Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-04-04

NAUVOO, IFS ACQUISITION, PRESENT
STATE, PROSPECTS, &C.

Under a caption something like the above, saw,
ia the Vt. Patriot Of the 10Th ult. an article from
the Transcript (trhat Transcript does not appear)
Astounding in errors both of fact and opinion. AS
the Ed. Pat seems Indifferent about the correction
of those errors for the benefit of readers, | will
correct some Of then especially those in relation
to facts.
/. That article stated that Nauvoo it situated
at the foot of the lower Rapids, on the Father of
waters and accessible to the largest class of steam
boats navigating that river" This is not true. Maui
is at the head of those Rapids, and therefore,
not accessible to such boats.
g. That article stated, that before the Mormons
settled Nauvoo, the place had neither inhabitants
nor dwellings" This is not true. 1t had been set
tied good many years, though it was not great
place. as it can be, from its location as above
described. 1t once called Venus then Com
merce, before the Mormons came there; and |
have known many enterprisng settlers who resided
there before the Mormons- us the Whites Cutters
KmbaIls, Robnsons, DIR. Galand, Wells, sc. &C.
As to the dwellings-if the writer of the article in
question had ever seen the stone houses which Rig
don, Smith and others occupied, when they first
came from Missouri TO Illinois, especially the splen
did one occupied by Rigdon, he neither would have
denied the existence nor value Of dwellings, then
on the present site of Nauvoo.
3. Again, said the article in hand, "eacl lot in
Nauvoo has house OH it"or words to that effect.
Such is not the fact. A good share of that paper
city, is yet wild woodland or Prairie.
4. The temple is spoken of in the article under
review, as finished or nearly so, whereas its ,paiis
are but about half up, and sober, observant judges
think it never will be completed. Indeed candid
men on the ground, think Smith neither cared nor
hoped to see it finished, but set it afoot simply to
keep his poor followers engaged in common eff
fort, humbng them by hard labor, and diverting
their attention from his acts and tricks of decep-
ton, imposture and oppression.
). As to the city's containing $4,000 inhabit-
ants asserted by the article in question, good
judges put the number at 5000 at mosi-and doubt
whether the population ever reached that height.
u. AS TO the Mormons continuing in Nauvoo per-
manenty, the article opines, let the loss of their
leaders their general paraysis-their starving
state, and their dlspersionS testify.
9, That Nauvoo will be Il great city," as that
article judges, whether the Mornons remain there
or not, Is wild vagary, retuted or rendered i'm q.
probable by the location of the place. the fall of
property 300 per cent since the death of the Smiths
and all sound reasoning and commons sense touch
ing the matter.
/ simply add, that it is alternately ludicrous and
veXatious TO one acquainted with Nauvoo, the
Mormon leaders, their operations, &c. 10 see so
much falsehood, crude speculation ane nonsense
atloat IN the papers III relation 10 them.
AN OBSERVER OF THE PLACE AND PEOPLE.