American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-07-25
MORNING,

ORIGIN OF MoRMoNIsM. The Albany Even
ing Journal gives the following account of Joe
Smiths early operations:
| Joe Smith, previous TO his becoming Proph-
ct, was "Loafer." He resided near the vii
lage of Palmyra, spent most of his time in bar
rooms, and seemed only anxious to live along
from hand "to mouth" without work. He
was remarkable for nothing in particular, but
Incidence and schemng on a small SCALE In
1874 or '25, he went vagabonding off into
| Western Pennsylvania, where, nobody knows
how, he got possession of the manuscript of
a haf-deranged Clergyman, with which he re-
turned to Palmyra, where he pretended that he
was directed in dream to particular spot in
the woods to possess himself of an oracuar
slate, or as he called it, "G6lden Blble."-
From this inspired slate, which he used to place
in his hat, he first read to the "gaping few''
new and strange revelations; and finally he pro-
duced the "Book of Mormon" as the creed
and faith of the people of whom he was design
ed by Providence to be the Prophet and Ruler
The Book Of Mormon is copy of the manu-
script which Smith obtained near Pittsburgh.
| wealthy farmer, by the name of Harris,
was his first believing convert. Harris mort.
gagged his farm to raise the money required for
the temporal support of the Prophet, and the
printing of the book of Mormon. The prophet
and his convert, (Smith and Harris) came to
Rochester and offered us the honor of being
their printer. But as we were only in the news
paper ne we contented ourselves with reading
a chapter of what seemed such wretched and
incoherent stupidity, that we wondered how
"Joe" had contrived to make the first fool with
it. But he went on making not only fools, but
knaVes, in America and Europe for more than
twenty years, and until his career was abruptly
cut short by men who became themselves vio-
lators of the laws they were called to vindicate.
INCIDENTS AT CAMP WASHINGTON. A staff
officer from the interior of the State had been
fortunate enough to be elected to the command
of company, but still desired to display his
former rank, probably with the hope of being
elected to the head of a regiment, appeared on
the ground in his regimentals, cooked hat, high
plume and all! One of the volunteers noticing
his ''stately step DER the swardy soil, deter
mined to have little sport. Procuring some
gold fringe, he arranged it on his dress, made
a cooked hat out of an old beaver, and orna-
mented it with quill from a neighborng roost,
adjusted pair OF epaulettes, one on the right
shoulder, the other near the place where ladies'
wear the bustles, and made his appearance di-
rectly in front of the officer above mentioned.
| The "oficer with the cooked hat" eyed him
for few minutes, and then suddenly left, in
quick time, for his quarters,
The "regimentals" have not been seen since.
On another occasion an officer, who is rather
fond of showing his authority, was appointed
Captain of the police for the day. observing
one of the guard commit breach of the orders
| he had given, he upbraided him very severely
and threatened punishment if he observed the
like again. He also commanded him to strictly
obey the order, not to let any man approach
the line without giving the countersign, and if
any one persisted, to threaten to shoot, and
talk saucy! The sentinel, not liking the re-
buke, determined TO have little fun by strictly
obeying the order.
After dark the captain passed along the line,
to see if all was right. He approached the dis
orderly sentinel.
"Who's there?" cried the sentinel.
GA friend!' answered the captain, approach
ing little nearer
'Stand back! you Internal scoundrel, or
| I'll blow your head to Halitax-darn you, the
countersgn."
"Come, come sir, you mustn't talk that way
! to an Off"
"Not another word out of you, you gourd-
head, until you give me the countersign, or III
smash your old mouth"
The officer gave him the countersign, and
asked him why he was so insolent to officer:
when on duty
"Why, hang it, didn't you tell me, Captain
that whenever | didn't get the countersign
must talk Sasy Gin. Com.