Mormons. -- Br. S. A. Davis of Pittsburg, Pa. has recently visited the Mormon city, Kirtland Ohio. While there he was [kindly offered] the use of the Mormon Church, the leaders of the sect [took] it upon themselves to give [information] that he [could] occupy it in preaching [-------s]. He [did so] -- and assures us that the "Latter Day Saints" manifested a spirit of [liberality] which many of their bitterest persecutors would do well to imitate. -- Star in the West.


Note: See also the New York American of July 13, 1837.

"Northern  Times."

Here is the first No. of a new political paper, issued from the Mormon press, at their head quarters in Kirtland, Geauga County. It is an imperial sheet of respectable appearance; bearing the unexceptionable motto, "Where intelligence dwells, there is freedom."

'A political paper from the Mormon press?' Even so. 'Well, what is its character? -- Who is its author?

As to its character, let us examine. Here is an editorial address of seven brevier columns! nearly two-thirds, or more than columns of which are on one subject. And what does the reader think that subject to be? an exposition of Mormonism? or an account of the wonders of the Mormon prophet, and the persecutions of the sect in Missouri? -- Oh no! not a word on that subject. It is against the United States Bank! 'What! a page of editorial matter in the first No. against that dead lion, the United States Bank!' Even so.

'Why, the editor must be about eighteen months "behind the intelligence of the age." Who is the editor?'

"O. Cowdery, Editor." 'O. Cowdery! Cowdery! Who is O. Cowdery? the name seems familiar.' Let us look into "Mormonism Unvailed," by friend Howe, and see if we can find out who O. Cowdery is.

Here it is, on page 15:

"Oliver Cowdery comes next in the catalogue. He was also a chief scribe to the prophet, while transcribing, after Martin had lost 116 pages of the precious document, by interference of the Devil. An Angel also has shown him the plates, from which the book of Mormon proceeded, as he says. He is a blacksmith by trade, and sustained a fair reputation until his intimacy commenced with the money-diggers. He was one of the many in the world who always find time to study out ways and means to live without work. He accordingly quit the blacksmithing business, and is now the editor of a small monthly publication issued under the direction of the prophet, and principally filled with accounts of the spread of Mormonism, their persecutions, and the fabled visions and commands of Smith."

'Indeed! a paper edited by one who has seen an angel, and "hefted" the golden plates of Joe Smith's bible! Why, that must be an interesting paper. Its editor under the influence of inspiration, must be a writer of great perspicuity. Let us have a specimen.' Very well; and for the sake of brevity, we'll take the shortest paragraph in the address. Here it is:

"Other leading measures of importance have characterized the conduct of our present Administration, to which we do not deem necessary now, neither have we space to recur, but merely say, have always, and still have our warm support."

'Beautiful!'

But seriously: this paper, issued at Kirtland, where there is nothing of consequence to support a paper, and purporting to enlist warmly the support of Van Buren for the Presidency, must be a humbug; unless Van Buren, having secured the subjects of the Pope of Rome, has seen fit to extend his gracious patronage to the followers of the Mormon prophet also. Which we doubt.


Notes: (forthcoming)

A  Rare  Exhibition.

We accepted the invitation of Mr. Chandler to visit last evening his exhibition, just opened at the Cleveland House, of Four Egyptian Mummies, purporting to have been obtained from Thebes, by the celebrated traveller Lobelo. The announcement of such an exhibition is very apt to bring with it the suspicion of imposition' as much probably from its rarity in this "backwoods country," as from the state of advancement which has been attained in the arts of humbugery and deception. But we have no hestitation in saying, that a very slight examination of these relics, will convince any one that there is no deception about them, and that there are in truth before him the bones and sinews, of not the flesh and blood, of four ancient beings of his own race, whose frames have survived the decay of some two thousand years. The relic forms are those of three males and one female -- of mature age, and two of them at least, evidently far advanced in life at the period of their deaths. The first sight of them produces sensations by no means pleasant -- but those feelings soon give way to others of a different character, and the more you contemplate them the more interested you become. Curiosity immediately becomes excited; a variety of queries rapidly passes through the mind -- which are by no means solved by contemplation. What nation were they of? At what age and where did they live? What were their names? their circumstances? their occupation? Were they slain in battle -- or died they a natural death by the "visitation of God?" What was the leading trait in the character of that old man, whose arms repose in a cross over his breast? Has he not truly what phrenologists call an "intellectual head?" Imagination perhaps is better than science to solve the question. And that female too -- the mother of Agamemnon, for aught that appears -- her aged head still retains the hair that graced it in youth. -- The peculiar features that distibguish the sex in our day, are distinctly preserved in this withered form. This train of thought becomes richer as it advances; and the visiter before he is aware of it, will become absorbed in meditation and awe. There will be no mirth in that hall -- or if there is, it will be forced and unnatural. An involuntary feeling of solemnity and awe will reign in its stead. We speak from experience.

The exhibitor will relate and illustrate incidents which add much to the interest of the exhibition. There was found deposited in the arms of the old man referred to above, a book of ancient form and construction, which, to us, was by far the most interesting part of the exhibition. Its leaves were of bark, in length some 10 or 12 inches, and 3 or 4 in width. The ends are somewhat decayed, but at the centre the leaves are in a state of perfect preservation. It is the writing of no ordinary penman, probably of the old man near whose heart it was deposited at the embalming. The characters are the Egyptian hieroglyphics; but of what it discourses none can tell. That probably, like the name of the author, and of the figure before you, will never be unfolded. There is also another book, more decayed, and much less neatly written -- its character and import involved in like mystery.

There is no concealment about this exhibition: the spectator is allowed to examine as critically as he pleases; and in this respect it is much more satisfactory than any similar exhibition we ever witnessed. We are not apt to speak favorably of a thousand and one performances and exhibitions with which we are annually afflicted -- which have a tendency to excite the worst passions of youth, and lead many into habits of profligacy. But that of which we have been speaking, we consider an exception to their usual character, and tendency. Mr. Chandler will remain at the Cleveland House a few days; and visitors to his interesting exhibition are taxed the moderate fee of 25 cents.

The following lines, ascribed to the poet Campbell, though not new to all our readers, contain some fine points of poetry and sentiment, and are apposite in this connexion:

ADDRESS TO THE MUMMY.
In Belzoni's Exhibition, London.

And thou hast walked about, (how strange a story!)
  In Thebes' streets, three thousand years ago,
When the Memnonium was in all its glory,
  And time had not begun to overthrow
Those temples, palaces, and piles stupendious,
  Of which the very ruins are tremendous!

Speak! for thou long enough has acted Dummy;
  Thou hast a tongue! come, let us hear its tune;
Thou’rt standing on thy legs above ground, Mummy!
  Revisiting the glimpses of the moon,
Not like thin ghosts or disembodied creatures,
  But with thy bones and flesh, and limbs and features.

Tell us! for doubtless thou canst recollect,
  To whom should we assign the Sphinx’s fame?
Was Cheops or Cephrenes the architect
  Of either pyramid that bears his name?
Is Pompey’s pillar really a misnomer?
  Had Thebes a hundred gates, as sung by Homer?

Perhaps thou art a mason, and forbidden
  By oath to tell the secrets of thy trade:
Then say, what secret melody was hidden
  In Memnon’s statue, which at sunrise played?
Perhaps thou wert a Priest. If so my struggles
  Are vain -- for priests ne'er owned their juggles.

Perchance that very hand, now pinioned flat,
  Has hob-a-nobbed with Pharaoh, glass to glass;
Or dropped a half-penny in Homer’s hat
  Or doffed thine own to let Queen Dido pass,
Or held, by Solomon’s own invitation,
  A torch at the great Temple’s dedication.

I need not ask thee if that hand, when armed,
  Has any Roman soldier mauled and knuckled,
For thou wast dead and buried and embalmed,
  Ere Romulus and Remus had been suckled:
Antiquity appears to have begun
  Long after thy primeval race was run...

Since first thy form was in this box extended,
  We have, above-ground, seen some strange mutations:
The Roman empire has begun and ended,
  New worlds have risen; we have lost old nations;
And countless kings have into dust been humbled,
  Whilst not a fragment of they flesh has crumbled.

Didst thou not hear the pother o’er thy head,
  When the great Persian conqueror, Cambyses,
Marched armies o’er thy tomb with thundering tread;
  O’erthrew Osiris, Osus, Apis, Isis,
And shook the Pyramids with fear and wonder,
  When the gigantic Memnon fell asunder?

If the Tomb’s secrets may not be confessed,
  The nature of thy private life unfold.
A heart has throbbed beneath that leathern breast,
  And tears adown that dusky cheek have rolled.
Have children climbed those knees, and kissed that face?
  What was thy name and station, age and race?

Statue of flesh! immortal of the dead!
  Imperishable type of evanescence!
Posthumous man, who quitt’st thy native bed,
  And standest undecayed within our presence,
Thou wilt hear nothing till the judgment morning,
  When the great trump shall thrill thee with its warning!

Why should this worthless tegument endure,
  If its undying guest be lost forever?
Oh let us keep the soul embalmed and pure
  In living virtue, that when both must sever,
Although corruption may our frame consume,
  The immortal spirit in the skies may bloom.

Note 1: Lewis L. Rice's Cleveland Whig was published as a weekly newspaper, beginning on Sept. 10, 1834. The paper carried a number of articles relating to Geauga County and the Kirtland Mormons. Rice was probably the author of the above report. See also the abstracts in the Annals of Cleveland for an overview of Whig articles.

Note 2: The above article is a contemporary a news report on the Chandler mummies and papryus scrolls, later purchased by officials of the Church of the Latter Day Saints at Kirtland. The Cleveland Whig ran a follow-up article on the mummies, on Aug. 5 1835 (some sources say July 31 1835) -- that article was reprinted in the Huron Reflector of Aug. 11th. See also the Mar. 27, 1835 issue of the Painesville Telegraph, for another contemporary report on Mr. Chandler's exhibition of the mummies in northern Ohio, prior to their purchase by the Mormons.

Note 3: For related material on these Chandler mummies and papyrus scrolls, see the following newspaper articles: New York Sun of July 28, 1840 and a reprint in the Quincy Whig of Oct. 17, 1840, Cincinnati Journal of Aug. 25, 1836, the Ohio Watchman of Sept. 24, 1836, St. Louis Weekley Reveille of Sept. 1, 1845 St. Louis Daily Missouri Democrat issues of August 14, 1856, May 13, 1857, and June 12, 1857, St. Louis Christian Advocate of Sept. 10, 1857, and the Lamoni, Iowa, Saints' Herald of Jan. 11, 1899

Note 4: Editor Rice dropped these verses from his reprint of the poem: Thou couldst develop, if that withered tongue
 Might tell us what those sightless orbs have seen,
How the world looked when it was fresh and young,
 And the great Deluge still had left it green;
Or was it then so old, that history’s pages
 Contained no record of its early ages?

Still silent, incommunicative elf!
Art sworn to secrecy? then keep thy vows,
 But prithee tell us something of thyself;
Reveal the secrets of thy prison-house;
 Since in the world of spirits thou hast slumbered,
What hast thou seen — what strange adventures numbered?

Mormonism in Massachusetts:-- Strange as it may seem, those senseless wretches, the Mormons, have numerous and organized societies in the neighborhood of Northampton, Mass.; and in South Hadley they have formed a junction with another precious denomination of fanatics who call themselves "Perfectionists," forsooth. Their religious exercises consist of exhortations, jumpings, dances, and so forth, and they have, says a Northampton paper, found a dozen proselytes among the highly intelligent citizens of old Hampshire. We beg the editor's pardon, but we fancy there must be some mistake about the "intelligence" aforesaid. -- U. S. Gaz.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- The old federalists, now leading the Van Buren ranks in this State, have lately acquired an accession of new recruits. -- We have hitherto omitted to inform the public, that the Mormonites, giving up for a time, as it would appear, all idea of reinstating themselves in the "Promised Land," and their "Heavenly Kingdom" in Missouri, had set their affections on things below -- 'of earth, earthly' -- the flesh pots of Egypt; or in plain prose, on the Van Buren spoils. These "latter day saints," (as they call themselves,) again congregated at their old settlement at Kirtland, Geauga county, in this State, lately put on the faith of Van Buren democracy (!) and started a Newspaper to convert unbelievers, and strengthen the weak in the new creed.

Cowdery, a leading Scribe, Private Secretary, and the Amanuensus of "Joe Smith" the prophet, in committing to writing the prophet's translations from the long-buried plates of the "Golden Bible," figures as the editor of the newspaper. He throws his brethren of the 'Hemisphere' into the shade in discoursing on the merits and consistency of the New York Magician. It is some weeks since the Mormon _______ (we forget its title -- "Democrat" of course) was put into our hands, but whether it be defunct, or alive and kicking, we are unable to say.


Note 1: See the Cleveland Whig of Feb. 18, 1835 for a more thorough review of Oliver Cowdery's Jacksonian Ohio newspaper.

Note 2: The editor of the Haverhill Essex Gazette was equally hard on Cowdery, in 1836, when he wrote: "The Mormon 'Angel,' Oliver Cowdery, has issued a proclamation as 'the words of the Lord,' for the choice of a new set of Congress men, and of himself as president of the U. States. We agree with Oliver as to the Congress men; but we are hardly prepared to consider him an 'available candidate' for the Presidency.' -- At the last accounts the Mormons were marching upon Independence Co. [sic], Misouri, resolved to take possession of 'the promised land' by force of arms. They are certainly 'the church militant.'"

MORMONISM.

THE MORMONS. -- The old federalists, now leading the Van Buren ranks in this State, have lately acquired an accession of new recruits. -- We have hitherto omitted to inform the public, that the Mormonites, giving up for a time, as it would appear, all idea of reinstating themselves in the "Promised Land," and their "Heavenly Kingdom" in Missouri, has [sic - have] set their affections on things below -- 'of earth, earthy' -- the flesh pots of Egypt; or in plain prose, on the Van Buren spoils. These 'latter day saints,' (as they call themselves,) again congregated at their old settlement at Kirtland, Geauga county, in this state, lately put on the faith of Van Buren democracy (!) and started a Newspaper to convert unbelievers, and strengthen the weak in [the] new creed.

Cowdery, a leading Scribe, Private Secretary and Amanuensis of "Joe Smith" the prophet, in committing to writing the prophet's translations from the long-buried plates of the "Golden Bible," figures as the editor of the new paper. He throws his brethren of the 'Hemisphere' into the shade in discoursing on the merits and consistency of the New York Magician. It is some weeks since the Mormon _______ (we forget its title -- "Democrat" of course) was put into our hands, but whether it be defunct, or alive and kicking, we are unable to say. -- Journal and Sentinel.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  THREE  GREAT  HUMBUGS.

Alluding to our notice of the Mormons having started a Van Buren paper in the Northern part of this State, the U. S. Telegraph thus designates the tri-colored flag: --

"Mormon, Van Buren, and Johnson -- Yellow, blue and black! Three great humbugs. The New York magician is to be the Grand Interpreter of the Mormon Bible, vice Joe Smith, who will resign after the election of his old friend from New York!

Joe is from New York, which has the honor of giving birth to the three greatest humbugs of the age -- the Specie currency, the Baltimore Caucus, and the Mormon Bible."


Notes: (forthcoming)

An  Angel  Caught.

The Magazine and Advocate says, that while the Mormon Prophet, Jo Smith, was in Ohio engaged in proselyting people to the faith of the "Golden Bible," he sought to give additional solemnity to the baptismal rite, by affirming that on each occasion an angel would appear on the opposide side of the stream, and there remain till the conclusion of the ceremony. The rite was administered in the evening in Grand River, near Painesville, not by the prophet in person, but by his disciples. In agreement with the prediction of the prophet, on each occasion a figure in white was seen on the opposite bank, and the faith of the faithful was thereby greatly increased. Suspicions, as to the incorporal nature of the repeated angel, at length induced a company of young men (unbelievers of course) to examine the quality of the ghost, and having secreted themselves they awaited its arrival. Their expectations were soon realized by its appearance in its customary position and rushing from their lair, they succeeded in forcing it into the stream, and although its efforts to escape were powerful, they succeded in bringing it in triumph to the opposite side of the stream, when who should this supposed inhabitant of the upper world be but the Mormon prophet.   [Winchester Republican.


Note: This Utica Evangelical Magazine and Advocate tall tale was reprinted in condensed form by the Rochester Republican on June, 15, 1835 and by the New-York Mercury on June, 25th. The fanciful tale can be well compared with the stories of Joseph Smith's "walking on the water," as told in the Apr. 19, 1834 issue of the Philadelphia Saturday Courier and Smith's trained dove mimicking the Holy Spirit, as told in the Feb. 14, 1843 issue of the Norwalk Huron Reflector.

THE  MORMONITES.

An eastern paper says:

"The Mormonites of 'Golden Bible' memory, have established a paper in Geauga county, Ohio, and came out for Van Buren, it is said"

Not only so, but these manufactures of golden bibles and public opinion are sending their papers abroad, and soliciting a re-publication of their articles. We have received the "Northern Times" of the 4th inst. with a scurrillous editorial article marked, and the modest request, "Please copy," written upon the margin. It was probably intended for some Van Buren paper, and misdirected to our office.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Reverends Thomas Campbell and Matthew Clapp will preach in the Baptist church on Sunday next, at 10 o'clock, A.M. and in the courthouse at 3 o'clock P.M.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Another Humbug. -- We are credibly informed that the Mormons have purchased of Mr. Chandler, three of the mummies, which he recently exhibited in this village; and that the prophet Joe has ascertained, by examining the papyrus through his spectacles, that they are the bodies of Joseph (the son of Abraham,) and King Abimeleck, and his daughter. With this shallow and contemptible story, Williams has commenced travelling about the country, and will no doubt gull multitudes into a belief of its truth. Surely one half of the world are fools.


Note: Some sources cites this news item as having appeared on July 31, 1835 (perhaps in an "extra"); however, no copy of the Whig for that date has been located. This item is a follow-up to the article published by the Whig on Mar. 25, 1835. See Nels B. Lundwall's "Temples of the Most High, pp. 264-67, for speculation that these mummies were those of the Pharaoh Necho, his wife, sister and daughter. The mummies referred to were the four ancient bodies exhibited by Michael H. Chandler throughout northern Ohio during the first half of 1835. They were purchased by Joseph Smith, Jr. (on or about July 3, 1835) for $2,400. For complementary articles see the LDS Messenger and Advocate of Dec. 1835. See also the Mar. 27, 1835 issue of the Painesville Telegraph, for an earlier report on Mr. Chandler's exhibition of the mummies in northern Ohio, prior to their purchase by Joseph Smith, Jr.

Note 3: From the Cleveland papers an embellishment this story was copied into Major M. M Noah's New York Evening Star, and from there into the columns of the Sept. 4, 1835 issue of the Painesville Telegraph and other newspapers across the country.

Another Humbug. -- We are credibly informed that the Mormons have purchased of Mr. Chandler three of the Mummies which he recently exhibited in this village; and that the prophet Joe has ascertained, by examining the papyrus through his spectacles, that they are the bodies of Joseph, (the son of Abraham) and King Abimelech and his daughter. With this shallow and contemptible story, Williams has commenced traveling about the country, and will no doubt gull multitudes into the belief of its truth. Surely one half of the world are fools. -- Cleveland Whig


Note 1: From the Cleveland papers an embellishment this story was copied into Major M. M Noah's New York Evening Star, and from there into the columns of the Sept. 4, 1835 issue of the Painesville Telegraph.

Note 2: The mummies referred to were the four ancient bodies exhibited by Michael H. Chandler throughout northern Ohio during the first half of 1835. They were purchased by Joseph Smith, Jr. (on or about July 3, 1835) for $2, 400. For complementary articles see the Cleveland Whig, of Mar. 25, 1835 and the LDS Messenger and Advocate of Dec. 1835. See also the Mar. 27, 1835 issue of the Painesville Telegraph, for an earlier report on Mr. Chandler's exhibition of the mummies in northern Ohio, prior to their purchase by Joseph Smith, Jr.

GEAUGA. -- Questions, in this county, have made such inroads into the old party lines, that it is as difficult to tell who are the whig candidates, as it is to divine what will be the result. The question of a removal of the county seat from Chardon to Painesville, is the absorbing subject of contention. The "removalists" have had a convention at Painesville, and nominated Samuel Butler, of Fairport, for Representative -- the remainder of the ticket, we believe, are whigs. The "anti-removalists," in convention at Chardon, have nominated Seabury Ford for Representative, and filled the ticket with whigs also. The Van Burenites, a handful as they are, have taken advantage of these divisions, and brought out their ticket, with Neri Wright as Representative, &c. It is not improbable that they may succeed, against the whig party thus divided into fragments. For Senator, from Ashtabula and Geauga, Ralph Granger is nominated by the whigs, in the columns of the Painesville Telegraph. The Van Buren convention made no nomination, looking to a district convention for the purpose; but the Mormonites have "assumed the responsibility," and at their head-quarters at Kirtland, have nominated Benjamin F. Tracy of Painesville. The News Letter very pertinently endorses Mr. Tracy "a true blue democrat," a quality none of his acquaintances can deny him.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormons. -- A correspondent of the 'Miami of the Lake' gives a short description of the Temple of Mormon, or, as it is called, the 'Temple of the Lord,' in Kirtland, (eleven miles south east of Painesville,) Geauga county. It is a stone ediface, 58 feet 8 inches by 78 feet 8 inches, two full stories high, with dormer windows in the roof, which give it a singular appearance. For the size and peculiar construction of the 'Temple,' and the addition of the extra eight inches each way, the leaders of this infatuated people give no other reason, but, as they tell their followers, that the Lord gave his direction. The house is rather an expensive one, the writer adds, built by the labor of the poor people, who in their delusion, follow Joe Smith and Rigdon.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormons:-- A correspondent of the 'Miami of the Lake' gives a short description of the Temple of Mormon, or, as it is called, the 'Temple of the Lord,' in Kirtland, eleven miles south east of Painesville, Geauga county. It is a stone ediface, 58 feet 8 inches by 78 feet 8 inches, two full stories high, with dormer windows in the roof, which give it a singular appearance. For the size and peculiar construction of the 'Temple,' and the addition of the extra eight inches each way, the leaders of this infatuated people give no other reason, but, as they tell their following, that the Lord gave his direction. The house is rather an expensive one, the writer adds, built by the labor of the poor people, who in their delusion, follow Joe Smith and Rigdon. -- Ohio State Journal.


Note: For a similar, later article from the Perrysburg Miami of the Lake, see its reprint in the Daily National Intelligencer of July 4, 1837.

