CURIOSITY!

The 'Times and Seasons," the Mormon paper, published at Nauvoo, in this State, of January 1, 1842, contains a Proclamation signed 'Joseph Smith, Lieutenant General of the nauvoo Legion,' direction of the Mormons of the State, to vote for A. W. Snyder and John Moore, for Governor, we shall publish in our next. If they do not set the citizens of this to thinking, we do not know what will.


Notes: (forthcoming)

CITIZENS  OF ILLINOIS -- READ  AND CONSIDER!

Since the Declaration of Independence, there has been a revolution in the minds of men in regard to religious matters consequent to, and equal to that immortal Chart. Time was, when our fathers, in their feeble ideas of the power of Religion, supposed it necessary to the support of the revealed religion of the Omnipotent God, that the civil power and the sword should enforce an obedience to His commands, -- as if the Almighty needed the strength of man to the perfection of His work, or that the freedom of will he had given to ALL, should be enslaved for their conversion. But now it is otherwise. The Catholic, who in the days of Mary, Queen of England, could have looked on the martyr, suffering at the stake, without a shudder, would now sacrifice his life rather than this abominable punishment for the freedom of thought, should be inflicted upon one differing from himself in creed. The Calvinist or Presbyterian, who in the days of Calvin, would have looked with dry-eyed satisfaction upon the devouring flames, as they wreathed themselves around the agonized body of poor Servetus, or, who, in the days of Knox, eager for the demolition of image worship, would destroy the venerated works of art, and drive the unhappy few who clung to their fathers' faith into exile, or put them to death for worshipping their God according to their conscience -- would now risk his all in the defence of a Catholic house of worship, and would rather have his right arm withered to the shoulder, than put to death his supposed erring brother.

The revolution within the U. States, consequent upon the Declaration of Independence, was not simply a political revolution, -- it was something grander still -- it was a moral revolution, greater than that recorded of any other nation upon the pages of history. For where, in the annals of the world, was there a nation, who before us, struck from the soul of man the chains of civil bigotry, which held his conscience in bondage? Where the nation but our own, to say -- "You may worship God, protected and unmolested, according to the form your reason dictates: and you may believe or disbelieve, as circumstances and the strength or weakness of your judgment leads you."

The freedom of our fathers obtained for our bodies is worthless, nothing to the emancipation given by them to the soul, in that most sacred instrument -- the Declaration of Independence! If we are justly jealous, therefore, of our rights as citizens, and the freedom of our bodies, as won by the blood of our fathers, how much more jealous should we be of the rights of conscience and freedom of the soul, -- that pearl above all price -- which they have left us as a legacy!

With such ideas as these, the citizens of Illinois have opened their arms to the sect called MORMONS in their hour of distress. They have wept for the wrongs which they had undergone in Missouri, and have shielded and guarded them until they are now numerous and fearless of danger. God grant them the sense to shun a comparison with the asp of the fables. This fable may be shortly told for their advantage. A countryman, upon a cold winter day saw an asp, a very poisonous snake, lying torpid with cold, by the road side, and in the simple kindness of his heart, he lifted it up and took it home -- where he laid it before the fire to recover; and with his wife and children kindly rejoiced in seeing life returning to the snake. After the heat had sufficiently acted upon the asp, it raised its head, and instead of thanks to its benefactor, began hissing and curling itself up preparatory to a deadly attack upon the former; who, seeing its intent and aim, destroyed it! The moral is perceptible, and needs no words of explanation.

Why have we written the above? and why do we warn our harmless brothers of Nauvoo? Simply for this: -- though we have no objection that they should act individually and independently, as their conscience dictates, yet when they attempt to join the civil power with the religious they attempt to destroy our hard-earned birth-right of liberty of conscience, and compel us to retaliate for the injury done.

The Proclamation which follows this preface, is in itself most strange and daring -- perversive of the privileges of a citizen! It would not be so, were the signer anyone else than the person whom it represents -- JOSEPH SMITH. Mr. S. is supposed by his followers to be a Prophet of the Most High God. Whether he is or not, is no matter of dispute at present; but as such Prophet he is held in the highest veneration and respect by his followers, whom he leads easily by the belief of his high calling. Now, as long as Mr. Smith keeps near the sanctuary and prophecies of religion, he is guileless of offence, but when he enters upon the duties of a civil office of the State, and as a Lieutenant General, speaks to his friends, whom he KNOWS AS A PROPHET he can command, and uses the religious influence he possesses under the Military garb he has acquired, he becomes a dangerous man, and must look to the consequences. If he would take a friendly advice, we would say. let some Joshua, the son of Nun, lead the armies, and let him stick to interpretation and prophecy, -- and for we do assure him upon an honest belief, that his situation in Illinois, is far more dangerous than ever it was in Missouri; if he undertakes to take Mahomet's part, his only prototype, save Mokhauna, and play the warrior and prophet.

As for the Supreme Judge, who is so all powerful with the sect, let him look to it that ambition does not overlap its mark.

The following is the article spoken of, taken from the "Times and Seasons," printed at Nauvoo, January 1, 1842.

STATE  GUBERNATORIAL  CONVENTION.

City of Nauvoo, Illinois,        
December 20th, A. D. 1841.        

To my friends in Illinois: --

The Gubernatorial Convention of the State of Illinois, have nominated Colonel Adam W. Snyder for GOVERNOR, and Colonel John Moore for LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR of the State of Illinois -- election to take place in August next. -- Colonel Moore, like Judge Douglass, and Esq. Warren, was an intimate friend of General Bennett long before that gentleman became a member of our community; and General Bennett informs us that no men were more efficient in assisting him to procure our great chartered privileges than were Colonel Snyder and Colonel Moore. -- They are sterling men, and friends of equal rights -- opposed to the oppressor's grasp, and the tyrant's rod. With such men at the head of our State Government we have nothing to fear.

In the next canvass we shall be influenced by no party consideration -- and no Carthagenian coalescence or collusion, with our party, will be suffered to affect, or operate against General Bennett or any other of our tried friends already semi-officially in the field; so the partizans in this county who expect to divide the friends of humanity and equal rights will find themselves mistaken -- we care not a fig for Whig or Democrat: they are both alike to us; but we shall go for our friends, our TRIED FRIENDS, and the cause of human liberty which is the cause of God. We are aware that "divide and conquer" is the watch-word with many, but with us it cannot be done -- [we love liberty too well --] we have suffered too much to be easily duped -- we have no cat's-paws amongst us. We voted for Gen. Harrison because we loved him -- he was a gallant officer and a tried statesman; but this is no reason why we should always be governed by his friends -- he is now DEAD, and all of his friends are not ours. We claim the privileges of freemen, and shall act accordingly. DOUGLASS is a Master Spirit, and his friends and our friends -- we are willing to cast our banners on the air, and fight by his side in the cause of humanity, and equal rights -- the cause of liberty and the law. Snyder, and Moore, are his friends -- they are ours. These men are free from the prejudices and superstitions of the age, and such men we love, and such men will ever receive our support, be their political predilections what they may; Snyder, and Moore are known to be our friends; their friendship is vouched for by those whom we have tried. We will never be justly charged with the sin of ingratitude -- they have served us, and we will serve them.
               JOSEPH SMITH.
           Lieutenant-General of the Nauvoo Legion.

A word in conclusion to those who are Mormons. If you are men deserving the name of freemen, be not biased in Temporal affairs by him whom you think your leader in Eternal. If he came to save souls, the political arena is not his field of action -- he has quitted the post which God assigned him. and has proved recreant to his mission by accepting a military station, and by aiming to influence your minds to vote as he thinks proper. It is useless to tell you that we are not the followers of your leader, -- this you know, -- but it is not useless to point out to you the precipice to which he leads you, and beg you to shun it.

To the citizens of Illinois generally, we say, read Mr. Smith's Proclamation attentively, and think upon it.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Lieut. General Smith's Proclamation.

The Quincy Herald (loco foco) has the following remarks from Gen. Smith's proclamation. We commend them to the attention of the Peoria Press.

The Circular Letter of Joseph Smith, the far-famed Mormon Prophet, which appeared in the Times and Seasons a few weeks ago, is creating quite a sensation among the whig papers in this State. If Mr. Smith had proclaimed his determination to sustain the Whig nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, we are doubtful whether most of the Whig editors in the State would not have pronounced it a righteous decision; but as the reserve is the fact, it is denounced as an act of high-handed presumption. In our opinion, there are two views to be taken of this letter. If Mr. Smith intended it as the expression of his own individual determination in regard to which of the candidates he would sustain, no fault can or ought to be found with it. Every man in this country has a perfect and undeniable right of expressing and publishing, if he sees proper, his opinions upon any or all subjects which may be in agitation before the people. This is a right which is guarantied by the great charter of our liberties, and a right which none dare question. Thus far, then, Mr. Smith has only exercised the privileges of an American citizen, and it does seem to us to be extremely foolish for conductors of the press to sneer at him for doing that which they themselves perpetrate every week of their lives. If, however, this letter was put forth as a sort of royal edict, as many seem to suppose, commanding all his followers, and all of the same faith or persuasion with himself, to vote for the men whom he did signify, then we will admit that it is presumption in the extreme. Mr. Smith has a right to vote for whom he pleases, and he has a right to express that determination in any way he sees proper; but he has no right, either religious, moral. or political, to put chains upon the minds and wishes of his followers, and say to them -- you must vote as I direct! We hope, for the honor of Mr. Smith, that such was not his design; and if it was, we hope, for the honor and intelligence of the Mormons, that there is enough of independence and love of liberty among them, to treat his requisitions with the scorn and contempt they merit. They have forsaken the lands of their nativity, in order that they might enjoy their religion and worship God in their own way, without fear of dictation from others. If they now suffer one man to shackle their free thoughts and opinions, and use them to subserve his ends, instead of gaining that liberty which they have been seeking, they are the very worst of slaves.

It may seem to some, that we are operating against our own interest -- the interests of the Democratic nominees, in being thus free to express our sentiments in this matter. But we do not think so. A man who has not independence enough to think and act for himself, is no Democrat; and were we the candidate for Governor, we would not thank him for his vote, even though we were certain that without it we would be defeated. We feel as anxious for the success of Democratic principles, and the election of Col. Snyder, as any man in the State; but we wish to see those principles triumph upon their own merits -- we wish to see our candidate elected by freemen -- men who do not let others think and act for them. As for our own party, we shall pursue the course that we had marked out for ourself previous to the appearance of that circular, without any regard to anything contained therein, and trusting to no professions but those of truth and honesty. We hope our Democratic brethren will do the same, and not let promises from any quarter slacken their exertions.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Nauvoo  Legion.

We have received invitation from the commanding officer, Gen. John C. Bennett, to be present at a grand parade of the Nauvoo Legion, composing nearly two thousand well disciplined soldiers and inspect the same in company with Gov. Carlin upon the seventh of May. Nothing would have given us greater pleasure than to have accepted this polite invitation, had it been given ere we formed other engagements.

---

Joseph Smith, who recently issued his proclamation, requiring the "Latter Day Saints," to vote for Snyder and Moore, in the coming election commands this body of troops as LIEUTENANT GENERAL. There is no other office of this kind in the State.


Notes: (forthcoming)

GOV.  DUNCAN,

Addressed the people of this County, on the 4th inst. at Edwardsville. He was listened to by one of the largest audiences we have ever seen assembled on a similar occasion, since our residence in the State; and the attention and manifest gratification with which he was listened to, furnished the strongest evidence that the various positions he assumed, met with the cordial co-operation of his hearers.

Much of his time was taken up in refuting the base and groveling charges preferred against him by the State Register, of being the founder of both the Internal Improvement and the State Bank systems. And the evidence he furnished forced from the most prejudiced of his political opponents the reluctant concession that he had triumphantly vindicated himself, and shown the falsity of their charges.

His views in regard to the dangerous and alarming powers which were granted to the Mormons, in various charters passed at the session of our last Legislature, and the firm and decided stand he assumed against making them a PRIVILEGED sect over all other religious denominations and classes of our citizens, met universal approbation by all who listened to him. Gov. Duncan declared he was for extending to them the same privileges and none other, that our citizens in common enjoyed under the provisions of our constitution and laws. But all extraordinary, anti-republican and arbitrary powers, which the corruption of a Legislature granted them solely for the purpose of obtaining their political support, he unhesitatingly proclaimed he was for taking from them. The Governor referred to one of the ordinances of their city, which provided that if any person spoke lightly of, or doubted, their religion, upon conviction thereof, the offender was liable to a fine of five hundred dollars and six months imprisonment. This disgraceful attempt to form, in a republican government, an established religion by legal enactment, created throughout the audience a great sensation, and opened their eyes to the rapid strides that were being made in their very midst towards an arbitrary an monarchical form of government.

He next referred to a correspondence in the Times and Seasons, published at Nauvoo, between Dr. C. V. Dyer, of Chicago, a distinguished loco foco, and Joe Smith and Gen. Bennett, the prophet and military leader of the Mormons. That correspondence divulges the fact, that the Mormons, at the solicitation of Dr. Dyer, (who is an abolitionist,) are prepared to act with them. -- And Gen. Bennett evinces his willingness at any moment to march against the Penitentiary in Missouri with his armed force, established under the auspices, (as Joe Smith says,) of Mr. Snyder and Judge Douglass, and release the three Quincy abolitionists now in confinement there. This correspondence we shall publish at length in a few days, that every man may Judge of its alarming tendencies for himself.

It struck us with a good deal of astonishment that Joe Smith and Gen. Bennett should thus publicly avow their abolition principles in the very face of the proclamation of the prophet, as the military leader of the Mormons, to all his followers, to vote for Mr. Snyder for Governor, WHO IS HIMSELF ONE OF THE LARGEST SLAVEHOLDERS IN THE STATE. To us it displays an inconsistency irreconcilable with common honesty.     Alton Telegraph.

---

Gov. Boggs, living in Independence, Mo., on the night of the 8th inst. while sitting in his chair, was shot by some person from without. Two balls lodged in the neck, and one in his head. There is no expectation of his living. $500 are offered for the murderer.


Notes: (forthcoming)

We copy the following article from the "Belleville Advocate," a loco foco paper, of May 19, where it appears credited to the Missouri Reporter (Penn's paper.) Since the death of Mr. Snyder the loco foco press does not appear to be as anxious as formerly to secure the good will of "Joe Smith," as they call the Lieutenant General of the Nauvoo Legion, and have no hesitation in putting into circulation rumors that "Joe Smith had been endeavoring to persuade some of his followers to murder Gov. Boggs, for the course he took against them a year ago." But here is the article:

Gov. Boggs. -- We learn from a gentleman who arrived in this city on Thursday evening from Warsaw, that there was a report current at the latter place that Gov. Boggs was dead. It was supposed that the assassin was one of Joe Smith's followers, and that he would be caught before he could reach Nauvoo. Letters, it was said, had been written from Jefferson City, to Gov. B. before his assassination, putting him on his guard against an assault threatened against his life by some Mormon fanatics. The information was sent to Jefferson City by several respectable persons, who had learned from a Mormon belonging to Nauvoo, that Joe Smith had been endeavoring to persuade some of his followers to murder Gov. B. for the course he took against them a year ago. We give this rumor for what it is worth.     Missouri Reporter.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS.
From the Vandalia (Illinois,) Sentinel.

Horrid deed. -- The late Governor of Missouri, L. A. Boggs, was mortally wounded by some unknown person, on the night of the 6th inst., while seated in his house at Independence. The St. Louis papers give the following particulars:

Gov. Boggs was shot by some villain on Friday the 6th. in the evening, whilst sitting in a room in his own house in Independence. His son, a boy, hearing a report, ran into the room, found the Gov. sitting in a chair, with his jaw fallen down, and his head leaning back; on discovering the injury done his father, he gave the alarm. Foot tracks were found in the garden below the window, and a pistol picked up supposed to have been overloaded, and thrown from the hand of the scoundrel who had fired it.

Three buck shot, of heavy lead, took effect; one going through his mouth -- one into the brain, and another in or probably near the brain -- all going in, in the back part of the next or head. The Governor was still alive on the morning of the 7th, but no hope of his recovery by his friends, and but slight hopes from the physicians.

The following paragraph in reference to the murder of this gentleman, we copy from the Missouri Reporter of the 14th. If the charge preferred against Joe Smith be true, he deserves to suffer the utmost penalty of the law, but as the Missourians are known to have a mortal hatred for him and his followers it may be charitable perhaps, to suppose him innocent of the fatal charge, until it can be established by something more substantial than mere rumor:

Gov. Boggs. -- We learn from a gentleman who arrived in this city on Thursday evening from Warsaw, that there was a report current at the latter place that Gov. Boggs was dead. It was supposed that the assassin was one of Joe Smith's followers, and that he would be caught before he could reach Nauvoo. Letters, it was said, had been written from Jefferson City, To Gov. B. before his assassination, putting him upon his guard against assault threatened against his life by some Mormon fanatics. The information was sent to Jefferson City by several respectable persons, who had learned from a Mormon belonging to Nauvoo, that Joe Smith had been endeavoring to persuade some of his followers to murder Gov. B. for the course he took against them a few years ago. We give this rumor for what it is worth.

From the "Wasp" -- a Mormon newspaper published at Nauvoo:

WE  WERE  NOT  THE  AGGRESSORS.

"After our property had been wrestled from us and the declaration gone forth that we were forthwith to leave the country, we were anxious, as far as possible to recover what had been lost, and had been by treachery and fraud so unexpectedly deprived of. Accordingly, we went peaceable into the settlements to recover our property; but no sooner did we make known our business than we were insulted, derided and calumniated by every epithet and indignity that their degenerated intellects were able to invent. Some were whipped, tarred, feathered and tortured with every cruelty possible. Daily aggressions were now made upon our homes, our firesides; property was clandestinely taken from us in the silent watches of the night, and at the noon-day hour; our families insulted, our hearths desecrated, and our lives periled. This state of things existing, we were again compelled to petition for assistance. We applied to General Atchison, who immediately came to our assistance with a strong military force. He marched to Gallatin, where his troops were stationed several days. At their appearance in the county the mob immediately dispersed, avowing their intention to be peaceable and orderly. But this determination proved to be remarkably short lived. No sooner had General Atchison returned to Clay and disbanded his troops, than plunder, rapine, pillage, and the work of devastation was resumed with renewed vigor, and determination. He was again applied to for assistance. At his re-appearance in the county the mob dispersed as before and again declared their intentions to keep the peace. Gen. Atchison saw their treachery and how futile vain it were his efforts to restore peace; he knew that were he to interfere too strenuously in the affair, that it would plunge the whole state into difficulty, and commotion, and with these considerations he withdrew his troops and left us to defend ourselves against our assailants. Again the mob renewed their aggressions; their force became more formidable and oppressive; daily accessions were made to their numbers and the work of barbarity commenced with redoubled energy. A certain individual by the name of Gilliam, then a representative from the Platt county in the Legislature of his State, backed by his wholly motly crew of "Black spirits and white.
Blue spirits and gray." now made his appearance upon the stage of action. To follow him through all his acts of plunder, barbarity and cruelty, would be a task too arduous and intricate to be undertaken. They are traced indelibly, with an impress that defies the revolution of time to efface, upon the tablet of many a widowed heart, and upon the memory of many a helpless and unprotected orphan, and to sufficeth us to know that justice, stern and inflexible, will sooner or later overtake him. He was indeed an able competition for the very amiable, patriotic and pious Methodist priest Bogard, who is another demon from the dark and benighted regions of Hades sent to figure -- upon the earth in human shape and carry on the work of desolation among the children of men. The midnight slumbers of the saints were repeatedly broken by the hostile and appalling yells of these lawless rabbles, and from the quietude of their peaceful homes, they were forced to fly to arms that they might protect their families from death, their homes from plunder, and their hearths from desecration."


Since the attempt upon the life of Gov. Boggs, it has been feared that some emissaries might visit Nauvoo for the purpose of retaliating upon the Mormon Prophet: and for that reason, it was rumored, a guard is now provided for the city. The official notices of the establishment of this guard, are given in the "Wasp." which are here copied:

              Mayor General's Office, Nauvoo Legion,
              City of Nauvoo, Ill., May 20th, 1842.

To the citizens of the City of Nauvoo: --

I have this day received an order from Gen. Joseph Smith, Mayor of said city, to detail a regular night watch for the city which I have executed by selecting, and placing on duty, the following named persons: to wit: D. B. Huntington, W. D. Huntington, L. N. Scovil, C. Allen, A. P. Rockwood, N. Rogers, S. Roundy, and J. Arnold, who will hereafter be obeyed and respected, as such, until further orders.

              John C. Bennett,
              Major General.
              Mayor's Office, City of Nauvoo,
              May 20th, A. D. 1842


To the City Watch: --
You are hereby directed to appear at my office, daily, at 6 o'clock, P. M., to receive orders; and at 6 o'clock A. M., to make reports; until regularly disbanded by the Mayor General of the Legion, by my order.
              Joseph Smith,
              Mayor.


From these official notices, it would appear that the Mormons have a government entirely of their own -- an army of their own -- portions of which are detached on the requisition of the Mayor of Nauvoo, when he pleases to make a requisition upon the commanding officer for their services. -- This is, indeed, a curious state of things. -- A Christian sect in Illinois keeping up a military organization for their own particular purposes. What would be thought if the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, or Episcopalians of this State had separate military organizations; and that their respective legions of troops were in constant practice of military discipline? These Mormon troops are said now to amount to 2,000 men -- and that they are as well drilled as regular soldiers.

The laws of incorporation under which the Mormons are now enjoying exclusive privileges, have given rise, latterly, to some public discussions. We have now before us a communication from Mount Vernon, Jefferson county, in this State, which possesses much interest. It appears from this communication, that the laws in question were passed by our late loco foco legislature -- (a legislature, by the bye which professed an utter aversion to monopolies in the shape of incorporations,) for political purposes; -- that they were passed to secure the Mormon vote. There can now be no doubt of the fact, that the Proclamation issued by Lieutenant General Smith, to his people, requiring them to vote for Messrs. Snyder and Moore, was the result of the passage of these laws by the loco foco legislature.

In copying the communication alluded to we cannot but express the opinion, which will become general, that Mr. Hicks, in disclosing the truth, have eminently secured for himself the character of an honest man -- too honest to conceal facts of so much importance to the welfare of community, although such concealment might benefit his party. We call upon the public to read and attentively consider their communication:

                                          "Mount Vernon, May 14, 1842.
To the Editor of the Journal:

Gov. Duncan made us a speech yesterday, and attacked the Van Buren members of the Legislature for granting the Mormon Corporations for the purpose of securing their votes; and exposed the dangerous and extraordinary powers which the Legislature conferred upon them. His speech called out our Senator and Representative, both of whom made speeches to vindicate their own character in relation to this nefarious plot. Col. Johnston acknowledged that he had voted for all the bills, and excused himself because they had been introduced by a representative from Hancock county, who he said although elected by the Mormons, was an honorable high-minded whig; yet the Colonel omitted to mention that the bills were managed after their introduction exclusively by the leaders of the Van Buren party. But Maj. Hicks' excuse confirms the whole plot. He said that he was opposed to all incorporations; that he had examined those granted the Mormons before they passed, and expressed his determination to oppose them; but was persuaded by his democratic friends not to do so, who assured him that if they could get those bills passed, the Mormons would vote for them, and they would then carry the elections in the State; and that he was also induced to give up his opposition to them because he had differed with his party on some other party measures, about which his friends had complained, and he did not wish to differ from them when he could possibly help it. The facts stated in these speeches show that the Legislature were corruptly influenced to grant the Mormons all the powers they demanded."

Having in this article alluded to the Proclamation of Lieutenant General Smith -- and its obvious connection with the party movement of passing the acts of incorporation for the benefit of the Mormons -- we here give a copy of that Proclamation. If the military order of the Lieutenant General is not obeyed, we do not know what a military punishment would follow. Indeed that would be unnecessary; -- for his spiritual punishments are much more regarded by his followers, than any military punishment could possibly be.

STATE  GUBERNATORIAL  CONVENTION.
City of Nauvoo, Illinois,
December 20th, A. D. 1841.

To my friends in Illinois: --

The Gubernatorial Convention of the State of Illinois, have nominated Colonel Adam W. Snyder for GOVERNOR, and Colonel John Moore for LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR of the State of Illinois -- election to take place in August next. -- Colonel Moore, like Judge Douglass, and Esq. Warren, was an intimate friend of General Bennett long before that gentleman became a member of our community; and General Bennett informs us that no men were more efficient in assisting him to procure our great chartered privileges than were Colonel Snyder and Colonel Moore. -- They are sterling men, and friends of equal rights -- opposed to the oppressor's grasp, and the tyrant's rod. With such men at the head of our State Government we have nothing to fear.

In the next canvass we shall be influenced by no party consideration -- and no Carthagenian coalescence of collusion, with our party, will be suffered to affect, or operate against General Bennett or any other of our tried friends already semi-officially in the field; so the partizans in this county who expect to divide the friends of humanity and equal rights will find themselves mistaken -- we care not a fig for Whig or Democrat: they are both alike to us; but we shall go for our friends, our TRIED FRIENDS, and the cause of human liberty which is the cause of God. We are aware that "divide and conquer" is the watch-word with many, but with us it cannot be done -- we have suffered too much to be easily duped -- we have no cat's-paws amongst us. We voted for Gen. Harrison because we loved him -- he was a gallant officer and a tried statesman; but this is no reason why we should always be governed by his friends -- he is now DEAD, and all of his friends are not ours. We claim the privileges of freemen, and shall act accordingly. DOUGLASS is a Master Spirit, and his friends and our friends -- we are willing to cast our banners on the air, and fight by his side in the cause of humanity, and equal rights -- the cause of liberty and the law. Snyder, and Moore, are his friends -- they are ours. These men are free from the prejudices and superstitions of the age, and such men we love, and such men will ever receive our support, be their political predilections what they may; Snyder, and Moore are known to be our friends; their friendship is vouched for by those whom we have tried. We will never be justly charged with the sin of ingratitude -- they have served us, and we will serve them.
               JOSEPH SMITH.
               Lieutenant-General of the Nauvoo Legion.


Notes: (forthcoming)

LET  HIM  THAT  READETH  UNDERSTAND.

The Editor of the State Register, and other Van Buren presses of this State, are endeavoring to create a sympathy in favor of the Mormons, the European Catholics, and the Van Buren office-holders, who are associated in politics, by charging some of our candidates with laboring to excite a spirit of persecution against them. We have heard one of Gen. Duncan's speeches, and he certainly said nothing about the Mormon or Catholic religion, but did say much, and the public has much to say, about the Van Buren office-holders, forming a coalition with those two churches, which are known, (so far as the Mormons and European Catholics are concerned), under the dictation of their Pope, and Priests and Prophet. Mr. Van Buren's instructions to our Charge d'Affaires at Naples, to assure the Pope of Rome, that "it would afford him pleasure to extend the protections of the government to his (the Pope's) subjects in the United States," must be understood as an acknowledgment that a foreign potentate may, and does hold the subjects, in this land, by the Constitution and laws of which, every man is declared free and independent, and by which same constitution every citizen is prohibited from receiving any honorable title from, or holding allegiance to any foreign prince or power; and no man, with true American feelings, can regard the person, who would utter so servile a sentiment for the purpose of securing votes in his favor, influenced and controlled by a foreign power, in any other light than as a traitor to his country. The late Acts of the Legislature of New York, passed by a party vote of the Van Burenites, in obedience to the dictation of Bishop Hughes, is another evidence of the disposition of this organized office seeking party, to still further secure the votes of the subjects of His Holiness in this country.

The people have much to say, and will say much also, in relation to the CORRUPT BARGAIN between the leaders of the same party in Illinois, and Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, by which they have formed a league to govern the State. They give him power, and he is to give them votes. It is for exposing this infamous and dangerous plot, that the editor of the State Register is endeavoring to create a sympathy in favor of the Mormons, by a hypocritical attempt to raise the cry of persecution.

And in order to put the public in full possession of what we consider conclusive evidence of the existence of such a nefarious PLOT AND LEAGUE, we have been at considerable trouble to embody and now present them various extracts from the Acts which grant odious and dangerous powers to the Mormons, from the "Times and Seasons," their newspaper, and from the Journals of the Legislature, which Journals clearly show that it was the leaders of the Van Buren party, who smuggled those Acts through the Legislature; --

The 10th section of the Act Incorporating the Nauvoo House Association, is in the following words: --

"And whereas Joseph Smith has furnished the said association with the ground whereon to erect said house, it is further declared, that the said Smith, and his heirs shall hold by PERPETUAL SUCCESSION a suit of rooms in the said house, to be set apart and conveyed in due form of law."
              See Acts of 1841, page 132.

The only objection the public can have to this provision is the attempt to entail an estate upon the family of this head of the Mormon church; which is a principle odious to freemen, is against the spirit and genius of our government, and if this office seeking party be once fairly established in power through the influence of this coalition, will undoubtedly be followed in its usual accompaniment of an hereditary title, to be held by him and his heirs in like perpetual succession.

The act incorporating the City of Nauvoo, confers upon the Mormons most extraordinary powers, Section 25 of this act provides for the establishment of a University, conferring upon its officers legislative powers, equal to those possessed by the Legislature itself.

Section 25 of the same act provides for the establishment of a military corps of indefinite size, called "Legion," to the officers of which are granted powers both dangerous and offensive. By it, the commissioned military officers are constituted the "Law Making power," with no restriction whatever, except the constitution of the United States and of this State, -- the force of which may be seen from the entire section as follows: --

"The City Council may organize the inhabitants of said city subject to military duty, into a body of independent military men, to be called the "Nauvoo Legion," the Court Martial of which shall be composed of the commissioned officers of said Legion, and constitute the law-making department, with full power and authority to make, ordain, establish, and execute all such laws and ordinances as may be considered necessary for the benefit, government, and regulation of said Legion; provided said Court Martial shall pass no law or act, repugnant to, or inconsistent with, the constitution of the United States, or of this State; and provided also that the officers of the Legion shall be commissioned by the Governor of the State. The said Legion shall perform the same amount of military duty as is now, or may be hereafter required of the regular militia of the State, and shall be at the disposal of the Mayor in executing the laws and ordinances of the city corporation, and the laws of the State, and at the disposal of the Governor for the public defence, and the execution of the laws of the State or of the United States, and shall be entitled to their proportion of the public arms; and provided also, that said Legion shall be exempt from all other military duty."


Under the power conferred by this section the Mormons have created the office of Lieutenant General, and have elected Joe Smith to the same, who has actually been commissioned by the Governor as such officer, which makes him the highest military officer in the United States, and when in the service of the United States, he will command all its armies. Gen. WASHINGTON was appointed Lieutenant General after the revolution, but since his resignation the office remained vacant in the army of the United States, and thus Joe Smith is believed to be the only officer of that rank now in this country. He is certainly the superior of all the militia officers of Illinois, and in service will rank above them all. Although some question his right to command Gen. Scott, if called into the service of the United States, yet it is the opinion of experienced military men with whom we have conferred, that there is no doubt upon this point, as no rule is better understood or more clearly settled in our country, than that, when a regular and militia officer are acting together in the United States service, if of the same grade the former takes precedence, but if the militia officer is of superior rank, he is entitled to the command; and thus, as Lieutenant General is higher than Major General, and the latter is the highest office in the army of the United States, there can be no doubt, that when in the service of the United States, Lieutenant General Joseph Smith will command her armies.

