Early on the morning of the twenty-fourth Joseph and the members

of the city council, against whom complaints had been made before

Justice Morrison, accompanied by a few friends, started for Carthage

to give themselves up. As they passed the temple, the party paused,

and the Prophet looked with admiration upon the noble edifice and the

glorious landscape, which everywhere from that spot greets the eye,

and then said: "This is the loveliest place, and the best people under

the heavens; little do they know the trials that await them!" On the

outskirts of the city they passed the home of Squire D. H. Wells, who

at the time was sick. Joseph dismounted and called to see him. At

parting the Prophet said to him cheerfully: "Squire Wells, I wish you

to cherish my memory, and not think me the worst man in the world,

either."

About ten o'clock the party arrived within four miles of Carthage and

there met a company of sixty mounted militiamen under the command of

Captain Dunn, on their way to Nauvoo with orders from Governor Ford to

demand the State arms in possession of the Nauvoo Legion. It was on the

occasion of meeting these troops that Joseph uttered those prophetic

words:

"_I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer's

morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards

all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me--he was

murdered in cold blood_."

At the request of Captain Dunn he countersigned the governor's order

for the State arms. But the captain prevailed upon him to return to

Nauvoo and assist in collecting the arms, promising that afterwards

the militia under his command should escort himself and party into

Carthage, and he would protect them even at the risk of his own life,

to which his men assented by three hearty cheers. It is supposed that

Captain Dunn feared the people in Nauvoo might become exasperated and

resent the indignity offered them in demanding the surrender of the

State arms. Hence his anxiety to have Joseph return. A message was sent

to the governor informing him of this new move.

The arms were collected without any difficulty, though the people

unwillingly surrendered them, since disarming them and allowing their

enemies who had vowed their extermination to keep their arms, smacked

of treachery; but the order of the governor and of their Prophet-leader

was complied with.

The arms were taken to the Masonic Hall and stacked up,

Quartermaster-General Buckmaster receiving them.

This demand for the State arms stirred the fiery indignation of Squire

Wells to the very depths of his soul. He arose from his bed of sickness

and carried what State arms he had--a pair of horse-pistols--to the

appointed place, and threw them at the feet of Officer Buckmaster with

the remark, "There's your arms!" Then as he glared at the officer, he

said: "I have a pair of epaulets at home, and I have never disgraced

them, either," and, too full of righteous wrath for further speech, he

walked away.

The arms collected, Captain Dunn thanked the people for their

promptness in complying with the demands of the governor, and promised

them that while they conducted themselves in such a peaceable manner

they should be protected. The company of militia accompanied by Joseph

and his party started for Carthage about six o'clock in the evening.

Passing the Masonic Hall where a number of the citizens of Nauvoo still

lingered, having been attracted there to witness the surrender of the

State arms, the Prophet Joseph raised his hat and said: "Boys, if I

don't come back, take care of yourselves. I am going like a lamb to the

slaughter." When the company was passing his farm Joseph stopped and

looked at it for a long time. Then after he had passed he turned and

looked again, and yet again several times. His action occasioned some

remarks by several of the company, to which, in reply he said: "If some

of you had such a farm, and knew you would not see it any more, you

would want to take a good look at it for the last time."

It was midnight when the party entered Carthage, but a militia company

encamped on the public square--the Carthage Greys--were aroused and

gave vent to profane threats as the company passed, of which the

following is a specimen: "Where's the d--n Prophet?" "Stand away, you

McDonough boys, [1] and let us shoot the d--n Mormons!" "G--d d--n you,

old Joe, we've got you now!" "Clear the way, and let us have a view of

Joe Smith, the Prophet of God. He has seen the last of Nauvoo, we'll

use him up now!"

Amid such profanity and abuse, and violent threats, much of which was

overheard by Governor Ford, the Prophet's party proceeded to Hamilton's

hotel, which it entered and took quarters for the night. Under the same

roof were sheltered the wicked apostates of Nauvoo, J. H. Jackson, the

Foster brothers, the Higbees and the Laws, besides other desperate men

who had sworn to take the life of the Prophet.

The crowd which had followed the Nauvoo party from the public square

still hung round the Hamilton House yelling and cursing, and acting

like ravenous beasts hungry for their prey. Governor Ford pushed up a

window and thus addressed them: "Gentlemen, I know your great anxiety

to see Mr. Smith, which is natural enough, but it is quite too late

tonight for you to have that opportunity; but I assure you, gentlemen,

you shall have that privilege tomorrow morning, as I will cause him

to pass before the troops upon the square, and I now wish you, with

this assurance, quietly and peaceably to return to your quarters." In

answer to this there was a faint "Hurrah, for Tom Ford," and the crowd

withdrew. They could afford to wait. God's servants were in the hands

of the merciless.

Footnotes

1. Captain Dunn's company was composed chiefly of men from McDonough

County, hence the remark.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE MARTYRDOM.

EARLY in the morning following their entrance into Carthage, Joseph,

his brother Hyrum and the other members of the Nauvoo city council

named in the warrant of arrest sworn out by the Higbees, voluntarily

surrendered themselves to constable Bettisworth. Shortly afterwards the

Prophet was again arrested by the same constable on a charge of treason

against the State and people of Illinois, on the oath of Augustine

Spencer. Hyrum was arrested on a similar charge, sworn out by Henry O.

Norton. And thus the difficulties thickened.

Soon after the second arrest, Governor Ford presented himself at their

rooms at the Hamilton house, and requested Joseph to accompany him,

as he desired to present him to the troops, to whom he had promised

the night before a view of the Prophet. The troops had been drawn up

in two lines and Joseph and Hyrum linking arms with Brigadier-General

Miner R. Deming passed down them, accompanied by their friends and

a company of Carthage Greys. They were introduced as General Joseph

and General Hyrum Smith. The Carthage Greys, a few minutes before, at

the headquarters of General Deming, had revolted and behaved in an

uproarious manner, but were pacified by the governor, and accompanied

him, General Deming and the Prophet and his party to where the other

troops were drawn up in line. Here they again revolted because the

Brothers Smith were introduced to the troops from McDonough County

as "Generals" Smith. Some of the officers of the Carthage Greys

threw up their hats, drew their swords and said they would introduce

themselves to "the d--ned Mormons in a different style." They were

again pacified by the governor, who promised them "full" satisfaction.

But they continued to act in such an insubordinate manner that General

Deming put them under arrest, [1] but afterwards released them without

punishment.

Shortly after this episode with the Carthage Greys, a number of the

officers of other militia companies and other gentlemen curious to see

the Prophet crowded into the hotel. Joseph took occasion to ask them

if there was anything in his appearance to indicate that he was the

desperate character his enemies represented him to be. To which they

replied, "No, sir, your appearance would indicate the very contrary,

General Smith; but we cannot see what is in your heart, neither can

we tell what are your intentions." "Very true, gentlemen," quickly

replied the Prophet, "you cannot see what is in my heart, and you are

therefore unable to judge me or my intentions; but I can see what is in

your hearts, and will tell you what I see. I can see that you thirst

for blood, and nothing but my blood will satisfy you. It is not for

crime of any description that I and my brethren are thus continually

persecuted, and harassed by our enemies, but there are other motives,

and some of them I have expressed, so far as relates to myself; and

inasmuch as you and the people thirst for blood, I prophesy in the name

of the Lord that you shall witness scenes of blood and sorrow to your

entire satisfaction. Your souls shall be perfectly satiated with blood,

and many of you who are now present shall have an opportunity to face

the cannon's mouth from sources you think not of, and those people that

desire this great evil upon me and my brethren shall be filled with

sorrow because of the scenes of desolation and distress that await

them. They shall seek for peace and shall not be able to find it.

Gentlemen, you will find what I have told you will come true." [2]

The members of the Nauvoo city council under arrest for riot, in

destroying the _Expositor_ press, were taken before R. F. Smith,

justice of the peace and also captain of the Carthage Greys. It

will be remembered perhaps that Governor Ford had told Joseph, in a

communication referred to in the last chapter, that nothing but his

appearing before Justice Morrison, who issued the writ against him

would vindicate the majesty of the law, but now the prisoners were at

Carthage where Justice Morrison lived, and could have appeared before

him, and were willing to do so, they were taken before another justice.

In order to avoid increasing the excitement, the prisoners admitted

there was sufficient cause to be bound over to appear at the next term

of the circuit court for Hancock County. The bonds amounted to seven

thousand five hundred dollars.

Justice Smith dismissed his court without taking any action on the

charge of treason under which the Brothers Smith were still held; but

about eight o'clock the same evening, Constable Bettisworth appeared

at their lodgings at the Hamilton House and insisted on their going to

jail. The Prophet demanded to see the copy of the mittimus which was at

first denied; but upon his counsel--Messrs Woods & Reid--informing the

constable that the accused were entitled to a hearing before a justice,

before they could be sent to jail, to the surprise of all present he

produced a mittimus, issued by Justice R. F. Smith. It stated that

Joseph and Hyrum Smith were under arrest charged with treason; "and

have been," so the paper read, "brought before me, a justice of the

peace, in and for said county, for trial at the seat of justice hereof,

which trial has been necessarily postponed, by reason of the absence of

material witnesses." Now, this mittimus, so far as it related to the

prisoners appearing before Justice Smith was an infamous falsehood,

"unless," as Lawyer Reid says, in the account he published of these

proceedings--"unless the prisoners could have appeared before the

justice _without being present in person or by counsel_!" The same

representation of the case was made to me by Lawyer James W. Woods,

who, at the time was associated with Mr. Reid as the Prophet's counsel,

whom I met in the summer of 1880, in Iowa, and from whom at that time I

received a detailed account of the proceedings.

Joseph and his counsel and his friends protested most vigorously

against this unlawful proceeding, but to no avail. R. F. Smith finding

his mittimus unlawful, appealed to the governor as to what he should

do; to which the governor answered: "You have the Carthage Greys

at your command." That hint was sufficient. What the _justice_ had

illegally begun, the same person as _captain_ must with unlawful force

consummate! Yet when this same governor was appealed to for protection

against this unhallowed as well as unlawful proceeding, he expressed

himself as being very sorry the circumstance had occurred, but he

really could not interfere with the civic powers!

Elder John Taylor went to the governor and reminded him of his pledges

of protection. Elder Taylor expressed his dissatisfaction at the course

taken, and told the governor that if they were to be subject to mob

rule, and to be dragged contrary to law to prison, at the instance

of every scoundrel whose oath could be bought for a dram of whisky,

his protection availed very little, and they had miscalculated the

executive's promises.

In the meantime a drunken rabble had collected in the street in front

of the Hamilton House, and Captain Dunn with some twenty men came to

guard the prisoners to the jail. The Prophet's friends stood by him

in these trying times and followed him through the excited crowd in

the direction of the jail. Stephen Markham walked on one side of the

Prophet and his brother Hyrum and Dan Jones on the other, and with

their walking sticks kept back the rabble, which several times broke

through the guard, while Elder Taylor, Willard Richards and John S.

