The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-07-28
The City Of AativOO.


describes Nauvoo, Illinois, the former city of
Mormons, as it appeared to him on a late
visit -
Putting up at the "Nauvoo Mansion, the
former residence of Joe Smith, and the rem
devious of his clan, we found it 4 COOL couii
tryiicd hotel, surrounded by slrubhcry
everything neatly kept and cared for, and I'M
parting fresh, wholesome air. The hostess
was the former wife of Joe, who with her
present husband and children by her former
spouse. still resides on the promise she enter
cd with the prophet when the Saints first
founded the city She informed us that she
had resided in the Mansion" for sixte.n
years. During that period she has witnessed
the origin, growth, and decay OF III" city the
inception of a me-. religion, the most strange
conglomerate of truth, fanaticrsrn. supcrsti-
ton and arrant cheating that was ever in
auguratcd in civilized community: has
witnessed its development, been familiar with
its spirit and character, and cogniZant of the
motives which ruled its leaders: seen the
first and the last Of all the strange things en-
acted there :: passed through all the social
changes Incidental to that community obscr-
we'd all of the important facts Of its singular
and intcre sting history, and at last finds her
self the quiet housewife Of a pleasant country
tavern, which was but recently tn" home and
headquarters of a band of men Of peculiar
character and prctcnSonS, and Of her husband
who was their chief. kauv"o, and paIticu-
larly the "ManSiom,' must possess strange
and remarkable interest for her. A daugh-
ter, (now a widow, y and several sons, children
of Smith compose her family. The property
held by Smith and falling TO the family has
left them very wealthy. but there are no sign
Of ostcntations life or inclinationS among
them. Ascending tho hill to examine the
temple and its surroundings, We came upon
the community Of Mons. CADET, who wcr,
gathered for dinner in n large house in tn.
rear, which seemed to he the common eating
room of the IcarianS. The meal economical.
ly provided and with entire uniformity in its
character, was cnivcncd by band Of instru
mental music, numbering some Thirty per
formers, and they seemed To he as intent Of
celebrating, in their own way, the great ami
ycrsary, as any body else.
An address was pronounced by Mons
CADET, in the forenoon, i'll French, and othel
addresses were mado in German and English
The temple is pile of ruins, as most pco
pie know, except the front, That with the
tower. still remains. There is enough in thai
to afford some idea ofits almost wand like
incongudous heathcrish. but fresh and vigor
Gus architecture. 1t is deeply to he dcplored
that vandal hands should have consigned it
to destruction. 1t should have been permit
| ted to remain as monument of the strang,
religion that caused it to be erected. and tn,
strange worship to which it was dedicated
| The entrance to an underground avenue j.
still diSccrnible among the rubbish on tn
South side Of it. This avenue. and others
which the husband of Mrs. Smith inf6rMct
MS, existed beneath the surface of the ground
led by connection with them to several point
where the leaders for various purposes asscm
bled to conduct the affairs of the community
concoct their schemes, and execute thei
plans.
The large. and so far as completed
thoroughly built hotel which is situated clos
Ivy the "mansion," is to be finished cd for
mill and machinery which the heirs of tn
Prophet design putting into it. Many Of thu
once fine but now dclapidatcd residences lay
latterly been occupied, and the town is cvi
IDENTIFY improving. With magnificent 10
cation, and point which, had it preserve,
its population, and business, might have be
come commercial center Of importance b,
this time, III the ordinary course of event
Nauvoo, with the usual character Of popula
ton, might have been one of the largest AM
most proSI crous towns in the West. Blu
HOW it is simply the residence ofthe iag end
of several fanatlcisns, comprising the mem
orials. social and architectural, Of a relisio
whose founder, character and influence hav
won an unenviablc but enduring fame in his
tory: there Procurcur-Gc Of Frame
prcsides over hog pens, distilerlcs, and h
general economies Of a new social orsanlza
10. /, Il