The New York herald., 1844-07-12

MORE OF THE MoRMoNs The Mormons are to
hold Convention in Baltimore on Saturday next.
The original intention OF the Convention, as we
are given to understand by the public notice, was
10 nominate their late leader, Joe Smith, as n
candidate Tor the Presidency, but his death will
render 1t necessary to make other arrangements
The ST. Louis Era Of the lst inst. has the fol-
lowing
The murder of Joe Smith when in Jail, after he
had peaceabiy surrendered himself, and alter the
solemn promise OF the Governor that he should be
protected and have tar trial, seems to meet with
very general condemnation. N 1t is another tdgrant
instance OF the triumph OF a mob spirit in the coun-
try. To murder prisoners in cold blood when they
are In custody and when there is nothing to pre-
vent their being punished to the full extent OF
their crimes according to law, Is utterly inexcu.
sable. But when mob raised and
excited il knows no bounds, no moderation, but
reason and law are both disregarded. We have
often expressed the belief that mobs and Lynch
law are improper under all circumstances, and
should not be justified, excused or tolerated under
any circumstances, and every outbreak confirms
the correctness of this opinion. Joe Smith was,
was under arrest, with public sentiment strongly
setting against him, thereswas the most ample oppor,
| tunity to convict and punish him Legally ana
severely.
And in the st. Louis Democrat we nno the I0l-
lowing =
From all the facts now before us,we regard these
homicides as nothing less than murder IN cold
bood-murder against the pghted faith OF the
chief magistrate Of Ilinois-mnrder Of charac-
ter so a,roclous and so unjustfiable, as to leave
the blacklist stain all Its perpetrators-their
aiders, abettors, and defenders
Here was Joe Smith in the custody of the laws
TO which he had surrendered himself, in the conf-
dence that those laws would not be broken TO his
injury He had the promise Of preservation and
protection against the very mob violence to which
he has fallen victim Ought not such faith 10
have been kept? Need we ask, indeed, whether,
if there hal been special promise, the law
does not always hold out implied safety to its pr-
soners from all punishments, save what itself impo-
ses. Indeed the sight of such solemn pledges, SO
| shamefuly broken, is truly slckening.. Why, an
Arab if you accept his hospitality, and eat Of his
salt-an American Indian. if you once pass his
| threshold in peace, will give up his existence
before he will suffer his pledges to be broken. il
such acts are to be taken as a true expression of
the spirit which pervades the public mind ol our
communities, it needs seer TO tell US that our
course as a people is downward. 1t is spirit,
which seeks its qualification only in the indulgence
of the most Ignorant prejudces and the vlest pas
sons Nothing can stand against II, except the
bayonets OF despot and It's the very spirit which,
after series Of anarches naturally produces dss-
| pots and their bayonets.
We think Smith despicable mposter and
| that the dupes Of deceit gross his is must
necessarily be most ignorant and debased. Hence
| we have always thought that the laws OF the land
were strong enough TO control both him and them.