Thus it will be seen that the "law-making power" given to this extraordinary military corps, composed as it is chiefly of foreigners, is bad enough. But it is not worse than the omission to require of its officers an oath to support the constitution of the United States, and of this State. The 26th section of the same act exempts these privileged Mormons from working on the public roads, and only requires of them three days work in the year upon the streets of their city, while all other citizens may be compelled to work each year five days upon the roads.

Section 27, of the same act is in the following words:

"The City Council shall have power to provide for the punishment of offenders by imprisonment in the county or city jail, in all cases when such offenders shall fail or refuse to pay the fines and forfeitures, which may be recovered against them." (See Acts of 1841, page 57.)

Here power is given to the Mormons to imprison, for an indefinite and unlimited period, which may be extended to continue during his life, any person who may be unable to unwillingly pay any fine they may choose to impose for any breach, real or imaginary, of any law or ordinance they may choose to enact. And as an example of the danger our citizens are in from this power, being lodged in their hands, we copy from the Times and Seasons, of October 1st, 1841, the first law passed by this extraordinary corporation under their most extraordinary charter. It is entitled: --

"AN  ORDINANCE  IN  RELATION  TO  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES."

"Sec. 1st. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Nauvoo, that the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter-Day Saints, Quakers, Episcopalians, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, and all other religious sects, and denominations, whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges, in this city, and should any person be guilty of ridiculing, abusing, or otherwise depreciating another, in consequence of his religion, or of disturbing, or interrupting, any religious meeting, within the limits of this city, he shall on conviction thereof before the Mayor, or Municipal Court be considered a disturber of the public peace, and fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of said Mayor, or Court.

Sec. 2nd. It is hereby made the duty of all municipal officers to notice, and report to the Mayor, any breach or violation of this or any other ordinance of this city that may come within their knowledge, or of which they may be advised; and any officer aforesaid is hereby fully authorized to arrest all such violators of rule, law, and order either with or without, process.

Sec. 3d. This ordinance to take effect and be in force, from and after its passage/

Passed, March 1, A. D. 1841
                John C. Bennett, Mayor.
James Sloan, Recorder."


We would enquire, what citizen can be safe in passing through that favored city, if he is liable to a fine of five hundred dollars and imprisonment for six months, (and for life if he cannot pay the fine), for "ridiculing, abusing, or otherwise depreciating" the Mormon or any other religion, especially when it is made the duty of every officer to notice and report it to the Mayor, who is the final judge in the case, and that, too, without the ordinary process of law, which in every other case, and before every other tribunal in the State is considered indispensable to the protection of the liberty and property of citizens?

Enough, we think, has been quoted from these laws, to shew that more power than is safe, proper, or consistent with the liberty and security of our citizens has been conferred upon this Mormon Church, and thus has been consummated that most to be deprecated and justly odious of all unions, that of Church and State -- the Church here being constituted the law making power in four distinct departments, the civil government. the military, the judiciary, and the literary.

Now for the history of the passage of these acts through the Legislature, the how, and the wherefore. These measures were introduced into the Senate by Mr. Little, a whig Senator from Hancock county, who held his seat, (we believe), by Mormon votes, and, therefore, may have felt bound to present them, whether he voted for them or not.

The first in order, being the bill to incorporate the city of Nauvoo, after being thus introduced was, a motion of Mr. Richardson, read a second time by its title, and on motion of Mr. Little referred to the committee on the judiciary (see Senate Journal, Friday, 27th November, 1840) and was on the 5th day of December, 1840 (see Senate Journal, page 45) reported back by Mr. Snyder, from the committee on the judiciary, to whom the same had been referred, with an amendment, which was concurred in, and the bill ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. No vote on this bill appears to have been recorded in the Senate, and the above is all that we can find in its Journal respecting it.

In the House of Representatives on the 10th of December, on motion of Mr. Dodge, this bill was considered, and on motion of Mr. Turney, the rules of the House were dispensed with, and it was read the first and second time by its title, and referred to the committee on the judiciary. (See House Journal, page 100).

On the 12th day of the same month, Mr. Kitchell, from the Committee on the Judiciary to whom the same had been referred, reported this bill back to the House without amendment, and it was ordered to a third reading -- when Mr. Oliver moved to dispense with the rules of the House, and that the bill be read a third time by its title, which was agreed to, and the bill was passed. (See House Journal, page 110.)

This the short history of the passage of an act incorporating a city, establishing an university, creating an independent military legion, and authorizing the imprisonment of our citizens, all without recording a vote at any sta[ge] in either house, and without reading the bill at all, in the House of Representatives. It will be borne in mind, that Mr. Little, though a whig, was elected by the Mormons, and that every other person who took an active part in smuggling this bill through the legislature, was of the organized Van Buren party; neither must it be forgotten that these persons profess to be opposed to all acts of incorporation, and were on all other occasions very strenuous to have a repealing clause in all such acts, although no such clause was proposed to this act.

The evidence that a corrupt motive influenced certain leaders to effect the passage of this act, does not stop here. We have the report of a speech made by Mr. Hicks, of Jefferson county, before a considerable audience at the court house in which is found the following:

"Mr. Hicks said, 'he had examined the charters granted to the Mormons -- that he was opposed to all such incorporations, and was about to oppose these, but was persuaded to let them pass by his democratic friends, who assured him that if they could get these bills through, the Mormons would vote for their candidates at the next election, and as he had differed on some other occasions from his democratic friends, which had given offence, he was induced to abandon his opposition to these bills and let them pass.'"

It will be seen by the following letter from the Mormon Prophet, which we copy from the Times & Seasons of May 6th, 1841, that Judge Douglass, who is notoriously one of the greatest managers of the party, and who has boasted of having introduced the Van Buren Convention system in this State, has had an efficient agency in procuring the passage of these measures; and if he had no hand in making the bargain, the public have a right to call him to explain how he has ever proved himself friendly to the people, and how and with whom he interested himself to obtain these several charters, holding as he did at the time, the office of Secretary of State; and why did they vote him the freedom of the city?

                       "CITY OF NAUVOO, May 6th, 1841.
To the editors of the Times and Seasons:
Gentlemen, -- I wish through the medium of your paper to make known, that on Sunday last I had the honor of receiving a visit from the Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, Justice of the Supreme Court and Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Illinois  *  *  *  who addressed the assembly and expressed his satisfaction at what he had seen and heard respecting our people, and took that opportunity of returning thanks to the citizens of Nauvoo, for conferring upon him the freedom of the city, stating that he was not aware of rendering us any services of sufficient importance to deserve such marked honor. Judge Douglass has ever proved himself friendly to this people, and interested himself to obtain for us our several charters, holding at the time the office of Secretary of State.
                    I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.
                        JOSEPH SMITH,"

If an honorable or pure motive induced Judge Douglass to use his official influence with the legislature, let him show how, and with whom he used his influence. He certainly cannot plead ignorance of the outrageous provisions of these "great chartered privileges." But the Judge's connection with, or service to, these Mormons, does not stop here, as appears from the following extract from a General order of Lieut. General Joseph Smith, which was occasioned by a controversy between the Nauvoo legion and the Hancock county militia, in which the Judge takes sides with the Mormons; and as appears from the papers, appointed the Mormon Major General Bennett, Master in Chancery, to protect the Mormons. This appears to have given great offence to the citizens of that county. The General order referred to is published in the Times and Seasons of May 15, 1841.

                       "NAUVOO LEGION, Head Quarters Nauvoo    
                       Legion, City of Nauvoo, Ills., May 4, 1842.
 *  *  *   As will be seen by the following opinion of Judge Douglass, of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, than whom no man stands more deservedly high in the public estimation, as an able and profound jurist, politician and statesman; the officers and privates belonging to the Legion, are exempt from all military duty, not required by the legally constituted authorities thereof, they are therefore expressly inhibited from performing any military service not ordered by the General officers, or directed by the court martial.  *  *  *  "

Here follows the opinion of Judge Douglass, which shows that he prejudiced and decided, by volunteering an opinion upon matters of law that were almost certain to come before him for adjudication in his judicial capacity -- besides which he appointed the Mormon Major General Bennett, Master in Chancery, in reference to this particular case. Comment upon a course so extraordinary, unprecedented and abhorrent to all who value the purity and independence of the judiciary, is useless and renders unnecessary any remarks upon the conduct imputed to him by rumor, in relation to his discharging this Joe Smith from arrest by virtue of a State warrant issued upon the requisition of the Governor of Missouri, in which State Joe was indicted for high treason -- and similar conduct in granting anew trial to two Mormons, convicted of larceny by a jury, and the entry of a nolle prosequi by the State's Attorney, another Van Buren disciple.

The general order proceeds:

"If officers act upon the obsolete laws of the "little book" which have been repealed tears since, it will be sweet to the taste but "make the belly bitter," and should any civil or military officer attempt to enforce the collection of any military fines upon the members of the legion, excepting when such fines are assessed by the court martial of the Legion, such persons are directed to apply to the Master in Chancery for Hancock county, for an injunction to stay the illegal proceedings.
                        JOSEPH SMITH, Lieut. General.
                        JOHN C. BENNETT, Maj. General.

And he might have added, "Mayor of the City of Nauvoo, Chancellor of the University, Master in Chancery for Hancock Circuit Court, and Quarter Master General of Illinois."

This appointment by Judge Douglass of Major General Bennett as Master in Chancery, called forth severe strictures upon Bennett and Douglass, from a press located in a neighboring village, as will be seen from an extract from the Times and Seasons" of June [1], 1841.

"THE WARSAW SIGNAL."

"We can hardly find language to express our surprise and disapprobation at the conduct of the Editor of the Signal as manifested in that paper of the 19th ult. We had fondly hoped that the sentiments there expressed, would never have dared to be uttered by any individual, in the community in which we reside, * * * and we would ask the editor of the Signal what is the cause of his hostility, of this sudden and unexpected ebulition of feeling, this spirit of opposition and animosity? Whose rights have been * * * disturbed? Gen. Bennett has been appointed Master in Chancery, by Judge Douglass, and Gen. Bennett is a Mormon." * * *

Again, Governor Carlin has not been wanting in his contributions to pamper the pride and gratify the ambition of this warlike people. He has appointed General Bennett his Quarter Master General, by virtue of which office he has possession of all the arms of the State, and has actually taken most of them to the head quarters of the Nauvoo Legion. And what renders the Governor's servility to this people still more conspicuous and odious, is his having permitted Bennett to continue to hold the Office of the Quartermaster General of this State, while Major General of the Nauvoo Legion; offices wholly incompatible with each other; -- and that this was the case was evident from two general orders issued by Bennett, one in each of the before mentioned capacities, and published in the 'Times and Seasons' of May 15th, 1841. The heading, signatures and same extracts from bearing date, 4th May, 1841, have already been given; -- the other is as follows:

"State of Illinois, City of Nauvoo.    
Quarter Master General's Office.    
May 8th, A. D. 1841.    

To The Militia of Illinois, etc. etc. * * *
Signed,                   John C. Bennett,
                           Quarter Master General of Illinois.

In order to exhibit the spirit actuating, and the designs intended by these Mormon allies of the organized Van Buren office-seeking party, we introduce a few extracts from their writings and speeches. The first is from an oration delivered by Sidney Rigdon:

"We take God and all the Holy Angels to witness this day, that we warn all men in the name of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more forever. The man or set of men, who attempt it, does it at the expense of their lives.   *   *   *   *   *   * No man shall be at liberty to come into our streets, to threaten us with mobs, for if he does, he shall atone for it before he leaves the place; neither shall he be at liberty, to villify and slander any of us, for suffer, it we will not; neither will we indulge any man, or set of men, in instituting vexatious law-suits against us, to cheat us out of our just rights; if they attempt it we say woe be unto them. We this day then proclaim ourselves free, with a purpose and a determination, that never can be broken, "no never, NO NEVER, NO NEVER."


In the book of Covenants, page 191, is found the following:

"Wherefore I say unto you, that I have sent unto you mine everlasting covenant, (namely the book of Mormon) even that which was from the beginning, and that which I have promised I have so fulfilled, and the nations of the earth, shall bow to it; and, if not of themselves, they shall come down, for that which is now exalted of itself shall be laid low of power."


On page 76:

"Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may. Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; and the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is sheathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth, that they that will not hear the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; Wherefore I have called upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised to thrash the nations by the power of my spirit; and their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler, and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me, and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf; and with the fire of my indignation will I preserve them."


The following is by Parley P. Pratt, one of the Mormon twelve apostles:

"The Government of the United States has been engaged, for upwards of seven years, in gathering the remnant of Joseph (the Indians) to the very place where they will finally build the New Jerusalem; a city of Zion; with the acquisition of the believing gentiles, who will gather with them from all the nations of the earth; and this gathering is clearly predicted in the book of Mormon, and the place appointed, and the time set for its fulfillment; and except the gentiles repent of all their abominations and embrace the same covenant, (the book of Mormon) and come into the same place of gathering, they will soon be destroyed from off the face of the land, as it is written by Isaiah, 'The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish." And I will state as a prophesy, that there will not be an unbelieving gentile on the face of this continent 50 years hence; and if they are not greatly scourged, and in a great measure overthrown in 5 or 10 years from this date, (1838,) then the book of Mormon will have proved itself false."


William W. Phelps, Post-master, in the county of Caldwell, Mo., makes the following statement on oath in a judicial proceedings.

"Mr. Rigdon arose and made an address to them, in which he spoke of having borne persecutions, and law-suits, and other privations, and did not intend to bear them any longer, that they meant to resist the law, and if a sheriff came after them with writs they would kill him, and if any body opposed them, they would take off their heads." "Joseph Smith, jr. followed Mr. Rigdon, approving his sentiments, and said that was what they intended to do. Mr. Rigdon then commenced making covenants with uplifted hands, one of which was, that if any persons from the surrounding country came into their town, walking about, no odds who he might be, any one of that meeting should kill him, and throw him aside into the brush. Another covenant was, to conceal all things. These measures were carried unanimously in the form of covenants with uplifted hands. Mr. Rigdon then observed, that the kingdom of Heaven had no secrets, that yesterday a man slipped his wind, and was dragged into the hazel brush; and, said he, the man who lisps it shall die."


We conclude the mass of testimony compiled for the purpose of establishing beyond a reasonable doubt the positions assumed by us, by quoting a proclamation of Lieutenant General Joseph Smith, which is said by some of his Van Buren friends to have been issued by him in consequence of his nomination for Lieutenant Governor, in the Van Buren Convention -- it being a principle with that party for every person, when fairly initiated, to use his utmost exertions to sustain its measures. But we think the evidence of its being in pursuance of a corrupt bargain, sticks out too plainly to impose such an excuse upon the people. But we give the document from the "Times and Seasons," in which it was published:


STATE  GUBERNATORIAL  CONVENTION.
City of Nauvoo, Illinois,
December 20th, A. D. 1841. To my friends in Illinois: --

The Gubernatorial Convention of the State of Illinois, have nominated Colonel Adam W. Snyder for Governor, and Colonel John Moore for LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR of the State of Illinois -- election to take place in August next. -- Colonel Moore, like Judge Douglass, and Esq. Warren, was an intimate friend of General Bennett, long before that gentleman became a member of our community; and General Bennett informed us that no men were more efficient in assisting him to procure our chartered privileges than were Colonel Snyder and Colonel Moore. -- They are sterling men, and friends of equal rights -- opposed to the oppressor's grasp, and the tyrant's rod. With such men at the head of our State Government we have nothing to fear. In the next canvass we shall be influenced by no party consideration -- and no Carthagenian coalescence or collusion, with our people will be suffered to affect, or operate against General Bennett or any other of our tried friends already semi-officially in the field; so the partizans in this county who expect to divide the friends of humanity and equal rights will find themselves mistaken -- we care not a fig for Whig or Democrat: they are both alike to us; but we shall go for our friends, our tried friends, and the cause of human liberty which is the cause of God. We are aware that "Divide and conquer" is the watch-word with many, but with us it cannot be done -- we love liberty too well -- we have suffered too much to be easily duped -- we have no cat's-paws amongst us. We voted for Gen. Harrison because we loved him -- he was a gallant officer and a tried statesman; but this is no reason why we should always be governed by his friends -- he is now dead and all of his friends are not ours. We claim the privileges of freemen, and shall act accordingly. Douglass is a Master Spirit, and his friends and our friends -- we are willing to cast our banner on the air, and fight by his side in the cause of humanity, and equal rights -- the cause of liberty and the law. Snyder, and Moore, are his friends -- they are ours. These men are free from the prejudices and superstitions of the age, and such men we love, and such men will ever receive our support, be their political predilections what they may. Snyder, and Moore are known to be our friends; their friendship is vouched for by those whom we have tried. We will never be justly charged with the sin of ingratitude -- they have served us, and we will serve them.
               JOSEPH SMITH.
               Lieutenant General of the Nauvoo Legion.


To every one who has given the foregoing a careful perusal, we would put the question -- Can any candid man, who is not blinded by the desire or hope of getting a office, doubt for an instant that the VAN BUREN PARTY: -- by which we mean those who are striving to live upon the public, and fatten upon its resources and the office-holders and seekers -- are willing and desirous to connect themselves with any faction, and even willing to sacrifice the dearest rights of their country upon the altar of personal ambition, and private gain, for the purpose of obtaining power, and the emoluments of office? Remember how long they clung to the railroad system and the Canal, even after our credit was prostrated, and our resources exhausted, with no other object in view than to continue their partizans in office by securing the foreign votes. These means having failed, they now seek the same and by forming an union with the Mormons, the Catholic powers of Europe, and the nullifers of the South, -- and thus to form a party of discordant elements, whose only bond of union, and common object is, power and spoil. In view of these facts, has not the time come when the PEOPLE -- the honest, the hard-working, the tax-paying People -- should take the management of the Government into their own hands, and drive from their posts, and confine to their proper sphere, all those office-holding, office-seeking drones, who have been multiplied in the country for the purpose of ruling it, and have sought to trample upon its liberties that they might riot upon its distresses -- and in which unholy designs they have been for the last twelve years successful?

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MORMON  VIRULENCE  AGAINST  GOVERNOR  DUNCAN.

We copy below some extracts from "The Wasp," a Mormon paper of may 28th, published at Nauvoo -- exhibiting the bitterness of that people towards Governor Duncan, which appear to us exceedingly offensive, coupled, as they are, with vulgarity and vindictiveness. And the use of such language by professors of religion, acting as a body, and speaking through their official organ, towards a candidate for office, for merely exposing what he considers an improper grant of power to them by a political party, induced by the corrupt purpose of securing their votes, should arouse the apprehension that all is not right with them, and shews satisfactorily that the charge of corrupt intent is not unadvisedly made.

In noticing the remarks made by Gov. Duncan at Edwardsville, "The Wasp" used the following language: --

"If Gov. Duncan had said that his DISGRACEFUL attempt to palm upon his political party and the good people of the State of Illinois generally, a list of LIES of the blackest kind until the faithful, righteous and eternal prediction has been fulfilled on his head, that "Liars shall have their part in the Lake which burns with fire and brimstone!"


In a fictitious letter published in the same paper charging Gov. Duncan with dishonest conduct, is the following: --

"They say here at Edwardsville, that Joe Duncan is up for Governor. If he is elected, I say that mobs and destruction await the Saints."


After charging Gov. Duncan with saying severe things of Joe Smith, it proceeds.

"They call him Governor. He did not appear to me larger than a skunk, nor of any more importance."


In reference to Gov. Duncan's remark, that "he was for extending to the Mormons the same and no other privileges than were enjoyed by other citizens," but that he unhesitatingly declared "that he should go for taking from them all extraordinary, exclusive and anti-republican powers granted to them by the dominant party in the Legislature for the purpose of obtaining their votes," the Mormon official paper coolly says, "when he gets the power!" -- thus arrogantly and vauntingly bidding defiance to any and all the powers of the State, and the people, to repeal or modify their most extraordinary charters.

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MURDER, "A NOBLE DEED."

Joe Smith thus notices the attempted murder of Gov. Boggs, in the Nauvoo "Wasp," of May 28: --

           Nauvoo, Ill., May 22, A. D. 1842.
MR. BARTLETT: --
Dear Sir: -- In your paper (the Quincy Whig,) of the 21st inst., you have done me manifest injustice, in ascribing to me a prediction of the demise of Lilburn W. Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, by violent hands. Boggs was a candidate for the State Senate, and I presume fell by the hand of a political opponent, with his "hands and face yet dripping with the blood of murder," but he died not through my instrumentality. My hands are clear, and my heart is pure from the blood of all men. I am tired of the misrepresentation, calumny, and detraction heaped upon me by wicked men, and desire and claim only that privilege guarantied to all men by the Constitution and laws of the United States and of Illinois. Will you do me the justice to publish this communication and oblige.
            Yours, respectfully,
            JOSEPH SMITH.

The same paper commenting upon the attempted MURDER of Gov. Boggs, says:

"The most wonderful development is, that 'it appears Jo Smith has made several threats against Missouri.' The public can hardly be gulled by such foolish libles. Boggs is undoubtedly killed, according to report, but who did the NOBLE DEED remains to be found out."

We submit these extracts without comment:

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MORMON  CANDIDATE  FOR  GOVERNOR.

Judge Breese has undergone the bow-string. The State Printer and Secretary of State, as emissaries of the junto here, returned on Monday from a flying visit to his honor. It is understood that they proposed to the judge, that if he would decline being a candidate for Governor, he should be made U. S. Senator in place of Judge Young. So many promises had been made to him, that he hesitated; -- on which he was informed that in case of contumacy they were commissioned to apply the bow-string. Breese then agreed to submit quietly, only asking that the question -- who shall be the candidate? -- should be submitted to a meeting of the party friends now on a visit to Springfield, -- so that he could yield with honor. The worthy emissaries gave each other a knowing wink, and agreed to the proposition. A letter was written, which will be published, probably in the Register of this week, and the string was then applied. On returning to this city, the emissaries and other members of the junto, put the democracy into proper training, held the meeting as agreed, and secured the nomination of Judge Ford.

We have no doubt that "Esq. Warren," who is the same person named in the proclamation of the Lieutenant General, delivered to the Loco Foco meeting last night, the mandates of the said Lieutenant General Joe Smith, in favor of Judge Ford, as he was present, and it is said the nomination was unanimous. We heard a rumor on Tuesday that Smith and Rigdon were both in this city, but it may not be so; if the rumor be true, they were doubtless in the meeting, and spoke for themselves.

---

The Mormon Candidate for Governor.

The party have not yet determined upon their candidate. Judge Ford, however, will be the man Judge Breese and his friends are making a "splutter" in the lower part of the State, but it will be of no avail. The Regency here are against him, and that settles the matter so far as he is concerned. It is perfectly immaterial to us which of these individuals is the Mormon Candidate. They were both the supporters of John Quincy Adams -- both his partizans -- and both went over to Mr. Van Buren when the old Federalists generally went over to him.

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GOVERNOR  DUNCAN.

Gov. Duncan delivered an address to our citizens on Tuesday afternoon. His speech mainly, was a calm and candid exposition of his course while Governor of this Senate, and of the corrupt coalition formed between the leaders of the loco foco party and Joe Smith, for the votes of the Mormons. For many of the facts embraced in the article under our editorial head, we are indebted to his speech. He was followed, in reply by Calvin A. Warren, Esq., a lawyer of Quincy, -- the same gentleman who is referred to in the Proclamation of Lieutenant General Joseph Smith, as "Esq. Warren." Mr. Warren defended the Mormons and his party, from the charges made upon them, in a labored speech of over three hours, consisting chiefly of stale anecdotes; -- when Gov. Duncan replied to him, and showed that this Mr. Warren was the same man that had acted as Douglass' Master in Chancery, to take Joe Smith out of the custody of the officers by a writ of habeas corpus, when he was arrested under a demand from the Governor of Missouri; -- that he was now an agent and representative of the Mormons in this city, and that he is the same man that went to the Missouri State's prison to pray with the abolitionists, who had been convicted of an attempt to kidnap and liberate slaves. All of his eloquent appeal to the sympathy of the audience in favor of the Mormons, if any had been created, vanished like thin air. After Mr. Warren had made a second long speech attacking whig principles, Mr. E. D. Baker was called upon to reply, and after he had done, if there was anything left of "Esq. Warren," we could not discover it.

The policy of General Duncan, while Governor, in relation to Banks, Internal Improvement, and other great interests of our State, is now universally acknowledged to have been the true policy of the State. Had his recommendations been followed we would have been saved from most of the evils which we are now suffering. -- Every intelligent man knows these facts; and the ballot boxes will tell that the People will sustain a long tried and faithful public servant.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMON  WAR.

In pursuance of the contract made with the "Master Spirits" of the Van Buren party, the Mormons continue their war upon Gov. Duncan. The last "Times and Seasons" accuses him of falsehood, -- publishes a low fictitious letter against him, purporting to come from Edwardsville -- and charges him with cheating his laundress out of six dollars! And this, too, comes from the editor -- Lieutenant General Smith -- who has taken the benefit of the bankrupt law, scheduling his indebtedness at near 100,000 dollars! Judge Ford should send Joe Smith an assistant editor, who would have some regard for decency, at least, if he would avail himself of the corrupt bargain by which the Mormon votes were to be secured. The "Times and Seasons," in its attack upon Gov. Duncan, makes the following remark:

"The Nauvoo Legion is decidedly the best organized and most efficient military force in the State of Illinois, or the western country; it is well disciplined and officered with the best talent the country affords."

We understand; but, although the Mormons have most of the public arms of the State, and although their troops are well disciplined, our citizens are not to be overawed by Mormon military force, and a large majority of the thinking citizens of Illinois will vote for Governor Duncan in spite of the Proclamation of Lieut. Gen. Joe Smith.

---

The Mormons have made up a full ticket for Hancock county. The old residents of that county, thinking that the freedom of voting is still left to them. are about forming another ticket, and have called a mass Convention for the purpose. General Smith, aware of his power, sneers at the efforts made by those old citizens, and speaks of their intended meeting as "the small potatoe Convention." So much for this union of Church and State, arranged between the Mormons and the leaders of the Van Buren party.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The exposure made by us two weeks since of the CORRUPT BARGAIN, by which the leaders of the loco foco party aim to secure the votes of the Mormons, has had an effect on the party editors similar to that of throwing fire into a nest of snakes! -- Such a hissing and squirming we never witnessed. Now we have a proposition to make those loco foco editors so soon as they become quiet enough to hear us. Publish our articles in your papers, and we will publish your replies. Let your readers see the facts we have arrayed on this subject -- facts which in our opinion cannot be controverted -- and we will most cheerfully publish your replies. What say you, Messrs. People's Advocate, Quincy Herald, &c. If you believe your own statements in relation to the foul transactions we have laid before the people of Illinois, you will accept our proposition -- if not, you will refuse -- and hiss on! He appeal not to you, but to the people!

---

We neglected to state, last week, that C. A. Warren, Esq. the Agent of Lieutenant General Smith, is in this city, was consulted in regard to the nomination of THOMAS FORD for Governor, and that the nomination was not decided upon until he had given his consent to the measure. This fact will furnish additional, and undeniable proof, that Mr. Ford is the Mormon candidate.

---

It will be seen by the following that the Major General of the Nauvoo Legion, Chancellor of the University at Nauvoo, Judge Douglass' Master in Chancery, and author of Lieutenant General Joe Smith's Proclamation, directing the Mormons to vote the loco foco ticket for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, in pursuance of a contract made in the winter of 1840-41, with the leaders of the loco foco party in consideration for certain chartered privileges granted them, is excommunicated from the Mormon Church. It is now an undoubted fact, that the reports which have been in circulation in relation to Dr. Bennett, are true.

[From the "Times and Seasons" of June 15th, 1842]

             "NOTICE,"
The subscribers, members of the first Presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, withdraw the hand of fellowship from Gen. John C. Bennett, as a Christian; he having been labored with from time to time, to persuade him to amend his conduct, apparently to no good effect. JOSEPH SMITH,
HYRUM SMITH,
WM. LAW. The following members of the Quorum of the Twelve concur in the above sentiments:
Brigham Young,       Heber C. Kimball,
Lyman Wight,       William Smith,
John E. Page,       John Taylor,
Wilford Woodruff,       George A. Smith,
Willard Richards.

We concur in the above sentiments:

W. K. WHITNEY,
V. KNIGHT,
GEORGE MILLER. Bishops of the above mentioned Church.

              Nauvoo, May 11th, 1842



Note: It seems odd that the signature of William Smith is affixed to a certificate made out in Nauvoo on May 11, 1842. At that time William was working for the LDS Church, many hundreds of miles away from the Mormon headquarters. Perhaps his signature of approval was obtained remotely, by means of urim & thummim.

THE  MORMONS.

The corrupt bargain by which the leaders of the Van Buren party, have sought to purchase the votes of the Mormons, and the open avowal by Joe Smith, that the Mormons shall support the candidate of the party, because Judge Douglass and other party leaders have secured to them certain extraordinary chartered privileges -- over and above those enjoyed by any other sect -- has called public attention to the movements of Joe Smith, -- to the tyranny exercised by him over his followers, -- to the moral principles by which he is governed; and it is not likely that he will much longer deceive the mass of the people, however much he may deceive those who have surrendered all their interests -- spiritual and temporal -- into his hand.

There are individuals in his flock, possessed of talents and disposition to use them for the benefit of their sect and country. Among these individuals we reckon General Bennett, Sidney Rigdon, Esq., Mr. George Robinson, and others. But the Prophet will scarcely permit them to think or act except in entire subservience to his wishes. It is now understood, that, within a few days past, Smith has made a desperate, blackguard, and abusive public attack on Gen. Bennett, Mr. Rigdon, and Mr. Robinson -- and reports, and we place great reliance upon them, go so far as to say that the life of the former has been threatened, and that orders have been issued to the Danite Band to murder him in a clandestine manner on the first opportunity. Indeed, the report goes farther, and states that two of the Danites have been in hot pursuit of Gen. Bennett for several days, in order to accomplish the nefarious purpose, and thus prevent a public exposition of the corruptions of the great impostor.

We call upon the people of our State to have an eye upon this matter -- and, if either of the individuals mentioned should be missing, that there shall be no hesitation in placing the responsibility of the act upon its proper authors, and in making them feel in their own persons that murder shall be avenged.

We take no pleasure in placing these remarks upon paper. If a secret band of assassins shall prowl about among this community, who is safe? The fate of Gov. Boggs is an event not to be unheeded. But we should be unworthy of our position should we fail to meet this matter as it deserves. -- And we now call upon General Bennett, if the rumors we have stated have just foundation, to "take his life into his hands," if that be required, and with the true spirit of a soldier and a patriot, expose the crimes, if such exist, of the heaven-daring impostor. -- We call upon Gen. Bennett to come out NOW. We appeal to him to do this in behalf of his fellow-citizens, who claim this of him, by all the considerations which can be presented to him as a lover of his species and as the servant of his God. Such an exposure may save life -- may expose corruption -- may avert consequences which no man can contemplate without fearful apprehensions. We call upon Gen. Bennett to produce documentary evidence, that the public may form opinions that cannot be gainsayed -- that they may understand the entire character, as it stands naked before his God, of a long successful religious impostor.

