The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-02

ed to state of permanent peace.
In the meantime, about the first of June,
general mass meeting of the Anti Mormons
was called at Carthage, for the purpose Of
making arrangements for the celebration of
the ensuing fourth Of July. In this meeting
it was urged that they could not consistent.
~ celebrate day which presupposed their
Independence as long as the Mormons re-
mained as foil on their liberty; that the
| preliminary step to be taken was to expel the
Mormons, whose strength, now much reduc-
ed by emigration, would readily yield to a
comparatively small force. This idea was
caught up with avidity; and few days wit
messed the assemblage of un army, regularly
appointed and ofhcered, at Golden's Point,
in the neighborhood of Nauvoo. The more
reckless of the Anti Mormons, anxious for
the conflict, poured into the encampment
with such arms and equipments as they could
readily lay their hands upon.
The Mormons were well-informed of these
hostile demonstrations. Many of them has
tened their preparation for their departure
others precipitately abandoned their homes
without preparation-destitute of provisions
and all the necessary comforts of long and
perilous journey. Others, less terrified and
more determined, resolved to defend them.
selves. The new citizens who had settled in
Nauvoo, by the invitation of Mormons and
Anti -MormOns, regarded themselves as no
party to their quarrels. Their true policy
was to remain neutral by a refusal to partic-
llpate IN these lawless proceedings, the mer-
Its OF which it was impossible for them to
understand. This policy the Mormons de-
termlned they should not adopt, and to change
their resolution, representations were made
to them that the crusade against Alormonism
wac nothing less than n destructive blow
| aimed at Nauvoo; that the intention of the
Anti Mormons was to desolate the CITY. The
massive Temple, which was now completed,
and which was reared by such q vast expen-
dlture OF labor and money-an original
model of new and magnificent order of ar.
| chltccture-the only ornament and attraction
OF the city, was to be undermined and blown
to atoms by the Goths and Vantlals now as
sembled in force. The city itself, which
had changed hands and was now the prop
crty of the new citizens, was to be reduced
to ashes by the inccndiary band of mob
bers.
The new settlers, believing these represcn-
tations to be true, were scarcely less alarm
ed than the Mormons, and many of them
were equally resolved to resist the contem-
plated invasion of their property. But, not
withstanding their prejudices hod been excl
ted by the Mormons against the expedition
which was now eucamped ut Point Golden,
they thought il prudent to consult with the
Anti Mormons themselves. relative to their
intentions with regard TO Nauyoo. Accord
lngly, ut a general mass meeting. which was
composed exclusively of n citizens, or ratb-
or w aH W infn inI {p Lo Il 3.
was appointed to confer with the hostile
force, and, if.possible, by peaceful measures
adj ust their increasing difficulties. But, in
the selection of the delegation. they were as
usual imposed upon by the spccous cunning
OF the Mormons; at least two of the .delega-
tion Of FIVE were at the time Mo mons. One
of them, William Picket, who had lately re-
moved from Alabama, broken down law
yer, who had found it unsafe to remain long
er in the South, had united his destiny with
Mormonism, and pursued its opponents with
the blind and rcVc' geful fury characteristic
of the North American Savage. Although
baptized in the faith, he had not openly ac-
knowledgcd his connection with it. No one
of tho eie."v.,g had u,on .l.- -i:5l..~o.
ntimation of his rel, eiOus faith. and in fact
1t was on account Of his supposed opposition
TO the fanatics thnt he was appointed a del
cgatH. Israel Clap, Other Mormon DEL
cgatr. had recently removed from Iowa,
m his MormUn!sm was Il secret to all but
the fai.hful.
These delegates Immediately after their
appointment visited the Anti Mormon force
encampcd at Poiat Golden. They found this
army, to the number Of three O. four hun
drcd, safely lyin. in thlckct, through which
a sluggish and filthy stream struggled in
vain to find an outlet for its stagnant waters.
This stream had never before been used for
any purpose of practical utility, unless by
the swine Of the ncighborhood, which had
occasionally RECALLED themselves with re-
freshing wallow in its turbid waters. The
patriotic army had taken possession of this
stream and the % slashcs - around it, and
placed their sentincls and planted their can
non to guard against surprise. The encamp-
ment was surrounded on all sides by thick
ct Of underground so dense and impenetra-
bic, that their whole force was rendered
invisible to the eyes of their vigiIant enc
mics.
The Nauvoo delegation were courteously
received by the Anti Mormon Generals, Col
onels and Majors, (the whole force appeared
to possess exalted rank. and as new citizens
their headquarters. There was necessarily
no difficulty between the Anti Mormon en-
campment and the new citizen delegates. 1t
was the interest Of both parties that the
Mormons should remove. The delegates,
however, believed and represented that the
fanatics, now reduced to a mere fraction of
their original force, had ceased to be for
midable; that the few who remained did so
from their inability to procure the necessary
outfit for their journey that in spite of their
destitution they were leaving Nauvoo as fast
as the ferry-boats could carry them away
that hundreds had already left without
means, an their families were now encamp-
ed in the open prairies, without common
tent cloth for covering, awaiting their op-
portunity to exchange their real estate for
| available funds for their Quincy. This was
thought by the delegates to be sufficient to
satisfy the most Jealous and uncompromi-
sing Anti Mormon. The Anti Mormons ex-
pressed their willingness to disband their
forces if they could have a satisfactory as
surance that the Mormons would still contin-
ue their preparation for their departure, and
to fully assure themselves that such was the
fact, they proposed that one of their number
should be stationed at Nauvoo, who should
DC projected ny tne new citiZens, anu VINO
should daily report tho movements Of the
Mormons-their preparations and the num-
Der of the departures and arrivals. To this
the new citizen delegates made no objection.
There was disposition on the part of each
Of the contracting powers to avoid any rup-
ture, and if possible by mutual concessions
to form n friendly alliance. In this spirit
speeches were made by the representatives
Of each, expressive of desire to harmonize
whatever causes of disagreement might ex-
ist between them. The parties manifested
the utmost good feeling towards each 9th
er, and separated with mutual pledges Of
fidelity.
In the meantime the utmost terror and ex-
citement reigned in Nauvoo. The citizens
had contrived to inform themselves of the
designs, the force and equipments of the
Anti-Mormon cncampment, by means OF
spies, who daily and almost hourly visited it.
The Mormons were now without leader to
direct their movements in the threatening
crisis. The twelve apostles, their high coun-
Gil, and every person high in authority, were