Fullmer walked behind them.

The jail was reached in safety and the prisoners given in charge of

Mr. George W. Stigall, who first put them into the criminal's cell,

but afterwards gave them the more comfortable quarters known as the

"debtors' apartment." When night came the prisoners and their friends

stretched themselves out on the floor of the old jail--and so passed

the night of the twenty-fifth.

Governor Ford represents in his "History of Illinois," that these men

were placed in prison to protect them from the rabble, [3] but says not

a word about the protests of the prisoners against being thrust into

jail, or the illegal means employed in putting them there.

In the forenoon of the twenty-sixth, a lengthy interview took place

between Governor Ford and Joseph in which the whole cause of the

trouble was reviewed, the causes leading up to the destruction of

the _Expositor_ press, calling out the Legion on which the charge

of treason was based, and all other affairs connected with the

difficulties. Governor Ford condemned the action of the city council,

but the course pursued by that body was ably defended by Joseph, and

showed that even if they had been wrong in following the course they

had taken, it was a matter for the courts to decide and not a thing

for mobs to settle. In conclusion the Prophet told the Governor that

he considered himself unsafe in Carthage, as the town was swarming

with men who had openly sworn to take his life. He understood the

governor contemplated going to Nauvoo, accompanied by the militia, to

investigate certain charges about counterfeiting the United States

currency, and if possible secure the dies and other implements used in

manufacturing it, and Joseph demanded his freedom that he might go with

him. The governor promised him that he should go. [4]

The false mittimus on which Joseph and Hyrum Smith were thrust into

prison, ordered the jailor to keep them in custody, "until discharged

by due course of law." But on the afternoon of the twenty-sixth, Frank

Worrell appeared before the jail in command of the Carthage Greys and

demanded that the prisoners be delivered up to the constable to be

taken before Justice R. F. Smith for trial. Against this proceeding the

jailor protested, as the prisoners were placed in his keeping until

"discharged by due course of law," and not at the demand of a constable

or military despot. But by threats amounting to intimidation, Worrell

compelled the jailor against his conviction of duty to surrender the

prisoners to him.

Meantime a mob had gathered at the door of the jail and seeing that

things had assumed a threatening aspect, the Prophet stepped into

the crowd, locked arms with one of the worst mobocrats, and with his

brother Hyrum on the other arm, and followed by his faithful friends,

proceeded to the court house. He had been unlawfully thrust into

prison, and as illegally dragged out of it and exposed to imminent

danger among his worst enemies.

The counsel for the Brothers Smith asked for a continuance until the

next day as they were without witnesses, not having been notified when

they would come to trial. A continuance was granted until noon the next

day. A new mittimus was made out and the prisoners committed again to

prison--their old quarters. But after the prisoners were again lodged

in jail, and without consulting either them or their counsel, Justice

R. F. Smith changed the time of trial from noon on the twenty-seventh

until the twenty-ninth.

This change was made in consequence of a decision reached by Governor

Ford and his military council to march all his troops into Nauvoo,

except a company of fifty of the Carthage Greys that would be

detailed to guard the prisoners. So Mr. R. F. Smith, acting, it will

be remembered, in the double capacity of a justice of the peace and

captain of the Carthage Greys, as a justice altered the date of the

return of the subpoenas and excused the court until the twenty-ninth;

that as a captain of a company of militia he might attend the military

train entering Nauvoo in triumph!

The evening of the twenty-sixth was spent very pleasantly by the

prisoners and their friends--John Taylor, Willard Richards, John S.

Fullmer, Stephen Markham and Dan Jones. Hyrum occupied the principal

part of the time in reading accounts from the Book of Mormon of the

deliverance of God's servants from prison, and in commenting upon them,

with a view, doubtless, of cheering his brother Joseph, since the

Prophet had expressed himself as having a presentiment of uneasiness as

to his safety, that he had never before experienced when in the hands

of his enemies.

Late at night all retired to rest except Willard Richards, who by the

flickering flame of a tallow candle continued his work of writing out

some important documents. Joseph and Hyrum occupied the only bedstead

in the room, and their friends lay side by side on the mattresses

spread out on the floor. Sometime after midnight a single gun was fired

near the prison. Elder Richards started in his chair, and Joseph rose

from the bed where he had been lying, and stretched himself out on the

floor between Fullmer and Jones.

"Lay your head on my arm for a pillow, Brother John," said the

Prophet to Fullmer as he kindly placed his arm under that person's

head. Soon all became quiet, except in a low tone Fullmer and the

Prophet continued to talk of presentiments the latter had received of

approaching death. "I would like to see my family again," said he, "and

I would to God that I could preach to the Saints in Nauvoo once more."

Fullmer tried to cheer him by saying he thought he would have that

privilege many times.

Again all was silent, and everybody apparently asleep. But Joseph

turned to Dan Jones and was heard to say, "Are you afraid to die?" To

which the one addressed said: "Has that time come, think you? Engaged

in such a cause I do not think death would have many terrors." And then

the Prophet said: "You will yet see Wales"--his native land--"and fill

the mission appointed you, before you die." [5] So passed away the

night preceding the day which saw enacted that tragedy which robbed

earth of two of the noblest men that ever lived upon it.

As the morning light struggled through the windows of Carthage jail,

the prisoners and their friends awoke, and the Prophet required Dan

Jones to go down stairs and enquire of the guard about the gun that was

fired in the night, what the meaning of it was, etc.

Jones went accordingly, and found Frank Worrell in command of the guard

and the answer he received to his inquiry was this: "We have had too

much trouble to get old Joe here to let him ever escape alive, and

unless you want to die with him, you had better leave before sun down;

and you are not a d--n bit better than him for taking his part; and

you'll see that I can prophesy better than old Joe, for neither he nor

his brother, nor anyone who will remain with them, will see the sun set

today." This answer Jones related to Joseph, who told him to go to the

governor at once and report the words of the guard. On his way to the

governor's quarters at the Hamilton House, Jones passed a crowd of men

who were being addressed by a person unknown to him. He paused long

enough to hear these words:

"Our troops will be discharged this morning in obedience to orders,

and for a sham we will leave the town; but when the governor and the

McDonough troops have left for Nauvoo this forenoon, we will return and

kill those men if we have to tear the jail down," (applause.) These

words and what the captain of the guard said were faithfully reported

to Governor Ford, in reply to which he said: "You are unnecessarily

alarmed for the safety of your friends, sir, the people are not that

cruel."

Angered at such an answer the following conversation occurred:

_Jones_. The Messrs. Smith are American citizens, and have

surrendered themselves to your excellency upon your pledging your

honor for their safety; they are also master Masons, and as such I

demand of you the protection of their lives. If you do not this, I

have but one more desire, and that is, if you leave their lives in

the hands of those men to be sacrificed--

_Governor Ford_. What is that, sir?

_Jones_. It is that the Almighty will preserve my life to a proper

time and place, that I may testify that you have been timely warned

of their danger.

The governor manifested some excitement during this conversation,

turning pale at the Masonic warning Jones gave him. The effect,

however, was but momentary.

Jones returned to the jail after his conversation with the governor,

but was denied admission. He then returned to the governor to secure

a pass; and arrived at the square just as that officer was disbanding

the militia. It is customary when the militia has been called together

to assist in execution of the laws, or to suppress an insurrection, to

dismiss the respective companies in charge of their several commanders

to be marched home and there be disbanded. But in this instance the

governor disbanded all the troops, except the Carthage Greys whom, it

appears, he had selected to guard the jail, and the McDonough troops

who were to accompany him to Nauvoo.

Governor Ford himself, in his history of Illinois, represents that

there were about twelve or thirteen hundred of the militia at Carthage

and some five hundred at Warsaw. As the disbanded militia left the

square, they acted in a boisterous manner, shouting that they would

only go a short distance from town. and then come back and kill old Joe

and Hyrum as soon as the governor was far enough out of town. Dan Jones

called the attention of the governor to these threats, but he ignored

them. I suppose these are the threats of which Governor Ford himself

speaks in his history of these unfortunate events, when he says:

I had heard of some threats being made, but none of an attack upon

the prisoners whilst in jail. These threats seemed to be made by

individuals not acting in concert. They were no more than the

bluster which might have been expected, and furnished no indication

of numbers combining for this or any other purpose.

It will be remembered that Governor Ford expressed a determination

to march with all his forces into Nauvoo, and Joseph having heard of

this, in the interview at the jail before alluded to, expressed a

desire to accompany him, and the governor promised him he should go.

This promise the governor failed to keep because a council of his

officers convinced him that to take the Prophet with him to Nauvoo

"would be highly inexpedient and dangerous." Indeed the whole plan of

marching all his forces into Nauvoo, was abandoned. The expedition had

been formed for the purpose of striking terror into the hearts of the

citizens of Nauvoo, by a display of military force in their midst, and

to satisfy the wishes of the anti-Mormons. Speaking of this projected

semi-invasion of Nauvoo and the preparations made for the start,

Governor Ford says:

I observed that some of the people became more and more excited and

inflammatory the further the preparations were advanced. Occasional

threats came to my ears of destroying the city and murdering or

expelling the inhabitants.

I had no objection to ease the terrors of the people by such a

display of force, and was most anxious also to search for the

alleged apparatus for making counterfeit money; and in fact to

inquire into all the charges made against that people, if I could

have been assured of my command against mutiny and insubordination.

But I gradually learned to my entire satisfaction that there was

a plan to get the troops into Nauvoo, and there to begin the war,

probably by some of our own party, or some of the seceding Mormons,

taking advantage of the night to fire on our own force, and then

lay it on the Mormons.

I was satisfied that there were those amongst us fully capable of

such an act, hoping that in the alarm, bustle and confusion of a

militia camp, the truth could not be discovered, and that it might

lead to the desired collision. [6]

Such are the reasons assigned by Governor Ford for abandoning his plan

of marching all his forces into Nauvoo. If he could persuade himself

to believe that he had those under his command, who would resort to

the means he himself alludes to in the foregoing, to bring about a

collision with the citizens of Nauvoo; and that he was fearful that

his whole command would mutiny when once in the city of the Saints, it

is unfortunate for the fame of Governor Ford that his fears could not

be aroused for the safety of his prisoners, who were left at the mercy

of those same militia forces, of which he himself was distrustful, the

only barrier between them and the fury of this mob-militia being a

guard made up of their bitterest enemies.

To satisfy the anti-Mormons the governor told them he would take a

small force with him and go in search of counterfeiting apparatus and

would make a speech to the citizens of Nauvoo, detailing to them the

consequences of any acts of violence on their part. _En route_ for

Nauvoo, however, some of his officers expressed fears that the Smiths

would be killed, and the governor informs us that he reduced his

forces, leaving part of his command on the way, and pushed with all

speed for Nauvoo; that he might make a speech to the people there and

return to Carthage that night, giving up the idea of remaining several

days to search for counterfeiting apparatus and making inquiries into

the charges against the Mormon people. Leaving him to pursue to his

journey to Nauvoo, I return to note the events which took place at the

jail.

