| 755 councils; this is a fraud upon the country and must not be endured.
"I am afraid the people of Hancock are fast depriving themselves of the sympathy of their fellow citizens, and of the world. I strictly order and enjoin on you that you permit no attack on Nauvoo, or any of the people without my authority. I think it would be best to disband your forces, unless it should be necessary to retain them to suppress violence on either side, of this you must be the judge at present.
"I direct that you immediately order all persons from Missouri and Iowa to leave the camp and return to their respective houses without delay.
"I direct also that you cause all mutinous persons and all persons who advise tumultuous proceedings to be arrested; and that you take energetic measures to stop the practice of spreading false reports put in circulation to inflame the public mind.
"(Signed) THOMAS FORD, Commander in Chief.
"To Brigadier-General Deming, Carthage. Illinois."
The foregoing quotations, beginning with the account headed, "Awful Assassination," etc., are taken from the Times and Seasons, vol. 5, pp. 560-567.
In the editorial column of the same issue of that paper a pacific and commendable statement was published over the signatures of W W. Phelps, W. Richards, and John Taylor. 1
1 TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
Deeply impressed for the welfare of all, while mourning the great loss of President Joseph Smith, our "prophet and seer," and President Hyrum Smith, our "patriarch," we have considered the occasion demanded of us a word of consolation. As has been the case in all ages, these saints have fallen martyrs for the truth's sake, and their escape from the persecution of a wicked world, in blood to bliss, only strengthens our faith, and confirms our religion, as pure and holy. We, therefore, as servants of the Most High God, having the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, together with thousands of witnesses for Jesus Christ, would beseech the Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo, and elsewhere, to hold fast to the faith that has been delivered to them in the last days, abiding in the perfect law of the gospel. Be peaceable, quiet citizens, doing the works of righteousness, and as soon as the "Twelve" and other authorities can assemble, or a majority of them, the onward course to the great gathering of Israel, and the final consummation of the dispensation
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