Sidney Rigdon, notorious as one of Mormon leaders, was indicted for solemnizing marriages without license, and tried at the present term of the Court of Common Pleas of this county. The performance of the marriage ceremony by Rigdon having been proven on the part of the prosecution, Rigdon produced a license of the Court, which had been granted to him several years ago as a minister of the gospel of that sect usually called Campbellites, but who call themselves disciples, to continue so long as he remained a minister in regular standing in that denomination. The prosecution then undertook to prove by parol [sic] that he had abandoned that church, and joined the Mormons, and held principles inconsistent with his former faith. It appeared that the society of disciples kept written minutes of their proceedings, and no church record of his dismissal being offered, the Court rejected the testimony, and a nolle prosequi was entered.   Chardon Spectator


Notes: (forthcoming)

MATTHIAS. -- A person corresponding in his dress, long beard, &c. with the description given of "Matthias the prophet," passed through our town on Saturday last. He is on foot, and appears to travel very leisurely through the country, having been seen in Austintown, ten or twelve miles south of this, on the Monday preceding his arrival here. He made no stop in this place, but inquired the way to Geauga county, where, perhaps, he has gone to join the "democratic" community of Mormons at Kirtland. --

Western Reserve Chronicle.                  

Notes: (forthcoming)

LAW.

Chardon, Geauga County, O.  Oct. 30.    

The Court of Common Pleas still continues in session. A considerable amount of business has been disposed of; generally such as is not of an interesting character, but such as nevertheless demands the attention of the Court. The cause of Pratt vs. Newell, for an assault, however, excited some interest. Pratt is a Mormon Preacher, and had determined to preach to the people of Mentor, whether they wished it or not. Having been warned not to do so, and refused admittance into their meeting-house, he mounted the steps of the same, and began to hold forth from the Book of Mormon. The defendant acted as captain of a company, who, with drums, fifes, trumpets, &c., marched back and forth before the stand chosen by the preacher, and saluted him with music and bows; some, in the rear of the company, also pelted him with eggs until he was well besmeared; -- to recover damages for which, the suit was brought. It was proved that defendant issued orders to march, and halt, and keep time, but gave no orders to fire. The jury, however, came to the conclusion, that, holding them under military command, he was responsible for their acts, and returned a verdict against him for forty-seven dollars damages.   -- Spectator

---

SIDNEY RIGDON, notorious as one of Mormon leaders, was indicted for solemnizing marriages without license, and tried at the present term of the Court of Common Pleas of this county. The performance of the marriage ceremony by Rigdon having been proven on the part of the prosecution, Rigdon produced a license of the Court, which had been granted to him several years ago as a minister of the gospel of that sect usually called Campbellites, but who call themselves disciples, to continue so long as he remained a minister in regular standing in that denomination. The prosecution then undertook to prove by parol [sic] that he had abandoned that church, and joined the Mormons, and held principles inconsistent with his former faith. It appeared that the society of disciples kept written minutes of their proceedings, and no church record of his dismissal being offered, the Court rejected the testimony, and a nolle prosequi was entered.   -- Ibid.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The notorious Matthias, the impostor who lately figured so conspicuously in the city of New York, has turned Mormon; and, as we learn from the Chardon Spectator, is now at Kirtland in that county, in high favor with the prophet Joe Smith.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Sidney Rigdon, notorious as one of Mormon leaders, was indicted for solemnizing marriages without license, and tried at the present term of the Court of Common Pleas of this county. The performance of the marriage ceremony by Rigdon having been proven on the part of the prosecution, Rigdon produced a license of the Court, which had been granted to him several years ago as a minister of the gospel of that sect commonly called Campbellites, but who call themselves Disciples, to continue so long as he remained a minister in regular standing in that denomination. The prosecution then undertook to prove by parol [sic] that he had abandoned that church, and joined the Mormons, and held principles inconsistent with his former faith. It appeared that the society of disciples kept written minutes of their proceedings, and no church record of his dismissal being offered, the Court rejected the testimony, and a nolle prosequi was entered. --  Chardon Spectator

---

MATHIAS. -- The eastern papers state this impostor has taken up his abode among the Mormons on the borders of the Lake, in this state -- and that both himself and his doctrines are received with great favor by them.


Note: Robert Matthews (1788-1841), alias Robert Matthias, (a.k.a. "Joshua the Jewish minister") was a religious fraud who went about the country claiming to be God in the body of the biblical Apostle Matthias. He traveled through Ohio during 1835, stopping at Kirtland to visit with Joseph Smith, Jr. on Nov. 9th of that year. Untrue rumors circulated in the popular press, saying that Matthias was joining the Mormon religion. The Nov. 28, 1835 issue of the New York Herald corrected this falsehood, but then mischievously added: "If they have pretty women among them no doubt he will [join]."

The Editor of the Northern Times has politely fowarded me a copy of the proceedings of our Geauga county friends, at their meeting for the appointment of delegates to the State Convention. The committee consisting of W. S. Tracy, Geo. E. White, E. Dixon, A. Rich, & W. Dickenson, appointed to report Resolutions, expressive of the sense of the meeting, among others, presented the following which was unanimously adopted. --

"Resolved, That we entertain a high opinion of the good sense, natural abilities and sound democratic principles of ELI BALDWIN, and think, that if nominated by the State Convention, and elected, he will not select his and our enemies for his patronage."

The delegation to Columbus consists of seven, instead of six as stated in the News-Letter, upon the authority of the Columbus papers, -- Simon Wright's name was omitted in our note of the proceedings. We shall expect to meet Geauga, fully manned, at Columbus.


Note: The "Editor of the Kirtland Northern Times" was Oliver H. P. Cowdery, Esq., the "Second Elder" in the Mormon Church.

                                                  Painesville, March 16, 1836.

I have been to Kirtland, and witnessed the operations of that most deluded set of visionaries that our land, or any other enlightened, has ever witnessed. You would naturally suppose that the Mormons were the most ignorant, degraded, and stupid set of beings on the earth. This is true of some of them; but there are not wanting men of sagacity and information and some men of strong powers of mind. From what I saw I should suppose that they were generally real believers in the doctrines of their Prophet. They are quite polite and affable to strangers, and ready to unfold the whole system, so far as they know it, until you press them with an argument, and then their wrath rises, or they assume an air of awful superiority, and dogmatically pronounce you blind and ignorant, and in the way to destruction; whereas, "they know the certainty of all these things [whereof] they affirm." They are now studying Hebrew with great zeal, under the instruction of Mr. Seixas. They profess to believe the common bible firmly, but they "have received additional revelations," which contain "the fulness of the Gospel." They all have revelations in proportion to their faith.

I was introduced to the Immortal Prophet, Joe Smith, and his renowned coadjutor, Sidney Rigdon, and a host of inferior satellites, and could scarcely suppress a laugh during the formality of making acquaintance and shaking hands with the exalted dignitaries, high-priests, etc., of Mormonism. I have no doubt that Joe Smith's character is an equal compound of the impostor and fanatic, and that Rigdon has but a small spice of the latter, with an extraordinary portion of the former; while the mass of the disciples are men of perverted intellect and disordered piety, with no sound principles of religion, with minds unbalanced and unfurnished, but active and devout, inclined to the mystical and dreary, and ready to believe any extraordinary announcement as a revelation from God.

None of them appeared to be within reach of argument on the subject of religion. They profess to have the gift of tongues; and one individual, after becoming very much excited in conversation, offered to give me a specimen; but I shuddered at the proposal to exhibit such blasphemy and mockery of a miraculous gift, and he desisted.

The Mormons have increased with astonishing rapidity. They say, and they are probably not far from the truth, that their numbers in the United States amount to forty-five thousand.

Their temple, at Kirtland, is a huge, mis-shapen edifice, that comes nearer to the Gothic than any other style of architecture. The pattern, like every thing else connected with Mormonism, was given by direct revelation from Heaven, and given to three individuals separately, so that there could be no doubt on the subject." They assure you, with the utmost confidence, that they shall soon be able to raise the dead, to heal the sick, the deaf, the dumb, and the blind, &c. Indeed, more than one assured me, that they had, themselves, by the laying on of their hands, restored the sick to health. The difficulty with their miracles, and the distinction between all false and true miracles, is, that the former are done in private, with few, if any witnesses, while the latter are wrought in open day, before the whole world, friends and foes. The delusion, however, is one, which, I am inclined to think, is likely to spread rapidly, for a season, especially where there is ignorance, combined with a love of the marvellous, and a mystical, distempered, and extravagant tone of piety.
                                          Yours, &c. ____ ____.


Note: The original publication of the above article has not yet been located. The text is from a reprint in the May 20, 1836 issue of the Painesville Telegraph, which says the letter was dated "March 18, 1836." J. H. Kennedy, quoting directly from the Atlas on page 135 of his Early Days of Mormonism, dates letter and issue to "March 16, 1836." Also, a correspondent of the April, 1836 issue of the LDS Messenger and Advocate confirms the March 16th date.

(This issue contained a letter from Sidney Rigdon, supporting the
the "Akron and Richmond Railroad." -- under construction)

TO THE PUBLIC. -- As many misrepresentations have prejudiced the public against the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, they are hereby informed, that their principles are purely Scriptural. They believe in the pure doctrine, and ordinances of the Gospel, and disallow anything that has the least tendancy to injure the peace of good society; they will honor the laws and support the constitution of this government, and they claim an equal privilege with others, to promulgate their principles without interruption; and they call upon the most intelligent, to show if these things are not so; and they kindly invite all to hear, and correctly inform themselves, before they judge.

==> There will be preaching of this order at the Court House, on Sabbath the 8th inst., at 4 o'clock P.M.

Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM.

The following is extracted from a letter dated Painesville, March 16, 1836, and published in the Ohio Atlas.

(view original article from Elyria paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormons. -- A gentleman living in Loraine county, Ohio, writes that a more extraordinary sect has not sprung up since the days of Mahomet. In the town of Kirtland they have erected a stone temple at the expense of $40,000... The Mormons are very eager to acquire an education. -- Men, women and children are studying Hebrew. -- Some of the men in the middle age peruse their Hebrew till 12 o'clock at night, and attend nothing else. They pretend to have remarkable revelations, work miracles, heal the sick, &c. &c.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the Far West.

ANOTHER  MORMON  INVASION.

Independence, Mo., May 3d, 1836.     

Mr. Editor: -- Letters from Kirtland, O., have been received here by the last mail, from persons of undoubted veracity, giving information that the Mormons in that place and its vicinity, to the number of 1,500 or 2,000, are arming and coming on to the upper Missouri. The letters state that they will not come in a body, but in small detached parties. This information is confirmed by our merchants returning, and other travellers coming from the East, who say that every boat ascending the River contains more or less of them; some 20, and one as high as 105. Those who did not show guns openly, had boxes of the size usually made to contain guns. Add to this, that those who are coming, and those who are in adjoining counties, speak uniformily of another attempt to take Zion, and no doubt can remain but that the peace of this section is again to be disturbed by a company of ragamuffins, headed by the modern Mohamet. A meeting of the people of this county has been called, to meet on Saturday next, and energetic measures will be adopted to meet the coming storm, and a respectful but earnest request for the co-operation of the upper counties. -- St. Louis Obs.


Note: The Observer dropped the last part of the article, which reads: "At the last advices from Kirtland, all the County Offices were filled with Latter day saints, and a petition had been forwarded to the Post Master General to reform the post master there and appoint in his place the notorious Oliver Cowdery, who has given his name an infamous notoriety by bearing public and unblushing testimony to the advent of an Angel. -- In the soberness and sadness of truth, where is this thing to end. Let others do as they may, the people of Jackson and their friends in the surrounding counties will be found at their post in the hour of trial; and this modern Hero of Revelation and Rags will be taught that the world is not rolling backward either in knowledge or chivalry. H. C."

SUMMARY.

The Mormons are said to be preparing for another attack on Jackson County, the scene of their former disasterous defeat. They are arming to the number of 1,500 or 2,000 men.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Another War Brewing. -- The 'Far West,' published at Independence, Missouri, says that information has been received from Kirtland, Ohio, through various channels, of another movement among the Mormons to obtain possession of the 'promised alnd,' and to establish their Zion in Jackson county, the scene of their former disasterous defeat. They are said to be arming to the number of 1500 to 2000, and to be making their way, in detached parties, to the 'debateable ground.' The 'Far West' also states that the people of Jackson and their friends in the surrounding counties are taking effective measures for resistence, and will teach Joe Smith, the modern hero of revelation and rags, that the world is not rolling backwards either in knowledge or chivalry.   Louisville Advertiser.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Another War Brewing. -- The 'Far West,' published at Independence, Missouri, says that information has been received from Kirtland, Ohio, through various channels, of another movement among the Mormons to obtain possession of the 'promised land,' and to establish their Zion in Jackson county, the scene of their former disasterous defeat. They are said to be arming to the number of 1500 to 2000, and be making their way, in detached parties, to the 'debateable ground.' The 'Far West' also states that the people of Jackson and their friends in the surrounding counties are taking effective measures for resistance, and will teach Joe Smith, the modern hero of revelation and rags, that the world is not rolling backward either in knowledge or chivalry. -- Louisville Adv.


Notes: (forthcoming)

For the Ohio Observer.

MORMONISM.

Mr. Editor.

Dear Sir: -- Having been for the last four years located in Kirtland, on the Western Reserve, I have thought proper to make some communication to the public in relation to the Mormons, a sect of Religious Fanatics, who are collected in this town. This service I have considered as due to the cause of humanity, as well as to the cause of truth and righteousness. What I have to communicate shall be said in the spirit of candor and christian charity.

Mormonism, it is well known, originated with Joseph Smith * in the town of Manchester, adjoining Palmyra, in the state of New York. Smith had previously been noted among his acquaintances as a kind of Juggler, and had been employed in digging after money. He was believed by the ignorant to possess the power of second sight, by looking through a certain stone in his possession. He relates that when he was 17 years of age, while seeking after the Lord he had a nocturnal vision, and a wonderful display of celestial glory. An angel descended and warned him that God was about to make an astonishing revelation to the world, and then directed him to go to such a place, and after prying up a stone he should find a number of plates of the color of gold inscribed with hieroglyphics, and under them a breastplate, and under that a transparent stone or stones which was the Urim and Thummim mentioned by Moses. The vision and the command were repeated four times that night and once on the following day. He went as directed by the angel, and pried up the stone under which he discovered the plates shining like gold, and when he saw them his cupidity was excited, and he hoped to make himself rich by the discovery, although thus highly favored by the Lord. But for his sordid and unworthy motive, when he attempted to seize hold of the plates,they eluded his grasp and vanished, and he was obliged to go home without them. It was not till four years had elapsed, till he had humbled himself and prayed and cast away his selfishness that he obtained a new revelation and went and obtained the plates.

The manner of translation was as wonderful as the discovery. By putting his finger on one of the characters and imploring divine aid, then looking through the Urim and Thummim he would see the import written in plain English on a screen placed before him. After delivering this to his amanuensis he would again proceed in the same manner and obtain the meaning of the next character, and so on till he came to a part of the plates which were sealed up, and there was commanded to desist: and he says he has a promise from God that in due time he will enable him to translate the remainder. This is the relation as given by Smith. A man by the name of Harris, of a visionary turn of mind, assisted in the translation, and afterwards Oliver Cowdery. By the aid of Harris's property, the book was printed, and it is affirmed by the people of that neighborhood that at first his motives were entirely mercenary, -- a mere money speculation. The book thus produced is called by them The Book of Mormon; and is pretended to be of the same Divine Inspiration and authority as the Bible. The Mormons came in Kirtland about six years ago; being taught by their leaders that this was one of the stakes of Zion, -- the eastern border of the promised land. -- Not long after their arrival in Kirtland, a revelation was obtained that the seat and centre of Zion was in Jackson county, in the western part of Missouri; and thither a multitude of them repaired, with Smith at their head. Soon after they were routed and expelled from the county by the infidels, and many of them returned to Kirtland. There they have been gathering their converts from various parts of the United States, until their present number probably amounts to upwards of one thousand: besides the transient companies of pilgrims who come here from the East to inquire the way to Zion, and then pass on to Missouri.

They have built a huge stone temple in this town, 50 feet high, and 60 by 80 on the ground, at an expense of $40,000. On the front is this inscription, "The House of the Lord, built by the Latter-day-Saints." The lower story is the place of worship, the middle for the school of the prophets, and the upper for an academical school; a distinguished professor of Hebrew is their teacher. He is now giving his second course, with about one hundred in each class.

While I am exposing these palpable impositions of the apostles of Mormonism, candor obliges me to say that many of the common people are industrious, good neighbors, very sincerely deceived, and possibly very sincere Christians. They seem to delight in the duty of prayer, and the services of devotion, and their zeal goes far beyond any thing seen among sober Christians. Some are enterprising and intelligent, conversant with the Bible, and fond of reading: and here, I apprehend, many who have heard of them only by common report are mistaken; supposing them all to be ignorant and degraded and beneath the notice of all respectable people. The prevalence of religious delusion is not to be attributed so much to mere ignorance, as to the structure and prejudices and pernicious habits of the mind, -- a predisposition to be captivated with any thing that is new or wonderful. It is furthermore proper to notice that this religious sect have been slandered, and belied, and persecuted beyond measure. We entirely disapprove of those violent measures which have been taken with them in Missouri and some other places; 1st. because it is an outrage upon inalienable rights, -- all men justly claiming to be protected in the enjoyment of life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and 2d. because it is unwise; persecution being the most effectual way to build up fanatics in error and delusion. But since there is a certain class in every community who are predisposed to embrace any wild delusion which chances to meet them, and since many such have already been deceived and lured away to Kirtland and to Zion, and have been disappointed and distressed, and reduced to poverty and want, and, moreover, since there are now many converts abroad who are looking to this place with longing eyes, as to a land flowing with milk and honey, and expecting, when they find the means of getting here, to bid farewell to all earthly sorrow, we think the world have a right to know the state of things among them. Many of them live in extreme indigence. They suffer accumulated evils by crowding a multitude of poor people together, when, by a wider distribution, they might have better means of supplying their wants. Some of them are wealthy, and they have purchased 3 or 4000 acres of land in different parts of this town. A grotesque assemblage of hovels and shanties and small houses have been thrown up wherever they could find a footing, but very few of all these cabins would be accounted fit for human habitations.

About the first of May, 1834, a company of armed men from this place, about 100 in number, by command of Joseph, commenced a crusade to Missouri, to expel the infidels of Zion, and to reinstate their brethren into their possessions; at the same time he assured them by a revelation from heaven, that the expedition would succeed and the object be attained. When these gallant knights-errand arrived in Missouri, they were met by some of the constituted authorities and warned to desist; and Joseph very prudently had a revelation that the war was at an end. After spending the hottest part of the season on this long tedious pilgrimage of 2000 miles, having suffered great hardships, and numbers having been swept off by the cholera, they returned in straggling companies to Kirtland. Those of them who remained here during the campaign, were required to work one day in each week on the temple; and the poor females were instructed to part with even the necessaries of life in aid of the same object. They looked forward to the completion of the Temple as a Grand Era, when Christ would descend and dwell among them, and commence his reign on earth. These burdens are severely felt by the poor people among them, and can only be sustained by the unconquerable strength of their faith. Last summer a man came to Kirtland and brought among the Mormons four Egyptian mummies. The exhibition exactly struck their fancy. All the Mormons flocked to see the wonderful sight; and Joseph deciphered some of the hieroglyphics, and made known in writing the name and character and antiquity of some of the mummies; -- this was an additional proof of his divine inspiration. The man continued with them a week; and then a command was given them to purchase the whole, which they did for $2400. The mummies were soon sent out for exhibition by one of their apostles, but being unsuccessful, he brought them back to Kirtland, and threw them aside. There is reason to believe, that many who come here with high expectations, have met with sore disappointment. They expected to find everything in Apostolic order; but instead of this, they have found a Whiskey selling tavern, a pugnacious Prophet, and an inhospitable people. Some poor, families, after long journeys to see this Promised Land, have met with a cold repulse; have been compelled to sleep out of doors, and to remain in a community the most unfavorable to get a livelihood, and under a spiritual hierarchy, who bind heavy burdens grievous to be borne, but will not touch them with one of their fingers.

The Mormons to a man all abhor priests, and priestcraft, and societies, and the whole system of religious institutions among established churches; and yet they themselves are the most obsequious and abject slaves to the spiritual rule of their leaders. All their affairs, small and great, are directed by special revelation. By a miserable attempt to ape the language and style of scripture, they clothe their commands with the authority of heaven; and the people have nothing to do but to hear and obey. If the Prophet demands their money for the Lord's treasury, he can have it by uttering a Thus saith the Lord. By these sacrifices, they give what among selfish men would be called a pretty good proof of sincerity at least. Thus it happens, that those who complain loudest of priestcraft, are the most woefully priest-ridden of all men.

In regard to their religious sentiments, the fundamental principle of Mormonism is, that God continues to hold intercourse with the saints on earth by visions and revelations, as freely and familiarly as he has done in any age of the world. That the true church have the same power to cast out devils, to speak with new tongues, to take up serpents, to drink poison unhurt, and to recover the sick by laying on of hands. They make great use of the declaration of our Saviour in Mark xvi. 17, 18, and strenuously contend that the promise applies to all that believe in every age.

They contend that the God worshipped by the Presbyterians and all other sectarians is no better than a wooden god. They believe that the true God is a material being, composed of body and parts; and that when the Creator formed Adam in his own image, he made him about the size and shape of God himself. They believe in the final restoration of all men except apostate Mormons. They blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, and can never have forgiveness, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Their avowed object is to restore hristianity to its primeval purity. In the true style of fanaticism they regard themselves as the exclusive favorites of heaven; and the whole religious world as natural brute beasts that know nothing. After the example of our Saviour they have recently ordained and commissioned twelve apostles and seventy elders, to go throughout this heathen country and to give a final call to repent and be baptized and believe in Mormonism before the wicked are cut off. The people of this region are viewed by them as standing in the place of Chorasm and Bethsaida, and Capernaum, unwilling to believe in spite of all the mighty works they have tried to perform. They are habitually pretending to speak in tongues, and to the working of miracles, but nobody can have any evidence of these wonders but those who have Mormon eyes and Mormon ears. When they first came to Kirtland, Mr. Rigdon joined them, and a few families followed in his train; but otherwise of the former inhabitants, scarce a single conversion has happened since. The fact is that the people are well assured that all their pretentions to miraculous gifts of every kind are a sheer imposition. But whenever any miracle fails they have a convenient salve at hand to account for the failure; that is the want of faith; a most impudent and officious intruder, always ready at hand to nullify all their pious efforts, and to render them weak and feeble as other men. Instances frequently occur which may serve as examples of their power of healing. A young man lying on a bed of sickness sent after Smith and his Elders to come and heal him. After praying over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, he commanded the disease to depart; pronounced him healed, and ordered him to rise and walk. Stimulated by the circumstances and by high expectation, the youth rose up and attempted to walk; but presently becoming faint, by the help of bystanders he betook himself to the bed again, and grew worse. They of course imputed his sudden relapse to the failure of his faith. He then sent for the regular physician, and by faithful means he recovered. Another late instance was a young woman lying at the point of death with the measles. The Elders were called to lay hands on her in like manner; and very soon afterwards she was a corpse. The prophet has undergone repeated trials before the church, and has made frequent confessions; and among the faithful, this is accounted as additional proof of his humility and divine inspiration. They only class his failings with those recorded of the ancient prophets. But the faith of many among them has failed, and they have had honesty enough to confess it. They have opened their eyes -- the delusion has vanished, and they have been astonished at their besotted infatuation. -- Frequent depredations have happened among them, and it has sometimes required the art and assiduity of all their prophets and priests and elders to keep the whole babel from tumbling down together.

