account of Nauvoo and its supposedly "unoffending people." It seems likely that Mr. Jonas received some unmentioned "incentives" to postively publicize the "sensible, intelligent, companionable and gentlemanly" Joseph Smith, jr. -- the newest and foremost Freemason in western Illinois.

MORMONISM.

HOLLISTON, APRIL 8, 1839.          

To the Editor of the Boston Recorder.

Dear Sir, -- As the Pastor of the Congregational church and society in this town, I have had occasion to come in contact with Mormonism in its grossest forms. Consequently, I have been led to make inquiries relative to its origin, progress, and, so far as they have any, the peculiar sentiments of its votaries. My object in this has been, as a faithful pastor, so far as possible, to arrest the progress of what I deem to be one of the rankest delusions ever palmed on poor human nature. However, not supposing that the readers of the Recorder would be interested in the details of Mormonism in general, I send you for publication in your valuable periodical, the following communication, as a paper of unusual importance, giving a certified, sufficiently well attested and true account of the origin of the "Book of Mormon," or "Golden Bible," ...

(see Boston Recorder of Apr. 19, 1839 for this text)

Notes: (forthcoming)

Unchangeable Jo, the Journal and the Mormons,

If ever hypocricy and trick were united to accomplish an imposition, and to arm prejudice, it is in the combined efforts of Unchangeable Jo and his minion editors, in their affected crusade against the Mormons,

One short year has brought a great change in the course of the Journal. In June 1841, because our paper discountenanced then as it does now, and has at all times, the use of factious means to array prejudice against any people for matters of conscience, and thought it wrong to court the votes of any sect by promises to favor their peculiar notions, over those of others, the Journal then being the semi-organ and wooer of the Mormons, read us a severe lecture. We thought it wrong in John T. Stuart and his whig friends to court the Mormon votes, by giving that sect unequal advantages, and we spoke of it, as the Journal says, "not in direct terms, but in language that could not be misunderstood," and forthwith we were charged with a desire "to drag the Mormons into this political contest, thinking by exciting prejudice against them among the citizens of the State;" and all this, says the enraged and philanthropic Journal, because John T. Stuart was A FRIEND TO THE MORMONS Then it suited the purposes of the Journal, to send back a most piteous wail for the poor Mormons, the poor persecuted, reviled Mormons. John T. Stuart was then their friend, he was the master spirit of whiggery and Mormonism, and all those who wrre not then heart and hand for the Mormons were intolerants and bigots.

Conspiracies haunted the over zealous mind of the Journal man, and it was "ominous." ominous indeed, that at about this time the Register published its paragraph, "Governor Carlin was making a movement at Quincy against the Mormons." And the Journal enquires, with tears in its eyes, and a sigh to its breast, whether this was "a concerted movement, with the Rewgister and its friends to get up another MORMON WAR, in order to make political capital," and if such had been the intention, the reader of the Journal now a-days, will think of course the Journal was then in favor of such a war, but not so. Let the Journal speak for itself -- it said: "If so, we depreciate it. We will ever regret to see any sect in religion, drawn into the political contests of the day. We would be sorry to see prejudice for or against any sect for party purposes -- and for this reason we depreciate (depreciate again) this movement of the Register against the Mormons."

Does this appear like a bargain between the democrats and the Mormons? Does it not rather show the reserve? Does it not show that the bargain was between the whigs and the Mormons, and were not the fruits of the bargain realized by the whigs? And did not all, aye, ALL the Mormons vote for John T. Stuart, as their friend, as a return for the services which he and his whig friends had rendered them?

The Journal and its whig friends, then shed their tears copiously, because it pretended to believe that Gov. Carlin, the Register and its friends, were making a concerted movement to get up another Mormon war.

But presto, change, a new "spirit has come over the vision of their dream," and the Journal, which on the 18th of June 1841, was so wo-begone and sorrowful for the Mormons, lest the democrats should wage war upon them, and mercilessly persecute them, is now foaming with fury against these same Mormons.

How plain and glaring the movement -- deception and humbug are stamped upon its every feature.

a hue and cry, now comes from these same whigs, against the Mormons, and they say that a bargain has been made by the democrats with the Mormons; and therefore the Mormons are bad men. The Mormons are very good men, if they vote for the whigs, but very bad men if it is supposed they may vote for the democrats. Out upon such stuff as this.

If the Mormons shall vote for the democratic candidates, which judging from all that has transpired is not very probable, they will do so, of their own free will and accord, without any hope of reward, or without being counted, sought for, or sued to do so, by any democrat. Their unbiassed judgments, must alone influence them. They will receive at the hands of the democracy, what its principles guaranty -- free and equal justice, nothing more. Their religious tenets, will nether be inquired into or specially favored. If the Mormons seek any advantage, they must and will go to their old allies the whigs. Whiggery is the friend of the castes, of classes, of especial favor and exclusive privileges. The Mormons with all others know this, and therefore they will naturally cultivate amity with the whigs if they hope for or desire any of these.

We have made a quotation of the entire article of the Sangamo Journal, published on the 18th of June, 1841, without any garbling. Here it is, let every man read, for there are some good things in it:

From the Sangamo Journal, June 18, 1841.

(article not transcribed - see original)

---

A New Mormon paper.

We understand that S. Francis & Co. propritors and publishers of the Sangamo Journal, intend to publish a paper, exclusively devoted to the interests of the Mormons. See Journal of to-day.

---

Awful Disclosures.

