_Friday, 15.--_I awoke this morning in good health, but was soon
suddenly seized with a great dryness of the mouth and throat, sickness
of the stomach, and vomited freely. My wife waited on me, assisted by
my scribe, Dr. Willard Richards, and his brother Levi, who administered
to me herbs and mild {116} drinks. I was never prostrated so low, in so
short a time, before; but by evening was considerably revived.

Very warm for the season.

_Saturday, 16.--_This morning I felt considerably better; arose at 10,
and sat all day in the City Council, which was held in my house for my
accommodation.

[Sidenote: Comment on Appeal to the General Government for Protection.]

The Mayor, Aldermen, and Councilors signed officially the Memorial
to Congress for redress of losses and grievances in Missouri. While
discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of the
holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection,
they shall be broken up as a government. [4] * * *

I informed the Council that it was my wish they should ask the
privilege of calling on Government for the United States troops to
protect us in our privileges, which is not unconstitutional, but lies
in the breast of Congress.

Heber C. Kimball was duly elected city auctioneer, in place of Charles
Warner, removed.

The Council passed "An ordinance regulating merchants and grocers;"
also "An ordinance concerning the landing of steamers;" and Jonathan
Dunham was appointed wharf-master for one year.

{117} Heber C. Kimball and George A. Smith were appointed a committee
to wait on Mr. Davidson Hibbard, and solicit from him a block of land,
whereon to erect a city prison.

After Council, conversed with some of the Twelve, brother Turley and
others, till 8 p.m. Prayer meeting in the evening.

Warm, foggy, and muddy day.

_Sunday, 17.--_At home till 4 p.m.; attended prayer meeting at the
assembly room. Samuel Harrison Smith admitted. Returned home at 7.

River clear of ice as far up as the Stone Tavern.

Mr. King Follet, one of the constables of Hancock County, started with
ten men this afternoon to arrest John Elliott for kidnapping Daniel
Avery, upon a warrant granted by Aaron Johnson, Esq., J. P.

_Monday, 18.--_After dinner, Constable Follet returned with John
Elliott, a schoolmaster, when an examination was had before Esq.
Johnson, in the assembly room. Elliott was found guilty of kidnapping
Avery, and bound over in the sum of $3,000 to the Circuit court of
Carthage for trial. I endeavored to have the court reduce those bonds,
as Mr. Elliott was comparatively a stranger in Nauvoo; but did not
succeed.

During the investigation, testimony appeared to show that Elliott had
threatened my life; and for this I made affidavit and brought him to
trial before Robert D. Foster, J. P., immediately after he had been
bound over by Esq. Johnson. I extract from the proceedings, in part,
from the _Neighbor_:--

    THE TRIAL OF JOHN ELLIOTT.

    The prisoner was brought forward, and the court said it was his
    privilege to plead for a change of venue, by paying the costs; but
    as the costs were not forthcoming, the court proceeded.

    Mr. Styles then read the "Act to regulate the apprehension of
    offenders and for other purposes," p 219, r. s. The act sets forth
    that the use of threatening language is sufficient to criminate
    individuals. This we are prepared to prove.

    {118} Sisson Chase sworn.

    The testimony was similar to that before delivered, [in Chase
    affidavit see p. 109] with the following additional items:--

    I did ask him if he had authority. In the morning he said that he
    would not care about shooting some of the Mormons. In conversation
    with him, he carried the idea that a conspiracy was formed against
    Joseph Smith and others, and that some of them would be shot. These
    conversations were had at different times. He thought Mr. Smith was
    a bad character. He thought they ought to be taken. Question: Who?
    Joseph Smith and some others.

    I told him he had been taken, but had been acquitted. He did not
    thank the Governor for that. He carried the idea that there was a
    conspiracy against his life, and said we have a plan in operation
    that will pop him over.

    Mr. Elliott sworn.

    By the Court: Is your residence, Mr. Elliott, in this county? Yes.

    Messrs. Marr and Styles, attorneys, resident in Nauvoo, made some
    thrilling remarks pertaining to the outrageous proceedings of
    Missouri. The diabolical conduct of those wretches who could be
    engaged in destroying and kidnapping their fellowmen was portrayed
    in glowing colors.

    Judge Phelps and General Smith then followed on the same subject:
    their language was thrillingly eloquent and powerful. If ever
    inhumanity and deeds of blood were depicted in their true colors,
    it was on that occasion: their thoughts flashed as fire, and they
    spake in "words that burned." We never saw the character of General
    Smith so clearly developed; for while he abhorred and depicted the
    fiendish crime that the culprit stood charged with in its true
    colors, he pitied the poor wretch that then stood before him, and
    with feelings of commiseration, benevolence, and philanthropy,
    withdrew his charge--wished, if it was within the power of the
    court, that the culprit might be forgiven,--promised to pay all the
    charges, and invited him and those of his friends who came along
    with him, to come to his house, and they should be taken care of.
    It would be superfluous for us to attempt to give even a faint
    outline of the remarks made by the above-named gentlemen. We hope
    to have at least a synopsis of their speeches for publication,
    which we are sure would be highly interesting to our readers. Upon
    the whole, although a painful, yet it was an interesting occasion
    and will long be remembered; and unless Mr. Elliott's heart and
    those of his friends were made of adamant, it must have made an
    indelible impression on their minds, and almost made them hate
    themselves.

I received from Aaron Johnson, Esq., the following demand:--

    {119} _Legion Aid Applied For_.

    CITY OF NAUVOO, December 18, 1843.

    SIR:--I have been informed that a writ issued by me for the body of
    Levi Williams, for kidnapping Daniel Avery, will be resisted by an
    armed force: Therefore, according to the provision of the Charter,
    I wish you to order me a detachment of the Nauvoo Legion--say 100
    men, to enforce the law of the State, and bring the said Williams
    to justice.

    AARON JOHNSON, J. P.

Which demand I complied with by writing to Major-General Wilson Law.

    _Detachment of the Legion Ordered into Service_.

    CITY OF NAUVOO, Dec. 18, 1843.

    SIR:--You will detach 100 men, under the direction of Aaron
    Johnson, a Justice of the Peace, for the purpose of assisting
    the constable in executing the law of the State in taking Levi
    Williams, who is charged with kidnapping Daniel Avery.

    Yours,

    JOSEPH SMITH, Lieut-Gen., N. L.

    To MAJOR-GEN. WILSON LAW,

    Commanding Nauvoo Legion.

Gen. Wilson detached Colonel Stephen Markham with 100 men for that
purpose.

[Sidenote: Rumors of Mob Risings.]

About 10 p.m., two young men arrived as express, stating that a mob
was collecting at Warsaw, also at Colonel Levi Williams' house; and
messengers had gone to the mob in Missouri to reinforce their number
there.

Dr. Richards made the following affidavit:--

    _Affidavit of Willard Richards that Nauvoo was in Danger_.

    STATE OF ILLINOIS, CITY OF NAUVOO,

    December 18, 1843.

    Personally appeared Willard Richards before me, Joseph Smith,
    Mayor of said city, and upon his oath deposeth and saith that from
    information he has received, he verily believes that the peace of
    said city is in danger from a mobocratic assemblage at Warsaw, and
    a force collected under the command of Colonel Levi Williams in the
    lower part of the county, and runners having been sent to Missouri
    to excite the Missourians to join the mobbers in this county, for
    the purpose of making {120} a descent on said city, or disturbing
    its peaceable inhabitants; and further your deponent saith not.

    WILLARD RICHARDS.

    Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th December, 1843.

    W. W. PHELPS,

    Clerk of the Mayor's Court.

Whereupon I wrote to Major-General Wilson Law:--

    _Legion Ordered into Service_.

    CITY OF NAUVOO, Dec. 18, 1843.

    SIR:--I am credibly informed that a warlike force is collecting at
    or near Warsaw, for the purpose of some violent move towards this
    city or some of the inhabitants thereof. You will therefore order
    out such a portion of the Nauvoo Legion as may be necessary to
    repel any such mobocratic or hostile design of the same unlawful
    force, and also as may be sufficient to secure the peace of the
    citizens, according to law.

    Yours,

    JOSEPH SMITH, Lieut-Gen. N. L.

    MAJOR-GEN. WILSON LAW,

    Commanding Nauvoo Legion.

I returned home to rest about one o'clock in the morning of the 19th.

[Sidenote: Moves and Counter Moves of Forces.]

_Tuesday, 19.--_At home. About 9 a.m., a part of the company who went
with Hosea Stout returned, and stated that they went within two miles
of Colonel Williams', when they were informed that a body of men, armed
with rifles, &c., were collected at his house, and he judged it prudent
to return for weapons and help; also that Brother Chester Loveland told
them that he had seen thirty armed men following Constable King Follett
some miles on his way, when he had Elliott in custody.

Esq. Johnson immediately wrote to Loveland to have him come to Nauvoo
and make affidavit of the warlike movements of the mob, that he might
send to the Governor.

I directed my clerks to make copies of the affidavits respecting the
kidnapping of the Averys to send to Governor Ford, that he might be
left without excuse, although he may probably not read them.

{121} Elder William Martindale writes from Washington, Wayne county,
Iowa:--

    STRANGE CELESTIAL PHENOMENON--1860.

    A singular phenomenon was seen in this neighborhood. Jesse
    Fox, William and Lorenzo Fox, David Bale, James Wilson, and
    William Cole, with some others, retired to the house of Solomon
    Mendenhall, at which place they stayed a short time. While there
    they discovered a ball rising from the east in an oblique line;
    and as it ascended it moved towards the west with great rapidity
    until it was high in the heavens, leaving a streak of light behind
    it, which to the natural eye, had the appearance of being thirty
    or forty feet in length. This light remained stationary for about
    one minute. Both ends then coming round, formed a figure 8, which
    figure also retained its position for the same space of time. It
    then was transformed into a figure 6, which also remained for about
    a minute. It then was formed into a cipher or 0, which remained for
    about three minutes. The figures put together made 1860 in large
    figures in the heavens. The phenomenon was indeed singular, and has
    been a matter of great speculation with us.

[Sidenote: Legion Parade]

At one p.m. I was present when the Legion paraded near the Temple, were
inspected by the officers, and instructed to prepare themselves with
arms and ammunition and to hold themselves in readiness, for a moment's
notice. Brother Henry Boley was shot severely under the arm by the
accidental discharge of his gun.

Amos S. Chase made the following affidavit:--

    _Affidavit of Amos Chase_.

    STATE OF ILLINOIS,

    CITY OF NAUVOO. ss.

    On the 19th day of December, 1843, came Amos S. Chase before me
    Joseph Smith, Mayor of said city; and after being duly sworn,
    deposeth and saith that on the 18th day of December, 1843, he was
    about four miles below Warsaw, in Hancock County, shortly after the
    constable arrested John Elliott for being concerned in kidnapping
    Daniel Avery, not long since, and saw the men of the neighborhood
    gathering with arms to retake the said John Elliott; and when
    asked what they would do, if the Governor did not sanction such an
    unlawful course, several of them replied, "Damn the Governor! If he
    opens his head, we will punch a hole through him! He dare not open
    his head! We will serve him the same sauce we will the Mormons."
    The said {122} mob then went to Warsaw, where your affiant saw them
    with their arms; and further your affiant saith not.

    AMOS S. CHASE,

    Subscribed and sworn to before me this 19th day of December, 1843.

    W. W. PHELPS, Clerk, M. C.

_Wednesday, 20.--_At home, in good health and spirits, counseling and
attending to business in general.

The Clerk of the Municipal Court took the following affidavits:--

    AFFIDAVITS OF PHILANDER AVERY--MISSOURI KIDNAPPING.

    STATE OF ILLINOIS,

    CITY OF NAUVOO. ss.

    On the 20th day of December, 1843, personally appeared before
    me, Willard Richards, clerk of the Municipal Court of said city
    Philander Avery, of Bear Creek precinct, in said county, and after
    being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that on the 19th day of
    November, 1843, at his house, in the precinct aforesaid, Ebenezer
    Richardson, of Lee county, Territory of Iowa, by false pretenses,
    persuaded your affiant to accompany said Richardson to the
    Mississippi river at Warsaw, where your affiant was seized by one
    Joseph C. McCoy, of Clark county, Missouri, in connection with the
    said Richardson, and about one dozen of other individuals, whose
    names are unknown to your affiant, and by them forced across said
    Mississippi River, where they bound your affiant; and Mark Childs
    swore that your affiant had stolen said McCoy's horse and colt, and
    that his father Daniel Avery had secreted said horse and colt, and
    said Richardson threatened your affiant with death or seven years'
    imprisonment, in order to persuade him to make false statements,
    and testify that his father, Daniel Avery, had stolen said McCoy's
    horse and colt, which statements your affiant made, and swore
    to the same, while in duress, with a bowie-knife presented to
    intimidate. And your affiant further saith that the testimony he
    gave concerning his father's guilt, was extorted from him through
    fear, while in duress, and said testimony was absolutely false,
    and your affiant fully believed that his father is innocent of the
    crime of stealing said McCoy's horse and colt; and further your
    deponent saith not.

    PHILANDER AVERY.

    [Sidenote: [L. S.]]

    Subscribed and sworn to before me; in testimony whereof I have set
    my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Nauvoo aforesaid,
    this 20th day of December, A. D. 1843.

    WILLARD RICHARDS,

    Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Nauvoo,

    {123} _Affidavit of the Hamiltons_.

