| 444 short of legislative or judicial power is capable of enforcing a remedy. I myself had the honor of calling the attention of the legislature to this subject at the last session; but a large majority of both political parties in that body, either did not see the evil which you complain of; or if they did they repeatedly refused to correct it. And yet a call is made upon me to do that which all parties refused to do at the last session. I have also been called upon to take away the arms from the Mormons: to raise a militia to arrest a supposed fugative [fugitive]; and in fact to repeal some of the ordinances of the city of Nauvoo. Hancock county is justly famed for its intelligence: and I cannot believe that any of its citizens are so ignorant as not to know that I have no power to do these things. The absurd and preposterous nature of these requests give some color, to the charge that they are made for political effect only. I hope that this charge is untrue; for in all candor, it would be more credible to those concerned to have their errors attributed to ignorance than to a disposition to embroil the country in the horrors of war, for the advancement of party ends. But if there should be any truth in the charge, (which God forbid) I affectionately entreat all the good citizens engaged in it, to lay asside [aside] their designs, and yield up their ears to the voice of justice, reason, and humanity. All that I can do, at present is, to admonish both parties to beware of carrying matters to extremity. Let it come to this; let a state of war ensue, and I will be compelled to interfere with executive power. In that case also, I wish in a friendly, affectionate, and candid manner, to tell the citizens of Hancock county, Mormons and all, that my interference will be against those who shall be the first transgressors. I am bound by the laws and the constitution to regard you all as citizens of the state, possessed of equal rights and privileges; and to cherish the rights of one as dearly as the rights of another. I can know no distinction among you except that of assailant and assailed.
I hope, Dear Sir, you will do me the favor to publish this letter in the papers of your county, for the satisfaction of all persons concerned.
I am, with the highest respect, your obedient servant,
THOMAS FORD.
NEW ZEALAND SUPERSTITIONS.
Man, according to the notions of the natives, is endowed with an immortal incorporeal spirit, which at his death departs from his body, and goes as a falling star to the nether world, the entrance to which is down the face of a rocky cliff at the Cape Maria, von Diemen. An ancient tree stands there, upon the branches of which the spirit descends. The natives hold this place in great awe and veneration; and even christian natives who accompanied me would not go near it. But the spell has been partly broken by a missionary cutting off the branch of the tree on which the spirit was supposed to alight. In the interior the natives still adhere to their ancient notions. The lower world is the common dwelling-place of spirits, but it is not the only one. Before the spirit of an hereditary chief descends into it, it goes into Heaven; there his left eye remains and becomes a star. In the lower world the spirits live as men do on earth; but they can leave it. and influence the actions and the fate of those who are alive, communicating with them through the medium of the priests who bear them. Their voice has a whistling sound which others beside the priests sometimes perceive, when they walk out in the dark. If travelers come into the neighborhood of the infernal regions, they throw down a piece of fern or of the slikaw palm, to let the spirits know whether the wanderers are inhabitants of the open land or forest. The spirits often speak in dreams to the priest or chief who announces their communications in the moons; and these often lead to important resolutions. Duffeaback's Travels in New Zealand.
For the Times and Seasons.
Clinton County, Indiana, Feb. 5, 1844.
Brother Taylor:-As it may not be uninteresting to you to hear how the stone of the mountain is rolling forth in this part of the country, I would just say that there has been several elders through this section of country, and that elder Standage is now in this part. Six have been baptized in Clinton township, and many are enquiring [inquiring] for the truth. We should like to see more laborers here, there are calls on the right and on the left; prejudice is giving way, and I think I might safely say that ten faithful laborers might be set to work in these parts. The world tell us many things about the Saints and Nauvoo, also about brother Joseph, but blessed be the Lord, while we find by reading the Times and Seasons, that while all is storm, tempest and confusion through the country respecting the Saints at home, and things are going on well with you at Nauvoo. Hoping you may continue to abound in every good work.
I remain your's [yours] in the everlasting covenant.
ALFRED HALL
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