The Journal from this date to the day of election, is to furnish divers awful disclosures, got up for the occasion, by those Mormon brothers, Simple Sim, Gen. Bennett, and the whig-Mormon candidate for Lieut. Governor, W. Henderson.

---

About two weeks ago Gen. Bennett, a master spirit among the Mormons, was in this city. He was seen in conversation with several of the leaders pf the Junto, who made arrangements with him to make sundry awful disclosures about the Mormons. Here was a bargain between the Junto and the Mormon General, to get up an excitement against the Mormons for political effect. The affairs of our State call for sober reflection, yet the Junto here desire to turn the attention of the people from the consideration of important principles and measures by getting up an excitement about Mormonism. The people, being so often deceived, scarcely believe the truth when presented for political effect on the eve of an election. Why did not Bennett wait till after the election to make his disclosures? Surely his statements would have received more credit. The real object of this Joseph is to aid whiggery, his dagger is aimed at the breast of democracy concealed by a pretended aim at Mormonism.

---

What are the Whigs going to do with their members of the last Legislature, all of whom voted for the Mormon charter, and who are candidates for re-election? Brown, of Sangamon, Harrison of Jo Daviess, Fithian of Vermillion, and a host of others? Gov. Duncan says these men have all betrayed their constituents by voting for the charter.

Of course, if the Whigs believe Gov. Duncan, they cannot re-elect these candidates.

---

The Mormon Charter.

The Alton Telegraph seeks to elect Gov. Duncan on the ground of his opposition to the Mormon charter. The same print seeks to elect Gen. Henderson, who voted for this very Mormon charter!!! Could humbug go further than this?

---

A correspondent from a distance writes us, that he overheard a conversation between Unchangeable Jo, and Henderson, in which it was arranged between them, that Jo Should abuse the Mormons as much as he pleased, while Henderson was to secure their votes, in consideration of the service he rendered them in the last Legislature. We have no doubt that such an arrangement was made, but we scarcely believe that our correspondent heard it

---

Wm. Henderson the whig candidate for Lieut. Governor has had the freedom of the city of Nauvoo voted him by the Mormons. Does not this show that he is the favorite of the Mormons? Does not Unchangeable Jo know this fact? Yet he and Henderson are cuddling to each other, one for, and the other pretending to be against the Mormons. But any way, say they, if we can humbug the people to vote for us.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Kaskaskia Republican gives an account of the murder of a Mr. John Stevenson of Jackson county. A letter from the brother of the deceased says that the writer and his brother had joined the Mormons some two years before -- that two Mormon preachers visited him and his brother a few days before his death for the purpose of levying contributions to aid in the completion of the Mormon Temple. They refused to give as much as demanded and were greeted with the emphatic threat "you may think youselves well off if you have any of your property long." Mr. John Stevenson was murdered five or six days afterwards. Mr. Edward Stephenson, says that the deceased was a harmless inoffensive man and had not an enemy on earth. His house was entered in the absence of Mrs. S. and whilst Mr. S. was ploughing in the field -- his trunk broken open and robbed of its contents (only three dollars) and his gun taken from its stand and fired at Mr. S. in the field. It seems to have been the general impression, that these Mormons must have been the murderers. Comment is unnecessary.

---

It is said Joe Smith, has given orders to the Danites to murder Gen. Bennett. He has also attacked Sidney Rigdon, George Robinson and other leading men of intelligence belonging to the gang.

---

Judge Ford, of Illinois, unites the support of a most motley group of polticians and fanatics. He is the favorite of the Mormons, and will receive not only Jo. Smith's support, but that of the Locofocos, Abolitionists and Tyler men. It is stated, however, with entire confidence, that Gov. Duncan will [------ the] whole [---------] condition. -- St. Louis New Era.

---

The Ottawa Free Trader, one of the Mormon supporters of Judge Ford, denounces Governor Duncan as a 'political renegade.' ...
               (see Alton Telegraph of July 2, 1842 for this article)


Notes: (forthcoming)

How can the Journal answer this?

The Sangamo Journal, for the last few weeks, has been charging, that a bargain exists between the Democrats and the Mormons, and that the Mormon charter was the fruits of that bargain. To sustain this charge, the Journal issued divers handbills, last week, containing letters from the Mormon General John C. Bennett. The Journal has thus made a good witness of Bennett, and of course is bound to admit all his statements.

We copy the following letter of this same Gen. Bennett, from the Wasp, published at Nauvoo. The readers will perceive that Bennett expressly declares that he himself wrote the Mormon charter, and procured its passage "without any CORRUPT BARGAIN or nefarious plot and league, as charged by Mr. Francis." Thus the Journal's charge is disproved from the mouth of his own witness. It did not suit the purposes of the Journal to copy this letter of Bennett's. This letter he entirely suppresses, while he pompously parades before the public such of Bennett's letters as suits his purpose. The Journal dare not publish the whole of Bennett's testimony. It suppresses that part which gives the lie direct to all the Journal's assertions.

We extract the following, from Bennett's letter, as given in the "Wasp."

