The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-01
FURTHER ON THE '.MARTYRDoM'

On Tuesday morning The Tribune
noted the fact that on last Friday the
Deseret News referred to a book writ
ten by Hon, Adlai h. Stevenson, en-.
deavoring by means of that reference
10 disprove our contention that Joseph
and Hyrum Smith were brought TO their
death by Mormon conspirators But,
as usual, the News merely quoted what
suited its side, ignoring the most i'm
portant items rs affecting either side
of this controversy We take pleasure
in making some excerpts from Mr.
Stevenson s writings, the first being as
follows:
Two of the Mormon leaders, William
and Wilson Law were, at the time men
toned in open revolt against the newly
tees of the prophet, To strengthen their
opposition they procured printing press
and equipment. and issued from their
office in Nauvoo one number OF small
weekly. ''The Exposition By order OF
the mayor, Smith, and decree of the
council 'he press was seized and de
stroyed. and the Law brothers and their
few adherents compelled to fee the Holy
City. Immediately upon their arrival at
Carthage. they caused warrants TO be is
sued for the arrest OF Joseph and Hyrum
destruction OF the prlnting-prcsS. The
almost sovereign powers previously con-
ferred upon the city of Nauvoo now play
an important part in this drama. The
persons arrested as above mentioned
were at once brought by writs OF habeas
corpus, issued by the mayor OF Nauvoo
before the municipal court and there
promptly discharged.
AS to these court proceedings, Gov.
ernor Ford says: cit clearly appeared
both from the complaints of the citi,
zens and the admissions of the Nor
mons, that the whole proceedings of the
mayor, council and municipal court were
illegal and not to be endured in free
country William and Wilson Law,
and the others Of the rebellious Nor
mons. were determined TO avenge them
selves. Their printing establishment had
been rutIslessly destroyed, and they
themselves were driven out Of Nauvoo
1t will be noted how well these facts fl
in with the narrative of Bishop Deni-
son l.. Harris Mr.. Harris had attended
three of the meetings held by the Nor
mon conspirators at the house of Coun-
selor William Law, and had informed
Joseph of the proceedings thereat. Be
ing thus informed as TO the movements
of the conspirators. Joseph proceeded
| to checkmate them by any and every
means in his power. He destroyed
their newspaper. and when arrested for
that act he proceeded to set himself
free by his own edict. This incensed
the Laws and the others. and they de-
termined to ''get - Joseph for once and
for all 1t was through the request of
Mormons that Joseph and IIyrum Smith
John Taylor and Doctor Willard Rich.
ards were taken to Carthage and there
cast into Jail. Every move preliminary
to this incarceration had been engi-
neered by Mormons. There were hun.
dreds of the saints in Nauvoo who were
violently antagonistic to Joseph and
Hyrum on account of tho terrible re-
ports which they had heard Of their
practices, and which reports they be-
licved. Many of them claimed to have
personal knowledge Of these wrongs, and
they succeeded in making others be.
lieve their accusations. Many of the
saints were Incensed against the
prophet because of the workings of
those f'almost sovereign powers which
Mr.. Stevenson says were exercised by
the mayor and council and court Of
Nauvoo (these being composed of
Joseph Smith and his supporters).
Whenever Joseph or any of his close
| friends got into any trouble with the
law, Joseph released himself or them
by means of these "almost sovereign
powers. But when any of the saints
who was not in sympathy with Joseph
and his immediate supporters found
himself in similar position, Joseph
] prevented these "almost sovereign