    STATE OF ILLINOIS,

    COUNTY OF HANCOCK, ss.

    On the 20th day of December, 1843, personally appeared before me
    Aaron Johnson, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county,
    Andrew H. Hamilton, and James B. Hamilton, of Bear Creek precinct,
    in said county, and, after being duly sworn, depose and say that
    on the evening of the 2nd day of December, 1843, at Vernon Doty's
    mill, in said precinct, Colonel Levi Williams, of said Hancock
    county, as principal, and his son, John Williams, with William
    Middleton, of the county of Clark and State of Missouri, Captain
    McCoy, of the said county of Clark and State of Missouri, John Fox
    of Green Plains precinct, and about a dozen other men, armed with
    pistols, dirks and bowie knives came forcibly upon Daniel Avery at
    said Doty's mill, and seized and bound him. The said Avery told
    them to stand off. They said they had a writ. He observed, he would
    not resist legal authority. They said they would take said Avery to
    Warsaw, and there to try him. The said Avery replied, "I understand
    you: you will take me to Warsaw, and there pass me over the river
    to Missouri." Some of said gang then shouted, "Lay hold of him;
    G--d d--n him, lay hold of him: there's no use of parleying;" at
    which Colonel Levi Williams, with a large bowie-knife in his hand,
    and others, then forced the said Daniel Avery to submit, telling
    him (without a writ,) that his life would be taken if he did not
    submit. They then tied him with silk handkerchiefs. Colonel Levi
    Williams and another person then led the said Daniel Avery away;
    and as they passed your affiants within the distance of about four
    rods, the said Daniel Avery cried out to one of your said affiants,
    "tell my friends where I am gone." Colonel Williams told said Avery
    to hold his peace, for it was of no use. William Middleton then got
    a horse; and after tying him upon said horse, as sworn to before by
    another witness, they then conveyed him to Missouri without an by
    another witness, they then conveyed him to Missouri without a writ
    or trial, as your affiants verily believe; and further they say not.

    ANDREW M. HAMILTON.

    JAMES B. HAMILTON.

    Subscribed and sworn to this 20th day of December, 1843, before me.

    AARON JOHNSON, J.P.

Footnotes:

1. This was the upper room of President Smith's brick store.

2. This occurred on the 2nd of December. See Avery's Affidavit, Chapter
VI, this volume.

3. The Ordinance was about a month later repealed at the suggestion of
President Smith.

4. This prediction doubtless has reference to the party in power;
to the "government" considered as the administration; not to the
"government" considered as the country; but the administration party,
the Democratic Party, which had controlled the destiny of the country
for forty years. It is matter of history that few years later the party
then in power lost control of the national government, followed by the
terrible conflict of the Civil War. The Party against which the above
prediction was made so far lost its influence that it did not again
return to power for a quarter of a century; and when it did return to
power it was with such modified views as to many great questions of
government, that it could scarcely be regarded as the same party except
in name.

Lest it should be urged that the Whig party was in control of the
government in 1843, I call attention to the fact that while General
Harrison, a Whig, was elected in 1840, he was President only one month,
as he died on the 4th of April, 1841. His whole cabinet, excepting Mr.
Webster, Secretary of State, resigned, and the Vice President became
President. Though elected by the Whigs Mr. Tyler was a Democrat "and
the Whig administration had but a month's actual existence." (See
History of the United States, Morris, pp. 311, 312).

{124}

CHAPTER VI.

MEMORIAL OF CITY COUNCIL TO CONGRESS ANENT MISSOURI AFFAIRS--ROCKWELL'S
RETURN TO NAUVOO--RECITAL OF HIS ADVENTURES--AVERY'S ACQUITTAL BY
MISSOURI'S COURTS--NAUVOO'S POLICE FORCE INCREASED--PUBLICATIONS ON
MORMONISM, PRO ET CON--1843.

_Thursday, December 21, 1843.--_About one o'clock in the morning I was
alarmed by the firing of a gun, got up, and went down to the river
bank to see the guard, and inquire the cause of it. To my surprise,
they had not heard it, although I felt sure it was fired in Montrose.
The morning proved it to be correct, some rowdies in Montrose had been
firing in the night.

At noon met with the City Council which voted that Councilor Orson
Pratt present the Memorial and Ordinance to Congress.

Passed "An ordinance to prevent unlawful search or seizure of person or
property by foreign [i.e. outside] process in the city of Nauvoo."

Heber C. Kimball resigned his office as city auctioneer and Charles
Warner was re-elected.

John P. Greene was duly elected city marshal, in the room of Henry G.
Sherwood, who expects to leave soon.

[Sidenote: The Prophet for a Clean, Orderly City.]

I gave instructions to the marshal and policemen to see that all
carrion is removed out of the city, and all houses kept in order,--to
stop the boys when fighting in the streets, and prevent children from
floating off on the ice, and correct anything out of order, like
fathers; and I offered to build the city jail, if it was left to my
dictation, which the Council authorized me to do.

{125} I insert the Memorial from the City Council to the Congress of
the United States for redress of grievances and protection from further
persecution, which was signed by them:--

    MEMORIAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONGRESS.

    _"To the Honorable Senators and Representatives of the United
    States of America in Congress assembled_,

    We, the undersigned members of the City Council of the City of
    Nauvoo, citizens of Hancock County, Illinois, and exiles from
    the State of Missouri, being in council assembled, unanimously
    and respectfully, for ourselves, and in behalf of many thousands
    of other exiles, memorialize the honorable Senators and
    Representatives of our nation upon the subject of the unparalleled
    persecutions and cruelties inflicted upon us and upon our
    constituents by the constituted authorities of the State of
    Missouri, and likewise upon the subject of the present unfortunate
    circumstances in which we are placed in the land of our exile. As
    a history of the Missouri outrages has been extensively published,
    both in this country and in Europe, it is deemed unnecessary to
    particularize all of the wrongs and grievances inflicted upon us in
    this memorial. As there is an abundance of well-attested documents
    to which your honorable body can at any time refer, hence we only
    embody the following important items for your consideration.

    First:--Your memorialists, as freeborn citizens of this great
    republic, relying with the utmost confidence upon the sacred
    "articles of the Constitution," by which the several States are
    bound together, and considering ourselves entitled to all the
    privileges and immunities of free citizens in what State soever we
    desired to locate ourselves, commenced a settlement in the county
    of Jackson, on the western frontiers of the State of Missouri, in
    the summer of 1831.

    There we purchased lands from the Government, erected several
    hundred houses, made extensive improvements, and shortly the wild
    and lonely prairies and stately forests were converted into well
    cultivated and fruitful fields. There we expected to spend our days
    in the enjoyment of all the rights and liberties bequeathed to us
    by the sufferings and blood of our noble ancestors. But alas! our
    expectations were vain.

    Two years had scarcely elapsed before we were unlawfully and
    unconstitutionally assaulted by an organized mob, consisting of the
    highest officers in the county, both civil and military, who openly
    and boldly avowed their determination in a written circular to
    drive us from said county.

    As a specimen of their treasonable and cruel designs, your
    honorable {126} body are referred to said circular, of which the
    following is but a short extract,--namely: "We the undersigned
    citizens of Jackson county, believing that an important crisis
    is at hand, as regards our civil society, in consequence of a
    pretended religious sect of people that have settled and are still
    settling in our county, styling themselves Mormons, and intending
    as we do to rid our society, 'peaceably if we can, forcibly if
    we must;' and believing as we do that the arm of the civil law
    does not afford us a guarantee, or at least a sufficient one,
    against the evils which are now inflicted upon us, and seem to be
    increasing by the said religious sect, deem it expedient and of the
    highest importance to form ourselves into a company for the better
    and easier accomplishment of our purpose."

    This document was closed in the following words--"We therefore
    agree that, after timely warning, and receiving an adequate
    compensation for what little property they cannot take with them,
    they refuse to leave us in peace, as they found us, we agree to use
    such means as may be sufficient to remove them; and to that end we
    each pledge to each other our bodily powers, our lives, fortunes,
    and sacred honors."

    To this unconstitutional document were attached the names of nearly
    every officer in the county, together with the names of hundreds of
    others.

    It was by this band of murderers that your memorialists, in the
    year 1833, were plundered of their property and robbed of their
    peaceable homes. It was by them that their fields were laid waste,
    their houses burned, and their men, women, and children, to the
    number of about twelve hundred persons, banished as exiles from the
    county, while others were cruelly murdered by their hands.

    Second: After our expulsion from Jackson county, we settled in
    Clay county, on the opposite side of the Missouri river, where we
    purchased lands both from the old settlers and from the [U. S.]
    Land Office: but soon we were again violently threatened by mobs,
    and obliged to leave our homes, and seek out a new location.

    Third: Our next settlement was in Caldwell county, where we
    purchased the most of the land in said county, beside a part of the
    lands in Daviess and Carroll counties. These counties were almost
    entirely in a wild and uncultivated state; but, by the persevering
    industry of our citizens, large and extensive farms were opened in
    every direction, well stocked with numerous flocks and herds. We
    also commenced settlements in several other counties of the state,
    and once more confidently hoped to enjoy the hard-earned fruits of
    our labor unmolested.

    But our hopes were soon blasted. The cruel and murderous spirit
    which first began to manifest itself in the constituted authorities
    and inhabitants of Jackson county, and afterwards in Clay and the
    surrounding {127} counties, receiving no check either from the
    civil or military power of the state, had in the meantime taken
    courage, and boldly and fearlessly spread its contaminating and
    treasonable influence into every department of the government
    of said state. Lieutenant-Governor Boggs, a resident of Jackson
    county, who acted a conspicuous part in our expulsion from said
    county, instead of being tried for treason and rebellion against
    the Constitution, and suffering the just penalty of his crimes, was
    actually elected governor; and placed in the executive chair.

    Thus the inhabitants of the State were greatly encouraged to renew
    with redoubled fury, their unlawful attacks upon our defenseless
    settlements. Men, women, and children were driven away in every
    direction before their merciless persecutors, robbed of their
    possessions, their property, their provisions, and their all, cast
    forth upon the bleak, snowy prairies, houseless and unprotected.
    Many sank down and expired under their accumulated sufferings,
    while others, after enduring hunger and the severities of the
    season, suffering all but death, arrived in Caldwell county, to
    which place they were driven from all the surrounding counties,
    only to witness a still more heart-rending scene.

    In vain had we appealed to the constituted authorities of Missouri
    for protection and redress of our former grievances. In vain we
    now stretched out our hands and appealed as the citizens of this
    great republic to the sympathies, to the justice, and magnanimity
    of those in power. In vain we implored again and again at the feet
    of Governor Boggs, our former persecutor, for aid and protection
    against the ravages and murders now inflicted upon our defenseless
    and unoffending citizens. The cry of American citizens, already
    twice driven and deprived of liberty, could not penetrate their
    adamantine hearts.

    The Governor, instead of sending us aid, issued a proclamation for
    our extermination and banishment, ordered out the forces of the
    State, placed them under the command of General Clark, who, to
    execute these exterminating orders, marched several thousand troops
    into our settlements in Caldwell county, where, unrestrained by
    fear of law or justice, and urged on by the highest authority of
    the state, they laid waste our fields of corn, shot down our cattle
    and hogs for sport, burned our dwellings, inhumanly butchered
    some eighteen or twenty defenseless citizens, dragged from their
    hiding-places little children, and placing the muzzles of their
    guns to their heads, shot them [such acts being accompanied] with
    the most horrid oaths and imprecations.

    An aged hero and patriot of the Revolution, who served under
    General Washington, while in the act of pleading for quarter, was
    cruelly murdered and hewed in pieces with an old corn cutter;
    and in addition to all these savage acts of barbarity, they
    forcibly dragged virtuous and {128} inoffensive females from their
    dwellings, bound them upon benches used for public worship, where
    they in great numbers ravished them in the most brutal manner.

    Some fifty or sixty of the citizens were thrust into prisons and
    dungeons, where, bound in chains, they were fed on human flesh,
    while their families and some fifteen thousand others were at the
    point of the bayonet, forcibly expelled from the State.

    In the meantime, to pay the expenses of these horrid outrages, they
    confiscated our property, and robbed us of all our possessions.

    Before our final expulsion, with a faint and lingering hope we
    petitioned the State legislature then in session, unwilling to
    believe that the virtue and patriotism of the venerable fathers
    of the Revolution had fled from the bosoms of their illustrious
    descendants--unwilling to believe that American citizens could
    appeal in vain for a restoration of liberty cruelly wrested from
    them by cruel tyrants. But in the language of our noble ancestors,
    "our repeated petitions were only answered by repeated injuries."

    The legislature, instead of hearing the cries of 15,000
    suffering, bleeding, unoffending citizens, sanctioned and sealed
    the unconstitutional acts of the governor and his troops,
    by appropriating 200,000 dollars to defray the expenses of
    exterminating us from the State. No friendly arm was stretched out
    to protect us. The last ray of hope for redress in that State was
    now entirely extinguished. We saw no other alternative but to bow
    down our necks and wear the cruel yoke of oppression, and quietly
    and submissively suffer ourselves to be banished as exiles from our
    possessions, our property, and our sacred homes, or otherwise see
    our wives and children coldly butchered and murdered by tyrants in
    power.

