| 268 "'Whereas, a report is in circulation that the Mormons have an idea of returning to Nauvoo, in Hancock County, Illinois, for the purpose of resettling at that place, which resettlement in the unanimous opinion of this community would be a great calamity to the future prospects of said county; therefore
"'Resolved, by this mass meeting assembled, without respect to political parties, that we earnestly protest against the return of the Mormons to Nauvoo; that they will not be allowed by the people of Hancock County to return and make such settlement.
"Resolved, that the secretary of this meeting be directed to forward without delay a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to Joseph Smith, Jr., and also one copy for each of the newspapers in Hancock County, with request to publish the same.
"'JESSE C, WILLIAMS, President.
"'HENRY HARPER, }
"'JACOB B. STRADER, } Secretaries.'
"The minutes and resolutions of the meetings at Basco and Montebello were similar to those held at Carthage. 5
"The minutes and resolutions of the meeting at Montebello were not signed, but those of Carthage and Basco were.
"About the same time a meeting of the citizens of Nauvoo was called, and presided over by the mayor, then Robert W. McKinney,
5 Pursuant to a call for an Antimormon meeting an enthusiatic [enthusiastic] meeting of the citizens of Bear-creek assembled at Basco on Saturday evening, August 26, 1860.
On motion by Col. E S Freeman, Russle Fuller was called to the Chair, and Thomas Logan was elected secretary. The object of the meeting being stated, on motion it is ordered that the chair appoint a commitee [committee] of five, to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of this meeting.
Whereupon Emmet Doty, Charles, H. Steffey, Mathew Anderson Esq. S1ocum Wooley and Thomas Logan were appointed said commitee [committee]. The commitee [committee] on resolution, submitted the following report.
Whereas a report is in circulation to the effect that the Mormons are about, or intended to resettle at Nauvoo in Hancock county, Illinois and it being the unanimous opinion of the Citizens of Bear Creek township that such settlement would be a retrograde movement in the morals as well as a political curse to the inhabitant of said county.
Therefore. Resolved by this mass meeting assembled without any regard to political distinctions, that we are most emphatically opposed
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