It is difficult to foretell how long it will take this gust of Fanaticism to spend itself, and die away, and sink to the oblivion of the 100 others which have gone before it. Situated as we are, we have need of patience; and we often realize the truth of Solomon, that "Though you should bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from him."

On the whole, the vice of Mormonism must be accounted one of the most palpable and wide-spreading delusions which this country has ever seen; and nothing can equal the zeal of their leaders in its propagation. The completion of the Temple, according to the pattern shown to Joseph in vision, is a monument of unconquerable zeal. The imposing splendor of the pulpits, the orders of the Melchisedec and the Aaronic priesthoods, and the vails which are let down or drawn by machinery, dividing the place of worship into several apartments, presents before us a strange compound of Jewish antiquity and Roman Catholic mummery. The reproof which the prophet addresses to ancient Israel that they dwelt in ceiled houses while the Temple of God was laid waste, can never be applied to these Mormons. -- Stimulated by strong faith and zeal, you will see them muster all their forces for miles around to hear the brethren speak in tongues, and proclaim the wonderful works of God. In this view they give to those who call themselves sober Christians a most severe rebuke. If they had half the zeal of these misguided Mormons, the world would tremble, and the millennial day would speedily be ushered in. Yours, in the bonds of the Gospel.   TRUMAN COE.
_______
* We understand that this same Joseph Smith is now held in bail to appear before next court for public assault of a respectable citizen in Kirtland. -- Ed. Ob.


Note: See also Rev. Truman Coe's letter in the Observer of May 24, 1838.

THE  MORMONS.

As considerable curiosity is manifested, by people in different places, respecting this new, and singular sect, we have concluded to devote a small part of our paper to that subject, giving our own observations.

This sect arose about six years ago, in the state of New York. Joseph Smith, Jr. then quite a young man, had a real or imaginary vision, informing him of the place where some golden plates were buried, which contained a revelation from Heaven, written by Mormon, and which had been concealed ever since the defeat of his tribe some years (we believe) after the destruction of Jerusalem and dispersion of the Jews. -- These plates he obtained, and translated by a miraculous power given him of God -- the character being the old Egyptian.

From this Revelation, as well as immediate and direct communications to Smith, and others, their faith is drawn and confirmed by the oaths of Smith and others who saw the plates, and have had visions affirming the truth of the Revelation. They believe in prophecy -- miracles -- and revelations at the present day, and show, as evidence of it, the revelations sworn to by several of their members -- and as evidence of their power to work miracles they offer a man by the name of Huntington, who was a lunatic for twelve years, confined by fetters, and whom they restored to his reason, by prayer, at their holy assembly in April last. This part of their faith is based on the passage of scripture, "these signs shall follow them that believe -- in my name shall they cast out Devils, &c."

Although they have existed as a sect but six years, they now number several thousands, scattered through every state in the union, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Their principal settlements are in Jackson County, Missouri, which they believe the center of the promised land, and at Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio. At this latter place, the Prophet Smith, with most of their principal men reside. They have erected here a large stone church, or "House of the Lord" as they call it, three stories high, in its architecture partly Gothic, though not entirely so, but a composite of several orders. -- The plan, even to the minutiae, they say was revealed, by God, to the Prophet Smith, and Elders Rigdon, and Cowdery. Their hierarchy consists of two orders of Priesthood; that of Aaron, and that of Melchesidec, and each of these orders is subdivided into four orders. High Priests, Priests, Deacons, and Teachers, the High Priests possessing the power of prophesy. -- In the construction of their place of worship these orders are observed. The order of Aaron occupy the east end of the house, and the order of Melchesidec the west, and each subordinate order descends in the height of his seat as he descends in rank. Thus the High Priest has a splendid seat next [to] the wall, a little lower down, immediately in front, the Priest, then the Deacon, then the Teacher, who is raised but little above the level of the audience. These seats for the Priesthood are splendidly furnished with carpets, and carvings, and give the whole the appearance of a grand amphitheater. The house is also divided into four parts by curtains, which can be raised or lowered at will, like the curtain of a stage. -- During a public worship all are raised and the audience one; but [by the purpose] of prayer meetings these subdivisions are made.

The second story is finished similar to the first, for a college, and [the third floor is sectioned off] into school rooms.

The [whole is ----- ------ and worthy] of a visit to Kirtland, let one's faith be what it may. The Mormons are hospitable, [intelligent], and [---- --- ---- -- ], and appear pleased to have people [--- --- ---- -- ------- -------] Though differing from them in [religious tenet?] we believe them honest, candid, and sincere in their faith, and we are sorry that persecution [ --- ---- -- sects ----- ------] disturb the quiet of their "happy valley."


Note: This generally favorable report (possibly written by a Mormon or by an LDS sympathizer) was continued in the Watchman of Sept. 24th.

THE  MORMONS.

(view original article of Aug. 11th)

Notes: (forthcoming)

HISTORY   OF  MORMONISM.

By a Correspondent of the
N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

It appears that Mormonism owes its origin to an individual named Solomon Spalding, who wrote the historical part of the Book of Mormon, or, as it is sometimes called, the Mormon Bible. But it was done more than twenty years ago, and without the least intention, on the part of the author, of framing a system of delusion for his fellow men. This Solomon Spalding was a native of Ashford, Connecticut, where he was distinguished at an early age, for his devotion to study, and for the superiority of his success over that of his schoolmates. At a proper age, he received an academic education at Plainfield, and afterward commenced the study of law at Windham. But his mind becoming inclined to religious subjects, he abandoned the study of law, and went to Dartmouth College for the purpose of preparing himself for the ministry. After receiving the degree of A. M., he was regularly ordained, and continued in the ministry for about three years; but for some reason not known, he abandoned that profession and established himself as a merchant at Cherry [Valley], in the State of New York. Failing in trade, he removed to Conneaut, in the State of Ohio, where he built a forge; but again failed, and was reduced to great poverty. While in this condition he endeavored to turn his education to account by writing a book, the sale of which he hoped would enable him to pay his debts and support his family.

The subject selected for this purpose was one well suited to his religious education. The work was to be a historical novel, containing a history of the Aborigines of America, who, according to the notion of those who refer all questions of history, science, and morals to the scriptures, were supposed to be descended from the Jews.

The title adopted was 'The Manuscript Found,' and the history commenced with one Lehi, who lived in the reign of Zedekiah, King of Judea, six hundred years before the Christian era. Lehi being warned by God of the dreadful calamities that were impending over Jerusalem, abandoned his possessions, and fled with his family to the wilderness. After wandering about the desert for a considerable time, they arrived upon the border of the Red Sea, and embarked on board a vessel. In this they floated about a long time on the ocean, but at last reached America, and landed upon the shores of Darien. From the different branches of this family were made to spring the various aboriginal nations of this continent. From time to time they rose to high degrees of civilization; but desolating wars arose in turn, by which nations were overthrown, and reduced again to barbarism. In this the condition of the Indians, at the time of Columbus's discovery, was accounted for; and the ancient mounds, fortifications, temples, and other vestiges of former civilization, found in North and South America, were explained. The governments of these nations were represented as theocratic, like that of the Jews, from whom they descended, and their national transactions were consequently regulated by their prophets & priests who received their commands directly from the Deity. In order, therefore, that the style of the romance might be suited to the subject, and to the popular notions of the people, the author of The Manuscript Found adopted that of the Bible -- the old English style of James the First.

When the work was ready for the press, Spalding endeavored to get the pecuniary assistance necessary for its publication, but his affairs were in so low a condition that he could not succeed. -- He then removed to Pittsburgh, and afterward to Amity, Pennsylvania, where he died. -- The widow of Spalding, states, that while at Pittsburg, she believes the manuscript was carried to the printing house of Patterson and Lambdin; but how it afterwards fell into the hands of Joseph Smith, junior, by whom the Golden Bible was published, cannot be positively proved. Circumstances, however, have been traced, sufficiently strong to convince any one, that this occurred through the agency of one Sidney Rigdon, who was one of the first preachers of Mormon faith. The manner, however, in which this occurred is of little importance. It has been positively proved, since the Mormon Bible began to attract attention, that the historical part, which is the frame work of the whole scheme, is the same as that contained in The Manuscript Found of Solomon Spalding. Among the many respectable witnesses who have certified to this fact, are a brother, and also a sister-in-law of the author.

The next principal character in the humbug of Mormonism, is Joseph Smith, junior, the great High Priest, Prophet and Founder of the religion. -- Joseph Smith, the Father of the prophet, emigrated from Royalton in Vermont, with his family, about the year 1820, and settled in Manchester, in the State of New York. Young Joseph was at this time sixteen years of age. The family appears to be very little respected by its neighbors, and remarkable for being lazy, ignorant & superstitious. They believe firmly in the appearance of ghosts, the power of witches, and telling of fortunes, and from time to time they were engaged, in conformity with dreams and other signs and wonders, in digging in solitary places for treasures, supposed to have been hidden by Kidd or the Spaniards. Young Joseph became by degrees very much skilled in the arts of necromancy and Juggling. He had the power of using the diving rod, and of discovering wonders in a peep stone; and having had the address to collect about him a gang of idle and credulous young men, he employed them in digging for hidden treasures. It was afterwards pretended that in one of the excavations thus made, the mysterious plates, from which the Golden Bible was copied, were found. About the year 1825, it was said by the family that Joseph began to have communication with angles and spirits, by which he learned many things that were hidden to the senses and understandings of ordinary men. Among other things he was informed by an angel of certain plates of unspeakable value, and of the manner in which they might be obtained. But as is usual in such cases, he was [thwarted and] opposed for a long time by an evil spirit, and it was not until 1827 that they were finally obtained. The discovery was then noised about the neighborhood by the family, who said that the plates contained a history of the aborigines of this country, written in "reformed Egyptian characters," which could not be read by any one of the present day except by the powers of God. Many proselytes were made among the credulous; but none of them were permitted at that time, to see the plates, for it was said by the prophet that no one could look upon them and live. The translation was commenced by the prophet himself, who was enabled to read the "reformed Egyptian" by the aid of the "peep-stone." This was done by putting the stone in a hat or box, and then by applying his face, the prophet was enabled to read one word at a time, which he pronounced aloud to an amanuensis. After continuing in this manner for some time, he was commanded by God to remove into Pennsylvania, for the purpose of escaping from certain evil minded men, who were instigated by the devil to destroy him. There the translation was completed, and the plates were buried again in the earth, by the command of the Lord, in some place unknown to all.

In 1829, the Golden Bible, containing about six hundred pages, appeared in print, having appended to it the testimony of eleven witnesses, to prove its divine origin. The three most important of these witnesses are Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitman; [sic] the first two of whom acted as amanuenses of Smith. These men declare upon oath, that the golden plates from which the Mormon Bible has been translated, were shown to them by an angel, and that they know the translation to have been made by the power of God, because it was so declared to them by the Deity himself. Of the eight remaining witnesses, four were brothers of Whitman and three of the family of Smith.

The Mormon Bible, as has been already stated, professes to furnish a history of part of the Jewish nation. It is pretended that Lehi, who escaped from Jerusalem 600 years before the Christian era, took with him the plates which contained an engraved record of his tribe; and that these plates being transmitted from father to son, the records of the people were continued, until the fifth century, when the tribe being nearly exterminated, the plates were sealed up and hidden in the earth, where they were afterward found by Joseph the prophet.

    According to these records, prophets & generals arose from time to time of great renown among the people, and the various events which commonly took place in the progress of nations occurred in their regular order. By the prophets the most prominent coming events were foretold, especially the coming and crucifixion of Christ, the early condition of the Christian church, the reformation, and the coming of the prophet Joseph in later times. A great many miracles were wrought, of course, to prove the divine authority of the prophecies. The generals had occupation enough in the various wars which arose among the nations descended from the family of Lehi. In one of their military expeditions an army was led into a distant country, which they found entirely desolated by the ravages of war, and filled with the bones of men and beasts. Here, among the ruins, they found some golden plates, containing a record of the people of Jared, who had escaped the confusion at Babel, and had been conducted by the Lord through Asia to the sea, and finally to America. These people having been entirely exterminated in wars, their records were preserved and sealed up with the records of Lehi.

Before the publication of the Mormon Bible, many ignorant and credulous persons had been prepared to receive it by the wonderful stories related by Smith. It was accordingly received as soon as it issued from the press, by a sufficient number to form the nucleus of a new community of devotees. The arguments principally relied upon at first to increase the number of proselytes, were the internal evidence of the book itself, and the striking exhibitions of the will and power of God through Joseph Smith. In addition to the extraordinary condescension of the Deity, in sending angels and spirits to hold communication with him, it seemed marvelous in the eyes of the people, that a man who could neither read nor write, and who was consequently unacquainted with the science and literature of the world, should be able to produce such a work -- a work wonderful in itself, and still more so from having been translated from a language no longer understood by the world, and found engraved on plates which had been buried for centuries in the earth. Smith is represented as a man exceedingly well fitted for the task he had to perform. For although ignorant, he possessed strong natural powers of mind, an inventive genius, easy address, fascinating manners, a mild and sober exterior, and was withal an excellent judge of human feelings and passions. -- Soon after the Mormon Bible was published, a member of the congregation of fanatics in Ohio, called Campbellites, happened to be travelling in the State of New York, where he heard of the golden plates. -- Urged by curiosity, he called upon Smith to make inquires, and was converted to the new faith. On his return he was accompanied by missionaries, who had been commissioned by Smith to convert the Indians. And on arriving in Ohio, the new religion, its missionaries, and its wonders, were presented to the Campbellites. These people having been for a long time under the dominion of enthusiasm, and [hoping] that the millennium or some other grand event was about to happen, were, in the right condition to receive the new revelation. A great many of them were converted, and with them, Sidney Rigdon, their preacher -- a man of powerful eloquence and of great popularity among them.


Note 1: This article first appeared in a late July 1836 issue of the New York Commercial Advertiser. In the extant files of the Canton Repository it is preserved as an addition to the issue of Aug. 4, 1836 -- its actual appearance in that paper must have been on Sept. 1. Although the name of Solomon Spalding had previously been connected with the origin of the Book of Mormon in various short news reports (in the Painesville Telegraph and in the Chardon Spectator) the 1836 article was the first report in which Ohio newspaper readers were able to peruse a detailed "history of Mormonism," in which the Spalding authorship claims were clearly spelled out. The Commercial Advertiser article was also reprinted in the Lisbon, Ohio Aurora on Sept. 24, 1836 and probably in a few other Ohio papers as well.

Note 2: This 1836 article is chronologically situated about mid-way between the appearance of Eber D. Howe's Mormonism Unvailed, published in Ohio at the end of 1834 and LeRoy Sunderland's series of articles on Mormonism printed in the Zion's Watchman newspaper in New York City in 1838. From 1838-39 forward lengthy newspaper articles (along with tracts and pamphlets) on Mormon origins become increasingly common. In mid-1836 such reporting was still relatively rare. It may well have been this particular newspaper article which preserved the Spalding authorship claims from an early oblivion. The writer of the original article obviously made use of Howe's book, but he avoided elucidating the more scandalous accusations regarding the conduct of the Mormon Smith family at Palmyra. And, while he substantially paraphrased Howe concerning the Spalding authorship claims for the Book of Mormon, the writer's reporting on the matter is relatively restrained in this section also. He sticks to the main points of Howe's book's scenario without engaging in personal speculation or elaboration. The entire article is generally straight forward, economical in its verbiage, and disinterested in its overall style and manner of presenting information and allegations.

Editorial Correspondence.
                                    Painesville, August 27th 1836.

MORMONISM.

The numerous sects into which the professedly religious community is divided, may be said to be the consequence of of the liberty which prevails in our country. But liberty does nothing of itself. It only allows the free operations of those causes which intolerance restrains. What then are the causes which give rise to so many sects? Why is it that men differ so much? Wgy is it that any half deluded, half hypocritical, religious Zealot can obtain followers, and found a new denomination?

A full answer to these questions would require a column to be written. But we will try to sketch the outlines of an answer.

First, then, there is no end to knowledge. It is infinite like Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. None but the Infinite can comprehend it. Is it singular that, of the infinite stores of knowledge, one mind should a little of this, and another of that, and that, consequently, there should be difference and disagreement even among honest men?

In the second place, it is not wonderful that those who agree should unite, and exclude from their communion those who differ from them. They do not see the same truth, or the same [phasis] of truth, which others see, and they are apt to imagine that none is seen by others, and that every difference of opinion is to be ascribed to mere perversences. Self-love also makes a man solicitous for the safety of his opinions and warm in their defence...

The Mormons have embodied in their creed some of the fundamental articles of Christianity. They believe in a Tri-unity in the Godhead, in the depravity of man and his absolute need for regeneration, in an atonement, and in the influence of the Holy Spirit. But they also velieve that men at the present time may expect miraculous revelations from God, and that no proesthood can be consecrated to their work but by express revelation. They say that salvation is partly a legal matter, that no one can be saved who does not come under the ordinances of a regularly constituted church, i. e. a church constituted by the miraculous interposition of God. They do not know that some persons may not be called of God, as Cornelius was. But it was necessary in this case to send for Peter, and receive the ordinances of the gospel from him. In like manner all who become true Christians at the present day, must be inducted into the Church by some person constituted a priest by miracle. Their own denomination, so far as they know, is the only true church as thus described, and salvation out of the true church is impossible. They believe that their priesthood are continually receiving new revelations, and that the sect are learning something new from God every day. They believe that their priests can perform miracles, and fortell future events, and that "this miraculous power will ever continue with true believers." Such is the assertion of "O. Hyde, preacher of the gospel" in a printed sheet, which we found at Kirtland, entitled, "A prophetic warning to all churches, of every sect and denomination, and to every individual into whose hand it may fall!" This individual has uttered a prophecy in this "warning," on the fulfillment of which he stakes his reputation as a true prophet. He foretells that bloody war will soon arise in this land from an unexpected quarter, that "a sort of flies shall go forth among the people, and bite them and cause worms to come in their flesh, and their flesh shall fall from their bines; and their eyes shall fall out of their sockets; and they shall desire to die, and their desire shall not be granted," &c.

The Mormons number from fifteen hundred to two thousand persons in their Society. They admit the need of education, even for their inspired preachers of the gospel. Several plain rooms in the upper story of their "Temple" are used for school rooms. They are now studying Hebrew under the instruction of Mr. Seixas, and intend to speak it.

Their book of Mormon they believe to have been a revelation to the people who once inhabited this continent, of equal authority with the Bible. The sacred antiquities which they suppose, or pretend that they possess have led them to set a high value upon every thing that illustrates them. They have purchased two Egyptian mummies, which we saw, and several fragments of the papyrus inscribed with hieroglyphics. The individual who showed us the "Temple," and from whom we learned most of the foregoing particulars, was very earnest, and apparently very sincere in his belief.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS.

[entire first column of clipping photocopy is unreadable]... in the base of the [Cepalo], is a small room, fixed up for some Mummies, which the Mormons purchased some two or three years ago. These consist of two females and one male. The male and one of the females, are old -- the other female is young -- has no hair -- and although she has been dead, probably three thousand years, she retains [a few] of her features, so that a [spectator?] can form a tolerable idea of her former looks.

But the principal [value] in the estimation of the Mormons, attached to [the mummies] is the papyrus, or an ancient Egyptian paper, found in the Catacoms with these mummies, on which is a splendid specimen of Egyptian Hieroglyphics, said to be the same as the characters on the golden plates, from which Smith translated the Book of Mormon. These Hieroglyphics [Mr.] Smith is now translating, and has proceeded so far as to [ascertain] (they say) that a part of them were written by Abraham, and a part by Joseph!

Whatever the world may think of the Mormon faith, they must allow them the credit of being at least an enquiring people, who are determined to investigate for themselves.


Note: This generally favorable report on the Mormons and their Temple at Kirtland is a continuation of the Ohio Watchman's article of Aug. 20th.

HISTORY  OF  MORMONISM.

(view original article from NYC paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

From the New York Evening Star.
COCHRAN'S  MANY  CHAMBERED  NON-RECOILING  RIFLE. 

This extraordinary invention of a young American, native of New Hampshire... deserves more than passing notice...

Mr. Cochran's father was a lawyer and afterwards a merchant of eminence in Enfield, New Hampshire, and the son, John Webster Cochran, who was born there, and has invented the species of fire arms in question was brought up in no particular business... [lengthy article on John Webster Cochran and his inventions follows]


Note: The Maine Biddeford Daily Journal of Jan. 31, 1896 provides the following information on the son of the cult leader, Jacob Cochran: "The son, John Webster Cochrane, was born in Enfield, N. H., May 6, 1814, and lived with his father at Saco, and is still remembered as a bright boy, who used to beg a ride of the teamsters on the road, and they tell that he used to say to them, 'I know you will give me a ride, because I am Jake Cochrane's boy.' At the age of eighteen, in 1832, with a cash capital of one dollar and twenty-five cents, or seven and sixpence, he walked to Boston on the old stage road, a distance of one hundred and ten miles, and the next year he succeeded in securing a patent steam-heating apparatus, and in 1834 he invented a revolving breech-loading cannon, -- the original principle of which was said to have been invented by his father while in the State's prison at Charlestown. This was that cartridge-holding-cylinder, automatically rotated by the cocking of the hammer, the same principle that afterwards secured the success of the revolving pistol..."

MORMONISM  IN  OHIO.