    Fourth. Our next permanent settlement was in the land of our
    exile, the State of Illinois, in the spring of 1839; but even here
    we are not secure from our relentless persecutor, the State of
    Missouri. Not satisfied in having drenched her soil in the blood
    of innocence, and expelling us from her borders, she pursues her
    unfortunate victims into banishment, seizing upon and kidnapping
    them in their defenseless moments, dragging them across the
    Mississippi river, upon their inhospitable shores, there they are
    tortured, whipped, immured in dungeons, and finally hung [as a
    means of torture, but not unto death] by the neck without any legal
    process what ever.

    We have memorialized the former Executive of this State, Governor
    Carlin, upon these lawless outrages committed upon our citizens;
    but he rendered us no protection. Missouri, receiving no check in
    her murderous career, continues her depredations, again and again
    kidnapping {129} our citizens and robbing us of our property;
    while others, who fortunately survived the execution of her bloody
    edicts, are again and again demanded by the Executive of that
    State, on pretense of some crime said to have been committed by
    them during the exterminating expedition against our people.

    As an instance, General Joseph Smith, one of your memorialists,
    has been three times demanded, tried, and acquitted by the courts
    of this State, upon investigation under writs of _habeas corpus_,
    once by the United States Court for the District of Illinois, again
    by the Circuit Court of the State of Illinois, and lastly by the
    Municipal Court of the City of Nauvoo, when at the same time a
    _nolle prosequi_ had been entered by the courts of Missouri upon
    all the cases of that State against Joseph Smith and others.

    Thus the said Joseph Smith has been several times tried for the
    same alleged offense, put in jeopardy of life and limb, contrary
    to the fifth article of the amendments to the Constitution of the
    United States; and thus we have been continually harassed and
    robbed of our money to defray the expenses of these vexatious
    prosecutions. And what at the present time seems to be still more
    alarming, is the hostility manifested by some of the authorities
    and citizens of this State [Illinois.] Conventions have been
    called, inflammatory speeches made, and many unlawful and
    unconstitutional resolutions adopted to deprive us of our rights,
    our liberties, and the peaceable enjoyment of our possessions.

    From the present hostile aspect, and from bitter experience in
    the State of Missouri, it is greatly feared lest the barbarous
    scenes acted in that State will be re-acted in this. If Missouri
    goes unpunished, others will be greatly encouraged to follow her
    murderous examples.

    The afflictions of your memorialists have already been
    overwhelming--too much for humanity, too much for American citizens
    to endure without complaint. We have groaned under the iron hand
    of tyranny and oppression these many years. We have been robbed of
    our property to the amount of two millions of dollars. We have been
    hunted as wild beasts of the forest. We have seen our aged fathers
    who fought in the Revolution and our innocent children alike
    slaughtered by our persecutors; we have seen the fair daughters
    of American citizens insulted and abused in the most inhuman
    manner; and finally we have seen fifteen thousand souls--men, women
    and children, driven by force of arms during the severities of
    the winter from their sacred homes and firesides, penniless and
    unprotected, to a land of strangers.

    Under all these afflicting circumstances, we imploringly stretch
    forth {130} our hands towards the highest councils of our nation,
    and humbly appeal to the illustrious Senators and Representatives
    of a great and free people for redress and protection.

    Hear, O hear the petitioning voice of many thousands of American
    citizens, who now groan in exile on Columbia's free soil! Hear, O
    hear the weeping and bitter lamentations of widows and orphans,
    whose husbands and fathers have been cruelly martyred in the land
    where the proud eagle exulting soars! Let it not be recorded in the
    archives of the nations that Columbia's exiles sought protection
    and redress at your hands, but sought it in vain. It is in your
    power to save us, our wives, and our children from a repetition
    of the bloodthirsty scenes of Missouri, and greatly relieve the
    fears of a persecuted and injured people, by ordaining for their
    protection the following ordinance, namely--

    AN ORDINANCE

    _For the protection of the people styled the Church of Jesus Christ
    of Latter-day Saints, residing on the western borders of the State
    of Illinois._

    PREAMBLE.

    Whereas the State of Missouri at sundry times has
    unconstitutionally deprived a certain portion of her citizens
    (called "Mormons,") of their rights, property, lands, and even of
    their lives:

    And whereas, in the years 1838 and 1839 the said State of Missouri
    with impunity did illegally and inhumanly exile and banish for ever
    from her limits and jurisdiction all the said citizens (called
    "Mormons,") that remained alive.

    And whereas, after being hospitably received by the citizens of
    Illinois, the said State of Illinois did grant, enact, and charter
    for the benefit and convenience of the said exiled "Mormons" as
    follows:--

[Here in the original document is inserted the city charter of Nauvoo
already published, Vol. IV, pp 239-249.]

    And whereas, by the 10th article of the Constitution of the
    United States as amended--"Art. 10. The powers not delegated to
    the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to
    the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
    people;" and whereas, according to the fourth article and section
    second, "The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all
    privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States:" and
    whereas, according to the second paragraph of the {131} third
    section of said Constitution, "The Congress shall have power to
    dispose of and make the needful rules and regulations respecting
    territory;" and whereas the said Congress has the power to protect
    each state against invasion and insurrection: and whereas most of
    the inhabitants of the city of Nauvoo are exiles from the State
    of Missouri: and whereas most of the lands owned in the State of
    Missouri were purchased from the United States, and patented by
    the United States to the amount of more than $200,000 worth: and
    whereas the United States are bound to clear the title and protect
    it: and whereas the said exiles or expelled "Mormons" have lost in
    property and damages about two millions of dollars: and whereas the
    said State of Missouri continues her ravages, persecutions, and
    plunderings, by kidnapping said exiles from Illinois, and by other
    depredations:

    Now, therefore, to show the fatherly care of the United States,
    to ratify the said charter, to protect the said exiles from mob
    violence, and shield them in their rights:--

    Section 1. Be it ordained by the Senate and House of
    Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
    assembled, that all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities
    belonging to Territories, and not repugnant to the Constitution
    of the United States, are hereby granted and secured to the
    inhabitants of the city of Nauvoo, in addition to the spirit,
    letter, meaning, and provisions of the afore-mentioned charter, or
    act of incorporation from the State of Illinois, until the State
    of Missouri restores to those exiled citizens the lands, rights,
    privileges, property, and damage for all losses.

    Section 2. And be it further ordained, in order to effect the
    object and further intention of this ordinance, and for the peace,
    security, happiness, convenience, benefit, and prosperity of the
    said city of Nauvoo, and for the common weal and honor of our
    country, that the mayor of Nauvoo be, and he is hereby empowered by
    this consent of the President of the United States; whenever the
    actual necessity of the case and the public safety shall require
    it, to call to his aid a sufficient number of United States forces,
    in connection with the Nauvoo Legion, to repel the invasion of
    mobs, keep the public peace, and protect the innocent from the
    unhallowed ravages of lawless banditti that escape justice on the
    western frontier; and also to preserve the power and dignity of the
    Union.

    Section 3. And be it further ordained that the officers of the
    United States army are hereby required to obey the requisitions of
    this ordinance.

    Section 4. And be it further ordained that, for all services
    rendered in quelling mobs and preserving the public peace the said
    Nauvoo {132} Legion shall be under the same regulations, rules, and
    laws of pay as the troops of the United States.

    City of Nauvoo, Illinois, December 21st, 1843.

    Hyrum Smith, Benjamin Warrington,

    John Taylor, Daniel Spencer,

    Orson Pratt, Brigham Young,

    W. W. Phelps, Orson Hyde,

    Heber C. Kimball,

    Councilors;

    Orson Spencer,

    Daniel H. Wells,

    Samuel Bennett,

    Geo. A. Smith,

    Geo. W. Harris,

    Aldermen;

    Joseph Smith, Mayor;

    Willard Richards, Recorder;

    John P. Greene, Marshal. [1]

Two letters came into the post-office from the sheriff of Clark County,
Missouri. From them it appears that that State wishes to continue the
old game of seizing witnesses and making prisoners of them, to cover up
her mobocracy and kidnapping under a legal form. The following answer
was written:--

    _Letter: W. W. Phelps to J. White, Esq., Anent Avery Affair_.

    CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL., Dec. 21, 1843.

    SIR,--Two letters were put into my hands this morning relative
    to the witnesses of Mr. Avery's innocence as to being accessory
    to horse stealing some four years since. In the first place, Mr.
    Avery was abducted from this State without process, contrary to
    law. In the second place, the principal for felony by the law of
    Missouri should be indicted within three years, &c. Again, the
    revised statutes of Missouri have a wise provision in such cases
    as Mr. Avery's. If Mr. Avery, therefore, will sue out a commission
    according to the law concerning {133} depositions, (R. S., page 219
    to 222,) directed to Alderman Geo. W. Harris, an acting justice
    of the peace for the city of Nauvoo, and county of Hancock, the
    necessary testimony to establish Mr. Avery's innocence will be
    taken according to law, and forwarded to the proper officer in due
    time.

    Respectfully, &c..

    W. W. PHELPS.

    J. WHITE, ESQ., Dep. Sheriff,

    Clark Co., Waterloo, Mo.

    P.S. You will have the politeness to show this to Mr. Avery.

In the evening I was visited by several strangers, and had considerable
conversation with them.

_Friday, 22.--_At home at nine o'clock, a.m., reading a magazine to my
children.

[Sidenote: Attitude of Prophet on Mobocracy and Politics.]

A little after twelve went into the store-room occupied by Butler
and Lewis, and commenced a conversation with Dr. John F. Charles, to
convince him that mobocracy is not justifiable, and that I did not deal
in politics.

David Holman, living about two miles from Ramus, went out in the
evening with his family visiting. About ten o'clock he discovered his
house on fire. The neighbors had inquired how long he would be gone.
A man rode to Carthage. A company went up, secured the provisions to
themselves, and fired the house.

Warm and pleasant weather.

_Saturday, 23.--_At home, counseling the brethren who called on me, and
attending to my domestic duties, making preparations for a Christmas
dinner party.

Prayer meeting in the Assembly Room.

_Sunday, 24.--_At home. Received a visit from Mr. Richardson, one of
the men who assisted in kidnapping Avery. He manifested some repentance
and sorrow for his part in that transaction, and promised to use what
influence he had with the Missourians to have Avery set at liberty.

[Sidenote: A Christmas Serenade.]

{134} _Monday, 25.--_This morning, about one o'clock, I was aroused by
an English sister, Lettice Rushton, widow of Richard Rushton, Senior,
(who, ten years ago, lost her sight,) accompanied by three of her sons,
with their wives, and her two daughters, with their husbands, and
several of her neighbors, singing, "Mortals, awake! with angels join,"
&c., which caused a thrill of pleasure to run through my soul. All of
my family and boarders arose to hear the serenade, and I felt to thank
my Heavenly Father for their visit, and blessed them in the name of the
Lord. They also visited my brother Hyrum, who was awakened from his
sleep. He arose and went out of doors. He shook hands with and blessed
each one of them in the name of the Lord, and said that he thought
at first that a cohort of angels had come to visit him, it was such
heavenly music to him.

At home all day. About noon, gave counsel to some brethren who called
on me from Morley Settlement, and told them to keep law on their side,
and they would come out well enough.

At two o'clock, about fifty couples sat down at my table to dine. While
I was eating, my scribe called, requesting me to solemnize the marriage
of his brother, Dr. Levi Richards, and Sara Griffiths; but as I could
not leave, I referred him to President Brigham Young, who married them.

[Sidenote: Rockwell's Return to Nauvoo.]

A large party supped at my house, and spent the evening in music,
dancing, &c., in a most cheerful and friendly manner. During the
festivities, a man with his hair long and falling over his shoulders,
and apparently drunk, came in and acted like a Missourian. I requested
the captain of the police to put him out of doors. A scuffle ensued,
and I had an opportunity to look him full in the face, when, to my
great surprise and joy untold, I discovered it was my long-tried,
warm, but cruelly persecuted friend, Orrin {135} Porter Rockwell, just
arrived from nearly a year's imprisonment, without conviction, in
Missouri.

The following is his statement of his experience and sufferings by that
people:--

    _Rockwell's Experience in Missouri_.

    I, Orrin Porter Rockwell, was on my way from New Jersey to Nauvoo;
    and while at St. Louis, on the 4th March, 1843, was arrested
    by a Mr. Fox, on oath of Elias Parker, who swore I was the O.
    P. Rockwell advertised in the papers as having attempted to
    assassinate Lilburn W. Boggs, and was taken before a magistrate in
    St. Louis.

    I was then put into the St. Louis county jail, and kept two days
    with a pair of iron hobbles on my ankles. About midnight, was taken
    into the stage coach in charge of Fox, and started for Jefferson
    City. There were nine passengers, two of them women. I sat on the
    middle seat. One of the men behind me commenced gouging me in the
    back. I spoke to him, and told him that it was dark, and I could
    not see him, but that he was no gentleman. One of the ladies
    whispered to him, and he ceased the operation.

    The next night, the driver, being drunk, ran against a tree, and
    broke the king bolt; and not knowing what to do, ironed as I was,
    I crawled into the boot, and found an extra bolt, and in the dark
    fixed the coach, got it off the tree, and we started on. Soon
    after, ran against a bank, and could not move. I was asleep at the
    time, but the bustle awake me, when I told them, if they would
    take off my irons, I would get off and drive, as the driver was
    too drunk to manage the horses. They refused. I, however, got hold
    of the lines, and, by the help of other passengers lifting at the
    wheels, got it righted, and I drove to the next stand, near the
    Osage river. The roads were very bad, and the load heavy; so we got
    along slowly.