2nd. The 'CITY OF NAUVOO.' This charter I likewise wrote and procured, without any 'CORRUPT BARGAIN,' or nefarious 'PLOT AND LEAGUE' as charged by Mr. Francis -- neither did Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, as he calls him, ever see or converse with the leaders of either party on this subject, prior to the granting of the charters now under consideration; and I am bold to say, that this city possesses no unusual or extraordinary powers -- certainly none which are not possessed in common by Chicago, Springfield, Quincy, or any other city. Have not all cities the use of a county or city jail? -- Certainly they have, and Mr. Francis knows it as well as any other man -- for if he is so ignorant as that, he certainly deserves expatriation. Neither is the mayor the 'final judge,' as Mr. Francis says, for any person may appeal from the decision of the mayor or any alderman to the municipal court, and from the municipal court to the circuit court of Hancock county, and from the circuit court to the supreme court of the state of Illinois. So all is safe yet, Mr. Francis. If the city council of Nauvoo have passed any illegal ordinances, let the party aggrieved apply to the judiciary for redress, and have the ordinances set aside -- there would be no difficulty in such a case whatever. -- Come, Mr. Francis, if you are a law abiding man, redress the grievances by due course of law, and there will be no barrier interposed. But this, I presume, would not answer your party purposes in the coming election. I repeat it again -- NAUVOO POSSESSES NO UNUSUAL POWERS WHATEVER, and I defy the proof to the contrary.

3d. The "CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, OR LATTER DAY SAINTS," or Mormons. This body is incorporated under the general act and not by special grant, and possesses no power or privileges but what is common to all other churches in the state of Illinois.

  *   *   *   *   *

The office of Master-in-Chancery for Hancock circuit court, has never, in my hands, been prostituted to the subversion of the due course of law in the administration of public justice; nor has any person or party been made the subject of favorism, to the injury of another -- this boon will be awarded me by all. Let this suffice then in relation to myself.

4th. SIDNEY H. LITTLE, Esq. This gentleman was not elected by or in any way dependent on the Mormons. He was a senator before the Mormons located in Hancock county, and utterly declined to re-election. It is then, to say the least of it, ungentlemany and cruel to impugn his motives. He viewed the charter as every other liberal statesman did before their eyes were jaundiced by the rancor and fury of party strife.

5th. I now close this article by stating that the charters under consideration were not passed on party grounds, for the vote was unanimous in the senate in their favor, and there were only fifteen dissenting members in the house of representatives; GOVERNOR DUNCAN'S friends voting for their passage in both houses, and in the COUNCIL OF REVISION,

I have done for the present -- will Mr. Francis publish?

                                Yours respectfully.
                                              JOHN C. BENNETT.
Nauvoo, Ill., June 14, 1842.

---

Col. Henderson and the Mormons --
The Whig candidate at Nauvoo.

Col. Henderson, the whig candidate for Lieut. Governor of this State, in his speeches to the people in many parts of the State, has denounced the Mormons in the bitterest terms and condemned their charter as a monstrous measure, (although he voted for the very charter in the last Legislature.) In these speeches, Col. Henderson every where wound up his remarks on this subject by declaring, that he intended to visit Nauvoo in person, and when there, make the same speech against the Mormons and their charter, that he had made in other places.

Now, reader, mark the result. Col. Henderson was at Nauvoo last week, and made his speech. We have just conversed with a highly respectable citizen of Macon county, a man of unquestionable veracity, who was present at Nauvoo, and heard Col. Henderson make his speech. He says that Col. Henderson from the beginning to the end of his speech, did not allude to the Mormons in any manner whatever, nor say a word one way or the other, about their charter. It thus appears that Col. Henderson is a Mormon when at Nauvoo, and an anti-Mormon every where wise!

---

The Journal of to-day comes out with a pitiful apology for its numerous articles published for the last two years, upholding the Mormons, and condemning us and Governor Carlin for [stated] opposition to that sect.

---

The Mormon Prophet and the
Mormon General at daggers' points.

The people of this State have been aroused, as with an avalanche, by the publication of certain "awful disclosures" of our neighbor the Journal. Bulletin after bulletin has been successively issued, as in times of war, or of miraculous revelation. The days of Maria Monk seem to have returned upon us; nay they are evidently to be eclipsed by the Journal, Jo Duncan, and the Mormons, under the instructions of that virtuous, disinterested and truthful set, the Junto.

We have no objective whatever to see Mormonism and its leaders exposed to the world. Indeed we would encourage it, if attempted with a view to do justice and develop truth, but we have no confidence in this exposition, because it is purposely designed to affect the approaching gubernatorial election.

As soon as Gov. Duncan entered the field as a candidate, he labored to secure the votes of the Mormons. Not being able to succeed, he saw the necessity of some desperate stratagem to gull the people. In sin and iniquity he conceived one -- he determined to excite if possible all the other religious sects against the Mormons, hoping to gain their favor by his hostility to this mushroom sect. He next charges the Democrats with having brought up the Mormons, by granting them a charter of extraordinary privileges, at the last session of the Legislature. But seven months after the passage of the Charter, the time he asserts the bargain was made, we find the Mormons to a man, voting for John T. Stuart the whig candidate for Congress. So if they were bought up with the Charter the whigs must have bought them. Duncan and his friends are angry because they wouldn't stay bought. The Mormons went for "Tip and Tyler too" in 1840, and for Stuart in 1841. Then they were a holy people in the estimation of these heroes of log cabins and coon skins. Now, they are to be crucified because they are walking in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors, Captain Tyler and the Godlike Webster, in marching from the ranks if the "great whig party." The Mormon General Bennett is thrust from the temple at Nauvoo as too unclean to mingle with those who minister there, and forthwith the Springfield Junto, a herd of kindred spirits, send for him -- they hug him to their bosoms with a grin of infernal joy. Promises, flattery and perhaps money are bestowed upon him. Finally a plan for horrible disclosures is proposed and agreed upon, and the Journal, the miserable harlot of the Junto, is made to bring forth to the world, a litter of crippled and mis-shapen monsters, to frighten half-witted men, women and children, and divert the [attention] of the people from a sober consideration of the important interests involved in the election. By such foul means -- by such base trickery the managers of the whig party hope to elect the corrupt Prince of town-lot speculators, Governor of the State of Illinois.

