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

Gods good time 10 pu: them in possess
ion by stealing, if opportunity offered +;
that in fact, the whole church was a com
muni.y of murderers, thieves, robbers,
and outlaws that Joseph Smith had es-
tablished bogus factory in Nauvoo, for
the manufacture Of counterfeit money !;
and that he maintained about his person,
a tribe of swindlers, blacklegs, and coun-
terleters, 10 make it, and put i, into cir.
culation.
1t was also believed, that Joseph Smith
had announced revelation from heaven.
sanctoning polygamy, by some kind of
spiritual system, which never could
well understand; but at any rate, where
by man was allowed one wife in pursu.
ance of the laws Of the country, and an
indefinite number Of others, to be enjoyed
in some mystical and spiritual mode; and
that he himself, and many of his follow
ers, had practiced upon the precepts of
this revelation, by seducing large num-
Der of women.
1t was also asserted, that Joseph Smith
was in alliance with the Indians of the
western territories and had obtained over
them such control, that in case of war,
he could command their assistance, to
murder his enemies.
Upon the whole, if one half of these
reports had been true, the Mormon COM
munity must have been the most intoler-
able collection of rogues ever assembled
or, if one half Of them were false, they
were The most malgned and abused.
Fortunately for the purposes of those
who were acliyeln creating excitement,
there were some truths which gave coun-
tenance to some Of these accusations. ]
that it was Sufficiently proved
in a proceeding at Carthage, whilst was
there, that Joseph Smith had sent band
of his followers to Missouri to kidnap two
men who were Witnesses against a mem
Der of his church, then in Jail, and about
to be tried on charge of larceny. Ii
was also a notorious fact, that he had as
saulted and severely beaten an officer of
the county, for an alleged non-perform-
ance of his duty, at time when that Off
Ger was just recovering from severe i'll
ness. 1t is a fact also, that he stood in
dlcied for the crime of perjury, as was al
legged, IN swearing TO an accusation for
1t is fact also, that his mu-
nlcipal court, of which he was chief Jus.
tce, by writ OF habeas corpus had fire.
quently discharged individuals accused of
high crimes and offences against the laws
of the state; and on one occasion had
discharged a person accused of swindling
the government Of the United States, and
who had been arrested by process of the
federal courts. Thereby giving counte-
nance to the report, tina, he obslrucled
the administration of justice and had set
up government at Nauvoo, independent
of the laws and government of the state.
This idea was further corroborated in the
mind of the people, by the fact that the
people of Nauvoo had petitioned the last
session of congress for a territorial gov
eminent, to be established at Nauvoo, and
to be independent of the state govern
ment.
The Gov. says it is also true that some
arcenies were committed, and shat Mormons had
been convicted of some, bu, he thinks in compa-
rison with ST. Louis or most other western cities
the proportion fthievesin Nauvoo is less than in
the cities referred to.
The report Of an alliance with the Indians he
says was groundless calumny.
Another cause of excitement was rumor that
Hyrum Smith had offered reward for the destruc-
ton of the press of the "Warsaw Signal;" and
another was, a rumor that the Mormons threaten
ed to burn the property and murder the families
of all who assisted the constables against them.
But the great cause of popular fury
was, that the Mormons at several preced-
ing elections had cast their vote as an
unit; thereby making the fact apparent
that no one could aspire to the honors or
Offices Of the country, within the sphere
of their influence, without their approba-
ton and votes. 1t appears to be one of
the principles by which they insist upon
being governed as a community to act as
unit in all matters Of government and
religion. They express themselves 10 be
fearful that if division should be encourage
ed in politics, it would soon extend to
their religion, and rend their church with
scism, and into secls.
The Gov. considers this mos, unfortunate view
Of the case both for their own safety and the tran.
guilty Of the state, il must array against them
in deadly hostility oil aspirants for Office who are
not sure of their support. 1t was by such men
chiefly that the popular fury against them was
excited, which reached such height that, at