The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-06-12
Rock Island, Illinois.
Correspondence Of the Herald ]

up among the Mormons- attempt to Assassinate
Joe Smith-Ihs Prophet Indicted for Peymy
and 4ddmltery-Joe Smiths Egyptian Mummy
Joe Reads Hieogtyphics "Hkc a book Wea-
thr, Crops, &c, &C.
This place, beautifully situated near the mouth
of Rock River, the banks of the Mississippi,
and about 300 miles above 81. Louis, is the scene
Of Black Hawks career, and that OF his torciathers.
Here they passed their summers AID autumns, in
llling, fishing and hunting; and their winters were
whiled away among the buffalo regions in mder
latitude. Their corn-hls and graves still vis
bic on the banks and bluffs of Rock River and
some remains OF their wig vans and huts yet iden-
tlly their favorte haunls. They were, however,
driven out of this lovely spot and destroyed Their
dwellings were desoated and mostly devoured by
the flames of their enemies but the hills and val
es-the rich bottoms and frtle which but
few years since, only trod by the savage and
the BEAST and rung with the bowling of the one
and the -whoop o the other, are now vocal with
the voice of civilization ard dotted with handsome
| human dwellings,. This is healthy region, and
posse some local advantages that are unequaIlrd
h the valley of the Mississippi. Three mules from
its mouth, Rock River, stream larger Than The
Housatonc, passes over rapid OF sufficient height
to admit of the whole volume OF The river being
used for hydraulic purposes; thereby affordin2 an
available water power nearly equal 10 that al Low
| ell. Three miles again, up the Misssslppl,--that
river being there divided by Rock Island, on
which stands Fort Armstrong; passes over II cons-
derabe rapid; that the greater part OF the IL
branch of the stream is rendered available Tor mil
purposes. Both OF these valuable MIL privileges
have, to some extent, been already improved and
though centrally situated IN the finest agricultural
region that | have ever seen, there Is no walter
power within sixty or sevensy miles on either
hand, that can be brought into competition with
them consequently, this Is destined, at no dstan,
day. to become place OF much Importance.
Rock Island Is now busting with the multlfa.
rous members of wing congressional convention,
which meets here to-day tor the purpose OF nonl-
mating a member for this district, which embraces
sixteen counties, including also that OF Hancock,
| the seat OF the Mormons. Hancock has 'he larg
est population of any county IN this congressional
district and entitled to send to this convention
twenty delegates; but, up to this time, not one
has arrived from that county, nor are any expected
Hitherto for several years last past, Joe Smith and
his deuded victims, have controlled the elections
in this district, and have generally gone with the
democratic party. The wings, however, are now
holding up their heads little more complacently,
| on account of rupture among the Saints OF Maui
voo which is likely to result rather seriously to the
interests Of the lrophet,- IN hopes, through the
schism that exists in that hot bed of lustual abOml
nations to get at least part OF the votes OF Joes
followers, aud thereby be enabled to elect then
candidate How much ground they have on which
to found their faith IN this mater, am unable 10
saw; but the non. arrival ut delegates from Hancock
county cannot certainly be construed favorably to
| The whig cause. That the Mormons are Just now
in terrible sew" IS quite apparent. Besides
the secession Of ten or twelve hundred OF Joe 5
followers, who have actually withdrawn from the
community, there is now an open rebellion against
he authority of the prophet In the " Holy City,
| and Joe, few days since, came near losing his
life by the hands of an assassin part OF The
| Mormons, guided chiefly by the council OF General
Law, an influential member OF that notable sect
Of relisionsts have taken mp The cudgel OF scandal
,,An h,f
prophet has fallen from grace, and Is no longer the
tavorite of the Lord, nor the faithful exponent oil
their religions and political views. They have
proceeded so tar In their persecution az to have
mad Joe actually indicted for the crimes OF perjury
aud adultery! For several days after the finding
OF these Indictments officers IN pursuit OF The
prophet Tor the purpose OF arresng him. Joe, how
ever, euded their vigil lance successfully, and took
time to prepare himself, rs IS supposed, with un
nesscs to swear down all the charges preferred
| ,gainst him, and then called the people together,
nd in a long speech, addressed them upon the sub
IIect declaring his ability and determination moi
only to clear himself efle ctnally from The
vile SANDERS Of his enemies, but TO convict
them OF the same or lmes which are allegeo
| against him with the additional peccad illos
| Of theft, incest, and murder. With this declara-
non on his Inns Joe mounted his horse and set ont
with an escort of tw eniy faithful Witnesses" all
armed for Carthsae. where the Court - now IL
s-sson-betore which he Is, forthwith, to be- ar
| faigned. How thus matter VIII turn out, sub
lect of no little speculation in CHEESE here Higgins;
though many are inclined to the belief that Joe
| will, as heretofore find means 10 slip through the
loose fingers of the law. When We touched ~
| N,uyoo sterday, on our way up the Mississippi
| here was power OF excitement among the
prehren and business was generally suspended,
tor the purpose Of discussing more conveniently tn
| weighty matters touching the welfare of Their
| .pirltual leader The building OF the temple IL.
however, moderately progressing; and Joe is ou'
in pamphlet form with his views on the Consil
| ution of the United States, Of which he modest,
| la h..
| Malty Van Buren, most numerically; and all tn
| nther prominent candidates for the Presidenc,
come in for slight sprnklng" of abuse. Th,
most funny bit of Joe's humbuggery is his pre-
| tended ability to read Egyptian hlerogIyphics He
has SOMEHOW or other obtained an old mummy
| which he palms off upon the saints of Nauvoo fot
the embalmed body of one OF the ancient kings OF
Egypt On the breast OF this mummy he found u
manuscript in the symbolical language of rha,
country which he breads like book !" aud averr
uuequivocally, that II was written by the patrarc
| Abraham. and has very important reference TO
the book of Mormon, and especially relates to his
Uoe's) revelations" This is almost as laugh
able as Gliddens lectures, and the Inflated preten-
sions of that genius to profound knowledge OF
the same mysterious science. Ii Is probable that
Zoe and Glidden stand about upon par IN refer
ence to their knowledge of hleroglyphics though
IN all other respects Joe is certainly a good deai
the ceverest humbug.
| | have Just returned from the Wing Convention.
| which has resulted in the unanimous nomination OF
". ID. Sweet, Esq, OF Stephenson county, for the
candidate OF the Wing party in the Sixth Congress
| siona District of this State. He Ia now addressing
The convention in an impassioned strain of Western
| eloquence lie curses Martin Van Buren,, praises
Henry Clay, and eulogses log cabins to kill "
One might suppose from his account OF those edifi-
ces that to live in log cabin is the next thing 10
entering the Kingdom Of Heaven He says " he
WAS bred in a log cabin, raised in log cabin,
educated in log cabin, and always lived in log
cabin" The probability il, that he will not be
obliged to sacrifice the comfort of his log cabin for
| Mt spa AT n Conqress thougn q
will do oil they can TO elect him aad the Wings
in Illinois are, everywhere else, very well united.
Clay will receive hearty support here next fall /;
and should Martin Vac Buren, unfortunately be-
come the nominee of the Democratic party, Clay
will carry the State. The same kind OF machinery
in political movements, obtains here, 1000 miles
from the seaboard, as is brought into play tor
similar purposes in the Atlantic cltiee. Women,
| irumneis fddles snnga, md banners. emhellsh