| 480 that the Latter Day Saints should go in and possess this fair land, and enjoy the fruits thereof. Accordingly there are said to be now about 2000 of these people residing on said lands, who claim by the highest possible title,-a title direct from the Creator; and they seem determined to set all human decrees at defiance. In addition to despoiling the lands of much valuable timber, they now forbid the Commissioners and Surveyors, on pain of death, to attempt a survey and partition. The arrest of their leader, it is to be hoped, will prevent the execution of their threat.
Extract of a Letter from the vicinity of Nauvoo.-"The excitement on both sides of the river against the Mormons is increasing very fast. The conduct of Jo. Smith and the other leaders, is such as no community of white men can tolerate. It is the entire absence of all moral and religihas [religious] principle, that renders them so obnoxious to the Gentiles of all denominations, wherever they reside.
"Jo Smith was yesterday arrested, between Nauvoo and Quincy, by the authorities of Illinois, on a requisition from the Governor of Missouri. May justice be meted out to him for his villiany [villainy].
"Martin Harris, who was one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and who has been for some time lecturing in Illinois against the Mormons, was found dead last week, having been shot through the head. He was no doubt murdered."
The above we copy from the New York Journal of Commerce, and which has been copied in many of the eastern papers.
It is an old adage that persons should go from home to hear news, but in this age of rail roads an steam boats we are privileged to hear sufficient while remaining at home.
According to the above article the Mormons must be a lawless banditti, a set of desperadoes [desperado's]. But what are the facts?-Let our neighbors who are not connected with the church, who mingle in our society and are acquainted with our proceedings and movements, let them speak out; and they will with us deny the false and malicious statements which have been palmed upon the Journal of Commerce, and which has been seized upon with avidity by those who seek our overthrow.
The correspondent of the Journal of Commerce was aware that such things would not gain credence here, but knowing the gullibility of the eastern press, he was satisfied they would swallow his lies.
Now, we would say, that the entire statement, with the exception of the arrest of Joseph Smith, is a tissue of lies, got up by a malignant and depraved heart for the worst and most diabolical purpose, and when we read it we could not but blush for humanity.
We pretend to no claim to any land, but what is according to the law and constitution of the United States.
The statement with regard to the murder of Martin Harris, is the climax of iniquity, and gives evidence of corruption the most foul, and a heart as black as sin and the devil can make it. It is utterly false!
These are the weapons that are used by our enemies to stop the march of truth, to raise predjudice [prejudice] in the minds of the people and to bring upon us the wrath and indignation of a people who know nothing respecting us, save what they learn through the medium of a corrupt press.
Ye editors of newspapers, who ought to be the lights of the land, and communicate truth and correct intelligence, particularly on matters which concern the peace and safety of your fellow man, we ask you, if there is any sense of justice remaining-a latent spark of humanity quivering in your bosoms-if moral honesty and virtue are yet lingering in your midst, before they take their final flight, to contradict these cruel and false statements.
We ask no right, no privilege, no immunity, but what the constitution guarantees to all its citizens, and we hold ourselves at all times amenable to the laws of the land for our conduct. This we call upon the most fastidious to deny.
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