    There was an officer of the U. S. army in the coach. We were two
    days and two nights from St. Louis in reaching Jefferson City,
    where I was lodged in the jail two days and two nights. The U. S.
    officer went on.

    Started on for Independence, still in charge of Fox. At Boonville,
    overtook the U.S. officer. We three were all that were in the coach
    all the way from Boonville to Independence. Sheriff Reynolds told
    me afterwards that when he looked into the stage he took me for the
    guard, and the officer for the prisoner, for he looked like the
    guilty one.

    Was about four days going to Independence: arrived there just at
    night. A large crowd gathered around, making many remarks. Some
    {136} were for hanging me at once. I was then placed in the jail.
    In two or three days, underwent a sham trial before a justice of
    the peace. The courthouse was crowded, and the men were armed with
    hickory clubs. They set on boys from ten to twelve years of age to
    kick and punch me, which they did repeatedly. While in court, Fox
    was the main witness introduced, and he swore falsely.

    Fox swore that I had stated to him that I had not been in the
    county for five years. I informed the court that Fox swore falsely,
    in proof thereof that the people of Independence knew that I had
    traveled through Independence several times during that time, for
    the people were all well aware of my having visited this place,
    which fact alone should satisfy them that Fox was swearing for
    money, which I afterwards learned that he obtained and divided with
    Parker.

    The magistrate committed me to prison for my safe preservation,
    as he was afraid the people would kill me; but he could find no
    crime against me. This I was told by the officer who conveyed me to
    prison.

    I was re-committed to jail, still wearing the iron hobbles, and
    was kept in the upper part in the day-time, and in the dungeon at
    night, with a little dirty straw for a bed, without any bedding, no
    fire, and very cold weather. For eighteen days I was not free from
    shaking with cold. I then got permission to buy 1 1/2 bushels of
    charcoal, which I put into an old kettle, and kept a little fire.
    When that was gone, I could not obtain any more.

    After I was arrested at St. Louis, I was visited by Joseph Wood, an
    apostate "Mormon," who professed to be a lawyer. He was accompanied
    by Mr. Blanerhasset, who told me that everything I had would be
    taken from me, and proposed to take charge, keep, and return to
    me any property I might have with me. I let him have a pair of
    pistols, a bowie knife, and watch, which he never returned to me.

    After the weather got a little warmer, they furnished me with a few
    old newspapers to read. A family lived at the corner of the jail.
    The women once in a while used to send out a little negro girl
    with a small basket of victuals. She handed up to the grate a big
    Missouri whip-stock, with a piece of twine, which I tied to the
    pole and drew up the basket, and let it down again.

    I made a pin-hook and tied to the twine, and baited with a chunk of
    corn-dodger hard enough to knock a negro down with, and stuck it
    out of the grated window and fished for pukes. When passers-by came
    along, they would stop and gawk at me awhile, and pass on.

    A preacher who had a family of girls lived on the opposite side of
    the street. The girls would watch and laugh at them, and call out
    and ask me if I got any bites. I replied, No, but some glorious
    nibbles.

    {137} Numbers were put into the jail with me at different
    times, and taken out again. One of them, who was charged with a
    fraudulent issue of U. S. Treasury notes, was allowed to have his
    saddle-bags with him They contained some fire-steels, gun-flints,
    and articles of Indian trade. I sawed the irons nearly off with
    one of the fire-steels. He got the negro girl to get him a knife,
    and I finished cutting the fetters with it. He would frequently
    call for a good supper and pay for it, which was allowed him, but
    not allowed me. He was very anxious to escape, and urged me to
    undertake it with him. He ordered a good supper, and he ate very
    heartily. I would not eat, telling him that he could not run if he
    ate so much. Nearly dusk, as the jailer came in to get the dishes,
    we sprang to the door, and I locked him in, and threw the key into
    the garden. In coming down stairs, we met the jailer's wife. I told
    her that her husband was unharmed; I had only locked him up. We had
    a board fence to climb over, which was about twelve feet high. I
    climbed it and ran about twenty rods, when he called me to come and
    help him over, which I did. If I had not, I should have escaped.
    The pure air had so great an effect upon me, that I gave out and
    slacked my pace, The populace of the place came up, and I told them
    to run; they would soon catch him; and that I had given out and
    could not run. They soon returned with him. I fell into the crowd
    and walked back to the jail yard.

    Sheriff J. H. Reynolds laid his hand upon my shoulder, he being the
    first to approach me. Asked where the key was. I told him, In the
    garden.

    Smallwood Nowlin was the first who proposed to hang me on the spot,
    when Reynolds gave me a push towards the crowd, and said, "There he
    is, G--d--n him! Do what you damn please with him." Nowlin's son
    in-law (by marrying one of his mulatto wenches), a Mexican, stepped
    up to me to lay hold of me, when I told him to stand off, or I
    would mash his face. He stepped back.

    I then walked up stairs into the jail. Was followed by Reynolds and
    others, until the room and stairs were full. Reynolds asked me what
    I had cut my irons off with. I went to the saddle-bags and handed
    him the knife and fire-steel. While feeling for them, I got hold of
    a piece of buckskin that had some three or four pounds of bullets
    tied up in it which I intended to use in mashing in the head of any
    one that should attempt to put a rope on my neck. A rope was passed
    along over the heads of the people into the room to a bald-headed
    man. About this time pistols could be heard cocking in every part
    of the room, and bowie-knives were produced as if for fight. In a
    few minutes the room was clear of all but three or four persons.

    {138} I was then put into the dungeon, my feet ironed together,
    my right hand to my left foot, so close that I could not half
    straighten myself. The irons, when put on my wrists, were so small
    that they would hardly go on, and swelled them; but in eighteen
    days I could slip them up and turn them around my arm at the elbow.
    I was fed on cold corndodger and meat of the poorest description;
    and if I did not eat it all up, it was returned the next time.

    About a month after the court sat, my irons were taken off, and I
    was so weak that I had to be led to the court-room by the officer.
    I was notified that a bill was found against me for breaking jail,
    and that the grand jury had failed to find a bill against me on the
    charge of shooting Boggs, as charged in the advertisement offering
    a reward for my apprehension.

    I was taken into court, and was asked by the judge if I had any
    counsel. I told him I had not. He asked if I had any means to
    employ a counsel. I answered that I had none with me that I could
    control. He then said, Here are a number of counselors: if I was
    acquainted with any of them, I could take my choice. I told him I
    would make choice of Mr. Doniphan, who arose and made a speech,
    saying he was crowded with business, but that here are plenty of
    young lawyers who could plead for me as well as he could. The
    judge heard his plea, and then told me he did not consider that a
    sufficient excuse, and I could consider Mr. Doniphan my counsel.

    I was then ordered back to jail, and ironed again in the same way.
    Mr. Doniphan asked for and obtained a change of venue to Clay
    County, which is in another district.

    When the officers came to Independence jail for me, they requested
    me to get ready in a hurry, as they feared the mob would kill me. I
    told them I wanted to put on a clean shirt, if it cost me my life,
    as I had not been permitted to enjoy the luxury of a change of
    linen since I had boarded at the expense of Jackson County. While I
    was changing my shirt, the officers several times told me to hurry,
    or the mob would be on me and kill me.

    When I got ready to start, the officers furnished me a very
    hard-trotting horse, with a miserable poor saddle, tied my feet
    under the horse with ropes, and my hands behind my back, and
    started off at a good round trot, in charge of two officers. In a
    short time a strange gentleman fell into our company, who was also
    on horseback. It was six miles to the ferry, where we could cross
    the Missouri river. When we got there, we saw the boat land on
    the opposite side, when several men got off the boat, and took a
    course to the woods, through which the road ran. The boat returned.
    This stranger asked--"Where are {139} those men going?" and was
    answered--"They are going to the woods to hew timber."

    We then crossed, and took our way for Liberty. When we left the
    boat, we saw no signs of people, nor heard any sound of axes.
    After traveling some two or three miles, the woods became dense
    and brushy: we heard the crackling of brush, and the noise of
    men traveling through it. The officers and stranger appeared
    frightened, and urged speed, keeping close watch. We came to an
    opening in the woods, when the noise of crackling of brush ceased.
    We traveled safely to Liberty, where this stranger told his friends
    that he overheard several men in Independence planning to waylay
    me in the thick timber on the Missouri bottom, at the place where
    we heard the noises; but his being in company counteracted their
    plot. I was then lodged in Liberty jail. In a few days afterwards
    I learned that the men who went into the brush told it, that they
    went into the woods according to agreement to waylay me; but when
    they saw this stranger, it frustrated their plans.

    In about ten days, on pretext of informality in the papers, I was
    remanded back to Independence jail. It was rumored that I was again
    going to be waylaid, when the two officers from Clay county took me
    by a different road, and so I escaped the second time.

    When I was put in Independence jail, I was again ironed hand and
    foot, and put in the dungeon, in which condition I remained about
    two months. During this time, Joseph H. Reynolds, the sheriff,
    told me he was going to arrest Joseph Smith, and they had received
    letters from Nauvoo which satisfied them that Joseph Smith had
    unlimited confidence in me, that I was capable of toting him in a
    carriage or on horseback anywhere that I pleased; and if I would
    only tote him out by riding or any other way, so that they could
    apprehend him, I might please myself whether I stayed in Illinois
    or came back to Missouri; they would protect me, and any pile
    that I would name the citizens of Jackson county would donate,
    club together, and raise, and that I should never suffer for want
    afterwards: "you only deliver Joe Smith into our hands, and name
    your pile." I replied--"I will see you all damned first, and then I
    won't."

    About the time that Joseph was arrested by Reynolds at Dixon, I
    knew that they were after him, and [yet had] no means under heaven
    of giving him any information. My anxiety became so intense upon
    the subject, knowing their determination to kill him, that my flesh
    twitched on my bones. I could not help it; twitch it would. While
    undergoing this sensation, I heard a dove alight on the window in
    the upper room of the jail, and commence cooing, and then went
    off. In a short time, he came back to the window, where a pane was
    broken: he crept through between the bars of iron, which were about
    two and-a-half inches apart. {140} I saw it fly round the trap-door
    several times: it did not alight, but continued cooing until it
    crept through the bars again, and flew out through the broken
    window.

    I relate this, as it was the only occurrence of the kind that
    happened during my long and weary imprisonment; but it proved a
    comfort to me: the twitching of my flesh ceased, and I was fully
    satisfied from that moment that they would not get Joseph into
    Missouri, and that I should regain my freedom. From the best
    estimates that can be made, this incident occurred about the time
    when Joseph was in the custody of Reynolds.

    In a few days afterwards, Sheriff Reynolds came into the jail and
    told me that he had made a failure in the arrest of Joseph.

    After the lawyers had been about two months making out fresh
    papers, I was again conveyed to Liberty jail on a miserable horse,
    with feet and hands tied as before, but [by] a different road.

    In a few days afterwards, my mother found where I was, and she came
    to see me and brought me $100, whereby I was enabled to fee Mr.
    Doniphan for his services as counsel.

    The time of trial being continually delayed, I began to be uneasy.
    I was handcuffed in the dungeon, which is the basement story of the
    prison, and is about nine feet high. I took down the stove-pipe,
    pushed my clothes up through the stove-pipe hole, and then crawled
    through the hole in the floor, which was made of logs about
    fourteen inches thick, into the upper room. The hole was so small
    that it scratched my flesh, and made me bleed from many wounds. I
    then examined the inside door, and with the bail of the water pail
    I unbolted it; but finding I could not get through the outside
    door, I returned to my dungeon through the same narrow pass.

    The following night I made another attempt through the same way;
    but, failing to get through the outside door, I lay down on the
    upper floor, where the boys who were bringing my food next morning
    found me. They made an alarm, when five or six men came and again
    conveyed me down into the dungeon. It caused quite an excitement.

    My mother, learning that Mr. Doniphan had returned home, went to
    him, and prevailed on him to come and speak to me at the dungeon
    grate. While he was talking to me, a little boy, the son of a poor
    widow, about five or six years old, who had previously been to
    see me, finding I had no fire, had run home and brought some fire
    and chips to the grate. Mr. Doniphan said--"You little devil you,
    what are you doing here with this fire?" He replied, "I am going
    to give it to Mr. Rockwell, so that he can warm him." Doniphan
    then said--"You little devil you, take this fire and leave;" when
    the little urchin replied {141} (looking him in the face)--"Mr.
    Doniphan, you go to hell: I am going to give Mr. Rockwell this
    fire, so that he can warm him;" and he pushed it through the grate,
    gave me the chips, and continued to supply my daily wants of chips
    and fire while I continued in the dungeon.

    From Mr. Doniphan I learned that a special term of court was
    called, and my trial would come on in about fifteen days. The night
    following this visit, some men came to the grates of my dungeon,
    and asked if I wanted to get out. I told them, No, as I had been
    informed that day that I should have a trial in a fortnight. They
    replied--"Honor bright: if you wish to get out, we'll let you out
    in a few minutes." I replied that I would rather remain, as my
    trial would come on so soon. Next morning one of the men came, put
    some money in the cleft of a stick, and put it through the hole to
    me. He refused to tell his name; but I knew by his voice that he
    was one of the men who came to me in the night.

    The trial came on according to my last notification. I was tried
    for breaking Independence jail; and although the law of Missouri
    reads that, in order to break jail, a man must break a lock, a
    door, or a wall, still Judge King ruled that it was breaking jail
    to walk out when the door is open; and under this ruling the jury
    brought in a verdict of "five minutes' imprisonment in the county
    jail;" but I was kept there four or five hours, during which time
    several attempts were made to get up some other charge against me.