Among the subjects which we call upon Gen. Bennett, Messrs. S. Rigdon, G. W. Robinson, and others, to notice, are the rumors that Joe Smith, some short time before he applied for the benefits of the Bankrupt Law, was in possession of most valuable property -- a part of which he made over to himself as sole trustee for the use of the Mormon Church, and another part for the use of his wife and children. The records of Hancock county will show if these things are so. And if these rumors are true, we call upon Mr. Robinson to come here with his proof -- and let it be placed before the U. S. Circuit Court at its first session. We trust that there will be no hesitation in doing this -- that there will be no compromise -- no efforts to injure the innocent, and no pains spared to expose the guilty.

Such is the opinion we hold of Gen. Bennett, that we shall expect he will respond to the calls made in this article. It appears to us, under all the circumstances of the case, he will not refuse to do so. While he will be upon his guard against midnight assassination -- while he will regard with contempt the "bulls of excommunication" issued against him -- he will proceed to make developments that will astonish the world.

The People of Illinois will then see the character of that man who has avowed his determination to fill the two first offices of this State with his own creatures -- Thomas Ford and John Moore.

---

We have been told that the Mormon paper called the "Wasp," contains a reply to our article developing the corrupt bargain by which all the Mormon votes were to be transferred by Joe Smith to Messers. Ford and Moore. We have not seen the reply.

---

STUMP  SPEAKING.

We learn from the Illinoisian, that agreeably to appointment, Governor Duncan addressed the citizens of Morgan county, at Jacksonville, on Monday of last week, being the first day of Court. He exposed the corruptions of the last Legislature, by which the majority sought to purchase the influence of Joe Smith to be used in elections. To prove this, he referred to the manner in which the Mormon charters were passed through the Legislature without reading -- to Maj. Hicks' statement -- to Joe Smith's proclamation -- to the publication of Joe Smith, announcing that Judge Douglass, while Secretary of State. labored to obtain for the Mormons their charters. Judge Douglass being present replied. The "Illinioan" says his reply was made up of aspersions, assertions without proof, epithets, &c. He asserted that the people of the North, and in the neighborhood of the Mormons, were preparing to act over the scenes in Missouri. Gov. Duncan declared this last statement a calumny. -- Referred to the fact that he adjourned court in Hancock to attend a military parade in Nauvoo, and "sat in the Synagogue with the Prophet," -- that he had avowed his belief in the Mormon doctrine, &c. Judge Douglass denied that he had avowed his belief in the Mormon doctrine, &c. Judge Douglass denied that "he sat in the synagogue." A gentleman in the crowd, called out that "he was there, and that he was invited into the circle where other people could not go." The charge being fastened upon him, he was compelled, though reluctantly to acknowledge, that he had been sent for, and was there. The Judge denied also the charge that "he had expressed himself as believing in the Mormon faith -- that it was as true and better than any other, because it was the newest, and a new broom swept the cleanest." Gov. Duncan gave to Judge Douglass his author for this point, which fully sustains the charge of Gov. Duncan : --

"On the 29th day of June 1841, we happened to be in company with Judge Douglass and several other gentlemen, in Jacksonville, when the Mormon question, then a general topic of conversation, was introduced. After telling of the persecution which had been visited upon them, and the many hair breadth escapes of Joe Smith, whilst in Missouri, as related by him to Douglass a short time before, the Judge stated in substance that he believed there was as much true religion among them as in any other church; -- that they were misrepresented -- that he thought they were more upright and correct in their conduct than other denominations, because every one was watching them -- he used the simile that "a new broom sweeps clean" -- they were new, but when they grew old and wealthy they might become corrupt." *

So it appears that Judge Douglass is willing to be thought a mormon when political capital is to be made of it. We should not be surprised if the Judge and half a dozen other Van Buren leaders were to go into the water with Joe Smith before the election.
__________________
* We have made this statement in justice to ourself and the parties implicated, and it has been our object to do justice to both gentlemen and to ourself. -- EDITOR.

---

Is it not among the strange circumstances of the times that Judge Douglass should go about the country, charging the people of the North with being engaged in raising men to attack the Mormons? Cannot the people of this State express their indignation at the corrupt party movements to secure the votes of the Mormons, without being insulted in this manner?


Notes: (forthcoming)

Such has been the demand for that number of our paper containing the evidence upon which we found the charge, that the leaders of the Van Buren party of this State, have entered into a plot and league to obtain the votes of Joe Smith's subjects for their candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, that we feel it our duty to re-publish the Documentary evidence in the case, and other facts, showing the dangerous nature of this corrupt and scandalous coalition. And first the acts of Incorporation, for the benefit of the Mormons, smuggled through the Legislature without reading, by the leaders of the party.

Property secured to Joe Smith in perpetual succession.

The 10th section of the act incorporating the Nauvoo House Association, is in the following words:

"And whereas Joseph Smith has furnished said Association with ground on to erect said House, it is further declared that said Smith and his heirs, shall hold by PERPETUAL SUCCESSION a suite of rooms in the said House, to be set apart and conveyed in due form of law." (see Acts of 1841, page 132.)

Thus the principle of HEREDITY SUCCESSION, so odious to freemen, was established by the last Van Buren Legislature, for the benefit of Joe Smith.

Further Extraordinary Chartered Powers.

The Act incorporating the City of Nauvoo, provides for the establishment of a University, conferring upon its officers legislative powers equal to those possessed by the Legislature itself. Section 25 of the same Act provides for the establishment of a military force, to the officers of which is given the "LAW MAKING POWER," with no restriction except the Constitution of the United States and of this State. The entire section reads as follows:

"The City Council may organize in inhabitants of said city subject to military duty, into a body of independent military men, to be called the "Nauvoo Legion," the court martial of which shall be composed of the commissioned officers of said Legion, and constitute the law-making powers with full powers and authority to make, ordain, establish, and execute all such laws and ordinances as may be considered necessary for the benefit, government, and regulation of said Legion; Provided, said court martial shall pass no law, or act repugnant to, or inconsistent with the constitution of the United States, or of this State. The said Legion shall perform the same amount of military duty as is now, or may be hereafter required of the regular militia of the State, and shall be at the disposal of the Mayor, in executing the laws and ordinances of the city corporation, and the laws of the State, and at the disposal of the Governor, for the public defence, and the execution of the laws of the State, or of the United States, and shall be entitled to their proportion of the public arms; and provided also, that said Legion shall be exempt from all other military duty."

It is under this section that Jose Smith has been made Lieutenant General -- an office never before held but by one individual in this country -- WASHINGTON and under which appointment Joe Smith claims that in time of war, he is the head of the army of the United States!! -- It will be seen also that thisÊsection does not require the officers or the troops composing the mormon military force to make oath to support the Constitution of the United States!! Section 27 of the same act says:

"The City Council shall have power to provide for the punishment of offenders by imprisonment in the county or city jail in all cases when such offenders shall fail or refuse to pay the fines and forfeitures which may be recovered against them."

Thus power is given the city council to pass laws which may confine men in PRISON FOR LIFE, for any breach of their ordinances. How the City Council have used this power, may be seen by this -- the first ordinance -- passed by this extraordinary corporation:

"Sec. 1st. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Nauvoo, that the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter-Day Saints, Quakers, Episcopalians, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, and all other religious sects, and denominations, whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges, in this city, and should any person be guilty of ridiculing, abusing, or otherwise depreciating another, in consequence of his religion, or of disturbing, or interrupting, any religious meeting within the limits of this city, he shall on conviction thereof before the Mayor, or Municipal Court be considered a disturber of the public peace, and fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of said Mayor, or Court.

Sec. 2nd. It is hereby made the duty of all municipal officers to notice and report to the Mayor, any breach or violation of this or any other ordinance of this city that may come within their knowledge, or of which they may be advised; and any officer aforesaid is hereby fully authorized to arrest all such violators of rule, law, and order either with or without process.

Sec. 3d. This ordinance to take effect and be in force, from and after its passage/

Passed, March 1st. 1841
                John C. Bennett, Mayor.
James Sloan, Recorder."

Thus any citizen who in passing through Nauvoo, may think proper to speak with contempt of Joe Smith, may be arrested with or without process and be imprisoned SIX MONTHS or compelled to pay a fine of FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!

How this incorporation was procured.

The manner in which this Union of Church and State, was effected, may be thus explained. SIDNEY H. LITTLE, Esq., whig, elected Senator by the Mormons of Hancock County, introduced the charter into the Senate. This he did at the desire of his constituents. It does not appear that he had any thing further to do with it. On motion of Mr. Richardson, it was read the first time in the Senate -- then referred to the committee on the Judiciary -- reported back by Mr. Snyder and passed. The same bill was brought up in the House on motion of Mr. Dodge, reading dispensed with on motion of Mr. Turney, and bill referred to the Judiciary Committee -- then reported back by Mr. Kitchell, and on motion of Mr. Oliver read by its title and the bill passed!! -- So that this act embracing the most extraordinary powers, by the management of the leaders of the Van Buren party, was passed through both Houses WITHOUT having been read!

The motives that governed the Van Buren leaders in their extraordinary acts.

In a reported speech made by Major Hicks, (a member of the last legislature, and belonging to the Van Buren party), at the Court House in Jefferson County, we find the following statement:

"Mr. Hicks said, 'he had examined the charters granted to the Mormons -- that he was opposed to all such incorporations, and was about to oppose these, but was persuaded to let them pass by his democratic friends, who assured him that if they could get these bills through, the Mormons would vote for their candidates at the next election, and as he had differed on some other occasions from his democratic friends, which had given offence, he was induced to abandon his opposition to these bills and let them pass.'"

This statement is confirmed by a letter from Joe Smith, published in the Nauvoo "Times and Seasons." of the 6th May, 1841 -- an extract from which thus reads:

To the editors of the Times and Seasons:
Gentlemen, -- I wish through the medium of your paper to make known, that on Sunday last I had the honor of receiving a visit from the Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, Justice of the Supreme Court and Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Illinois  *  *  *  who addressed the assembly and expressed his satisfaction at what he had seen and heard respecting our people, and took that opportunity of returning thanks to the citizens of Nauvoo, for conferring upon him the freedom of the city, stating that he was not aware of rendering us any services of sufficient importance to deserve such marked honor. Judge Douglass has ever proved himself friendly to this people, and interested himself to obtain for us our several charters, holding at the time the office of Secretary of State.
                    I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.
                        JOSEPH SMITH,"

Further information of the part taken by Judge Douglass in this matter may be found in other facts. The military powers claimed by Joe Smith produced a controversy between him and the militia officers of Hancock county. Some law proceedings were instituted, or proposed to be, by the militia officers last spoken of, and Judge Douglass appointed Major General Bennett, Master in Chancery, Joe Smith thereupon issued the following order:

As will be seen by the following opinion of Judge Douglass, of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, than whom no man stands more deservedly high in the public estimation, as an able and profound jurist, politician and statesman; the officers and privates belonging to the Legion, are exempt from all military duty, not required by the legally constituted authorities thereof, they are therefore expressly inhibited from performing any military service not ordered by the general officers, or directed by the court martial."

This order was followed by a legal opinion by Judge Douglass, prejudicing a case which in all probability would have come before his court for trial! We will only add, under this head, that Joe Smith was discharged by Judge Douglass from arrest under a State warrant issued upon the requisition of the Governor of Missouri, in which State Smith was indicted for murder, arson, &v., and a singular incident of granting a new trial to two Mormons, convicted of larceny by a jury, and the entry of a nolle presequi by the State's Attorney, a political friend of the Judge....
(under construction)


Notes: (forthcoming)

(Headline missing: more on "The Mormon Plot and League," etc.)

State of Illinois,    }     In the Hancock county circuit court.
Hancock County, }     To the October term, A. D. 1842.
                    John C. Bennett, complainany,
                    vs.
                    Mary A. Bennett, Defendant.

The complainant herein having filed affidavit that the defendant, Mary. A. Bennett, is a non-resident of this State, and resides in the State of Ohio, notice is hereby given, to the said Mary A. Bennett, that a suit in chancery has been commenced in the circuit court in and for said county of Hancock, [at] the suit of John C. Bennett against Mary A. Bennett, that a subpoena has been issued therein returnable on the first day of the next term thereof, to be holden at the court house in Carthage on the first Monday in the month of October, A. D. 1842. and that unless the said Mary A. Bennett shall appear on the return day of said writ, plead, and answer or demur to the said bill, the same will be taken as confessed against her, and matters thereof decreed accordingly.
          J. C. Davis, Clerk.
July 7, 1842.

---

ASTOUNDING DISCLOSURES!
Letters from GEN. BENNETT.

Bankruptcy of Joe Smith -- Threatened murder of Gen. Bennett to prevent disclosures; Gen. Bennett defied the impostor -- pledges himself to deliver up Joe Smith to the Governor of Missouri upon receiving legal authority for the purpose -- declares that Joe Smith is a disbeliever in the God of Heaven -- says that the State Arms at Nauvoo are suffering injury, and that they will be delivered upon the requisition of Gov. Carlin -- says that the office of Lieut. General which Joe Smith says places him on an equal authority with Washington and above Gen. Scott, is unconstitutional -- shows that the excommunication of Gen. Bennett was done sometime after he had withdrawn from the Mormons, "the best feelings subsisting between all parties," appeals to documents for proof -- denounces Joe Smith as the seducer of single and married females -- instances of his attempts on the virtue of Miss Nancy Rigdon, eldest daughter of Sidney Rigdon, Esq., who he approached "in the name of the Lord and by his authority and permission" -- refers to George W. Robinson and F. M. Higbee for information on this subject -- speaks of Joe Smith's attacks upon individuals to destroy their influence and to prevent an exposition of his conduct -- refers to Miss Martha Brotherton of Warsaw, for the history of an attempt of Joe Smith upon her honor -- Gen. Bennett asserts that hundreds of such cases can be given, if the Danites do not murder him -- that he has "the evidence, and it shall come" -- he promises to expose frauds, which will save the creditors of Joe Smith hundreds of thousands of dollars -- asserts that Joe Smith has violated his obligations as a mason, and has established "a new order" himself -- states that an affidavit made by himself, which Smith was using against him, was made while he was in duress, and he had the choice of being murdered or of making the affidavit -- he further states that Joe Smith has recently directed the people to give up "all their property to the Lord, and lay it at the apostle's (Joe Smith's) feet" -- uproar and confusion at Nauvoo -- the life of Capt. Amos Davis threatened, &c. &c.

The public will be astounded at the statements made by Gen. Bennett in the article which follows from under his own hand. -- That in this day of light and intelligence such a man as Joe Smith should be able to collect around him a mass of people, and make them believe in his shallow and miserable scheme of imposture, is matter of astonishment now, and will be more so in after times.

We presume that the Journal has been made the medium through which Gen. Bennett's publication has been given to the people, on the ground that the political papers of his own party, (General Bennett belongs to the "democratic" party) are at this time making common cause with Joe Smith, for the purpose of securing his influence in opposition to Gov. Duncan and in favor of Thomas Ford. Gen. Bennett has judged correctly, that in a case like this, where the interests of morality and of civil and religious liberty are so deeply concerned, the use of the columns of our widely circulating paper is free to a political opponent.

Gen. Bennett is the individual appointed by Judge Douglass, Master in Chancery for Hancock County -- a most important and responsible office, from the fact that the Master in Chancery, in many cases, performs the duty of a Judge of the Supreme Court. We have, therefore, the official endorsement of Judge Douglass, (which, however, is not needed,) in support of the character of General Bennett for truth, and all those qualities required of one who fills an office of high responsibility.

We state these facts, that the public may duly appreciate the attacks of those men upon Gen. Bennett, who are acting with Joe Smith, to decry and to destroy him -- and which attacks, so far, are made invariably by the friends of Thomas Ford and John Moore.

From the remarks of Gen. Bennett in the article below, we are induced to believe that the people will hear further from him through the medium of the journal.

---

For the Sangamo Journal.

            NAUVOO, ILLS., June 27, 1842.

To the Editor of the Journal:
I was in your city a few days since for the purpose of taking legal advice in relation to the contemplated Bankruptcy of Joseph Smith, the notorious Mormon Prophet and swindler; -- and procuring the commissions for the officers of the line and the new appointees to brevets in the staff of the Nauvoo Legion, for distribution prior to the general parade on the 4th of July next; but had no time to prepare an article for the press, as I was bound to be in Nauvoo on the 36th instant. But I now write you from the Mormon Zion, the city of the Saints, where I am threatened with death by the holy Joe, and his Danite band of murderers, in case I dare make my disclosures in relation to the conduct of that polluted mass of corruption, iniquity and fraud, -- that King of Impostors, -- the holy and immaculate Joe Smith. I shall however, expose him, and if I fall by the ruthless hands of such foul assassins, let my blood be avenged by the friends of God and my country. Remember he has threatened me with DEATH in propria persona, and if I should be immolated to satiate his hellish malice, let his blood atone for it -- put his "head in a charger," But I fear him not -- he is the most consummate blackguard, and dastardly coward. He is ready at all times to assassinate a man of equal corporeal strength, or to inflict corporal punishment on a man of feeble frame; but he fears his equals, and dreads his superiors. Joe Smith stands indicted for murder, treason, burglary, and arson in Missouri, and he defies the laws and the legally constituted authorities to deliver him over for trial. -- What a horrible state of society when men fear to execute the laws! -- especially in relation to the most foul impostor that ever disgraced the earth! If Governor Reynolds, of Missouri, will make another demand for Joe Smith alone, disconnected with any other person, -- (for there are thousands of innocent, unoffending, good and holy people among the Mormons, who never ought to suffer, and never shall by my hands, or through my instrumentality -- men, women and children who have suffered more than death for the infamous prophet -- and if Governor Carlin will place the writ in my hands, I will deliver him up to justice, or die in the attempt, unless restrained by the constituted civil authority. Thousands and tens of thousands are ready to obey the call, and enforce the laws, and the holy Joe shall tremble at the sight of the gathering hosts. Let the watchword pass with the celerity of lightning, and let the citizen-soldier be ready, -- I will lead you on to victory, and lay the rebels low. The Constitution and the laws shall triumph, and misrule , violence, and oppression wither like a blighted flower. :et not an Executive whom he has vilified and abused, as he has Governor Carlin, both in the private circle and public congregation, fear or neglect to do his duty in this case, and deliver up this noted refugee, charged with the blackest crimes known to the laws, who now boldly stalks abroad in our public ways. If Joe is innocent, let him be acquitted; but if he is guilty, let his life atone for it. I regard him as a foul and polluted murderer, and on the forthcoming of his State writ, Joe shall be delivered up.

Now, remember, that if I should be missing, Joe Smith either by himself or his Danite band, will be the murderer. Illinoisians, then let my blood be avenged! They seek my life by day and by night -- look well to the issue! I am in the infamous impostor's city; but I fear him not, neither do I regard his idolatrous god. He believes not in the God of Heaven, and I fear no other.

I now defy him, and all his holy hosts. I dare him to personal violence. There are eyes that see that he knows not of, and ears to hear that he understands not.

Now, Governor, do your duty. And citizens of Illinois, be in readiness to sustain your laws. I furnished the State arms to the Nauvoo Legion on a legal requisition, and on a legal requisition they shall be delivered up. The public arms are in a bad situation, and suffering material injury, and they had better be placed in the hands of more deserving men, for the State is sustaining a great loss. If the Governor wishes them for other troops, they are at his service. I derived the command of the Nauvoo Legion, and as Major General I have it, and am liable to trial only on an order from the Governor, detailing a general Court Martial of General officers from the other divisions of the State -- no brevet officer can affect me.

It is true that I had Joe appointed, or elected Lieutenant General, as a mere play thing, knowing that there was no such officer contemplated by the Constitution, but, it answers Joe well enough, as he does not know enough of military matters to tell the difference between a Corporal, and a General, -- so, Lieutenant General is as good as any otherral to Joe. In his public speeches he says -- "hear your Lieutenant General! the greatest military commander that ever lived since the days of Washington. -- General Scott is a mere pigmy compared to me! I command all the armies of the United States! -- and the Nauvoo Legion was formed to avenge blood in Missouri!!"

Joe is a great man of the kind -- but God will damn the kind -- for, if the devil don't get Joe Smith, there is no use for any devil. But to the damnable iniquity of this base impostor, and to copy, to wit:

              May 17, 1842.
"Bro. JAMES SLOAN, -- You will be so good as to permit Gen. Bennett to withdraw his name from the Church Record, if he desires to do so, and this with the best of feelings towards you and General Bennett.
                           JOSEPH SMITH."


"In accordance with the above I have permitted General Bennett to withdraw his membership from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this 17th day of May, 1842, -- the best of feelings subsisting between all parties,
              JAMES SLOAN,
          General Church Clerk and Recorder."

      From the (Nauvoo) "Wasp," of May 21, 1842.

"New election of Mayor, and Vice Mayor, of the City of Nauvoo, on the resignation of General Bennett.

On the 17th instant, General John C. Bennett, resigned the office of Mayor of the city of Nauvoo, and on the 19th, General Joseph Smith, the former Vice Mayor was duly elected to fill the vacancy; and on the same day General Hyrum Smith was elected Vice Mayor, in place of General Joseph Smith, elected Mayor.

The following vote of thanks was then unanimously voted to the Ex-Mayor, General Bennett, by the city Council, to wit:

Resolved, by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,
That this Council tender a vote of thanks for General John C. Bennett, for his great zeal in having good and wholesome laws adopted for the government of the city, and for the faithful discharge of his duty while Mayor of the same.

Passed May 19th, 1842.
              JOSEPH SMITH, Mayor.
     JAMES SLOAN, Recorder."

     From the "Times and Seasons" of June 15th, 1842:

NOTICE. The subscribers, members of the first Presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, withdraw the hand of fellowship from Gen. John C. Bennett, as a Christian; he having been labored with from time to time, to persuade him to amend his conduct, apparently to no good effect. JOSEPH SMITH,
HYRUM SMITH,
WM. LAW. The following members of the Quorum of the Twelve concur in the above sentiments:

Brigham Young,                    Willard Richards.
Lyman Wight,                       Heber C. Kimball,
John E. Page,                        William Smith,,
Wilford Woodruff,               John Taylor
                     George A. Smith,

We concur in the above sentiments:

W. K. WHITNEY,
V. KNIGHT,
GEORGE MILLER. Bishops of the above mentioned Church.

              Nauvoo, May 11th, 1842

Now it happens that John E. Page was in Pittsburgh, William Smith in Pennsylvania, and Lyman Wight in Tennessee, at the above date; -- this is the way Holy Joe does business. On Saturday, the 18th of June, I was excommunicated from this holy sect. Now look at the dates; -- on the 18th day of June I was excommunicated, and on the 17th of May previous I withdrew from this noble band of brothers. The withdrawal of fellowship was DATED BACK in order to have a pretext for my expulsion, and to destroy my influence before I could do any injury to the GREAT PROPHET, and was presented to Orson Pratt, one of the twelve, for his signature some days after I showed him my official withdrawal, and Mr. Pratt refused to sign it. Mr. Pratt is a gentleman of undoubted veracity and I am willing to abide his testimony. Call upon him. Mr. Editor, what think you of these extraordinary papers? -- What was all this for? I will tell you -- it was to destroy my influence, before I should expose Joe's attempt at seduction. -- Many of his followers will swear to any thing he desires them to, and think they are doing God's service, even when they KNOW it to be false. And to begin.

2d. Joseph Smith, the great Mormon seducer, one who has seduced not only hundreds of single and married females, but more than the great Solomon, attempted to seduce Miss Nancy Rigdon, the eldest single daughter of Sidney Rigdon, to submit to his hellish purposes, and become one of his clandestine wives under the new dispensation. Call upon Miss Rigdon, who repulsed him with commendable firmness, and I will abide her testimony -- call, likewise, upon Gen. George W. Robinson, and Col. F. M. Higbee, to state what they know upon this subject. Gen. Robinson and Col. Higbee, can tell some astounding facts in relation to this matter. Joe approached Miss Rigdon "in the name of the Lord, and by his authority and permission," as he said. Joe attacked Mr. Rigdon, Gen. Robinson, Col. Higbee and myself, In order to destroy the influence of all of us to prevent the exposition of this case. -- But it is all true, and the legal evidence shall be forthcoming. Call upon Miss Martha Brotherton, of Warsaw, and see what she will say as to the base attempt at seduction in her own case. She can tell a tale of woe that would make humanity shudder. Call upon Miss Mitchell, of this city, one of the most chaste and spotless females in the west, and see what she knows as to the PROPHET'S SECRET WIVES. Hundreds of cases can be instanced, and if the Danites do not murder me, you shall hear a tale of pollution and sorrow. Joe's licentiousness is unparalleled in the annals of time. I have the evidence, and it shall come; and no attacks on me to divert the public mind from himself, and his iniquity shall avail him. My purpose is fixed, and the world shall know who the great impostor is. -- Time will not permit my going into further detail in this letter; but an abused and insulted public shall know all about it.

3d. Joe's extensive land frauds in Iowa and Illinois will soon come to light. I will save his Eastern creditors some hundreds of thousands of dollars, by exposing these frauds in the face of open day -- by the legal records of the country, and oral testimony. All is in readiness.

4th. I will expose his actings and doings in Nauvoo Lodge, U. D. when none but the Mormon brethren were present; -- that he (Joe Smith) and five others, were entered, passed, and raised, before the Lodge was installed by the Grand Master; and that they all passed through a second time afterwards, with the exception of one, who is now abroad; and many other like irregularities, and departures from the ancient land-marks. He has, likewise, established a new lodge of his own, by inspiration. entitled "ORDER," in which there many curious things, and relative to which I have much to say hereafter. The following is a part of the obligation -- "I furthermore promise and swear that I will never touch a daughter of Adam UNLESS SHE IS GIVEN ME OF THE LORD," so as to accord with the NEW DISPENSATION and the "ancient order of things."

5th. The attacks on me in the "Wasp" are all for public effect, and to divert the public eye from Joe's infamous conduct. My affidavit as taken before Esq. Wells, and my statements before the City Council, in relation to the holy Joe, were made under DURESSE -- my life was threatened unless I submitted to the requisition of Joe. I then preferred the course I took to DEATH, as I knew the public were not apprized of the facts, and I could have been murdered and no person would have been the wiser; but the public are now apprised of the matter, and I am ready and willing to die in exposing this impious man, and the people will avenge my blood. I never feared death, but I chose not to die before I rendered God and the people signal service in bringing to light the hidden things of darkness. But more of this hereafter.

6th. The whole city is now in an uproar in relation to the doctrine of consecration as taught on yesterday -- The people are ALL required to come forward and consecrate ALL their property to the LORD by placing it at the APOSTLE'S FEET, or in the hands of JOE SMITH!!!!!! There is much flouncing on this subject, and what will be the issue God only knows. I will give you some important facts in my next.

7th. The life of Captain Amos Davis, with some others, has been threatened as well as my own; and I hereby put the public on the look-out. I will write you as time permits. In haste,
             Yours respectfully,
             JOHN C. BENNETT.

The Arms of the State -- where are they?

Governor Carlin appointed General Bennett, Quarter Master General of the State, and with Governor Carlin's approbation the State arms were placed in the hands of the Legion, and remain with them to their great injury and to the loss of the State

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Designs of the Mormon Allies of the Van Buren party

Extract from an oration by S. Rigdon, Esq.:

"We take God and all the Holy Angels to witness this day, that we warn all men in the name of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more forever. The men or set of men who attempt it, does it at the expense of their lives * * * * * *

"No man shall be at liberty to come into our streets, to threaten us with mobs; for if he does he shall atone for it before he leaves the place; for suffer it, we will not; neither will we indulge any man, or set of men, in instituting vexatious law-suits against us, to cheat us of our just rights; if they should attempt it, we say woe be unto them. We this day then proclaim ourselves free, with a purpose and determination that can never be broken; no never, NO NEVER, NO NEVER."

In the Book of the Covenants, page 191, is found the following:

"Wherefore I say unto you, that I have sent unto you my everlasting covenant, (namely, the book of Mormon) even that which was from the beginning, and that which I have promised I have so fulfilled, and the nations of the earth shall bow to it; and if not of themselves, they shall come down, for that which is now exalted of itself, shall be laid low by power."

The following is by Parley P. Pratt, one of the Mormon twelve Apostles:

"The Government of the United States, has been engaged for upwards of seven years, in gathering the remnant of Joseph (the Indians) to the very place where they will finally build the New Jerusalem, a city of Zion, with the acquisition of the believing gentiles, who will gather them from all the nations of the earth, and this gathering is clearly predicated in the book of Mormon, and the place before appointed, and the time set for its fulfillment; and except the Gentiles repent of all their abominations, and embrace the same covenant, and come into the same place of gathering, they will soon be utterly destroyed, from off the face of this land; as it is written by Isaiah, 'the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee, shall perish.'   I will state as a prophesy, that there will not be an unbelieving Gentile upon this continent 50 years hence; and if they are not greatly scourged, and in a great measure overthrown, within five or ten years from this date, 1838 then the Book of Mormon will have proved itself false."

On page 76 of the same book:

"Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear, may. Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; and the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is sheathed in Heaven, and it shall fall upon inhabitants of the earth, that they that will not hear the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people; Wherefore I have called upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thrash the nations by the power of my spirit; and their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler, and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me, and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf; and with the fire of my indignation will I preserve them."

W. W. Phelps, Post-Master in the county of Caldwell, Mo., makes the following statement, on oath in a judicial proceeding:

"Mr. Rigdon arose and made an address to them, in which he spoke of having borne persecutions, and law-suits, and other privations, and did not intend to bear them any longer, that they meant to resist the law, and if a sheriff came after them with writs they would kill him, and if any body opposed them, they would take off their heads." "Joseph Smith, jr. followed Mr. Rigdon, approving his sentiments, and said that was what they intended to do. Mr. Rigdon then commenced making covenants with uplifted hands, one of which was, that if any persons from the surrounding country came into their town, walking about, no odds who he might be, any one of that meeting should kill him, and throw him aside into the brush. Another covenant was, to conceal all things. These measures were carried unanimously in the form of covenants with uplifted hands. Mr. Rigdon then observed, that the kingdom of Heaven had no secrets, that yesterday a man slipped his wind, and was dragged into the hazel brush; and, said he, the man who lisps it shall die."

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Consummation of the contract -- Joe Smith's Proclamation.

