| 575 POETRY For the Times and Seasons.
THE ASSASSINATION OF GEN'LS JOSEPH SMITH AND HYRUM SMITH, FIRST PRESIDENTS OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS; WHO WERE MASSACRED BY A MOB, IN CARTHAGE, HANCOCK COUNTY, ILL, ON THE 27TH JUNE, 1844; BY MISS ELIZA R. SNOW.
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar, the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."-Rev. 6:-9,10,11.
Ye heavens attend! Let all the earth give ear! Before on earth, at once, have never stood
Let Gods and seraphs, men and angels hear- Since the creation-men whom God ordained
The worlds on high-the universe shall know To publish truth where error long had reigned;
What awful scenes are acted here below! Of whom the world, itself unworthy prov'd:
Had nature's self a heart, her heart would bleed; It KNEW THEM NOT; but men with hatred mov'd
For never, since the Son of God was slain And with infernal spirits have combined
Has blood so noble, flow'd from human vein Against the best, the noblest of mankind!
As that which now, on God for vengeance calls
From "freedom ground"-from Carthage prison walls! Oh persecution! shall thy purple hand
Spread utter destruction through the land?
Oh! Illinois! thy soil has drank the blood Shall freedom's banner be no more unfurled?
Of prophets martyr'd for the truth of God. Has peace indeed, been taken from the world?
Once lov'd America! what can atone Thou God of Jacob, in this trying hour
For the pure blood of innocence, thou'st sown? Help us to trust in thy almighty pow'r;
Were all thy streams in teary torrents shed Support thy Saints beneath this awful stroke-
To mourn the fate of those illustrious dead; Make bare thine arm to break oppression's yoke.
How vain the tribute, for the noblest worth We mourn thy Prophet, from whose lips have flow'd
That grac'd thy surface, O degraded Earth! The words of life, thy spirit has bestow'd-
A depth of thought, no human art could reach
Oh wretched murderers! fierce for human blood! From time to time, roll'd in sublimest speech,
You've slain the prophets of the living God, From the celestial fountain, through his mind,
Who've born oppression from their early youth. To purify and elevate mankind:
To plant on earth, the principles of truth. The rich intelligence by him brought forth,
Is like the sun-beam, spreading o'er the earth.
Shades of our patriotic fathers! Can it be,
Beneath your blood-stained flag of liberty: Now Zion mourns-she mourns an earthly head:
The firm supporters of our country's cause, The Prophet and the Patriarch are dead!
Are butchered while submissive to her laws? The blackest deed that men or devils know
Yes, blameless men, defam'd by hellish lies Since Calv'ry's scene, has laid the brothers low!
Have thus been offer'd as a sacrifice One in their life, and one in death-they prov'd
T'appease the ragings of a brutish clan, How strong their friendship-how they truly lov'd:
That has defied the laws of God and man! True to their mission, until death, they stood,
'Twas not for crime or guilt of theirs, they fell- Then seal'd their testimony with their blood.
Against the laws they never did rebel. All hearts with sorrow bleed, and every eye
True to their country, yet her plighted faith Is bathed in tears-each bosom heaves a sigh-
Has proved an instrument of cruel death! Hart [heart] broken widows, agonizing groans
Are mingled with the helpless orphans moans!
Where are thy far-fam'd laws-Columbia! where
Thy boasted freedom-thy protecting care? Ye Saints! be still, and know that God is just-
Is this a land of rights? Stern-FACTS shall say With steadfast purpose in his promised trust.
If legal justice here maintains its sway, Girded with sackcloth, own his mighty hand,
The official pow'rs of State are sheer pretence [pretense] And wait his judgments on this guilty land!
When they're exerted in the Saints defence [defense]. The noble martyrs now have gone to move
The cause of Zion in the courts above.
Great men have fall'n and mighty men have died-
Nations have mourn'd their favorites and their pride;
But TWO, so wise, so virtuous, great and good, Nauvoo, July 1, 1844.
THE TIMES AND SEASONS,
Is Printed and Published about the first and fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, by JOHN TAYLOR EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Terms.-Two Dollars per annum, payable in all cases in advance. Any person procuring five new subscribers, and forwarding us Ten Dollars current money, shall receive one volume gratis. All letters must be addressed to John Taylor, editor, POST PAID, or they will not receive attention.
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