Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-08-02

had abated although the half acres of the molly Guy
were still valued at from 200 to 5,OOO dollars
each, according TO location and proximity 10 'he
House of the Lord" Some two or three thousand
of Smiths followers were collected together, on the
limits of the village, and in the immediate vicinity
They had entire control of the town elections, hy
large majority, and consequently had the offices and
management of town affairs. They boosted OF exer-
csing this power so 10 irrate the feelings Of the
citizens, and retalate upon them for wrongs which
the Mormons alleged they were subjected TO while IN
the minority. The village had more the appearance
of the temporary residence of a wandering multitude
than the abode Of civilized men. Not less than 100
families passed the following winter in the most sim
pie shantes that could be made with rough boards,
and many Others in unfinished buildings, scarcely
more comfortable.
The people were idle. They came there 10 see the
glory of the Lord" not to trouble their heads or
hands about what they should eat or drink or
wherewi,ha they should be clothed or sheltered. At
this time there were secessons than arrivals
Their provisions were consuned-their credit aud
for obtaining supplies nearly exhausted, and
for aught saw, starvation or dispersion the al
terna"es TO which they were about 10 lie driven
Murmurs of dissatisfaction hints of doubts as to the
honesty and capacity of the leaders rife among
the commonaliy. As specimens A woman from
the province Of New Brunswick, one day walked into
the house o! Joseph Smith, seated herself and very
deliberately combcd her hair and otherwise improy-
ed her outward appearance When Smith came in
she demanded,h authority of revelation the "kcys
of the kingdom' and an account of his stewardship
particularly in relation to the four hundred pounds
that had been RENTED from the saints in that prov.
ince. Smith, not SO easily delhroncd told her she
had devil and must leave the house. "If Won put
your hands on me- said the sister, "vou will fall
dead at my feet" Smith, notwithstanding put her
ouiof the house. and shut the door, when she drop
ped upon her knees, and prayed long and loud that
heaven would avenge her cause. One morning lust
before daylight stout BROTHER with powerful lungs,
ran through the streets crying with a loud voice
1.-The glory OF the Lord is coming forth, awake, ye
nations of the earth" He said the devil had got pos.
session of the town, and he was trying to him
out. But net only were such wild enthusiasts as
these dissatisfied, but there were men of influence
and even one of the I'irelre, who showed symptoms
of rebellous spirit. 1t very evident that some
thng must be DONE and that quickly; but what
could not imagine doubted whether the skill Of
the leaders equal the exgency of the case and
confidently expected 10 witness grand blow up
But not In the first place the usual remedy for
internal nsubordinn on-thc cry of mobs. threaten
ed persecution, J'c.-was resored to. Rifles guns
an pistols were secured and cleaned, ammunition
distributed, and war-nstrument, somewhat similar
to the ancient pike pcp,red for those not better
armed. Sentnels were posted at night in the Office
buildings, and IN other parts of the village. The
sric'es secresy was cnjoined, that their enemies
should not get wind Of their preparations. For n
few days this had lis desired cflect-a was peace,
unity, and spirit. But so far as could learn either
from MOrmOns or ant.inormons there was not n
shadow OF reason for the alarm. The surrounding
inhabitants had long before determined not TO be
guilty of violent measures, however strong miaht be
the provocaon very sasaciuisy percoivng that the
fear of persecution from without was the great bug
bear, by which the homogeneous mass within, was
kept in sub lection. And, indeed the stratagem was
apparent and had been so often tried before that
It had but a temporary effect. The elements Of dis
order were soon in n more violent agitation than
ever.
At length, Smith announced revelation TO estab-
llsh bank. The scheme took. Mnrmurs Of rebel.
hon changed to loud applause The legislature of the
State was in session. An agent was Immediately
dispatched TO Columbus, to secure a charter and
another to Philadelphia 10 get the bills. The plates
were engraved and printed but the charter was efl.
sed. " The lars Of God and he ia,rs of man come
IN collision " said 10 Smith, which shall we obey ?''
Inc decision was unanimous. The bank went into
immediate operation Its history need not be detail.
|, ed. with no capital but few hundred dollars in
specie, and IN direct violation Of the laws of the state
the only object to dispose of the bills to the bes
advantage. To help along the operation, they pur.
chased broken bank in Monroe, Michigan left a
small amount of funds IN The Bank of Lake Erie
Cleveland, and caused notice to be extensively pub
lshed that Monroe money was redeemed at the
Cleveland bank! And so, indeed it was. n dov y,
two until the funds gone, and degree of con
y iidence in the bank established Then The Norman,
u commenced the redemption of their Kirkland hin,
with those of the broken but resusciaied Rank n
u Monroe All this action was accompanied with nm,
quantity OF bragadocia. An enormous iron cbes, wo
: placed IN the counting room and all manner Of stu
= RES, as to the boarded wealth Of the Mormons. n
, which the temple was often spoken as evidence
were set IN motion and trundled far as possible
' AT this time, II will be recolected banks general,
lnd suspended specie payments; was it strange then
: 'hat inc "h"Hdnd SAFETY Fund Banking Mstitu
= ''0" shoulu follow SUIT! can hardly credit m,
10 memory as 10 the currency this money obtained
T. for months scattered as il vas by no niog,rdl
l. hands. The Saints" with their pockets wei
e filled started in all directions, and DISPOSED of
,r very large amount in some manner.
n Thus was business and means for the winter f,r
nshed, confidence in The lie ders restored and conse
quehuy no more was heard Of the threaene muliny
"eiead IN history of holy wars; may not This wit,
y aup"' equa' justice be termed holy speculation?
I'd The leaders had undoubtedlv from their con,
OF mencement IN Kirkland intended to Lake that tenn
m porary location only-looking, all the while, to III
m cheap lands of the west as the proper field for ,be
e. operations Hence their policy in purchasing N
We land as they did IN long credit Before left Kir,
land such intention openly avowed. Tie oco
ID ton of Nauyoo had been purchased and the Pres
OIL dency were selling village lois there The next sense
ne there was general breaking up in Kirkland To pre-
N vent the printing office falling into the hands of tn
n dsafected, 1t was purified by fire. Smith left So
crey' and general dispersion Immediately succeed
In ed-a great majority however, went to the new cit
's OF Nauvoo, The five thousand dollar city lots III
IN buildings thereon the streets that had been grade
e and fenced oil reverted back TO the original owners
rs or to those to whom Their mortgages had been assign
a. ed. Even tho temple itself was soon .f,sr o,,,n,.