The whole mystery of the political course of the Mormons, in our opinion, is simply this: Smith is a shrewd fellow. He supports the popular side in politics for his own interest. When in Missouri he went for Van Buren, because there the Van Buren party was largely in the majority. In 1840 he saw the tide and wind setting in strong for Tippecanoe, hence he threw up his hat for Harrison. In 1841 he believed this was a whig congressional district, and therefore he went for Stuart "without a why or wherefore." In 1842, believing, as almost every body else, that Illinois is decidedly a Democratic State, he cries out lustily, hurrah for Snyder and Moore. Such we candidly believe to be the sole motives of Smith's political changes -- motives that have changed some of the most prominent politicians of the country, and will continue to change others as long as man is impelled by self-interest

Regarding the war against the Mormons, at this particular time, as an electioneering scheme, got up by unprincipled political demagogues, we denounce it.

The Journal, the Mormons and
Gov. Duncan.

A hot controversy is now going on between Joseph Smith (the Mormon prophet) through the columns of the "Times & Seasons," and the Mormon General John C. Bennett, through the columns of the Sangamo Journal. In this controversy, it suits the views of Gov. Duncan, the Journal, and the Junto, to take sides with Bennett, and accordingly we find the Journal publishing Bennett's letters in daily bulletins, and circulating them all over the State.

Many thousand copies of Bennett's letters have been struck off at the expense of Gov. Duncan, as we have been credibly informed, and distributed gratuitously everywhere, they taking good care to suppress the first letter of Bennett, which denies, in express terms, the charges of Duncan and Francis against Judge Ford and the Democratic party.

In this controversy between Duncan, Francis, Bennett and Smith, we take no part. If we are to believe what they say of each other, it would be difficult to decide which is the biggest rascal.

We have another objection to the publication of these statements, and this is, that they are so very obscene and vulgar, as to be unfit for the columns of any respectable newspaper. Smith charges Bennet, in the Times and Seasons, with crimes of the blackest, and most immoral character. Bennett retorts these same charges on Smith in the columns of the Journal. Which is the public to believe?

Duncan and Francis, with a total disregard to decency, publish and circulate one side of these obscene, vulgar, statements, which must shock the mind of every virtuous, chaste, and moral individual in every part of the State. We cannot devote our columns to such obscene publications.

We leave Duncan, Bennett, Smith, and the Journal all the honor of the controversy; only cautioning them to beware the fate of the Kilkenny cats, and not eat each other up, in this family quarrel.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Course of Gov. Duncan, and his
hireling press in this canvass.

When the people in this State look back to the beginning of the present canvass, and the course of the Federal-whig leaders from that time to the present, it will afford them a lesson of instruction. It will be remembered that the Clay-whig leaders, last winter, were almost unanimously in favor of holding a Convention to nominate candidates for Governor and Lieut. Governor...

Accordingly, we have seen Duncan, and his hireling troops, commence a war on the Mormons, their former allies -- on a sect who have uniformly supported whig men and whig measures for the last two or three years. We have seen this same Duncan profess reverance for Gen. Jackson, while every old citizen knows that he turned traitor to Jackson...

All these things, and many more, Gov. Duncan and his whig allies, say nothing about to the people. It would not be policy to do so. O, no! We must get up mere humbugs, say these deceivers -- more raw heads and bloody bones -- more log cabins and coon skins -- only we will change the manner now. The people found out our deceptions in 1840. We must now try them with a dose of Mormonism, at the expense of our ally, Jo Smith -- we must get up "awful disclosures" without number, and tell more lies on little Tom Ford than would sink a seventy-four.

Such is whig policy -- such is Gov. Duncan's policy and that of his hirelings, Simple Sim and Attorney Davis.

---

The game of the whigs.

While the Sangamo Journal publishes Bennett's letters, and professes to believe their contents, the Quincy Whig does not publish them and doubts their accuracy. The Whig says:

"We can hardly put entire reliance upon the statements of Bennett -- they disclose so much wickedness."

This game of the different whig papers is well understood. At Quincy, and in other parts of Adams county, there are many Mormons, and hence the whig paper there sides with the Mormons, in order to procure their votes for Senator and Representatives; while the organ here is hot against them, in the hope of arraigning every anti-Mormon vote in favor of Duncan!

Further insight in the game.

Does it not seem strange that while Duncan is denouncing the Mormons, Henderson is currying favor with them? Witness his speech at Nauvoo last week.

More of the Whig Plot.

Since we wrote the foregoing paragraph, we have received "The Wasp" of July 16, published by Wm. Smith, a relative of Jos. Smith, a relative of Jos. Smith, at the Mormon city of Nauvoo. We extract the following paragraph from that paper. The plot of the whigs is now developed. It is a startling disclosure, and will arouse the indignation of every honest man in the community. While Duncan and the Journal are denouncing the Mormons, this paragraph shows that it is all pretence: all done to suit "the prejudices of the people," but which is well understood at Nauvoo. "There is no misunderstanding," says the Mormon writer, "between Gov. Duncan, Henderson and the Mormons."

