| 558 seem ripening for it-there has been a general election of members of Parliament, last month; there were serious riots in different parts between the Whigs and Tories-the Tories have got the majority, so we need not expect any good from that quarter-the season has been the most unfavorable I have known since we have been here, it has been very cold and rainy, I think it has rained every day for forty days past-great fears are entertained for the crops-business of every kind is quite dull, and every thing very dear.
Times and Seasons.
City of Nauvoo,
Friday, Oct. 1, 1841,
Our readers will find in this paper, refutations, to some of the false and slanderous reports in circulation against us. The article from the Philadelphia Ledger, by "J. L." will be perused with pleasure, as it is a statement of facts as they are.
The river at this place, has raised some eight or ten inches in a few days past, and is still rising; it is anticipated that Steam Boats of the larger class will be able to ascend and decend [descend] the rapids, soon.
From the N. Y. Evangelist.
"It is stated in the Banner and Pioneer that a law has been passed by the authorities of Nauvoo, "with a heavy fine annexed, as a penalty for speaking against the Mormon doctrine." Such a measure, in this land of freedom of speech, must be suicidal to as any dogma or any set of opinions."
We pronounce the above, a base FALSEHOOD, notwithstanding it came from our good Baptist friends. Comment is useless in this case, as there is no argument sufficiently powerful to induce our religious enemies to tell the truth concerning us, when a lie will answer their ends better. Here follows the law, and the only law, on that subject:
An Ordinance in relation to religious societies.
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, That the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter Day Saints, Quakers, Episcopalians, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, and all other religious sects, and denominations, whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges, in this city, and should any person be guilty of ridiculing, abusing, or otherwise depreciating another, in consequence of his religion, or of disturbing, or interrupting, any religious meeting, within the limits of this city, he shall on conviction thereof before the Mayor, or Municipal Court, be considered a disturber of the public peace, and fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of said Mayor, or Court,
Sec. 2. It is hereby made the duty of all municipal officers to notice, and report to the Mayor, any breach or violation of this or any other ordinance of this City that may come within their knowledge, or of which they may be advised; and any officer aforesaid is hereby fully authorized to arrest all such violators of rule, law, and order, either with, or without, process.
Sec. 3. This ordinance to take effect and be in force, from and after its passage. Passed, March 1st, A. D. 1841.
John C. Bennett, Mayor.
James Sloan, Recorder.
[From the (Philadelphia) Public Ledger.]
Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted.
To the Editors of the Ledger:
Gentlemen:-The following remarks were written under an irresistible impulse occasioned by reading a catalogue of charges, of a criminal nature, preferred against the Mormons, by the Editors of the Saturday Courier, in their paper of the 10 of July. The conductors of that journal having declined publishing it, under an impression that their characters as true chroniclers of events would become somewhat tarnished, you will please give it an insertion in your valuable paper, and in doing so aid the cause of truth, which is the only object the writer has in view.
To the Editors of the Sat. Courier:-Gentlemen: To expect an Editor to publish in his paper any thing calculated to detract from his merit as a man of truth, or to lessen him in the estimation of his readers, is, I am persuaded, "reckoning without our host." Other Editors are not disposed to publish in their journals long essays having a tendency to reflect upon or expose the misrepresentations of their cotemporaries [contemporaries] , without levying a heavy tax upon the purse of the writer-hence we find so much rancor and ill
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