| 43 destroyed, when our wisest men had stood confounded, and have not known what method to adopt to save the State from ruin. While all hearts have fainted the Mormons have been pouring in a flood of emigration, which is unprecedented in the history of this State; and with that emigration a proportionate increase of wealth;-they have built up a city which bids fair soon, to be the largest city in the west. They have converted a desolate waste into fields and gardens; they have enhanced the value of property, for many miles around Nauvoo, tenfold; they have created a market that takes in a great portion of the surplus produce, that is raised within thirty and forty miles of Nauvoo; and in the city of Nauvoo alone (which three years ago was a barren waste) their city and couuty [county] tax amounts to upwards of four thousand dollars, (as per last assessment:) they have commenced some splendid buildings, that in point of magnitude, architectural design, elegant workmanship, and splendid appearance, will rival or outvie any buildings in the west, and will be an ornament to the State of Illinois; and they have also raised a large independent military body which does honor to the State, and is one of its strongest defences [defenses]; they are making arrangements to manufacture pottery that will equal the finest porcelain ware; that now have to be imported from England, at an enormous expense; and have it in contemplation to manufacture iron and also cotton, silk, and woolen goods: and is this as injury to the citizens of Illinois? The Mormons have also maintained as good morals, and there have been as few delinquencies among them, as among the same number of people in this, or any other State in the Union.-Can it be possible then that "the people of Illinois" should desire to proscribe our privileges? We believe not. The Mormons as Mr. McClernand states "have been persecuted," and political demagogues, religious bigots, and partisan papers, have fanned the flame, and made dishonorable use of religious prejudice for political effect; but do these men call themselves "the people of Illinois." Will that honorable body of men composing the Legislative Assembly be governed by such illiberal views; or will the respectable and enlightened portion of the inhabitants of this State subscribe to such narrow contracted, bigoted, and antirepublican [anti-republican] views? God forbid! we believe they will not.
The following from the Chicago Democrat sustains us in our remarks, pertaining to slander and persecution:
JOSEPH SMITH
"We do not pick up a single newspaper but has something to say about this distinguished sectarian. One locates him here and another there. One says he is doing this evil thing and another that. When, in fact, they know nothing about him. We are in the regular receipt of the Nauvoo papers, one of which, religious, the Times & Seasons, is edited by him; and, all through the excitement, he has been at Nauvoo diligently attending to his own business. Ours is a political paper and it shall favor no religious sect at all, but shall deal with all fairly. Now what good does all this lying and abuse about the Mormon Prophet do? A joke at his expense or any one else's can be appreciated and passed over, But, at the present time, the matter is carried too far and, so far as our foreign press' (he might also have added with propriety some of the presses of this State 'is concerned, the Mormons are a belied and persecuted sect. Joseph Smith has as good a right to set up a creed as Mahommed, Luther, Calvin, King Henry the VIII, Wesley, Campbell, or Parson Miller. His doctrines will go for what they are worth and no more. Abuse never injured a cause nor did slander ever make a man's friends the less in the end. Give Joseph Smith his due. Tell the truth about him and there stop. He asks no more, nor should any one else."
It is however stated by a honorable member (Mr. Johnson) 'that Jo. (Joseph) Smith, the Mormon prophet, has used this charter to arrest himself from the civil authorities of the State, by causing himself to be brought before the Municipal Court of Nauvoo; and upon a trial of some sort discharged; and thus vauntingly let at defiance, the civil authorities of the State. And that he has openly traduced, and vilified the Governor of Missouri, and Ex-Governor Carlin, and set at defiance our institutions there can be as little doubt.' In regard to the latter statement, we should have been pleased if the honorable member had referred us to the time, circumstances, or documents, concerning Joseph Smith's setting at defiance our institutions, and vilifying the Governor: as we have no knowledge of the thing ourselves, and should very much "doubt it." But supposing it was true; what has that to do with our charter; if he has defied the institutions of the State, or vilified the Governor; let him be dealt with according to law; let him suffer for his own crimes;-he is not the inhabitants of the city of Nauvoo; he is but one individual in it: this we are told that none individual, out of about ten thousand, has done something wrong; and forsooth the whole community must be destroyed, body and bones. Oh shame where is thy blush! If we were to judge any judiciary,
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