Cyrus H. Wheelock visited Carthage jail early on the morning of the

27th, and when he departed for Nauvoo to secure witnesses and documents

for the impending trial on the charge of treason, he left with the

prisoners an old-fashioned, pepper-box revolver. Before leaving

Carthage, however, he went to Governor Ford, (he leaving Carthage

before the governor started,) and expressed his fears for the safety of

the prisoners. He then started for Nauvoo, but with a heavy heart.

Dan Jones was sent to Quincy by the Prophet with a letter to lawyer

O. H. Browning, applying for his professional services in the pending

trial. The letter was handed to Jones by A. W. Babbitt, the former not

being allowed to enter the jail after leaving it in the morning. The

mob being informed by the guard of the letter, set up the cry that Joe

Smith was sending an order by Jones to the Nauvoo Legion to come and

rescue him. A crowd surrounded Jones and demanded the letter but the

fearless Welshman refused to give it up; whereupon some were in favor

of forcing it from him, but there was a disagreement in the crowd about

that, and while they were discussing the point, Jones mounted his horse

and rode away.

Stephen Markham being seen on the streets in the afternoon, a number of

the Carthage Greys captured him, put him on his horse and forced him

out of town at the point of the bayonet, notwithstanding he held a pass

from the governor to go in and out of the jail at pleasure. This left

but Elders Richards and Taylor with the Prophet and his brother in the

prison. They passed the afternoon in pleasant conversation, reading and

singing. Elder Taylor sand a hymn entitled "A poor wayfaring man of

grief:" a peculiarly plaintive piece of poetry, and admirably suited to

their circumstances:

A poor wayfaring man of grief Hath often crossed me on the way, Who

sued so humbly for relief That I could never answer, Nay.

I had not power to ask His name, Whereto He went or whence He came,

Yet there was something in His eye That won my love, I knew not why.

Once when my scanty meal was spread, He entered, not a word He

spake; Just perishing for want of bread, I gave Him all, He blessed

it, brake,

And ate, but gave me part again; Mine was an angel's portion then,

For while I fed with eager haste, The crust was manna to my taste.

I spied Him where a fountain burst Clear from the rock; His

strength was gone, The heedless water mocked His thirst, He heard

it, saw it hurrying on.

I ran and raised the suff'rer up; Thrice from the stream He drained

my cup, Dipped, and returned it running o'er; I drank and never

thirsted more.

'Twas night; the floods were out; it blew A winter-hurricane aloof;

I heard His voice abroad, and flew To bid Him welcome to my roof.

I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest, And laid Him on my couch

to rest, Then made the earth my bed, and seemed In Eden's garden

while I dreamed.

Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death, I found Him by the highway

side; I roused His pulse, brought back His breath, Revived His

spirit, and supplied

Wine, oil, refreshment--He was healed; I had myself a wound

concealed, But from that hour forgot the smart, And peace bound up

my broken heart.

In prison I saw Him next, condemned To meet a traitor's doom at

morn; The tide of lying tongues I stemmed, And honored Him 'mid

shame and scorn.

My friendship's utmost zeal to try, He asked if I for Him would

die; The flesh was weak, my blood ran chill, But the free spirit

cried, "I will!"

Then in a moment to my view, The stranger darted from disguise; The

tokens in His hands I knew, The Savior stood before mine eyes.

He spake, and my poor name He named, "Of Me thou hast not been

ashamed; These deeds shall thy memorial be, Fear not, thou didst

them unto Me."

Late in the afternoon Mr. Stigall, the jailor, came in and suggested

that they would be safer in the cells. Joseph told him they would go in

after supper. Turning to Elder Richards the Prophet said; "If we go to

the cell will you go in with us?"

_Elder Richards_. "Brother Joseph, you did not ask me to cross

the river with you [referring to the time when they crossed the

Mississippi, _en route_ for the Rocky Mountains]--you did not ask me

to come to Carthage--you did not ask me to come to jail with you--and

do you think I would forsake you now? But I will tell you what I will

do; if you are condemned to be hung for treason, I will be hung in your

stead, and you shall go free."

_Joseph_. "But you cannot."

_Richards_. "I will, though."

This conversation took place a little after five o'clock, and very soon

afterwards the attack was made on the jail. It appears that a crowd

came from the direction of Warsaw that evidently had an understanding

with the Carthage Greys and the members of that company on guard at the

jail, since the latter, without question, had but blank cartridges in

their guns; and the attack was made under the very eyes of the rest of

the company encamped but two or three hundred yards away on the public

square, and they made no effort whatever to prevent the assaults on the

prison.

The guard at the jail played their part well. They fired blank shots

at the advancing mob, or discharged their pieces in the air. They were

"overpowered" (?), and the prison was in the hands of an infuriated mob.

A rush was made for the room where the prisoners were lodged, and a

shower of lead was sent in through the door and the windows from those

on the outside.

As no account that I could possibly write would equal that given by an

eye-witness of the whole transaction, I here quote entire the account

of the tragedy by Elder Willard Richards, as it appeared in the _Times

and Seasons_ soon after the event, under the caption,

TWO MINUTES IN JAIL.

A shower of musket balls was thrown up the stairway against the

door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid

footsteps.

While Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself, who

were in the front chamber, closed the door of our room against the

entry at the head of the stairs, and placed ourselves against it,

there being no lock on the door, and no catch that was unsealable.

The door is a common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at

the stair's head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed

between us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes and we

must change our position.

General Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself sprang back to the

front part of the room. General Hyrum Smith retreated two-thirds

across the chamber directly in front of and facing the door. A

ball was sent through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of his

nose, when he fell backwards, extending at full length without

moving his feet. From the holes in his vest (the day was warm and

no one had their coats on but myself) pantaloons, drawers, and

shirt, it appeared that a ball must have been thrown from without

through the window, which entered the back of his right side, and

passing through, lodged against his watch, which was in the right

vest pocket, completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing

off the hands and mashing the whole body of the watch. At the same

instant the ball from the door entered his nose.

As he struck the floor he exclaimed emphatically, "_I am a dead

man_." Joseph looked towards him and responded, "_Oh dear! Brother

Hyrum_," and opening the door two or three inches with his left

hand, discharged one barrel of a six-shooter (the pistol left him

by C. H. Wheelock) at random in the entry, from whence a ball

grazed Hyrum's breast, and entering his throat passed into his

head, while other muskets were aimed at him as some balls hit him.

Joseph continued snapping his revolver round the casing of the door

into the space as before, three barrels of which missed fire, while

Mr. Taylor with a walking stick stood by his side and knocked down

the bayonets and muskets, which were constantly discharging through

the doorway, while I stood by him ready to lend any assistance,

with another stick, but could not come within striking distance

without going directly in front of the muzzles of the guns.

When the revolver failed, we had no more firearms, and expected an

immediate rush of the mob, and the doorway full of muskets half way

in the room, and no hope but instant death from within. Mr. Taylor

rushed into the window, which is some fifteen or twenty feet from

the ground. When his body was nearly on a balance, a ball from the

door within entered his leg, and a ball from without struck his

watch, a patent lever, in his vest pocket near his left breast, and

smashed it into "pie," leaving the hands standing at five o'clock,

sixteen minutes, and twenty-six seconds, the force of which ball

threw him back on the floor, and he rolled under the bed which

stood by his side, where he lay motionless, the mob continuing to

fire upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip as

large as a man's hand, and were hindered only by my knocking down

their muzzles with a stick; while they continued to reach their

guns into the room, probably left handed, and aimed their discharge

so far round as almost to reach us in the corner of the room to

where we retreated and dodged, and there I commenced the attack

with my stick.

Joseph attempted as a last resort to leap the same window from

which Mr. Taylor fell, when two balls pierced him from the door,

and one entered his right breast from without, and he fell outward

exclaiming, "_O Lord, my God_!" As his feet went out of the window

my head went in, the balls whistling all round. He fell on his left

side a dead man. At this instant the cry was raised, "_He's leaped

the window_," and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out.

I withdrew from the window thinking it no use to leap out on a

hundred bayonets, then round Gen. Smith's body. Not satisfied

with this, I again reached my head out of the window, and watched

some seconds to see if there were any signs of life, regardless

of my own, determined to see the end of him I loved. Being fully

satisfied that he was dead, with a hundred men near his body and

more coming round the corner of the jail, and expecting a return

to our room, I rushed toward the prison door at the head of the

stairs, and through the entry from whence the firing had proceeded,

to learn if the doors into the prison were open. When near the

entry Mr. Taylor cried out "_Take me_!" I pressed my way until I

found all doors unbarred, returning instantly, caught Mr. Taylor

under my arm, and rushed up the stairs into the dungeon, or inner

prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a bed in

such a manner as not likely to be perceived, expecting an immediate

return of the mob. I said to Mr. Taylor, "This is a hard case to

lay you on the floor, but if your wounds are not fatal, I want you

to live to tell the story." I expected to be shot the next moment,

and stood before the doors awaiting the onset.

There was, however, no further onset made on the jail.

Three minutes after the attack was commenced, Hyrum Smith lay stretched

out on the floor of the prison dead, Elder Taylor lay not far from him

savagely wounded, the Prophet was lying by the side of the well curb,

[7] just under the window from which he had attempted to leap, the

plighted faith of a State was broken, its honor trailed in the dust,

and a stain of innocent blood affixed to its escutcheon which shall

remain a disgrace forever.

When it was known that the Prophet was killed, consternation seemed

to seize the mob and they fled, for the most part, in the direction

of Warsaw, in the utmost confusion. Such wild confusion reigned in

Carthage that it was nearly midnight before Elder Richards could obtain

any help or refreshments for Elder Taylor. At last the wounded man

was taken to the Hamilton House and his wounds dressed. The bodies of

Joseph and Hyrum were also taken to the same place and laid out.

Meantime Governor Ford had gone to Nauvoo, where he arrived some time

in the afternoon. Several thousands assembled to hear his speech, that

he went there to deliver; and he insulted them, by assuming that all

that their worst enemies had said of them was true, and threatened them

with most dire calamities. He himself in his history of Illinois, says

the people manifested some impatience and anger when he referred to the

misconduct alleged against them by their enemies; and well they might,

for baser falsehoods were never put in circulation to slander a people.

The governor was invited to stay all night, but he refused and left the

city about 6:30 in the evening for Carthage, his escort riding full

speed up Main street performing the sword exercise; they passed the

temple, and so left the city.

Three miles out of governor and his escort met George D. Grant and

David Bettisworth riding toward Nauvoo like madmen with the sad news of

the death of Joseph and Hyrum. The governor took them back with him to

Grant's house, one and one half miles east of Carthage, that the news

might not reach Nauvoo until he had had time to have the county records

removed from the court house, and warn the people of Carthage to flee,

as he expected an immediate attack from the Nauvoo Legion, and that the

whole country would be laid waste.

