The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-09
prudence taught him would be unsuccess.

arriving " tne Justice's ofhce, they foun0
it surrounded by an angry and excited null
tltude, all Of whom had deadly weapons in
their hands, and viewed the pris oners with
unalloyed hate and disgust. The prisoners
attempted conciliatory policy, proffered
their hands in token of friendship, but their
overtures at tirst were all scornfully rejected;
but eventually the cunning, diplomacy and
chicanery of the prisoners triumphed over
the morose and sullen hate Of the Anti Nor
mons. Mr.. Furnace was the most cunning,
and had heretofore been the most unwaver-
ing friend of the Mormons. He had sold
himself to do their comm ands, however re-
voting to morality and decency. He was
however, now in the power of his enemies
who looked upon him with scornful disgust,
Mr.. Furnace believed that bis life depended
on conciliating their friendship, and not
discouraged by the coldness, the unrelent-
ing, and aim ost ferocious hate of the Anti
Mormons, he still confined his prostestations
OF friendship to the Anti Mormon cause !;
but he was coldly and haughtily reminded
that his zeal must be manifested in their
favor by far less equivocal acts than march
ing IN Mormon companies, for the purpose.
OF dragging Anti -Mormons from their beds
at midnight, subjectiug them to illegal du-
ress, and by arming himself, and uniting
with Mormon guard to prevent their es-
cape, as had been his previous policy. He
must, in fact, before he could claim the
respect of the Anti Mormoas, "pe out his
former acts by thorough 'ef ,raa on: he
must forever abandon all alliances with
Mormonism he must labor to conteract its
influence, and use all laudable efforts to aid
their cause, until fanaticism, and its long
train Of of blighting curses, should be re-
moved from Hancock county. To any one
more scrupulous than NJ. Furnace, who had
heretofore manifested the strongest friend
ship for Mormonisn, and had shed tears of
sympathy for its wrongs and prosecutions,
a prorosition to renounce all his previous
principles, and adopt course of policy
radically different from that previously acted
upon, would have been rejected with indis-
nation. But Mr.. Furnace bad espoused the
cause of Mormonism from motives of self
interest alone; and now the same cold self
lshness required the sacrifice of his princi-
pies; and Mr.. Furnace, without any hesita-
ton, pledged himself, and all his friends in
Nauvoo, to unite with the Anti -Mormons,
for the purpose of expelling his former
friends and allies. He proposed to his new
friends to return to Nanvoo without delay,
and call meeting Of the new citizens to or
ganize an Anti-Mormon party in Nauvoo,
and unite upon the terms Of the proposed
coalition.
The earnestness and zeal with which Mr..
Furnace set about his work effcctually won
over the Anti Mormons. The angry scowls
OF deadly hostility and revenge were chased
away, aud smiles of amity and friendly
greetings were freely exchanged between
the contracting parties. So highly gratfed
were the Anti Mormons with the conversion
of Mr.. Furnace, and SO much were they,ta
ken up in shaking hands in ratification of
their coalition, that they quite forgot the
causes of the visit Of their new friend
amongst them; and when reminded of the
fact that Mr.. Furnace was even now in legal
custody, that be stood before them charged
with riot, false Imprisonment and robbery,
Anti Mormons rushed forward with com
mendsble zeal and the greatest kindness,
and volunteered to stand as his bondsmen.
Thus discharged from arrest, congratulations
were again exchanged between the parties,
and Mr.. Furnace went on his way re- oicing.
Arriving ut Nauvoo, the proposed meeting,
at his suggestion. was called. Ii was in
tended to be a Meeting Of those new citi-
zens averse to the longer continuance of the
Mormons at Nauvoo.
But, as usua at public meetingSc all
ed on such occasions, the Mormons, un-
invited, poured themselves in the large tan-
!, le hall in numbers sufficient to control al.
its deliberations. Mr.. Furnace, by his late
inyo,, ,n:ary excursion amongst the Anti
Mormoi1s, had been terrified into sincerity.
Notwiths tand;ug the presence of the Nor
mons, who had tegun to view him with sus
picion and n,istrust, he boldly advocated a
peaceful adius: ment If their difficulties with
the Anti Mormon insurgents. This he re-
garded as their only policy. He had but
recently encountered their angry scowi, and
his courage had vanished. lie had seen he
hand writing on the wall. lie was salis-
fed that total destruction awaited them in
the coming conflict. He advised the lp-
pointment of delegation to coLfer with the
Anti -Mormons, and if possible to avert nm
pending ruin, and restore order and qniet
where anarchy had so long prevailed.
Mr.. Furnace, as we have seen, was SIN
cere, he was even eloquent; but the Nor
mons derisively laughed at his cowardice,
and rdiculcd his Inconsistency. They COM
pared him to chickene furnished with two
pair of legs, the one pair impelling him to-
wards Mormonism and the other leading
him in the opposite direction. The Nor
mons, on direct vote, might have readily
defeated the proposition for the appoint
ment of the delegation; but their policy
was never to meet any measure by direct
and open opposition they therefore, with
out discussion, aquiesced in tho views of
Furnace, and the delegation was appointed,
but in the selection of proper persons to
discharge the duties of this important mis-
sion, good care was taken that every dele
gate should be wholly Mormon in his pred-
lections. The only exception to this rule
was the appointment of gentleman who
reioiced in the cognomen of Ma or Bidamon,
a stout, rugged, consequential Pennsylvania
Dutchman, who, contrary to the instincts OF
his race, gloried in polished boots, fashion
able hat, faultless linen, and superline
broadcloth. The gallant Major accepted
the appointment with avidity. His vanity
was as much excited as if his mission had
been to negotiate the peace of Europe, or
enforce the neutrality of Russia, in con-
hict between Austria and her dependencies.
Mynheer Bidamon was no less personage
of that day than Mynheer kossuth is Of the
present. The Major lost no time he bor
rowed horse, and travelled with rapid
ty known only to borrowed horses: Helmet
the Anti Mormons, and told them just what
he thought of them; that in his opinion
they were ,scurvy rabble, lawless mob,
banded conspiracy of savages and robbers,
with whom it was humiliating to the refined
feelings of civilized gentleman to be COM
PEELED to hold converse. The valiant Ma
ior, who was too much Of swaggerer to
be q successful diplomatist, told them all
this, and was only laughed at for his pains.
He was informed that the Anti Mormons
were resolved on the banishment of the
Mormons; that they would like to secure
the cooperation of the Anti Mormon new
new citizens at Nauvoo for that purpose;
but if they refused to join their enterprise,
they had made up their minds to do without
their assistance; and finally the Major was
roughly reminded that he might as we'll keep
his mouth shut. Whereupon the testy Dutch
man, without deigning any reply, mounted
his borrowed horse, in a towering passion,
and was off for Nauvoo like whirlwind.
This was the last attempt at Cancellation
made by the parties. The Anti Mormons
now skudied the most efficient mode of at