    About 8 p.m. on December 13th, General Doniphan took me out and
    told me I must take across the country on foot, and not walk on any
    traveled road, unless it was during the night, as they would be apt
    to follow and again take me, as they did not care on what grounds,
    so they could make me trouble.

    I accordingly started, accompanied by my mother, and went to the
    house of a widow, where I obtained my first supper in freedom for
    more than nine months. We then traveled two miles and obtained $4.

    I then took through the woods to the road, where I heard two men
    riding on horseback. I hid behind a shady tree, and overheard one
    of them say, "He has not been gone many minutes: we shall soon
    overtake him."

    I went round the houses and traveled in the fields by the side of
    the road. The moon was in its first quarter, and I traveled during
    the night about twenty-five miles. I carried a little food with me,
    and next day traveled on the road, and walked past Crooked River to
    a Mr. Taylor's, with all the skin off my feet.

    A neighbor offered to take me in for the night, if I would go back
    {142} two miles. I did so, found his wife very cross with her
    husband, who said, "Stranger, you see my wife is very cross. I have
    got some whisky; let's drink: my wife will soon have something to
    eat." When supper was eaten, she became good tempered. I stayed in
    peace through the night. Next morning I ate breakfast with them,
    and gave them fifty cents, when the man brought out a horse, and
    sent a little boy with me fourteen miles, which was a very great
    relief to my weary feet.

    The next night I stopped near where the Haun's Mill massacre took
    place.

    The third day I walked till noon, and then hired a man to carry
    me the remainder of the day for seventy-five cents. Stayed at a
    house where I was well acquainted; but the people did not recognize
    me, and I did not make myself known. Paid fifty cents for supper,
    lodging, breakfast, and being sent twelve miles on horseback the
    next morning.

    I then continued my journey about thirty miles, where I rested
    three days to recruit my feet. I was then carried twenty-five miles
    on horseback, and walked the same day twenty-five miles. The day
    following I walked forty miles, and then waited another day and
    engaged a man to carry me to Montrose, to which place I was three
    days in going. I immediately crossed the river to Nauvoo in a small
    boat, and came straight to the Mansion.

[Sidenote: Release of Daniel Avery.]

Daniel Avery was liberated from his imprisonment in Missouri by
_habeas corpus._ This was, no doubt, on account of our vigilance in
communicating with the Governor, and endeavoring to prosecute the
kidnappers, and continually making public the conduct of Missouri.

Warm day; rain in the evening.

    A PLAN FOR WOMEN'S SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE TEMPLE.

    _(From the Millennial Star.)_

    We have much pleasure in publishing and recommending the following
    plan to be adopted amongst the sisters of the Church of Jesus
    Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. We believe that the
    completion of the Temple is as near the hearts of the sisters as
    to the hearts of the brethren, and that the following proposed
    [plan] will be responded to on the part of the English sisters in a
    manner that shall reflect honor upon themselves, and be materially
    instrumental in forwarding the great work.

    {143} NAUVOO, Dec. 25, 1843.

    _To the Sisters of the Church of Jesus Christ in England,
    Greeting_:--

    DEAR SISTERS:--This is to inform you that we have here entered into
    a small weekly subscription for the benefit of the Temple funds.
    One thousand have already joined it, while many more are expected,
    by which we trust to help forward the great work very much. The
    amount is only one cent or a halfpenny per week.

    As Brother Amos Fielding is waiting for this, I cannot enlarge
    more than to say that myself and Sister Thompson are engaged in
    collecting the same.

    We remain,

    Your affectionate sisters in Christ,

    MARY SMITH,

    M. R. THOMPSON.

    NAUVOO, Dec. 25, 1843.

    The ladies' subscription for the Temple, of one cent per week, is
    fully sanctioned by the First Presidency.

    HYRUM SMITH.

    We feel much to encourage this plan, and trust that the sisters in
    England will manifest that they will not be behind the sisters in
    Nauvoo in this laudable work. One thing in connection with this
    work we would mention, and request that it be attended to with the
    strictest accuracy; that is, that the name of each individual be
    recorded, and the amount which they subscribe, in order that such
    names may be transmitted to Nauvoo, where they will have to be
    entered in the books of the Lord's House. The sisters or others who
    may collect the subscriptions will please to be very particular on
    this point.

[Sidenote: Prophet's Joy at the Return of Rockwell and Avery.]

_Tuesday, 26.--_At home. I rejoiced that Rockwell had returned from
the clutches of Missouri, and that God had delivered him out of their
hands. Brother Daniel Avery also arrived about dusk this evening; and
the Missourians have no longer the pleasure of exulting over any Mormon
victims for the present; but their blood-thirstiness will not long be
satisfied unless they seek out another victim on whom to glut their
malice and vengeance.

_Wednesday, 27:--_Cold: a little ice in the river, which has been clear
for some time past.

{144} I received letters from General Lewis Cass, of Michigan, and Hon.
John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, in answer to mine of Nov. 4.

Mr. Keith gave a lecture and concert of music in the assembly room this
evening.

    MR. ROCKWELL.

    _(Editorial from the Neighbor.)_

    The name of this individual is, no doubt, familiar to most of our
    readers. He has obtained some celebrity in the world also, not for
    his reputed virtue, but for his supposed crimes.

    It will be recollected that he is the person who was basely and
    falsely implicated, along with Joseph Smith, as the reputed [would
    be] murderer of ex-Governor Boggs, while Mr. Smith was charged with
    being accessory before the fact. A vexatious lawsuit was instituted
    against Joseph Smith, wherein he was charged with the above-named
    crime; and finally, after many attempts of the governor of Missouri
    to get him into his power, was acquitted by the United States Court
    for the district of Illinois,

    Stories of murder and blood were circulated from Maine to Missouri;
    they were iterated and reiterated by the newspapers of the whole
    Union, and painted in the most glowing colors that human ingenuity
    could invent. Mr. Rockwell was branded as a murderer, and Joseph
    Smith as accessory before the fact, without any other evidence
    than a story fabricated by some of our generous politicians,
    engendered in falsehood by hearts as dark as Erebus for religious
    and political effect.

    This demagoguery and political corruption has caused an innocent
    man to be immolated in a Missouri dungeon for upwards of eight
    months, without the slightest evidence of his guilt, or even the
    most remote evidence of crime leading to his committal. He was
    taken without process, and committed to jail upon mere supposition,
    and finally acquitted without any shadow of proof having been
    adduced from beginning to end. This is the way that Missouri treats
    free-born American citizens, and they can obtain no redress.

    Mr. Rockwell arrived here on Monday night, and has given us some
    of the details of his history since he was first taken in Missouri
    to the present time; and we can assure our readers that it will "a
    tale unfold" relative to that state, which even many of those who
    have been driven therefrom will find it difficult to believe that
    there did exist such monsters in human shape.

_Thursday, 28.--_At home. Elder Orson Hyde returned {145} from Adams
county, having obtained quite a number of signatures to the Memorial to
Congress, and made an affidavit of what he learned in Warsaw concerning
the mob.

    _Affidavit of Orson Hyde--Disclosing Plan to Drive the Saints_.

    STATE OF ILLINOIS,

    CITY OF NAUVOO. ss.

    On the 28th day of December, 1843, came Orson Hyde before me,
    Joseph Smith, mayor of said city; and after being duly sworn,
    deposeth and saith that on the 26th instant, as he was passing from
    Lima to Nauvoo, through that part of Hancock county where Colonel
    Levi Williams resides, he was credibly informed that on Saturday
    previous the anti-Mormons held a meeting, drew up an article, and
    passed several resolutions, among which were these:--"We will
    revere and hold sacred and inviolate the Constitution of the United
    States, and also the Constitution of this State. We will visit the
    Mormons residing in our vicinity and require them to give up their
    guns; and such as do it shall dwell here in peace; but those who
    will not do it may have thirteen days to leave in; and if they
    are not off in that time, we will drive them." The above is the
    substance, but perhaps not the very words. They also swear that the
    Mormons shall never raise another crop in that region, &c.; &c.,
    and further this deponent saith not.

    ORSON HYDE.

    Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th of December, 1843.

    W. W. PHELPS, Clerk, M. C.

Daniel Avery having made affidavit of the cruel treatment he had
recently received at the hands of Missourians, I here insert it:--

    _Affidavit of Daniel Avery--His Treatment in Missouri_.

    STATE OF ILLINOIS,

    CITY OF NAUVOO. ss.

    On the 28th day of December, 1843, came Daniel Avery before me,
    Joseph Smith, mayor of the city aforesaid, and after being duly
    sworn, deposeth and saith that on the second day of December,
    1843, he was unlawfully arrested by force and arms, and kidnapped
    at Doty's Mill in Bear Creek precinct, Hancock county, and State
    aforesaid, by Colonel Levi Williams, his son John Williams, of
    Hancock county; John Elliott, a schoolmaster, from four-and-a-half
    miles below Warsaw; William Middleton and Joseph McCoy, of Clark
    county, Missouri, and four {146} others. Colonel Williams held
    his bowie-knife to his breast. Six of the others stood with their
    pistols cocked and their fingers upon the triggers, muzzles
    presented at his body, ready to fire; and two stood with clubs, and
    amidst the most horrid oaths and imprecations, took and bound with
    silk handkerchiefs your said affiant, and led him away between two
    men, one holding a savage bowie-knife on one side, and the other
    a cocked pistol on the other side, (having taken away your said
    affiant's weapons while binding him in the mill,) and led your
    affiant about a mile. Your affiant refused to walk any further, and
    they put him upon a horse, and tied his legs under the horse; and
    John Elliott, the aforesaid schoolmaster, led the horse as fast as
    he could make his way, through a thicket and by-way to the house of
    the aforesaid Colonel Williams. Here the kidnappers ate and drank;
    and after they had unbound me, (for they had bound me so tight that
    I was in great pain,) I was also suffered to partake.

    They then put me upon the horse again, and bound me, and started
    for the river, the said schoolmaster Elliott leading the horse.
    When we came near a schoolhouse where there was a meeting, they
    came to a halt, sent messengers to the meeting, and in the course
    of half an hour they returned with an armed mob, with rifles and
    other weapons, sufficient to make the whole company number about
    twenty. Being all on horseback, they formed a circle, with your
    affiant in the center, who up to that time had acquainted every
    man he saw that _they were kidnapping him_, and marched in that
    order to a house on a point below Warsaw; and as I was very cold
    from being bound, they took me into the house to warm. I now called
    for a trial, as I had told them all the way that I never resisted
    legal authority. They said they were hunting a magistrate. Said
    I, "I understand you; you mean to force me into Missouri." McCoy
    returned, and said, "We are ready." It was about midnight. We went
    about three hundred yards up the river to a skiff. I refused to
    cross as they had promised me a trial. They forced me into a skiff
    and bound me, and five men put me across. Their names, so far as
    I could ascertain, are William Middleton, William Clark, Joseph
    McCoy, John Elliott, and Charles Coolidge. They landed at the
    tavern on the south side of the Des Moines, and took me into a back
    room, threw down a buffalo robe for my bed; but as my arms were
    bound so tight that I could not rest, I complained; told Middleton
    that was not the way he was used at my house. They felt at my arms
    and exclaimed, "By God, they are not too tight!" I begged to have
    one arm liberated, and finally they untied both, and I slept (under
    guard) on the buffalo robe before the fire.

    About noon they got ready and started with me, guarded upon a
    horse, for McCoy's in Clark county, Missouri, about twelve miles
    distant. {147} It being night when we arrived, and I unwell
    through fatigue and confinement and the abuses before received, I
    went to bed. They had sent runners ahead; and after I had been in
    bed awhile, the sheriff came up from Waterloo, the county seat,
    a distance of about two miles, to arrest me and take me before
    a magistrate that night; but Middleton and McCoy objected, as I
    was sick. The sheriff, however, executed his writ, and left me in
    their care till morning. It being late before we breakfasted, he
    came in the morning and made the second scope of his authority and
    took me. He quizzed me the night before, to draw something out for
    testimony; but as innocence cannot be affected by truth, he was as
    wise at one end of the story as the other.

    At Waterloo I was examined by a magistrate, who committed me upon
    the substance of an affidavit made by my son in duress with a
    bowie-knife at his breast, and upon a promise that he should be
    liberated from Monticello jail, where he was confined after being
    kidnapped some three or four weeks previous. My bonds were fixed at
    $1000; and as I had no bail in such a strange place, I was started
    for Palmyra jail, in Marion county. The deputy sheriff took me to
    Musgrove, the sheriff, a distance of ten miles. Here I sued out a
    writ of habeas corpus, but the judge remanded me to prison.

    At Monticello my chains were taken off, and I was at liberty in the
    midst of a strong guard to view the town. Here a lawyer agreed to
    take me and my son through court (as the Missourians say,) for a
    horse. Saw my son in the prison; said he was forced at the point of
    a bowie-knife to make an affidavit against me; but he knew I was
    innocent.

    I tried to be left with him in jail; but no, I was compelled to go
    to Palmyra, where I arrived the next evening. The sheriff thrust me
    into the dungeon without waiting to eat, warm, or anything else.
    The next morning the blacksmith came into the jail and ironed me
    to the middle of a great chain that was fast to the floor, where I
    remained in the horrid gloom of a Missouri prison two weeks.