After being taken back to Carthage, George D. Grant mounted another

horse and rode that night with the awful news to Nauvoo.

On the arrival of Governor Ford at Carthage the following note was

addressed to Mrs. Emma Smith and Major-General Dunham of the Nauvoo

Legion, dated Midnight, Hamilton House, Carthage:

The governor has just arrived; says all things shall be inquired

into, and all right measures taken. I say to all citizens of

Nauvoo--My brethren, be still, and know that God _reigns. Don't

rush out of the city_--don't rush to Carthage--stay at home and be

prepared for an attack from Missouri mobbers. The governor will

render every assistance possible--has sent orders for troops,

Joseph and Hyrum are dead, will prepare to move the bodies as soon

as possible.

The people of the county are greatly excited, and fear the Mormons

will come out and take vengeance. I have pledged my word the

Mormons will stay at home as soon as they can be informed, and no

violence will be on their part, and say to my brethren in Nauvoo,

in the name of the Lord, be still; be patient, only let such

friends as choose come here to see the bodies. Mr. Taylor's wounds

are dressed, and not serious. I am sound.

WILLARD RICHARDS.

After the note was prepared the governor wrote an order to the people

of Nauvoo to defend themselves, and then about one o'clock in the

morning went out on the public square and advised all present to

disperse, as he expected the Mormons would be so exasperated that

they would burn the town. Upon this the people of Carthage fled in

all directions, and the governor and his _posse_ took flight in the

direction of Quincy; but there was no uprising and violence on the part

of the Saints.

The next day the bodies of the murdered men were taken to Nauvoo.

About one mile east of the temple, on Mullholland street, they were

met by the people in solemn procession, under the direction of the

city marshal. Neither tongue nor pen can ever describe the scene of

sorrow and lamentation which was there beheld. The love of Joseph and

Hyrum for the Saints was unbounded, and it had begotten in the people

an affection for them that was equally dear and unselfish. They lived

in the hearts of the Saints, and thousands would have laid down their

lives willingly to have saved theirs. With their beloved and trusted

leaders thus brutally snatched from them; under such circumstances

of cruelty and official treachery, imagine, if you can, the mingled

feelings of sorrow and righteous indignation that struggled in every

heart, and sought expression!

Arriving at the Mansion, the bodies were taken into it to be prepared

for burial; and Elder Willard Richards and others addressed some

eight or ten thousand of the people in the open air. The Saints were

advised to keep the peace. Elder Richards stated that he had pledged

his honor and his life for their conduct. When the multitude heard

that, notwithstanding the sense of outraged justice under which they

labored, and this cruel invasion of the rights of liberty and life--in

the very midst of their grief and excitement, with the means in their

right hands to wreak a terrible vengeance, they voted to a man to trust

to the LAW to deal with the assassins, and if that failed them, they

would call upon God to avenge them of their wrongs! History records

few actions so sublime as this; and it stands to this day a testimony

of the devotion of the Latter-day Saints to law and order, the like of

which is not paralleled in the history of our country, if in the world.

Footnotes

1. The manner of this incident about the revolt of the Carthage Greys

is thus related in Gregg's History of Hancock County: "It seems that

after the McDonough regiment had been disbanded, and were about to

return home, they expressed a desire to see the prisoners, [Joseph

and Hyrum]. The wish was reasonable, and as the easiest mode of

gratifying it, they were drawn up in line, and General Deming with the

two prisoners, one on each arm, and the Greys as an escort, passed

along the line of troops, Deming introducing them as General Joseph

Smith and General Hyrum Smith, of the Nauvoo Legion. The Greys not

aware that this was done at the request of the McDonough men, and not

satisfied to be made an escort to such a display, exhibited signs of

dissatisfaction, and finally gave vent to their feelings by hisses

and groans. As a punishment for this offense they were afterward

ordered under arrest. In the meantime there was great excitement in

the company. As a detachment of the troops was being detailed for the

purpose of putting the general's order into execution the officer in

command of the Greys addressed them a few words and then said: 'Boys

will you submit to an arrest for so trifling an offense?' 'No!' was the

unanimous response. 'Then load your pieces with ball,' was the sullen

order. In the meantime some explanations had been made, which permitted

General Deming to countermand the order of arrest, and the Greys were

quietly marched back to their encampment."

This account says nothing of the fact that it was generally known, that

the night before, Governor Ford had promised all the troops a view of

Generals Smith, and the Greys had been in revolt at General Deming's

headquarters before the party including Joseph and Hyrum reached the

McDonough troops. Moreover, I was informed by Colonel H. G. Ferris,

when in Carthage in 1885, investigating these matters, that when word

arrived in that place that Joseph Smith would surrender himself to the

authorities, if the governor would pledge him protection and a fair

trial, the governor made a speech to the mixed multitude of troops

and citizens in which he stated the proposition of the Smiths, and

wanted to know if they would sustain him in pledging them protection to

which they responded in the affirmative. There was some talk, too, of

sending the Greys as a posse to escort the Smiths into Nauvoo. Against

this proceeding General Deming protested and told Governor Ford that

the pledge of protection made by the crowd and the troops was not to

be depended upon, it was insincere, and that the lives of the Smiths

were not to be trusted to the Greys. The governor however disregarded

the warning of General Deming. Colonel Ferris was present at this

meeting.--_B. H. R._

2. In view of the great civil war which a few years later desolated the

land it is clear that the above utterance was prophetic.

3. Ford's History of Illinois, p. 338.

4. For this conversation in _extenso_ as reported by Elder John Taylor

who was present, see Appendix IV.

5. This prediction was fulfilled. Elder Dan Jones went on a mission to

Wales starting on the 28th of August, 1844, in company with Wilford

Woodruff, and performed a most wonderful mission in his native land.

6. Ford's History of Illinois, page 340.

7. It is said that after Joseph fell by the well curb under the

window from which he attempted to leap, he was set up against that

curb and Colonel Levi Williams ordered four men to fire at him, which

they did. It is then said that a ruffian bareheaded and barefooted,

his pantaloons rolled up above his knees and his shirt sleeves above

his elbows, approached the dead Prophet bowie-knife in hand with

the intention it is supposed of severing the head from the body. He

had raised his hand to strike, when a light so sudden and powerful

flashed upon the bloody scene that the mob was terror-stricken. The

arm of the would-be mutilator of the dead fell powerless at his side,

the four muskets of those who fired at him fell to the ground, while

their owners stood like marble statues unable to move, or join their

companions in the hurried and confused retreat they were then making,

and Colonel Williams had to call upon some of the retreating mob to

carry them away. The history is based upon the statements of Wm. M.

Daniels,--Blackenberry and a Miss Graham, but how far their statements

are correct I have no means of judging. When at Carthage I became

acquainted with W. R. Hamilton, son of the Mr. Hamilton who kept the

Hamilton House, referred to several times in these pages, and who

just previous to the murder of the Prophet and his brother had been

enrolled as a member of the company of Carthage Greys. At the time of

the attack on the jail he was on the public square and at once ran in

the direction of the jail and was in full view of it all the time. He

saw the Prophet appear at the window and half leap and half fall out of

it. After which the mob fled precipitously. According to his statement

there was no such an occurrence as setting the body against the well,

etc. He claims to have been about the first who went to the body of the

murdered man, and afterwards rendered some assistance in removing Elder

Taylor and the bodies of the martyrs to his father's house.

It is worthy of note that nothing of all this is recorded by Willard

Richards, and it smacks too much of the fanciful. There is too much

deliberation in it to believe it to be the action of a mob.--_R_.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

CONFUSION--CHOOSING A LEADER.

THE Saints at Nauvoo were now as sheep without a shepherd. They had

never contemplated such a crisis as this. That their Prophet would be

taken from them had not entered their minds, although in the closing

days of his career he had frequently spoken of his fate if again

he should fall into the hands of his enemies. On the twenty-second

of June, five days preceding his death, at the conclusion of the

consultation with several of Nauvoo's leading citizens, and at which

time it was decided that the safest thing for himself and Hyrum to do

was to go West, he remarks in his journal: "I told Stephen Markham that

if I and Hyrum were ever taken again we should be massacred, or I was

not a Prophet of God."

When the cowardly appeal made to him by false friends to return to

Nauvoo, after he had crossed the Mississippi on his way to the West,

was under consideration by himself and a few friends, he said to his

brother, Hyrum Smith: "Brother Hyrum, you are the oldest, what shall

we do?" Hyrum replied, "Let us go back and give ourselves up, and see

the thing out." "If you go back," replied the Prophet, "I shall go with

you, but we shall be butchered." Then again, after it was determined

to adopt the course suggested by Hyrum, and the party was on the way

to the river where they were to take boats for the Nauvoo side, the

Prophet lingered behind the rest of the party talking with O. P.

Rockwell. Those in advance shouted to them to come on. Joseph replied,

"It is no use to hurry, for we are going back to be slaughtered."

On arriving at Nauvoo, Hyrum, too, seemed to have been impressed

with a sense of their approaching fate, for on the morning of the

twenty-fourth of June, when the first start was made for Carthage,

he read the following significant passage in the Book of Mormon, and

turned down the leaf upon it:

And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give

unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came

to pass that the Lord said unto me, if they have not charity it

mattereth not unto you, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy

garments are clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou

shalt be made strong, even to the sitting down in the place which

I have prepared in the mansions of my father. And now I * * * *

bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea and also unto my brethren whom

I love, until we shall meet before the judgment seat of Christ,

when all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your

blood. [1]

I have already quoted the pathetic words of the Prophet on meeting

Captain Dunn's company of militia four miles out from Carthage, when

he said: "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a

summer's morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God and

towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of

me--He was murdered in cold blood."

I have also related the circumstance of his lingering to look at his

farm as he left Nauvoo for the last time, and clearly intimated that

he would never see it again. But notwithstanding these very plain

intimations concerning his approaching death, the Saints apparently

could not comprehend them. They did not sense them; and when his death

so sudden and pitiful did come, it scarcely seemed possible to them

that it had taken place. They were unprepared for it, and, as I say,

were now like sheep without a shepherd.

Sidney Rigdon, the Prophet's first counselor, was in Pittsburg,

Pennsylvania. He had removed from Nauvoo to Pittsburg, notwithstanding

in a revelation [2] from God he had been required to make his home in

Nauvoo, and stand in his office and calling of counselor and spokesman

to the Prophet. The truth is that from the expulsion of the Saints

from Missouri in 1838-9, Sidney Rigdon had been of but little service

either to the Church or to the Prophet as a counselor. He was a man of

admitted ability as an orator, but lacked discretion; a man of fervid

imagination, but of inferior judgment; ambitious of place and honor,

but without that steadiness of purpose and other qualities of soul

which in time secure them. In the early years of The Church he suffered

much for the cause of God, but he also complained much; especially

was this the case in respect to the hardships endured in Missouri,

and subsequently of his poverty and illness at Nauvoo. This habit of

complaining doubtless did much to deprive him of the Spirit of the

Lord; for at times it bordered upon blasphemy. More than once he was

heard to say that Jesus Christ was a fool in suffering as compared with

himself! Having lost, in part at least, the Spirit of the Lord, his

interest in The Church and its work waned, and after the settlement at

Nauvoo he was seldom seen in the councils of the Priesthood. Moreover,

it was known that he was in sympathy and even in communication with

some of the avowed enemies of Joseph, among others with that arch

traitor, John C. Bennett, who was plotting the overthrow of both Joseph

and The Church. It was doubtless these considerations which led Joseph

to make an effort to get rid of Sidney Rigdon as counselor at the

October conference in 1843.

