The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-01-10

one with kind of dumbness. AS TO my
self, it was perfectly astounding; and |
anticipated the very worst consequences
from it. The Mormons had been repre-
scented to me as a lawless, infatuated, and
fanalical people, not governed by the Or
binary motives, which influence the ma
ioriiy of mankind. If so, most likely, an
exterminating war would ensue, and the
whole lmd would be covered with desc
laton.
Acting upon this supposition, it was
my duty to provide as well as | could for
the event, |, therefore, ordered the two
messengers into custody, and to be re-
turned with us, to Carthage. This was
done, to get time to make such arrange
ment as could be made; and TO prevent
any sudden explosion Of Mormon excite
ment, before they could be written to, by
their friends at Carthage. l, also, des-
patched messengers to Warsaw, to advise
the citizens of the event. But the peo'
pie, there, knew all about the matter, be-
fore my messengers arrived. They like
myself, anticipated general attack all
over the country. The women and chill
dren were removed across the river; ana
a committee was despatched tha' high'
to Quincy for assistance. The next morn
ing, by day light the ringing OF all the
bells in the city announced public meet
ing. The people assembled IN great num-
bers, at an early hour' me " aFsaw
committee stated 10 me meeung' 'ha'
party OF MOrmons' lIaa a'ehIeu 10 res
cue The Smiths ont o! jan Z; tnat a parry
of Missourlans' and others hau RIiIed Inc
prisoners to prevent their escape tha'
the governor and his party were al Nau-
VOC, at the time, when Intelligence OF inc
TACT was brought there; that they, had
been attacked by the NauVoo Legion anG
had retreated to house. where 'hey were
closely oeseIgeu. ha' Tue governor hau
sent out word that he could MAINTAIN his
position Tor TWO days, ana would DC GER
tain to be massacred, II assistance ana mol
arrive by the end OF that Tune. 1t Is I'M
necessary to say that TINS ehIIre story
was fabrication. 1t was OF piece with
The other reports put INTO circulation by
the anli-Mormon party to influence the
public mlnd' and call the people TO their
assistance. The eject OF H. however,
was, that by ten O'Clock, on the %olh OF
June, between two and three hundred
men, from Quincy under the command
OF MAJOR tIood, embarked on board OF a
steam boat Tor NauVoo' 10 assist III rals-
ing the seige, as they honestly believed
As for myself, | was well convinced
that those, whoever lhey were, VINO as
sassnated the Smiths, medIlated IN turn,
my assassination by the Mormons. The
very circumstances oil The case, luily cor
robora'ea the in'ormai'oh when alter
wards received, that upon consultation OF
the assassIns, 1t was agreed amongst
them, that the murder must be committed
whilst the governor was at Nauyoo; that
| NV 49," '''''N' ''''''''y
that he had planned 1t; ana mat IN The
first ou'pourlng OF their Indignation they
would assass'na'e hIm' by way oil fcialia-
ton. And that thus they would get clear
OF the Smiths and the governor all at
once. Ihey, aIs"' supposed mat II they
could so contrIve the matter as to have
the governor OF the state assass'na'cd by
the Mormons, the public excitement
would be SO greatly Increased against
them, and would result IN their expulsion
from the state at least.
Upon the lrs' hearing OF the assassin
alton OF the Smiths, was sensible that
my command was at an end; that my
destruction was medIlased as well as that
Of the Mormons; and that | could not