Democratic banner., 1845-03-08
Number g.

IpiitItttC tNlbSN VI IN bAai autSC Nv
corrupt christianity. not even keep
ing hack the fact that we had contin-
ued during the dark ages. TO rob the
Of their plaioness. and
feel tie utmost alarm and excite
mtnt: aud without much reflection,
in the height Of passion, we called Il
G, uncil Of Clergy and Editors.
and otLer ~rascals, in gainesville, Obi
o. and. thinking that almost any
means was lawful in war. We invent
ed the SpauIding Story, and fa,heTed
it upon the poor printer, Howe. of
P~ainssvifIe, although Doctor Hui
bert Ulianks To nv aid) was lis real
author. But mark. Mr.. Smith, mark
one thing, we had not q face so hard.
nor a Conscience so abandoned. as to
publish this Spaulding Story at the
first as a positive fact; we only pub
ii rs a conjecture, n mere pro-
liability. and this. you know, we had
a right To do; without once thinking
Of the amount of evil it would even
tuaIlv accomplish. But, sir. it was
some OF my unfortunate clergyman
VITO. more reckless, hardened and
unprincipled than myself, have ven
tured 10 add 10 each edition Of this
story. till n last, without my aid or
consent. they have set II down for a
POSITIVE tact. that Solomon Spauld-
ing, Sidney Ri,dcn, and yourself.
have. made up the Book OF Mormon
out Of a romance. Now. Mr.. Smith
| am glad of this interview with you.
as it gives me the opportunity OF
clearing up my character. | ac-
krowledge with shame thai | was
guilty If a mean act IN helping you
10 hatch up and publish the Srauld-
n story as a probability. and that
associated with ~rascals fax beneath
my dignity, either Is a sovereign
prince, or religious minister. or even
as an old, honorable and experienced
nevil, and for This. | beg your par
don. But, really. must deny the
charge Of having assisted in making
the additions Which have appeared in
the later editions of that story, in
which nv former probabilities and
mean co%njectures are set down for
p, sitive facts. Ne. Mr.. Smith. had
no hand in a trick So low and mean;
| despiSe it-as the work OF priests
and editors alone, without my aid or
suggestion. and | do not believe that
evcn the meanest Young devils in U
dominion would have L 'opedt 10 such
an act.
Smiih.-WeIl must give your
m rjesty.some credit Tor once at least,
if what you say is true, but how can
you justify your conduct in dishonoy-
ING yourself So far. as to stoop to the
level of the hireling clergy. and their
followers, in still making use of this
humbug story (Which you affect to
despise,) in order TO still blind the
eyes of the people in regard to the
origin of the Book of Mormon.
Derl--O! Mr.. Smith, it does take
so readily among the pious of all
sects, that it seems 4 pity 10 spoil the
fun, and | cannot resist the teInpta-
ton of carrying out the joke, now it
is so well rooted in their minds. Ard
YOU can't think how we devils shake
our sides with laughter when we get
up in the gallery in some fine church.
put on our long face. and assist in
singing, and in the devout responses;
this done the Spaulding Story is
graveIy told from the pulpit, while
the pious old clergyman wears a face
as long as that OF Balaam's beast
All is swallowed down for solid truth
by the gaping. multitude. while we
hang our heads behind the Green,
and laugh and wink ut each other in
silence, as any thing overheard
would disturb their worship; and as
bad as ! am, never wish TO disturb
those popular modes of worship,
winch tecencv requires us to respect.
So You see. Mr.. Smith. we have our
fun to ourselves. at your EXPENSE;
but, after all. we do not mean any
hurt 10y it. although | must acknowl-
edge. upon the whole, it serves our
purpose.
Smih--WelI we will d-op this
subject. as J want to inquire about
some OF ynGr ether stories which
have-had III extensive circulation bv
means o your editors and priests
For instance, there is the story Of
my attempting to walk on the water
and getting drowned; the numerous
stories oi any attempting TO raise the
dead as n mere trick at imposition.
und getting detected in 1t; and The
les If my oifpmDlInu IN anne,r. -,