    From thence the deputy sheriff started, with me chained upon the
    horse in this wise. He then chained my right leg, and then passed
    the chain up to my left hand. In this way I traveled nine miles,
    when we stopped, and he changed the chain from my hand to the
    horse's neck. We arrived at Monticello, and I was chained all night.

    The next day I was conveyed to Waterloo, and delivered into the
    custody of the sheriff of Clark county. I was kept under a strong
    guard by day, and at night chained to one of the guards or to the
    bedpost.

    {148} I was informed that Middleton and McCoy procured an
    indictment against me, by giving bonds to the amount of some two
    or three hundred dollars, that they would hunt up testimony to
    the point for next court, there being nothing against me but the
    affidavit of my son before alluded to; and so the grand jury found
    a bill.

    Ellison, my lawyer, deceived me, and put over my case for six
    months, because, as I suppose, I, being kidnapped, had no fees for
    him. I objected to having my trial put off for six months. I did
    not fancy the dungeon of Palmyra prison. The court concluded to
    let me to bail under bonds of $1000, but this I could not obtain.
    Subsequently it was reduced to $500, but all in vain, for I was
    unacquainted with the people.

    This was on Saturday, and I was thus left to meditate on the
    mischief that may be made out of a little matter by meddlesome men.

    On Monday I sued out a writ of habeas corpus; and after a fair
    hearing of the matter, I received the following order:--

    STATE OF MISSOURI,

    COUNTY OF CLARK. ss.

    December, 25, 1843.

    Ordered by the Clark County Court that Samuel Musgrove, sheriff
    of Clark county, discharge Daniel Avery from imprisonment, on an
    indictment found against him for the alleged crime of stealing a
    mare of Joseph McCoy.

    By order of Court.

    [Sidenote: [L. S.]]

    Witness--Willis Curd, Clerk of said court, and seal of office this
    25th of December, 1843.

    Done at office in Waterloo, date above.

    WILLIS CURD, Clerk.

    HONS. JOHN W. DEWELLIN,

    HENRY SNIVELY, Judges.

    Very early on Tuesday morning your affiant started for Nauvoo and
    arrived the same evening about sundown, a distance of nearly twenty
    miles so crippled from the iron bondage and hard usage of Missouri,
    that he is hardly able to walk. To those who assisted your said
    affiant to obtain his release from bondage, he tenders his grateful
    acknowledgements; and further your affiant saith not.

    Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 28th day of December, 1843.

    DANIEL AVERY.

    W. W. PHELPS, Clerk, M. C.

[Sidenote: Joseph H. Jackson--Prophet's Interview with.]

{149} _Friday, 29.--_At home. In the forenoon, W. W. Phelps called and
gave us a lesson on eloquence, and read my Appeal to the Green Mountain
Boys, and also a New Year's hymn without rhyme. Three p.m., I related
to Dr. Bernhisel and Joseph H. Jackson [2] my commencement in receiving
revelations. Mr. Jackson said he was almost persuaded to be one with
me. I replied, I would that he were not only almost, but altogether.

At four p.m., I met with the City Council.

[Sidenote: Police Force of Nauvoo Increased.]

Having selected forty men to act as city policemen, they met with the
Council, and were sworn into office to support the Constitution of the
United States and the State of Illinois, and obey the ordinances of
this city and the instructions of the Mayor, according to the best of
their ability.

Names of police called by Captain Jonathan Dunham:

Jonathan Dunham, High Policeman, Charles C. Rich, 1st Lieutenant,
Hosea Stout, 2nd Lieutenant, Shadrack Roundy, 3rd Lieut., John Pack,
Ensign, Jesse P. Harmon, Orderly Sergt., John D. Lee, 2nd Sergeant,
Daniel Carn, 3rd Sergeant, Josiah Arnold, 4th Sergeant, James Emmett,
1st Corporal, Alexander Mills, 2nd Corporal, Steven H. Goddard, 3rd
Corporal, William Pace, 4th Corporal, Abraham C. Hodge, Pioneer, Levi
W. Hancock, Fifer, Daniel M. Repsher, Fifer, Richard D. Sprague,
Drummer, Samuel Billings, Drummer, {150} Abraham O. Smoot, Dwight
Harding, John Lytle, Simeon A. Dunn, Andrew Lytle, Appleton M. Harmon,
Howard Egan, James Pace, Benjamin Boyce, Francis M. Edwards, Lorenzo
Clark, William H. Edwards, Davies McOlney, Moses M. Sanders, Abram
Palmer, Warren A. Smith, Isaac C. Haight, George W. Clyde, John L.
Butler, Vernon H. Bruce, Elbridge Tufts, Armsted Moffet, Truman R.
Barlow, Azra Adams.

The Mayor said--

    _Address of the Mayor to the Nauvoo Police_.

    It is expected that a part will be on duty while others rest. It
    might be expected that thieves had crept into the Church for the
    purpose of concealing their wickedness under the garb of sanctity.

    It is an abominable thing to set a thief to catch a thief; and I
    would look with the utmost contempt upon men who do this as guilty
    of a mean or cowardly act.

    Some city councils have taken thieves out of their prisons, and
    employed them as policemen, under the old and foolish adage--"Set a
    rogue to catch a rogue," which is decidedly wrong, and is corrupt
    in policy.

    You will act under the direction of Jonathan Dunham--we will call
    him High Policeman. In reality he is the captain of the police: but
    as men are apt to be frightened at a military title, we will use s
    civil title, as these policemen are all civil officers of the city.

    Captain Dunham is the man to send after a thief. He will not come
    back, after following him a mile, to ask if he may shoot him, if
    he resists. Some men have strange ears and changeable hearts: they
    become transformed from their original purity and integrity, and
    become altogether different from what they were.

    If the bloodthirsty hell-hounds of Missouri continue their
    persecution, we will be forbearing, until we are compelled to
    strike; then do it decently and in good order, and break the yoke
    effectually, so that it cannot be mended. The mob have been so
    repulsed in their last attempt at kidnapping, they may stand in
    fear, at least for a short time.

    We will be in peace with all men, so long as they will mind their
    own business and let us alone. Even "Peace with Missouri" shall
    be the motto of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
    from this {151} time forth, if they will stop their persecution
    and oppressive warfare against us. Let them alone, for they stink
    in the nostrils of the Almighty: let them alone. Porter Rockwell
    has come home clear. A Missouri grand jury could not find a bill
    against him even in Jackson county; and that proves me clear of the
    charge of being accessory of shooting Lilburn W. Boggs. Many of our
    difficulties from the State of Missouri are hurled upon us through
    the influence of some of our near neighbors.

    Governor Ford has boasted of being a law-abiding man. A governor
    certainly should be law-abiding. It is therefore our best policy to
    acquaint the Executive, by affidavits, of every violation of our
    rights, so that when the onset comes, he will be obliged by law to
    send the militia to our support. Let us keep cool as a cucumber on
    a frosty morning. Do not be excited. Say nothing about Missouri's
    oppression. "A soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stir
    up anger," therefore we "poor pussy" this generation.

    Keep a strict account of the time you serve as policemen. Have
    the ordinances of the city always in your possession, and study
    them, sad ferret out all grogshops, gambling-houses, brothels, and
    disorderly conduct; and if a transgressor resists, cuff his ears.
    If anyone lifts a weapon or presents a pistol at you, take his
    life, if need be, to preserve your own; but enforce the ordinances,
    and preserve the peace of the city, and take care of your own
    lives. Let no horses be taken away out of the city, or anything
    else stolen, if you can help it.

    Let Missouri alone. Keep out of her territory. Don't go over there
    on any business whatever. Any of this people would be subject to
    cruel abuse, if found in that State, in the same manner that Porter
    Rockwell has been. He was seized in St. Louis while attending to
    his lawful business, picked up and ironed, and thrown in jail
    without any form of law, conveyed to Independence in the custody of
    a ruffian who swore falsely in the hope of getting a reward, kept
    in irons all the way, lodged in Independence jail without even the
    form of an inquiry, chained double in a filthy, damp, unventilated
    dungeon,--chained hand and foot, so that he could not straighten
    for months, till his body was reduced to a mere skeleton, and he
    unable to walk when the irons were taken off, and he had to be
    led,--half fed on the refuse of what dogs would not eat: his case
    presented to a Jackson county grand jury, and not evidence enough
    to warrant them in even finding an indictment. After which, the
    Missouri court, in the plenitude of their justice, transmitted the
    innocent and unindicted man back to the dungeon, without fire,
    provisions, or any other comfort,--hoping by this torture, no
    doubt, to produce death, or force him to accede to an infamous
    proposition, "that whether Jo Smith was guilty or innocent, only
    come out against {152} him, you shall have your liberty, and
    receive a liberal reward." After months have passed away, without
    any shadow of law, the door is opened, and he is told to "slip off
    privately, or the people will hang you." Keep out of Missouri, if
    you don't want such treatment as this; for the Averys, Rockwell,
    and many others have been thankful to get away with their lives.

    If any man attempts to bribe you in any way whatever, or persuade
    you to neglect your duty, tell the same to me. Let us have a
    reformation.

    There are speculators in this State who are wanting to sell
    revolving pistols to us, in order to fight the Missourians, and at
    the same time inciting the Missourians to fight us. Don't buy: it
    would be better to buy ploughshares and raise corn with them.

    My life is more in danger from some little dough-head of a fool in
    this city than from all my numerous and inveterate enemies abroad.
    I am exposed to far greater danger from traitors among ourselves
    than from enemies without, although my life has been sought for
    many years by the civil and military authorities, priests, and
    people of Missouri; and if I can escape from the ungrateful
    treachery of assassins, I can live as Caesar might have lived, were
    it not for a right-hand Brutus. I have had pretended friends betray
    me. All the enemies upon the face of the earth may roar and exert
    all their power to bring about my death, but they can accomplish
    nothing, unless some who are among us and enjoy our society, have
    been with us in our councils, participated in our confidence, taken
    us by the hand, called us brother, saluted us with a kiss, join
    with our enemies, turn our virtues into faults, and, by falsehood
    and deceit, stir up their wrath and indignation against us, and
    bring their united vengeance upon our heads. All the hue-and-cry of
    the chief priests and elders against the Savior, could not bring
    down the wrath of the Jewish nation upon His head, and thereby
    cause the crucifixion of the Son of God, until Judas said unto
    them, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, he is the man; hold him fast."
    Judas was one of the Twelve Apostles, even their treasurer, and
    dipt with their Master in the dish, and through his treachery, the
    crucifixion was brought about; and _we have a Judas in our midst_.

    _The Mayor blesses the Police_.

    It shall be said in time to come, Where are our old policemen? Let
    us have one of the old policemen, to stand at our window, guard our
    interest, and protect our families, and we shall be safe.

    If you will magnify your office, the full confidence of Israel
    shall be the blessing that shall be conferred on you in time to
    come.

{153} Counselor Hyrum Smith spoke of the importance of the police
office.

The Mayor said that if any one offered a bribe to a policeman, the city
will pay that policeman twice the amount offered for the information,
when reported to the Mayor.

_Friday, 29.--_My clerk made copies of five affidavits made yesterday
by Elder Orson Hyde, Mr. Daniel Avery, and others, and sent the same to
the Governor, with the following letter:--

    _Letter to Governor Ford--Accompanying Affidavits_.

    NAUVOO, December 30, 1843.

    SIR:--I forward to your Excellency a number of affidavits relative
    to the late kidnapping of the Averys, and upon other matters.
    When the mob made efforts to resist the laws, Joseph Smith, as
    Mayor, gave notice to Major-General Law to hold a portion of the
    Nauvoo Legion in readiness; and Aaron Johnson, Esq., called for
    some troops to maintain the laws: but I am happy to say, none were
    ordered to march, as it was deemed most advisable to let Colonel
    Levi Williams and his mob flourish until indictments could be made
    at the Circuit Court of Hancock county.

    We shall continue to keep your Excellency informed upon all matters
    of moment touching the premises.

_Saturday, 30.--_At nine, a.m., held Mayor's court. Two boys, Roswell
and Evander White, were brought up for stealing six hens and a rooster.
They were sentenced to pay for the fowls, and to ten days' hard labor
each on the streets.

In the afternoon, met in the assembly room with the quorum. William Law
and wife were not present. Warm and rainy.

_Sunday, 31st.--_At home.

In the afternoon, called with Elder Parley P. Pratt to see his wife.

At early candle-light, went to prayer-meeting; administered the
sacrament; after which I retired. At midnight, about fifty musicians
and singers sang Phelps' New Year's Hymn under my window.

{154} Warm and rainy. No ice to be seen.

The subjoined list shows a few of the publications for and against the
Saints during the year.

    _Pro et con Mormonism, publications for the year 1843_.

    The _Alton Telegraph_ published several very severe articles
    against the Church.

    Edward Brotherton published a scurrilous pamphlet at Manchester,
    England, entitled "Mormonism--its Rise and Progress, and the
    Prophet Joseph Smith."

    The _Richmond Palladium_ published an amusing and favorable article
    on "Mormonism."

    The _Boston Bee_ published a series of articles favorable to the
    Saints, which had a beneficial effect in putting down prejudice and
    misrepresentation.

    A favorable account of a visit to Nauvoo was published by Samuel A.
    Prior, Methodist minister.

    The _Morning Star,_ a Freewill Baptist paper, published a long and
    bitter article against the Latter-day Saints, entitled "Mormon
    Perversion."

    A favorable article, entitled "Nauvoo and Mormonism," was published
    by a Traveler.