STATE  GUBERNATORIAL  CONVENTION.
City of Nauvoo, Illinois,
December 20th, A. D. 1841. To my friends in Illinois: --

The Gubernatorial Convention of the State of Illinois, have nominated Colonel Adam W. Snyder for GOVERNOR, and Colonel John Moore for LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR of the State of Illinois -- election to take place in August next. Colonel Moore, like Judge Douglass, and Esq. Warren, was an intimate friend of General Bennett, long before that gentleman became a member of our community; and General Bennett informs us that no men were more efficient in assisting him to procure our chartered privileges than were Colonel Snyder and Colonel Moore. They are sterling men, and friends of equal rights -- opposed to the oppressor's grasp, and the tyrant's rod. With such men at the head of our State Government we have nothing to fear. In the next canvass we shall be influenced by no party consideration -- and no Carthagenian coalescence or collusion, with our party, will be suffered to affect, or operate against General Bennett or any other of our tried friends already semi-officially in the field; so the partizans in this county who expect to divide the friends of humanity and equal rights will find themselves mistaken -- we care not a fig for Whig or Democrat: they are both alike to us; but we shall go for our friends, our tried friends, and the cause of human liberty which is the cause of God. We are aware that "divide and conquer" is the watch-word with many, but with us it cannot be done -- we love liberty too well -- we have suffered too much to be easily duped -- we have no cat's-paws amongst us. We voted for Gen. Harrison because we loved him -- he was a gallant officer and a tried statesman; but this is no reason why we should always be governed by his friends -- he is now dead, and all of his friends are not ours. We claim the privileges of freemen, and shall act accordingly. Douglass is a Master Spirit, and his friends and our friends -- we are willing to cast our banners on the air, and fight by his side in the cause of humanity, and equal rights -- the cause of liberty and the law. Snyder and Moore, are his friends -- they are ours. These men are free from the prejudices and superstitions of the age, and such men we love, and such men will ever receive our support, be their political predilections what they may. Snyder, and Moore are known to be our friends; their friendship is vouched for by those whom we have tried. We will never be justly charged with the sin of ingratitude -- they have served us, and we will serve them.
               JOSEPH SMITH.
               Lieutenant-General of the Nauvoo Legion.

We have thus given some of the evidence upon which we found the charge, that the leaders of the Van Buren party by contract, and league, having bargained for the votes of the Mormons, and have given as consideration therefore the extraordinary charters referred [to] by Joe Smith in the above proclamation. It is by means of this contract and league that the party hope to elect Thomas Ford and John Moore, and for this reason did Thomas Ford, at a recent public gathering in Scott county, refuse to pledge himself to amend or repeal the Mormon charters! We trust that the people are not ready to sanction the corruptions which we have herein exposed. If they do -- if they [have given] the Mormons the power "to dictate to the State." they will place upon themselves a yoke which neither themselves or their children will be able to bear.

They can already dictate to the State of Illinois.

The people of this State are well aware of the fact, that the Mormon College at Nauvoo has conferred on J. C. Bennett, the editor of the New York Herald, the degree of Doctor of Laws. The same paper has been selected by Joe Smith as his organ in New York city, and the city council of Nauvoo, by resolutions, have recommended the Herald to the patronage of the Mormon church throughout the country. These facts, with the additional one that Joe Smith, by some of his followers, carries on a confidential correspondence with the editor of the Herald, stamp with authority the statements of that paper in relation to the policy and designs of Joe Smith.

The New York Herald of the 17th June, contains sundry articles in reference to Mormon affairs, presented under this blazoning caption --

"Highly important from the Mormon Empire --
Wonderful progress of Joe Smith -- Spread of the Mormon
Faith, and a new religious revolution at hand."

The Herald then gives the following editorial paragraphs.

"It is very evident that the Mormons exhibit a remarkable degree of tact, skill, shrewdness, energy and enthusiasm. The particular features of their faith are nothing against their success. Do they believe their new Bible, their VIRGIN REVELATION, their singular creed? If they do so with enthusiasm and practice their shrewd precepts, the other sects will fall before them. THIS IS CERTAIN -- THIS IS HUMAN NATURE. In Illinois they have shown how to acquire a vast influence, by holding the balance of power between both parties. THEY CAN ALREADY DICTATE TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, AND IF THEY PURSUE THE SAME POLICY IN OTHER STATES, WILL THEY NOT SOON DICTATE TO CONGRESS AND DECIDE THE PRESIDENCY? In all matters of public concernment, they act as one man, with one soul, one mind, and one purpose. Their religious and moral principles bind them together firmly.

"Verily, verily, we are truly in the "latter days" -- and we should not be surprised to see that the Mormon religion is the REAL MILLENIUM already commenced. One thing is certain. The Mormons are so constituted that, in these temperance times, THEY WILL SWALLOW UP ALL THE OTHER LUKEWARM PROTESTANT SECTS -- and the moral and religious world will be divided between the Pope and the Catholics on one side, and Joseph Smith and the Mormons on the other. The oyster is opening, and will soon be equally divided."

The Herald says "the mormons can already dictate to the State of Illinois!" Are they not doing it? Has not Joe Smith issued a Proclamation on requiring his followers to vote for certain candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor? The Herald calls the mormon religion "a virgin revelation," and that all "other sects will fall before it." Precisely the same sentiment, though not the same words, was made use of by Judge Douglass on the same subject. He said to J. M. Ruggles. Esq. that "he believed there was as much true religion among them (the Mormons) as any other church." and that "a new broom sweeps clean." Singular coincidence, indeed!

Dr. Bennett of the New York Herald considers the Mormon "a virgin revelation" -- and that "all other sects will fall before it" -- and Judge Douglass considers that they "have as much true religion among them as any other church" and that "a new broom sweeps clean."

So much for this editorial article of Dr. Bennett, written, without doubt, under the direction of Joe Smith.

AN  OFFICER  OF  THE  U. S.  ARTILLERY.

This letter requires no comments. We ask the people of this State, shall Joe Smith dictate to them? Shall he tell them for whom they shall vote for Governor and Lt. Governor? Let the people answer.

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The same paper contains a letter from an officer of the U. S. artillery under date; "City of Nauvoo, Ill., May 8, 1842" in which the writer says --

"Yesterday was a great day among the Mormons. Their Legion, to the number of two thousand men, was paraded by General Smith, Bennett and others, and certainly made a very noble and imposing appearance. The evolutions of the troops directed by Major General Bennett, would do honor to any body of armed militia in any of the States, and approximates very closely to our regular forces. WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN? Why the exact discipline of the Mormon corps? DO THEY INTEND TO CONQUER MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, MEXICO? It is true they are part of the militia of the State of Illinois, by the charter of their Legion, but then there are no troops in the States like them in point of enthusiasm and warlike aspect, yea warlike character. Before many years this Legion will be twenty, and perhaps fifty thousand strong, and still augmenting. A fearful host, filled with religious enthusiasm, and led on by ambitious and talented officers, what may not be effected by them? perhaps the subversion of the constitution of the United States and if this be considered too great a task, foreign conquest will most certainly follow. Mexico will fall into their hands, even it.

"These Mormons are accumulating, like a snow-ball rolling down an inclined plane, which in the end becomes an avalanche. They are also enrolling among their officers some of the first talent in the country, by titles or bribes. It Don't matter which. They have appointed your namesake, Capt. Bennett, late of the army of the United States, Inspector General of their Legion, and he is commissioned as such by Gov. Carlin. This gentleman is known to be well skilled in fortification, gunnery, ordinance. castramentation, and military engineering generally, and I am assured that he is now under pay, derived from the tithings of this warlike people. I have seen his plans for fortifying Nauvoo, which are equal to any of Vauban's.

I arrived here incog. on the 1st inst., and from the great preparation for the military parade, was induced to stay to see the turn-out, which I confess has astonished and filled me with fears for future consequences. The Mormons, it is true, are now peaceable, but the lion is asleep. Take care, and don't rouse him.

The Mormons number in Europe and America about one hundred and fifty thousand, and are constantly pouring into Nauvoo and the neighboring country. There are probably in about this city and adjacent territories, not far from 30,000 of these warlike fanatics, this place having been settled by them only three years ago.


The Van Buren paper at Carrolton is out for Joe Smith, Ford and Moore, and of course endorses all the slanders of Joe Smith and his party against Gov. Duncan, as the following article from that paper will show:--

                                       From the Carrolton (People's) Advocate.
HONEST JO. DUNCAN! -- The "Wasp" paper published at Nauvoo, contains a letter dated Edwardville, Madison county, in this State, from which we extract the following high testimonial of the honor and honesty of this immaculate whig candidate for Governor. The writer is a lady -- Mrs. Matilda R. Bailey, who undoubtedly, is a hard working woman.

They say here that Joseph Duncan is up for Governor; if he is elected. I say that mobs and destruction await the saints, if it is in his power to accomplish it, unless he is a better man than when I worked for him. I washed and ironed for his family to the amount of six dollars and seventy-five cents, and because we lived in a wretched old house, not one cent would he pay, but gave me the most abusive language that I ever heard a man utter, without the least provocation.

Yet this is the man whom the whig presses in this State have been extolling to the skies for the generosity which he has displayed in aiding the Temperance and other benevolent institutions pecuniary. True benevolence is easily known by its being dictated by moral honesty. An individual who will defraud his washerwoman out of "six dollars and seventy-five cents" is as devoid of moral honesty as he is of the first principle that constitutes the man. Jo Duncan has been guilty of this mean act, and yet he is styled by some the "pink of honor." To a certainty there are some, who steal the livery of high Heaven to serve the devil in."

Does the Advocate suppose that these miserable slanders will affect the reputation of Gov. Duncan? Gov. Duncan has lived too long in this State, and his reputation stands too high with the people to be injured by the low scurrilities of Joe Smith, or his endorser, the People's Advocate.

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"BOGGS'D."

This is a new word for assassination. The incident given in the following paragraph from the Alton Telegraph, we have heard stated from other sources. It is unquestionably true. What better should we expect from men who implicitly follow the direction of leaders, who in the case of Gov. Boggs, pronounced MURDER "A NOBLE DEED!"

A Mormon in Brown county, after Gov. Duncan addressed the people of that county, remarked, "if Gov. Duncan does not look out, he'll be Boggs'd." Are we to understand from this, that Gov. Duncan is to receive the same sad fate lately visited by some unknown assassin upon Ex-Governor Boggs, of Missouri? If not, why the threat that if he did not look out, would be "Boggs'd?" By taking Gov. Duncan's life, the Mormon candidate, Judge Ford, may succeed in being elected; but if his life is spared, the citizens of Illinois will put a veto under Political Mormonism, that we trust will effectually efface it from Illinois.

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A GOOD ONE! -- Judge Ford writes to one of our State officers, that when he became a candidate for governor, "he had no idea of getting any of the Mormon votes." He had never heard or seen Joe Smith's proclamation! This is too big a one judge. A man who could swallow such a story, would have no difficulty in swallowing a whale!

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We have another communication from General BENNETT. Its disclosures are horrible. We shall publish it as an extra as soon as possible.

Joe Smith and Ford's friends are uniting their forces to destroy the weight of Bennett's evidence. This is as we anticipated.

We shall give in our next some account of the origin and objects of the DANITE BAND of Mormons, to which Gen. Bennett refers in his communication.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS.

Two gentlemen, who passed through holy Joe's city on Thursday of last week, state, that soon after their arrival Joe made a speech in front of the Temple. The subject of his speech was -- Bennett -- the Sangamo Journal -- Mrs. Pratt -- and other matters. Joe swore like a pirate, and used the most obscene language. He appeared to be much excited, and it would be an act of charity to suppose that the holy debauchee was drunk as well as mad.

Joe, it is said, anticipates a requisition for his person from the Governor of Missouri. He has the utmost horror of the idea of being given up. Joe thinks that Judge Ford will not give him up if he should be elected Governor.

Joe, it is further said, is laboring to make up the breach with Rigdon, Pratt, and others, by offers of special favor. We trust that in this effort he will not succeed. Joe cannot now harm these men. He will not injure them. He dare not fulfill his threats, and his promises are not to be relied on. -- We again call upon Messrs. Rigdon and Pratt, as they regard virtue, honor, and the reputation of their families, to come out from this Nauvoo 'Babylon, and Mother of Harlots,' the home of 'the whoremonger and the adulterer,' and 'be not a partaker of her plagues.' The developments which have been made, must sink Joe Smith to the lowest depths of infamy in the eyes of all honest men. He must fall so certain as God punishes vice and rewards virtue.

Miss Martha H. Brotherton has done herself honor, and the cause of virtue is greatly indebted to her for the publication she has made. We trust her example will be followed by Mrs. Pratt and Miss Rigdon. The holy cause of insulted virtue -- of wronged innocence -- of the honor and character of families -- demand that THE IMPOSTOR BE UNVAILED AND EXHIBITED TO THE WORLD IN ALL HIS DEFORMITY.

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In this community, we verily believe that there is not a man disconnected with the Mormons, who does not place implicit confidence in the disclosures of General Bennett. These disclosures show that the rulers of this Mormon confederacy are steeped in pollutions of the blackest dye -- pollutions and crimes violatory of all laws, human and divine -- and for which we can hardly find a parallel, without going back to the ingulfed "cities of the plain."

---

ORSON PRATT. -- We learn from the Warsaw Signal that this gentleman has gone from Nauvoo. He left a communication with his friends which stated that he had been induced to take this course on account of the treatment of his wife by Smith, and of the general management of the Church by him.

We further learn from other sources that Smith, finding his attempts on Mrs. Pratt were matters of notoriety, went to her husband with a manufactured story that his wife was a base woman, and that the fact was well known to him. This communication had such an effect upon Mr. Pratt -- at once blasting his happiness and the reputation of a virtuous woman -- that the wretched husband left the city.

It will be recollected that Mrs. Schindle, in her affidavit detailing the attempt of Smith upon her, said -- "He told her she must never tell his propositions to her, for he had all the influence in that place, and if she told he would ruin her character, and she would be under the necessity of leaving."

This same scheme has been carried out in reference to Mrs. Pratt. She 'told' on the Impostor, and was marked by him for destruction. In a public speech in Nauvoo on the 14th, Joe spoke of this lady -- a woman whose reputation had been as fair as virtue could make it until she came in contact with him -- in a manner only befitting the lowest and most degraded vagabond in existence.

The reader can hence learn the state of society at Nauvoo. The facts furnished are presented by the holy Joe himself.

We do not know what course will be pursued by Mr. Pratt. If he sinks under the denunciations and schemes of Joe Smith -- if he fails to defend the reputation of himself and of the woman he has vowed before high Heaven to protect -- he will fix a stain upon character which he can never wash out and carry to the grave the pangs caused by "the gnawings of the worm that never dies."

We trust that he will secure for himself a more honorable position in life, and will come to the rescue of the fame of his lady, and expose the infamous course of the Prophet, as becomes a man, an honorable citizen, and a sincere Christian, --

---

==> Joe Smith, in a speech in Nauvoo on Thursday the 14th last, (and which was heard by two gentlemen of our city,) said -- "He wished Bennett was in Hell! -- he had given him more trouble than any man he ever had to do with." Joe was undoubtedly sincere in this expression of his wishes.

In the same speech he declared that Mrs. Pratt, the wife of Mr. O. Pratt, "had been a w**** from her mother's breast." This was the lady whom Bennett says Joe attempted to seduce, and who resisted all his efforts with the heroism of insulted virtue."

In what a horrid and depraved condition society must be in Nauvoo!

---

GEN.  BENNETT'S  4TH  LETTER.

Bennett's expose of the attempted murder of Gov. Boggs published -- also Miss Botherton's statement of Smith's attack upon her -- Culpability of those who remain under the control of Joe Smith hereafter -- Reasons of Bennett for not making earlier disclosures -- Statement of the Nauvoo "Times and Seasons" that the Mormons have not been guilty of Penitentiary crimes, proved to be false -- Comments -- Joe Smith's correspondence with Mrs. White over the signature of "Old White Hat" -- Letter of Joe Smith to Miss Rigdon to be published -- Irregularities of Nauvoo Lodge -- Admission of C. A. Warren, Esq. that Joe's "big deed" was made out on a Saturday preceding the Monday on which he applied for the benefit of the Bankrupt Law -- the deed ante-dated -- Comments -- the City Council of Nauvoo on the 5th July passed a habeas corpus, to take Joe Smith from the Governor's warrant, if demanded by Missouri -- Two hundred Danites in Nauvoo, sworn to obey Joe Smith "as the supreme God" -- Gen. Bennett in Nauvoo, sworn to obey Joe Smith "as the supreme God" -- Gen. Bennett will not attempt to refute the charges made against him by Joe Smith and company until he accomplishes the work of exposing their iniquities.

For the Sangamo Journal
ST. LOUIS, Mo. July 15th, 1842. To the Editor of the Journal:

I have published in the Bulletin of this city a detailed account of the attempted assassination of Governor Boggs, by Smith; and in a subsequent number, the full statement of Miss Brotherton, both of which you will please to copy, as they are of much interest at this time. The cases of Mrs. Pratt, Miss Rigdon, and Miss Brotherton, all ladies of the first order of talents, and the highest respectability, are precisely similar. In all these cases the ARCH SEDUCER, and his Apostles, were signally repulsed: but in hundreds of other cases, they succeeded to their hearts' content in their black hearted work of deep degradation, corruption and sorrow.

ALL who now remain in the church must be regarded as particeps criminis in the new doctrine; -- their wives defiled, their daughters debauched, their sisters outraged, and their mothers polluted!!! Can men who have a just sense of honor, and their duty to themselves and their families, longer follow a base deceiver and teacher of such a system of licentiousness and debauchery, such as is Jo Smith? They cannot without being partakers with him in his hellish deeds. The "HISTORY OF THE SAINTS," which I am about to publish, will develope wonders.

I am blamed by some for not making earlier disclosures; but I will show to the perfect satisfaction of all candid and reasonable men, that an earlier attempt would have met with a signal defeat. I came out as soon as I had all the facts in my possession, and a premature expose, all must admit, would have been worse than nothing. The minds of his believers never could have been DISABUSED by such an unwise step. You will see.

An article appears in the (Nauvoo) Times and Seasons, of July 1, 1842, from the pen of William Law, (one of Joe's councilors of the First Presidency, selected by express revelation from Heaven thro' Joe, as he boasts, for his great piety and unquestioned veracity), dated June 17, 1842, and headed "Much ado about Nothing," in which the truthful General Law says:

Where is there a record against any of our people for a penitentiary crime? NOT IN THE STATE, Where is there a record of fine or county imprisonment (for ANY breach of law) against any of the Latter Day Saints. I know of none in the State. If then they have broken no law, they consequently have taken away no man's right, they have infringed upon no man's liberties.

And the truthful holy Joe. and his truthful holy Job Tylor, the Apostle, (the senior and junior editors of the Times and Seasons) endorse the statement in an editorial, as follows:

The above are plain matters of fact, that every one may become acquainted with by reference to the county or State records. We might add that in regard to moral principles there is no city in this State or in the United States, that can compare with the city of Nauvoo; you may live in our city for a month and not hear an oath sworn -- you may be here as long and not see one person intoxicated; so notorious are we for sobriety, that at the time the Washingtonian Convention passed through our city, a meeting was called for them, etc. etc.

NOW  FOR  THE  RECORDS!!!

The People of the State of Illinois,}
          vs.
Timothy Lewis, (Mormon)           }

Indicted for Larceny, October 2d, 1842. Sentenced to four years imprisonment in the Penitentiary -- thirty days solitary confinement -- for stealing horses.


The People of the State of Illinois,}
          vs.
Sally Castile and Francis Castile, (Mormons) }

Indicted for stealing a log chain, October 5th, 1841. -- These defendants were convicted by a jury of Hancock county for the above theft, -- new trial granted -- the venue changed to McDonough, where no witnesses appeared, and they were discharged.


The People of the State of Illinois,}
          vs.
_______ Johnson, (Mormon)       }

Arrested for stealing, and escaped from the officers.


The People of the State of Illinois,  }
          vs.
Alanson Brown, (Mormon Danite) }

In jail under process from McDonough county for stealing, and for stabbing a man in Hancock county.


The People of the State of Illinois, }
          vs.
__________ Grear, (Mormon        }

In jail for incest and rape on his own daughter..


The People of the State of Illinois,}
          vs.
William Wood, (Mormon)           }

Change of venue from Hancock county to McDonough, and sentenced to the Penitentiary for two years, for stealing horses.


The People of the State of Illinois, }
          vs.
_______ Lindsay, (Mormon          }

Sent to the Penitentiary from Adams county for stealing a saddle from B. F. Marsh, in Hancock county.


These cases are from the RECORDS of Hancock. McDonough and Adams counties; and if these truth-telling Mormons, Smith, law and Taylor, wish more proof I refer them to the same records. When liars black-hearted liars, are so bare-faced as to challenge the records, their refuge of lies shall not cover them.

Because ye had said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell, are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. -- Isaiah, c. 38, v. 15.

And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then we shall be trodden down by it. -- Ibid. 28, 18.

Now, gentlemen, what do you think of the RECORDS? These are the pretended men of God, who speak as they are moved by the Holy Ghost!!! Let Satan hide his head for shame. If other cities cannot compare with Nauvoo in regard to "moral principles," they can undoubtedly excel in moral practices: -- what think you, Mr. Editor? Joe Smith himself is a great drunkard; and most profane swearer, and the "History of the Saints" will show it up in fine order.

I would here ask Joe if he recollects, of certain letters written by himself to Mrs. White, from Springfield, signed "Old White Hat?" If he does not, I can inform him that one or two of these letters are on hand. I have Joe's letter to Miss Rigdon, which will come out in the history.

Let me here inform the Masonic Brethern, that in Nauvoo Lodge, U. D., sixty three persons were balloted for in one ballot -- and three entered, three passed, and four raised, in one day, and the records made to appear as though only three were raised by ante-dating one. Robinson, Higbee and Henry Marks, can tell about this. Mr. Bowen, of Hannibal, Mo., a high Mason, can tell them (and he did tell the Junior Grand Warden, Mr. Dilts, of Quincy,) that Mr. Hollister was absent from there (Hannibal) at Nauvoo, only six or seven days, during which time he presented his petition and was entered, passed, and raised.

This was done by the direction of George Miller, the Master, by Joe's directions, and was affected by ante-dating and interlining the Old Record, as can be seen by examination. Their Dispensation should be immediately withdrawn, and a charter refused, and Miller and Joe expelled. Miller, that beautiful piece of perfection, shall be shown up in such a way as will make Masons tremble at their credulity in relying upon the statements of this Mormon High Priest; and HYRUM, that holy Patriarch, must have a few choice compliments served up for his special benefit in our own good time.

It may not be unimportant to remark here that CALVIN A WARREN, Esq., Smith's attorney in bankruptcy, admitted in presence of Dr. Marshall, of Carthage, the County Clerk of Hancock, that Joe's big deed was made out at the time I have stated in my last, the Saturday preceding the Monday on which he applied for the benefit, and on which it was filed for record. In what light will this place the Mormon Justice of the Peace, Ebenezer Robinson, in the ante-dating an official act under oath? I told you before, however, that the most of the Mormons would do, say, and swear to ANY THING that Joe Smith directed; and you now see it. Are you not now satisfied that most of them (tho' there are some purely honest in all these things who are kept in ignorance,) are liars, thieves, robbers, murderers, and every thing that is vile, low and groveling. On the 5th of July, the City Council under the Governor's warrant passed a Habeas Corpus act to take Joe Smith from under the Governor's warrant if demanded by Missouri!!! Congress should be very careful how they pass any act repugnant to the ordinances of Nauvoo -- as that Theocracy might exclude them from the celestial kingdom. This is a "pretty kettle of fish," for Joe Smith to issue a Habeas Corpus to take himself from under the Executive writ!! and that too for the darkest deeds known to the black catalogues of crimes.

There are about two hundred Danites in Nauvoo, sworn to regard Joe Smith as the supreme head of the church, and to obey him "the same as the Supreme God."

I have not time here to go into detail, but shall give a full account of them hereafter. As to my own case, I shall not attempt to refute any of the charges preferred against me by that combination of wicked men and devils, until I accomplish the work before me, (nothing shall divert me from my plans, then I will show up their lies in rather an unexpected way to them. When Missouri secures Joe, I shall be ready to make all my charges good against him.

Yours Respectfully,
JOHN C. BENNETT.

---

Disclosures -- the attempted
MURDER  OF  BOGGS!

To the Editors of the St. Louis Bulletin:

In accordance with your request I now proceed to give you some account of the attempt on the life of Ex-Governor Boggs, of Missouri.

Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, in a public congregation in Nauvoo, last season, (1841), prophesied that Liburn W, Boggs, Ex-Governor of Missouri, should die by violent hands within a year. Mr. C. S. Hamilton, of Carthage, Ill. stated in my presence, and in the presence of several other gentlemen, at the tavern house of Mr. Robinson in Warsaw, Illinois, on Sunday, the 10th inst., that he was present and heard this prophecy; I was likewise present, as were many thousand people, and heard the prediction. The faithful, however, will deny this, in order to save "THE LORD'S ANNOINTED." as Joe Smith is called, from merited punishment.

In the spring of 1842, Smith offered a reward of five hundred dollars to any man that would kill Boggs. I heard the offer made to some of the Danites, and told Smith that if he persisted in such a course, it would result in his ruin. Mr. Jonathan Clark, of Hancock county, Illinois, stated in Carthage on the 6th inst., in the presence of Dr. Thomas L. Barnes, Jonas Hobart, myself and others, that Mr. Taylor, an English emigrant, told him that he heard Smith make the same offer and that he (Taylor) had, in consequence thereof apostatized and written home to his friends in Europe detailing the horrible facts.

Mr. O. P. Rockwell left Nauvoo from one to two months prior to the attempted assassination of Gov. Boggs, told Orson Pratt, and wife that he (Rockwell) had been in Bogg's neighborhood, in Missouri, and had had the honor of standing on the corner of [the] Temple lot in Independence -- and returned to Nauvoo the day before the report of the attempted assassination reached there -- said he came down the Missouri river to the Mississippi, then down to St. Louis, then up to Nauvoo, etc., etc. At that time the "Nauvoo Wasp" declared, "It remains to be known who did the NOBLE DEED." The Wasp was, and is yet, edited by Wm. Smith, brother of the Prophet.

Some weeks after Rockwell left Nauvoo I asked Smith where he had gone. "Gone," said he, "Gone to fulfill PROPHECY," with a significance in relation to the violent death of Boggs.

On the evening of the 29th ultimo, twelve of the Danites, dressed in female apparel, approached my boarding house, (Gen. Robinson's), in Nauvoo, with their carriage wheels wrapped with blankets and their horses' feet covered with cloths, to prevent noise, about 10 o'clock, for the purpose of conveying me off and assassinating me, and thus prevent disclosures -- but I was so admirably prepared with arms, as were also my friends, that after prowling around the house for some time, they retired.

On Friday, the 1st., I went to Carthage; and on the 5th I had a call from Mr. O. P. Rockwell, the result of which is detailed in the following affidavits, to wit:

State of Illinois, Hancock County, ss.

Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a justice of the peace in and for said County, John C. Bennet, who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that on the 5th of July, 1842, at the house of Mr. Hamilton, in Carthage, Mr. O. P. Rockwell came to him and desired a private interview, to which deponent replied that if he (Rockwell) had any thing to say, he could speak it out before the gentlemen present. Rockwell said it was a private matter which interested them only -- deponent then went out with him. Rockwell said, "Doctor do you know your friends, -- I am not your enemy -- and I do not wish you to make of my name in your publications;" deponent replied that he recognized Joe Smith and all his friends, as his personal enemies; to which Rockwell replied "I have been informed by Warner and Davis that you said Smith gave me fifty dollars and a wagon for shooting Boggs, and I can and will whip any man that will tell such a cursed lie -- did you say so or not? After looking at him for a moment the deponent said, "I never said so, sir, but I did say, and I now say it to your face, that you left Nauvoo about two months before the attempted assassination of Ex-Governor Boggs, or Missouri, and returned the day before the report of the assassination reached there; and that two persons in Nauvoo told me that you told them that you had been over the upper part of Missouri, and in Boggs' neighborhood;" -- to which Rockwell replied, "Well I was there; and if I shot Boggs they have got to prove it -- I never done an act in my life that I was ashamed of, and I do not fear to go any where that I have ever been, for I have done nothing criminal." Deponent replied, "Certainly they have got to prove it on you if you did shoot him; I know nothing of what you did, as I was not there, I only know the circumstances, and from them I draw my own inferences, and the public will their's -- and now, sir, if either you or Joe Smith think you can intimidate me by your threats, you are mistaken in your man, and I wish you to understand distinctly that I am opposed to Joe and his holy host -- I shall tell the truth fearlessly, and regardless of consequences." Rockwell replied, "If you say that Joe Smith gave me fifty dollars and a wagon to shoot Boggs, I can whip you, and will do it in a crowd." Deponent then saith -- "why are you harping on what I have not said, I have told you what I have said to your face and in presence of these gentlemen, and you have acknowledged the truth of all I have said, and I shall say it again, and if you wish to fight I am ready for you." The conversation then ceased on that subject. Rockwell told deponent that he had been accused wrongfully of wishing to assassinate him, or of being ordered by Smith to do so; bit deponent said, "I believe that Joe ordered you to do it -- I know that orders were sent from him to the Danites for that purpose." Rockwell said that Smith had never given him any such orders, neither was it his intention; and further the deponent saith not.

                                        JOHN C. BENNETT.

Sworn to, and subscribed, this 7th day of July, 1842, before me, at my office in Carthage.

  (Seal)             SAMUEL MARSHALL, J. P.


State of Illinois, Hancock county. -- ss.

Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, Clayton Tweed, who being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that on the 5th day of July, 1842, at the house of Mr. Hamilton, in Carthage, Mr. O. P. Rockwell came up to Gen. John C. Bennett, and said to him, "I wish to have some private conversation with you, will you come out of doors with me?" To which Bennett replied, "No, sir, if you have anything to say to me, speak out before these gentlemen." Rockwell then observed, "It is a matter which interests you and myself alone, and I should like much to see you a few minutes by ourselves." They then went out, and were some time in conversation, when loud words ensued, and deponent came up much agitated, fearing there would be a fight, and heard Bennett say, "I now say to your face what I said behind your back, that you left Nauvoo about two months before the attempted assassination of Ex-Gov. Boggs of Missouri, and returned the day before the report of his assassination reached there, and that two persons in Nauvoo told me that you told them that you had been over to the upper part of Missouri, and in Boggs' neighborhood," to which Rockwell replied, "If I shot Boggs they have to prove it." Bennett said "certainly they have got to prove it on you, if you did shoot him. I know nothing of what you did, as I was not there. I only know the circumstances, and from them I draw my inference and the public will theirs. And now, sir, if either you or Joe Smith think you can intimidate me by your threats, you are mistaken in your man; and I wish you to [understand instantly], that I am opposed to Joe and his holy host -- I shall tell the truth fearlessly, and regardless of consequences." Bennett further remarked, "why are you harping about what I have not said? I have told you what I have said, to your face, and you have acknowledged the truth of it, and I will say it again; and if you wish to fight I am now ready to go for you -- you will never have a better time." This conversation then ceased, and the parties separated -- and further this deponent saith not.

                    CLAYTON TWEED.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 7th day of July, 1842 at my office in Carthage.
(seal)         SAM'L MARSHALL, J. P.


State of Illinois, Hancock county, ss.

Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall Justice of the Peace in and for said county, John H. Lawton, who being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that on the 5th day of July, 1842, he came up to where Gen. John C. Bennett and O. P. Rockwell were in conversation, at the house of Mr. Hamilton in Carthage, and heard Rockwell say that he had been up in Boggs' neighborhood, in Missouri, and that if they had shot Boggs they had to prove it; and then began to talk of whipping Bennett, where upon Bennett replied, "I have said nothing behind your back but what I now said to your face, and if you wish to fight now I am now ready for you," the conversation then ceased and the parties separated, and further this deponent saith not.

                    JOHN LAWTON.
Sworn to and subscribed, this 6th day of July, 1842, before me, at my office in Carthage.
(Seal)         SAMUEL MARSHALL, J. P.


State of Illinois, Hancock county, -- ss.

Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a justice of the peace in and for said county, Jonas Hobart, who being duly sworn accordingly to law, deposeth and saith, That on the 5th day of July, 1842, at the tavern house of Mr. Hamilton, in Carthage, he came up to where Gen. John C. Bennett and Mr. O. P. Rockwell were in angry conversation, when he heard Rockwell say, that if any man said that Joe Smith hired him to shoot Boggs, he stated what was false. There was then some warm talk about fighting, and Bennett said, "I tell you sir, to your face what I have said behind your back, and if you are for fight now is as good a time as you will have." Rockwell said he had been up into Boggs; neighborhood, in Missouri; and said he, "if I shot Boggs they have got to prove it." Bennet said "Certainly they have. I do not know what you did, I only know the circumstances -- I have told them, and I have now told them to your face, and you have acknowledged them -- and I shall tell them again fearless of consequences," -- and further deponent saith not.

                    JONAS HOBART.
Sworn to and subscribed, this 9th day of July, 1842, before me, at my office in Carthage.
(Seal)         SAMUEL MARSHALL, J. P.


I would say further, that, before Rockwell left Nauvoo, he was abjectly poor. Since his return, he has left his family in the lower part of the city -- taken up his residence at the tavern of Capt. Amos Davis -- has an elegant carriage at his disposal and his pockets filled with gold. Capt. Davis can, and will, if called upon, tell more about his former poverty, and present apparent affluence, et al events so far as GOLD is concerned. This is said to be the same carriage and horses that were muffled on the evening of the 29th of June.

If Smith is demanded, I will show by Col. F. M. Higbee and others, that he murdered a certain prisoner in Missouri.

These are some of the facts of this outrage upon civilized society. Now let the demand be made, and the truth shall appear. As Smith was an accessory before the fact in this case, he should be demanded on the old indictments for murder, treason, burglary, and arson and secured -- then the facts shall appear in this case. Rockwell can be demanded on affidavit. I expect Higbee on Tuesday next, if Smith does not have him murdered to prevent his developments.

I am aware that Smith now seeks my life, and is fortifying his Mormon witnesses by revelation; but if the demand is made as I have suggested, no earthly force can save him.
                              JOHN C. BENNETT.
ST. LOUIS, July 13, 1842.

---

MISS  BROTHERTON'S  STATEMENT.

                              ST. LOUIS, July 13, 1842.
Gen. John C. Bennett.
Dear Sir: -- I left Warsaw a short time since for this city, and having been called upon by you, through the "Sangamo Journal," to come out and disclose to the world the facts of the case in relation to certain propositions made to me at Nauvoo, by some of the Mormon leaders, I now proceed to respond to the call, and discharge what I consider go be a duty devolving upon me as an innocent, but insulted and abused female. I had been at Nauvoo near three weeks, during which time my father's family received frequent visits from Elders Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, two of the Mormon Apostles; when, early one morning, they both came to my brother-in-law's (John Mellwrick) house, at which place I then was on a visit, and particularly requested me to go and spend a few days with them. I told them I could not at that time, as my brother-in-law was not at home. However, they urged me to go the next day, and spend one day with them; the day being fine, I accordingly went. When I arrived at the foot of the hill, Young and Kimball were standing conversing together. They both came to me, and, after several flattering compliments, Kimball wished me to go to his house first. I said it was immaterial to me, and accordingly went. We had not, however, gone many steps when Young suddenly stopped, and said he would go to that brother's, (pointing to a little log hut a few yards distant) and tell him that you (speaking to Kimball) and brother Glover, or Grover, (I do not remember which) will value this land. When he had gone, Kimball turned to me and said, 'Martha, I want you to say to my wife, when you go to my house, that you want to buy some things at Joseph's store, (Joseph Smith's) and I will say I am going with you, to show you the way. You know you want to see the Prophet, and you will then have an opportunity.' I made no reply. Young again made his appearance, and the subject was dropped. We soon reached Kimball's house, where Young took his leave, saying, 'I shall see you again, Martha.' I remained at Kimball's nearly an hour, when Kimball, seeing that I would not tell the lies he wished me to, told them to his wife himself. He then went and whispered in her ear, and asked if that would please her. 'Yes,' said she, 'or I can go along with you and Martha.' 'No,' said he, 'I have some business to do, and I will call for you afterwards to go with me to the debate,' -- meaning the debate between yourself and Joseph. To this she consented. So Kimball and I went to the store together. As we were going along, he said, 'Sister Martha, are you willing to do all that the Prophet requires you to do?' I said I believed I was, thinking of course he would require nothing wrong. 'Then,' said he, 'are you ready to take counsel?' I answered in the affirmative, thinking of the great and glorious blessings that had been pronounced upon my head, if I adhered to the counsel of those placed over me in the Lord. 'Well,' said he, 'there are many things revealed in these last days that the world would laugh and scoff at; but unto us is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom.' He further observed, 'Martha, you must learn to hold your tongue, and it will be well with you. You will see Joseph, and very likely have some conversation with him, and he will tell you what you shall do.' When we reached the building, he led me up some stairs to a small room, the door of which was locked, and on it the following inscription: -- 'Positively no admittance.' He observed, 'Ah! brother Joseph must be sick, for strange to say, he is not here. Come down into the tithing-office, Martha.' He then left me in the tithing-office, and went out, I know not where. In this office were two men writing, one of whom, William Clayton, I had seen in England; the other I did not know. Young came in, and seated himself before me, and asked where Kimball was. I said he had gone out. He said it was all right. Soon after, Joseph came in, and spoke to one of the clerks, and then went up stairs, followed by Young. Immediately after, Kimball came in. 'Now, Martha,' said he, 'the Prophet has come; come up stairs.' I went, and we found Young and the Prophet alone. I was introduced to the Prophet by Young. Joseph offered me his seat, and, to my astonishment, the moment I was seated, Joseph and Kimball walked out of the room, and left me with Young; who arose, locked the door, closed the window, and drew the curtain. He then came and sat before me, and said, 'This is our private room, Martha.' 'Indeed, sir,' said I, 'I must be highly honored to be permitted to enter it.' He smiled, and then proceeded -- 'Sister Martha, I want to ask you a few questions; will you answer them?' 'Yes, sir,' said I. 'And will you promise not to mention them to any one?' 'If it is your desire, sir,' said I, 'I will not.' 'And you will not think any the worse of me for it, will you, Martha?' said he. 'No sir,' I replied. 'Well,' said he, 'what are your feelings toward me?' I replied, 'My feelings are just the same towards you that they ever were, sir.' 'But, to come to the point more closely,' said he, 'have not you an affection for me, that, were it lawful and right, you could accept of me for your husband and companion.'

My feelings at that moment were indescribable. God only knows them. What, thought I are these men, that I thought almost perfection itself, deceivers? and is all my fancied happiness but a dream? It was even so; but my next thought was, which is the best way for me to act at this time? If I say no, they may do as they think proper; and to say yes, I never would. So I considered it best to ask for time to think and pray about it. I therefore said, 'If it was lawful and right, perhaps I might; but you know, sir, it is not.' -- 'Well, but,' said he, 'brother Joseph has had a revelation from God that it is lawful and right for a man to have two wives; for, as it was in the days of Abraham, so it shall be in these last days; and whoever is the first that is willing to take up the cross will receive the greatest blessings; and if you will accept of me, I will take you straight to the celestial kingdom; and if you will have me in this world, I will have you in that which is to come, and brother Joseph will marry us here to-day, and you can go home this evening, and your parents will not know any thing about it.' 'Sir,' said I, 'I should not like to do any thing of the kind without the permission of my parents,' 'Well, but,' said he, 'you are of age, are you not?' 'No, sir,' said I, 'I shall not be until the 24th of May.' 'Well,' said he, 'that does not make any difference. You will be of age before they know, and you need not fear. If you will take my counsel, it will be well with you, for I know it to be right before God, and if there is any sin in it, I will answer for it. But brother Joseph wishes to have some talk with you on the subject -- he will explain things -- will you hear him?' 'I do not mind,' said I. 'Well, but I want you to say something,' said he. 'I want time to think about it,' said I. 'Well,' said he, 'I will have a kiss, any how,' and then rose, and said he would bring Joseph. He then unlocked the door, and took the key, and locked me up alone. He was absent about ten minutes, and then returned with Joseph. 'Well,' said Young, 'sister Martha would be willing if she knew if was lawful and right before God.' 'Well, Martha,' said Joseph, 'it is lawful and right before God -- I know it is. Look here, sis; don't you believe in me?' I did not answer. 'Well Martha,' said Joseph, 'just go ahead, and do as Brigham wants you to -- he is the best man in the world, except me.' 'Oh!' said Brigham, 'then you are as good.' 'Yes,' said Joseph. 'Well,' said Young, 'we believe Joseph to be a Prophet. -- I have known him near eight years, and always found him the same.' 'Yes,' said Joseph, 'and I know that this is lawful and right before God, and if there is any sin in it, I will answer for it before God; and I have the keys of the kingdom, and whatever I bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth is loosed in heaven, and if you will accept of Brigham, you shall be blessed -- God shall bless you, and my blessing shall rest upon you; and if you will be led by him, you will do well; for I know Brigham will take care of you, and if he don't do his duty to you, come to me and I will make him; and if you do not like it in a month or two, come to me, and I will make you free again; and if he turns you off, I will take you on.' -- 'Sir,' said I, rather warmly, 'it will be too late to think in a month or two after. I want time to think first.' 'Well, but,' said he, 'the old proverb is, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained;" and it would be the greatest blessing that was ever bestowed upon you.' 'Yes,' said Young, 'and you will never have reason to repent it -- that is, if I do not turn from righteousness, and that I trust I never shall; for I believe God, who has kept me so long, will continue to keep me faithful. Did you ever see me act in any way wrong in England, Martha?' "No, sir,' said I. 'No,' said he; 'neither can any one else lay any thing to my charge.' 'Well, then,' said Joseph, 'what are you afraid of, sis? -- come, let me do the business for you.' 'Sir,' said I, 'do let me have a little time to think about it, and I will promise not to mention it to any one.' 'Well, but look here,' said he; 'you know a fellow will never be damned for doing the best he knows how.' 'When, then,' said I, 'the best way I know of, is to go home and think and pray about it.' 'Well,' said Young, 'I shall leave it with brother Joseph, whether it would be best for you to have time or not.' 'Well,' said Joseph, 'I see no harm in her having time to think, if she will not fall into temptation.' 'O, sir,' said I, 'there is no fear of my falling into temptation.' 'Well, but,' said Brigham, 'you must promise me you will never mention it to any one.' 'I do promise it,' said I. 'Well,' said Joseph, 'you must promise me the same.' I promised him the same. 'Upon your honor,' said he, 'you will not tell.' 'No, sir, I will lose my life first,' said I. 'Well, that will do,' said he; 'that is the principle we go upon. I think I can trust you, Martha,' said he. -- 'Yes,' said I, 'I think you ought.' Joseph said, 'she looks as if she could keep a secret.' I then rose to go, when Joseph commenced to beg of me again -- he said it was the best opportunity they might have for months, for the room was often engaged. I, however, had determined what to do. 'Well,' said Young, 'I will see you to-morrow. I am going to preach at the school-house, opposite your house. I have never preached there yet; you will be there, I suppose.' 'Yes,' said I. The next day being Sunday, I sat down, instead of going to meeting, and wrote the conversation, and gave it to my sister, who was not a little surprised; but she said it would be best to go to meeting in the afternoon. We went, and Young administered the sacrament. After it was over, I was passing out, and Young stopped me, saying, 'Wait, Martha, I am coming.' I said, 'I cannot; my sister is waiting for me.' He then threw his coat over his shoulders, and followed me out, and whispered, 'Have you made up your mind, Martha?' 'Not exactly, sir,' said I; and we parted. I shall proceed to a justice of the peace, and make oath to the truth of these statements, and you are at liberty to make what use of them you may think best.
              Yours, respectfully,
                   MARTHA H. BROTHERTON.

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 13th day of July, A. D. 1842.

              Du. BOUFFAY FREMON,
    Justice of the Peace for St. Louis county.


Notes: (forthcoming)

ORSON  PRATT.

We learn from the Warsaw Signal, that gentlemen has gone from Nauvoo. He left a communication with his friends which stated that he had been induced to take this course on account of the treatment of his wife, by Smith, and of the general management of the affairs of the Church by him.

We further learn from other sources, that Smith, finding his attempts on Mr. Pratt were matters of notoriety, went to her husband with a manufactured story, that his wife was a base woman, and that the fact was well known to him. This communication had such an effect upon Mr. Pratt -- at once blasting his happiness and the reputation of a virtuous woman -- that the wretched husband left the city.

It will be recollected that Mrs. Schindle in her affidavit, detailing the attempt of Smith upon her, said -- "He told her she must never tell his proposition to her, for he had all influence in that place, and if she told he would ruin her character, and she would be under the necessity of leaving."

The same scheme has been carried out in reference to Mrs. Pratt. She "told" on the impostor, and was marked by him for destruction. In a public speech in Nauvoo on the 14th, Joe spoke of this lady -- a woman whose reputation had been as fair as virtue could make it until she came in contact with him -- in a manner only befitting the lowest and most degraded vagabond in existence.

The reader can hence learn the state of society at Nauvoo. The facts furnished are presented by the holy Joe himself.

We do not know what course will be pursued by Mr. Pratt, If he sinks under the denunciations and schemes of Joe Smith -- if he fails to defend the reputation of himself and of the woman he has vowed to protect before high heaven -- he will fix a stain upon his character which he can never wash out, and carry to the grave the pangs caused by "the gnawings of the worm that never dies."

We trust that he will secure for himself a more honorable position in life, and will come to the rescue of the fame of his lady, and expose the infamous course of the prophet, as becomes a man, an honorable citizen, and a sincere christian.

---

The Register man has a story now in progress of manufacture, that Gen. Bennett is about to be arrested for murder; that holy Joe "has told on him," -- and that he is to be brought back to Nauvoo and hung. If Bennett's account of the Danites be true, they will swear to any thing; and we doubt not Joe would do anything to get Bennett hung. Col. F. M. Higbee swears that he proposed to him to murder Bennett, and thus put him out of the way. Joe knows very well that 'dead men tell no tales."

---

The Register says, "Joe Smith is a shrewd fellow." He is shrewd enough to unite with you in the scheme of publishing, in the "Wasp," for a republication in the loco foco papers, the paragraph prepared by you and Gen. Adams, pretending the Mormons were going for Duncan! This the Register calls "shrewdness."

---

A WEAK  INVENTION.

It has been observed that for sometime past, General James Adams, a resident, and long known as a political Mormon, in this county, has been busy with the editors of the Register and other leading Ford men in this city. As a matter of course, knowing the character of the General, we supposed some project would be got up, if possible, to arrest the current of indignation against the coalition made by them with Joe Smith for the votes of the Mormons. We are not disappointed therefore in finding the following in the last State Register -- and are only surprised at the weakness and puerility of the contrivance:

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, 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 Governor Duncan, Henderson and the Mormons."

May God forgive the hypocrisy and deception of the Whig leaders! It is enough to sink the state, like the second Sodom, on account of their wickedness.

---

                    From the Wasp.

COL. HENDERSON  AND  GOV.  DUNCAN.

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 gentlemen, 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 Locofocs was a caution to sinners.

Gov. Duncan is 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 not misunderstanding between us. The August election is here at hand and that will show who will be Governor. After the election it will be all right with us. Hurrah for the Colonel and Jo.

We venture to say, that there are few men in this city who do not believe that the article quoted from the Wasp was instigated by Gen. Adams, with the knowledge of the leaders of the party here, sent to Nauvoo, inserted in the "Wasp." and then single copies sent to the loco foco presses to be used, just as the Register has used the copy sent to that paper -- and which was the only copy received in the place containing Gen. Adams' article. But the scheme is too silly to succeed with any intelligent man. The Register editors express their opinions of the intelligence of their readers by publishing it. It is weak and silly contrivances of men driven to their last extremity.

---

It is understood that the Secretary of State and the Clerk of the Supreme Court were seen wending their way in the Military Tract on the road to Nauvoo. they have returned and report to the party that "ALL'S WELL" with their friend Joe.

---

Judge Douglass is not expected to appoint a successor to his esteemed friend, Gen. Bennett, as Master in Chancery of Hancock Co. until after the election.

---

The citizens of this county would do well to watch the votes of the Mormons on Monday. They will show faithfully they obey the Proclamation of Joe Smith. Gen. Adams should be extremely active on that day.

---

We cannot yet induce the Register to publish an account of the Mormon murder in Jackson county. That will probably be done after the election.

---

"Let is clap him." said the Mormons when Judge Ford complimented them in Brown county. And they did clap him, and make all ring again.

---

COL.  GEO.  W.   ROBINSON  OF  NAUVOO.

Col. G. W. Robinson, of Nauvoo, has published a letter in the Quincy Whig, in which he days he has been roughly handled by the "Congregation of Saints;" that the Church has established a rule that there shall be no withdrawals from it; that he does not wish to be considered any longer as a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints; and that the public can form a correct judgment of the validity of his reasons for leaving them when they hear his "testimony," -- It is well known that Col. R. was one of the leading members of the Mormon church. We shall give his letter next week. The public will anxiously wait for the "testimony."

---

Joe Smith in a speech in Nauvoo on Thursday the 14th inst. (and which was heard by two gentlemen of our city,) said -- "He wished Bennett was in Hell! -- he had given him more trouble than any man he ever had to do with." Joe was undoubtedly sincere in this expression of his wishes.

In the same speech he declared that Mrs. Pratt, the wife of Mr. O. Pratt. "had been a _ _ _ _ _ from her Mother's breast." This was the lady which Bennett says Joe attempted to seduce, and who resisted all his efforts with the heroism of insulted virtue.

In what a horrid and depraved condition society must be in Nauvoo? We should suppose that Judge Ford's friends would be ashamed of their allies, by whose votes they wish to elect him Governor of Illinois.

---

A rumor -- holy Joe demanded.

It is rumored that Gov. Reynolds of Missouri has demanded Joe Smith, but that certain friends of Judge Ford have prevailed on Governor Carlin not to give him up until after the election. This may account for the late visit to Quincy of two leading Ford men from this city.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  ELECTION.

We have but a few returns, but we judge we are beaten all round. In counties where the whigs had decided majorities, our friends ran sometimes as high as three sets of candidates for the Legislature, and as a matter of course were beaten, -- besides the policy pursued by them had a very adverse effect upon other portions of our ticket. Generally our opponents seemed to understand what they were about, and made the most of divisions they created amongst us, -- In Morgan county, for instance, the whigs had only seven candidates! ...

---

FROM  NAUVOO.

Some days ago Joe Smith got up a large meeting at Nauvoo, for the purpose of white-washing himself. A resolution was proposed making out Joe all sorts of a moral and pious man, which was voted for by all present except four or five. Orson Pratt gave his reasons for his negative vote. They relate, as we understand, to the attempted outrages upon his wife by the impostor. -- His speech was of great length and was replied to by the Prophet and several of his apostles. We hope he will furnish a copy of it for the public eye. Joe's scheme of procuring the votes of his followers, charging him with possessing and practicing a great many virtues, reminds us of Bonaparte's remarks in reference to his election as Emperor of France by the French people. Speaking of the votes of the sailors and officers of the navy, he is reported to have said, that he wished the election perfectly free, but he should take care that those who voted against him should be shot. Precisely Joe's position. He is willing his followers should be perfectly free; but they must act precisely in accordance with his wishes or he will have them turned out of his church and their reputations (dearer to them than life) destroyed.

---

COL.  GEO.  W.   ROBINSON  OF  NAUVOO.

Letter of Col. Robinson to the Quincy Whig -- says that he has not been expelled from the Church of Latter Day Saints -- but that he has been roughly handled by them -- intimates that the public may judge of his case when they see and hear the TESTIMONY -- adverts to the fact that he is a son of a revolutionary Sire, and declares that he shall not flinch in the cause of freedom -- says that individuals are not allowed to withdraw from the Mormon Church -- but that he wishes all men, before his Maker, to understand that he neither desires nor considers himself "any longer a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints."

                                        NAUVOO, July 12, 1842.
To the Editors of the Quincy Whig.

GENTLEMEN: -- I wish through your paper, to respond to an article published in the same of the 9th. inst. as rumor -- embracing my name (in connection with others,) as having been expelled from the Church of Latter Day Saints, joining Bennett's party, &c., &c.

I would say that I have had no knowledge of such an occurrence whatever, and have not been advised of any difficulty existing between the Church and myself in any legal manner -- It is true that I have been pretty roughly handled in the CONGREGATION OF SAINTS, for what offence, I know not: but I have some times thought, I [might] (in the providence and great wisdom of ____ ), have been selected as a SCAPE GOAT, to carry the sins of OTHERS.

I have for a long time desired that some friend would inform me for what purpose that scandalous attacks have, at several times, been made on myself, in connection with Mr. Rigdon, but have at last concluded as above. I will, however, leave all for the public to decide when they shall both see and hear the testimony. I must acknowledge myself a frail being, and am not easily persuaded to surrender my rights to others. My father served in the war of the Revolution, and flinched not in the contest for Freedom! He shall not blush to hear that his son ever failed to maintain it. I say this with all due deference to Prophets, Priests, Kings and Rulers.

As to Bennett's party, and the conspiracy against this people, I only say. FUDGE -- NOT GUILTY. God forbid I ever should conspire to injure the innocent, and the law is all sufficient for the guilty, (If any there are.)

Since Gen. Bennett's withdrawal from the church, I have understood that a Resolution has been passed prohibiting all withdrawals from the church; so if a member wishes to withdraw, he must be expelled and published to the world; this I believe is now the statute of the Church. I now take the opportunity to say to ALL men, before my Maker, that I neither desire nor consider myself, any longer a member of said Church of Latter Day Saints. If necessary, I shall give my reasons for withdrawal at some future time; if not, I shall remain silent.                Very respectfully, your ob't serv't.
                             GEO. W. ROBINSON.

---

The public will learn with great satisfaction, that Col. Robinson has sufficient independence and regard for the best interest of himself and his fellow men, to withdraw from the Mormon church. So well do the public now appreciate the character of Joe Smith and the leaders of the church devoted to him, that no leading men can well remain attached to them but he must suffer in character with the community. We doubt not that there are many well meaning men attached to the church, who are not in the secrets of their leaders, but are duped and deceived.

We trust that Col. Robinson will lay his "testimony" before the public. Surely there should be no secrets in the policy or acts of the leaders of a church of Latter Day Saints that cannot with propriety be revealed. As a son of one of the actors in our glorious revolution we have a right to anticipate, that while he throws off the shackles of "Prophetic, Priests, Kings and Rulers," he will give the "testimony," or reasons that have led him to adopt a course which has raised him in the estimation of the public, and placed him in a position to be of much service to the community.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  ELECTION.

We are again beaten in Illinois, not so much for want of numbers, as from local divisions and apathy on the part of the Whigs. Under the circumstances all this was to have been expected; consequently there is nothing in the result to discourage the party, or [weaken] our confidence in the ability of the Whigs, when they shall again rally in their strength, from redeeming Illinois from the thralldom of LOCO FOCO rule. The treachery of John Tyler, has temporarily scattered and disorganized our forces; but with HENRY CLAY for their leader, they will soon rally in sufficient strength to bid defiance to Joe Smith's Loco Foco Legion that are now in possession of the land, and devouring its substance like a hungry swarm of Egyptian locusts. They have for the last twelve years been sporting with the interests and prosperity of the people, until there is scarcely a green spot left on which the eye of the patriot can rest with pleasure; -- prostrating every interest of the country, and reducing to beggary and want thousands of our honest and industrious citizens, through whose influence they are enabled to perpetuate their power. Can this state of things much longer continue? Will those who have sought an asylum in this land of liberty and plenty, continue to lend their aid in upholding a system of policy that is so rapidly reducing them to a level with the poor laborers of their father land? We believe not. Truth is mighty and will ultimately prevail, although it may for a time be smothered and kept down by the sophistry and chicanery of Joe Smith and his legion of loco foco demagogues.

No one can doubt hereafter, the omnipotence of Joe Smith's power. He has for once, with the aid of his friends and allies, the loco focos, carried Legislature, Governor and all. Will the whigs of Illinois quietly submit to be ruled by that prince of knaves and impostors, Joe Smith? or will they rise in their strength at the next election, strip him of his power and influence, and consign him and his followers to the disgrace and infamy they so richly merit.

We said in the outset of this article, that we were beaten; but by how much cannot be known until the official returns are received. Joe Smith will have, in addition to the Governor and Lieut. Governor, full two-thirds of both branches of the Legislature; consequently, no loco foco will have the hardihood to hold the Whigs responsible for Legislature of the State; and we feel confident that before August next, the people will become surfeited with Mormon loco foco Legislation.

We hope our Whig friends throughout the State, will lose no time in forming "Clay Clubs" in every country town, if not in every precinct. Let us once more unfurl our banner to the breeze, with the name of HENRY CLAY, inscribed upon it, and so sure as 1844 shall come, just so sure will the whigs of the Union again triumph, even should Illinois continue under the control of Joe Smith and his loco foco allies.

---

Joe Smith's ticket for county officers in Hancock county was entirely successful. Joe thinks that the strength he has brought to the loco foco party, should secure him further "chartered privileges."

---

GENERAL  BENNET'S  ASSERTION.

Gen. Bennett asserts that there is a portion of the Mormons who "are bound to obey the orders of Joe Smith as the commands of the Supreme God," Proof -- Every Mormon in this country voted the loco foco ticket in obedience to the orders of Joe Smith.

---

Gen. Bennett passed through Louisville some days ago, on his way to New York where he designs to publish a work embracing facts in relation to Mormonism and Joe Smith.

---

JOE  SMITH  AND  O. P.  ROCKWELL.

It is stated that Gov. Reynolds, (of Missouri,) has demanded Joe Smith and Orin P. Rockwell of the Governor of Illinois, -- Governor Carlin, now the election is over, he can afford to let Joe go.

The above paragraph is taken from the St. Louis Republican of Monday. It is supposed that in consequence of Joe Smith's carrying the whole Mormon vote for the loco foco ticket, every obstacle possible will be presented to prevent the delivery of Joe to the authorities of Missouri. Should [he be] taken to Missouri for trials on the charge of murder, &c., for which he has been indicted in that State, his loco foco brethren in this State may enjoy the gratifying satisfaction that strict and impartial justice will be done to the head of their party.

---

The "Nauvoo Wasp" of the 27th contains divers statements and affidavits designed to prove that Bennett is as bad a man as he demonstrates Smith to be. Should they even affect this object, they will not shake the public confidence in the truth of Bennett's disclosures. Almost every individual who has left the Mormon church, whose publications have been for some time extant, furnish evidence to sustain many of the leading charges made by Bennett. The labors of Smith to change the settled convictions of the public mind in this matter will be as vain as the blasphemous attempt, in the neighborhood of this city, of one of his worthy disciples, by an exhibition of Almighty power, to raise a man to life and health, by his word of command, who was in the last throes of mortal existence.

---

A letter from General BENNETT, to the editor of the Louisville Journal, will be given next week. The "nest of foul birds" at Nauvoo, continues to discharge their "foetid mission" at Bennett; but this does not shake his purpose of disclosing the rottenness and corruption of the Mormon Mahomet.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The following judicious article we copy from the last Quincy Whig, --

HANCOCK  COUNTY -- MORMON  VOTE.

We have partial returns from this county, and the result is, as doubtless the most of our readers were prepared to expect. The whole Mormon vote has been cast for Ford and Moore. At Nauvoo, Gov. Duncan received but six votes, while Ford received one thousand and thirty-eight. This, we suppose, will satisfy the State Register, Quincy Herald, and the other slang-wangers of the party, that there was no league between the Whigs and Jo Smith and his subjects. It will also open the eyes of all parties, to the dangerous and anti-republican tendency of a political, religious and military band of men, organized in our midst, and trained to obey the will and dictation of one man -- to vote according to his resentments and prejudices -- to sacrifice their own honest convictions of right and duty at the beck and nod of a petty-dictator, whose morals are of so questionable a character, that even delusion itself, cannot much longer, it seems to us, remain blind to the gross and outrageous imposition which is being played off under the cloak of religion. The majority of the people of Nauvoo, are doubtless honest and sincere in their religious attachments, but when they so far throw away their free agency, as to vote in accordance with the selfish and dictatorial policy of SMITH, they do not deserve the sympathies -- and we were going to say -- privileges, of freemen. Some one may say, that had the Mormons voted the Whig ticket these expressions would never have come from us. No such thing. We profess to be too much of a republican, to look on and see this outrage upon the elective franchise, without denouncing it at once. Had the Mormons voted the whig ticket in a body, they would have done so in obedience to the dictation of Smith, and the principle would have been equally as anti-republican; and although, we might have had the occasion to rejoice at the result, we still should have condemned the course of proceeding by which the result was brought about. No, no. Our elections were intended to be pure -- to be separated from all extraneous and improper influence whatever -- to be the medium by which the free and unbiased will of every republican could be calmly and dispassionately announced. But as elections are conducted at Nauvoo, the franchise is a mere form and ceremony -- a mockery -- and the man who makes it so is not only a dangerous man in the community, but he is entailing sorrow and trouble upon the people whom he has so greatly deceived.

---

JOE  SMITH'S  MORALITY.

What Joe's morality amounts to, can be learned from his letter to Miss Rigdon, which will be found in the 6th communication of Gen. Bennett, in this paper. Joe Smith, in the letter alluded to, undertakes to sustain by the Scriptures, by reason, argument, and GOD'S REVELATION TO HIMSELF, the lawfulness of his "spiritual wife doctrine." The argument is very specious, and had it been addressed to a young lady of only ordinary attainments, a believer in Joe's divine mission, it is not improbable it might have accomplished the object designed by Smith. But happily for Miss Rigdon, she was too well informed, possessed to much moral firmness, and was too deeply imbued with the true religion of the Bible, to be overcome by Smith's hellish schemes. She resisted them, and unquestionably from this cause arose all those slanders against her father that have for sometime been in the mouths of Joe's followers here.

To a young lady of Miss Rigdon's sensibilities, the publications made, in which her name has been introduced, must have given her pain. We should have been glad if we could have avoided making those publications consistently with what we regarded as the high interests of our community. But Miss Rigdon will have the satisfaction of knowing that her case has elicited the strong sympathies not only of her own sex, but that of the other; and that her triumph over the wiles of the impostor will be spoken to her praise wherever her name shall be known.