On that occasion the Prophet represented to The Church that such had

been the course of Sidney Rigdon that he considered it no longer his

duty to sustain him as his counselor. Hyrum Smith, however, pleaded

the cause of his fellow-counselor, and so strongly urged the Saints

to deal mercifully with Sidney Rigdon, that when the question of

sustaining him was presented to the conference, the Saints voted in

his favor. "I have thrown him off my shoulders, and you have again

put him on me," said Joseph. "You may carry him, but I will not." And

so confident was he that Sidney Rigdon would continue to fail in the

performance of his duty, that he ordained Elder Amasa Lyman to succeed

him, both as counselor and spokesman. "Some of the Elders did not

understand how Elder Lyman could be ordained to succeed Elder Rigdon,

as The Church had voted to try him another year. Elder Joseph Smith

was requested to give an explanation. Why, said he, by the same rule

that Samuel anointed David to be king over Israel, while Saul was yet

crowned. Please read the sixteenth chapter of first Samuel. Elder

Smith's explanation, though short, proved a quietus to all their rising

conjectures." [3]

Notwithstanding all his fair promises of amendment, Sidney Rigdon

continued neglectful of his high duties, and if for a time his old-time

enthusiasm revived--as it seemed to at the April conference following,

it was as the flickering flame of a tallow dip only--not the steady

rays of the ever-shining sun. He longed to return to the East; and

notwithstanding the word of the Lord commanding him to make his home

at Nauvoo, he frequently talked with Joseph about going to Pittsburg

to live, and finally obtained his consent to go there, and take his

family with him, and, as I said before, he was there when the martyrdom

occurred.

William Law, who had been the Prophet's second counselor, was in

open apostasy and rebellion against him. He had been and was the

associate of a corrupt band of men bent on the destruction of the

Prophet. Prompted by a spirit of mercy, the April conference of 1843

had passed without taking action against either William Law, or any of

the other apostates; but on the eighteenth of April, at a council of

the Priesthood, when six of the Twelve Apostles were present, William

Law and several other apostates were excommunicated from The Church;

and later William Law undertook the organization of a church after the

pattern of the Church of Christ, but it was a miserable failure.

The Twelve Apostles were nearly all absent in the Eastern States on

missions; and although messengers were sent to call them to Nauvoo

immediately after the Prophet's martyrdom, it would be some time

before they could arrive. So that it was a time of general anxiety and

depression.

It was in the midst of such circumstances as these that Sidney Rigdon

arrived in Nauvoo and demanded that he be appointed "guardian" of The

Church. He ignored the members of the quorum of the Twelve who were in

the city--Elders Willard Richards, John Taylor and Parley P. Pratt; he

conferred with Elder William Marks, president of the stake of Nauvoo,

and at once began agitating the question of appointing a "guardian"

to The Church. He arrived in Nauvoo on Saturday, the third of August;

next day he harangued the Saints, who assembled in the grove near

the temple, upon the necessity of appointing a "guardian" to build

up The Church to the martyred Prophet, and in the afternoon meeting

urged William Marks to make a special appointment for the Saints to

assemble on the following Tuesday for that purpose. Elder Marks was in

sympathy with Sidney Rigdon, but for some reason he refused to make

the appointment for Tuesday, but made it for Thursday, the eighth of

August. This was a most fortunate circumstance, since a sufficient

number of the Twelve to make a majority of that quorum arrived on the

evening of the sixth, and, of course, they were in time to be present

at the meeting to be held on the eighth. The day previous to that

meeting, however--the seventh of August--the Twelve called a meeting of

the high council and high priests, before which they called on Sidney

Rigdon to make a statement of his purposes and relate the revelation

he claimed to have received at Pittsburg, which prompted his journey

to Nauvoo. In substance he replied that the object of his visit was to

offer himself to the Saints as a "guardian;" that it had been shown to

him in vision at Pittsburg, that The Church must be built up to Joseph

the martyr; that all the blessings the Saints could receive would

be through their late Prophet; that no man could be a successor to

Joseph; that The Church was not disorganized, though the head was gone;

that he had been commanded to come to Nauvoo and see that The Church

was governed properly, and propose himself to be a "guardian" to the

people. [4]

To this Elder Brigham Young replied:

I do not care who leads this Church, even though it were Ann Lee;

but one thing I must know, and that is, what God says about it. I

have the keys and the means of obtaining the mind of God on the

subject. * * * Joseph conferred upon our heads all the keys and

powers belonging to the Apostleship which he himself held before he

was taken away, and no man nor set of men can get between Joseph

and the Twelve in this world or in the world to come. How often has

Joseph said to the Twelve, I have laid the foundation and you must

build thereon, for upon your shoulders the Kingdom rests. [5]

The next day was the one appointed by Sidney Rigdon for The Church

to assemble and choose a "guardian." The attendance was large, as

intense interest had been awakened upon the subject to be considered.

Sidney Rigdon addressed the assembly, setting forth his claim to the

"guardianship" of The Church. He had full opportunity to present his

case and for one hour and a half spoke without interruption; but

despite his reputation as an orator, he failed to convince the Saints

that he was sent of God.

As soon as Sidney Rigdon had closed his speech, Elder Brigham Young

arose and made a few remarks. It was on that occasion that he was

transfigured before the people, so that through him the Saints heard

the voice and felt the presence of their departed leader. George Q.

Cannon, who was present on that occasion, says:

If Joseph had risen from the dead and again spoken in their

hearing, the effect could not have been more startling than it

was to many present at that meeting, it was the voice of Joseph

himself; and not only was it the voice of Joseph which was heard

but it seemed in the eyes of the people as if it were the very

person of Joseph which stood before them. A more wonderful and

miraculous event than was wrought that day in the presence of

that congregation, we never heard of. The Lord gave His people a

testimony that left no room for doubt as to who was the man chosen

to lead them. They both saw and heard with their natural eyes and

ears, and the words which were uttered came, accompanied by the

convincing power of God, to their hearts, and they were filled

with the Spirit and with great joy. There had been gloom, and in

some hearts, probably, doubt and uncertainty, but now it was plain

to all that here was the man upon whom the Lord had bestowed the

necessary authority to act in their midst in Joseph's stead. On

that occasion Brigham Young seemed to be transformed, and a change

such as that we read of in the scriptures, as happening to the

Prophet Elisha, when Elijah was translated in his presence, seemed

to have taken place with him. The mantle of the Prophet Joseph had

been left for Brigham. * * * The people said one to another: "The

spirit of Joseph rests on Brigham;" they knew that he was the man

chosen to lead them and they honored him accordingly. * * * As

far as our observation went (we were only a boy at the time) the

people were divided into three classes from the time of the death

of Joseph up to this meeting of which we speak. One class felt

clearly and understandingly that President Brigham Young was the

man whose right it was to preside, he being the president of the

Twelve Apostles, and that body being, through the death of Joseph

and Hyrum, the presiding quorum of The Church. Another class were

not quite clear as to who would be called to preside, but they

felt very certain that Sidney Rigdon was not the man. They did

not believe that God would choose a coward and traitor to lead

His people, to both of which characters they believed Rigdon had

a claim. The third class, and we think its members were few, was

composed of those who had no clear views one way or the other. They

were undecided in their feelings. * * * With very few exceptions,

then, the people returned to their homes from that meeting filled

with great rejoicing. All uncertainty and anxiety were removed.

They had heard the voice of the shepherd and they knew it.

In the journal of Elder William C. Staines, of that date, the following

statement is recorded:

Brigham Young said: "I will tell you who your leaders or guardians

will be. The Twelve--I at their head!" This was with a voice like

the voice of the Prophet Joseph. I thought it was he, and so did

thousands who heard it. This was very satisfactory to the people,

and a vote was taken to sustain the Twelve in their office, which,

with a few dissenting voices, was passed.

President Wilford Woodruff, describing the event, says:

When Brigham Young arose and commenced speaking * * * if I had

not seen him with my own eyes, there is no one that could have

convinced me that it was not Joseph Smith; and anyone can testify

to this who was acquainted with these two men. [6]

The remarks of Elder Young, during which he was transfigured before

the people, closed the forenoon meeting. When in the afternoon The

Church again assembled Elder Young addressed them at some length on the

subject of appointing a leader for The Church, representing the claims

of the Twelve as the quorum having the right to act in the absence

of the late Prophet-President. Following are some quotations from a

summary of his speech taken down at the time:

For the first time in my life, for the first time in your lives,

for the first time in the Kingdom of God in the nineteenth century,

without a prophet at our head, do I step forth to act in my

calling in connection with the quorum of the Twelve, as Apostles

of Jesus Christ unto this generation--Apostles whom God has called

by revelation through the Prophet Joseph, who are ordained and

anointed to bear off the keys of the Kingdom of God in all the

world.

* * * If any man thinks he has influence among this people, to lead

away a party, let him try it, and he will find out that there is

a power with the Apostles, which will carry them off victorious

through all the world, and build up and defend The Church and

Kingdom of God.

* * * If the people want President Rigdon to lead them, they may

have him; but I say unto you that the Quorum of the Twelve have

the keys of the Kingdom of God in all the world. The Twelve were

appointed by the finger of God. Here is Brigham, have his knees

ever faltered? Have his lips ever quivered? Here is Heber, [7] and

the rest of the Twelve, an independent body, who have the keys of

the Priesthood--the keys of the Kingdom of God--to deliver to all

the world; this is true, so help me God. They stand next to Joseph,

and are as the First Presidency of The Church.

* * * You must not appoint any man at our head; if you should, the

Twelve must ordain him. You cannot appoint a man at our head; but

if you do want any other man or men to lead you, take them and we

will go our way to build up the Kingdom in all the world.

* * * Brother Joseph, the Prophet, has laid the foundation for a

grand work, and we will build upon it; you have never seen the

quorums built one upon another. There is an almighty foundation

laid, and we can build a kingdom such as there never was in the

world; we can build a kingdom faster than the devil can kill the

Saints off.