    The _Quincy Whig_ published several bitter articles against me.

    The _Warsaw Message,_ and subsequently the _Warsaw Signal_,
    published a continual tirade of abuse, misrepresentation, and lies
    against the Saints.

    The _New Haven_ (Con.) _Herald_ published a favorable account of
    the "Mormons" in Nauvoo.

Footnotes:

1. There was also a Memorial prepared by the Prophet from the
inhabitants of Hancock county generally to the same effect as the
above, but it was never extensively signed or presented to Congress.

2. This man afterwards was discovered to be an adventurer and a most
desperate character. Gregg in his Prophet of Palmyra, Chapter XXX,
speaks of him as "an adventurer of fine appearance and gentlemanly
manners, who appeared in the county (Hancock) during the troubles; went
to Nauvoo, and became intimate with Smith and the leaders; afterwards
turned against them--went to Warsaw and issued a pamphlet--claiming to
be an expose of Mormonism and the evil purposes and practices of the
Prophet * * * He was an entire stranger to the county and its people;
no one knew whence he came or what became of him afterwards, when the
excitement was all over. Hence it is just to say, that the equivocal
position in which he stood very justly tended to lessen confidence
of the public in his statements, and his little book made slight
impression. The Mormons charged that he was an adventurer of the worst
class--himself a counterfeiter, etc., and that he quarreled with the
Prophet and the authorities because he was detected and exposed." Gregg
also says that this "Expose was much of the same character as that of
General Bennett's." (Ibid).

{155}

CHAPTER VII.

PRESIDENT SMITH'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH JOHN C. CALHOUN--CARTWRIGHT
DROWNING CASE, ENGLAND--CITY GUARDS INCREASED--FEARS OF LAW AND
MARKS--INVESTIGATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL--RESISTANCE OF OFFICERS AT
CARTHAGE--ANTI-MORMON OBJECTIONS TO CITY ORDINANCES--THE PROPHET'S
DIFFICULTIES WITH FRANCIS M. HIGBEE--REGULATIONS FOR THE SALE OF
SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.

_Monday, January 1, 1844.--_A cold, blustering rainstorm ushered in the
new year.

At sunrise, Thomas Miller, James Leach, James Bridges, and John
Frodsham were brought before me by the police, charged with disorderly
conduct. Fined Miller $5: the others were discharged.

[Sidenote: New Year's at the Mansion.]

A large party took a new year's supper at my house, and had music and
dancing till morning. I was in my private room with my family, Elder
John Taylor and other friends.

_Tuesday 2.--_Two p.m., Hyrum Dayton was brought before Mayor's
court for disorderly conduct in resisting and abusing the police:
fined $25 and costs. His son, Lysander Dayton, for the same offense,
was sentenced to ten days' hard labor, on the public streets; and
subsequently, for contempt of court, ten days more.

Snow one inch deep.

I here insert Mr. Calhoun's answer to my letter of inquiry, dated
November 4, 1843:--

    _Letter: John C. Calhoun to Joseph Smith--Defining What Former's
    Policy would be Towards the Saints if Elected President_.

    FORT HILL, December 2, 1843.

    SIR:--You ask me what would be my rule of action relative the
    Mormons {156} or Latter-day Saints, should I be elected President;
    to which I answer, that if I should be elected, I would strive to
    administer the government according to the Constitution and the
    laws of the union; and that as they make no distinction between
    citizens of different religious creeds I should make none. As far
    as it depends on the Executive department, all should have the full
    benefit of both, and none should be exempt from their operation.

    But as you refer to the case of Missouri, candor compels me to
    repeat what I said to you at Washington, that, according to my
    views, the case does not come within the jurisdiction of the
    Federal Government, which is one of limited and specific powers.

    With respect, I am, &c., &c.,

    J. C. CALHOUN.

    Mr. JOSEPH SMITH.

To which I wrote the following reply:--

    _Letter: Joseph Smith to John C. Calhoun--The Latter's Policy
    Towards the Latter-day Saints, if Elected President of the U. S.
    Considered_.

    NAUVOO, ILLINOIS, January 2, 1844.

    Sir:--Your reply to my letter of last November, concerning your
    rule of action towards the Latter-day Saints, if elected President,
    is at hand; and that you and your friends of the same opinion
    relative to the matter in question may not be disappointed as to
    me or my mind upon so grave a subject, permit me, as a law-abiding
    man, as a well-wisher to the perpetuity of constitutional rights
    and liberty, and as a friend to the free worship of Almighty God by
    all, according to the dictates of every person's own conscience, to
    say that_ I am surprised_ that a man or men in the highest stations
    of public life should have made up such a fragile "view" of a case,
    than which there is not one on the face of the globe fraught with
    so much consequence to the happiness of men in this world or the
    world to come.

    To be sure, the first paragraph of your letter appears very
    complacent and fair on a white sheet of paper. And who, that is
    ambitious for greatness and power, would not have said the same
    thing? Your oath binds you to support the Constitution and laws;
    and as all creeds and religions are alike tolerated, they must
    of course, all be justified or condemned according to merit or
    demerit. But why--tell me why are all the principal men held up
    for public stations _so cautiously careful_, not to publish to the
    world that they will _judge a righteous judgment, law or no law?_
    for laws and opinions, like the vanes of steeples, change with the
    wind.

    One Congress passes a law, another repeals it; and one statesman
    says that the Constitution means this, and another that; and who
    does {157} not know that all may be wrong? the opinion and pledge,
    therefore, in the first paragraph of your reply to my question,
    like the forced steam from the engine of a steam-boat, makes the
    show of a bright cloud at first; but when it comes in contact with
    a purer atmosphere, dissolves to common air again.

    Your second paragraph leaves you naked before yourself, like a
    likeness in a mirror, when you say, that according to your _view,_
    the Federal Government is "one of limited and specific powers," and
    has no jurisdiction in the case of the "Mormons." So then a State
    can at any time expel any portion of her citizens with impunity:
    and, in the language of Mr. Van Buren, frosted over with your
    gracious _"views of the case,"_ though the cause is ever so just,
    Government can do nothing for them, because it has no power.

    Go on, then, Missouri, after another set of inhabitants (as the
    Latter-day Saints did,) have entered some two or three hundred
    thousand dollars' worth of land, and made extensive improvements
    thereon; go on, then, I say; banish the occupants or owners, or
    kill them, as the mobbers did many of the Latter-day Saints, and
    take their land and property as spoil; and let the Legislature,
    as in the case of the "Mormons," appropriate a couple of hundred
    thousand dollars to pay the mob for doing that job; for the
    renowned Senator from South Carolina, Mr. J. C. Calhoun, says the
    powers of the Federal Government are so _specific and limited that
    it has no jurisdiction of the case!_ O ye people who groan under
    the oppression of tyrants!--ye exiled Poles, who have felt the iron
    hand of Russian grasp!--ye poor and unfortunate among all nations!
    come to the asylum of the oppressed; buy ye lands of the General
    Government; pay in your money to the treasury to strengthen the
    army and the navy; worship God according to the dictates of your
    own consciences; pay in your taxes to support the great heads of a
    glorious nation: but remember a _"sovereign State"_ is so much more
    powerful than the United States, the parent Government, that it
    can exile you at pleasure, mob you with impunity, confiscate your
    lands and property, have the Legislature sanction it,--yea, even
    murder you as an edict of an emperor, _and it does no wrong;_ for
    the noble Senator of South Carolina says the power of the federal
    Government is _so limited and specific, that it has no jurisdiction
    of the case!_ What think ye of _imperium in imperio_?

    Ye spirits of the blessed of all ages, hark! Ye shades of departed
    statesmen, listen! Abraham, Moses, Homer, Socrates, Solon, Solomon,
    and all that ever thought of right and wrong, look down from
    your exaltations if you have any; for it is said, "In the midst
    of counselors there _is safety_;" and when you have learned that
    fifteen thousand innocent citizens, after having purchased their
    lands of the United States {158} and paid for them, were expelled
    from a "sovereign State," by order of the Governor, at the point
    of the bayonet, their arms taken from them by the same authority,
    and their right of migration into said State denied, under pain
    of imprisonment, whipping, robbing, mobbing, and even death, and
    no justice or recompense allowed; and, from the Legislature with
    the Governor at the head, down to the Justice of the Peace, with a
    bottle of whisky in one hand and a bowie-knife in the other, hear
    them all declare that there is no justice for a "Mormon" in that
    State; and judge ye a righteous judgment, and tell me when the
    virtue of the States was stolen, where the honor of the General
    Government lies hid, and what clothes a senator with wisdom. O
    nullifying Carolina! O little tempestuous Rhode Island! Would it
    not be well for the great men of the nation to read the fable
    of the _partial judge;_ and when part of the free citizens of a
    State had been expelled contrary to the Constitution, mobbed,
    robbed, plundered, and many murdered, instead of searching into the
    course taken with Joanna Southcott, Ann Lee, the French Prophets,
    the Quakers of New England, and rebellious negroes in the slave
    Slates, to hear both sides and then judge, rather than have the
    mortification to say, "Oh, it is _my_ bull that has killed _your_
    ox! That alters the case! I must inquire into it; _and if, and
    if_--!"

    If the General Government has no power to reinstate expelled
    citizens to their rights, there is a monstrous hypocrite fed
    and fostered from the hard earnings of the people! A real "bull
    beggar" upheld by sycophants. And although you may wink to the
    priests to stigmatize, wheedle the drunkards to swear, and raise
    the hue-and-cry of--"Impostor! false prophet! G--d--n old Joe
    Smith!" yet remember, if the Latter-day Saints are not restored
    to all their rights and paid for all their losses, according to
    the known rules of justice and judgment, reciprocation and common
    honesty among men, that God will come out of His hiding place, and
    vex this nation with a sore vexation: yea, the consuming wrath
    of an offended God shall smoke through the nation with as much
    distress and woe as independence has blazed through with pleasure
    and delight. Where is the strength of Government? Where is the
    patriotism of a Washington, a Warren, and Adams? And where is a
    spark from the watch-fire of '76, by which one candle might be lit
    that would glimmer upon the confines of Democracy? Well may it be
    said that one man is not a state, nor one state the nation.

    In the days of General Jackson, when France refused the first
    instalment for spoliations, there was power, force, and honor
    enough to resent injustice and insult, and the money came: and
    shall Missouri, filled with negro-drivers and white men stealers,
    go "unwhipped of justice" for tenfold greater sins than France? No!
    verily, no! While {159} I have powers of body and mind--while water
    runs and grass grows--while virtue is lovely and vice hateful; and
    while a stone points out a sacred spot where a fragment of American
    liberty once was, I or my posterity will plead the cause of injured
    innocence, until Missouri makes atonement for all her sins, or
    sinks disgraced, degraded, and damned to hell, "where the worm
    dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

    Why, sir, the powers not delegated to the United States and the
    States belong to the people, and Congress sent to do the people's
    business have all power; and shall fifteen thousand citizens groan
    in exile? O vain men! will ye not, if ye do not restore them to
    their rights and $2,000,000 worth of property, relinquish to
    them, (the Latter-day Saints,) as a body, their portion of power
    that belongs to them according to the Constitution? Power has its
    convenience as well as inconvenience. "The world was not made for
    Caesar alone, but for Cassius too."

    I will give you a parable. A certain lord had a vineyard in a
    goodly land, which men labored in at their pleasure. A few meek
    men also went and purchased with money from some of these chief
    men that labored at pleasure a portion of land in the vineyard,
    at a very remote part of it, and began to improve it, and to eat
    and drink the fruit thereof,--when some vile persons, who regarded
    not man, neither feared the lord of the vineyard, rose up suddenly
    and robbed these meek men, and drove them from their possessions,
    killing many.

    This barbarous act made no small stir among the men in the
    vineyard; and all that portion who were attached to that part of
    the vineyard where the men were robbed rose up in grand council,
    with their chief man, who had firstly ordered the deed to be done,
    and made a covenant not to pay for the cruel deed, but to keep the
    spoil, and never let those meek men set their feet on that soil
    again, neither recompense them for it.

    Now, these meek men, in their distress, wisely sought redress
    of those wicked men in every possible manner, and got none.
    They then supplicated the chief men, who held the vineyard at
    pleasure, and who had the power to sell and defend it, for redress
    and redemption; and those men, loving the fame and favor of
    the multitude more than the glory of the lord of the vineyard,
    answered--"Your cause is just, but we can do nothing for you,
    because we have no power."

    Now, when the lord of the vineyard saw that virtue and innocence
    were not regarded, and his vineyard occupied by wicked men, he
    sent men and took the possession of it to himself, and destroyed
    those unfaithful servants, and appointed them their portion among
    hypocrites.

    And let me say that all men who say that Congress has no power to
    restore and defend the rights of her citizens have not the love of
    the truth abiding in them. Congress has power to protect the nation
    against {160} foreign invasion and internal broil; and whenever
    that body passes an act to maintain right with any power, or to
    restore right to any portion of her citizens, it is the _supreme
    law of the land;_ and should a State refuse submission, that State
    is guilty of _insurrection or rebellion,_ and the President has
    as much power to repel it as Washington had to march against the
    "whisky boys at Pittsburgh," or General Jackson had to send an
    armed force to suppress the rebellion of South Carolina.