May God forgive the hypocrisy and deceptions of the whig leaders! It is enough to sink the State, like a second Sodom, on account of their wickedness.

Col. Henderson was in our city last week and delivered what we should call a first rate political speech. He is a man of first rate talent and a gentleman, and goes it with a perfect rush for retrenchment and reform. He spoke in the highest possible terms of Gov. Duncan, and the way he used up the Locofocos was a caution to sinners.

Gov. Duncan is also a man of the first order. The prejudices of the people where he has travelled, has led him to take a course apparently against the Mormons; but we know Gov. Duncan, and he knows us -- there is no misunderstanding between us. The August election is near at hand and that will show who will be Governor. After the election it will be right with us. Hurrah for the Colonel and Jo.


Note: The above "Col. Henderson and Gov. Duncan" reprint was supposedly copied from a pro-Whig article featured in Apostle William Smith's The Wasp, at Nauvoo, on July 16, 1842. However, it seems that the notice only appeared in the very limited print-run of a specially prepared edition of that paper, intended only for export to the capital city of Springfield. The suspicious pro-Whig piece did not appear in the general print-run of that paper, as distributed locally in Hancock county. It appears very likely that the editorial staff members at the State Register were working hand-in-glove with Elder George J. Adams at Nauvoo, to joint;y set up and promote a public relations smoke screen, masking a covert Democrat-Mormon cooperation throughout the Illinois election of August, 1842. The Register, all through July, promulgated untrue reports saying that the Nauvoo Mormons were planning to vote the Whig ticket in the coming election. John C. Bennett's anti-Mormon exposure letters, as printed in the Whig flagship newspaper, the Sangamo Journal, were dismissed by the Register as nothing more than a Whig attempt to grab sensational publicity and in the process deflect the voters' attention from allegations of Whig-Mormon political dealings. Once the August election was over, it became clear that Joseph Smith had influenced his followers to votes as a block for the Democrat candidates in all the political contests. Once this fact became evident, the writers at the Register fell silent regarding both the Bennett claims and the fanciful stories of there being any cooperation between Whigs and Mormons. For more on this matter see the Sangamo Journal of July 29, 1842.

NAUVOO.

The 4th was celebrated at this far-famed city of imposture and delusion, with military and prophetic honors. The prophet displayed his Legion, and harangued the people. The only thing wirth noticing about it was, that Capt. Ross of Burlington, Iowa, with the command of about "100 gentlemen" went down to unite with them in the celebration. If "Joe Smith" is ejected from Illinois, as some think he will be, he may return the compliment. Those splendid prairies west of Burlington would be a rare chance for "the latter day Saints," when Illinois becomes too strait for them. The Burlingtonians could not but receive them with every attention and hospitality. -- We drop the hint for the benefit of the prophet. It is worthy of his consideration.

---

"MORMONISM in all ages: in the Rise, Progress and Causes of Mormonism: with the biography of its Author and Founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., by Prof. J. B. Turner, Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill." pp. 304.

We anticipated much pleasure from the perusal of this work, and we were not disappointed. Here we have a full length portrait of Mormonism, drawn by an able hand. And it is made to appear, what it really is, a most hidious monster.

Hitherto, we, in common with a multitude of others, have indulged no serious fears respecting this last form of fanaticism. A remark made in our hearing by a friend, when speaking on this subject, viz. -- that "It is a mere storm in a tea-pot" -- expressed our views precisely. Indeed, we looked upon it as an error which, like thousands of a similar character, would shortly cure itself. But we can no longer regard Mormonism with such indifference. Our readers have but to peruse the work of Prof. Turner, to be convinced that there is something rather squally in that corner. We do not anticipate any very great evil, beyond what ordinarily results from fanaticism of the kind. But it is evident that the leaders in this cause have far-reaching designs, that wear another than a religious aspect. What these are time will determine; and that, too, as we believe, long before they can be carried into effect. -- Com.


Note: The above abbreviated review originally appeared in the New York Journal of Commerce. For an pre-publication look at this same book by Dr. Jonathan B. Turner, see The Illinoian of Oct. 16, 1841. Turner's book on Smith and the Mormons appeared only a few weeks prior to Bennett's more audacious volume on the same subject. Both writers relied heavily upon Eber D. Howe's 1834 Mormonism Unvailed for their respective histories of the "rise" of early Mormonism.

A LOOKING-GLASS,
for the use of
SIMPLE SIM,
Editor of the Whig Sangamo Journal.
Wherein he may see himself and the Mormons, as they
stood together in 1840-41
_______

The first article is a severe and unmerited condemnation of Gov. Carlin for performing a simple act of duty, in issuing a writ for the apprehension of Jo Smith, on the demand of the Governor of Missouri. The Journal threatens Gov. Carlin with the "public indignation." These articles were issued before the Presidential election, when Smith and his Mormon followers went for Harrison and Tyler to a man.

The third article, contains a direct and unequivical endorsement of the Mormon charter, while it was pendng in the Legislature. The Journal and its friends were the authors of the charter, and hence their anxiety that it should pass. Seven months after its passage the Mormons voted for John T. Stuart for Congress, the Whig candidate.

The fifth article, Jan 19, speaks of the Mormons as a "persecuted" people, and indirectly recommends that their prayers to Congress may be heard.

