| 134 in the civil concerns of life; these guarantee to all parties and denominations of religion equal, and indefeasible right, all alike interested; and they make our responsibilities one towards another in matters relating to temporal affairs, and the things of this life; the former principles do not destroy the latter, but bind us stronger, and make our responsibility, not only one towards another, but unto God also: hence we say, that the constitution of the United States is a glorious standard, it is founded in wisdom, it is a heavenly banner, and is to all those who are priviledged [privileged] the sweets of its liberty, like the cooling shade and refreshing water of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land: it is like a great tree under whose branches, men from every clime, can be shielded from the burning rays of an inclemment [inclement], we are deprived the protection of this glorious principle, by the cruelties of those who only look to the time being for pasturage; and who forget that the Mormons, as well as the Presbyterians and every other denomination, have equal rights to partake of the fruits of the great tree of our national liberty; yet nothwithstand- [notwithstanding] we see what we do, and feel the effects of the cruelty of the enemies of freedom; that fruit is no less precious and delicious to our taste, we cannot be weaned from the milk, neither can we be drawn from the breast, nor will we deny our religion because of the hand of oppresion [oppression], but we will hold on until death. We say that God is true, that the constitution of the United States is true, that the bible is true, the book of Mormon is true, that Christ is true, that the ministering of angels is true; and "we know we have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, whose builder and maker is God." a consolation which our oppressors cannot feel, when fortune or fate may lay its hand on them as it has on us. We ask; what is man? Remember brethren that time and chance happeneth to all men.
We subscribe ourselves your sincer [sincere] friends and brethren, in the bonds of the everlasting gospel, and prisoners of Jesus Christ.
JOSEPH SMITH JR., HYRUM SMITH, LYMAN WIGHT, CALEB BALDWIN, ALEXANDER MCRAE.
COMMUNICATIONS
To the Editors of the Times and Seasons:
Dear brethren, I request you, if consistent with your sense of propriety, to publish the following correspondence.
Br. S. Rigdon, Dear Sir, I take the liberty to address a few lines to you, which I wish to have you answer.
John Rigdon, the Campbellite preacher, and his friends, are very busy in circulating in the south part of this country, that you challenged him to a discussion of Mormonism last summer. You were to meet him on bear creek, and appointed the day, and when he came to the place, he found a letter there from you, stating that you would not attend, but you said you would attend at another time; or send a man to meet him, and you appointed the time. He appeared again at the time, and found another letter from you stating that you would not attend. he says he has the letters that he can show from you to support this fact. I find it a hard point to settle with the people. I want you to state the facts in relation, and send to me at Columbus Adams county.-yours in the new and everlasting covenant. H. W. MILLER
Nauvoo, July 8th, 1840.
BR. H. W. MILLER: Your letter of July 2nd, is received, and as my health has improved a little, I this morning answer it. My health continues very bad, and it is only at intervals that I am able to write. All I can say, or need say, about the reports of John Rigdon, and his satellites, as reported in your letter, are that they are a tissue of falsehoods, from first to last. I never challenged John Rigdon, nor any other
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