    To close, I would admonish you, before you let your _"candor
    compel"_ you again to write upon a subject great as the salvation
    of man, consequential as the life of the Savior, broad as the
    principles of eternal truth, and valuable as the jewels of
    eternity, to read in the 8th section and 1st article of the
    Constitution of the United States, the _first, fourteenth_ and
    _seventeenth_ "specific" and not very "limited powers" of the
    Federal Government, what can be done to protect the lives, property
    and rights of a virtuous people, when the administrators of the law
    and law-makers are unbought by bribes, uncorrupted by patronage,
    untempted by gold, unawed by fear, and uncontaminated tangling
    alliances--even like Caesar's wife, not only _unspotted, but
    unsuspected!_ And God, who cooled the heat of a Nebuchadnezzar's
    furnace or shut the mouths of lions for the honor of a Daniel, will
    raise your mind above the narrow notion that the General Government
    has no power, to the sublime idea that Congress, with the President
    as Executor, is as almighty in its sphere as Jehovah is in his.

    With great respect, I have the honor to be

    Your obedient servant,

    JOSEPH SMITH.

    HON. ("MR") J. C. CALHOUN,

    Fort Hill, S. C.

[Sidenote: Release of Pugmire and Cartwright from Prison, England.]

Jonathan Pugmire, Senior, and Thomas Cartwright discharged by Judge
Whitehead, at Chester, England. The judge would not allow the costs
of prosecution or witnesses to be paid by the Crown. It was very
evident that the Church of England ministers were at the bottom of the
machinations, and were sorely discomfited at the result. I insert the
statement of the unfortunate occurrence given by Jonathan Pugmire,
Junior:--

    _Cartwright Drowning--Accident at a Baptism in England_.

    Thomas Cartwright was baptized November 6, 1843, unknown to his
    wife, by Elder Jonathan Pugmire, Senior; but she had mistrusted he
    {161} had gone to the water, and went to Pugmire's house the same
    evening, and inquired where Tom was, (meaning her husband). Mrs.
    Pugmire answered she did not know.

    After this, Mrs. Cartwright went out and met them returning from
    the waters of baptism, and shouted--"Damn you, I'll dip ye!" and
    expressing her determination to have revenge on Pugmire's family,
    she used a great deal of very bad language.

    Some of the neighbors (not belonging to the Church) advised her not
    to speak too much against the Latter-day Saints, as she might yet
    become convinced of the truth of their doctrines and be baptized
    herself. She replied, "I hope to God, if ever I am such a fool,
    that I'll be drowned in the attempt!"

    A short time afterwards, in consequence of her husband talking
    to her about the truths of the Gospel, she consented to go to
    Pugmire's house and hear for herself.

    After attending a few times she told her husband she had a dream,
    in which she saw it was a fearful thing to fall in the hands of the
    living God, and requested to be baptized.

    Mrs. Pugmire talked with her, reminding her of her harsh
    expression. She confessed all, and said, "I am very sorry; and as
    my conduct is known to all this neighborhood, I do not wish to have
    my baptism public, but to have it done privately; and I wish no
    female to accompany me to the water but you."

    On the night of her baptism (November 23, 1843), she was conducted
    to the water by her husband and Elder Pugmire, witnessed by Mrs.
    Pugmire and James Moore. Previous to this time, Elder Pugmire had
    baptized eight or ten persons in the same place.

    On arriving at the water, they found the creek had overflowed its
    banks, in consequence of a heavy rain which had fallen that day.
    Elder Pugmire examined its banks, and concluded he could attend to
    the ordinance without going into the regular bed of the creek.

    This was done; but on raising Mrs. Cartwright, and as they were
    walking out, they both went under the water.

    It was afterwards discovered that the water had undermined the
    bank, and it gave way under their feet. Meantime, Thomas Cartwright
    leaped into the creek and seized hold of his wife's petticoat; but
    the water carried her off, and left the garment in his hand.

    James Moore got hold of Elder Pugmire by the hair of his head, Mrs.
    Pugmire holding Moore's hand, and thus they dragged him out.

    Moore then ran to the village to give the alarm. On his return, he
    found Cartwright about one hundred yards from where he leaped in,
    {162} with his head above water, holding on to the stump of a tree.
    He said he could not have remained in that situation one minute
    longer.

    George Knowlen swam the stream and got him out; but his wife was
    not found until the day following, when she was found about two
    hundred yards from where the accident occurred, standing upon her
    feet, with her head above water, the stream having fallen about two
    feet.

    On Pugmire reaching home, a Church of England minister had him
    arrested and dragged from his family the same evening, and kept in
    custody of a constable until a coroner's inquest was held on the
    body of the deceased.

    After she was buried, Cartwright was arrested, and both were sent
    to Chester jail, to wait their trial before the judge of assize.
    They were in confinement six weeks and three days before their
    trial came on.

    The judge (Whitehead) remarked to the jury that baptism was an
    ordinance of our religion, and that it was a mere accident which
    had occurred. He advised the jurymen to be very careful how they
    examined the case before them--that it was an ordinance instituted
    by God (at that moment the Lord spoke by the voice of thunder,
    which shook the court house,) and advised the prisoners to be very
    careful in the future to select a proper place for the performance
    of that rite. They were then set free.

    During their imprisonment, Pugmire had a vision, in which he was
    informed that they would be liberated; and he told Cartwright to be
    of good cheer, for they certainly would be acquitted.

_Wednesday 3_.--At home.

At noon, met with the City Council. The following is a copy of the
minutes:--

    _Difficulty of Wm. Law et al. With the Police_.

    SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL, Jan. 3, 1834, 2 o'clock.

    Names of members called. All present.

    The mayor directed the marshal to notify William Law and John
    Snyder that the council was in session, and informed the council
    that William Law had said to his brother Hyrum that the police had
    been sworn by him (the Prophet) secretly to put Law out of the way.
    [The Prophet said] "I have had no private conversation with any of
    the police but the high policeman, Jonathan Dunham, and that was
    to request him to have especial care of my personal safety, as I
    apprehended attempts to kidnap me by the Missourians." He called
    on the policemen to say if they had received any private oath from
    him, when they all said, "No."

    Councilor Hyrum Smith said that William Law told him the police
    {163} had sworn him (Law) to keep the secret, which was that he was
    to be put out of the way in three months.

    The mayor said he wished policemen to understand forever that all
    he wanted was that they should execute the ordinances of the city
    and his orders according to law.

    Several of the police called for the individual to be named who
    made the statement to William Law.

    The mayor said he thought proper that William Law should come and
    make his statement to the council on oath.

    The mayor then said to the police, "If you see a man stealing, and
    you have told him three times to stand, and warned him that he is
    a dead man if he does not stand, and he runs shoot off his legs.
    The design of the office of the police is to stop thieving; but an
    enemy should not be harmed until he draws weapons upon you."

    William Law came in, and was sworn to tell the whole truth touching
    the case before the council.

    William Law said he had been informed that some of the policemen
    had had another oath administered besides the one administered to
    them publicly: that one of them said there was a Judas in General
    Smith's cabinet,--one who stood next to him; and he must be taken
    care of, and that he must not be allowed to go into the world,
    but must be taken care of; and he was not only a dough-head and a
    traitor like Judas, but an assassin like Brutus: that the idea had
    been advanced that the scriptures support such a doctrine.

    _Alderman Harris._ Who is the person? and who told you?

    _Law._ I am under obligations _not_ to tell.

    _Alderman Harris._ That is immaterial. You are bound to disclose
    the whole truth here by virtue of your oath.

    _Law._ I am afraid to tell. One oath is as good as another.

    The Mayor said he would protect him. He was bound to tell.

    _Law._ Eli Norton told me.

    _Alderman Harris_. Was Eli Norton of the police?

    _Law._ No; but he got his information from Daniel Carn, who is a
    policeman.

    The marshal was sent to bring Eli Norton.

    The mayor said to the police--"On conditions I have had no private
    conversation with any of you, rise up and change the breech of your
    gun upwards," when all arose and changed the positions of their
    guns as indicated.

    Counselor Hyrum Smith considered the matter very alarming when
    he heard it. He referred to Dr. Sampson Avard's and John Carl's
    treachery and false swearing in Missouri, and rehearsed what was
    said by the mayor to the police in the former council.

    {164} The mayor said, "The reason why I made the remarks I did
    was on account of the reports brought from Missouri jail by O. P.
    Rockwell, that my enemies were determined to get me into their
    power and take my life, and thereby thought they would accomplish
    the overthrow of 'Mormonism.' And to enable them to effect this,
    they had secured the services of some of my most confidential
    friends, whom I did not suspect, and who were living in Nauvoo, to
    deliver me into their hands so that their religious organizations
    upon their own principles might stand; for they feared that
    'Mormonism' would destroy their present religious creeds,
    organizations, and orthodox systems. They did not design to try me,
    but hang me, or take my life anyhow: that they had a man in our
    midst who would fix me out, if they could not get me into their
    power without." He then referred to his remarks at the previous
    council.

    Minutes of last council being called for, were then read.

    Eli Norton sworn.

    _Question by the Mayor_ Did Carn say I had administered a private
    oath?

    Norton. No. Did not say much about Law. Did not say you had ever
    administered any private oath. Carn never intimated to me that
    Law must be put out of the way. Did not call William Law's name,
    nor any other name. Did not say the policemen had received a
    private oath. Understood Carn to say they had received private
    instructions; and if a man could not keep a secret, he was not
    worthy of a place in the Church. Did not say the mayor had given
    him a private charge. Did not tell where the danger was expected to
    come from. Told me there were dough-heads about. Did not say the
    dough-heads were in danger, but the mayor was in danger from the
    dough-heads.

    _Question by William Law:_ Did you not understand from Brother
    Carn that he was suspicious of some person near Joseph being a
    dough-head, and that that person was myself?

    _Answer:_ He mentioned a dough-head as being very near Joseph,
    and he guessed you was the man; and I thought it might be that
    Daniteism was not done with.

    _Mayor:_ Tell what you know that made you so alarmed about Brother
    Law.

    _Answer:_ There was no chain to the conversation; but I drew
    the inference that Brother Law was the dough-head from Carn's
    conversation; but Carn did not name Law.

    _Daniel Carn was sworn:_ Said, "I told Brother Norton that certain
    men had been counseled by the Prophet to invest their means in
    publishing the new translation of the Bible; and they instead of
    obeying that counsel, had used their property for the purpose of
    building a {165} steam-mill and raising a hundred acres of hemp;
    and the Lord had not blessed them in the business, but sunk their
    hemp in the Mississippi river. I told him it was my opinion that
    Brother Law was the dough-head referred to.

    I have had no secret conversation whatever with the mayor, and
    never received any charge except the one, with the rest of the
    police, before the city council.

    The mayor suggested the propriety, since Rockwell and others are
    clear, and we have the promise of protection from the governor; and
    as the police are now well organized, that they put up their guns
    and that the council pass such an order. The Danite system alluded
    to by Norton never had any existence. It was a term made use of by
    some of the brethren in Far West, and grew out of an expression I
    made use of when the brethren were preparing to defend themselves
    from the Missouri mob, in reference to the stealing of Macaiah's
    images (Judges chapter 18)--If the enemy comes, the Danites will be
    after them, meaning the brethren in self-defense.

    The mayor instructed the police to lay up their arms till further
    orders.

    At half past four p.m. council adjourned.

[Sidenote: Reconciliation of the Prophet and Wm. Law.]

The council spent nearly the whole day in investigating the subject
and examining these two witnesses. The police were all sworn and
cross-examined by William Law and the aldermen, and the result showed
nothing but imagination, having grown out of the surmises of Daniel
Carn; upon which Law became satisfied, shook hands with me, declaring
he did not believe a word of the story, and said he would stand by me
to the death, and called the whole council and the police to witness
his declaration.

_Thursday 4.--_At home.

[Sidenote: Repartee of Joseph and Emma Smith]

I took dinner in the north room, and was remarking to Brother Phelps
what a kind, provident wife I had,--that when I wanted a little bread
and milk, she would load the table with so many good things, it would
destroy my appetite. At this moment Emma came in, while Phelps, in
continuation of the conversation said, "You must do as Bonaparte
did--have a little table, just large enough for the victuals you want
yourself." {166} Mrs. Smith replied, "Mr. Smith is a bigger man than
Bonaparte: he can never eat without his friends." I remarked, "That is
the wisest thing I ever heard you say."

_Friday 5.--_At home.

Last night I dreamed I saw two serpents swallowing each other tail
foremost.

[Sidenote: Alarm of William Marks.]

Another tempest in a tea-pot, or big fuss about nothing at all. In
consequence of the night being severely cold, some persons built a
fire on the bank of the river, nearly opposite William Marks' house.
He then became afraid, and concluded he must either be the Brutus or
the dough-head, and lay awake all night, thinking the police had built
the fire to kill him by! In the morning he called on me, reported the
circumstances and expressed his fears, when another session of inquiry
was held by the city council at his request, and the police sworn and
questioned. The following is a synopsis of the minutes:--

    _Special Session of the City Council--Fears of Wm. Law and Marks._

    [Sidenote: Friday, January 5, 1834, 11 a.m.]

    Names of members called.

    Prayer by O. Spencer.

    Minutes of the last two councils read and approved.

    Object of the council stated by the mayor, similar to the last
    council as William Law and William Marks had considered themselves
    in danger. When he heard the report he was unwilling to believe
    anything about it, from the course the thing took in the last
    council; but, for the sake of others, he had called this council.

    As Leonard Soby was going home night before last, he was hailed by
    a supposed policeman with a gun, which frightened him. Soby says
    that a policeman had told him that Marks and Law must not cross his