The 6th article, put out just before the last August election, takes strong ground for the Mormons, censures us for publishing a very mild article cautioning the whigs about their bargains with the Mormons, and condemning Gov. Carlin for making a move against the Mormons, The Journal then "depreciated" this conduct, and declared itself opposed to the getting up of a Mormon war, and to the arraying of "prejudice against any sect for party purposes." The very thing the Journal is doing now might and main.

From the Sangamo Journal, Sept. 17, 1840.    

                    More Mormon Persecution in contemplation.

Our attention has been arrested by the following EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENTS on the Quincy Whig. We had before heard rumors to the same effect, but could not credit them. It now appears certain that the Governor of Missouri, after the lapse of a year or more from the time they made their escape from THEIR INHUMAN PERSECUTORS, has demanded of Gov. Carlin, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, to be taken to Missouri FOR TRIAL, and that Gov. Carlin has decided to give them up! We refer to the article from the Whig for particulars. We hope that the voice of PUBLIC INDIGNATION against this measure will yet reach Gov. Carlin and COMPEL him to revoke this decision:

From the Quincy Whig.    

The Mormons. -- We learn that the agent or officer despatched by Governor Carlin to the Governor of Missouri, for the purpose of demanding the authors of the outrages committed upon certain Mormon citizens of this State, at Tully, in July last, has returned, and that the demand was successful. The authors of the outrage will be given up, to be dealt with according to our laws.

Immediately upon the return of Gov. Carlin's messenger, two envoys made their appearance in our city, from Gov. Boggs of Missouri, commissioned with powers to demand of Gov. Carlin, Joseph Smith, jr. and Sydney Rigdon, two citizens of this State, -- as runaway criminals from Missouri.

Gov. Carlin and the two Missouri agents held a conference on Sunday last -- yes, on the Sabbath day! -- and the result was, as we learn, that Gov. Carlin is to give up Messrs. Smith and Rigdon, to the Missouri authorities.

So it appears the locofoco Governors of Missouri and Illinois, are carrying out a fine scheme between them. The Governor of Missouri is perfectly willing to give up the Tully rioters, to be tried by our laws, if in return, the Governor of Illinois, will surrender up two citizens of this State, to be sacrificed by a Missouri mob.

We greatly doubt the policy of this step on the part of Gov. Carlin. Most certainly, Smith and Rigdon should not be given up. The Governor well knows the prejudices existing in Missouri against the Society, of which they are prominent members. Should they be given up, and the Governor of Missouri should protect them from a mob, they could never expect justice in a trial under the laws of Missouri. The prejudices against their Society, originating in foul injustice and official persecution, so deeply affect the minds of the people of Upper Missouri, that a trial for crimes alledged against them, would be a mere mockery -- a farce. Their cases are all pre-judged. Even if tried and acquited, the mob would not leave them to go harmless from the State. Under this view of the circumstances, the Governor should have reflected more than two hours before he consented to give up Smith and Rigdon. If he gives them up, he gives them up as victims for a sacrifice, and their families will see them no more.

---

From the Sangamo Journal, Dec. 15, 1840.   

                          "MORMONS ARRIVED FROM ENGLAND.

"The packet ship North America, which arrived at New York last week, brought in her steerage 200 passengers, the whole of whom were "Latter Day Saints" or Mormons, bound for the Mormon settlement at Quincy. The Liverpool Chroncile states that upward of 2000 are entreating to embark early next spring for the same locality. A great portion of those who sailed in the North America, are members of the abstinence society, and are from Leicestershire and Herefordshire."

"We find the above un the Baltimore Patriot of the 2d instant. The information seems to be vertain that during the ensuing summer, several thousand additional emigrants, attached to the church of the "Latter Day Saints" will be added to the population of Adams and Hancock counties. A late number of the "Times and Seasons," published at Nauvoo, contains letters from England, showing that the success of the Mormon Missionaries there is most extraordinary: we believe that their success even astonished themselves. It is not all surprising that the English converts are disposed to emigrate to the neighborhood of their leader; as, in doing so, they will find the most fertile and healthy country, and a liberal population ready to welcome them. We should not be surprised, if, within a few years, the counties of Illinois, embracing the Military Tract, should become possessed of a population of which we can now hardly form an estimate. We have understood that, generally, these emigrants are not wealthy; but they bring with them what is of far more value -- Sobriety, Industry, and Intelligence -- with which qualities they will make good citizens, and add much to the prosperity of the State.

"As connected with the subject, we will add, that the senate of this state have passed a bill incorporating the "City of Nauvoo," in Hancock County which embraces the most liberal provisions. The bill will undoubtedly pass the House. -- The infant city now embraces a population, as we understand, of about three thousand; and is fast improving. The stagnant waters near it have been drained off and it may now be considered a decidely healthy location."

---

From the Sangamo Journal, Jan. 19, 1841.   

While Col. Benton, in the Senate of the United States, is endeavoring to procure an appropriation to pay the troops who served against the Mormons in Missouri, two individuals of that PERSECUTED people have petitioned the House for relief from the OUTRAGES committed upon them, and the Mormons generally, by these same troops. The memorial of the Mormons alluded to -- Messrs. Elias Higbey and Rob't. B. Thompson -- states that "they have purchased lands of the general government, lying in the State of Missouri, from which they have been driven with force by the constituted authorities of that State, and prevented from occupying the same" -- (embracing details of the measures employed vy the State for that purpose) -- "for which they pray Congress to provide a remedy." -- This petition was laid before the House on the 21st of December, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. We have received a copy of this document from our Representative -- and as it gives authentic details of the transaction to which it refers, is a document of more than general interest.