                                       Munson, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1836.
Last week I passed through Kirtland, and I was astonished to see that a city had sprung up since I was there last March. I should think there were between 100 and 200 houses (perhaps more) new building, most of them are small and plain, but some of them are elegant. Who can tell what the end of Mormonism will be? They have paid 100 dollars per acre for farms about one mile south the centre of Kirtland. Near the Temple they ask 5 dollars per square foot for the use of the land per annum. Most of the farms between the centre of Kirtland and the centre of Chester, they own; they also own a large store in Chester, and do business under the firm of Rigdon, Smith, & Co. They trade on a large scale, and make market for everything that can be raised about here. wheat 12s, corn 6s, butter 1s 6d, a 2s. (i. e. 25 cents) -- Their village will undoubtedly be incorporated as a city next winter. They have procured plates from New York, for issuing Bank notes, payable 30 after demand.


Note: A somewhat edited version of this same letter was reprinted in the Feb. 25, 1837 issue of the Springfield, Illinois Sangamo Journal.

A New Revelation -- Mormon Money. -- During the past two days an emission of bills... (see original article from Cleveland paper)


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMON CURRENCY. -- Our brethren seem to view this matter in a very different light from what we do. One is silent, and one upholds it. If it is a fraud on community, a duty rests upon us to expose it; and if those engaged in it are not properly subject to censure, they can make it manifest. With the religion we have nothing to do, except as connected with this pecuniary matter and illustrative of their character for honor and honesty. The readiness with which these anti-banking bank bills are thrown into circulation without any evidence or knowledge of the solvency of the issues, and when the solvency or insolvency of the loaner does not vary the rihts of the holder, for he has none -- no remedy either legal or equitable, is a most conclusive and answerable reply to assertion of our loco focos, that unlicensed paper would be carefully scrutinized before it could be forced into circulation. Here is paper finding its way into the pockets of our citizens, of whose credit the majority not only do not know any thing, but have the public statutes of the country open before them, speaking with the paramount authority of the land, that it is a legal nullity, and its circulation prohibited by a penalty. Yet these people, on the representation of respectable men, and the recommendation of newspapers will take it, throwingupon its sponsors the weighty moral responsibility of its genuineness. We regret that this responsinility is not a legal one. No property, or written obligations, no deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts or articles of association of any kind ccan help the matter. Every thing connected with this matter is void, as we have said, on both sides. Nothing remains but the honesty -- of whom? Here is the only security.


Note: The Gazette editor here calls his political opponents (the Democrats or Jacksonians) by the slang term "loco-foco." The name had earlier been applied to just one faction within the Democratic Party, but the anti-Jacksonians began to make use of "loco-foco" to identify all Democrats, beginning in about 1837. The anti-Democrat coalition not long after this time was known as "the whigs," -- a derisive label which they themselves adopted, becoming the Whig Party. At this time, the political sentiments throughout much of the Ohio Western Reserve was proto-Whig, and the Jacksonians were in the minority in counties like Geauga, where the Mormons' Kirtland was located. The Latter Day Saints were solid Jacksonians, and thus temporarily held the support of Jacksonian newspapers in northern Ohio. The Mormons' political alliance with the Ohio Democrats soon came undone, however, and by the end of 1837 it was but a fading memory.

==> The Mormons have established an Anti Banking Association at Kirtland, Geauga county, and are doing a driving business in the matter of extending banking facilities to the surrounding country.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Reports injurious to this institution are again in circulation. We are informed that Mr. J. V. Ayer, of Buffalo, and other gentlemen, have made arrangements for the purchase of its entire stock and charter. The stock is to be enlarged, in accordance with the charter, to $500,000. Bills of the bank are received at the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie, and also at the Bank of Cleveland.


Note 1: This notice was reprinted in various regional papers, including the Feb. 2nd issue of the Painesville Republican.

Note 2: As early as Aug. 18, 1836 the Monroe Times began publishing notices defending the reputation of the Bank of Monroe and assuring its readers of the bank's stability. However, it is supposed that from the second half of 1836 the bank was experiencing serious financial difficulties. The bank came under the control of the Kirtland Mormons at the beginning of 1837 and finally closed its doors for good on (or very shortly after) Mar. 13, 1837.

MORMON MONEY ONCE MORE. -- The Advertiser of yesterday says, "If the 'Kirtland Safety Society' should fail, the Gazette "cannot be charged with neglecting any thing to bring about the result." Thank you, sir. But day-before-yesterday, (did you not know it,) the establishment refused to cash its phantom money, as we were credibly informed, (and can give names) night before last. Yesterday the news was confirmed and the reasons given, which will probably be satisfactory to the Advertiser and its coadjutor friend Herald. Says one Mormon, "the public have misused us, by refusing to circulate our bills," and therefore we will just cut Mr. Public back again, and refuse to take our bills too. It is fortunate for community that no more of these deceptions have gained a circulation (probably not over $40,000) and particularly fortunate for the State, that it had not existence long enough for the Secretary of the Treasury to make it a Deposite Bank. We are told it has backers in this place. -- If so, and they are respectable men, who have any thing to lose, an attempt will undoubtedly be made to revive its credit. A word to the Advertiser, who charges us with inconsistency in this case and that of the Monroe Bank. The "Monroe Bank" was a Bank, it had not failed, and the report of the Advertiser that it had, was contrary to the facts, and we knew it. They were mininformed. Here the facts are all of then exactly in the reverse.


Note 1: This report first appeared in the Cleveland Daily Gazette of Jan. 26, 1837. The news was spread far afield by other newspapers; for example, the Montpelier Vermont Watchman and State Journal of Feb. 21, 1837 reported: "The Mormon bank has failed, say the Cleveland papers, but Jo Smith promises to redeem its bills in real estate. The bank had out about $40,000."

Note 2: A report published by the Hudson Ohio Observer, on March 2, 1837, added this information regarding the operations of the LDS bankers in Kirtland: "They continued to redeem with specie for ten days, and then shut up shop. Since then they have made some arrangement with an agent of the Monroe Bank, and at present are redeeming bills with that currency."

How have the Mighty Fallen!! -- We understand that the Mormon bank, alias the KIRTLAND SAFETY SOCIETY ANTI-BANK-ING CO. suspended specie payments on Saturday last, agreeably to a Revelation of the Mormon Prophet we suppose. We also learn that some particular friends of the concern who have a large amount of the Rags on hand, have become uneasy -- surprising!!


Note: This article was apparently taken from the Feb. 3, 1837 issue of the Painesville Telegraph.

IGNORANCE. -- The Advertiser is upon the subject of the Mormon currency again, and undertakes to school us for the profound “ignorance” we exhibit in regard to the concern. Exactly so. It was this profound ignorance that led us to caution the public, to doubt, to condemn the scheme, and call for proof. Individuals who had seen and examined were equally ignorant of its resources, its specie basis, the amount of its issues, the honesty of the bankers, and the property holden. The Advertiser, when called upon for these facts, exhibited then the same ignorance. Every body was ignorant. But after the lapse of a fortnight, the Advertiser dispels its own ignorance, and comes out with two items of statistics, and says the safety society (anti-banking co. we read it) has issued $12,000, and has $16,000 specie now on hand. How it was a fortnight since, we are not informed, and it seems to be "ignorant" that by the 24th section of the law of February, 1824, no suit at law can be enforced upon any note, bond, deed, mortgage, obligation, account, or contract of any sort, for or against such an institution.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE PAINESVILLE TELEGRAPH has a Quixotic assault upon Mr. J. V. Ayer, the Cleveland banks, and the Monroe money, accompanied with a word to the Gazette. Our brethren, both East and West, attach blame to the banks here, but we think the explanation of Saturday last will show the public that the Monroe bank does not owe any particular favors to the banks in this city, and that idea, to a resident, is altogether new, and is incorrect. With regard to banks, we shall endeavor to give correct information, for we owe it to the public, let that information cut where it will. Capt. Smith, late of the Army, and superintendent of the lake works, while President of the Monroe Bank, stated that the bills of that bank were redeemed and the whole amount then in circulation would be redeemed in specie; and relying upon the statement of this gentleman, we do not suspect the credit of the bank. At the same time, when a run is made upon it, they avail themselves of a prvision of the charter, giving sixty days to redeem. This injures the credit, but does not test the solvency of the bank; yet it has not, as we know, in ordinary cases, refused to redeem on demand. About two weeks since, Mr. Ayer, of Buffalo, while in this place, contradicted the story that the Bank of Monroe was connected with the Mormon establishment, and said it could be established by oath, if necessary. We have no other knowledge upon this point.


Note 1: It was apparently the Feb. 10, 1837 issue of the Painesville Telegraph which made the journalistic " assault" here being discussed. The "assault" was continued in that paper's Feb. 24, 1837 issue also.

Note 2: Mr. Ayer's report was issued on or about Feb. 2, 1837. On Feb. 10, 1837 Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, and Oliver Cowdery attended a meeting in Monroe finalizing the Mormon buy-out of the Bank of Monroe.

For the Ohio Observer.

ABOUT  MATTERS  IN  KIRTLAND.

Mr. Clark:

Dear Sir, -- There has been observed a striking change among our neighbors, the Mormons, in the course of three years. Then they lived in obscurity, in a few miserable shanties and log houses in the northern part of this town. They were considered unworthy of public notice, and it was thought they would speedily come to nothing and sink to oblivion.

Then they were devoted to prayer and the working of miracles. They spoke in tongues; they laid their hands on the sick; they prophecied, and they attempted to cast out devils; and they convinced almost everybody that they were assisted by some power more than human.

But, as we said, they have undergone a great change. For some time past they have been swelling up with pride and ambition. They have become exceedingly fond of political power. They are ready to seize upon all the town offices, and divide them among themselves exclusively; and some of the oldest inhabitants are greatly disturbed at their domineering spirit. In this particular they are unlike many other classes of fanatics, (the shakers for example) who utterly withdraw from all the public concerns of the world. The love of money is the root of all evil. It has completely infatuated these Mormons. Every step they have taken of late seems to be marked with the most consumate folly. The desire of worldly gain has killed all their religion, such as it was; and they have turned into a great company of bankers and land speculators. Prophecies have failed, and tongues have ceased; and knowledge has vanished away; and the question, how shall I become rich and obtain an eligible site in the New Jerusalem is all the theme.

The land within half a mile of the temple has been laid out into village lots, and these have been bought and sold among themselves, till at last a lot of one quarter of an acre near the Temple would cost from two to four thousand dollars; & what is more remarkable most of the Mormons have risen to affluence by these speculations.

They have bought out most of the township, & have agreed to give from 80 to 200 dollars per acre, for farms according to their location.

Last fall, in pursuance of a Revelation of Joseph, a Bank was projected, to pay off their mountain of debts, and make all the Mormons rich, who could not do it by land speculations.

At a special meeting for taking up the stock, each subscriber paid little or nothing, but pledged his property for security; for example, a man who owned a building lot near the Temple, would sign $5,000 and pledge his lot for security.

In this way they raised a capital stock of upwards of four millions of dollars. The next step was to despatch men to get the bill[s] struck off in Philadelphia. They read in the following manner: "The Kirtland safety society Bank, promises to pay, &c." By time the bills reached Kirtland it was discovered that emission would be illegal.

An Infidel lawyer was therefore called in to help them out of the difficulty, and by his advice the Revelation was mended as to read: "The Kirtland safety society anti-Banking Co., promises to pay, &c.;" instead of signing the bills as President and Cashier, they signed them as Secretary and Treasurer. By this twisting of the first Revelation they expected to evade the law: and thus they sent out the bills.

They continued to redeem with specie for ten days, and then shut up shop. Since then they have made some arrangement with an agent of the Monroe Bank, and at present are redeeming bills with that currency.

Before they put their bank in operation they had collected some thousands of dollars in silver, as Joseph had before sent forth an order to all the saints about to bring their money in specie, when they came to Kirtland. This was delivered to be deposited in the vaults, and they to be paid in bills.

The protestation of the bank was a sad shock to many a poor Mormon. They were much elated by the prospect of an abundance of money; and had been living on the bank in anticipation long before the bills came out.

This love of money is likely to be the root of some evils to us, as well as to them. We sold our property high, and some of us were much elated at the prospect of making our fortunes; and now we are placed under a strong temptation to pray for their prosperity, in order that we may be able to get our pay.

While this love of money and rage for speculation in the Mormon Church has thrown miracles into the back ground, there are still some attempts made to heal and cast out devils. A maniac, on whom they laid hands and whom they claimed to have healed some fifteen months ago, became raving and was chained last fall. The evil spirit returned and had taken full possession. At length old Joseph, the father of the Prophet, a few weeks ago laid hands on him and commanded the devil to depart. The patient seemed to be calm for a short time, and Father Smith began to assure the bystanders that the devil was gone beyond all doubt. But presently he began to rave again & the old man adriotly replied, "I see there is more than one devil in him;" but continued he, "I can assure you of one thing; God will either heal him perfectly before to-morrow night, or he will deprive him of strength altogether, so that he will not need be chained." But the brothers of the maniac, of whom I received these particulars, told me that he had been chained ever since.   C.
  Kirtland, 16th Feb. 1837.

---

OHIO LEGISLATURE.

IN SENATE

Feb. 10.      

...Mr. Medary produced a petition signed by numerous residents of Geauga county, of the Mormon profession, asking for a Bank charter. Although it was under some embarrassment of feelings that he introduced the claims of this association; yet, from their wealth, their numbers, and from the deficiency of the banking facilities in this quarter of our State, he was constrained to offer the following proposition for the impartial deliberation of the Senate:

Sec. -- Joseph Smith, Jr., Sydney Rigdon, and others of their association are hereby created a body corporate under the name of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank, to be established in the town of Kirtland, in the county of Geauga, the capital stock of which shall be 300,000 dollars.


Note: The vote on this legislative item was "yeas 11, nays 24." Orson Hyde had been delegated to lobby the Ohio legislators prior to their vote. He seems to have failed in his mission, Samuel Medary's assistance notwithstanding. See the 1836-37 issue of the Journal of the Senate of Ohio, pp. 360ff. for more detailed information.

THE  CURRENCY.

Efforts are now under way in every quarter to supply the defficiency which exists in the circulating medium...

We have in this section, Upper Canada paper of the unchartered banks, and now and then a Mormon bill, with a small sprinkling from the thousand and one banks of Michigan, that of Monroe not excepted; but the gold and silver which has been so long promised, still lags behind.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Extract from a letter received by a gentleman in this city, dated

                                                    DRESDEN, O., April 27.
Permit me to inform you that the Mormon institution at Kirtland has its runners through this quarter of the country endeavoring to palm on the public their trash; and more effectually to accomplish their end, they hold out to the public that they have broke the Bank of Cleveland, and are resolved to break the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie and the Bank of Massillon. It is to be lamented that there are many who are so ignorant as to believe the statement which I find will have a tendency, to some extent, to injure those banks. My object in writing is to communicate the fact, and to inquire whether some course cannot be adopted to expose these scoundrels to the world. They are ransacking our country, buying all the horses they can get, and paying for them with this trash, which I do not believe to be worth a straw. Many who have sold their horses, have pursued and taken them by force from buyers and paid back the trash.


Note: It seems strange to read that the Mormon money was still in circulation, albeit it at some distance from Kirtland, as late as April, 1837. Of course there were speculators who made it their business to buy up the bank notes of precariously financed institutions, often then re-selling the dubious paper for as little as a few cents on the face-value dollar. LDS Elders, loaded with $100 Kirtland bills might take them some distance away and unload the worthless notes at just a few dollars each, taken in trade (such as livestock and farm produce). So long as their stock of high value bank notes held out, the Elders were probably not much concerned at the embarassment of having to accept such a drastic discount on the money.

A PROPHET IN LIMBO. -- The Mormon Prophet, Jo Smith, has lately been arrested in Geauga county, as an accessary to an attempt to murder an unbeliever in his golden humbug. It seems that Joe had a revelation that a certain sceptic in the neighborhood of the "Holy Land" deserved martyrdom, and soon found a couple of his followers stupid and wicked enough to obey his ministrations. They were foiled in their attempt to shoot the individual; quarelled with the Prophet, and are now exhibiting this fiend in the garb of a "Latter day Saint," in his true character. So say reports.


Note: This news item appeared first in the daily Herald of June 2. The Cleveland Herald and the Cleveland Gazette newspapers merged into a single publication in June of 1837.

It will be recollected that the Mormon Prophet was apprehended a short time since, on a charge of inducing two of his followers to destroy the life of Mr. Newell. He was tried by the County Court last Friday and acquitted.   Painesville Telegraph.


Note: Actually the outcome of the Smith trial was not an acquittal, but rather a dismissal of the charges, due to to non-appearance in court of a key witness in the case.

==> Joe Smith the Mormon Prophet, was lately apprehended on a charge of employing two of his followers to kill a certain Grandison Newell, a rebellious subject. On examination, however the fact was not proven and he was released.

Notes: (forthcoming)

It will be recollected that the Mormon Prophet was apprehended a short time since on a charge of inducing two of his followers to destroy the life of Mr. Newell. He was tried by the County Court last Friday, and acquitted.  Painesville Telegraph.


Note: This news report is slightly in error -- charges were dropped against Smith, due to insufficient evidence being produced during the course of his trial. This was not the same as an acquittal.

LOOK OUT. -- We learn by the Painesville Telegraph of yesterday, that the "Mormon Banking Company" is about making a new emission of their worthless trash, "using old paper and signed by [Dr]. Williams and one Parish, by the redemption of a few dollars of which they expect to get the old emission as well as the new, again into circulation."


Note: The cited news item appeared in the Telegraph on July 7th -- cf. Ohio Repository of July 20th. If these reports were based upon the actual intentions of the topmost Mormon leaders, their renewed banking expectations were short-lived. By the summer of 1837 the Mormons' Kirtland money had become so worthless in the public estimation, that in August of that year, Joseph Smith felt compelled to publish the following notice: "To the brethren and friends of the church of Latter Day Saints; I am disposed to say a word relative to the bills of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank. I hereby warn them to beware of speculators, renegades and gamblers, who are duping the unsuspecting and the unwary, by palming upon them, those bills, which are of no worth, here. I discountenance and disapprove of any and all such practices. I know them to be detrimental to the best interests of society, as well as to the principles of religion." -- An ignoble end for the only American bank ever purported to have been established through Divine revelation and guidance.

KIRTLAND MONEY. -- We learn by the St. Catherine's (U. C.) Journal, that Mrs. Sarah Cleveland, late of this place, was committed to Niagara jail, for passing $390 of the "Kirtland Safety Society Bank," with intention to defraud. She was subsequently admitted to bail.

Note: This was evidently Sister Sarah Cleveland, the future Second Counsellor in the LDS Nauvoo Female Relief Society. She and her husband John provided a "safe house" for escapees from justice, Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith, when they fled from Missouri to Quincy Illinois at the beginning of 1839. One account names her as being one of Smith's "plurals."

Van Buren Professions. -- What are the tenets of the Van Buren party on the subject of Banks and Currency?... The Albany Regency, like the Safety Fund system, and defend the suspension of specie payments...

We have a guess that it is not unlike the opposition of Joe Smith & Co. to banks; and that the profession of the party might be expressed nearly in the form of Kirtland notes, thus.

The President, Kitchen Cabinet & Co. of the Anti-BANK-ing PARTY will pay their faithful officers in GOLD -- all others in RAGS.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormon Money. -- The Mormon Anti-banking company have again issued another batch of paper money, signed by Williams and Parish. We again caution our readers against receiving it.

Notes: (forthcoming)

For the Daily Herald and Gazette.

An intelligent Whig farmer speaking of the claims which are now made by the Jackson-Van Buren party of being opposed to all banks, replied, yes -- they are anti-bank just in the same sense as the Kirtland Safety Anti-Banking Company were anti-bank while they were flooding the country with valueless paper... forsooth, they are to get rid of all the blame just as the Mormons attempted to evade the laws of the state by stamping "anti-bank" upon their standard... an intelligent community will give just about as much credit to their professions, as they do to Mormon money...


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORE NABBING. -- Another of the counterfeiting gentry named Webber, was arrested near Silver Creek a few days since. He had passed a $10 United States counterfeit bill, and had a quantity of Mormon trash, fresh from the mint, in his possession.


Notes: (forthcoming)

A convention soon to be held in this county, of no-party, anti-bank, Van Buren bank directors; from Custom house officers, Postmasters and their whippers-in, down to Jo Smith, S. Rigdon and stockholders in the Mormon Anti-Bank, will exhibit more "fruits" in due season. The people will try, and judge them at the ballot boxes.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The extract quoted by "A Mechanic" is, we suppose, from the preamble of a bill for the incorporation of the Kirtland Bank, found in the journal of one branch of the Legislature. We have not examined the journals, but presume the extract is correctly made. The bill, it is well known, did not pass.

---

For the Herald and Gazette.

MESSERS. EDITORS: -- In your paper of yesterday, I perceive you made allusion to Joe Smith and S. Rigdon, as stockholders in the Mormon Anti-Bank, saying the people will try and judge them at the ballot boxes. I hope they will try and not only judge, but execute both them and their associates; and to enable the people to do equal justice to all, please insert the following extract, from the Journal of the Legislature last winter, page 365:

"That Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, Benjamin Adams, Nemiah Allen, Benjamin Bissel, Horace Kingsbury, Newel K. Whitney, Warner [sic] A. Cowdery, H. A. Sharp, and their associates hereby made a body corporate, under the name of the Kirtland Saftey Society Bank, to be established in the town of Kirtland, in the county of Geauga, the capital stock of which shall be three hundred thousand dollars,"

              And oblige, A MECHANIC.

Note: The appearance of the name of Judge Nehemiah Allen in this list of persons making up the "body corporate" of the Kirtland Bank is somewhat surprising. He was an associate to the "committee" who published hostile anti-Mormon advertisement, only three years previously. Allen was an associate judge of Cuyahoga county and later a representative to the Ohio Legislature. He is listed in the 1830 Census as a head of a household in Chagrin Twp., Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. In the early 1840s Nehemiah Allen joined with the famous "Mormon-eater" Grandison Newell and others to form the ill-fated "Ohio Railroad" or the "Wellsville Railroad" company. Allen was its president, investors like Newell lost heavily in the project.

ANTI BANK: -- Samuel Hedary, state printer, in fraud of the constitution, and editor of the Statesman, one of the loudest of the anti-bank papers, on the 10th of February last, moved in the senate to amend the bill known as Crouse's bill, by adding a section incorporating "the Kirtland Safety Society Bank, to be established in the town of Kirtland, in the county of Geauga, the capital stock of which shall be three hundred thousand dollars." See senate journal, pp. 365, 366.

The stockholders of that concern are, we believe, most of them decidedly anti-Bank in their notions. At least we remember some who advocated that bank very zealously and whose names figure in the list of stockholders, who are strongly anti-Bank still.


Notes: (forthcoming)

St. Louis, November 1.    

War on the Frontier of Missouri. -- We learn by a gentleman direct from the upper Missouri counties, some further particulars with the Osage Indians on our border. These Indians are settled on a tract of land which adjoins our western state line, and have lately moved down upon the line...


