The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-16
MORMONlSM IN ILLINOIS
(CONCLCDED.)

| MORMONlSM In lLLl1\OlO.
(CoNCLupED.)
However, on more mature reflection, the
Anti Mormon constable concluded that it
would be more officer like and better policy
to address q note to the Mormon comman
der, in which he informed that dignitary that
he had assembled the force under his COM
mund, which he had chosen to denounce rs
q mob, for purposes which were strictly le-
gal He was constable of Hancock coun-
ty, and he fanccd constable was somebody
as we'll as a Governor or major OF militia !;
that constable had certain rights, and was
vested with certain and various power and
authority. as we'll as the most digniled OIL
Ger in the commonwealth; that however
humble his official duties might be, they were
well defined, and he was amply protected by
the clearcst legal enactments in their dis
charge. He had in his possession warrant
for the apprehension Of William Picket,
which charged that person with crime, and
which he was fully authorized to execute :
and that resistance having already been
made by that person, and still further rcss-
tancc having been threatened, he had found
it necessary to summOn to his assistance the
large force now under hic command and he
apprchendcd that neither Gov. Ford nor
Major Parker, by lawful exercise of right
full authority. could prevent him from dis
charging clear official duty. He had yet
to learn how the executive or the military,
or both combined, could legally resist a civ
il officer in the service of u judicial writ,
without mourning the charge Of unlawfuily
resisting an officer in the regular discharge of
a very important and well defined duty. lie
was compelled to regard the command of
nor Parker lawless assemhlage, collected
for the most illegal and revolutionary pur-
poses, and that unless the same should qui-
city disperse, and as good and orderly clti-
zens retire to their homes, he would be com
peeled to treat them as Il mob, and disperse
them as such.
/ While Constable Carlin was engaged in
! the preparation Of his stately official missive
his soldiers had found the threatening pro-
clumation of Major Parker, and for their
amusement were thrustinc their hayonets
through it in derisIon of the authority from
which 1t cmanated. They finally set it up
for 4 target, and their most expert marksmcr
tested their skill by driving its centre, until
the Joint production of lawyer Edmunds and
Major Parker was shot to tatters, and car
ried away by the winds.
However much Major Parker may have
been enraged by the insulting message he
received from Constable Cariin, and the
gross indignitles offered his official procla-
nation, he was compelled toforego his ven
geance, his hands were fettered by his in
structions. lie had but one course which
could be consistently adopted without trans
ccnding his authority: he could still thunder
in proclamation: he could shake the strong
holds of the enemy by the ferceness Of his
denunciations. lie therefore called upor
his Mormon barrister, and Vulcan like, the
attorney seated himself and composed fresf
proclamntion-forgcd IL new and more ter
rrible bolt. The Major called up his trustee
messenger, delivered his official thunder into
his hands, and sent him in haste to Carthage
where he was received with yell Of defiance
and rage. Terrified by threats and mcnaces
the messenger fed to Nauvoo, where be re-
ported he had been startled and terrified BY
the wild shouts Of the gentle host, and
threatened by a bowie knife flashing in Close
proximity to his ears. He had escaped un-
hurt the frigh,ful menace, but was unwilling
to encounter any further peril in behalf OF
this or any other cause. This ended all at
tcmpts at negotiating for the present. The
Majors thunder only endangered his friends
whilst his enemies laughed at his iDpotcnI
rage.
In the meantime the Anti Mormous were
zeaIously engaged in recruiting their mum.
bers, in furnishing and equipping their men
and in the introduction of discipline and
subordination amongst their new yraised
troops. 1t was the best organized force ev-
er raised in the State of Illinois. 1t Itconsisted
Of two regiments of infantry, of as many
companies of cavalry, and several detach-
ments of artillery, which served six field
pieces the most of which belonged to the
State, and had been pressed into this patri-
otto service in u manner known only to the
insurgents themselves. The command of
this gallant body of troops, which as we
have seen had been summoned as posse
comitatus, of course dcvolved on Constable
C"rIln; but that worthy gentleman was a
civilian, and, however brave he NAV have
been, had but little knowledge of military
life, aud no practical acquaintance with the
Carlin very justly concluded that it was hard
ly possible for any one to become grea,
constable and distinguished general at the
same time. lie accordingly appointed Mr.,
Singleton, young lawyer from an adjacen,
county, brigadier general and commander
in chief of all the Anti Mormon troops. |,
is not very usual occurrence to see cons
table exercise tho rather doubtful authority
of appointing high military functionares,
but it is presumed that the necessary prcce-
dents were to be found in the hicher-law
code, of which Mr.. Carlin was the principal
representative, and the most reliable expo.
nent. Immediately after his appointment
General Singleton marched his army into O
skirt of timber, FIVE miles west of Carthage
where they occupied their time in learning
the deadly science Of war, punishing pale.
faced whiskey, and by way of variety shaking
with the ague.
Whilst these preparations were being
made by the Anti Mormon force, the Nor.
mons at Nauvoo manifested equal zeal and
activity. They clustered in the streets, ant
shouted with the energy and savage fury oi
their cred brethren," whose example they
professed to emulate. They brandishel
swords and bowie knives, and fired of thei
guns to the imminent peril of all wht
might pass. They held public meetings il
which the assistance of an overruling Provi
dence was invoked, whilst religion and de-
cency were outraged by shocking profanit,
and blasphemy. The numbers and equip
ments of the gentiles were much superior t.
theirs, but they were not disheartened.-
Their advantage of position counteractet
the numerical strength of the enemy. The,
had no artillery, but their energy supplied
this necessity with most novel expedient
They fell upon the wreck of steam engine
which abundantly supplied all their wants
with great labor and ingenuity they drille,
the shafts, mounted them on cart wheels