In this letter these is enough evidence to make it the duty of the officers of the law to bring Joe Smith before the Grand Jury, of the county -- not for the purpose of giving him further liberty and permitting the immoral monster to roam through the county, by giving him a sham trial, and allowing him to escape justice -- but to secure all the evidence which can be found bearing on the case, and if guilty makes his punishment commensurate with his high professions and his crimes. The impostor is now unveiled. His infatuated followers may suppose, by affidavits of his virtue, his purity, and his holiness, to keep up the delusion, but that time is past. And if he is not brought to justice by the officers of the law, they will be guilty of a flagrant breach of duty.

---

JOE  SMITH  DEMANDED.

The following communication from our attentive correspondent in Quincy, gives us some facts in this case:

                                    QUINCY, August 9, 1842.
To the Editor of the Journal:

The Governor of Missouri, I am told made a requisition on the Governor of Illinois, for the persons of Joseph Smith and O. P. Rockwell, and in conformity therewith, Gov. Carlin caused the proper document to be placed in the hands of Sheriff Jasper, of this county, for execution. -- Mr. J. proceeded with one or two others, a day or two since, to Nauvoo. and there arrested Smith and Rockwell in obedience to the precept. As rumor goes the City Council of Nauvoo convened and issued a Habeas Corpus for each of these prisoners and cited the Sheriff to appear!! He did not, however, recognize the authority of the Council, but they proceeded to hear and determine the case, when the prisoners were set at liberty! -- It is generally understood that Smith and Rockwell could not be prevailed on to come to Quincy with the Sheriff, notwithstanding the polite invitations extended to them. The Sheriff and suite have returned, and Mr. Jasper returns an arrest and resistance. The Governor, I learn, holds the matter under advisement. Look out for squalls!

                                        Yours, &c.


We have further heard, that Gov. Carlin had directed Sheriff Jasper to return to Nauvoo, with a posse, and bring Smith and Rockwell to Quincy. If the Sheriff does not succeed, the militia of the State must be called on to enforce the laws, or the whole affair will end in smoke.

It will be recollected, in one of Gen. Bennett's letters, it was stated that the City Council of Nauvoo, had made provisions for expected demand of Smith, and had passed a law by which no man could be taken out of the city to be tried for crimes. The Council have carried the extraordinary powers of their city charter still farther, and issued a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of Joe Smith and Rockwell, and discharged them under the writ!

We are inclined to the opinion that the whole of the movements going on in relation to this matter are sham; and that if Smith is taken, he will understand that this trial is to be a sham, and he will of course be acquitted. We form this opinion from facts we have already witnessed, and from which will occur to every one.

The public will remember that the Governor of Missouri once before made a demand for Joe Smith. As usual in such cases with that distinguished functionary, the writ which was given to the officer was defective -- was declared to be so by Judge Douglass, -- and Smith was set at liberty. -- What was the duty of the Governor in this case, if acting in good faith? Was it not to issue another writ? Were the ends of public justice to be frustrated by the imperfections of a first writ? It seems to us that but one answer can be given in this case. -- It was his duty as the executive officer of this State to comply with the requisition of the Governor of Missouri. He did not do it. Why? The answer, we fear, must be found in the Proclamation of Joe Smith, requiring the Mormon church to cast their votes for the candidates of the Governor's political party.

If the future conduct of the Governor and his party should change the present aspect of this case, we will promptly correct the opinions herein expressed. It will give us pleasure to do so. Gov. Carlin's term of office has nearly expired; -- and what single act of his political life, as Governor, can his friends point to with pleasure? He has been so unfortunate as to please only those whom he has given office. Let him in this case "do his duty. his whole duty." regardless of the political schemes of his friends -- and he will have the proud consciousness, that in this hour of trial -- when the interests of his party are opposed to the interests of morality and of the State, -- of having performed his duty regardless of party considerations.

---

POSTSCRIPT.
COL.  ROBINSON.

Since Col. Robinson has withdrawn from the Mormons the leaders of the clan have adopted the course usual with them in such cases -- they have attempted to destroy the character of Col. Robinson, so that any disclosures he made may make of the venality and corruption of Joe Smith and company, may not be believed -- by charging against him a fraudulent attempt in the sale of some town lots in Nauvoo. These charges were published in the Nauvoo Wasp of the 4th inst. We have received Col. Robinson's refutation of them, but not in time for this week's paper. We trust that Col. Robinson will give the public, hereafter, the reasons which led him to withdraw from the Mormons.

---

THE GOVERNOR'S REQUISITION. -- The Quincy Herald of the 9th inst., states that on the previous day, the officers charged by Gov. Carlin with the duty of arresting Joe Smith, left that city for the purpose of making a second arrest; and adds, "It remains to be seen whether he will permit himself peaceably to be taken."

On Tuesday evening a hand-bill was received in this city, by the western mail purporting to have been issued at the office of the Quincy Herald, (and from the appearance of the type with which it was printed we are of the opinion that it was printed at that office,) stating that there had been an outbreak among the Mormons -- that they had resisted the authorities, and some 20 or 30 had been killed, &c. As the people were looking for important news from that quarter, the hand-bill produced some excitement; but a few hours after Gen. Whiteside arrived from Quincy, the publication was discovered to be a hoax. The wit of this hoax we cannot discover.

We now learn on what we deem good authority that the officer and his assistant, who were sent after Smith and Rockwell, could not find either of them. This result is just about what we anticipated. Gov. Carlin and his party have no serious design, as we believe, to give up Joe Smith and his worthy colleague, Rockwell. We should not be surprised if Joe Smith should again bring himself before Judge Douglass, on a writ of habeas corpus. But whether that functionary will again discharge him, remains to be seen.

---

LETTERS  FROM  GEN.  BENNETT.

5TH LETTER FROM GEN. BENNETT.

Letter to the Louisville Journal -- the Mormon Church "obey Joe Smith as the Supreme God" -- if a civil officer offends him, he must die -- Joe's will the moral law -- Joe designs to abrogate human law and establish his own will as law -- under the new law all the property of members of the Church, their wives and little ones, consecrated to Joe's use.

                                STEAMER IMPORTER. July 23, A. D. 1842.

To the Editors of the Louisville Journal.

As I promised to lay before you some of the strong points of objection to "the gathering of the saints," or the congregating of the Mormons at one point or general head-quarters, I now proceed to redeem the pledge.

1st. Nine hundred and ninety-nine thousandths of all the faithful of the Mormon church regard Joe Smith as God's vice-gerent on earth, and obey him accordingly; and all the Danites of that church (and by the bye, they compose no very inconsiderable proportion of their mighty hosts) are sworn to receive him as the supreme head of the church, and to obey him as the supreme God. If, therefore, any State officer, in the administration of public justice, happens to give offence to his Holiness the Prophet, it becomes the will of God, as spoken by the mouth of his prophet, that that functionary should DIE; and his followers, the faithful saints, immediately set about the work of assassination, in obedience, as they suppose, to their Divine Master; and for which noble deed, they expect to receive an excellent and superior glory in the celestial kingdom!! It does not require Argus eyes to see the incalculable mischief growing out of such a state of society; and an intelligent community must look on with awful foreboding and fearful anticipations, where such a state of things is suffered. Great God! and only look at the horrible picture! The lives of thousands of human beings depending upon the whim or caprice of the most corrupt, heaven-daring, and black-hearted impostor that ever disgraced the earth. The whole community are in the most imminent danger, from the common citizen to the highest public functionary, unless they chain their fate to the car of Mormon despotism.

2d. Where a large community, like the Mormons, are under the absolute dictation of a vacillating and capricious tyrant, like Joe Smith, who acts under the influence of reason, but is wholly governed by impulses and selfish motives, political demagogues will become fawning sycophants, and the best interests of the country will be sacrificed in the ambitious views of an ancient or modern prophet -- a Mahomet or a Smith! This state of things is fraught with the most fearful consequences; the subversion of government; the fall of kingdoms and empires; the destruction[s] of nations, by the shedding of rivers of human blood; and, where consequences of a less serious nature accrue, it destroys natural affection, hardens the heart against the better feelings of our nature, and produces a state of savage barbarity, which causes a civilized man to shudder, and from which he turns with loathsome disgust.

3d. The standard of morality and Christian excellence with them is quite unstable. Joe Smith has but to speak the word, and it becomes the law which they delight to obey -- because it comes from God!! Acts, therefore, which but yesterday were considered the most immoral, wicked, and devilish, to-day are the most moral, righteous, and God-like, because God, who makes right, has so declared it by the mouth of his appointed Prophet!

4th. Joe Smith designs to abolish all human laws, and establish a Theocracy in which the word of God, as spoken by his (Joe's) mouth, shall be the only law; and he now orders that his followers shall only obey such human laws as they are compelled to do, and declares that the time is at hand when all human institutions shall be abrogated! Joe's will is to become the law of right, and his power is to execute it.

5th. Under the new order of things, all the property of the saints, with their wives and little ones, are to be consecrated to Joe, to subserve his purposes and gratify his passions! These are only some of the reasons which I shall hereafter, when time permits, consider more in detail; and, in the mean time, I should like your opinion on a matter of so much importance to all of our fellow-citizens.

With high consideration of respect and esteem, suffer me to subscribe myself,   yours, respectfully,
                   JOHN C. BENNETT.

---

6TH LETTER FROM GEN BENNETT.

JOE  SMITH'S  LETTER  TO  MISS  RIGDON, in defence of the spiritual wife doctrine -- in which he goes into a long argument to show that things which are forbidden by human and divine laws may be rendered lawful by "revelation" -- that things which might be considered ABOMINABLE to all who do not understand the orders of Heaven only in part, ARE RIGHT because God gave and sanctioned them by special revelation. Such is the whole tenor of the letter. (Wonder Sidney Rigdon, the father of the young lady on whom the base attempt was made has not had the scoundrel indicted and punished for his base attempt at seduction, and blasphemously bringing the name and perfections of Almighty God as authority for the purpose of accomplishing his hellish purposes).


                            ERIE CANAL,. Boat Nassau, Aug. 3, 1842.

To the Editor of the Journal:

As I have a little time to appropriate, I proceed to transcribe and forward you an exact copy of Joe Smith's letter to Miss Nancy Rigdon per William [sic] Richards, one of the Holy Mormon Apostles, alluded to in one of my former communications, and which is in the words following, to wit:

"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it, and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep those we have already received. That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said, thou shalt not kill, -- at another time he said, thou shalt utterly destroy. This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted -- by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will be added. So with Solomon -- first he asked wisdom, and God gave it him, and with it every DESIRE of his heart, even things which might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of heaven only in part, but which in reality, were right, because God gave and sanctioned by special revelation. A parent may whip a child, and justly too, because he stole an apple, whereas if the child had asked for the apple, and the parent had given it, the child would have eaten it with a better appetite, there would have been no stripes -- all the pleasure of the apple would have been secured, all the misery of stealing lost. This principle will justly apply to all of God's dealings with his children. Everything that God gives us is lawful and right, and 'tis proper that we should enjoy his gifts and blessings whenever and wherever he is disposed to bestow; but if we should seize upon those same blessings and enjoyments without law, without revelation, without commandment, those blessings and enjoyments would prove cursings and vexations in the end, and we should have to lie down in sorrow and wailings of everlasting regret. But in obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed, and as God has designed our happiness, and the happiness of all his creatures, he never has, he never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to his people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which he has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances. Blessings offered, but rejected, are no longer blessings, but become like the talent hid in the earth by the wicked and slothful servant -- the proffered good returns to the giver, the blessing is bestowed on those who will receive and occupy, for unto him that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundantly, but unto him that hath not or will not receive, shall be taken away that which he hath, or might have had.

"Be wise to-day, 'tis Madness to defer,
"Next day the fatal precedent may plead;
Thus on till wisdom is pushed out of time.
Into eternity."
Our heavenly father is more liberal in his views, and boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive, and, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of his punishments, and more ready to detect every false way, than we are apt to suppose him to be. He will [be] enquired of by his children -- he says, ask, and ye SHALL RECEIVE, seek and ye SHALL find, but if you will take that which is not your own, or which I have not given you, you shall be rewarded according to your deeds, but no good thing will I withold from them who walk uprightly before me, and do my will in all things, who will listen to my voice, and TO THE VOICE OF MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE SENT, for I delight in those who seek diligently to know my precepts, and abide by the law of my kingdom, for all things shall be made known unto them in mine own due time, and in the end they shall have joy."


Thus reads the Prophet Joe's love letter to Miss Rigdon. To understand it I refer you to the spiritual wife doctrine heretofore alluded to, and to Miss Brotherton's letter. You will see that ALL things that God gives and sanctions by special revelation THROUGH THE HOLY JOE IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT. Joe knows it to be so because God TOLD HIM so!! I told you before that the great Solomon was a novice in these matters when compared to Joe. Peruse the letter carefully, examine all its bearings and allusions, and compare it with the former disclosures, and you will see that it is pregnant with the "spiritual doctrine" taught by Joe to his cloistered, chambered, and cyprian maids and members of his female LODGE of Mormon Inquisition. My last letter to the editors of the Louisville Journal will explain this in part, and the "History of the Saints," in full.
            Yours respectfully,
            JOHN C. BENNETT.


Note: The above text may have been the very first appearance in print of Joseph Smith, Jr.'s 1842 "Happiness" letter. It was also published in the Aug. 31, 1842 issue of the New York Herald. Elder Brigham H. Roberts, in his edition of the LDS History of the Church, inserts an editorial note, after the appearance of this text, in Chp. 7 (Aug. 1842), Vol. 5, p. 134. Elder Roberts' note reads: "It is not positively known what occasioned the writing of this essay; but when it is borne in mind that at this time the new law of marriage for the Church -- marriage for eternity, including plurity of wives under some circumstances -- was being introduced by the Prophet, it is very likely that the article was written with a view of applying the principles here expounded to the conditions created by introducing said marriage system." Roberts does not say when, how, why, or by whom the text was copied from ex-Mormon John C. Bennett's attacks upon Smith, nor why the document was accepted at face value as being Smith's 1842 creation. Roberts inherited the "Happiness" essay, as part of the "History of Joseph Smith" which was serialized in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons, and continued in the Salt Lake City Deseret News. The News for Dec. 12, 1855 (V:40) prints Smith's love-letter to Nancy Rigdon, as part of his late August, 1842 history, but providing no explanations for readers' probable questions over its authorship and purpose (two years later, the Liverpool LDS Millennial Star for Dec. 5, 1857, XIX:49, simply reprints the history from the News, with no changes). B. H. Roberts' later editorial note similarly leaves unanswered questions, as to why Smith would write such a positive "marriage for eternity" essay in 1842, if, in 1843, he was very reluctant to accept the doctrine "plural marriage" -- so reluctant that, (according to Wilford Woodruff's Journal, Vol. 8, p. 235) "An Angel of God Stood by him with a drawn Sword and told him he should be slain & Cut off from the Earth and the kingdom of God if he did not obey that Law." The most likely explanation is that the text was introduced into the 1855 DEseret News more or less by accident, with the editor (Willard Richards?) believing it was directed to Emma Smith -- then Roberts, who understood its true context, subsequently struggled to pen an explanation which did not introduce Nancy Rigdon and John C. Bennett into his own faith-promoting editorial offerings.

SMITH  AND  ROCKWELL.

The last Quincy Herald represents that Governor Carlin had been fairly whipped out in his attempts to arrest Smith and Rockwell; and adds that the Mormons will not give them up, but fight to the last.

We never supposed that Gov. Carlin intended to perform his duty in this case. -- It is the extreme of folly to suppose that Joe Smith can put at defiance the power of this State; of that power is honestly exerted. -- Joe Smith at this time, holds Illinois in awe of his authority! What a state of degradation!

---

LETTER  FROM  COL.  ROBINSON.

It will be recollected that a week or two since, we re-published a communication from the Quincy Whig, written by the gentleman above named, in which he gave notice that he wished no longer to be considered as belonging to the Church of Latter Day Saints, He also added, that the leaders of the Church had adopted a resolution that no person should be permitted to withdraw from the body; but that in all cases, they should be expelled.

The independence manifested by Col. ROBINSON, rendered it necessary, to the Mormon leaders, if possible to destroy his credibility as a witness -- a policy which it appears they adopt on all similar occasions. In pursuance of that policy, the Nauvoo Wasp of the 4th inst. attacks Col. Robinson, alleging that he had sold to different individuals, land, &c., and furnishes the certificates of Carlos Granger and Horace S. Eldridge to prove the allegations.

In reply to these charges, we have received the following communication from Col. Robinson -- which we should think, with all candid men, would settle the matter entirely in his favor.

It is one of the singular features of the cases of these seceding Mormons, that they are all first rate men while belonging to the Mormon church, but so soon as they leave it, they become at once, if their charitable and truth-loving brethren are to be believed, great villains. Such has been the fact in the cases of Gen. Bennett and Col. Robinson. A discerning public will be at no loss to discover the truth in these cases, and others which may occur of a similar character"


For the Sangamo Journal.
NAUVOO, Aug. 8, 1842. The old adage verified -- "Drowning men will catch at straws." This saying was never more fully verified than in the Wasp of the 4th inst. No doubt the authors supposed it a mighty attempt to stop my mouth, by getting a pair of worthies to certify, for the chief of defamation, thinking, as I suppose, that this, of course, would be a silencer -- a fair earthquake. If it were not that "birds" of a feather will flock together," it is very doubtful if there are any human beings on the globe, who would think their cause bettered by a certificate of Carlos Granger, a perfect drunken vagabond, and an absolute disgrace to the human species -- but then every man to his taste.

Now for the certificates for this pair of worthies. To give the whole history of the matter. would take considerable time and space, and would be too great a tax upon the patience of the public. I would merely say, that on the 30th Aug. 1839, I made a contract with this Carlos Granger, to sell him a piece of land, for a certain consideration -- gave a bond, running 30 days -- consideration $200. The 30 days passed -- no money came -- Granger came to see me a short time after and said he would pay all in a few days; said Joseph Smith had borrowed his money, and he could not get it. I told him I would take it if payed within one week, as I wanted money to use on my journey to New England; and told him I sold it for less than half of what I had been offered on a credit [of] six months; he came and paid $87 -- and that ended the payments. In the mean time he had got possession of the same. Granger remains in possession at the present time.

I took counsel from SYDNEY H. LITTLE, Esq. He informed me that, as Granger had forfeited his contract, I was no longer holden to him any farther than to pay him back what he had paid me. I sent to Granger several times to come and settle with me, and take the land he had paid for, &c. He utterly refused to settle, but said he would have the whole land or nothing, and would pay me when he pleased. Mr. Little told me to sell the land, and pay him they money when called for. I sold the land, or part of it to Mr. Horace S. Eldridge, as he states in his certificate, for some Missouri property. When Eldridge came to this place he saw Granger, and then told me he would rather have some other property. I informed him I would warrant and defend the place sold to him; but he concluded not to wait for a law suit, but said he would take some town property. I had just bought two lots of Mr. Church of Missouri, paid him $1000 -- the amount that said Church paid Joseph Smith for the lots a few days before. Eldridge complained at the price, and I was anxious to satisfy him if possible. He offered me $700 for the two lots, and house. I finally let him have the property and deeded it over to him. If he was ever dissatisfied about the arrangement, he certainly never intimated the same to me; and I presume he never thought of complaining until it would answer the ends of certain individuals to do so.

I commenced suit against Granger, and it would have been tried at the may term of the circuit court; but Joseph Smith sent for me one day, just before court, and wanted to settle the matter between Granger and myself. Smith had been Granger's attorney, and had employed Esq. Warren, of Quincy, to attend Granger's case. We finally agreed upon a settlement, and I have held myself in readiness to comply according to agreement; and I withdrew the suit from court, paid the cost, with an understanding that the matter was all settled. I now have the terms of settlement, as agreed upon in writing, under the hand of C. A. Warren, Esq.

So much for this attempt at defamation. This attack upon my character is in perfect accordance with other things which have shown themselves -- that is, if it is feared that a man has it in his power to make disclosures, his character is assailed, to destroy the validity of his testimony, and save the guilty from reproach.

If there is not a scape-goat needed, why then seek for one? Why make efforts which show to the world that the entire object of those who attack me is to conceal some hidden things, or some thing done in secret? Such wanton attacks, such shameful condescensions, and such low [ribaldry?], which speaks a language not to be mistaken, that a scape-goat is not only needed, but diligently sought for.

As to the doctrine prohibiting any member from withdrawing from the church, which the men if the Wasp deny, I have only to say, that B. YOUNG, President of the Quorum of Twelve, did say in a public congregation on the 18th of June, that no member could withdraw from said church, and that Bennett had no right to withdraw, but should have been expelled; and then and there the said Bennett was expelled in pursuance of this doctrine; and Joseph Smith was also present, and did acquiesce in the same settlement. And for testimony of which I now say you, men of the Wasp, for out of the dozen would be editors, who are prowling and loafing about the printing office, it would be difficult to ascertain the editors!

For the truth of the statement about the land contract, I would refer the public to the documents themselves. The don't often lie. Sidney Rigdon is also acquainted with the circumstances, and will say the same as is here said. As to the character of the said Granger, I submit to any gentleman who knows him. Respectfully, &c.
GEO. W. ROBINSON.
Notes: (forthcoming)

                            From the Louisville Journal.

Gen. Bennett has written us another letter. How long are the God-defying leaders of the Mormons to be allowed to perpetrate their horrible outrages with impunity?


To the Editors of the Louisville Journal:
                  CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 30, 1842.

I wrote you from Cincinnati, according to promise, and I presume you are in receipt of that hurried production, which, however, may not be wholly uninteresting. This letter will, of necessity, be short and hurried as the former, as all communications written upon the wing, must necessarily be.

In the New York Herald, of the 26th, inst., the editor says, "This presents a strange and curious state of things for the centre of the nineteenth century; and the developments are the most remarkable we ever heard of. The initiatory proceedings at Joe's 'Order Lodge' resemble those practices by Matthias at Pearson's house, only his members were females, and they danced round a stone, whilst Matthias anointed them. But, perhaps, after all, Joe Smith has a secret lodge of women! We shall see." Yes, Joe has a secret lodge of women! and the editor will see. Joe's female lodge (the Mormon inquisition) is the most singular thing of its age. The anointing, A LA JOE, is a caution to David Crockett. The investment, the oath, the ceremonies, the lectures and the GRANDE FINALE, are all done up in such a manner, as to place Mathias in the shade, and to cover Mahomet, the Oriental prophet, in the rubbish of things that were. -- The "History of the Saints," will give a full account of the nondescript lodge of the Mormon ladies of pleasure and the fine arts, including all their cloistered, chambered, and cyprean maids and maidens!! This will be one of the most interesting works of the age.

The elections will terminate next Monday, and I hope that Missouri will then demand [Joe] and secure him. I will be ready to make good the charges; and politicians will then see whether the Mormon disclosures were made for political effect. Time will develop facts, and show the truth, the undeniable truth, of all the charges against Smith, as clear as the sun in the firmament at noon-day. The Roman Pontiff never exercised the domination over the minds and property of the Catholic Church, as Joe, the chief of the Mormon hierarchy, does over his subjects -- the faithful -- and the pontifical bull is harmless in comparison with the Mormon bull, (Joe's letter of marque and reprisal,) as the latter terminates not in spiritual excommunication and damnation from all Mormon gospel privileges from off the face of God's earth, but in murder, cold-blooded, Danite murder! Joe is now making a desperate struggle to save himself from merited disgrace and condign punishment, by the forgeries and perjuries of his cyprean girls, cloistered and chambered mistresses and the Danites. If you will take the trouble to examine all the evidence, you will find that forgery, perjury, theft, robbery, burglary, arson, treason, and murder, are very little things in the eyes of the Mormons, as long as the Holy Joe can, by a 'thus saith the Lord,' pardon iniquity, transgression, and sin!! Joe's father, the devil, was a liar from the beginning, and the world believed him not; neither will they believe Joe, the son, the delectable modern prophet of the latter day sinners; nor the sworn Danites, the grand-children, though covered with all the habiliments of latter day glory.

"Joe's words are lies, and the affidavits of his followers and friends, PATENT LIES. They swear as they are moved upon by Joe's holy ghost, and say the things that gold, or interest, or the prophet's mandate, dictates!! You know the proverb used to be, "you lie like the Devil;" but it has changed with the times, as the son has eclipsed the father, so as to read: You lie like Joe Smith and his Danites and his cypreans."
                   In haste, yours, respectfully,
                               JOHN C. BENNETT.

---

JOE  SMITH  AND  THE  GOVERNOR.

The People are aware of the fact, that the Governor upon a requisition from Missouri, issued a warrant and had Joe Smith arrested in pursuance of law. But Joe Smith was not delivered over to the authorities in Missouri, and why? He procured himself to be discharged by fraud and force through the instrumentality of a pretended writ of "habeas corpus." issued and tried by the City Council of Nauvoo. No man pretends that the City Council has any such authority, and yet our State authorities have quietly acquiesced and submitted to be bullied, and see the laws set at open defiance by the Mormon Prophet!

Could any other man in the State defy and insult the laws in this manner? We see a man, charged with crimes of the blackest enormity, running at large in our State, and the Governor and other State officers, assenting, without a single real effort, though one sham was made, to arrest him. This may do well for the party leaders, who are bound to carry out their agreement with the Mormons and pay them the stipulated price for their votes at the last election. But what will the people say about such things? Shall Joe Smith alone go unpunished for his crimes. whilst other citizens must suffer the penalties of the law? Is it because he sacrilegiously assumes the character of a prophet, and of a saint, or because he has at his absolute disposal, the votes of many thousands of his deluded followers?

It was never seriously intended to deliver Joe Smith over to Missouri. But as the demand was in conformity to law, it was necessary to make a show of obedience to the law, and for this reason a plan was adopted to go through the miserable farce of arresting him and letting him illegally escape. -- The Governor could have commanded force enough to take him; it was his duty to do so; but he did not do it -- because the clique, by whom he is controlled, determined otherwise. Now these things may be the subjects of hoaxing and jesting by the office-holders and leaders of the party, but the people look upon them in a different light. the People look upon them as flagrant violations of law, which, if tolerated, will lead to the subversion of all order[s] and peace and security in society.

---

The Illinoian says there is a conflict of opinion between the Mormons and the locos, on a point of great importance to the party -- whether the Mormons shall give up their name and be called loco focos, or the locofocos be called Mormons. They can settle the matter no doubt very satisfactorily by uniting under the name of the Mormon Loco Foco party.

---

MORMON  NEWS.

From the Warsaw Signal.

AN  ORDINANCE.

Regulating the mode of proceeding in cases of Habeas Corpus, before the municipal court.

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the city of Nauvoo, That in all cases where any person or persons, shall at any time hereafter, be arrested or under arrest in this city, under any writ or process, and shall be [brought] before the municipal court of this city, by virtue of a writ of habeas corpus, the court shall in every such case, shall have power and authority and are hereby required to examine into the origin, validity and legality of the writ of process, under which such arrest was made; and if it shall appear to the court, upon sufficient testimony that said writ or process was illegally or not legally issued, or did not proceed from proper authority, then the court shall discharge the prisoner from under said arrest; but if it shall appear to the court that said writ or process had issued from proper authority, and was a legal process, the court shall then proceed and fully hear the merits of the case, upon which said arrest was made, upon such evidence as may be produced and sworn before said court, and shall have power to adjourn the hearing, and also issue process from time to time in their discretion, in order to procure the attendance of witnesses, so that a fair and impartial trial and decision may be obtained in every such case.

Sec. 2. And be it further ordained, That if upon investigation it shall be proven before the municipal court, that the writ or process has been issued, either through private pique, malicious intent, or religious or other persecution, falsehood, or misrepresentation, contrary to the Constitution of this State, or of the United States, the said writ or process shall be quashed and considered of no force or effect, and the prisoner or prisoners shall be released and discharged therefrom.

Sec. 3. And be it also further ordained, that in the absence, sickness, debility or other circumstances disqualifying or preventing the mayor from officiating in his office, as chief justice of the municipal court, the aldermen present shall appoint one from amongst them to act as chief justice pro tempore.

Sec. 4. This ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
HYRUM SMITH,
Vice-Mayor and President Pro Tempore. Passed August 8, 1842.
                          James Sloan, Recorder.


We copy the above ordinances in order to show our readers the barefaced affrontery with which the holy brotherhood at Nauvoo set at defiance the civil authorities of the State. No man having claims to even an ordinary share of common sense, can ever believe that there is the least shadow of authority in the City Council of Nauvoo, to pass such an ordinance as the above; indeed the Legislature of this State has not power to do it. The City Charter gives to the Municipal Court power to issue writs of Habeas Corpus; evidently this power is only granted in reference to case of arrest under the Municipal Laws, and by the most latitudinarian construction, cannot be made to extend to cases of an arrest under the laws of the State -- but this Mormon ordinance, not only extends to all cases of arrest; but sets the laws of the United States at defiance, by giving authority to the Municipal Court to enquire into the causes of the arrest; a power which even the legislature of this State cannot confer.

By the constitution and laws of the United States, the Governor of this state is bound to deliver up fugitives from justice on the requisition of the Governor of any other State, and the judiciary of this state have no right to enquire under any circumstances into anything further than the sufficiency of the writ on which the arrest is made. If this is in due form, and properly served, there is no power for any tribunal in this State to make any further inquiry. The guilt or innocence of the accused must be determined by the Courts of the State from whence the requisition issued; and any court of law, which institutes any inquiry on this nature, oversteps the boundaries of its jurisdiction, and openly sets at defiance the laws of the land.

Now we ask our Citizens, what think you of this barefaced defiance of our laws by the City Council of Nauvoo, and if persisted in, what must be the final result? If these things are suffered to pass unheeded by the authorities of this state, who is safe whether in his person or property? A Mormon cut-throat may take the life of one of our citizens, and returning to the City of Saints, set a defiance the laws of the land.

Independent of the ordinances above quoted, which was evidently designed to give some semblance of legality to the protection of criminals, we believe that the Mormon church is just such a body, as can be the shelter to every black-leg, cut-throat, or horse thief, who chooses to take refuge amongst them. While under the protection of Joe, who can harm them; what means has an officer of either discovering or arresting a man sheltered by a band who regard the laws of the land as secondary to the commands of their Prophet?

---

From the Warsaw Signal.      

RECENT  ATTEMPT  TO  ARREST  THE  PROPHET.

Most of our readers are doubtless aware that a recent attempt has been made by the Executive of this State to arrest Joe Smith and O. P. Rockwell in obedience to the requisition of the Governor of Missouri. The charges upon which this requisition was founded, are those preferred by Gen. Bennett, viz.: that Smith was accessory and Rockwell principal in the recent attempt on the life of Gov. Boggs.

The warrant was not placed in the hands of the officer until the latter part of last week; but whether there was any political maneuvering, as is rumored, whereby the warrant was shifted off until the election we cannot say.

