The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-01-10
"A, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, I845.

CONSERVATION, that the Mormons had al
ready commenced the work Of burning,
destruction and murder and that every
man capable of bearing arms, was in
stanlly wanted at Carthage, for the pro.
lection of the country. We lost no time
in starting; but when we arrived at Car.
thage, we could hear no more concerning
this story. Again, during the few days
that the militia were encamped at Car
thage, frequent applications were made to
me, to send force here. and force
there, and force all about the country,
to prevent murders, robberies, and larce-
MES, which it was said, were threatened
by the Mormons. No such forces were
sent; nor were any such offences COM
mitted at that time, except the stealing OF
some provisions and there was never
the least proof that this was done by a
Mormon. Again, on my late visit to
Hancock county was informed by some
Of their violent enemies, that the larcenies
of the Mormons had become unusually
numerous and insutlerable. They in
deed admitted that but little had been done
in this way in their immediate vicinity.
But they insisted that sixteen horses had
been stolen by the Mormons in one night
near Lima in the county Of Adams. At
the close Of The expedition, | called ct ibis
same town Of Lima, and upon enquiry,
was told that no horses had been stolen
in that neighborhood, but that sixteen
horses had been stolen in one night in
Hancock county. This last informant
being told of the Hancock story, again
changed the venue, TO another distant set.
tlement in the northern edge Of Adams.
The Governors object in visiting Hancock co.
having been to assist in bringing to justice those
engaged in the destruction Of the press IN Nauvoo
in his endeavors to attain this object, he delermin-
ed not to make himself mere catspaw by which
the accused should be delivered into the hands Of
an Infatuated mob. He therefore, as prclimina.
ry step, obtained a unapimous pledge from all the
officers and men under his command to sustain
him in protecting the prisoners from violence.
Smith and the rest were Informed of this pledge,
and constable with ten men was despatched to
Nauvoo TO arrest them. At this time martial law
had been proclaimed in Nauvoo, and the city bore
the appearance Of vast military camp, On the
arrival Of the constable, however, martial law was
Immediately abolished, and Smith and the com
mon council signifed their willingness to surren-
der and to proceed to Carthage at o'clock next
morning. But no attempt was made TO arrcs, any
of them, and at the hour namod, the constable and
posse returned TO Carthage and reported that the
accused had fled. The Gov. then says:
| Immediately proposed 10 council of
officers, to march into Nauvoo with the
small force then under my command, but
the officers were of opinion that it was
too small, and many Of them insisted up
on a further call Of the militia. Upon re-.
Election | was of opinion that the officers
were right in the estimate of our force ;
and the PROJECT for immediate action was
abandoned. | was soon informed how
ever, of the conduct of the constable and
guard, and then | was perfectly satisfied
that a most base fraud had been attempt
ed that in fact it was feared, that the
Mormons would submit; and thereby en-
title themselves to the protection Of the
law. |, was very apparent that many of
the busting active spirits, were afraid that
there would be no occasion for calling out
an overwhelming militia force for march
ing it into Nauvoo; for probably mutiny
when there and for the determination
of the Mormon race. 1t appeared that
the constable and the escort were fully in
the secret, and acted well their part, to
promote the conspiracy.
Seeing this to be the case the Gov, delayed any
further call Of the militia, TO give the accused an
other opportunity TO surrender, lie also deman.
ded the surrender Of the state arms in the posses.
sion of the legion. These consisted of three pic.
ces Of cannon and $50 stand of small arms, of
which all but about 80 stand Of small arms were
promptly delivered up.
On the 23i of June, Joseph and Hyrum Smith,
and all Others demanded, came into Carthage and
surrendered themselves prisoners to the constable
on the charge Of riot and voluntary entered into
recognzance for their appearance at court All
were then discharged but the two Smiths who
were retained in custody on a charge Of treason.
Capt. Singleton was ordered to Nauvoo to
guard the city and take command Of the legion.
The examination of the Smiths was, iorwant Of
witnesses on both sides, postponed by the Justice,
and they were, for greater security committed to
Jail. With these proceedings the governor had
10 power to interfere.
The force at this time assembled at Carthage
amounted 10 twelve or thirteen hundred mcn, aud
some four or five hundred were assembled a, War.
saw IL was the general desire of that notiinn re-.