Now if you want Sidney Rigdon or William Law [8] to lead you, or

anybody else, you are welcome to them; but I tell you in the name

of the Lord, that no man can put another between the Twelve and the

Prophet Joseph. Why? Because Joseph was their file leader, and he

has committed into their hands the keys of the Kingdom in this last

dispensation, for all the world; don't put a thread between the

Priesthood and God. [9]

Elder Amasa Lyman spoke in support of the Twelve; and then Sidney

Rigdon was granted the privilege of speaking; he declined personally,

but called on Elder W. W. Phelps to speak in his behalf. Elder Phelps,

while evidently having some sympathy with Elder Rigdon, supported the

claims of the Twelve. After further discussion Elder Young arose to

put the question as to whether The Church would sustain the Twelve or

Sidney Rigdon:

I do not ask you to take my counsel or advice alone, but every one

of you act for yourselves; but if Brother Rigdon is the person you

want to lead you, vote for him, but not unless you intend to follow

him and support him as you did Joseph. * * * And I would say the

same of the Twelve, don't make a covenant to support them unless

you intend to abide by their counsel. * * * I want every man before

he enters into a covenant, to know what he is going to do; but we

want to know if this people will support the Priesthood in the name

of Israel's God. If you say you will, do so. [10]

Elder Young was then about to put the question to the assembled quorums

as to whether they wanted Elder Rigdon for a leader, when, at the

request of the latter, the question on supporting the Twelve as the

presiding quorum in The Church was first put in the following manner:

Do The Church want, and is it their only desire, to sustain the

Twelve as the First Presidency of this people? * * * If The Church

want the Twelve to stand as the head of this Kingdom in all the

world, stand next to Joseph, walk up into their calling, and hold

the keys of this Kingdom--every man, every woman, every quorum is

now put in order, and you are now the sole controllers of it--all

that are in favor of this in all the congregation of the Saints,

manifest it by holding up the right hand. (There was a universal

vote.) If there are any of a contrary mind--every man and every

woman who does not want the Twelve to preside, lift up your hands

in like manner. (No hands up.) This supersedes the other question,

and trying it by quorums. [11]

This disposed of Sidney Rigdon. He had full opportunity to present his

case before The Church. The Saints had full opportunity and liberty to

vote for him had they wanted him for their leader; but they rejected

him and sustained the Twelve.

Footnotes

1. Book of Mormon, Ether, Chap. xii.

2. Doc. & Cov., Sec. cxxiv, 103-106.

3. Tract on Sidney Rigdon, by Jedediah M. Grant, pp. 15, 16.

4. History of Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, Volume xxv, page 215.

5. History of Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, Volume xxv, page 215.

6. The above remark of President Woodruff's is taken from a testimony

of his following a discourse on the subject of Priesthood and the right

of succession, delivered by the writer.--_Deseret Evening News_, March

12, 1892.

7. Heber C. Kimball.

8. William Law had been a counselor to the Prophet Joseph, but was

found in transgression and apostasy, had been excommunicated, and was

among those who brought about the martyrdom at Carthage.

9. Millennial Star, volume xxv: pages 216, 231-32-33.

10. Millennial Star, volume xxv: page 264.

11. That is, whether The Church wanted to have Sidney Rigdon for a

"guardian" or leader.

CHAPTER XL.

THE TRIAL OF THE MURDERERS.

MEANTIME there was considerable excitement in Hancock County, since

the mob party were determined to elect officers who would screen the

murderers of the Prophets. The Saints were equally determined to vote

for those whom they believed would sustain law and order; and the

following were put forward as candidates for the county and district

offices and elected: M. R. Deming, sheriff; D. H. Wells, coroner;

George Coulson, commissioner; J. B. Backenstos and A. W. Babbitt,

representatives.

The account of the trial of the miscreants charged with the murder of

the Prophet I take from Gregg's "History of Hancock County," beginning

at page 328:

TRIALS AND ACQUITTALS.

At the October [1844] term of the Hancock Circuit Court--present

Jesse B. Thomas, judge; William Elliott, prosecuting attorney;

Jacob B. Backenstos, clerk; General Minor R. Deming, sheriff.

The following is the grand jury:

Abram Lincoln, Jas. Reynolds, Th. J. Graham, Wm. M. Owens, Ebenezer

Rand, Th. Brawner, Ralph Gorrell, Brant Agnert, Martin Getter, Wm.

Smith, Th. Gilmore, Benj. Warrington, Reuben H. Loomis, Samuel

Scott, Jas. Ward, Samuel Ramsy, Th. H. Owen, David Thompson, John

J. Hickok.

Abraham Golden, E. A. Bedell and Geo. Walker excused for cause.

Samuel Marshall refused to serve, and fined $5.00.

The court began its session on Monday the 21st. There had been

rumors industriously circulated that the old citizens intended

to rally and interpose obstacles in the way of the court and

considerable anxiety was felt. The judge in his charge to the grand

jury alluded to this rumor and said he was glad to see that no such

demonstration was made. He charged them to do their duty in the

case likely to come before them and leave the consequences. His

charge gave general satisfaction.

There was a rumor that a lot of Mormons and Indians were encamped

near the town and this rumor occasioned considerable uneasiness.

Orders were issued to investigate. The facts turned out to be that

a number of Mormons had come down from Nauvoo to attend court,

and had gone into camp to save expense. As to the Indians it was

ascertained that a company of them had gone through the county on

their way to Iowa, for some purpose unknown; but the two facts had

no connection with each other.

On Tuesday the grand jury began their work, and on Saturday about

noon they brought into court two bills of indictment against nine

individuals--one for the murder of Joseph Smith and the other for

the murder of Hyrum Smith. The persons indicted were as follows:

Levi Williams, Jacob C. Davis, Mark Aldrich, Thomas C. Sharp, Wm.

Voras, John Wills, Wm. N. Grover,--Gallaher and--Allen.

Murry McConnell, Esq., of Jacksonville by special appointment of

the governor was present assisting Mr. Elliot in the prosecution.

Messrs. Bushnell and Johnson of Quincy and Calvin A. Warren, and

perhaps others appeared for the defendants.

Immediately on announcement of the indictments most of the

defendants appeared and asked for an immediate trial. This Mr.

McConnell objected to on the grounds of not being ready. His

witnesses before the grand jury had departed without being

recognized, and besides, Mr. Elliot had gone. It was finally

agreed that the causes should be postponed until next term, and

that no _capias_ should issue from the clerk in the interim if the

defendants would pledge themselves to appear at the time. Agreed

on--a compact which was afterwards violated by the prosecution.

Subpoenas were asked for by the prosecution for between thirty

and forty witnesses, among whom were William M. Daniels and

Brackenberry, the two miracle men, and John Taylor, Mrs. Emma Smith

and Governor Ford.

On May 19, 1845, court again met in special term at Carthage.

Present, Richard M. Young, judge; James H. Ralston, prosecuting

attorney; David E. Head, clerk; and R. H. Deming, sheriff. The

cause of the people _vs_. Williams _et al_ coming up, Messrs.

Williams, Davis, Aldrich, Sharp and Grover appeared and were

admitted to bail on personal recognizance in the sums of $5,000.00

jointly and severally. Josiah Lamborn of Jacksonville as assistant

prosecuting attorney and William A. Richardson, O. H. Browning,

Calvin A. Warren, Archibald Williams, O. C. Skinner and Tho.

Morrison for defendants. Motion of defendants to quash the array of

jurors for first week, on account of supposed prejudice of county

commissioners who selected them and of the sheriff and deputies was

sustained. Also motion for the appointment of elisors for the same

cause, and absence of corner from county. The array was set aside,

and Tho. H. Owen and Wm. D. Arbenethy appointed elisors for the

case. These gentlemen had a thankless and arduous duty to perform.

Usually it is not difficult to find men willing to sit on juries;

in this case few were willing to try the experiment of going into

court, with the almost certainty of being rejected by one or the

other party, and the position was not an enviable one, if taken.

Ninety-six men were brought into court before the requisite panel

of 12 was full. The following are names of the jurors chosen:

Jesse Griffiths, Joseph Jones, Wm. Robertson, William Smith, Joseph

Massey, Silas Griffiths, Jonathan Foy, Solomon J. Hill, James

Gittings, F. M. Walton, Jabez A. Beebe, Gilmore Callison.

The trial lasted till the 30th when the jury was instructed by the

court and after a deliberation of several hours returned a verdict

of _not guilty_.

Instructions to the jury had been asked by both parties, the

following among a list of nine asked by defendants' counsel, were

given, and probably had most influence on the verdict.

"That where the evidence is circumstantial admitting all to be

proven that the evidence tends to prove, if then the jury can make

any supposition consistent with the facts, by which the murder

might have been committed without the agency of the defendants, it

will be their duty to make that supposition, and find defendants

not guilty.

"That in making up their verdict, they will exclude from their

consideration all that was said by Daniels, Brackenberry and Miss

Graham. [Witnesses, see note, p. 319.]

"That whenever the probability is of a definite and limited nature

whether in proportion of 100 to 1 or 1,000 to 1 or any rate is

immaterial, it cannot be made the ground of conviction, for to

act upon it in any case would be to decide that for the sake of

convicting many criminals, the life of one innocent man might be

sacrificed [Starkie 508.]"

Same defendants, for murder of Hyrum Smith were requested to

enter into recognizance of $5,000 each (with fourteen sureties)

to the June term, 1845. At said term case was called, and Elliot

and Lamborn not answering, the cause was dismissed for want of

prosecution and defendants discharged.

Colonel John Hay, in the _Atlantic Monthly_ for December, 1869,

published an article on this subject. Although but a mere boy at

the time of this trial he had within his reach sources of correct

information. (He was a member of the State department subsequently.)

He says: "The case was closed. There was not a man on the jury, in

the court, in the county, that did not know the defendants had done

the murder. But it was not proven, and the verdict of not guilty

was right in law. * * * The elisors presented 99 men before 12 were

found ignorant enough and indifferent enough to act as jurors."

The fact is, the trial amounted to nothing more than a farce. The law

had been outraged, the honor of the State betrayed, her plighted faith

was shamefully broken, and there was not virtue enough in the people to

demand its vindication. Nor is this at all an exaggerated statement of

the matter. The governor of Illinois himself--Thomas Ford--admits all

that is here said. Of the atrocious deed itself and his determination

to bring the murderers to justice he says:

_I had determined from the first that some of the ringleaders in the

foul murder of the Smiths should be brought to trial. If these men had

been the incarnation of Satan himself, as was believed by many, their

murder was a foul and treacherous action, alike disgraceful to those

who perpetrated the crime, to the State, and to the governor, whose

word had been pledged for the protection of the prisoners in jail,

and which had been so shamefully violated; and required that the most

vigorous means should be used to bring the assassins to punishment_. [1]

Speaking of the trial, Governor Ford says:

Accordingly, I employed able lawyers to hunt up the testimony,

procure indictments, and prosecute the offenders. A trial was had

before Judge Young in the summer of 1845. The sheriff and panel of

jurors, selected by the Mormon court, were set aside for prejudice,

and elisors were appointed to select a new jury. One friend of the

Mormons and one anti-Mormon were appointed for this purpose; but as

more than a thousand men had assembled under arms at the court, to

keep away the Mormons and their friends, the jury was made up of

these military followers of the court, who all swore that they had

never formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence

of the accused. The Mormons had one principal [1] witness who

was with the troops at Warsaw, had marched with them until they

disbanded heard their consultations, went before them to Carthage,

and saw them murder the Smiths. But before the trial came on, they

induced him to become a Mormon; and being much more anxious for the

glorification of the Prophet than to avenge his death, the Mormons

made him publish a pamphlet giving an account of the murder; in

which he professed to have seen a bright and shining light descend

upon the head of Joe Smith to strike some of the conspirators

with blindness; and that he heard supernatural voices in the air

confirming his mission as a Prophet! Having published this in a

book, he was compelled to swear to it in court, which of course

destroyed the credit of his evidence. This witness was afterwards

expelled by the Mormons, but no doubt they will cling to his

evidence in favor of the divine mission of the Prophet. [2] Many

other witnesses were examined who knew the facts, but under the

influence of the demoralization of faction, denied all knowledge of

them. It has been said, that faction may find men honest, but it

scarcely ever leaves them so. This was verified to the letter in

the history of the Mormon quarrel. The accused were all acquitted.