---

From the Sangamo Journal, June 18, 1841.   

The last State Register has a long article against the Mormons; not in direct terms, it is true, but still in language that cannot be misunderstood. If not, why does that paper attack Mr. Stuart for being willing to do them an act of injustice. The Mormons have been driven from Missouri and under such circumstances that they thought it their duty to make application to Congress for redress. They are consitituents of Mr. Stuart who was bound, as their Representative to prefer their claims before Congress. Yet for doing this plain act of duty, the Register reads him a lecture. That paper says, "Let Mr. Stuart beware that he does not dig a pit for himself to fall into." Is Mr. Stuart to dig a pit for himself by doing a simple act of justice to a portion of his constituents?

The object of the Register cannot be misunderstood. It is to drag the Mormons into this political contest, thinking by exciting prejudice against them among the citizens of the State, that they may gain votes against Mr. Stuart, because HE HAS BEEN A FRIEND TO THE MORMONS. It seems ominous that this paragraph in the Register make its appearance about the same time that Gov. Carlin is making a movement at Quincy against the Mormons. Is there a concerted movement with the Register and its friends to get up another Mormon war in order to make political capital? If so, we depreciate it. We will ever regret to see any sect in religion drawn into the political contest of the day. We would be sorry to see prejudice for or against any sect for party purposes -- and for this reason we depreciate this movement of the Register against the Mormons. The creed they believe may be wrong, but in this free country they have the right to worship their Maker in any form their consciences may approve. Their belief is a question between them and their God, and with them as a sect the Register has no right to interfere. Why, then, do they seek to draw them into a party struggle?

---

Testimony of a Whig Paper --
Mormons vote for Duncan.

The following article from the Peoria Register tells a very different story from the Sangamo Journal...

From the Peoria (Whig) Register.

JUDGE FORD. -- We have not published a line about Judge Ford since his nomination for Governor by the loco foco party. We supposed his principles to be those of his party, viz: a hard money currency with its consequent low wages -- and opposition to a tariff. On matters of State policy we supposed him to be northern in his views, and that he would favor the completion of our canal so far as was consistent with the true interest of the State. On the Mormon question, which has recently been brought into the canvass with all the frightfulness of a raw head and bloody bones, we believed he would do what was right, and that if it became necessary to resort to any legislation to undo what has been done, or otherwise to control within due bounds this growing sect, no political considration would influence his conduct. Whatever private understandings there may be between the Mormon prophet (J. Smith) and certain leaders of the loco foco party, we do not believe that Judge Ford is any party in the contract, and therefore we have published nothing conveying such an imputation, and, until we have some evidence thereof, we shall not do so. We believe if the Mormons depend on Judge Ford's favor in case he is elected Governor, they will be deceived, and though there are several about here, we do not know one who will vote for him. They have no more to gain from him than from Gov. Duncan, and hence they will vote for either only as they may be affected by the opinions they entertain of their national or state politics.

---

The charge made in the Journal of to-day, that Gen. Adams, by contact with us, procured the article to be written in the Wasp, which we copied in our last, is a base, wilfull, and deliverate falsehood, which could only emanate from a desperate, reckless, and villanous source, like the Journal or the Telegraph.

Let the editor of the Journal look at the admission of the last Peoria Register (copied by us above.) Surely, we shall not be accused of concerting with that editor, and sending it up to him for publication. Such a charge would be too absurd. The fact is, the Wasp and the Peoria Register know what they are about. They know who is to get the Mormon vote, Duncan and Henderson! says the Peoria Register. Henderson and Jo, repeats the Wasp.

The Mount Carmel Certificate.

The Sangamo Journal and the Peoria Register parade before their readers a certificate... the signers to which are all rank whigs... This is the substance of this certificate... Judge Ford... has also everywhere declared himself in favor of repealing such parts of the Mormon charters as are inconsistent with justice and equal rights; and of putting the Mormons on the same footing as all other citizens...

The Whigs -- The Mormons -- Joe Duncan
-- Jo Smith -- the Wasp and the Journal.

As the election approaches we find the Mormons, like the sow to her wallowing, are turning to the Whigs, and as always before, on the day of election every vote will be cast for the whig candidates. Henderson, as we have all along said, has an understanding with the Mormons. He reached Nauvoo and made a very flattering and concilliatory speech just in time to have the Wasp, the Mormon paper, publish the news and have it reach the Mormons throughout the State, & direct them to vote for Duncan and Henderson. Hence the object of the article we copied into our last paper from the Wasp. The bargain has been consummated between Henderson and the Prophet. -- All things between the two Josephs have been reconciled by Henderson, and the Mormon vote is to be cast for the Whigs. -- This was a desperate gamem, and desperately have Duncan and Henderson played it. They are old political gamblers. They had not only marked the cards, but they cut and shuffled the pack, so as to throw the game into their own hands. They held all the trumps, and they have not only out-tricked "the Jews" but the Mormons also.

Henderson visits the Mormons and propitiates them by a speech, assures them that if he and Duncan shall be elected that they will protect and aid them. Duncan keeps away from the Mormons, denounces them, and charges that the Democrats have been bargaining with them, to induce the honesat yeomanry, whom he expects to mislead, to go against the Democratic candidates. Thus they play a double game -- they are for the Mormons among Mormons, and against the Mormons among anti-Mormons. * The people will not be fooled by such naked trickery. Let every Democrat adhere to his principles, do his duty at the polls, vote for Ford and Moore, and the Democratic ticket will succeed by thousands, even though the Mormons should vote for the Whigs.

