| 356 the Mormons from all parts of the world to their home. I have seen them landed, and I have beheld them welcomed to their homes with the tear of joy and the gladdening smile, to share the embrace of all around. I have heard them exclaim how happy to live here! How happy to die here! and then how happy to rise here in the resurrection! It is their happiness, then why disturb the Mormons as long as they are happy and peaceable, and are willing to live so with all men. "I would say, let them live!" The inhabitants seem to be a wonderful enterprising people. The walls of the Temple have been raised considerably this summer; it is calculated, when finished to be the glory of Illinois. They are endeavoring to establish manufactories in the city. They have enclosed large farms on the prairie ground, on which they have raised corn, wheat, hemp, &c. and all this they have accomplished within the short space of four years. I do not believe that there is another people in existence who could have made such improvements in the same length of time, under the same circumstances, and here allow me to remark, that there are some here who have lately emigrated to this place, who have built themselves large and convenient houses in the town, others on their farms on the prairie, who, if they had remained at home might have continue to live in rented houses all their days, and never once have entertained the idea of building one for themselves, at their own expense. Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, is a singular character; he lives at the "Nauvoo Mansion House," which is, I understand, intended to become a home for the stranger and traveller [traveler]; and I think from my own personal observation that it will be deserving of the name. The Prophet is a kind, cheerful, agreeable companion. I believe that he has the goodwill of the community at large, and that he is ever ready to stand by and defend them in any extremity, and as I saw the Prophet and his brother Hyrum conversing together one day, I thought I beheld two of the greatest men of the nineteenth century. I have witnessed the Mormons in their assemblies on a Sunday, and I know not where a similar scene could be effected or produced. With respect to the teachings of the prophet, I must say that there are some things hard to be understood, but he invariably supports himself from our good old Bible. Peace and harmony reigns in the city. The drunkard is scarcely ever seen as in other cities; neither does the awful imprecation, or profane oath strike upon your ear; but while all is storm and tempest and confusion abroad, respecting the Mormons, all is peace and harmony at home.
With regard to the persecution in Missouri, I do not believe that the Mormons deserved it at their hands. But it is my firm belief that the Missourians did actually slay innocent men, defenceless [defenseless] women, and helpless children. From all the testimony that I have been able to gather, both from the inhabitants of Missouri and the Mormons, this is established in my mind beyond a doubt! Oh, Missouri, Missouri! what hast thou done? Thou hast slain the innocent and defenceless [defenseless]; driven twelve thousand men and women, from thy inhospitable bosom; thou has robbed them of their property-of their all; compelled them to wander on the wide-spreading prairie, in the depth of winter, there to endure cold, hunger, and thirst. Thou hast bound their leaders in chains, confined them in dungeons, without affording them a sufficiency of bread and water; feeding them on human flesh; setting demons to guard them, whose boast it was that they had robbed innocence of its charms, and trampled upon virtue with more than fiendish impunity. But cease my pen to rehearse the story, and take up a lamentation for her-the star whose glory is dimmed; the state, whose escutcheon is tarnished with deeds of inhumanity and blood. Where, oh where is Washington? Where, oh, where is your fathers, who amidst the clash of arms, and the thunder of cannon, so nobly stood forward in defence [defense] of liberty and innocence? But they are gone, and what they bled and died for is abused and trampled upon by their recreant children! Yes, trampled upon by Missouri; and thou that mightest have been the glory of the west, hast fallen, thy honors are fled, thy glory is laid in the dust, and a dark page will forever rest on thy history. But what shall be done for thee, oh thou most mighty? Wherewith shall thou be restored to thy greatness? Is thy wound incurable? Is there no balm, is there no healing medicine, is there no physician? If there is a kind, merciful heart left in Missouri-a philanthropist, he may exclaim, they shall be restored to their houses and homes, to their lands and to their all! and then shall not our glory and honors return to us gain? But justice would answer in a voice of thunder, you cannot restore the wife of him whom ye have murdered in cold blood! You cannot restore the innocent child to the fond embrace of its parent, which you, with more than savage barbarity, destroyed! Neither can you restore the virtue, which you have inhumanly [inhumanely] taken away with devilish rage! Therefore do the devils rejoice, the heavens are ashamed, and thy name will never be mentioned by the virtuous and good but with detestation
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