The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-04
Iowa.
TCorrespondence of the Herald I


BLOOMINGTON, Iowa, July Is, 1884,
Rural Afais-7he Weather and Crops-Polstics IN
General and Party Liquidation Constitutional
Reform Talked of-Legisiation in fotsa, with Sun
dry Specimens Thereof Rise, Decline and Fall
Of the Mormon Dyaasfy- Sage and So,nbrs Re-
Gections Thereon, as tceA as on this Globe in Gene
raj
JAMES GORDON BENNETT. ESQ =
IT'S midsummer, the weather is hot yet the air
is clear, sweet, and famed by fine refreshing breez-
es. The floods of rain abated about the first OF
July-a dove returned with branch from the
Olive-and now the farmers have gone forth upon
the dry land into their harvest field and are cutting
most bountiful crop of winter wheat. The
growth is exceedingly great, and although the heads
not filled perfectly usual, the crop will be
more than an average one. The weather is most
favorable for the harvest, which Of vast impor-
lance to the farmer after his crop has rpened. The
corn is now doing WE'LL but will fall far short of
an average crop.
Politics begin to germinate-to put forth their
tender buds and their green stalks in ancipa-
ton OF being ransplanted for the tree Of State.
The candidates begin to show their patterns for a
Constitution, and 1t Is my opinion, II the Demo-
Gratis get majority IN the convention, they will
produce constitution on a new and improved
plan, and Of course secure the "patent right and
IL.
democratic sprout started which looks like Select
ing Judges Of the Courts by the people. This would
be very democratic, very! Another twig goes for
no interpretations. Another no State debt except
in case OF war. Another branch hourishes beautl-
fully, and In fact, believe II is the main branch
from which all the rest of the Democratic buds
germnate, which goes for anything the dear people
wlsh-anyt thing 10 please the dear people.
The Wings say they want a constitution based
upon true republican principles; that is, high ia
riff by which to gather the loaves and 6shes-in-
ternal Improvement, by which to run ahead of
their opponents-and a currency, by which they
can travel. In three weeks from to-day comes
the election, and then we shall know the outs and
ms
ture Of Iowa held an extra session which lasted
three days, and passed twenty-one acts. One act
was, that there be no session Of the Legislature
next winter, and that Congress be petitioned to ap-
proprlate the amount OF money which would have
been expended by our usual session, to pay the ex
pense Of our Convention in the coming fall and to
pay some small debts. Another act was TO change
the qualification of voters from months residence
to the goth of June, i. .. to admit all the emf
grants who came III the spring up to the 20,h OF
June, to vote at the August election. This has
frightened the Democrats very much, who think
1t possible that by the spring emigration their ma
Jority OF 1000 last year may be cut down to 0.
The Mormon affair 10 truly the most cxtraordi-
nary ever placed upon the page Of our country's
history. The finding OF the golden bible by Joe
Smith; their doctrines; their followers their set
tlement at Kirkland their outrageous conduct
there AID their removal and settlement in Missouri;
their high-handed and noerable conduct, followed
by an extermlnating by their neighbors; their
settlement in Illinois; their crimes here committed;
| the massacre OF Joe and Hyrum Smith by their
enemies-al these things present themselves before
us when we reflect upon the history OF the Nor
| mons. But, although they have been guilty OF all
the crimes and evil dOngs which we can imagine,
that does not IN any manner mitigate the criminal
Ivy of assasslnating these offenders, while under
arrest and in keeping of the civil officers 1t is al
most parallel case to that OF savage enemy, un-
der flag OF truce, decoyiog men into their camp,
and then, like blood-hounds, falling upon and
saughtering them.
have Just been into the neighborhood Of their
city, and have conversed with men Of high-stand-
ing who are their strong opponents, and am sorry
to lind that many, very many persons-l may sayn
is the prevailing sentiment IN this viclnlty-that
the killing the Smiths was good deed. | am
utterly astonshed that enlightened people in this
land Of freedom and liberal laws, should far dis
regard the very laws which they have made under
which they claim protection, and in when they
place their highest confidence. The Salem witch
craft was the height Of folly, but this not only
equals it in folly, but is blackened with crime Of
the deepest dye. Where is The progress OF civili-
cation, humanity, philanthropy, and Christianity :?
In what is now going on in the middle Of the nine
teenh century alas there is great room for i'm
prOvement. At the same rates OF progress which
we have made, from the days of the Salem witch
craft to the rise and decline and martyrdom of the
Prophet Smith, how long will il take the world 10
become one continuous and extended city OF So
Nauvoo shall long stand monument Of your
crimes, as well as Of their folly.
The Morm0ns can select no leader as yet. There
is neither wisdom, goodness, nor pety enough with
them to effect any thing but dissention, disunioD
and dispersion.