Note: The 1837 "war" with the Osage in western Missouri foreshadowed the "Mormon War" of the following year. The Missouri Militia were paid for both conflicts under the same legislative authorization in 1839 and the two struggles with the "hostiles" were probably looked upon by many Missourians as having much in common. In fact, the Mormons were frequently accused of stirring up the frontier Indians (whom they considered fellow Israelites) to join with them in driving out the Gentiles, (as fierce young lions might fall upon their unwary prey).

TROUBLE AMONG THE MORMONS: -- We learn from a source to be relied on, that the Mormon Society at Kirtland is breaking up. Smith and Rigdon, after prophecying the destruction of the town, left with their families in the night, and others of the faithful are following. The 'Reformers' are in possession of the Temple, and have excluded the Smith and Rigdon party. An exposure of the proceedings of the Society is in course of preparation by one Parish, the former confidential secretary of the prophet Smith. He has the records, &c. in his possession


Note: This article was reprinted in the Western Reserve Chronicle of Jan. 30, 1838 and in papers as far afield as the Wisconsin Fort Madison Patriot of April 4, 1838.

MORMONISM  EXPOSED.

Kirtland, Feb. 5, 1838

To the Editor of the Painesville Republican.

SIR: -- I have taken the liberty to send you a synopsis of some of the leading features of the characters of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Sydney Rigdon, who are styled leaders of the Mormon Church, and if if you are disposed, and think it would be of service to the public, you are at liberty to publish it. I have for several years past been a member of the Church of Latter day Saints, commonly called Mormon, belonging to the quorum of seventy High Priests, and an intimate acquaintance of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Sydney Rigdon, the modern Prophets, and have had an opportunity of ascertaining to as great an extent, perhaps the real characters of these men, as any other individual. I have been Smith's private Secretary, called to fill this high and responsible station by revelation which I wrote myself as it dropped from the lips of the Prophet, and although contrary to my natural inclinations, I submitted to it, fearing to disobey or treat lightly the commands of the Almighty. I have kept his Journal, and, like Baram [sic, Baruch?], the ancient scribe, have had the honor of writing the History of one of the Prophets. -- I have attended him in the private Councils, in the secret chambers and in public exhibition. -- I have performed a pilgrimage with him, (not to Mecca,) but to Missouri, a distance of 1000 miles, for the redemption of Zion, in company with about two hundred others, called the camp of Israel. When we arrived in Clay County adjoining Jackson County, Mo., in which Zion was located by revelation, and from which our brethren had been driven, we were informed through the Prophet that God had revealed to us that we need not cross over and fight as we had expected, but that God had accepted our sacrifice as he did that of Abraham, ours being equal to his when he offered up his Son. Therefore, we were sealed up unto eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ, as a reward for our suffering and obedience. I have set by his side and penned down the translation of the Egyptian Hieroglyphicks as he claimed to receive it by direct inspiration of Heaven. I have listened to him with feelings of no ordinary kind, when he declared that the audible voice of God, instructed him to establish a Banking-Anti Banking institution, which like Aaron's rod should swallow up all other Banks (the Bank of Monroe excepted,) and grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and survive when all others should be laid in ruins. I have been astonished to hear him declare that we had 60,000 Dollars in specie in our vaults, and $600,000 at our command, when we had not to exceed $6,000 and could not command any more; also that we had but about ten thousand Dollars of our bills in circulation, when he, as Cashier of the institution, knew that there was at least $150,000. Knowing their extreme poverty when they commenced this speculation, I have been not a little surprised to hear them assert that they were worth from three to four hundred thousand Dollars Cash, and in less than ninety days after, became insolvent without any change in their business affairs. But such has been the audacity of these boasting blasphemers, that they have assumed the authority to curse, or to bless, to damn, or to save, not only this Church but this entire generation, and that they hold their destinies in this world and that which is to come. And such has been their influence over this Church in this place, that they have filched the monies from their pockets and obtained their earthly substance for the purpose of establishing a Bank and various wild speculations, in order that they might aggrandize themselves and families, until they have reduced their followers to wretchedness and want. For the year past their lives have been one continued scene of lying, deception, and fraud, and that too, in the name of God. But this I can account for in my own mind, having a knowledge of their private characters and sentiments, I believe them to be confirmed Infidels, who have not the fear of God before their eyes, notwithstanding their high pretensions to holiness, and frequent correspondence with the Angels of Heaven, and the revelations of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost. What avails the claims of such men to holiness of heart, when their examples do violence to the system of morality, to say nothing about religion? What more favorable idea, can one entertain who has heard them say that man has no more agency than a wheelbarrow, and consequently is not accountable, and in the final end of all things no such principle will exist as sin. Such language, independent of many abominations that might be named, such as the Prophet's fighting four pitched battles at fisticuff, within four years, one with his own natural brother, one with his brother-in-law, one with Ezra Thair, and one with a Baptist priest, speaks volumes. -- Their management in this place has reduced society to a complete wreck. The recent outrage committed here, viz. the burning of the Printing establishment, I have no doubt was nothing more, nor less than carrying into effect Smith and Rigdon's last revelation that they had before they took their leave of this place between two days -- in fact the lying, fighting, stealing, running away, &c., that has carried on among us are only reducing their theory to practice, and in some instances they have not only taught the theory, but have set the example themselves. And I am fully convinced that their precepts and examples, both in public and in private, are calculated to corrupt the morals of their votaries and cast a shade over their characters, which like the twilight of evening will soon settle into the gloom of midnight darkness; and had it not been arrested in its mad career, would have transmitted to succeeding generations, a system of hereditary tyranny, and spiritual despotism, unparalleled in the annals of the christian Church, the Church of Rome not excepted. But they have fled in the night; "they love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil; the wicked flee when no man pursuth." -- the printing establishment, book bindery, &c., was formerly the property of Smith and Rigdon; it had been sold the day previous to its being set on fire, by virtue of two executions obtained against them of one thousand dollars each, for issuing banking paper contrary to law. The establishment had fallen into the hands of those who have of late remonstrated against the wickedness of the above-named individuals; and had it not been sacrificed upon the altar of reckless fanaticism, it would no doubt at this time have been speaking the truth, as an atonement for an ill-spent life; a well grounded conviction of this fact was evidently one reason why Smith and Rigdon obtained a revelation to abscond; and that the press must not at all hazards be suffered to be put in requisition against them; also that God would destroy this place by fire, for its wickedness against his Prophets, and that his servants are swift messengers of destruction, by whose hands he avenges himself upon his enemies; this accounts for the outrage. This is but a preface to the catalogue of their iniquities that might be enumerated. But the most astonishing thing after all is, that men of common sense and common abilities, should be so completely blinded as to dispense entirely with the evidence of their senses, and tamely submit to be led by such men, and to contenance such glaring inconsistencies; and at the same time to be made to believe, that they had God for their author, and the happiness and well being of mankind for their end and aim. But the magic charm is broken at last; superstition and bigotry have begun to lose their influence and unclench their iron grasp from this devoted people who have "been led like lambs to the slaughter, and as a sheep is dumb before her shearers," so have we not dared to open our mouths. However justice seems to be in pursuit of the workers of iniquity; and sooner or later will overtake them: they will reap a just and sure retribution for their folly. This then is the conclusion of the whole matter; they lie by revelation, swindle by revelation, cheat and defraud by revelation, run away by revelation, and if they do not mend their ways, I fear that they will at last be damned by revelation.
                                                M. [sic, W. ?] PARRISH.

This is to certify that we are personally acquainted with said Parish, Smith and Rigdon, and that the above is a statement of facts according to our best recollection.

LUKE JOHNSON,
JOHN BOYNTON.
two of the Apostles.

SYLVESTER SMITH,
LEONARD RICH.
Formerly Priests of the Seventies.
Notes: (forthcoming)

Beware of the Swindler!

A Man by the Name of HENRY MUNSON, who has heretofore had his residence in New London, Huron Co., O. was apprehended by me on a State Warrant, on the 2d day of this month, charged with fraudulently obtaining two Horses from a Mr. Reed, of this county. -- The said Munson made his escape from me in Mansfield, on the night of the 6th inst. ... and had in his possession a quantity of bills of different denominations on the KIRTLAND anti-BANKING SOCIETY, with which he will no doubt again attempt to gull the unwary.
Rob't. Baker.
Clear Creek, Richland Co., O.
March 8th, 1838.

Note: No confirmation has yet been found to show that "Henry Munson" was a member of the extended Munson family of Geauga Co., Ohio, but possibly he was.

For the Cleveland Observer.

A  SHORT  HISTORY  OF  THE
MORMONS  IN  KIRTLAND.

The history of every Nation and People has been distinguished into periods by their rise and their prosperity, their decline and their fall; and these several changes have all been realized by the Mormons of Kirtland.

The period of their rise, comprises about five years from the time Joseph first came there, with a band of two or three hundred followers, till the final completion of the Temple as one of the eastern stakes of Zion.

The Era which we may call the period of prosperity or the golden age, commences at the dedication of the temple and extends to the failure of the great Bank, with a capital of four millions. This division of the history comprises a period of about 15 months. The explosion of the Bank was a tremendous calamity, and hastened on the ensuing period of their decline.

This division of the history extends on about fourteen months longer to the month of May, 1838, which may be dated as the downfall of the reign of Mormonism in Kirtland.

Then the last of the Prophet's followers who were not confined there by poverty fled from the place, Joseph having warned them by Revelation to escape for their lives.

Thus as it was anciently said of the kingdom of Troy, “Fuit Ilium,” so may it now be said of the kingdom of the Mormons in Kirtland, Their glory is departed. Their history is finished.

The same causes which wrought those changes among ancient nations have produced similar consequences among the Mormons. In their first stages they were virtuous and humble, and self-denying, compared with the later periods of their history. The completion of the Temple seemed wonderfully to increase their faith, and led them on to the belief that God would carry them through every enterprise they chose to undertake. -- It also increased their credut abroad, and merchants in New York and Cleveland were willing to trust them for thousands and tens of thousands.

This was a proud day for the Mormons. -- Then wealth poured in upon them. Then like Jerusalem of old many of them waxed fat and kicked, and rioted in extravagance.

They projected the wildest schemes of future greatness. Vallies were to be filled, and hills leveledm and the City of Zion to be encompassed with walls. The Earth was to be given to the Saints, steam and water mills were commenced, the foundations of large buildings laid, new streets were opened, canals and rail-roads planned, nearly all the farms in town contracted for at enormous prices, a bank was opened without a charter, whose capital stock by the constitution could not be less than four millions of dollars.

With this mighty engine and the money brought in by those who were flocking to Zion, all debts were to be paid and every Mormon made rich. The humble simplicity and stern virtue of former days was laid aside. Miracles in great measure ceased. -- Parade and extravagance was the order of the day, and each one gave himself up to the mania of speculation. Such was the state of society when the bank failed and shut up, ten days after it was opened. And now the bubble burst, and the golden visions and the golden age vanished.

The decline of Mormonism has presemted a very unhappy state of society. It has been marked by perpetual quarrels and bickerings and law-suits, and finally by the defection and apostacy of some of the main pillars of the church, together with those under their influence.

Most of the farms contracted for have reverted to the original owners, and from 25 ro 30 thousand dollars paid on them, forfeited by the tenure of the contracts.

This unhappy state of things together with the monuments of folly which they had begun to build but were not able to finish, were more than Rigdon and Joseph could endure, and they slunk away last fall, leaving an injunction to all the faithful to follow them before the middle of May, and go up to Zion, thundering judgments to those who should linger behind. This we thought was cruel in the government, to beggar and ruin the people, and then require them to remove and transport their families twelve or fifteen hundred miles in this state of want and distress, like cutting a man's foot off and then requiring him to walk.

A stream of families have been leaving Kirtland now for three months, especially on the Sabbath. Saturday night or Sabbath morning is chosen by some to elude the grasp of their creditors.

The poor remnant are devising a plan to go up to Zion in a general encampment, -- which is expected to leave by the middle of May.

The common people are much to be pitied. They have given the most undeniable proof of sincerity at heart. They have forsaken all and given up all for Joseph. -- Numbers who when they embarked in Mormonism were worth thousands, are now reduced to absolute poverty, and yet they hold on. Others who came to Kirtland with only a few hundred dollars have given up the whole to carry forward the schemes of the Prophet, and yet they lose none of their zeal and devotion to the cause, although the monuments of infatuation and the waste of their hard earned moneystares them in the face from every quarter.

When shall we look for such devotion in the cause of truth and sover christianity. It cannot be found in the whole range of Christendom.

This surely presents a singular phenomenon in the history of Mental Philosophy; a delusion which never had a parallel in the history of America: and what confounds every body in this region, is the tenacity with which they hold on to the delusion. -- It seems as if they would follow Joseph even if he should reduce them to a horde of wandering gypsies and never more give them a resting place on earth. Indeed by accounts received from Missouri this is likely to be their condition. It seems they are troubled and torn by tumults there as well as here. The old inhabitants of Kirtland were thrown unto the back-ground during the reign of the Mormon Dynasty, but this spring they came forward and resumed the authority and direction of Town matters and the course of things is gradually reverting to the original channel.

The huge temple of stone, and the desolate habitations are rather painful momentoes of the folly and fall of this ill-fated people. And they will long remind us of what may be done even by small means and poor people, while they are animated by faith and zeal, and cemented by union.   T. C.


Note: Another letter to the editor from the Rev. Truman Coe of Kirtland. See also his letter in the Aug. 11, 1836 issue of the Observer.

Fire -- Incendiaries. -- The Methodist Church in Kirtland was burned on the night of the 22 ult. The house was situated near the Mormon Temple, and it is supposed was fired for the purpose of destroying the Temple. The stillness of the night saved the latter. The incendiary, to make his work of villainy sure, cut the well rope near by, and drew the bolt of a pump in another well. -- An attempt to fire the Temple was also made the same night, by means of straw and shavings thrust into the building through a window, but the brand of fire tied with them, went out before a flame was kindled. A reward of $400 is offered by the citizens of Kirtland for the discovery and arrest of the incendiary.   Clev. Her.


Note: See the May 31, 1838 issue of the Painesville Republican for Warren A. Cowdery's description of these events.

FIRE -- Incendiaries. -- The Methodist church in Kirtland, was burned on the night of the 22 ult. The House was situated near the Mormon Temple, and it is supposed was fired for the purpose of destroying the Temple. The stillness of the night saved the latter. The incendiary, to make his work of villainy sure, cut the well rope near by, and drew the bolt of a pump in another well. An attempt to fire the Temple was also made the same night, by means of straw & shavings thrust into the building through a window, but the brand of fire tied with them, went out before a flame was kindled. A reward of $400 is offered by the citizens of Kirtland for the discovery and arrest of the incendiary.   Clev. Gaz.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormons. -- The Mormons to the number of about 500 [sic], with 57 wagons, filled with furniture, &c. have left Geauga county, on their way to the promised land in Missouri. They pitch their tents in the open fields at night, after the manner of the ancient Israelites.


Note 1: This short news item was reprinted in the Aug. 18, 1838 issue of the Springfield, Illinois Sangamo Journal and in other papers, nationwide. A slightly elaborted version of the report appeared in the Cleveland Herald & Gazette of July 25th.

Note 2: Several 1838 newspapers, quoting this report from the Canton Ohio Repository, say "200" Mormons instead of "500" Mormons. Two possibilities exist for this discrepency -- The Repository editor may have changed the number, part way through his press run; or, more likely, one newspaper quoted the Repository incorrectly and reprints in other papers copied the "200" error. Historical sources put the number of the 1838 "Kirtland Camp" for Mormon pioneers at closer to 500 than to 200. A contemporary source, published in the St. Louis Gazette of Aug. 15, 1838 says: "The Mormons are in expectation of fresh recruits from the East -- and I observe a statement in the newspapers, that 500 are on their way..."

JOURNEYING TO THE PROMISED LAND. -- There has been a very general breaking up of Jo Smith's tribe at Kirtland, some 60 wagon loads having made a move to Missouri in one caravan. Like the journeying Israelites, they pitched their tents at night, and depended on the 'heaven' for food. The Mormons will find but little 'milk and honey' in Missouri.


Note: This news item refers to the "Kirtland Camp" of Joseph Smith loyalists, who followed their fleeing prophet to Far West, Missouri during the summer of 1838.

WESTERN  RESERVE
TEACHER'S SEMINARY
AND KIRTLAND INSTITUTE.

The Mormons of Kirtland, Geauga Co. Ohio, having broken up, and nearly all removed to the State of Missouri, it has been thought expedient to establish an institution of learning in that place, and thus occupy buildings which would otherwise remain comparatively useless. For this purpose, the use of their large and commodious Temple, has been secured for five years from the 1st September, 1838. In this edifice we have a single school room sufficiently large to seat well, two hundred students. Other buildings can easily be obtained in the place for low rent in sufficient numbers to furnish two or three hundred students with private rooms and boarding houses. There will probably be no want of room for as many students as choose to come. Good inhabitants are moving into the place to occupy the places of those who have gone away. Kirtland, on account of the phenomenon of its scenery, its healthfulness, waterpower, central location, easy access, and multitude of forsaken buildings, is an eligible situation for the establishment of an institution of learning. It is about two miles south of the great thoroughfare between Buffalo and Cleveland, about 21 3/4 miles north-east from the latter place, and about 9 south-west from Painesville... [details on the course offerings follow]

Good facilities for Agricultural and Mechanical labor may be had in Kirtland, as soon as arrangements can be effected, by which the students may preserve their health and defray some portion of the expense of their education. Students, if they wish, may obtain mechanic shops immediately, and by furnishing their own tools, manufacture such articles as may be wanted in the place...

The institution will commence operations on the 1st Wednesday in September next.

A sufficient number of competent teachers will be constantly employed. A competent and experienced female teacher will take the general supervision and management of the young Ladies, both in and out of study hours, and assist in their instruction.

Rev. TRUMAN COE, residing in Kirtland, will also assist in giving instruction -- and will give courses of scientific lectures. A course of lectures on Natural Philosophy and Astronomy will be given the fall term... NELSON SLATER,
               Principal.


Note: See also the Painesville Republican of Aug. 16, 1838.

VAN BUREN'S SUPPORTERS. -- From Fanny Wright, the she apostle of Loco Focoism, to Jo Smith, the blasphemous pretender, the 'odds and ends' of society have been gathered under the mantle of the great Loco Foco. In Caldwell county, Missouri, the Whig candidates for Congress received but 2 votes out of 353 polled, the entire population with a few exceptions being followers of Jo Smith, and obeyed his pretended revelation from Heaven that all the 'Latter Day Saints' should vote the Loco Foco ticket. Jo Smith should have his reward. A sub-treasuryship or else his Bank of Kirtland should be made a Deposite bank. Van Buren will remember him.


Note: The editor of the Herald & Gazette could not have been more wrong about Van Buren's supposed pact with the Missouri Mormons. Unlike their recent experience in northern Ohio, where they made useful alliances with the local Democrats, the Missouri Mormons of Caldwell and Daviess counties gained little advantage by voting the Jacksonian ticket. In that part of Missouri, where the Democrats made up the overwhelming majority of voters, the Mormon leaders could not gain much political leverage, either by promising to vote Democratic or by threatening to throw away their votes for the hapless Whigs. As things turned out, an election conflict between the Mormons and Gentiles in Daviess county ignited the 1838 "Mormon War." When the LDS leaders later solicited financial redress from Van Buren's national government, they received not a penny of federal funds in compensation for their losses in evacuating Missouri. So much for Van Buren "remembering" the Mormons' political loyality.

VAN BUREN'S SUPPORTERS. -- From Fanny Wright, the she apostle of Loco Focoism, to Jo Smith, the blasphemous pretender, the 'odds and ends' of society have been gathered under the mantle of the great Loco Foco. In Caldwell county, Missouru, the Whig candidates for Congress received but 2 votes out of 353 polled, the entire population with a few exceptions being followers of Jo Smith, and obeyed his pretended revelation from Heaven that all the 'Latter Day Saints should vote the Loco Foco ticket. A sub-Treasuryship, or else his Bank of Kirtland should be made a Deposit bank. -- Van Buren will remember him.  Clev. Her.


Notes: (forthcoming)

...Fanny Wright begins her electioneering campaign Sunday evening, the weather now having become cool. As Joe Smith, the Mormon, operates in Caldwell county (Missouri) among the Mormons, so Fanny Wright operates here among the Infidels. A good deal is expected from her aid. She attracts great houses when people are most at leisure, (Sunday nights.) She began to lecture here last year about this time.


Note: Fanny Wright was an early anti-slavery activist.

THE MORMONS ARE MAKING WAR. -- The St. Louis Missouri Gazette of the 17th contains the following under date of Buffalo City, Missouri, Aug. 11th

'A disturbance has broken out in Caldwell county, between the Mormons and other citizens. I have not heard what was the commencement, but it is stated that Smith is going round with a company of from 100 to 150 armed men, headed by Lyman White [sic], for the purpose of getting those persons who do not belong to their church to sign a paper promising not to molest them. I am told that they compel those to sign who are not willing. A deputation has left Richmond to request Smith and White to surrender to the civil authority. If they do not do so, it is the intention of the militia of the county to go and bring them in. So say persons that attended at Richmond. More of that next mail.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- We copy the following from the Missourian of the 1st inst., from which statement it would seem, that much excitement still exists in the counties adjoining the settlement of the Mormons:

'On last Thursday morning, about 250 Mormons, armed and equipped complete, came into Daviess county, and surrounded a Mr. Adam Black's an acting Justice of the peace in Daviess, and by threatening his life, forced him to subscribe a paper by which his liberty, as a freeman, is gone. The like affair has been forced from Mr. Enoch Riggs, and they have threatened instant death to all who may oppose their steps of treason. Immediately after the above affair, their forces were augmented to the number of from 3 to 400 men, all well armed, headed by Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon and Lyman Wright [sic]. They have literally overrun a considerable portion of this county, destroying the crops of grain that may be in their way.

'The lives of many of the most prominent men of Daviess county are threatened. Several men have been sent to Clay, Ray, Jackson and Lafayette counties, and it is seriously believed that the Mormons have taken and killed them. The men who have been sent are William Bowman, Col. William Pennington, Major Etherton, Wilson M'Kinney and Theodore Pennington. On this morning we received a call from citizens to march to Millport. We have arranged about two hundred men in Livingston, and we call unto you for aid.

'The Mormons are said to have lately gone to Far West; and it is the prevailing opinion here that there they are fortifying for a seige.

'The above does not comprise any thing like the whole length to which the Mormons have gone. They have, in addition, threatened to take Jackson county, and every thing does indicate a battle, and if we do not get aid very shortly our country is ruined.'