________
* We have been informed that not a single copy of the Sangamo Journal has been sent to Hancock county for four weeks.

---

The Journal of to-day publishes "a rumor" that "Holy Joe" (meaning Jo Smith) has been demanded by the Governor of Missouri, and that certain friends of Judge Ford have persuaded Gov. Carlin not to give up Smith until after the August elections, &c.

.This is all a lie, from first to last! There is no such rumor even! Gov. Carlin has had no application made to him for Smith.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Bennett, the former co-worker of Jo Smith in rascality, is treated much as he deserves to be at the East. In exposing Jo, he lays himself bare to the lash, and the public, in their censure, apply it with an unsparing hand.

Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- These unfortunate beings -- unfortunate in the estimation of the newspaper scribblers -- are perhaps the subject of more notoriety than almost any thing else that has for the last year agitated our mundane sphere. All sorts of stories are afloat reflecting on their alleged wickedness and the dangers to which the citizens of Illinois are constantly exposing themselves by permitting them to hold an asylum on our territory. We saw it stated not long since -- in the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser we think -- that there had been a skirmish between the militia of the State of Illinois and the Mormon forces, in which the latter were severely beaten, sixteen lives lost and property confiscated by the ruthless mob who had collected from the neighboring counties, and the opposite side, Missouri. Another New York print states that Joe Smith has been kidnapped and taken, no one know where-that the greatest disorder and excitement pervade the Holy City. These stories, got up by the scullions of the press, may all do very well in the East, where alone a morbid taste for mystery and a delight for evil seems to be coeval with their existence. But it is passing strange to us how any well informed editor -- Col. Stone for instance; can give publicity to these "idle tales, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Here in our own State, where Mormonism rears its bold front, these vague rumors and strange disclosures, only excite the ridicule and contempt they so justly deserve. Would it not be as well, if the eastern press would desist from their course, and bestow their sympathies upon the more charitable subjects who are the immediate causes of so much misery in their own vicinities? We think so.


The exact date of the above article is unknown. The text is taken from a reprint in the Oct. 15, 1842 issue of the Times & Seasons.

A MORMON MIRACLE KNOCKED IN THE HEAD. -- One of Joe Smith's holy clan, finding that the disclosure of Mormonism by Bennett, had had the effect of shaking the faith of his followers, determined to set his brain to work to invent a scheme how to recover the lost confidence of his congregation, cost what it might. For this purpose he procured a dove and taught the bird to fly to him and eat from his ears in which he placed the grains that served for its daily food. Having, as he thought, sufficiently trained the bird, he gave out that on the next Sabbath after lecturing he would prove by a miracle that he was a Prophet of God. The day came -- the meeting house was crowded -- one of Erin's unsophisticated sons had been procured under promise of eternal secrecy, to hide himself in the garret, and to let the messenger of peace fly at the word of command. All was arranged; with a countenance lit up with confidence of success, the Latter Day Saint began his exhortation, pronounced Bennett a scoundrel, a liar and impostor, and to prove his assertions, he with a loud voice called on heaven to send down its holy spirit, in the form of a dove, as it appeared hovering over oyr Savior when baptized in the river Jordan. A dread silence prevailed -- each eye fixed with superstitious awe on the excited prophet, who with extended arms loudly called for the Holy Ghost. Again and again he called, but still no answer was made; at last, fearful that his Hiberian agent in the loft had not heard him, he fairly burst forth as he frantically clapped his hands, and stamped his feet, "Holy Ghost appear!"

When lo! and behold the Irishman's red phis protruded through the crack of the ceiling and addressed the discomfitted prophet in this wise,

"Arrah, be-Jesus, how can the Holy Ghost be arter making his appearance. Hasn't the cat ate him? -- Wills' Point Herald.


Note 1: The story of the designing preacher and his trained "holy" dove (untimely eaten by a cat or rat) was an old piece of American folklore appropriated by anti-Mormon writers to typify what they saw as the hoax of Joseph Smith's Mormonism -- no matter whether or not Smith and his saintly associates ever actually engaged in such outrageous conduct. Just such an account appeared in the columns of the Cincinnati Enquirer late in 1842. The Enquirer's dubious report may have been the first time the trained dove story was coupled with an account of the religion of Joseph Smith. The basic premise of the scene was not alien to Mormonism, however. Smith himself described the bird figure in his 1842 publication of the "Book of Abraham" graphics as a the Holy Ghost descending in the form of a dove. And, in a portion of the Book of Mormon supposedly written six centuries before the birth of Christianity, the ancient writer Nephi says "the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove." See also the old legend concerning a trained dove (or trained pidgeon), that picked grain from the ear of Mohammed, creating the impression of its bringing whispered revelations to the prophet from Allah.

Note 2: A person whose identity was "withheld for prudential reasons" in Arthur B. Deming's Naked Truths No. 2 applies the time-worn dove tale to the scene of Smith's pulpit speech at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. Two other of Deming's "witnesses," Stephen H. Hart and Mrs. Barber provide similar accounts. The Syracuse Empire State Democrat ran a series of "Mormon Anecdotes," of the same genre, beginning in its issue for July 20, 1844.