During the progress of these trials, the judge was compelled to

permit the courthouse to be filled and surrounded by armed bands

who attended court to browbeat and overawe the administration

of justice. The judge himself was in a duress, and informed me

that he did not consider his life secure any part of the time.

The consequence was that the crowd had everything their own way;

the lawyers for the defense defended their clients by a long and

elaborate attack upon the governor; the armed mob stamped with

their feet and yelled their approbation at every sarcastic and

smart thing that was said, and the judge was not only forced to

hear it, but to lend it a kind of approval. [3]

And now in conclusion, as promised in the footnote on this page, I

quote the statement of the martyrdom as vouched for by The Church, and

published in the book of Doctrine and Covenants:

To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we

announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum

Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th

of June, 1844, about five o'clock p. m., by an armed mob, painted

black--of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell

calmly, exclaiming, "I am a dead man!" Joseph leaped from the

window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming, "O Lord, my

God!" They were both shot after they were dead in a brutal manner

and both received four balls.

John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the

only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a

savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter,

through the providence of God, escaped, "without even a hole in his

robe."

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more (save

Jesus only,) for the salvation of men in this world, than any other

man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years,

he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by

the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing

it on two continents; has sent the fullness of the everlasting

gospel which it contained to the four quarters of the earth; has

brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this

Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and

instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many

thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city; and left

a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died

great in the eyes of God and his people, and like most of the

Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his

works with his own blood--and so has his brother Hyrum. In life

they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended

requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his

assassination, he said, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter;

but I am calm as a summer's morning; I have a conscience void of

offense towards God, and towards all men. I SHALL DIE INNOCENT,

AND IT SHALL YET BE SAID OF ME--HE WAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD."

The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go--shall it be

said to the slaughter? Yes, for so it was,--he read the following

paragraph, near the close of the fifth chapter of Ether, in the

Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:--

"And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would

give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it

came to pass that the Lord said unto me, if they have not charity,

it mattereth not unto you, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy

garments are clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou

shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which

I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I * * * bid

farewell unto the Gentiles; yea and also unto my brethren whom

I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ,

where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your

blood." The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.

Hyrum Smith was 44 years old; February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was

38 in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed

among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will

be reminded that the "Book of Mormon," and this book of Doctrine

and Covenants of the Church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth

century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world:

and that if the fire can scathe a _green tree_ for the glory

of God, how easy it will burn up the "dry trees" to purify the

vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory;

and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their

names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.

They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved

before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of

traitors and wicked men; and their _innocent blood_ on the floor of

Carthage jail, is a broad seal affixed to "Mormonism" that cannot

be rejected by any court on earth; and their _innocent blood_ on

the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of

the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth

of the everlasting Gospel, that all the world cannot impeach; and

their _innocent blood_ on the banner of liberty, and on the _magna

charta_ of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of

Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all

nations; and their _innocent blood_, with the innocent blood of all

the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord

of hosts, till He avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.

Footnotes

1. Ford's History of Illinois, page 367.

2. This the "Mormons," however, have not done; and no well informed

"Mormon," regards the story as being vouched for in any authoritative

way by The Church. The only authoritative account of the sad martyrdom

of the Prophets for which The Church stands responsible is that

published in the Doctrine and Covenants, section cxxxv (and which

is published at the close of this chapter); and in that account the

element of the miraculous enters not at all.

3. Ford's History of Illinois, pages 367, 368.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE EXODUS--THE FALL OF NAUVOO.

IT is thought by some that our enemies would be satisfied with

my destruction; but I tell you that as soon as they have shed my

blood, they will thirst for the blood of every man in whose heart

dwells a single spark of the spirit of the fullness of the Gospel.

The opposition of these men is moved by the spirit of the adversary

of all righteousness. It is not only to destroy me, but every man

and woman who dares believe the doctrines that God hath inspired me

to teach in this generation.

Such were the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith to the Nauvoo Legion

on the eighteenth of June, 1844. And the action of the old citizens of

Hancock and the surrounding counties subsequent to the murder of the

Prophet, prove how truly inspired were the words we have quoted. For no

sooner did they discover that the work which Joseph had begun refused

to die with him, than they renewed hostilities, and sought by every

means their wicked hearts could devise to harass and destroy those who

devoted their energies to the consummation of the work which had been

started.

The mockery of a trial given those who had murdered the Prophets,

emboldened the enemies of the Saints, for they saw justice powerless

to vindicate outraged law, and that with impunity they could prey upon

the citizens of Nauvoo, whom, it would seem, their hatred had selected

for a sacrifice. Thieves and blacklegs generally, saw the opportunity

of having their crimes charged upon an innocent people, and established

themselves in the vicinity of Nauvoo, though principally on the Iowa

side of the river, and all the thefts and acts of violence committed

by those renegades were charged up to the account of the citizens

of Nauvoo, and too gladly believed by the people in the surrounding

counties.

Not only were the charges of theft and robbery made against the Sainst,

but they were also accused of hiding from justice any and all criminals

who came into their midst--that Nauvoo, in short, was a rendezvous for

outlaws, counterfeiters and desperate men generally. These charges led

the city council on the thirteenth of January, 1845, to investigate the

allegations and a series of resolutions were adopted stating that the

charges of theft for the most part were fabrications of their enemies

bent on ruining the reputation of the city, and defied those who made

the charges to sustain with proof a single case where the citizens of

Nauvoo had screened criminals from justice.

The council also extended an invitation to all who had reasons to

believe that their stolen property was concealed in Nauvoo to come and

make diligent search for it, and pledged them the assistance of the

council. To hunt out crime and put away everything that could give rise

to even a suspicion of concealing criminals, the mayor was authorized

to increase the force of police if necessary to five hundred; and the

people were called upon to redouble their diligence in preventing

criminals from coming among them, and all such persons as soon as

discovered were to be given up to the officers of the law.

The next day the action of the city council was submitted to the

citizens of Nauvoo, and they approved of it. Fifty delegates were

chosen and sent into the surrounding counties to disabuse the public

mind relative to the false accusations made against the Saints, and to

ask their co-operation in ridding the country of the counterfeiters and

thieves which infested it. But all these efforts were fruitless. The

falsehoods of their enemies outweighed the truths of the Saints, and

prejudice more cruel than hell itself hardened the hearts of the people

of Illinois against the appeals of the citizens of Nauvoo, and made

them deaf to all entreaties for justice.

Twice during the summer of 1845, Governor Ford himself went to Nauvoo

to investigate these charges against her people; and when he came to

deal with the "Mormon troubles," in his message to the legislature that

fall, after speaking of the charges made, he said:

Justice, however, requires me to say that I have investigated

the charge of promiscuous stealing, and find it to be greatly

exaggerated. I could not ascertain that there were a greater

proportion of thieves in that community than in any other of the

same number of inhabitants, and perhaps if the city of Nauvoo were

compared with St. Louis, or any other western city, the proportion

would not be so great.

The prejudice, not to say bitterness, of Governor Ford against the

Saints would rob his statement of any suspected exaggeration favorable

to them.

Nor is Governor Ford's voice the only one which vindicates the

character of the citizens of Nauvoo. The deputy sheriff of Hancock

County exonerated the Mormon people from any participation in the

thefts perpetrated in the surrounding country. He testified that stolen

property was brought through the country _via_ Nauvoo, passed over

the river to the Iowa side and taken into the interior, where it was

concealed. He also stated that there were some five or six persons in

Nauvoo who were assisting in this nefarious business, but said he,

"they are not Mormons nor are they fellowshiped by them."

Notwithstanding all this, misrepresentation so far succeeded in

poisoning the minds of the public and the leading men in the State,

that in January, 1845, the city charter of Nauvoo and the charter of

the Legion were both repealed, and thus the protecting aegis of the

city government was snatched away from her citizens, when most they

needed it, and left them exposed to the fury of their enemies.

Of this act of punic faith on the part of the State legislature, the

State attorney, Josiah Lamborn, in a letter to Brigham Young, said:

I have always considered that your enemies have been prompted by

political and religious prejudices, and by a desire for plunder

and blood, more than for the common good. By the repeal of your

charter, and by refusing all amendments and modifications, our

legislature has given a kind of sanction to the barbarous manner

in which you have been treated. Your two representatives exerted

themselves to the extent of their ability in your behalf, but the

tide of popular passion and frenzy was too strong to be resisted.

It is truly a melancholy spectacle to witness the law-makers of a

sovereign State condescending to pander to the vices, ignorance and

malevolence of a class of people who are at all times ready for

riot, murder and rebellion.

Senator Jacob C. Davis was one among those who had been indicated for

the murder of Joseph and Hyrum, and of him the attorney-general said:

Your senator, Jacob C. Davis, has done much to poison the minds

of members against anything in your favor. He walks at large in

defiance of law an indicated murderer. If a Mormon was in his

position, the senate would afford no protection, but he would be

dragged forth to jail or the gallows, or be shot down by a cowardly

and brutal mob.

In the meantime the Twelve Apostles, sustained by the Saints, put forth

every exertion to carry out the designs of their martyred Prophet

respecting Nauvoo. The Nauvoo House was hurried on, and the walls were

growing rapidly under the constant labor of the masons. Work, too, was

vigorously prosecuted at the temple. At the time of Joseph's death

that edifice was but one story high, yet on the twenty-fourth of May,

1845, about six o'clock in the morning the cap-stone was laid amid the

general rejoicing and shouts of "Hosanna" from the assembled thousands

of the Saints. As President Brigham Young finished laying the cap-stone

he stood upon it and said:

The last stone is laid upon the temple, and I pray the Almighty in

the name of Jesus to defend us in this place, and sustain us until

the temple is finished and we have all got our endowments.

The whole congregation then following the motion of President Young

shouted as loud as possible: Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! to God and

the Lamb! Amen! Amen! and Amen! [1]

"So let it be, thou Almighty God," solemnly concluded President

Young.