HIRAM COMSTOCK,
               One of the Committee.

---

The St. Louis Republican of August 30, says: 'We learn from the Columbia (Boone Co.) Patriot, that a gentleman of that town has received a letter from Livingston county, stating that some cutting and stabbing was perpetrated by the Mormons of Daviess county, on the day of election, and, that some companies had been raised in Livingston with a view of going over and assisting in drubbing the Mormons; but that, before they got quite ready to march, they learned the strength of the Mormons which suggested to their prudence the propriety of remaining at home till they could be assured that reinforcements would join them from other counties, sufficiently great to cope with the combined force of the Mormons.'


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormon War. -- From the accounts in the Missouri papers of the outrages which have been committed by this deluded sect, and the excitement of the public mind in consequence, we infer the tragedy will be [ground] up by a bloody war.

---

From gentlemen direct from Missouri, we learn that the Mormon Prophet Smith, had not surrendered to the civil authorities and that a posse commitatus were assembling for the purpose of arresting him; it was expected that Smith would resist with the whole of his forces, and that a bloody battle would be the consequence. -- Geauga Whig.


Note: The "Geauga Whig" was apparently a precursor to the later Chardon Geauga Republican & Whig. Also, for a time, under the editorship of Lewis L. Rice, during 1839, the Painesville Telegraph was published under the title of "Painesville Telegraph & Geauga Whig."

                      From the St. Louis Republican.

MORMON  DIFFICULTIES.

We have nothing later from Daviess county than the 14th. At that time the militia from Clay, Saline, Jackson and some other counties were collecting in Daviess and Carroll, but no decisive steps had been taken on either side. We copy below an article from the Western Star, (published at Liberty, in Clay county,) of the 14th, which shows the origin and progress of the difficulty. We have heard a number of verbal reports, but nothing that can be relied on, so we prefer waiting for more positive intelligence. The remarks of the Star are as follows:

"We desire in the statement we are about to make to give a true narrative of the causes which have produced the difficulty between the Mormons and the citizens of Daviess county, as well as to give all that has occurred respecting the movements of both parties since the first difficulty took place.

At the election in Daviess county, a citizen objected to a Mormon's voting, which brought about angry words. -- The Mormon was struck with a club, and in return used the same weapon himself, and before the affair terminated, several on both sides were engaged, and knives freely used. No person was killed, but some cut and bruised.

The excitement did not terminate with the fight. Shortly afterwards, Joe Smith, Lyman Wight, and other Mormon leaders, collected a large force in Caldwell, and went into Daviess county to protect the Mormons residing there. They went armed and equipped for war, but they say their intentions were peace; and if what we hear be true, respecting the paper which they presented to Adam Black, a justice of the peace, for his signature, a very different face has been placed upon the transaction to what B. has sworn to. The paper Smith presenetd to Black was to the effect that, inasmuch as it was anticipated that difficulties would grow out of the fight at the election, between the Mormons and the citizens of Daviess, he (Black) as a Justice of the Peace pledged himself that he would take lawful notice of any unlawful proceedings of either party -- Smith representing to Black, that if he would sign such a paper, he would show it to his own people and to others, and that it would have an effect to prevent difficulties.

We understand that the facts elicited at the trial of Smith and Wight (who gave themselves up, and were heard before the Judge of our Circuit Court last week) completely stamped the certificate of Black, Comstock, and others with falsehood. After the trial of Smith and Wight, it was believed that difficulties had ceased, but not so. The people of Daviess county had sent letters and messengers to other counties in order to raise men to drive all the Mormons out of Daviess, and many from other counties had gone to their aid. The Mormons seeing this, made preparations also. When, seeing the crisis at which things were arriving, the Judge of our Circuit, Hon. Austin A. King, directed General D. R. Atchison to raise 1000 men in his Division, and forthwith march them into Daviess, to keep the peace, and prevent bloodshed.

Two hundred men from Clay, under the command of Brig. Gen. Doniphen, Major Lightburne, and Capt's Moss, Whittington, and Price, marched out on yesterday and the day before.

We are not apprehensive that any thing serious will take place, though both parties have become much excited. Both sides are to blame, but our opinion is that the Mormons are the aggressors. Until the 4th of July, we heard of no threat being made against them, in any quarters. The people had all become reconciled to let them remain where they are, and indeed were disposed to lend them a helping hand. But one Sidney Rigdon, in order to show himself off as a great man, collected them all together in the town of Far West, on the 4th July, and there delivered a speech containing the essence of, if not treason itself. This speech was not only published in the newspapers, but handbills were struck for distribution in Caldwell and Daviess counties. We have not the speech now before us, but we recollect amongst other threats, that the author said --

'We will not suffer any vexatious law-suits with our people, nor will we suffer any person to come into our streets and abuse them.'

Now, if this is not a manifestation of a disposition to prevent the force of law, we do not know what is. It is also true, that when the Mormons left this county, they agreed to settle in, and confine themselves to a district of country, which has since been formed into the county of Caldwell; but they have violated that agreement, and are spreading over Daviess, Clinton, Livingston and Carroll. Such a number had settled in Daviess, that the old inhabitants were apprehensive they would be governed soon, by the Revelations of the great Prophet, Joe Smith, and hence their anxiety to rid themselves of such an incubus.

So many reports are in circulation relative to battles fought, and men on both sides being killed and captured, that it is hard to get at the truth. We are certain, however, that up to yesterday, no person had been killed. Three men from Ray county were captured by the Mormons, and some 50 guns taken. The men are in confinement, (or rather, are guarded and kept,) in the town of Far West; and it is said the people of Daviess have captured one Mormon.

Gen. Doniphan, in some remarks made to the company which went out from this county said, that the men and arms captured by the Mormons would be demanded, as also the Mormon captive in Daviess. Should the Mormons refuse to give up the men and arms, the worst consequences must follow.

We hope and believe they will not be so blinded as to refuse; but if they should, we can tell them, that "war to the knife" will be waged against them, and they will no longer be suffered to remain in the State. We rely greatly upon the standing and influence of Generals Atchison and Doniphan, as well as the other gentlemen who have gone out, to bring this matter to a peaceable termination.


Note: This same paper re-ran the article in its issue for the following day, and published a brief follow-up on the 19th.

From the St. Louis Republican.

Mormon Difficulties.

We have nothing later from Daviess county than the 14th...

(see original article from Missouri paper)

---

The Mormons. -- We rejoice to learn -- and hope the rumor is well grounded -- that the Mormon troubles are over.Gentlemen from the upper country report that the troops, who were marched to the 'seat of war,' have returned and been disbanded. Report says, also, that the Mormons have 'been more sinned against than sinning.' We really hope that the true origin of these difficulties will be disclosed in some authentic manner. The Governor, of course, if he has done his duty, has at hand the materials of such a statement -- and we presume he will lay them before the Legislature. -- St. Louis Gazette.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMON  WAR.  

We learn from the Missouri Republican of Monday, that the difficulties existing between the Mormons and the citizens of Daviess and Caldwell counties, have been satisfactorily arranged, without any loss of life by the prudence and activity of Gen. Atchison; who easily succeeded; after learning the whole facts, in restoring peace and quiet to the country, and in dispersing all the armed forces in the neighborhood. The Mormons, it now appears, were the injured party. -- Alton (Ill.) Telegraph.

---

THE  MORMONS.

                                                Jefferson City, Mo., Sept. 20.
Information has been received by express from Judge King, who presides in the Circuit where the difficulty exists, that an insurrection is now actually on foot in the counties of Caldwell and Daviess. The same information has just been received from Gen. Atchison, who is now at Richmond, with 250 men, and intends proceeding immediately to the scene of difficulty. Gen. A. has ordered out 400 more men from his Division. In consequence of this information, the Governor has, by expresses, ordered General Grant, of Boone, to have three hundred men, Clark of Howard, to have five hundred men, Lucas of Jackson, four hundred men [missing words: "and Crowther, of Cooper, 400 men"], organized and to march immediately to the scene of difficulty, to suppress the insurrection and restore order to the community. General Atchison states that the men now under arms in Daviess and Caldwell, are not less than 2000; the greater part of whom are Mormons, and the balance citizens.

The Governor has also ordered out the Boonville Guards, to be in readiness, to join him at Boonville on Saturday [missing words: "or Sunday"] next, and march with him to the scene of operation. The Governor, Adjutent General, and two aids leave this morning.

Major General Bolton will also repair to the scene of action with some two hundred volunteers from this county, in two or three days.

The only object of the commander-in-chief seems to be to prevent the shedding of blood and restore order to the community.

The citizens in that quarter may now rest assured that the strong arm of the law will be enforced and themselves protected in their rights. -- Watchman.


Note 1: The premature prediction for peace in Caldwell and Daviess counties came from the Oct. 3, 1838 issue of the Alton Telegraph, which summarized the Missouri Republican of Oct. 1, 1838.

Note 2: The "Watchman" article cited may have appeared in the Ravenna Ohio Watchman.. The piece was reprinted in Niles' Register, and also appeared, in shortened format, in the Missouri Republican.

THE  MORMONS.

We had hoped that this difficulty was at an end; but more recent intelligence leaves no doubt of the quarrel being of a more serious character than was at first anticipated. Below we give an extract from a letter written by a respectable gentleman in Lexington, and addressed to a citizen of this city. This account of the state of affairs is truly alarming. The writer says: -- "Great excitement prevails the other side of the river against the Mormons; they are all up in arms, and have, we understand this morning, had some fighting, which resulted in the killing of a few of both parties. The citizens of Ray County sent a waggon load of arms and ammunition, to the citizens of Daviess, for the purpose of defending themselves. On their way out they were captured by a company of Mormons, and taken to Far West. A committee has this morning arrived from the other side, asking for men to assist them in the protection of their property."

We learn from the Clerk of the steam-boat Howard, which came down yesterday, that a report was circulating along the Missouri river that the Mormons had fortified their town (Far West) and were determined to hold out. They were stated to be about one thousand strong and well supplied with arms and ammunition.


Note: See also the Missouri Republican of Sept. 19, 1838.

MORMON  DIFFICULTIES. -- We did suppose that this war, alike disgraceful to all parties concerned, was at an end; but the present prospects are otherwise. We learn by a gentleman who came passenger in the steamboat Kansas, on Saturday, that when at the Mormon town above the mouth of Grand river, he saw about two hundred of the Mormons armed and prepared for conflict. -- About eighty wagons, containing a number of families, had just arrived at the village. This passenger states that some of the citizens of the adjoining county had given notice to the Mormons to leave the country, and that if they did not go by Saturday, they would be driven off. The Mormons had refused to go, and were expecting every day an attack from their opponents, whom they represented as about equally strong with themselves. -- It however, was the opinion of our informant, that both parties dreaded a conflict, and he thought it most likely that nothing serious would grow out of the excitement.   St. Louis Rep.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMON  WAR.

The following intelligence is quite alarming. The letter which we give below was received yesterday by the Saint Peters, which left Glasgow about daylight on Monday morning, the 7th instant. The letter was written about the hour of the boat's leaving. The writer is one of the most respectable citizens of the upper country; his statements may be relied upon.

In addition to the above, we understand that a messenger, bearing despatches to his Excellency Governor Boggs, arrived in the city yesterday. What the contents of the despatches were, or what order his Excellency has taken, we have not learned. We believe that this intestine war will not be settled without a fight, and the quicker they have it, the better for the peace and quiet of the country. If the Governor thinks proper to order troops out again, we suggest that he give the call to the St. Louis Greys. Equipped and drilled as they are, they would be more effective than twice their number of raw militia, besides it would save calling out so many Major Generals, &c.

GLASGOW, Oct. 7th, 1838.       

Gentlemen, -- As one of a Committee of six from the counties of Howard and Chariton, appointed to visit the county of Carroll, where the distirbance exists between the Mormons and the citizens, and to examine into the causes, and to endeavor to effect a reconciliation between the parties, I have thought proper to communicate to you the facts as they exist. The Mormons reside at a town, six miles above the mouth of Grand River, called DeWitt. For the last week some citizens of Carroll, and others from Saline and Chariton counties, to the number of about two hundred persons, have been assembled within one mile of DeWitt, all well armed, and have one piece of artillery, threatening every day to attack the Mormons in DeWitt; in fact, on the 4th there was an attack made and many guns fired from both sides, but only one man wounded of the mob party, as they are called. We were there on yesterday, and endeavored to bring about a reconciliation between the parties; the citizens proposed that if the Mormons would leave the county and not return again, they would pay them back the amount their property cost, with ten per cent interest thereon, and return them the amount of their expenses in coming in and going out of the county. The Mormons replied that ever since they have been a people they have been driven from place to place, and they had determined they should be driven no more, and they had determined, every one of them, to die on the ground. There are about 100 families of Mormons who are there, and are now encamped with their wagons in town, having just arrived; what number of men they have we could not ascertain, but presume they have considerable assistance from their principal town -- Far West -- in Caldwell county, about 60 or 70 miles distant; in fact within the last 24 hours their numbers have increased so much that the mob have declined an attack until reinforced from other counties. A messenger has just arrived, who left there at daylight this morning, and reports that the guards were fired on by the Mormons about 1 o'clock last night, and continued until the time he left; but no one had been shot of the mob. Some 20 or 30 from our county have volunteered their assistance. The commanders of the mob are Dr. Austin (Gen.) and Col. Jones. The Mormons are commanded by Hinkle. I don't think I ever saw more resolute and determined men than the Mormons. It was our unanimous opinion that if some force sufficient to suppress them does not interpose immediately, there will be great slaughter, and many valuable lives lost -- some of our first citizens have engaged in it. Our country is under great excitement in consequence of it, and there is no telling where it will end.
                             Your obedient servant,
                                                 WM. F. DUNNICA.

---

MORMONS BOUND FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST. -- The last Bangor Mechanic and Farmer says that it learns that about fifty Mormons are soon to start for the land of promise in the West, from Camden in this state. They have comfortable covered wagons, and intend to take their provisions and working apparatus along with them, and board themselves on the road. They have expended about $3000 for the outfit, which, perhaps, ought to be taken as an evidence, so far, at least, of their sincerity in the belief of the doctrines of Joe Smith and his book of Mormon. We congratulate Joe Smith and his society upon the qcquisition of this new [recruit] from down east, and we especially congratulate the State of Maine upon their departure from its borders. We wish them nothing worse than a long absence. Portland Advertiser.


Note: The first of these two news reports was taken from the Missouri Republican's issue of Oct.11th.

THE  MORMON  WAR.

The following articles from the Western Star, published at Liberty, Clay county, Missouri, is the first coherent statement of the Mormon difficulties we have yet received. It is quite interesting:

THE MORMONS. -- We desire in the statement we are about to make, to give a true narrative of the causes which have produced the difficulty between the Mormons and the citizens of Daviess county, as well as to give all that has [occured?] respecting the movements of both parties since the first difficuty took place.

At the election in Daviess county, a citizen objected to a Mormon's voting which brought about angry words. The Mormon was struck with a club, and in return used the same weapon himself; and before the affair terminated, several on both sides were engaged, and knives freely used. No person was killed, but some were cut and bruised. The excitement did not terminate with the fight. Shortly afterwards. Joe Smith, Lyman Wright [sic], and other Mormon leaders collected a large force in Caldwell, and went into Daviess county to protect the Mormons residing there. They went armed and equipped for war, but they say their intentions were peace, and if what we hear be true, respecting the paper which they presented to Adam Black, a justice of the peace, for his signature, a very different face has been placed upon the transaction to what Black has certified to. The paper presented by Smith to Black, was to the effect, that, inasmuch as it was anticipated that difficulties would grow out of the fight at the election, between the Mormons and the citizens of Daviess, he (Black,) as a Justice of the Peace, pledged himself that he would take lawful notice of any unlawful proceedings of either party -- Smith representing to Black, that if he would sign such a paper, he would show it to his own people and to others, and that it would have an effect to prevent difficulties.

We understand that the facts elicited at the trial of Smith and Wright (who gave themselves up. and were heard before the Judge of our Circuit Court last week,) completely stamped the certificate of Black, Comstock, and others, with falsehood. After the trial of Smith and Wright, it was believed that difficulties had ceased, but not so. The people of Daviess county had sent letters and messengers to other counties, in order to raise men to drive all the Mormons out of Daviess, and many from other counties had gone to their aid. The Mormons seeing this, made preparations also. When, seeing the crisis at which things were arriving, the Judge of our Circuit, Hon. Austin A. King, directed Gen. D. R. Atchison to raise 1,000 men in his Division, and forthwith march into Daviess, to keep the peace, and prevent bloodshed.

Two hundred men from Clay, under the command of Brig. Gen. Doniphen, Maj. Lightburne, and Captains Moss, Whitington and Price, marched out on yesterday and the day before.

We are not apprehensive that any thing serious will take place, though both parties have become much excited. Both sides are to blame, but our opinion is that the Mormons are the aggressors. Until the 4th of July, we heard of no threats being made against them in any quarter. The people had all become reconciled to let them remain where they are, and indeed were disposed to lend them a helping hand. But one Sidney Rigdon, in order to show himself a great man, collected them all together in the town of Far West, on the 4th July, and there delivered a speech containing the essence of, if not treason itself. This speech was not only published in the newspapers, but handbills were struck for distribution in Caldwell and Daviess counties. We have not the speech now before us, but we recollect amongst other threats, that the author said: "We will not suffer any vexatious lawsuits against our people, nor will we suffer any person to come into our streets and abuse them." Now, if this is not a manifestation of a disposition to prevent the force of law, we do not know what is. -- It is also true, that when the Mormons left this county, they agreed to settle in, and confine themselves to a district of country, which has since been formed into the county of Caldwell; but they have violated that agreement, and are spreading over Daviess, Clinton, Livingston and Carroll. Such a number had settled in Daviess, that the old inhabitants were apprehensive they would be governed soon, by the Revelations of the great Prophet, Joe Smith, and hence their anxiety to rid themselves of such an incubus.

So many reports are in circulation relative to battles fought, and men on both sides being killed and captured, that it is hard to get at the truth. We are certain, however, that up to yesterday, no person had been killed. Three men from Ray county were captured by the Mormons, and some 50 guns taken. The men are in confinement, (or rather, are guarded and kept,) in the town of Far West; and it is said the people of Daviess have captured one Mormon.

Gen. Doniphen, in some remarks made to the company which went out from this county said, that the men and arms captured by the Mormons would be demanded, as also the Mormon captive in Daviess. Should the Mormons refuse to give up the men and arms, the worst consequences must follow.

We hope and believe they will not be so blinded as to refuse; but if they should, we can tell them, that "war to the knife" will be waged against them, and they will no longer be suffered to remain in the State. We rely greatly upon the standing and influence of Gen'ls Atchinson and Doniphan, as well as the other gentlemen who have gone out, to bring this matter to a peaceable termination.

---

LATER.

It will be seen by the following article, which we copy from the St. Louis Republican of the 11th, that the account which represented the Mormon difficulties in Missouri as subsided, was incorrect, and that great danger is yet to be apprehended. The most indomitable courage which exists, is that which fires the soul of the religious enthusiast, when armed against his persecutor.

MORMON WAR. -- The following intelligence is quite alarming...


Notes: (forthcoming)

Further from the Mormons. -- We learn by the Pirate, which arrived at noon to-day, that, on Tuesday night, the Anti-Mormons were still in force, near Dewit. The Pirate lay at Greenville, seven miles above Dewit, on Tuesday night. At that time information had come in, that the Anti-Mormons had given their opponents notice that they must take up their line of march next morning, at 8 o'clock. It was reported also, that the Anti-Mormons had sent word to the Mormons, that if they would collect their women and children in one house -- that house should not be fired at. As the Pirate passed down on Wednesday morning, by Dewit, a flag was seen flying over one of the largest houses there. From all appearances there is reason to believe that a conflict took place on Wednesday. -- St. Louis Republican.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the St. Louis Republican.

ALARMING  STATE  OF  AFFAIRS.

The following letter, from a highly respectable individual, has been politely furnished us by a friend for publication. The statements are confirmed by many verbal reports in the city. We have lately conversed with several intelligent individuals from the vicinity of the Mormon disturbance, and, whilst we have found it difficult to arrive with any certainty at the truth concerning many things, we are well assured that the hostility is more deeply seated than has generally been supposed, and we feel assured that bloodshed and devastation only will terminate the struggle, unless the Mormons remove from the country. Every account from that quarter shows an existing state of agitation in the public mind truly alarming. Every stranger is watching with jealousy, and every man compelled to take sides for or against the Mormons. In truth, there appears to be but little division on the part of the citizens, in their opposition. We are told that the two men who laid out the town of De Witt, and, as a matter of speculation, invited the Mormons to buy lots in it, have been given leave to pass through the country three times, after which they are informed that a return there will be dangerous. They have already removed their goods into another county.

So deep and all-pervading is the opposition to the Mormons, and so many respectable men have engaged in the attempt to expell them, that we feel satisfied the public are not truly informed of the objections which exist against the Mormons or the circumstances which render them so obnoxious. We hope shortly to be able to develope something more of the causes of this unhappy state of affairs than have yet come to the knowledge of the public.

ON BOARD THE STEAMER ASTORIA,    
Below Jefferson City, 28th Oct.      

Dear Major, -- I hasten to communicate intelligence which I have received a few minutes since (from an unquestionable source) at Jefferson City, viz: -- Colonel Reese of Richmond, Ray county, had arrived with an express to the Governor, to call out the militia to march in defence of Ray and Richmond. The Mormons had devastated Daviess county, burning the county seat, and most of the houses in the county, and were then marching on Richmond to burn and destroy it. Rencontres had taken place, with loss of lives. Colonel Reese had, but a few hours before we landed, returned, and orders were promptly issued by Governor Boggs for 800 mounted men to repair to the scene of war. The troops below arw to rendezvous at Fayette, and march immediately.

The Mormons have been for many days hauling in corn and other supplies to their great depot, Far West. They have been reinforced by many hundreds lately from Ohio and the Canadas, -- refugees and Mormons. Do not believe that these disturbances are 'humbugs.'

Yet More. -- The Missourian of the 27th, printed at Fayette, gives the following additional information. A company was to be organized in Fayette on the morning of the 27th.

Snowden's, Oct. 25, 1838.   

Col. Jones: Sir. -- News has just reached us here that the Mormons have attacked and cut to pieces Capt. Bogard's company of 50 men, except three or four who have escaped. They say the Mormon force is 300 or 400. Richmond is threatened to-night. If you can spare, I wish you to detail two or three companies of troops, and repair to Richmond with all speed.

      Yours in haste,
                GEO. WOODWARD,
                      Aid to Gen. Parks.