The officer charged with arrest passed through this place on last Saturday accompanied by three or four men. They gave out that they were in search of runaway negroes; and in leaving the town took such a circuitous route as to prevent any suspicions of their real destination or design. On Monday they without difficulty arrested Smith and Rockwell; but the prisoners were immediately brought before the Municipal court of Nauvoo, on habeas corpus and discharged. The officers however insisted that the municipal court had no power in that case to grant the writ, and that the ordinance under which it was granted was of no effect. Smith on the other hand insisted that the writ should be returned to the Governor with the endorsement, that they had been discharged by the city court, refusing to go with the officer unless this were done; and pledging himself to be forthcoming if the Governor should again send for him. The officer seeing no hope of being able to take Smith, against his will, returned to Quincy; but the Governor immediately dispatched him back to Nauvoo, with instructions to take Smith at all hazards. In the mean time Judge Ralston had been sent for by Smith; who arrived at Nauvoo previous to the return of the officer. If rumor is correct he advised Smith to secrete himself as his case was a desperate one. Accordingly when the warrant arrived again in the city, Smith and Rockwell were among the missing. Thus ends the chapter.

Our citizens were in hopes that the scamp would be taken or else make open resistance; no termination of the affair could be less satisfactory than the one which has taken place. If he had resisted, we should have had the sport of driving him and his worthy clan out of the State en masse, but as it is we are mortified that there is no efficacy in the law to bring such a scamp to justice. We hope that our Executive will spare no effort hereafter to bring about this consummation so devoutly to be wished.

---

CONFIRMATION.

It is stated that when the officer arrested O. P. Rockwell in Nauvoo on Monday last, that he turned deathly pale, and exhibited every symptom of alarm and guilt. Shortly after he was discharged by the municipal court he left the city, and has not been heard from since. A fellow by the name of Derby, of about equal standing with O. P. Rockwell; and his professed friend, was in this place on Wednesday last; and in conversation on the subject of Rockwell's guilt, said, that Rockwell could prove that he was fifteen miles from Independence on the night that Boggs was shot, and that he went down the Missouri river in the same boat with the sheriff who was in pursuit of the murdered. This we conceive is rather confirmatory than exculpatory; at all events it proves that Rockwell was in that region of the country at the time of the attempted murder, on what business it will rest with him to show.

From the whole circumstances -- Smith's prophecy that Boggs should die within a year by violence, his stating that Rockwell had gone into Missouri to fulfill prophecies -- the fact that Rockwell was in the neighborhood of Boggs at the time of the attempt on his life -- his return to Nauvoo just as the news arrived of the assassination of Boggs -- his sudden elevation from a low blackguard to a gentleman by the presents of Smith on his return -- his conduct when arrested -- his flight as soon as released -- all form a concatenation of events, to say the least, strangely mysterious; and we are very much mistaken, if those taken with what other proof might arise on identifying Rockwell in Missouri, would not consign him and his villainous instigator to the gallows.

---

From the State Register, a Mormon Newspaper.        

Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, has recently received an important revelation, which requires him to be in England in a short time. It is rumored that he has already departed for Washington, where he is required to perform a great miracle.

---

The above articles will serve to show the contempt with which Joe Smith regards the authorities of this State, and in what manner Gov. Carlin performs his sworn duties. Surely, the people of Illinois must be deeply humbled and disgraced by the conduct of their Chief Magistrates. Had that office been held by a MAN instead of a Granny, the majesty of the laws would have been sustained and our citizens would have felt that the greatest, as well as scoundrels of lesser note, were amendable to them.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormon editor of the Wasp, in substance, says, that the editor of the Warsaw Signal in attacking him, (a brother of Joe Smith, and a representative elect for Hancock county) "shows a contempt for the sovereign voice of the people." Wheh! The same astute editor claims the election of Ford and Morre as a great MORMON VICTORY.

---

Joe Smith and O. P. Rockwell, are now outlaws, having escaped from the officers of Justice. Their whereabouts is only known to the leading locos and their partners in iniquity.

---

The St. Louis Bulletin says, that 40 Mormons arrived in that city last week from Nauvoo in one gang. They were perfectly disgusted with the absurdities and enormities of Joe Smith.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                                          From the Quincy Herald of Sept. 8.
ANOTHER ABORTIVE ATTEMPT TO ARREST JOE SMITH. -- Mr. FORD, the officer bearing the requisition from Gov. Reynolds, of Mo., for the person of Joseph Smith, arrived here one day last week from Iowa Territory, whither he had been to make a similar demand on the Governor of Iowa, in case Joe Smith should cross the river. On Friday, the writs for the arrest of Smith and Rockwell were placed in the hands of Messrs. King and Pitman, and on the same evening in company with Mr. Ford and five or six others, they started for Nauvoo. Notwithstanding the officers endeavored to keep the whole proceedings secret, the news of their intentions and errand reached Nauvoo before them; and about two hours before they arrived here, Joe Smith had taken his departure, or secreted himself so that he was not to be found. There were men stationed on the opposite side of the river the day and night previous to the arrival of the officers at Nauvoo, who kept a strict look-out in case he should get wind of the coming of the officers, and cross the river. But neither of the parties saw or heard any thing of him, except that he was at home a very short time before their arrival. His house and premises were thoroughly searched; but no signs of him could be obtained. -- The officers returned here last Monday morning, and Mr. Ford went back to Missouri.

It was told to the officers at Warsaw, by men who were witnesses of the fact, that Jo Smith made a public speech, on Monday the 29th ult. to his followers, in which he declared that Messrs. King and Pitman were cowards, and were afraid to take him, or even to make a serious attempt. He also stated that Gov. Reynolds, of Mo., and Gov. Carlin, were fools, and that they might go to the d---l; but they would never have the pleasure of taking possession of this person; and much more, of the same braggadocio character. We know not how Gov. Carlin will relish such language, but from him his well known character and temper when he is defied, we would suppose he could not swallow it as easily as Joe may suppose. It is perfectly ridiculous that one man, of the calibre of Jo Smith, should throw defiance in the teeth of the people of two States. -- What in the name of common sense are our laws for, if it is impossible to put them in execution in so simple an instance as the one now under consideration? Can it be possible that the people of Illinois will suffer a proclaimed culprit and fugitive from justice, to throw himself in the centre of some two or three thousand followers, and then defy the Executive of the State, and the officers of justice, and proclaim himself independent of, and above the laws of the State, in the most insulting language? For the honor of Illinois, we hope that effective measures may be speedily taken on the part of the Governor to crush such treason in the bud.

---

The Warsaw Signal of Sept. 3, says on the same subject:

JOE SMITH'S WHEREABOUTS. -- It is now reduced to a certainty, that Smith is in Nauvoo. On Monday last, he addressed a large crowd of his followers in that city; on the subject of the late attempt to arrest him. He stated that he would not be taken -- that King and Pitman, (the officers charged with the arrest) were cowards, and could not take him. He was very profuse of oaths -- cursing everything that did not smell of Mormonism.

At the conclusion of his speech, he commissioned two hundred and fifty Ministers to travel throughout the country and preach the Gospel -- instructing them to exort all converts to migrate to Nauvoo.

---

The Nauvoo Wasp says significantly that "Joseph Smith will not go to Missouri to be murdered." Nor will he be permitted to go there, apprehensive that justice may be meted out to him.

---

We are pleased to see that the Governor's dander is likely to get up; and should he not be "headed" by the "clique" here, he probably may get Joe Smith -- if he wishes to get him.

---

The last Nauvoo "Times and Seasons" has an article designed to prove, that although Joe Smith may be a great knave, he is about as good a man as any of the ancient prophets.

---

Among the loco foco candidates for speaker of the House, we are surprised that the name of Gen. Wm. Smith of Nauvoo is not mentioned. Something should be done for him, or his brother will be dissatisfied. Joe already says Gov. Carlin "is a fool."

---

                                          NAUVOO, Aug. 27th, 1842.
Editor of the Wasp.

DEAR SIR: I am fully authorized by my daughter, Nancy, to say to the public through the medium of your paper, that the letter which has appeared in the Sangamo Journal, making part of General Bennett's letters to said paper, purporting to have been written by Mr. Joseph Smith to her, was unauthorized by her, and that she never said to Gen. Bennett or any other person, that said letter was written by Mr. Smith, nor in his hand writing, but by another person, and in another person's hand writing. She further wishes me to say, that she never at any time authorized General Bennett to use her name in the public papers, as he has done, which has been greatly to the wounding of her feelings, and she considers the obtruding of her name before the public in the manner in which it has been done, to say the least of it, as a flagrant violation of the rules of gallantry, and cannot avoid to insult her feelings, which she wishes the public to know. I would further state that Mr. Smith denied to me the authorship of that letter.

SIDNEY RIGDON.      

P. S. I wish the Sangamo Journal and all papers that have copied Bennett's letter to copy this also, as an act of justice to Miss Rigdon.
                                    S. R.

We copy the above letter with pleasure. To us it appears the explanation of Mr. Rigdon, however satisfactory it may be to the Mormons, will not be regarded as conclusive by the public. The points in the letter are, that Joe Smith did not write the communication referred to, and that Gen. Bennett had no authority from Miss Rigdon to use her name in the matter. In reply, we would say, that we never supposed Joe Smith the writer of the communication sent to Miss Rigdon. It was unquestionable[y] written by some of his numerous assistants who minister to his depravity. Joe Smith has not sufficient talent to write such a letter. Nevertheless it was written to accomplish his purposes. Of this, there is no denial. In regard to Gen. Bennett's using Miss Rigdon's name, we presume it would not have been done could it have been avoided with due regard to the interests of virtue and morality. The interests of public morals have often placed ladies in positions from which their delicacy would shrink; but they have been sustained by the consciousness that the public fully sympathized and appreciated their situation, -- This is the position which Miss Rigdon occupies -- one forced upon her by unavoidable circumstances, and not caused in any degree by her own acts.

It does appear to us that facts enough are presented in the above authentic letter of Mr. Rigdon, to cause a full examination of the case by the Grand Jury of the County. If Smith is innocent, let him go free; -- if guilty, let him suffer the pains that are prescribed for the infraction of our laws by the meanest as well as the most elevated citizen.

---

Mr. ORSON PRATT publishes a communication in the Nauvoo Wasp, in which he states that he has not left the Mormons; but makes no mention of Joe Smith's attacks upon the virtue of his lady.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                          La Harpe, Hancock Co., Sept. 10, 1842.
Editor, Sangamo Journal:

Dear Sir: -- I wish to make through the medium of your paper, a public withdrawal from the church of Latter Day Saints, as I cannot longer consent to remain a member of said church while polygamy, lasciviousness and adultery are practiced by some of its leaders. That crimes of the deepest dye are tolerated and practiced by them, cannot be doubted.

I have heard the circumstances of Smith's attack upon Miss Rigdon, from the family as well as herself, -- and knowing her to be a young lady who sustains a good moral character, and also of undoubted veracity, I must place implicit confidence in her statements, the foul insinuations of that miserable little insect the Wasp, to the contrary notwithstanding.

And having a personal knowledge of Smith's lying at different times in the name of the Lord, I cannot for a moment doubt but he did so in the case above alluded to. Smith is so fearful that his character (which is poorest where best known) is about to take a sudden flight to parts unknown -- that he has lately either by himself on the public stand, or by his organ the Wasp, attacked the character of every person, who he thinks will demur and proclaim against his conduct, and been called upon by the public to state what they know about the matter, and who have thus far refrained from taking part with either side -- these are they who feel the indignation and wrath of the Prophet Smith, and who suffer in the MORMON community by foul calumny of these debauchees.

I know that Miss Rigdon has been greatly mortified by being obtruded before the public -- nevertheless it was unavoidable on her part, and if Smith succeeds in extricating himself from the awful dilemma in which he has placed himself, by obtaining her certificate to the contrary, then I am much mistaken in the character of Miss Rigdon. It is true that Mr. Rigdon has endeavored to allay the excitement upon this subject, and has evaded a direct answer to the public, as far as he could consistently with truth, but that part which is true he has left untouched. -- The fact of Smith's wishing to marry Miss Rigdon as a spiritual wife, of his attack upon her virtue, his teachings about his having the blessings of Jacob, &c. &c., as stated in General Bennett's letters, ARE TRUE; and if I am called upon to prove it, I SHALL DO IT to the satisfaction of the public, and to the chagrin and mortification of Smith and others. The letter published purporting to be from Smith to Miss Rigdon, was not in Smith's hand-writing, but in the hand-writing of Dr. Willard Richards, who officiated not only as scribe, but post boy, for the Prophet, and who DID say that he wrote the letter as dictated by Joseph Smith, and said Joseph Smith did say, on a certain occasion, that he did direct said Richards to write a letter to Miss Nancy Rigdon; and I now say I stand ready to prove these allegations by as respectable WITNESSES as can be produced in Hancock County, and if Smith has no other means by which he can extricate himself from this complexis argumentum bicornis, then by endeavoring to blast the characters of the innocent and unoffending, to shield himself from infamy and disgrace, then let him fire his Tormentum Murale -- and be gathered unto his Fathers.

GEN. GEO. W. ROBINSON.

I have been acquainted with this gentleman upwards of ten years. I have only to say where he is known, and in the community and circle in which he moves, he is far above the reach of that foul Wasp, and is altogether above reproach, I was present when the transaction took place between this gentleman and said H. S. Eldridge, who then and there expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and I presume that feeble effort would never have been made to injure the reputation of Gen. Robinson, if he had not made public his withdrawal from the church. -- Said Robinson was formerly Joseph Smith's secretary, and was General Church Clerk, and Recorder for the Church, and I have heard Smith say that Robinson was the bravest man in the Mormon band, and that he (Robinson) had not a drop of cowardly blood in his veins, and other eulogiums of the same nature, But alas, how fallen! -- how fallen!!

STEPHEN MARKHAM.

Who has favored the public with his affidavit, * with the apparent design to help Smith out of his dilemma in the extraordinary affair with Miss Rigdon, is a man of little or no reputation, and I could not believe his statement, although made under oath; and Smith, it appears in 'The Wasp' of 3d inst., has already become disgusted with this worthy help-meet, and it certainly is a wonder that others of the same character should not share the same fate, for Smith must know they are an injury to his cause. The Mormon Elders are now scattering in every direction through our country, laden with lies to injure the innocent and oppressed.
              Very respectfully, &c.
                      J. F. OLNEY.

P. S. Please publish the above, and you may hear from me again soon. My family sickness, as also my own, may be sufficient excuse for the long delay to respond to your call.
                      J. F. O.

[N. B.]
Dear Sir: -- Since writing the above, I have received several certificates, and many others proffered, to show to the public in what light they may look upon the certificate of Stephen Markham, against the character of Miss Rigdon. You will confer a favor by punishing them to the world, and requesting other periodicals to do the same; for Smith has just sent out about three hundred Elders from Nauvoo, and many others from other places, heavily laden with such certificates, to rebut the statements of General Bennett. I have not entertained the least doubt, but that the certificates of Miss Brotherton, Mrs. Schindle, and many others, are true to the very letter, concerning the conduct of Smith and others.
                      J. F. O.


* As our readers are not acquainted with the facts in relation to Markham's affidavit, a few words of explanation seem to be necessary. It is well understood that when any of those ladies who are insulted by Joe, resent his insults, and make an exposure of his baseness, he at once, with his servile tools, attempts to destroy their character. Such was the case in the present instance. Unable to corrupt Miss Rigdon, the miserable man, Markham, was employed, to make an affidavit against Miss Rigdon. But so well were the community of Nauvoo satisfied of the unsullied purity of Miss R., and the villainy of Markham, that after the publication of Markham's affidavit, the editor of 'The Wasp,' by Joe Smith's directions, was made to say that he (Joe Smith) did not procure for publication the said affidavit of Markham! What a scene of villainy is here disclosed! What putrid and corrupt wretches are acting in behalf of Joe Smith to further his infamous designs?

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Certificate of Colonel Carlos Gove.
                  Nauvoo, September 3, 1842.

Having been personally acquainted with Miss Nancy Rigdon, for some time, I take pleasure in saying to the public, that I verily believe Miss Rigdon a lady who sustains a virtuous, chaste, moral, and upright character, and that she has never given reason for any one whereon to rest a suspicion to the contrary, -- and that the affidavit of Stephen Markham was procured for purposes well known to the public, -- and I also believe said Markham to be a liar, disturber of the peace, and what may justly be termed a loafer
                      Carlos Gove.

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Certificate of Sidney Rigdon, Esq.
                          Nauvoo, September 3, 1842.

Personally appeared before me, E. Robinson, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county of Hancock, and State of Illinois, Sidney Rigdon, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he is personally acquainted with Stephen Markham, of this city, and that said Markham is not to be believed; that his word for truth and veracity is not good; that he could not believe said Markham under oath, and that he did on a certain occasion testify under oath to that which deponent knows to be false, and he verily believes said Markham knew the same to be false while testifying; and further this deponent saith not.
                      Sidney Rigdon.

Sworn to, this third day of September, A. D. 1842, before me,
                      E. Robinson, J. P.

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Certificate of General George W. Robinson
                  Nauvoo, September 3, 1842.

Having been acquainted with Stephen Markham, of the city of Nauvoo, for many years, I can safely say that his character for truth and veracity is not good, and that I could not believe him under oath; and that I am personally knowing of his lying, and that his character in general is that of a loafer, disturber of the peace, liar, &c; and that he did come into the house of Sidney Rigdon, as stated in his affidavit, and that Dr. Bennett and Miss Rigdon were present, as well as myself, and that Miss Rigdon was then sick, and Dr. John C. Bennett was the attending physician; and I do further state that no such conversation or gestures as said Markham states, took place or came under my observation; and I do further believe that said Markham did invent, concoct, and put in circulation, said stories with a malicious design and intent to injure the character of Miss Rigdon, and more particularly for the use of the Elders, who are going out preaching to rebut Dr. Bennett's statements; and further this deponent saith not.
                      Geo. W. Robinson.

Sworn to before me, L. R, Chaffin, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county of Hancock, and state of Illinois, this ninth day of September, 1842,
                      Lewis R. Chaffin, J. P.

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Certificate of Colonel Henry Marks

Having been acquainted with Miss Nancy Rigdon for nearly six years, I can say that she is a lady of a virtuous, chaste, and upright moral character, and I do not believe she ever gave any occasion for the least suspicion to the contrary; and I do further believe the certificate of Stephen Markham to be false, and given with a malicious design and intent to injure the character of Miss Rigdon unjustly.
                              Henry Marks.
LaHarpe, Illis., Sept. 10, 1842.


Notes: (forthcoming)

FOUR  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  REWARD!

STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Executive Department,
Sept. 20, 1842. WHEREAS, a requisition has been made upon me, as the Executive of this State, by the apprehension and surrender of O. P. ROCKWELL, who is charged with the crime of shooting Lilburn W. Boggs, with intent to kill, in the county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, on the night of the sixth day of may, A. D. 1842;

And whereas a demand has also been made by the Governor of Missouri, upon me, for the apprehension and surrender of JOSEPH SMITH (commonly called the Mormon Prophet,) who is charged with the crime of being accessory to the shooting of said Boggs, at the time and place aforesaid, with intent to kill:

And whereas, in obedience to the Constitution and laws of the United States, executive warrants have been issued, and the said Rockwell and Smith arrested as fugitives from justice from the State of Missouri:

And whereas, the said Rockwell and Smith resisted the laws, by refusing to go with the officers who had them in custody, as fugitives from justice, and escaped from the custody of the officers:

Now, therefore, I THOMAS CARLIN, Governor of the State of Illinois, in conformity to an act entitled "an act concerning fugitives from justice," approved January 6th, 1827, do offer a reward of TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, to any person or persons, for the apprehension and delivery of each, or either of the above named fugitives from justice, viz. O. P. ROCKWELL and JOSEPH SMITH, to the custody of James M. Pitman, and Thomas C. King, or to the Sheriff of Adams county at the city of Quincy.

( L. S. ) In testimony whereof, I have here
unto set my hand and caused the
great seal of the State to be
affixed, the day and date above
written.
By the Governor:
          THOMAS CARLIN. Lyman Trumbull, Sec'y of State.

---

Joe Smith, it is again stated, has left the country. It is supposed he aims to reach Canada. The occurrences connected with the attempts to arrest Smith and Rockwell show that the Mormons are not under the control of the laws of the State; but that they can and do set them at defiance when they please. And yet one of their number has the hardihood to claim a seat in our Legislature, and assist in enacting laws for the government of this State!

---

The communication of Oliver H. Olney, a seceder from the Mormons, is in type for our next paper.


The reader will find in this paper the Proclamation of Gov. Carlin, offering a reward for the apprehension of "the fugitives from justice." Joseph Smith and O. P. Rockwell.


Notes: (forthcoming)

A  COMMUNICATION  FROM  ANOTHER
SECEDING  MORMON.

                                          KNOX COUNTY, Sept. 18, 1842.

MR. EDITOR. -- Having for many years belonged to the Church of Latter Day Saints (or Mormons), in which time I have done the utmost in my power to proclaim and publish the doctrine of said Church to the world of mankind -- having suffered with cold, hunger, and almost every deprivation which ever falls to the lot of mortals -- having traveled on foot for thousands of miles, been without food; lodged in the open air, almost naked and friendless, exposed to the rages and violence of persecutors -- all of which I have experienced with a conscience void of offence, believing the same to be required of me by the Almighty; and cheerfully spending my time, money, and bodily strength, to do the supposed work of God -- having full and implicit confidence in the recent Revelation coming through Joseph Smith, as Prophet of the Last Days -- and faithfully adhering to his teachings, as such, until being led to a fearful crisis, my eyes were opened, and with painful feelings to behold, that if passively to be led, like many, should find myself lamentably in the paths of INFAMY and DISGRACE, a sure reward, sooner or later, meeted to all Liars, Adulterers, and Fornicators.

Thus, seeing the ungodly course pursued, and hearing of the corrupt and corroding doctrines privately taught; and witnessing the debaucheries of some of the would-be great and good in the last days, a coinciding feeling on my part, with that of an ancient writer was the result, "that WOMEN and WINE were two great evils to fools." Thus at once seeing my hopes blasted, my confidence in some of the leaders destroyed; and a total shipwreck made of all the pretended morality, virtue, temperance, and even truth and righteousness -- attributes of which so much noise and boasts have been made by said Church as belonging to its votaries, I feel it an imperative duty before God, to warn all mankind against such impositions; and I hope and pray to be forgiven for the part I have ignorantly taken in propagating them. For the good of mankind -- the duty I owe to my Maker, as well as to expose to the public the theory, practice and life of an unparalleled impostor, and in part to atone for many years ignorantly aiding and abetting him -- I shall publish to the world, either in letters or pamphlet form, the history of the acts, teachings and doings of the notable Prophet of the last days, as well as some of his worthy helpmates, which are the results of my close observation for the last two years, a memorandum of which I have always taken at the time and place, the better to insure its correctness.

It is already well known to the public, that as soon as a member of said Church claims the rights and makes use of the freeman's proudest and boasted blessing, the liberty of speech, a certain gang, with their pot-hooks and trammels, rake up and secure the inebriate, the liar and adulterer, two swear away the character of the person who has honor and moral courage to withstand evil and rebuke the wicked; the affidavits are then placed in the hands of that old sinner, notorious in the Missouri difficulties, who is no more or less than propatrius ad diabolius, and reminds us of an ancient saying, "Clodius accusat Mocchos" -- the devil rebukes sin; -- they are then heralded to all parts of the world, where the shout of that miserable insect has obtruded.

But, sir, such affidavits can do no harm to any in the community and circle of the acquaintance of each. You have probably noticed a sample of what I now say; in the affidavit of Stephen Markham vs. Nancy Rigdon, every person knows (that knows any thing about it) that Stephen Markham's affidavit was for the express purpose of helping the elders who (were going out to preach) to refute the statements of Gen. Bennett, which statements I believe to be true as far as I have seen Bennett's writing. I have been personally acquainted with Miss Nancy Rigdon from her infancy to the present time, and a more virtuous lady I believe never lived. I do not believe that any act in her life, could give the least suspicion to the most designing and eager of mischief makers. Those affidavits also against Gen. Robinson were a good sample of the fag end of creation. Those in store for me I am not in possession of, but presume they will be some monstrous thing, perhaps eating too much suckertash, or my potatoes baked instead of boiled, or some mighty sin of omission. More anon.

Very respectfully, &c.      
OLIVER H. OLNEY.      

---

Gov. REYNOLDS, of Missouri, has offered a reward of 300 dollars for the person of ORRIN P. ROCKWELL, who is charged with the attempt to murder Ex-Gov. Boggs -- and 300 dollars for the person of JOSEPH SMITH, as an accessory in the attempted murder.

The Nauvoo Wasp, which speaks of the attempt to murder Gov. Boggs as a "noble deed," denounces the effort to arrest individuals charged with this atrocious act as "religious persecution"!!

---

On Sunday of last week we understand that JOSEPH SMITH, made a speech at Nauvoo, in which he stated, as usual, that Gov. Reynolds and Gov. Carlin were fools and that they could not take him.

Poor Locofoco ridden State! An outlaw almost within the hearing of the Governor, ridiculing the authorities of the State, as unable to execute the laws of the State upon his person! Huzza for Illinois!


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMON  RENUNCIATIONS.

In our last paper we gave a publication by Mr. OLIVER H. OLNEY, in which he had come to the conclusion that it was a matter of solemn duty with him to renounce all connection with "the Latter Day Saints." Mr. Olney has been a preacher of this sect, and an earnest believer of its doctrines. To use his own words, he "has suffered with cold, hunger, and almost every deprivation which ever falls to the lot of mortals -- having travelled on foot for thousands of miles; lodging in the open air, almost naked and friendless, exposed to persecution and violence, with a conscience void of offence;" but at length he discovered that the leaders of the church were not the men that he once supposed -- he had become a witness of their corruptions and debaucheries -- and though he was sure to be assailed by them, he took the course of an honest man, and, denouncing their corruptions, he publicly announced that he had withdrawn from the church.

We this week present another document from members of the same church, signed by ten individuals, who for causes assigned, also withdraw from said church. The world will honor them for this honest, patriotic and christian act. They have not done it without pain, but a consciousness of duty to themselves, and the community will sustain them, although the "debauched" clan of Mormon leaders may continue to malign all those who abandon the monster of iniquity."

In this affair we believe the statements of Gen. Bennett in relation to the manner in which Smith had disposed of his property, with the view of taking the benefits of the bankrupt law, were sustained; -- as we have good reason to believe all his statements in reference to Joe Smith would be, if, as in the present case, they could be brought before a legal tribunal.

---

               HANCOCK COUNTY, Ill., Oct. 5, 1842.
Editor Sangamo Journal:

DEAR SIR -- We, the undersigned, feeling ourselves aggrieved by the conduct of Joseph Smith, and others of the leaders of the Church of Latter Day Saints -- and feeling that we have been most scandalously imposed upon in matters and things of a Divine character, wish publicly to withdraw from said Church, and no longer claim allegiance thereto. Joseph D. Conoly,
Mary Ann Conoly,
Mary A. Converce,
Rob't Angould,
Martha Angould.

   McDonough County, Ill.

We concur in the above feelings. Chas. Chase, Jr.
Rich'd Chase,
Sarah McMullen.
E. H. McMullen.
H. H. Ogle, Sen'r.

---

ANOTHER  FARCE!

While Joe Smith was disposed not to be arrested, he openly defied Gov. Carlin, and all his force, to take him. A few day's since he quietly gave himself up and has gone to Carthage to be discharged.

The Quincy Whig of Saturday says --

POSTSCRIPT! -- ARREST OF JO SMITH. -- We understand the Governor has received information, that Jo Smith is in custody at Carthage; and that he is to be brought before Judge Douglass, who is there holding court, on a writ of habeas corpus, for the purpose of trying the validity of the Governor's writ of arrest. From the course things are taking, it is not improbable that the same farce played off two years ago, in which the same two parties were interested, will be re-acted again in the present instance.

---

The Nauvoo Wasp contains a communication from Lyman Wright [sic], which is designed to impugn the character of Gen. John C. Bennett, and says the article was offered to us for publication. We have too much confidence in Mr. Wright to suppose that this statement of the Wasp was made on his authority.

---

Gen. Bennett's expose will appear in a few weeks. It is said to be backed up at all points with unexceptional testimony, and is accompanied, as it should be, with plates, to illustrate the work.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The last Quincy Whig states that Joe Smith has not given himself up, but that he is still at Nauvoo, defying the authority of the two States.

Notes: (forthcoming)

JOE  SMITH  AND  THE  GOVERNOR.

The Nauvoo paper of the 22d denounces Gov. Carlin because he will not sanction such 'glorious deeds.' as murder, as charged upon Joe Smith -- and Joe in a late letter to the New York Herald, thus speaks of himself and of his legion who he says "would die in his defence." While the renegade is thus insulting the dignity and character of the State, Governor Carlin remains quietly at home, within a few miles of Joe Smith, and not an effectual effort is made to sustain the majesty (!) of the laws.

"I am at this time persecuted the worst of any man on the earth, as well as the people here in this place; and all our sacred rights are trampled under feet of the mob. I am now hunted as an hart by the mob, under the pretence or shadow of law to cover their abominable deeds. An unhallowed demand has been made from the Governor of Missouri, on oath of Gov. Boggs that I made an attempt to assassinate him in the night of the 6th of May, when on that day I was attending the officer drill, and answered to my name when the roll was called. And on the seventh, it is well known to the thousands that assembled here in Nauvoo, that I was at my point in reviewing the Nauvoo Legion in the presence of twelve thousand people; and the Governor of the State of Illinois, notwithstanding his being known to all these facts, yet he immediately granted a writ, and by an unhallowed usurpation, has taken away our chartered right, and denied the right of habeas corpus; and has now about thirty of the most blood thirsty kind of men in this place in search for me threatening death and destruction, and exterminating upon all the Mormons, and searching my house almost continually from day to day, menacing and threatening, and intimidating an innocent wife and children, and insulting them in a most diabolical manner, threatening their lives, &c. If I am not to be found, with a gang of Missourians with them, saying they will have me dead or alive, and if alive, they will carry me to Missouri in chains, and when there, they will kill me at all hazards. And all this is backed up and urged on by the Governor of the State, with all the rage of a demon putting at defiance the constitution of this State, our chartered rights, and the constitution of the United States; for not as yet have they done one thing that was in accordance to them. *   *   *   *

The Legion would all willingly die in the defence of their rights; but what would this accomplish? I have kept down their indignation, and kept a quiet submission on all hands; and am determined to do so at all hazards."

---

Editor of the Journal:

I was told this week by one of the Mormon elders, that all those persons who came out in the Journal of the 14th ult., renouncing Mormonism, have gone back, confessed their sins, and have been re-baptized. Now if this be the fact, it would be nothing more than justice to the public for them to come out in the Journal, or some other newspaper, and state the fact, so as to counteract the statement they made in the Journal. It was further stated to me by the said elder that O. H. Olney, who has been publishing in the Journal against the Mormons, will go back to the church before twelve months -- that he had not been treated as he should have been by some of the church, and consequently he became disaffected; but as soon as some of the leaders of the church could see him, and explain the matter to him, all would be right. It was further stated by the same man that O. H. Olney was a man of good character, and he did not much blame him for becoming disaffected with the church, after having been mistreated as he had been by some of the Mormons.

This statement from one of the Mormon elders I have thought proper to give you, so that Mr. Olney may know what the calculations of the Mormons are respecting him.

Yours truly,      
Hancock Co., Ill., Oct. 22, 1842.      

