| 514 had been heard in different places, principally in Adams County, Illinois, for some months past. 4
On February 1, 1841, the first election under the new charter was held, which resulted in the election of John C. Bennett mayor, Daniel H. Wells, William Marks, Samuel H. Smith, and N. K. Whitney aldermen; Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, C. C. Rich, J. T. Barnett, Wilson Law, D. C. Smith, J. P. Green, and Vinson Knight, councilors.
On February 3, the council met, and in accordance with the privilege granted in the charter authorized the organization of the "University of Nauvoo" and the "Nauvoo Legion."
The militia met on the 4th, and organized the Nauvoo Legion by the election of Joseph Smith, Lieutenant General; John C. Bennett, Major General;
4 THE MORMONS
We regret to learn that the fell spirit of persecution towards this religious denomination, which has cast such a reproach upon the people of Missouri, is taking root in our own State. We will not go so far as to call the leaders of the Mormons martyr-mongers, but we believe they are men of sufficient sagacity to profit by anything in the shape of persecution, and fear but little from it. To constitute martyrdom, there must be both persecution and sympathy; and with a humane people the latter follows the former. The Mormons have greatly profited by their persecution in Missouri, and let war be commenced here so that the first person shall be killed, and the cry of martyrdom is heralded throughout the Union to the great profit of the Mormons and the disgrace of our State.
But what is this Mormon religion that the intrinsic excellence of the code of our blessed Savior is insufficient to compete with it without physical force? Are we to glorify a God of infinite mercy and goodness by worshiping [worshipping] him as a Moloch who delights in human sacrifices? Will the destruction of a few enlighten the minds of the other Mormons? But there is no reasoning with religious persecutors, generally the foulest hypocrites on earth, whose burning zeal for the Lord and Savior is generally lighted up at the altar of worldly ambition. A minister who is afraid to encounter the doctrines of Joe Smith should be made to quit the pulpit; and the man who enlists in a personal crusade against the Mormons, who have a right to preach just what they please, should suffer the proper penalty for larceny, arson, or murder, as the case be. Let Illinois repeat the bloody tragedies of Missouri and one or two other States follow, and the Mormon religion will not only be known throughout our land, but will be very extensively embraced. We hope the friends of civil order in the Bounty Tract will extinguish this smoldering fire of persecution, knowing that a fire merely material can never do away with the intellectual darkness of the Mormons.-Chicago Democrat. (Times and Seasons, vol. 2 p. 303.)
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