Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-01-24


The following intetessiag lssser from
Mrs. Smith, widow Of abe late Genera
Joseph Smith The Mormon prophet, will
Tread with greaiinteSe,t, a. giving prob-
ably The most correct though brief view ol
affairs a present existing among that I'M
happy people. N, Y<Sun.
NAUvoo, III, Nov. 80, 1916.
To The Editos Of the New York Sun
Sin ~ hope 70 Be excused for address.
ing. for the 6rst lime in my life. letter
to the editor Of ! newspaper, and this I
have been induced 70 DO, from seeing The
letiers Of Gen. A7lfne t0n BenHetl. pub.
lished 10 The newspapers. urging the Nor.
mon people 10 remove 10 the Pacific
ocean. and advocating the cause Of The
tyrants who have seized on the govern
ment Of the Mormon church. This
church, such as it is. was formed by nv
lamen,ed husband, who was martyrsd Tor
its sake, aud whether true or false, has
laid down his life for its belief!
am left here, sir, with family Of
children TO attend 10, without any means
Of giving them an education, for there is
not a school IN the city, nor is it intend
ed there shall be any here. or at any other
place where the men who now govern
this infatuated. simple minded people.
have sway. have not The least ob]ec-
ton that these petty tyrants remove to
California, or any other remote place, out
ofthe world if they please; for they will
never be Of any service 10 the Mormons,
or to the human family, no matter where
they go. Their object is to keep the
people over whom they rule in the great
es. ignorance, and most abject religious
bondage, and if these poor, confding crea.
lures remove with them, they will die in
the wilderness The laws of the United
States are quite good enough for me and
my children, and my settled intention is
to remain where | am. take care of my
property, and if cannot educate my chill.
dren here, send them to New York or
New England for that purpose. Many
of the Mormons will, no doubt, remove
in the spring, and many more will remain
here; and nothing would give me greater
pleasure than TO have mired society in
Naupoo, as in other ci.ies, and all exclu-
sive religious distinctions abolished.
I must no,O sag. that l saever for a
moment believed in avhat my husband
called has apparitions and REGULATIONS, as
I thought him laboring under a diseased
mind; yet, they may all be true, as
prophet is seldom without credence or
honor. excepting in his own family or
country. l shall educate my children in
a different faith, and teach them to obey
and reverence the laws and institutions Of
their country. Shall not, sir, be protect
ed in these resolutions against the annoy
ance of the men l now oppose, for they
will no doubt seek my life
What objec. Gen. Arlington Bennett
has in advocating the cause of these petty
tyrants, am not able to understand, for
he assured me, when at nv house, ,ha! he
had not the smallest intention Of connect
ing himself in any manner with them,
much less removing with them to the Pas
cific ocean. But this is strange world;
and would not be surprised if they had
offered 10 anoint and crown him King or
Emperor in the west! As have some
thing more to say. / will take the liberty
to write you another letter. .,s
With great respect,
l am sir, your humble serv'.,
EMMA SMITH.