---

Carrolton, Oct. 25, 1838.    

Gentlemen: News of an appalling nature has just reached us. Capt. Bogard, who was ordered with his company to guard the frontier of Ray county, was attacked and cut to pieces by immense numbers. The were overpowered by 300 or 400 Mormons, while they were guarding their own families. But five minutes ago, three reports of a cannon were heard in the direction of Richmond. Firing has been heard in various directions, and there is no doubt but that these infatuated villians have attacked Richmond.

The news of their burning and pillage has already reached you. They have indubitably captured the cannon, and taken many prisoners -- probably killed many. Daviess county is a scene of desolation. Ray is probably so ere this time; and their next movement will be at this place. It is already threatened.

Be up and doing. Bring all the men you can, and let us check them in their course of destruction and devastation. They are moving on with great strides to the climax of anarchy, civil war, and desolation. Wolf and Baker will explain all. I have just received orders, by express, from Gen. Brig. Parks, to raise 150 mounted men. Fifty have volunteered, and the remainder I will obtain in a day or two.

Stir the people up in Howard and Chariton. Send all the braves you can with Wolf, and we can meet and check them in their mad career.
                      Yours in haste,
                          WM. CLAUDE JONES.


    To Congrave Jackson and others.

We have conversed with a gentleman who says that he had held a conversation, in person, with Jo Smith, a few days ago, and that Smith stated that his people were prepared to die in the defence of what they thought to be their rights, that although the Governor might raise and send against them the power of the state; yet, he, nor all the men he could bring, would not drive them from their present homes...

---

From the St. Louis Gazette, Nov. 2.

MORMON  WAR.

FURTHER  PARTICULARS.

We, at this late hour, received an extra from the Missouri Watchman, Jefferson City, of the 29th.

A very numerous meeting has been held in Ray county, at which the most energetic resolutions were taken.

A report was read at the meeting, by which it appears that Millport, in Daviess county had been burnt, and that the county [was] deserted, and sacked.

Judge King writing to the Governor, from Richmond, Ray county, October 24th, says:

'At this time, there is not a citizen in Daviess, except Mormons. Many have been driven without warning, others have been allowed a few hours to start. This stock of citizens have been seized upon, killed up, and salted by hundreds; from 50 to 100 wagons are now employed in hauling in the corn from the surrounding country. They look for a force against them, and are consequently preparing for a seige, building block houses, &c. They have lately organized themselves into a band of what they call "Danites," and sworn to put to instant death those who will betray them. There is another band of twelve, called the "Destructives," whose duty it is to avenge themselves for supposed wrongful movements against them, by privately burning houses and property, and even l aying in ashes towns, &c.

"A bloody battle has no doubt been fought, near Richmond; and a war of extermination will ensue."

E. M. Ryland, writing from Lexington (Lafayette county) evening 25th, says:

'Mr. Morehead brought news that the Mormons had attacked Captain [Bryant] this morning at day light. Since Mr. M. left Richmond, one of the company (Bogart) had come in and reported ten of his comrades killed, and the remainder (forty) [were taken] prisoners, many severely wounded. He stated that Richmond would be sacked and burned by the Mormon banditti to-night. Nothing can exceed the consternation which this news gave rise to. The women and children are flying from Richmond in every direction. -- We have sent from this county, since 2 o'clock this evening, about 100 well-armed and daring men.'

---

MORMON WAR -- BLOODSHED. -- Slips from St. Louis of the 1st and 2d inst., inform us that the Mormons have driven all except the members of their society out of the county of Daviess, burnt the county seat, and most of the houses in the county. They killed 10 of one company who attempted to stop them, and took some 300 or 400 prisoners. The Mormon force some 300 or 400 strong at De Witt. Gov. Boggs has ordered out 3000 mounted men to repair to the secne of war.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS.

By the following articles it will be seen that there is at last, an open war between these people and the citizens of Missouri. We lament this much, as we had the strongest hopes the long and angry existing difficulties would be settled harmoniously. Let who be in fault may, the die is now cast, and the end is difficult to foresee. Religious fanaticism on the one hand, and a persecuting bigotry on the other, seem to be the order of the day. It is time for all well wishers of society to frown on both.

From the Fayette (Mo.) Democrat, of Oct. 27.

THE  MORMONS  AGAIN.

Our town was thrown into a state of excitement yesterday evening, by the arrival of an express, bringing the appalling intelligence that a company of volunteers under the command of Capt. Bogart, who had been stationed on the line of Daviess and Caldwell counties, for the purpose of enforcing neutrality between the Mormons and the citizens of Daviess, were surprised in their encampment on Wednesday night last, by a party of 300 mounted Mormons, and the whole company, consisting of fifty-four persons, cut to pieces, with the exception of four, who succeeded in making their escape. These melancholy tidings are confirmed by letters from highly respectable gentlemen in Ray and Carroll counties, who vouch for their correctness.

Immediately upon the receipt of the above intelligence, a meeting of the citizens was called at the court-house, and every disposition manifested to afford aid to our suffering fellow-citizens. The meeting, without suggesting any definitive course of action, adjourned until today, when an effort will be made to raise a company of volunteers to march forthwith to the scene of disturbance.

Whether the story of the massacre be true or not, the counties of Carroll, Ray, and Daviess are evidently in a great state of excitement and alarm, and something ought to be speedily done by the proper authorities to put an end to these unhappy difficulties, involving as they do the honor and character of the State.

In addition to the foregoing intelligence, we have received a letter from Joseph Dickson, Esq., dated Carrollton, October 24, of which the following is an extract:

"We are all in an uproar here on account of the Mormons. They are pillaging the houses in Daviess county, then burning up the buildings; they even take wagons with them and haul off the plunder. They have threatened to take and burn this place tonight or tomorrow night, and this has been a busy day, I assure you, in packing up goods, wares and merchandise, and all other things of importance, and in carrying them to a place of safety. You may be assured the above statements are true.

"I have pursued the same course of the other citizens, and secured the records and other papers belonging to my offices, as clerk of the circuit and county courts."

---

                    From the Cincinnati Gazette.

MORMON  WAR.

We have fresh accounts of the Missouri Mormon War, that present a disastrous state of affairs. It would seem that the attempt of a large body of Mormons to settle far West in Missouri in the counties of Daviess and Livingston, has been resisted by the previous settlers of the vicinity, and the contest has come to the battle field.

In the week commencing October 14, the Mormons burned the town of Millport, and many houses in its vicinity. They had organized into a band of three or four hundred and proclaimed their determination to maintain their position by force. On the morning of October 25, they attacked a force of fifty men, under Captain [Bogart], sent to quell them. This company they dispersed, killing, wounding and capturing the greater number. There were strong reports that they intended to burn Lexington that night. Lexington is a considerable town.

The facts appear to be, that the Mormons have become an organized banditti, that burn and rob, and shed blood where they are opposed. The language held toward them is to this effect:

"They (a public force) must make haste and put a stop to the devastation which is menaced by these infuriated fanatics. And they must go prepared and with the full determination to exterminate or expel them from the State, en masse. Nothing but this can give tranquility to the public mind, and reestablish the supremacy of the law. There need be no further dallying with the question anywhere. The Mormons must leave the state, or we will, one and all: And to this complexion it must come at last."

We are too far from the scenes of action to venture an opinion. Wherever the fault rests, the condition of the parties is most deplorable.

Notes: (forthcoming)

From the St. Louis Republican of Nov. 5th.

MORMON  WAR.

Just as our paper was ready for the press yesterday, we received the following letter from Mr. Ryland. To those abroad who do not know Mr. R. we can say that he is the judge of the Circuit Court. The picture which he gives of the prevailing excitement may be relied upon as strictly accurate. We are glad to find that the account of Capt. Bogard's defeat is not as bad as was represented in former accounts. The letter is post marked the 30th, up to which time, we presume, nothing of importance had occurred.

RICHMOND, RAY COUNTY, MO.             
October 29, 1838.         

To the Editors of the Mo. Republican:

GENTLEMEN: I write you from the town of Richmond, in Ray county, in order to give you some information relative to the unprecedented excitement now existing in the upper Missouri, against this most deluded, wretched, and misguided people, the Mormons.

This band of fanatics commenced, on the 18th instant, to burn and ravage the plantations, houses, &c. of the people of Daviess county. They have laid waste the whole county, turning store-houses, farm-houses; destroyed the property of the citizens, driving off the hogs and cattle of the inhabitants of that county, taking the plunder to the Mormon held -- Far West -- leaving the county of Daviess one wide, extended ruin. To-day, I saw and conversed with Major Morin, the senator-elect from Ray, Caldwell, and Daviess, and he informed me that the people of Daviess were literally ruined. Bands of the Mormons would go out, followed by wagons, and would take live stock and property, sweeping every thing before them, and haul the spoils into Far West. They (the Mormons) have burnt the town of Gallatin, the county seat of Daviess. On last Wednesday night, a body of some hundred and fifty or two hundred Mormons attacked a small body of the militia of Ray county, some fifteen miles north of Richmond, under Capt. Bogard, some two or three of Bogard's men were killed, and several wounded. Some four or five Mormons were killed, and many wounded. The Ray men retreated. The alarm has spread through the whole upper counties, and the militia have been called out forthwith.

Last night I was in the camp of the militia from Lafayette, Jackson, and Ray. There was about the number of seven hundred men, and, as the people were flooding in from all quarters, I suppose this morning the number exceeded eight hundred. Majors General Atchison and Lucas, and Brigadiers General Graham and Nelson were present. The encampment was about one and a half miles from Richmond, on the road leading to Far West.

This morning, at eight o'clock, the army moved off for that point, and will to-night encamp in a short distance of Far West. Brigadier General Donophan, with some three hundred men, was to encamp last night near Bogard's battle-ground. Col. Cornelius Gilliam, with the forces from Clinton county, some three hundred strong, or maybe more, was encamped near Far West, say about eight miles off.

From the exasperated feeling manifested plainly by the forces last night, I apprehended the most serious consequences. Every body is excited; the public mind is resolutely bent on putting it beyond the power of the Mormons to again disturb the peace of the citizens, and more especially their plunderings and burnings. It was rumored that the Mormons were to burn Richmond on last Thursday night, and the women and children, all fled across the river to Lexington. I saw on the bank of the river, in the night, a large number of women and children, without a shelter or food, who had fled, early on Thursday morning, to Lafayette county for safety. It was after sunset on Thursday before I heard of the alarm of the women of Ray, and I immediately hastened to Lexington, and then to the river, to offer shelter, protection, and food to those suffering people. No man, without seeing the objects, can properly estimate my feelings on that night.

You may expect to hear, in three or four days, more news of the most fatal character.

               I am your most obedient servant,
                               JOHN S. [sic. F.] RYLAND

Notes: (forthcoming)

By the London papers brought by the GREAT WESTERN, it appears that a number of Mormon Missionaries have arrived in London, and that they are preaching their doctrine with considerable success.

For the honor of Christianity, it is to be hoped no such bloody persecutions await the deluded sect in Europe, as have disgraced humanity on this continent.


Note: This report was reprinted in the weekly edition of the Herald & Gazette on Nov. 28th

MORMON  WAR.
_______

MORMON  TROUBLES  IN  MISSOURI.

An arrival at St. Louis, from above, confirms the reports which were previously current, of the burning of Daviess court-house, post office, and a store by the Mormons. It is stated that the Governor had ordered out 4,000 militia; and that volunteer companies were rapidly being organized to march to the scene of action. The Mormons are said to be daily receiving accessions to their numbers by emigrants from Canada.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. -- The Missourian of the 27th ultimo, printed at Fayette, gives the following additional information. A company was to be organized in Fayette on the morning of the 27th.

                                      Snowden's, October 25, 1838.
Sir. -- News has just reached here that the Mormons have attacked and cut to pieces Capt. Bogard's company of 50 men, except three or four who have escaped. They say the Mormon force is 3 or 400. Richmond is threatened to-night. If you can spare them, I wish you to detail two or three companies of troops, and repair to Richmond with all speed.

                Yours in haste,
                GEO. WOODWARD,
                Aid to General Parks.

                                     Carrolton, Oct. 25, 1838
Gentlemen: News of an appalling nature has just reached us. Captain Bogard, who was ordered with his company to guard the frontier of Ray county, was attacked and cut to pieces by immense numbers. The were overpowered by 3 or 400 Mormons, while they were guarding their own families. But five minutes ago, three reports of a cannon were heard in the direction of Richmond. Firing has been heard in various directions, and there is no doubt but that these infatuated villians have attacked Richmond.

The news of their burning and pillage has already reached you. They have indubitably captured the cannon, and taken many prisoners -- probably killed many. Daviess county is a scene of desolation. Ray is probably so ere this time; and their next movement will be at this place. It is already threatened.

Be up and doing. Bring all the men you can, and let us check them in their course of destruction and devastation. They are moving on with great strides to the climax of anarchy, civil war, and desolation. Wolf and Baker will explain all. I have just received orders, by express, from Brig. Gen. Parks, to raise 150 mounted men. Fifty have volunteered, and the remainder I will obtain in a day or two.

Stir the people up in Howard and Chariton. Send all the braves you can with Wolf, and we can meet and check them in their mad career.   Yours in haste,
                          WM. C. JONES.

To Congrave Jackson and others.

---

The St. Louis Republican of the 1st instant, after publishing the foregoing accounts, adds: "We have conversed with a gentleman who says that he had held a conversation, in person, with Jo Smith, a few days ago, and that Smith stated that his people were prepared to die in the defence of what they thought to be their rights, that although the Governor might raise and send against them the power of the state; yet, he, nor all the men he could bring, would not drive them from their present homes."

---

From the St. Lewis Gazette -- November 2.

FURTHER  PARTICULARS.

We, at a late hour, received an extra of the Missouri Watchman, Jefferson City, of the 29th.

A very numerous meeting has been held in Ray county, at which the most energetic resolutions were taken.

A report was read at the meeting, by which it appears that Millport, in Daviess county had been burnt, and that the county [was] deserted, and sacked.

Judge Ling writing to the Governor, [from] Richmond, Ray County, October [26th], says:

At this time, there is not a citizen in Daviess, except Mormons. Many have been driven without warning, others have been allowed a few hours to start. This stock of citizens have been seized upon, killed up, and salted by hundreds; from 50 to 100 wagons are now employed in hauling in the corn from the surrounding country. They look for a force against them, and are consequently preparing for a seige, building block houses, &c. They have lately organized themselves into a band of what they call "Danites," and sworn to put to instant death those who will betray them. There is another band of twelve, called the "Destructives," whose duty it is to avenge themselves for supposed wrongful movements against them, by privately burning houses and property, and even laying in ashes towns, &c.

"A bloody battle has no doubt been fought, near Richmond; and a war of extermination will ensue."

E. M. Ryald, writing from Lexington (Lafayette county) evening 25th, says:

"Mr. Morehead brought news that the Mormons had attacked Captain Bogart this morning at day light. Since Mr. M. left Richmond, one of the company (Bogart) had come in and reported ten of his comrades killed, and the remainder (forty) were taken prisoners, many severely wounded. He stated that Richmond would be sacked and burned by the Mormon banditti tonight. Nothing can exceed the consternation which this news gave rise to. The women and children are flying from Richmond in every direction. We have sent from this county, since two o'clock this evening, about 100 well-armed and daring men.


Notes: (forthcoming)

(From the St. Louis Gazette.)

The  Mormon  War  Ended.

The Mormon war has been terminated by a surrender of the Mormon leaders to the troops under Gen. Atchison. This happened on Sunday, Oct. 28th. On that day, about three thousand men, being part of the army of 5,000, ordered out under Gen. Clark, comprising Gen. Atchinson's division, made their appearance, before the town of Far West, the county seat of Caldwell county, where the Mormons were entrenched. Upon their approach, the Mormons had hoisted a white flag, which was shot down by Capt. Bogard, but was immediately replaced. Gen. Atchison then sent in a message, with a view to learn their wishes and intentions, when six of the leaders avowed their willingness to surrender, in the expectation that the Mormons should be unharmed. The surrender was accepted, and the individuals put under guard. Their names are Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, George Hinkle, Lyman Wight, Parley P. Pratt, and Mr. Knight. The Mormons assembled, at Far West, comprised 700 men under arms. Of this number, a small body of 150, retreated and pushed their way to the northern frontier. The reports vary as to what happened after the surrender. In fact, our intelligence does not come down clearly to a period, later than the day of the capitulation.

On the day after, Gen. Atchison received the orders of the Governor, which have already been mentioned in this paper, as directing the expulsion or extermination of the Mormons. It is said that, shocked and disgusted with the severity of the command, he retired and went home. After that event, it is stated that several -- some accounts say 40 of the Mormons -- were put to death. One version of the statement is, that the Mormons killed, at this time, were such as had not come into Far West. We need, however, more certain and authentic information, than we now have, on this head.

Gen. Clark, with the remainder of the troops collected from the counties below Caldwell, was, on the Friday after the surrender, encamped in Ray county, and had not then reached Far West.

It is stated that, about the time of the surrender, a company of men -- 200 in number -- fell upon a body of the Mormons, in Splawn's settlement, on Shoal creek, about 20 miles from Far West. The Mormons, it is said, were 30 in number; and the story runs that all but four were put to death. Some of the names of the killed, as reported to us, are David Evans from Ohio, Jacob Fox, from Pennsylvania, Thomas M'Bride and his father, Mr. Daly, M. Merrill and his son-in-law, Mr. White, all from Ohio.

The facts about Bogard's fight are that two of his men were killed -- one outright and one died of his wounds. At the same time, four Mormons fell -- among them the captain of their band. Bogard's company were stationed on the line of Ray county, to intercept the communication between Ray and Caldwell. They had captured four Mormons; and to rescue these the attack was made upon them by the Mormons. Bogard's Company is said to have been 40 in number, and the Mormons 70.

As to the Mormon ravages in Daviess County, the plundering and burning of which so much has been said -- we are informed that, before those hostile operations, the Mormons held a consultation, at which the propriety of the steps afterwards taken, was debated at large. Some of their number were averse to the plan, and nearly one third dissented from it. The reasons assigned for these measures, were alleged outrages by their enemies in Carroll and Daviess counties. According to the Mormon statement, their houses and buildings, near DeWitt, in Carroll county, had been destroyed by their enemies, and they themselves expelled from the county and afterwards pursued, on their retreat into Daviess. It was, therefore, as they allege, in retaliation for previous unprovoked outrages, that they executed their system of violence and terror in the county of Daviess. Evidently, they could not have adopted a more suicidal policy -- allowing their own statements to be wholly true.

We have no time now -- and it would take more space than we can spare for it -- even with a knowledge of all the facts, to enter into a history of the origin and progress of this difficulty. But there is a statement in this connection, which we have heard but recently, and which we sincerely hope is not true. That statement is as follows.

About the 9th or 10th of last month, when about 80 Mormon families had been expelled from Carroll county, and driven into Daviess, a message was sent by them to the State Executive, praying for his interposition in their behalf. The reply to that message was, that already the State had been put to a great deal of expense on account of these difficulties, and that he could see no cause to interpose, thus leaving the parties to fight it out!

The disposition of the captured Mormons presents a case of great difficulty. They are generally poor -- at least they have but little money and few means besides their stock and crops to preserve them from starvation. As it is, we suspect, these means are very much abridged. The presence of several thousand troops in their vicinity must have reduced them greatly. The proposition -- so it is given out -- is to remove them from the State. Who will advance the funds, wherewith to consummate to such a measure? And where shall they be sent? Their numbers exceed five thousand, men women and children! Are these 5,000 people -- without any means and literally beggars -- to be thrust upon the charities of Illinois, Iowa, or Wisconsin?

It is said that the leaders are to be put to trial. We hope there may be a trial, and that the trial will extend to a most thorough, rigid, and impartial examination into the origin and progress of this extraordinary commotion. We hope that a searching operation will be applied to the guilty on all sides. It is only in such a way that the government and people of this State can place themselves in a just and dignified attitude before their sister governments and fellow citizens of the Union.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS.

A few weeks gone by, I made an editorial notice of the Mormon War in Missouri, which was predicated upon the best analysis I could make of the intelligence before me. I fear [now], that the Mormons were unjustlt dealt with in that notice; that instead of constituting a desperate banditti, they have been, in truth, the victims of a most brutal ferocity.

We have since the notice referred to, published some details shedding more light and putting a different color upon the condition and conduct of the Mormons. The St. Louis Republican of Nov. 20, is now before me -- and it contains a long letter, from Richmond, Missouri, placing the Mormons in the most odious light. The letter bears intrinsic evidence of malicious villainy prepetrated, and of an effort to conceal it by misrepresentation. We apprehend that the history of outrage, injustice and violence of no age, or country narrates deeds of more diabolical hue, than plain truth must exhibit, in this Mormon war. And, as is usual in all such cases, foul slander, and vile defamation are resorted to, for shrouding in darkness the atrocities of the stronger and more prevalent party. I have carefully read this Missouri Republican letter, dated Richmond, Nov. 13, 1838, and from that letter, I deduce the conclusions here expressed.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS.

Not one half of the rumors and publications relative to the Mormon difficulties in Missouri can possibly be true. The following article shows quite a different state of feeling from most of the false stories afloat.

                                            From the Boonslick Democrat, Nov. 10.
The late western mail brought us the following card, with a request to give it an insertion in the Democrat, which we take pleasure in complying with, as it furnishes a refutation of the reports which have reached here from various sources, that some of General Lucas's command, after their arrival at Far West, had been guilty of many flagrant and nameless outrages upon the persons of some of their Mormon prisoners:

                                            Independence, November 5, 1838.

A  CARD.
TO THE CITIZENS OF JACKSON COUNTY.

It is with feelings of no ordinary kind that the undersigned take this method of tendering their most unfeigned gratitude to you for the kind treatment and great attention they have received at your hands since they were committed to your charge as prisoners; having received every degree of kindness that could be expected at the hands of a magnanimous and honorable people. This, gentlemen, is not designed as flattery, but a debt that they feel they owe to you. We hope that Generals Lucas and Wilson, and all the officers and privates under their command, will receive this expression of our feelings, as due to them from us, in return for the kind treatment received at their hands. Gentlemen, we found you as friends at a time when we most needed them; and since the time we arrived at this village, we have not received the first insult from any individual. Gentlemen, we are prisoners in your hands, and such has been your magnanimity, that while we remain prisoners, we shall desire to continue in your care.

For your prosperity in this life, and rest eternal in that which is to come, you have the sincere desire and devout prayer of your prisoners in tribulation.

JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
HIRAM SMITH,
P. P. PRATT.
AMASA LYMAN,
GEORGE W. ROBBINSON,
LYMAN WIGHT,
SIDNEY RIGDON.
Note: The same news item evidently appeared also in the Ohio Statesman of Nov. 27th.

