| 620 Let us then stand aloof from all their corrupt men and measures, and wait, at least, till a man is found, who, if elected, will carry out the enlarged principles, universal freedom, and equal rights and protection, expressed in the views of our beloved prophet and martyr, General Joseph Smith.
We do not, however, offer this political advise as binding on the consciences of others; we are perfectly willlng [willing] that every member of this church should use their own freedom in all political matters; but we give it as our own rule of action, and for the benefit of those who may choose to profit by it.
Now, dear brethren, to conclude our present communication, we would exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be humble and faithful before God, and before all the people, and give no occasion for any man to speak evil of you; but preach the gospel in its simplicity and purity, and practice righteousness, and seek to establish the influence of truth, peace and love among mankind, and in so doing the Lord will bless you, and make you a blessing to all people.
You may expect to hear from us again.
BRIGHAM YOUNG,
President of the Twelve.
Nauvoo, August , 1844
MAGNA EST VERITAS, ET PRÆVALEBIT.
We use the foregoing caption, because, in the first place, it is appropriate, and in the second, the piece to which we mean to apply it, carries out the prediction, that "truth is mighty and will prevail," Slander and Mobocracy, are twins, and, for the sake of displaying their charms to a lovesick world, we can but ask a wide spread, and faithful perusal, by press and people, of the following touching remarks of a correspondent in the "Philadelphia Sun."-The writer understands his subject and tells the truth: and the gay world, religious world, and world of mankind, may speculate on Mormonism what they will, the die is cast, the deed is done, and, like he that sits on the white horse, with a bow in his hand, that cause, "goes forth conquering and to conquer!"
JOSEPH SMITH, MAYOR OF NAUVOO, MURDERED.
"The intelligence of this heart sickening event, coming to us as it did, from that polluted source, the St. Louis papers, was looked upon as incredible, not because there were wanting a sufficient number of incarnate fiends in Missouri, ready and willing to commit such an act, but because it was deemed impossible that the more sober minded people of Illinois, could harbor among them, demons of so black a die, as they must be, who murdered Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
Subsequent intelligence received from other sources, confirms the truth of the diabolical act, and puts the matter beyond dispute, that these men have been murdered-aye, cowardly murdered, after having surrendered themselves up as prisoners to the protection of the laws.
I refer to the whole letter of Gov. Ford, as contained in the United States Gazette of Saturday, the 13th instant, to satisfy the reader, that in the case of the Smiths, there has been an act not merely of illegal butchery, but a complication of the foulest treachery, the most cowardly assassination, the most unexampled atrocity. No event that has taken place since our country has had an independent existence, seems to be so horrible in all its phazes [phases] as this.
The papers of St. Louis, Warsaw, and of this city, with a few exceptions, have resorted to every subterfuge to justify the butchery of these innocent men, who had resigned themselves unrestingly and confidingly to the protection of the law, under the pledge of the highest authority in the state. In the inquirer of this city of the 9th inst., (a paper that has given us for some time past, a daily dish of abuse of the Mormons,) I find the following:
"One of the Mormons attempted to escape from prison, when a general confusion ensued around the Jail; Joe and his Mormon fellow-prisoners it seems had provided themselves with pistols, and commenced firing upon the guard within." The same paper says, "he then attempted to escape from the window, when a hundred balls entered his body, and he fell a lifeless corpse."
Now had there been any of these pretended circumstances of extenuation which the INQUIRER and other papers so greedily picked up and publish they might chuckle over their murdered victims, and rejoice at the consummation of their long meditated purposes. But the truth has been told, and shall be told, however disagreeable it may be to slanderous editors to hear it.
And what are the facts of the case? The Cincinnati Gazette states that "a mob disguised in dress, and painted black their faces, rushed into the jail, shot Hyrum dead, and killed Joe." This statement is fully corroborated by the Warsaw signal extra, of June 29 as copied by the United States Gazette of Saturday. Not a particle of evidence is there, that either of the prisoners had arms in their possession, or that they made the least resistance. Joe was it appears leaning or sitting upon a window when
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