Thus the world began to understand that Mormonism was not born to die

with its earthly leaders. And it began to be whispered that the Prophet

Joseph dead was even more potent than when living. His testimony had

been sealed with his blood, and it gave to his life and his labors an

additional sanctity in the eyes of his followers, as well as making it

more binding upon the world.

Seeing then the continued prosperity of Nauvoo and her citizens, the

people in the vicinity of that city and in the surrounding counties

again commenced hostilities, if, indeed, it may be said that they had

ever ceased. The enormity of the murder at Carthage jail had checked

them temporarily; for an instant the torch and assassin's knife had

dropped from their nerveless hands and they stood aghast, at that

deed of blood. But seeing the work the murdered Prophet had started

surviving his fall, they took up again the weapons of fell destruction

and rushed once more upon their victims.

Early in September, 1845, mobbing the scattered families of the Saints

began in earnest. A meeting was held by anti-Mormons near what was

called the "Morley settlement," to devise means of getting rid of the

Mormons. During the meeting guns were fired at the house where it was

held, and the assault charged upon the Saints, though most likely it

was done by some of their own party--that they might have an excuse for

their meditated acts of violence upon the people of Nauvoo. Such was

the general belief at the time; and Governor Ford in his "History of

Illinois," speaking of this circumstance, says:

In the fall of 1845, the anti-Mormons of Lima and Green Plains,

held a meeting to devise means for the expulsion of the Mormons

from their neighborhood. They appointed some persons of their own

number to fire a few shots at the house where they were assembled;

but to do it in such a way as to hurt none who attended the

meeting. The meeting was held, the house was fired at, but so as

to hurt no one; and the anti-Mormons suddenly breaking up their

meeting, rode all over the country spreading the dire alarm, that

the Mormons had commenced the work of massacre and death. [2]

The attack was made upon the Morley settlement, and on the eleventh of

the month twenty-nine houses were burned down, while their occupants

were driven into the bushes where men, women and children laid drenched

with rain, anxiously awaiting the breaking of day.

Speaking of this outrage, the editor of the Quincy _Whig_, Mr.

Bartlett, said:

Seriously, these outrages should be put a stop to at once; if the

Mormons have been guilty of crime why punish them, but do not visit

their sins upon defenseless women and children. This is as bad

as the savages. * * * It is feared that this rising against the

Mormons is not confined to the Morley settlement, but that there

is an understanding among the antis in the northern part of this

[Adams] and Hancock counties to make a general sweep, burning and

destroying the property of the Mormons wherever it can be found. If

this is the case, there will be employment of the executive of the

State, and that soon. * * * Still later news from above [referring

to Hancock County] was received late on Monday night. The outrages

were still continued. The flouring mill, carding machine, etc.,

of Norman Buel, a Mormon, one mile and a half west of Lima is

now a heap of ashes. Colonel Levi Williams, of Green Plains has

ordered out his brigade, it is said to aid the anti-Mormons. The

anti-Mormons from Shuyler [county] and the adjoining counties,

are flocking in and great distress of life and property may be

expected. Heaven only knows where these proceedings will end. It is

time the strong arm of power was extended to quell them. [3]

In the midst of the exciting scenes which followed, the sheriff of

Hancock County, Mr. J. B. Backenstos proved himself a friend to law and

order. He did all in his power to arrest the spread of violence and

called upon all law-abiding citizens to act as a _posse comitatus_,

but announced it as his opinion that the citizens of Nauvoo had better

take no part in suppressing the mob-violence, since that might lead

to a civil war. At the same time he told the people of Hancock, that

"the Mormon community had acted with more than ordinary forbearance,

remaining perfectly quiet, and offering no resistance when their

dwellings, their buildings, stacks of grain, etc., were set on fire in

their presence. They had forborne until forbearance was no longer a

virtue." His vigorous efforts were making headway against the violators

of the law; but in consequence of some parties who had sought his life,

while acting in his official capacity, being killed, he was arrested

[4] by General John J. Hardin and placed on trial for murder; after

which mob-violence went unchecked of justice.

In the midst of these tumultuous scenes a mass meeting of the citizens

was convened at Quincy on the twenty-second of September. It was

generally known that the Prophet Joseph had contemplated going west

with the main body of The Church, and it was one of the objects of this

meeting to appoint a committee to confer with The Church authorities

and learn what their present intentions were as to leaving the State.

It was expressed as the opinion of that meeting that the only basis

upon which the Mormon troubles could be settled would be the removal of

that people from Illinois. "It is a settled thing," said Mr. Bartlett,

editor of the Quincy _Whig_, in his issue following the meeting of the

above date--

It is a settled thing that the public sentiment of the State is

against the Mormons, and it will be in vain for them to contend

against it; and to prevent bloodshed, and the sacrifice of many

lives on both sides, it is their duty to obey the public will, and

leave the State as speedily as possible. That they will do this we

have a confident hope--and that too, before the last extreme is

resorted to--that of force.

We are sorry to say that many of the leading men of Quincy, principally

prominent members of the bar, who before had been kindly disposed

towards the citizens of Nauvoo, now turned against them, and became

the advocates of violence, and lent the weight and influence of their

characters to the support and spread of mob-law. Among such we are

sorry to publish Major Warren and O. H. Browning, the latter having

defended the Prophet Joseph on more than one occasion when unjustly

charged with crime before the courts of the country. His burning words

of eloquence, in reciting the wrongs of the Saints, when cruelly

expelled from Missouri, would, one would think, have enlisted the

sympathy of adamantine hearts; and now to see him leagued with those

bent upon bringing about a repetition of these sorrows, is an event to

be truly deplored.

In answer to the Quincy committee to state what their present

intentions were relative to leaving the State, the Twelve handed them

the following communication:

NAUVOO, September 24, 1845.

_Whereas_, a council of the authorities of the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints, at Nauvoo have this day received a

communication from Messrs. Henry Asbury, John P. Robins, Albert G.

Pearson, P. A. Goodwin, J. N. Ralston, M. Rogers and E. Congers,

committee of the citizens of Quincy, requesting us to communicate

in writing our disposition and intention at this time, particularly

with regard to removing to some place where the peculiar

organization of our Church will not be likely to engender so much

strife and contention as unhappily exists at this time in Hancock

and some of the adjoining counties;

_And, whereas_, said committee have reported to us the doings of

a public meeting of the citizens of Quincy on the twenty-second

inst., by which it appears there are some feelings concerning us as

a people, and in relation to which sundry resolutions were passed,

purporting to be for the purpose of maintaining or restoring peace

to the country;

_And, whereas_, it is our desire and ever has been, to live in

peace with all men, so far as we can, without sacrificing the right

to worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences

which privilege is granted by the Constitution of these United

States; and, whereas, we have time and again, been driven from our

peaceful homes, and our women and children have been obliged to

live on the prairies, in the forests, on the roads and in tents,

in the dead of winter, suffering all manner of hardships--even to

death itself--as the people of Quincy well know; the remembrance

of whose hospitality, in former days, still causes our hearts to

burn with joy, and raise the prayer to heaven for blessing on

their heads; and, whereas, it is now so late in the season that

it is impossible for us, as a people, to remove this fall without

causing a repetition of like sufferings; and, whereas, it has

been represented to us from other sources than those named, and

even in some communications from the executive of the State, that

many of the citizens of the State were unfriendly to our views

and principles; and, whereas, many scores of our homes in this

country have been burned to ashes without any justifiable cause

or provocation, and we have made no resistance, till compelled

by the authorities of the county so to do, and that authority

not connected with our Church; and, whereas, said resistance to

mobocracy, from legally constituted authority, appears to be

misunderstood by some, and misconstrued by others, so as to produce

an undue excitement in the public mind; and, whereas, we desire

peace above all earthly blessings;

_Therefore_, we would say to the committee above mentioned, and to

the governor, and all the authorities and people of Illinois, and

the surrounding States and Territories that we propose to leave

this county next spring, for some point so remote, that there will

not need be any difficulty with the people and ourselves, provided

certain propositions necessary for the accomplishment of our

removal shall be observed, as follows, to-wit:

That the citizens of this and surrounding counties, and all men,

will use their influence and exertion to help us to sell or rent

our properties, so as to get means enough that we can help the

widow, the fatherless and the destitute to remove with us,

That all men will let us alone with their vexatious law-suits so

that we may have time, for we have broken no laws; and help us to

cash, dry goods, groceries, etc., to good oxen, beef cattle, sheep,

wagons, mules horses, harness, etc., in exchange for our property,

at a fair price, and deeds given on payment, that we may have means

to accomplish a removal without the suffering of the destitute to

an extent beyond the endurance of human nature.

That all exchange of property shall be conducted by a committee,

or by committees of both parties; so that all the business may be

transacted honorably and speedily.

That we will use all lawful means, in connection with others

to preserve the public peace while we tarry; and shall expect,

decidedly, that we be no more molested with house-burning, or any

other depredations, to waste our property and time, and hinder our

business.

That it is a mistaken idea, that we have proposed to leave in six

months, for that would be so early in the spring that grass may

not grow nor water run; both of which would be necessary for our

removal. But we propose to use our influence, to have no more seed

time and harvest among our people in this county after gathering

our present crops; and that all communications be made to us in

writing.

By order of the council,

BRIGHAM YOUNG,

President.

W. RICHARDS,

Clerk.

The Quincy committee reported to the citizens of that city, the

propositions of The Church authorities, which were regarded as

satisfactory in part, but thought they were not so full or decisive

as was necessary. The mass meeting to which they reported, however,

accepted the propositions and decided to recommend the people in the

surrounding counties to do the same. "But," said one of the resolutions:

We accept it [the proposition of The Church authorities] as an

unconditional proposition to remove. We do not intend to bring

ourselves under any obligation to purchase their property or

furnish purchasers for the same, but we will in no way hinder or

obstruct them in their efforts to sell; and will expect them to

dispose of their property, and remove at the time appointed.

_Resolved_, that it is now too late to attempt the settlement of

the difficulties in Hancock County upon any other basis than that

of the removal of the Mormons from the State.

_Resolved_, that whilst we shall endeavor, by all the means in our

power, to prevent the occurrence of anything which might operate

against their removal, and afford the people of Nauvoo any grounds

of complaint, we shall equally expect good faith upon their part;

and if they shall not comply with their own proposition, the

consequence must rest upon those who violate faith. And we now

solemnly pledge ourselves to be ready at the appointed time to act,

as the occasion may require, and that we will immediately adopt a

preliminary military organization, for prompt future action, if

occasion should demand it.

_Resolved_, that in our opinion, the peace of Hancock County cannot

so far be restored as to allow the desired progress to be made,

in preparing the way for the removal of the Mormons, while J. B.

Backenstos remains sheriff of said county: and that he ought to

resign said office.

Of the first of these resolutions Josiah B. Conyers, the author of

"A Brief History of the Hancock Mob," says with just indignation and

sarcasm: