Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-09-24
The MOrnlOns.

and peace is once more restored. The
citizens of Nauvoo surrendered to the
Anti Mormons on Thursday last, by
laying down their arms and permitting
their enemies to march into the city with.
out mOlesta,ion. As we understand it,
the terms Of population were that all the
Mormon residents of Nauvoo should leave
in few days, with the exception of ten
chosen from their number, who were to
act for them and to whom they gave a
power Of attorney to dispose Of all their
property between now and next May. II
the property is not sold by tina, time. some
new arrangement is to be entered into.
BY Friday evening last, hardly Nor.
mon was TO be found in Nauvoo, and
nearly all the new sel,lers had left. The
place now looks quite desola,e. Every
SteaTboa. that has visited our landing
within the past week has been loaded
with Mormons. The widow Of Joseph
Smith came up on one Of them last week,
but left for some por; above on the same
boat. VIVA, with steamboats,, stages and
private vehicles, we have our full share
of the overplus population of Nauvoo.
OF this we should no. complain did we
not know that in every place where they
have located heretofore, a disturbance
between them and the citizens has always
occurred. We must tell them plainly
tina, their presence will be tolerated among
US as mere matter Of necessity, and
although i, does no, appear, there is such
a latent feeling in all by whom they are
surrounded that it needs only slight
wrong doing on their part. 10 cause this
feeling TO burst forth in all its fury and
secure their utter expulsion from Our bor-
ders. Ii behooves them, then, as long
as they remain among US, to obey the
laws and conduci themselves in all res.
poets as good citizens. Those who have
The means among them should not let the
poor of their order suffer nor become a
burden to those among whom they have
found shelter. There are many desti.
tu,e among them and some of these have
already solicited charity from our citizens.
We hope the Trustees of this Township
will see both parties and endeavor to make
such arrangement as will relieve our c,i.
Zens from being taxed for the suppor, of
any but our own Legitimate poor.
With all the facts before US, we con
slider it almost an offence to encourage
the setilemen; of the Mormons among us,
and yet we understand there are those
WHO do this. 1t is not that we respect
the rights Of Mormons less than we do
the rights of others, but it is that we love
the peace and qniet of Iowa more, that we
thus speak. With their religion we have
nothing to do; they have right 10 en-
brace any system of religion they choose,
however absurd it may be, proridel it
does not interfere with the rights of others
or encourage the trampling the laws of the
land and society under their feet. If i,
interferss with the rights of others, it is
no longer religion, and canno. be so con.
s'dered by any Interpretation that can be
put upon it. Whatever may be their
belief, their conduct, if wrong, must be
punished. We have no personal antipa.
thy to the Mormons. We can conceive
how. by tracing all the evils that have
belallen them to their own or the naiscon- /
duct of their leaders, and in relormno !
these abuses thoroughly. they might be.
come as desirable class Of population as
any other. Until they do this we have
no hope Tor them as body. Some of.
them may think the opposition thew have
met with is owing to their faith in the
Mormon doctrines; and they are right, if
these doctrines teach that they may rob
and steal from all who are out Of the rale
OIL their denominations They may no,
call 1t robbery or iheft-their peculiar
theology may no, recognize i, as such,
but the laws bO,h-of God and of Man will
call 1t nothing less. and it will be esteem.
ed as deserving Of greater propor,ionate
than if it had not been perne.
rated under the cloak of religion.
Mormon. as well as Methodist or a
Presbyterian is>required to show his faith
by his works. and if these works do not
with the requirements of righf
he most wicked man in the community
will condemn>it. Butt their faith, as all
religious faith should be, is simple
of the requirement-Ioye to
sod and man. teaching to love our neigh.
'or as ourself. then may they rest assured!
hat the opposition of which they com.
,ialn springs not from a tenacious a6he.
ence to their doctrines. but 10 an abso.
ute non-adherence thereto. IF thew do
we'll they will be respected and esteemed
,ut as long as thew tolerate incec, ,dI.