Notes: (forthcoming)

BENNETT'S  EXPOSE  OF  MORMONISM

With plates, just received and for sale by the subscriber at the Journal Office.
Nov. 10. '42
JAS. I. HILL.

---

THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  SAINTS,

or an Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism -- By JOHN C. BENNETT; Boston, Leland & Whiting, 71 Washington St.; New York, Bradbury, Soden & Co., 127 Nassau St.; Cincinnati, E. S. Norris & Co., 247 Main St. -- 1842.

We received a copy of this work a few days since. It contains such an expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism, and sustained too, by such evidence, as will startle and confound those who boast of the intelligence of our age. That such a vulgar, low-minded fellow as Joe Smith, should have succeeded in this enlightened day in establishing and securing an unlimited control over some thirty thousand human beings -- in despite of their own language of his baseness, his corruptions, his schemes to pander to the depraved appetites of himself and a few of his selected followers who are deemed worthy to be the repositories of his secrets and the companions of his crimes -- will hereafter be a matter of as much astonishment as the success of Jemima Wilkinson or Mathias' humbug, or of that now enacting in the East and of which a notice may be found in this paper, by the "Millerites." near Salem, Massachusetts.

The work now before us contains 344 pages of close letter press printing, with six plates -- 1 and 2, portraits of Joe Smith and Gen. Bennett, in Military costume; 3, a representation of the "Order Lodge;" 4, of the Lodge of the "Daughter of Zion;" 5, of the lodge of the "Destroying Angel;" (Danites); and 6, plan of the City of Nauvoo, the temple, the baptismal font, &c. As a matter of necessity we shall be brief in our extracts, and shall only be able to notice some of the leading and striking points of this work. It will, we presume, soon be for sale at the book stores, and our extracts, and notices will only increase the general desire among our readers to see the whole work.

Gen. BENNETT, in the first chapter of his work, presents his reasons for joining the Mormons:

I find that it is almost universally the opinion of those who have heard of me in the Eastern part of the United States, that I united myself with the Mormons from a conviction of the truth of their doctrines, and that I was, at least for some time, a convert to their pretended religion. This, however, is a very gross error. I never believed in them or their doctrines. This is, and indeed was, from the first, well known to my friends and acquaintances in the western country, who were well aware of my reasons for connecting myself with the Prophet; which reasons I will now proceed to state.

My attention had been long turned towards the movements and designs of the Mormons, with whom I had become pretty well acquainted, years before, in the state of Ohio; and after the formation of their establishment at Nauvoo, in 1839, the facts and reports respecting them, which I continually heard, led me to suspect, and, indeed, believe, that their leaders had formed, and were preparing to execute, a daring and colossal scheme of rebellion and usurpation throughout the North-Western States of the Union. It was to me evident that temporal, as well as spiritual, empire was the aim and expectation of the Prophet and his cabinet. The documents that will here after be introduced, will clearly show the existence of a vast and deep laid scheme, upon their part, for conquering the States of Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, and or erecting upon the ruin of their present governments a despotic military and religious empire, the head of which, as emperor and pope, was to be Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Lord, and his ministers and viceroys, the apostles; high-priests, elders and bishops, of the Mormon church.

This part of the subject closes with the following paragraph:

Had I been actuated by selfish and dishonorable motives, I should have remained among the Mormons; for with them I possessed power, wealth, and the means to gratify every passion or desire that I might conceive. But I felt myself an humble instrument in the hands of God to expose the Impostor and his myrmidons, and to open the eyes of my countrymen to his dark and damnable designs, I have done my duty, and whatever may be thought of my motives and my conduct, I am satisfied with the approval of my own conscience, and I feel certain that I have acted right and honorably

The attacks which have been made upon the character of Gen. Bennett, by the Mormon press, as well as by some others, since he abjured Mormonism, obviously rendered it necessary for him to sustain his reputation by the evidence of his standing among those with whom he has resided and associated for several of the past years, and be reference to the confidence which had been reposed in him by those who may have been supposed the best judges of his deserts. Several pages are occupied with this testimony. It thus appears that he received a strong recommendation as an "ingenious and successful practitioner of medicine and surgery," and as a man of "unexceptionable moral character," by S. P. Hildreth, President of the Medical Convention of Ohio; that he received similar recommendation, signed by seven of the principal citizens of South Bloomfield, Ohio, after residing there twelve months; that he was appointed as Agent of the Willoughby University of Ohio; that he was unanimously elected Brigadier General of the Invincible Dragoons of Illinois, and as such commissioned by Gov. Carlin of this State; that he was subsequently appointed Quarter-Master General of Illinois, by the same executive officer, that he was one of the individuals who organized the Medical Convention of the State of Illinois, (as reference to a file of this Journal of 1841 will show;) that he was unanimously elected Major General of the Nauvoo Legion, and received a commission for that office from Gov. Carlin; that he was elected Mayor of Nauvoo; and also received a commission from Gov. Carlin; that he was elected and presided as Chancellor of the University of Nauvoo; that he received the appointment of Master in Chancery for Hancock county from Judge Douglass, and was qualified and acted as such; that he was on occasion "presented with the First Presidency, as Assistant President, until President Rigdon's health should be established;" that Gen. Bennett up to the time he left the Mormons, was a special favorite with them, and was frequently spoken of in the highest terms of respect by the "Times and Seasons," under the control of Joe Smith, as in the following extract: --

We would say that, if untiring diligence to aid the afflicted and the oppressed, zeal for the promotion of literature and intelligence, and a virtuous and consistent conduct, are evidences of popularity, &c., we venture to say that no man deserves the appellations of "popular and deserving" more than Gen. J. C. Bennett.

Times and Seasons, Vol. 2 -- No. 10 -- p. 351.    

Joe Smith went so far even as to have a direct revelation from Heaven for the benefit of the General, as will be seen by the annexed extract:

EXTRACT.

From a Revelation given to Joseph Smith, Jr., Jan. 19, 1841.

Again, let my servant, John C. Bennett, help you in your labor, in sending my word to the Kings and the people of the earth, and stand by you, even you my servant Joseph Smith in the hour of affliction, and his reward shall not fail if he receive counsel; and for this love, he shall be great; for he shall be mine if he does this, saith the Lord. I have seen the work he hath done, which I accept, if he continues; and will crown him with blessings and great glory."

Times and Seasons, Vol. 2 -- No. 15 -- p. 425.    

Hyrum Smith, the patriarch of the church, to give Bennett the finishing touch, as one of the true Abrahamic Priesthood, laid his hands upon the head of the General and pronounced a patriarchal blessing. of which the following is a specimen:

John C. Bennett -- I lay my hands upon your head in the name of Jesus Christ, and in as much as thou art a son of Abraham, I bless you with the holy priesthood, with all its graces, and gifts, and with wisdom in all the mysteries of God. Thou shalt have knowledge given thee, and shall understand the keys by which all mysteries shall be unlocked. Thou shalt have great power among the children of men, and shalt have influence among the great and the noble, even to prevail over thy enemies; and shalt know when thou hast gained power over them, and in this [thine] heart shall rejoice. Many souls shall believe, because of the proclamation which thou shalt make. The Holy Spirit shall rest upon thee, insomuch, that thy voice shall make the foundations on which thou standest to shake, -- so great shall be the power of God.

In former numbers of this paper we have referred to the withdrawal of Gen. Bennett from the Mormon Church; of his permission to do so "in good standing;" by Joe Smith, of the scheme afterwards concocted by Smith to expel him from the church, and of the ante-dating of his expulsion; and the efforts generally of Joe Smith and his adherents to destroy the reputation of Bennett as well as of others, who would not approve of his villainies. We might go on with these testimonies, but enough has been given to show that Gen. Bennett has received evidence of the confidence of men high in office, of those who ought to have known him best, of the Mormons themselves (until he left them), sufficient to satisfy all men that if General Bennett is not a respectable citizen, a man of science, a proficient in his profession -- a soldier -- they have been highly derelict in their duties to the community. Our own opinion, as we have frequently stated, is, that in Gen. Bennett's expositions of Mormonism, he may be implicitly relied upon -- and we venture to say, that in this opinion, all concur who are not tinctured with Mormonism, and who do not anticipate gain in some way, by pandering to the wishes of Joe Smith.

The second chapter of the work is devoted to an examination of the claims and character of Joe Smith. His claims are thus stated in the Mormon "Book of Covenants," page 177:

"Behold there shall be a record kept amongst you and in it thou (Smith) shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and an elder of the Church." And on page 88, "a revelator, like unto Moses, having all the gifts of God, which he bestowed upon the head of the Church."

The claims of Joe Smith, as the prophet of God, and the head of the church in these "Latter Days" are sustained in all Mormon books, and by all Mormon Bishops and teachers.

The origin and character of Joe Smith are fully detailed in the annexed extract, and which is confirmed by some twenty pages of other evidence.

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD.
                       Manchester, Ontario County, N. Y. Dec. 8, 18[33].

I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smith, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith, and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money; especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they [had] made in their occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited kegs, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance to his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. -- The facility of approaching them, depended, in a great measure, on the state of the moon. New moon and Good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions.

Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr., had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth; and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch-hazel sticks around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of the last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. -- After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man, by signs and motions, asked leave of absence and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit -- that he saw the spirit come up to the ring, and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencement of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money.

At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock a sheep, a large, fat black wether. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: That a black sheep should be taken to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased; the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money.

When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a Golden Bible, of which, they said, the Book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication; no one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the Book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the Book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail.
                        WM. STAFFORD.

  State of New York)
   Wayne County) ss.
             I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same.

TH. P. BALDWIN,
Judge of Wane County Court.

There are several pages of documents of the same character quoted, giving also many additional facts, and all concurring in the statements made by Mr. Stafford. We close our extracts this week with a document of later date -- showing how Joe Smith went to work to "Milk the Gentiles" -- a common phrase for cheating and abusing those who are not Mormons:

                                      Boston, September 19, 1842.
On or about the middle of June, 1837, I rode with Joseph Smith, Jr., from Fairport, Ohio to Kirtland. When we left Fairport, we had been drinking pretty freely; I drank brandy, he brandy and cider, both together; and when we arrived at Painesville, we drank again; and when we arrived at Kirtland, we were very drunk.

About the last of August, 1837, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and others were drunk at Joseph Smith Jr.'s house, altogether; and a man, by the name of Vinson Knight, supplied them with rum, brandy, gin, and port wine, from the cash store; and I worked in the loft, overhead. He, Joseph, told Knight not to sell any of the rum, brandy, gin, or port wine, for he wanted it for his own use. They were drunk, and drinking, for more than a week.

Joseph Smith said that the Bank was got up on a revelation from God, and said it was to go into circulation to milk the Gentiles. I asked Joseph about the money. He said he could not redeem it; he was paid for signing the bills, as any other man would be paid for it, -- so he told me, -- and they must do the best they could about it.

October 13 -- Hyrum Smith's wife was sick, and Brigham Young prayed with her, and laid on hands, and said she would get well; but she died at six o'clock at night.

Joseph Smith, Jr., and others, went to Canada, in September. Said he, Joseph, has as good a right to go out and get money, as any of the brethren. He took money [in] Canada, from a man by the name of Lawrence, and promised him a farm, when [he] arrived at Kirtland; but when he arrived, Joseph was among the missing, and no farm for him. (He took nine hundred dollars from Lawrence.)

William Smith told Joseph if he did not give him some money he would tell where the Book of Mormon came from; and Joseph accordingly gave him what he wanted.
                                             G. B. FROST.

Suffolk, ss. September 19, 1842.
Then personally appeared the aforenamed G. B. Frost, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed, is true.
                    Before me,
                           BRADFORD SUMNER,
                               Justice of the Peace.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                                          La Harpe, Hancock Co., Ill., Nov. 7, 1842.
Editor Sangamo Journal:

Sir: -- I wish you to publish the enclosed letters, the object of which is to show to the public, the malice which exists in the breast of Joseph Smith, and his determination to injure, if possible, the reputation of all who see proper to withdraw from the church of which he is the head, and who fearlessly raise their voice against the corruptions and abominations practiced therein. In his letter to me he does not name my associate in crime but unquestionably means Mr. Rigdon, the present post-master. Smith for a long time has tried his utmost to get the post office into his own hands, but having failed in every attempt, his last resort is to make the public believe that he has lost a monstrous amount of money and to this effect he has leveled his artillery against the officers of the office, hoping by that means to have them removed and himself fill the vacancy. Not long since the said Smith received a letter which was dropped in the office at Nauvoo for him, the seal of which had the appearance of having been broken after the first sealing. The letter was put in by Mrs. ----. Smith wishing to make capital out of it, carried it to the office to show where it had been broken open and resealed, and made much bluster about the matter; but when we had opportunity we ascertained by the said Mrs. ----, that she broke it open herself before putting it into the office, and wrote in P. S. that she had done so; but Smith thought it a good chance to give some semblance of truth to what he had said. On Sunday morning last I received the following letter from Smith:

Nauvoo, Nov. 6, 1842.      

Mr. George W. Robinson:

Sir: -- I take this opportunity to give you a few items of my faith respecting yourself. I believe you to be a consummate scoundrel and that you embezzle my letters and steal my money that is sent to me by way of the post office, and that you are in cahoot with others in it, -- and I believe you are joined with thieves and robbers, are privately trying to do me all the injury you can, with some others which I shall not name now; and I give you this timely notice that I shall take every means to bring you to justice openly and boldly and publicly, &c.

(Signed)
JOSEPH SMITH.

P. S. I believe you are a whoremonger also, while you are crying out against others.
                            J. S.

Upon receipt of the above, I returned the following answer:

Nauvoo, Nov. 6, 1842.      

Mr. Joseph Smith:

Sir: -- I condescend to reply to your compliments of this morning not however because I think you worth[y] of such condescension, but that I may perhaps through you make known my own faith concerning yourself.

Sir, do you imagine that an idiot could not see your baseness in this attempt to injure my feelings as well as my reputation? Is it not notorious that you have for nearly three years, used your power to the utmost to obtain the post-office, and do you think, sir, that this attempt of which you speak, and of what you say you will do, will not be looked upon as tending to the same object? You say you will do the utmost in your power to expose me to the public. But sir, would you not first do well to remove the stigma on your own character, or employ some kind friend of yours, who can bear a scrutinizing eye without the crimson blush of shame? My conscience is void of offence against the laws of my country, or the insinuations of which you speak, notwithstanding your 'believe so's, your think so's, or your guess so's, I fear not your power, my dear sir, neither shall I shrink or be intimidated by you, -- nought of personal violence, save the assassin's steel, will harm a hair of my head, and for this I am duly prepared.

With regard to my privately injuring you, I say bring forth your testimony all I have said or done has been public, and you yourself have, or can, see it, as well as others -- and with regard to the balance of your calumny I have only to say, Bah! how can others believe that which you yourself do not believe?

Your's, with contempt.      
Geo. W. Robinson.      

---

THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  SAINTS.

or an Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism -- by JOHN C. BENNETT; Boston, Leland & Whiting, 71 Washington St.; New York, Bradbury, Soden & Co., 127 Nassau St.; Cincinnati, E. S. Norris & Co., 247 Main St. -- 1842.

We now come to a chapter designed more particularly to illustrate the "character of Joe Smith, and two of his accomplices, Wm. Law and John Taylor, for truth and honesty."

Gen. Wm. Law, in an article in the Times and Seasons of July 1, 1842, declares that he knows of no record of the conviction of any Mormon in the state for which he was fined, imprisoned in the county jail, or sent to the penitentiary. Joe Smith endorsed this statement in the same paper. Gen. Bennett then gives abstracts from the records of the neighboring circuit courts, showing that Timothy Lewis, a Mormon, was sent to the penitentiary for four years for stealing horses, that Sally Castile and Francis Castile were convicted of selling a log chain, also Mormons: -- Johnson, a Mormon, arrested for stealing and escaped from the officers; Alanson Brown, Mormon Danite, put in jail for stabbing and murdering a man in M'Douough; -- Gar, a Mormon, in jail for incest, &c., with his own daughter; Wm. Wood, Mormon, sent to the penitentiary two years for stealing horses; -- Lindsay sent to the penitentiary for stealing a saddle. Then follows a statement by Messrs. Killbourne, of Montrose, Iowa, in which they detail, at great length, numerous robberies of their store and premisis, by Mormons. Bennett says that hundreds of other instances of the same character could be detailed and adds: --

Few can doubt the profanity of many citizens of Nauvoo, and the prophet Joe in particular. Mr. Benjamin Avise of Carthage, said that the first time he ever saw Joe, he swore an oath. Joe is notoriously profane, but he says God will not notice him in cursing the damned Gentiles!

All who are acquainted with the prophet knows that he occasionally gets most gloriously drunk; but he says he only does this to try the faith of the saints, and show them that he is fallible, like other men.

I recollect once that I was taking tea at Joe's house, when there were present beside myself, Mrs. Merrick and several gentlemen. Joe was in a very glorious state, so drunk indeed that he could scarcely hold up his head. The Elect Lady Emma, having left the room in disgust at her husband's beastly state, the Prophet began to fancy we were all suspiciously observing him, and I shall never forget the ludicrous gravity in which he leaned forward over the table, and addressing Mrs. Merrick, hiccoughed out, "Sister -- Merrick -- do you -- feel -- RUINED." Joe took "the bowl of Bacchus that day."

I recollect on another occasion when the female portion of Dr. O'Harra's family were on a visit to old Mrs. Smith's, Joe happened in, tolerably drunk, commenced discoursing in a very low and vulgar manner much to the annoyance of the ladies. After he had taken his exit Miss Margaret O'Harra observed, "what ruffian is that, pray?" To which the old lady replied, "O, I perceive you do not know our folks; that is our son, Joseph, the Prophet." I thank Miss O'Harra for the suggestion. "The Ruffian Prophet" is quite an appropriate name of the beast."

Bennett says upon these facts, "It is very evident from the above, that the pretended men of God, who speak as they are 'moved by the Holy Ghost,' are not in all cases, to be depended upon, even when they make careful and deliberate statements through their public newspaper, the acknowledged organ of the church, and the frequent medium of their inspired communications to the world.

The next chapter Gen. Bennett devotes to Joe Smith's bankrupt application. This matter will come up before the District Court of the United states now in session in this city.

Then comes a chapter on the Book of Mormon. Joe says he is 'Author and Proprietor' of this book. He says he translated it from certain gold plates which he found. three witnesses testify to the same fact. But how they could Testify to a translation of a work which they could not read in the original, is marvelous indeed. To get along with this difficulty, they say, 'the voice of the Lord commanded us to bear record of it!' The voice was probably Joe's. These same witnesses had a revelation through Joe Smith, the amount of which was that in giving their testimony to the divine character of the Book of Mormon, they should rely wholly on their faith in what Joe had told them. Under this revelation they could testify.

They did not see the plates with their natural eyes, but with their spiritual eyes only. -- This is of a piece with their testimony concerning the translation. Another batch of witnesses testify that they had seen and hefted the plates, which they testify Joe has translated; but like the others they could learn nothing from the plates themselves. Joe told them he had translated the plates, and that was enough to induce them to testify. It is probable Joe carried on his humbug by exhibiting to them plates of some character. So, after all, the testimony of the divine authority of the Book of Mormon, is just about as much to be relied on as the divine authority of Joe Smith.

Evidence is then presented to show that the Book of Mormon was written by Rev. Solomon Spalding, of Conneaut, Ohio. It was originally entitled the 'Manuscript Found,' -- was written as a romance of a supposed former race of inhabitants of this country -- and was placed in the printing office of Messrs. Patterson & Lambdin, of Pittsburgh, for publication. Spalding died, and the work was not published. Bennett says the manuscript was taken from the printing office 'by a conspicuous Mormon divine, and remodeled by adding the religious portion, placed by him in Smith's possession, and then published to the world as the testimony exemplifies.' -- 'This.' says Bennett, 'I have from the confederation and of its perfect correctness there is not a shadow of a doubt. There never were any plates of the Book of Mormon, except what were seen by the spiritual, and not the natural eyes of the witnesses. The story of the plates is all chimerical.'

Several pages of the work are devoted to the claims and absurdities of the Book of Mormon -- the Book of Covenants, its absurdities and contradictions -- a description of the Mormon Paradise -- and a History of the Mormons, which includes their difficulties in Missouri and their establishment at Nauvoo. Numerous extracts are given from Mormon works, showing that the Mormon leaders hold that they or their sect, are justly entitled to the temporal and spiritual dominion of these United States, and that if they cannot otherwise obtain this dominion, they are to gain it by the sword -- that 'Mormonism demands money as the condition of discipleship, under penalty of eternal damnation' -- that 'one grand design of Mormonism is to fill the pockets of its advocates with money' -- 'that Mormons profess to act under the infallible inspiration of God, and to have the power to work miracles' -- that 'Mormons pretend to have the power to give the Holy Ghost to those on whom they lay their hands for this purpose' -- that 'Mormonism authorises theft,' &c. On this last point, we give the following extract from the Book of Covenants, and the remarks which follow, which will close our notices of Bennett's Expose this week: --

"Behold it is said in my laws, or forbidden to get in debt to thine enemies but, behold, it is not said at any time, that the Lord should not take when he please, and pay as seemeth him good: wherefore, as ye are agents and ye are on the Lord's errand, and whatsoever you do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord's business, and he hath sent you to prove for his saints," &c. Doc. and Cov. p. 147.

Thus, "A Mormon has only to imagine himself an agent of God," and according to the above precept, he may steal or commit any other crime and fancy himself doing the will of God all the while. And these very things the Mormons have done!

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THE MORMONS. -- We learn from the late English papers that the number of these deluded followers of Joe Smith, is greatly on the increase in Great Britain. Thousands are preparing to embark for this country, to join their leaders at the Head Quarters of Mormonism -- the city of Nauvoo. It is supposed that upwards of five thousand converts to Mormonism have already emigrated, and that quite as many more will leave England for America before spring.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  SAINTS,

or an Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism -- by JOHN C. BENNETT; Boston, Leland & Whiting, 71 Washington St.; New York, Bradbury, Soden & Co., 127 Nassau St.; Cincinnati, E. S. Norris & Co., 247 Main St. -- 1842.

We confine our extracts from the above work this week, to one subject. We should not give these extracts, but the world should know the character of Mormonism -- of that stupendous edifice of humbugery and depravity erected by Joe Smith; --

"THE SERAGLIO. -- The Mormon Seraglio is very strictly and systematically organized. It forms a grand lodge, as it were, and is divided into three distinct orders or degrees. The first and lowest of these is styled the 'Cyprian Saints;' the second the 'Chambered Sisters of Charity;' and the third and highest degree is called the 'Cloistered Saints,' or 'Consecrates of the Cloister.'

To give a clear idea of the system, it will be necessary to treat of these in regular order.

THE CYPRIAN SAINTS. -- The members of the Female Relief Society, who are ever upon the watch for victims, have the power, when they know or even suspect, that any Mormon female has, however slightly lapsed from the straight path of virtue, without the sanction or knowledge of the Prophet, of bringing her at once before the Inquisition. This body is solemnly organized in secret and select council, and by its members, the poor, terrified female is questioned and threatened until she confesses the crime she committed, or perhaps in her confusion and terror, accuses herself of what she was never guilty of. She is immediately, by the council, pronounced a Cyprian, and is excluded from any further connection with the Relief Society. She takes the white veil, and her failing stealthily promulgated among the trustworthy members of the church at whose command she is, for any licentious purposes, forever after. Many young and beautiful females have thus been ruined eternally, who, even after a single fault, might have lived to redeem, by repentance and future good conduct, their names and degradation, and their souls from guilt and remorse. But the secret council of the Inquisition instantly condemns them, on the confession or proof of their transgressors, to perpetual association with a class devoted to the most infamous purposes; a class set apart and appropriated to the gratification of the vilest appetites of the brutal Priests and Elders of the Mormon church.

"But even the means used to increase the order of Cyprian Saints do not exhaust the depraved ingenuity of the Old White Hat Prophet, and his confidential counsellors.

"'Let us examine the second degree of his female lodge, which is entitled "'THE CHAMBERED SISTERS OF CHARITY. -- Whenever one of the Saints, (as the Mormons style themselves) of the male sex, becomes enamored of a female, and she responds to the feeling by a reciprocal manifestation, the loving brother goes to Holy Joe, and states the case. It makes, by the bye, no difference whatever if one or both the parties are already provided with conjugal helpmates. The Prophet gravely buries his face in his hat, in which lies his peepstone, and inquires of the Lord what is his will and pleasure in the matter. Sometimes, when Joe wants the women for his own purpose, an unfavorable answer is given; but, generally the reply permits the parties to follow the bent of their inclinations, which they do without further ceremony, though with a strict observance of secrecy, on account of the Gentiles, who have no right to the blessings and privileges so liberally granted to the Latter Day Saints.'

"'THE CONSECRATES OF THE CLOISTER, OR CLOISTERED SAINTS. -- This degree is composed of females, whether married or unmarried, who, by an express grant and gift of God, through his Prophet Holy Joe, are set apart and consecrated to the use and benefit of particular individuals, as secret spiritual wives. They are Saints of the Black Veil, and are accounted the special favorites of Heaven, and the most honorable among the daughters of Jacob. Their spiritual husbands are altogether from the most eminent members of the Mormon Church, and participate in the holiness of their consecrated views.

"'This is the highest degree in the Harem, and in the order of the Prophet's licentious arrangements, is held as the very acme of perfection, and it is, indeed, the ne plus ultra of depravity. Its ranks are filled up in the following manner: When an Apostle, High Priest, Elder, or Scribe, conceives an affection for a female, and he has satisfactorily ascertained that she experiences a mutual flame, he communicates confidently to the Prophet his affaire du coeur, and requests him to enquire of the Lord whether or not it would be right and proper for him to take unto himself the said woman for his spiritual wife. It is no obstacle whatever to this marriage if one or both of the parties should happen to have a husband or wife, already united to them according to the laws of the land.

"'The Prophet puts this queer question to the Lord, and if he receives an answer in the affirmative, which is always the case if the parties are in favor, with Joe, His Holiness either in person, or by a duly authorized administrator, proceeds to consecrate the sacred sister in the following manner:

"The parties assembled in the lodge room, and place themselves kneeling before the altar; the administrator commences the ceremony by saying --

"You separately and jointly, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whereby any Gentile shall come to a knowledge of the secret purposes of this order, or whereby the Saints may suffer persecution, your lives being forfeit.

"After the bow of assent is given by each of the pair, the administrator then proceeds"

"'In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the holy priesthood, I now consecrate you and set you apart by the imposition of my hands, as husband and wife, according to the laws of Zion, and the will of God our Heavenly Father; for which especial favor you now agree to serve Him with a perfect heart and a willing mind, and to obey his prophet in all things accordingly to his divine will.

"Again the nod of assent is given by the man and woman, and the administrator continues in a solemn and impressive manner --

"'I now anoint you with holy, consecrated oil, in the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the holy priesthood, that you may be fully and unreservedly consecrated to each other and to the service of God, and that with affection and fidelity you may nourish and cherish each other, as long as you shall continue faithful and true in the fellowship of the Saints; and I now pronounce upon you the blessings of Jacob, whom God honored and protected in the enjoyment of like special favors; and may the peace of Heaven, which passeth all understanding, rest upon you in time and in eternity!'

"The parties then rise and embrace each other, and the robe of investiture is placed upon and around them by the administrator, who says --

"'According to the prototype, I now pronounce you one flesh, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.'

"The robe is then removed, and the parties leave the cloister, with general belief, at least on the part of the female, in the sacredness and validity of the ceremonial and thereafter consider themselves as united in spiritual marriage, the duties and privileges of which are in no particular different from those of any other marriage covenant.


We close this article with an appropriate extract from the Alton Telegraph:

"In regard to the developments, the book makes, they are of a most aggravated and blasphemous character. To many of the statements of Bennett, we give credit, solely from the fact that he sustains those statements by the testimony of others in whom we place implicit confidence. Of the imposture, rascality, depravity, and cunning, of Joe Smith, we have never entertained a doubt. The work of Bennett proves him to be all we have supposed he was, and far more. That he should be permitted longer to indulge in his licentiousness, impositions, and blasphemy, unrebuked, and unpunished by the civil authorities of the land is stigma and a disgrace to the American people. He is a wicked, designing, and corrupt man, possessing unlimited power and control, through the influence of a misguided religious fanaticism, over the minds and actions of a large and rapidly increasing number of unfortunate deluded fellow beings. If permitted to progress, setting at defiance, as he openly does, the authorities not only of this, but of our adjoining sister state, receiving at the hands of the leaders of the dominating party in Illinois, their countenance and support, aided by legislative enactments in the building up in our midst of a religious despotism, teaching his followers that rigid and unconditional obedience to his will and edicts, are obligations on their part paramount to those which they owe to the laws of their country, our State ere long cannot but be made the scene of a bloody and disgraceful warfare.

"Joe Smith, to consummate his designs, would not hesitate a moment to resist by force the administration of the law, when brought within its provisions. And we regret to say, that such is the unlimited sway he exercises over the whole body of his people, that to a man they would follow him in any unlawful requisition he might see fit to make.

"Much of the apprehended danger on the part of the people of this State may be guaranteed against, by the firm yet dispassionate action of the approaching Legislature. Their predecessors did much -- very much -- towards clothing Joe Smith with the disgraceful and unconstitutional powers he possesses. Let all such, as well as all the chartered privileges he enjoys, which are of an uncommon or unusual character, be taken from him. Let the Mormons enjoy the same rights, that other citizens of the State do, and none other; and a check may be interposed to the rapid increase of this religious delusion, which now threatens to involve the people of this State in an unpleasant and serious warfare."


Notes: (forthcoming)

GOV.  FORD'S  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS.

A great deal has been said about certain charters granted to the people of Nauvoo. These charters are objectionable on many accounts, but particularly on account of the powers granted. The people of the State have become aroused on the subject, and anxiously desire that those charters should be modified so as to give the inhabitants of Nauvoo no greater privileges than those enjoyed by others of our fellow citizens.

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GOV.  FORD'S  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS,

Will be found on the first page of this paper -- Gov. Ford has entered upon his duties with a determination in all his official acts, to do what he believes best to subserve the interests of the people who have placed him in the executive chair. He has given a just expose of the condition of our State -- its indebtedness, the feelings of our citizens in regard to that indebtedness -- the condition of the Banks, and what the people expect from them -- he spoke in strong terms of the Nauvoo charter, by which Joe Smith has been enabled to defy the authority of the State -- in a word, we have no desire or reason to complain of this address; and while Gov. Ford acts upon the principles he therein inculcates, he will have our humble support, and we doubt not all of those who are anxious to see our State relieved from the misfortunes which now encompass her -- the result of bad legislature and bad government.


Notes: (forthcoming)

VERY  IMPORTANT.

A young lad of this city, of the name of James C. Brewster, a member of the Mormon Church, supposing himself to be inspired, has recently written and published, what he says is some of the lost Books of the Bible. This publication having been circulated among the Mormons churches, the Nauvoo "Times and Seasons," Lieutenant General Joseph Smith is permitted to be inspired, and that the work in question is a perfect humbug. In this last particular we fully concur with Joe.


Notes: (forthcoming)