THE MORMONS. -- We have St. Louis dates of the 17th. Gen. Clark at the head of 1300 men, was still at Far West, guarding the captured Mormons. Jo and Hiram Smith, Rigdon, Wight, Robinson and Hunt, have been ordered to Richmond, Ray county, for trial. Many Mormons had made their escape from Caldwell county, leaving their families. The exclusion of General Atchison from any command in the Mormon war, by Gov. Boggs, is exciting considerable feeling in Missouri. A public dinner has been tendered Gen. A. His measures seem to have been too merciful towards the deluded fanatics, to suit his Excellency. The following stipulations of a treaty made between General Lucas, in command at the time of the surrender, at the Mormons, we copy from the St. Louis Republican.

"Gen. Lucas states that the officers and men under his command conducted themselves in a manner that will ever recommend them to his highest approbation. We are sorry that our space and time will not permit us to make any further remarks. The following are the stipulations between the parties: 1st. To give up their leaders to be tried and punished.
2nd. To make an appropriation of the peoperty of all who had taken up arms, for the payment of the debt, and as indemnity for damages done by them.
3rd. That the Mormons should all leave the state and be protected out by the militia; but to remain under protection, until further orders from the Commander in Chief.
4th. To give up all arms of every discription, to be receipted for. "For the purpose of arranging everything in a proper and legal way, Gen. Lucas left Col. Williams aid-de-camp to the commander in chief, Col. Burch and Maj. A. Ries of Ray county, to attend to drawing, writing &c. with a company of men to execute all orders consistent with the stipulations.

Judge Cameron of Clay county, William Collins of Jackson, George Woodward of Ray, John Carroll and W. W. Phelps of Far West, were appointed by Gen. Lucas and Col. Hinkle, the commander of the Mormons, to attend to the adjusting of all claims, &c."

---

MORMONS -- MORMON WAR. -- By the London papers brought by the Great Western, it appears that a number of Mormon Missionaries have arrived in London, and that they are preaching their doctrines with considerable success. They went out in one of the packets the past season.

For the honor of Christianity, it is to be hoped no such bloody persecutions await the deluded sect in Europe, as have disgraced the name of humanity on this continent. The following paragraph from the St. Louis Gazette of the 10th inst., would have created a shudder even in the dark ages.

FURTHER FROM THE MORMONS. -- The account of a bloody butchery of thirty-two Mormons on Splawns creek is fully confirmed. Two children were killed, we presume, by accident. Considerable plunder -- such as beds, hats, &c. were taken from the slaughtered. Not one of the assailants was killed or hurt.

About the time of the surrender, several Mormon houses were burnt in Chariton, and one Mormon who refused to leave, killed.

At Far West, after the surrender, a Mormon had his brains dashed out, by a man who accused the Mormon of burning his house in Daviess.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMON  DIFFICULTIES.

(view original article in Missouri paper)

Further from the Mormons. -- The account of a bloody butchery of thirty-two Mormons on Splawns Creek is fully confirmed. Two children were killed, we presume, by accident. Considerable plunder -- such as beds, hats, &c. were taken from the slaughtered. Not one of the assailants was killed or hurt.

About the time of the surrender, several Mormon houses were burnt in Chariton, and one Mormon who refused to leave, killed.

At Far West, after the surrender, a Mormon had his brains dashed out, by a man who accused the Mormon of burning his house in Daviess.

We copy the above paragraph from the Gazette of Saturday evening. We are sorry to say, that our own information corroborates the details. For the honor of the State, we could have wished, that such savage enormities had not attended a controversy in itself disgraceful enough. We understand, that the company engaged in the attack at Splawn's Creek, was not attached to any division of the army, but was fighting on its own hook. The men were principally from Chariton county, and amongst the number was at least one member of the Legislature. The enemy had approached within eighty yards of the Mormons before they were apprized of their approach. The Mormons had their families with them, and to preserve their lives, the men separated from them and took refuge in a blacksmith's shop. Here they were murdered! It is said that the Mormons had arms, but it is a little singular that they should have used them so ineffectually as not to have touched one of the assailants. The latter, in some instances, placed their guns between the logs of the house and deliberately fired on the victims within. These reports are founded upon statements of persons engaged in the attack; and, bad as they are, are not likely to be overcharged. Will the actors in the tragedy be suffered, by the Courts of that district, to go unpunished? -- St. Louis Rep.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMON MASSACRE. -- The worst and most barbarous atrocities reported of the Missourians towards the Mormons, are, we are sorry to say, confirmed. What can exhibit a more fiendish spirit, than the inhuman conduct related in the last St. Louis Republican. That paper says. 'we understand that the company engaged in the attack at Splawn's creek, was not attached to any division of the army, but was fighting on its own hook. The men were principally from Chariton county, and amongst the number was at least one member of the Legislature. The enemy had approached within eighty yards of the Mormons before they were apprized of their approach. The Mormons had their families with them, and to preserve their lives, the men separated from them and took refuge in a blacksmith's shop. Here they were murdered! It is said that the Mormons had arms, but it is a little singular that they should have used them so ineffectually as not to have touched one of the assailants. The latter, in some instances, placed their guns between the logs of the house and deliberately fired on the victims within. These reports are founded upon statements of persons engaged in the attack; and bad as they are, are not likely to be overcharged. Will the actors in the tragedy be suffered, by the courts of that district, to go unpunished?


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMON  WAR  AT  AN  END.
_______
FROM  THE  ST. LOUIS REPUBLICAN  OF  NOV. 8.

The steamboat Pirate arrived at our port last evening from the Missouri. We learn from her passengers that the war with the Mormons, about which so much anxiety has existed, has been brought to a termination, by the surrender of the whole Mormon force to the troops under the command of Major General Clark near Far West. No resistence was offered by them, and Jo. Smith, Rigdon, White, and three or four others of the leaders were detained by the commander of the forces, to await such proceedings as may hereafter be instituted against them. It is reported, but we think it will turn out to be as erroneous as the statements about Capt. Bogard's engagement and defeat, that some seventeen or twenty of the Mormons were killed after they had surrendered themselves prisoners, and that other acts of violence were committed. A few days must bring authentic information upon the subject, and also of the disposition which is to be made of the Mormon leaders. It is also stated that General Atchison, of Clay, had resigned his command, because of some disaffection which he felt towards the Governor's orders.

ANOTHER  ACCOUNT.

FROM  THE  ST. LOUIS COMMERCIAL BULLETIN,  NOVEMBER 8.
MORMON  TROUBLES  ENDED  AGAIN.

By the steamboat Pirate, which arrived yesterday afternoob from Westport, Missouri, we have the gratifying intelligence of the bloodless termination of these disturbances. The Mormons' seeing such a large body of men assembling together, all highly excited, and considering "discretion the better part of valor," surrendered themselves to General Atchison without even firing a gun. Jo Smith, the prophet and two or three more of the ringleaders, are to be taken to Jefferson City, and the rest (about 700) are to be marched without the bounds of the State. A number of the volunteer companies were disbanded, and had returned to their respective homes.

LATTER  STILL,  AND  CONTRADICTORY.

FROM  THE  ST. LOUIS BULLETIN,   NOVEMBER 9.
MORMONS.

There are various rumors afloat concerning the surrender of the Mormons, and we are afraid that the disturbances have not terminated so amicably as was reported. We have conversed with a gentleman who arrived yesterday afternoon from Jefferson city, on bosrd the St. Peter's, and he states that an express arrived there on Wednesday night, bringing intelligence that a party of Mormons, who had fortified themselves in a home, were attacked by the volunteers under the command of Gen. Lucas, and thirty-two of them were killed -- seven of the volunteers were wounded, and one killed. It is further stated that the Governor had issued orders to Gen. Clark to retain as many of the volunteer companies as was necessary to keep the Mormon prisoners until the meeting of the Legislature.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- From the Boonville Emigrant of the 15th, we extract the following: Joe Smith and the other leaders are to be put on their trial at Richmond, Ray county; and 47 other Mormons are to be tried at the same place. It is not sure that the Mormons are to be sent out of the State forthwith, but are allowed to remain at present with the distinct understanding that they are not to make another crop in Missouri, but to leave it between this and next summer. The forces are all disbanded and sent home except one troop of cavalry from Cole county, which will be retained until the Mormon trials are over.

The circuit Court for Ray County commenced its session on Monday the 11th instant, at which term it is expected, the trial of Joe Smith and other Mormons will come on.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM.

We perceive by the London papers, that a number of Missionaries from the Mormons went to England lately, in one of the packets, and that they are preaching their doctrines with some considerable success. We copy a notice of this new religion.

"In the village of Palmyra, in the western part of the state of New York, an idiot, said to have been dumb from his birth, suddenly gave out a few years ago, that 'one night' he had a visit from an angel, who told him to arise from his bed and follow him. He did so, and was conducted by his visitor to a remote and retired spot, where lay a large flat stone, having a ring in the middle of it. This stone was about five feet long, three broad and eight or nine inches thick. On arriving at the place in question the angel commanded the idiot whose name was Joe Smith, to take up the stone by the ring. Smith, as well he might, hesitated to comply with such an order, when his companion told him to take it up boldly, for, if he only had 'faith,' God would instantly give him strength to perform the herculean task. -- Having prayed inwardly for some minutes, Joe took off his coat, and was making preparations for the performance; but the angel reproved him for his want of faith, made him replace his coat upon his shoulders, and said that even 'if the stone weighed ten thousand tons, divine assistance, through saving faith, would enable him to lift it.' Joe became passive in the hands of the Angel, grasped the ring and found to his astonishment, that the stone weighed as nothing in his hands! On removing it, the idiot discovered that it had served as a covering to a box or chest of the same material, under which were deposited 'twelve golden plates or tables' engraven all over with mystical characters. Upon the upper plate lay a pair of spectacles, made of freestone (save the mark,) which the angel commanded Smith to place astride of his nose. On doing so, Joe's 'tongue was loosened,' as he himself states and his intellect instantly became like those of other men. He saw though the freestone, and the engraving on the golden plates became perfectly intelligible to him. The angel then commanded him to associate with himself 'twelve other men,' whom he named as 'Scribes,' and to interpret to them the writing on the plates. When the work was completely written out, they took it to a printer who demanded $500 in advance for his share in the business. Hereupon the conclave, by dint of pawning, borrowing, selling, and 'finding,' raised the stipulated sum. The book was left with the printer, and the authors were desired to call at the end of the month, when the work would be completed. They now went and 'voluntarily made oath before a justice of the peace that they had written from the dictation of Smith, who, until the time of the angel's visit, had been dumb and an idiot from his birth, and that they had seen the twelve golden tables and the stone spectacles,' adding, that 'no one except Smith could see through them.'

At he expiration of the month they returned to the man of types and demanded their books. The disciple of Caxton met them with a long face, and told them that the whole of the first sheet (16 pages) had been thrown down: and that the manuscripts not having been preserved, he had not been able to fulfil his agreements by the stipulated time: but that if they would write it over again, he would of course print it at his own expense. The Prophets were astounded at this intelligence, and as they had kept no copy of their work, despaired of replacing the inspired writings -- hereupon the printer, by way of removing the difficulty, advised them to 'take another look at the golden plates '

The despairing Mormonites took the hint, and returned with sixteen pages of fresh matter, which the printer immediately composed.

On the publication of the book, the printer worked off and published the sixteen original pages, which he pretended to have lost, and which were altogether different from those they had brought him the second time. This created a terrible sensation among the scribes, who were now called upon by the perfidious printer to produce the plates.

Twelve golden tablets, each of the size of a large tea tray, are not very easy to be procured -- but the angel was good enough to step in once more to their aid. The conclave made oath that the angel had taken the tablets to heaven, on the completion of the work; -- the stone spectacles, however, and the stone chest were produced in evidence, and multitudes of persons were found to be noodles enough to believe the absurd story.

The writer of this, travelling in 1830 through the State of New York, fell into company with a drover, whose uncle had been choused out of $8000 by these fellows. Multitudes had joined them, selling all their property and throwing the proceeds into the common stock and they have several establishments, one of which is in the State of Ohio, where they herd together after a most edifying fashion. -- Of course, chastity is not among the number of their cardinal virtues. They profess a hearty contempt for all 'unbelievers' and are noted for the promptitude with which they consign to 'everlasting fire and brimstone' all not of their own persuasion.

The poor drover above alluded to, not being himself a Mormonite and having anticipated coming in as heir to the 'old feller,' could in nowise keep his temper when speaking of the 'new revelation.' He consigned Mormon, Joe Smith, and all their followers, to perdition after a most unseemly fashion; libelled the angel who had thrown Joe the box and observed that 'the angel was sharp enough however, for he took good care to carry off the gold; he didn't leave that behind him.' 'Now,' continued he, 'that old Succubus of an uncle of mine might have remembered that he had ten years of my labor and that no man is called upon to throw away his life for nothing; but then the old chap hadn't got no more gumption than a backwoodsman's bull, nor no more steadiness than a monkey upon a water cock, so that when they came to him he got clean frightened out of the little wits that he had. The first time I went to New York he took the opportunity to sell his farm and his stock and every thing and didn't leave himself more clothes nor plunder than what you might ram into a pedlar's wallet; so when I returned, I found myself master of the outside of the house, and a ready furnished lodging in the forest, where I might pick and choose among the trees and live squirrel fashion, that is, if so be as I could have climbed and made up my mind to dine every day on hazel nuts and raw corn. I only wish I could have knowed what was a going on; I'd have found a way to return home time enough to clear 'em all out with my cudgel and that in a fashion that would have made them tremble all the days of their lives at sight of a hickory tree.'

The doctrinal book of the Mormonites, by them called 'The Bible,' has with them entirely superseded the Old and New Testaments. A copy of this book arrived lately in London and is now in the possession of a gentleman residing at Brompton. -- It is a tolerable thick and closely printed octavo volume, and is divided into a number of books, called after the names of their supposed authors; of these the first in the Book Of Mormon, which has given its name to the whole volume. It is a singular fact that in the Greek language, the word Mormon signifies a mischievous fool or idiot. -- The style and language of this new Bible are an awkward imitation of those of the Old Testament. The book abounds in grammatical blunders and Yankeeisms, and is by no means sparing in marvellous relation of cruelty, murder and rapine. -- There is hardly a glimpse of meaning in many passages of it and the whole is put together in a rambling, unconnected manner, which plainly evinces it to the work of a person or persons wholly unaccustomed to literary composition. It is too absurd for criticism and too brutishly depraved and ignorant to allow if its giving amusement to the reader by this folly."


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormons. -- From the Boonville Emigrant of the 15th, we extract the following:

Joe Smith and the other leaders are to be put on [their] trial at Richmond, Ray county; and 47 other Mormons are to be tried at the same place. It is not true that the Mormons are to be sent out of the State forthwith, but are allowed to remain at present with the distinct understanding that they are not to make another crop in Missouri, but to leave it between this and next summer. The forces are all disbanded, and sent home, except one troop of cavalry from Cole county, which will be retained until the Mormon trials are over.

The Circuit Court for Ray county commences its session on Monday the 11th inst. at which term it is expected, the trial of Joe Smith and the other Mormons will come on.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Late and important! from the Mormon war. -- Treaty concluded. -- By the St. Louis Bulletin of the 17th inst. we have accounts from the Far West; by 10 the 8th. Gen. Clark had arrived there with 1300 men, to guard the Mormon prisoners confined in that town, and had sent a despatch to Gen. Lucas of Jackson county, to return Jo Smith the prophet, and Hiram his brother, also the ringleaders Rigdon, Wright, Robinson and Hunt. Many of the Mormons have escaped from Caldwell county. The rest will not probably be driven out this winter. A Doctor Avord, one of the sect, has made some important disclosures.

Among many other things, that they associated themselves into three different societies, called Danites, Gideonites and the Destroying Angels -- composed of about 150 men altogether. The object of the bands was to carry on a regular and systematic course of robbery and murder, and swear out suits against all disclosures from the church, and others under false pretences of debts and claims against them, the proceeds of which were to be placed in a general fund for the use and benefit of the church.

The rumor of the engagement of Oct. 30, in which 30 Mormons were killed, is confirmed. The following is the treaty concluded with the Mormons by Gen. Lucas:

The following are the stipulations between the parties:

1st. To give up their leaders to be tried and punished.

2d. To make an appropriation of the property of all who had taken up arms, for the payment of the debts, and as indemnity for damage done by them.

3d. That the Mormons should all leave the state and be protected out by the militia; but to remain under protection, until further orders from the commander-in-chief.
4th. To give up all arms of every discription, to be receipted for.

For the purpose of arranging every thing in a proper and legal way, Gen. Lucas left Col. Williams, aid-de-camp to the commander-in-chief, Col. Burch and Major A. Rees of Ray county, to attend to drawing, writing, &c. with a company of men to execute all orders consistent with the stipulations.

Judge Cameron of Clay Co., Wm. Collins, of Jackson, Geo. Woodward of Ray, John Carroll and W. W. Phelps, of Far West, were appointed by Gen. Lucas and Col. Hincle, the commander of the Mormons, to attend to the adjusting of claims, &c.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The  Mormons.

A letter from S. Rigdon, confined in jail at Liberty, Missouri, gives the following affecting picture of the persecutions of this deluded class of fanatics.

The sufferings, the calamities, the woe and wretchedness of the Mormons is, at this time unknown to the public generally, and not only since the Governor's order, but before. For a length of time before the Governor's order, the Mormons had been scourged by a company of mobbers, who were constantly wasting their property -- gathering together and threatening them and their property with destruction and extermination. The mob which collected in Daviess, immediately subsequent to the election, commenced a general destruction of Mormon property and destroyed before the authorities could disperse it, -- or, rather, before they did disperse it, one hundred head of cattle; and of this number, was the last cow that some poor families possessed. And, while Generals Atchison, Donaphan, and Park were there, the mob boasted that they lived on Mormon beef and Mormon corn. The mob amounted to four or five hundred; and you may judge of the destruction that must have been made of the property of a poor people, who had, but a short time before come into the country. It was the cause of much suffering and distress among the Mormons.

When the mobbers were dispersed at Daviess, they went directly to Carroll county and commenced an attack on the Mormons there, where they obtained a cannon for that purpose. A body of seventy families was closely invested; consisted of men, women and children; living in wagons and tents, not having had time to build houses. A great many sickened and died for want of attention. In this wretched situation they were driven from Dewitt. The same evening, a lady who was sick, died in consequence of moving her, and was buried by the way side, without a coffin,; thus was a family of children, left without a mother. A multitude of children died, because their parents could not take proper care of them. -- Application was made to the Governor for assistance, but he utterly refused to give the least aid."


Note: This open letter was apparently written by Sidney Rigdon between Nov. 30, 1838, when he was first confined at Liberty Jail, and Feb. 5, 1839, when he managed to escape. The wording sounds as if it may have been derived from his Jan. 25th plea for a writ of habeas corpus, as presented before the Clay County Court at the beginning of 1839.

THE MORMON LEADERS. -- The St. Louis Republican of the 16th ult. says, we learn from Liberty, that Sidney Rigdon and Joe Smith were recently taken from prison and brought before a Justice of the County Court, under a writ of habeas corpus. Testimony in the case was heard. Smith was re-committed, and Rigdon admitted to bail. He has since left the State. Rigdon, it is said, made a most able defence before the court. -- Herald.


Note: This item evidently quotes the St. Louis Weekly Missouri Republican. A similar notice was published in the Feb. 14, 1839 issue of the Daily Missouri Republican.

THE MORMONS. -- This persecuted people are emigrating from Missouri to Illinois, settling on the Mississippi, near Quincy. Sidney Rigdon is delivering addresses, and locating his disciples there. They appear to be well received by the people. Rigdon's eloquent account of the cold-blooded murder, by the Missouri mob, of Mormon men and children, the violation of females, the destroying of property, the burning of houses, &c., is awakening much pity and commiseration. The refusal of the Legislature of Missouri to enquire into and publish to the world a true history of the disgraceful and barbarous war on the Mormons, has placed Rigdon and his followers on a vantage ground they will not fail to occupy in exciting the sympathies of the humane and benevolent. The infamy of the persecuting war can never be wiped from the escutcheon of Missouri. Time will only darken its coloring.


Note: President Rigdon's preeminence in western Illinois was short-lived. Not only did Brigham Young practically ignore his leadership for several weeks at the beginning of 1839, Joseph Smith soon after escaped from Missouri to Quincy and demoted Rigdon to lesser duties than administering the "One True Church." See the Apr. 27, 1839 issue of the Quincy Whig for an account of Smith's arrival in that town.

THE MORMONS. -- This persecuted people are emigrating from Missouri to Illinois, settling on the Mississippi, near Quincy. Sidney Rigdon is delivering addresses, and locating his disciples there. They appear to be well received by the people. Rigdon's eloquent account of the cold-blooded murder, by the Missouri mob, of Mormon men and children, the violation of females, the destroying of property, the burning of houses, &c., is awakening much pity and commiseration. The refusal of the Legislature of Missouri to enquire into and publish to the world a true history of the disgraceful and barbarous war on the Mormons, has placed Rigdon and his followers on a vantage ground they will not fail to occupy in exciting the sympathies of the humane and benevolent. The infamy of the persecuting war can never be wiped from the escutcheon of Missouri. Time will only darken its coloring.   Cleveland Herald.


Notes: (fortrhcoming>

THE MORMONS -- MORMON BIBLE. -- We notice by late Missouri papers that this deluded people are fast leaving the State, and settling in Illinois. Their farms and improvements are parted with for a mere trifle, the mass of the zealots still feeling sanguine that they shall yet return and possess the 'promised land.' The prophet Smith is still in prison in Missouri, and a recent attempt by his followers to rescue him, resulted in the fresh imprisonment of his arch co-laborer in religious imposition, Sidney Rigdon.

A faithful history of the rise and progress of Mormonism, would be a sad commentary on the credulity of mankind in this enlightened age. -- Beginning with a few obscure individuals, destitute of wealth or influence, and asserting the most preposterous claims to divine origin that a distempered imagination can conceive -- it has by the aid of zeal, devotedness and cunning on the part of Smith and his Disciples, won thousands of intelligent persons to its embrace, and moulded them into a set of reckless fanatics, whom neither the sword nor the faggot can swerve from their purpose and designs. -- Persecution is the life-blood of impostures, and the Mormons have been fed liberally by the accursed spirit. They now have their Missionaries in nearly every part of the United States, and in some portions of Europe. Their communities, routed and driven from one section, fix their tents in another, and bound to one common interest by the same fanatical devotion that drew hundreds of thousands into the crusades under Peter the Hermit, they extend their lines and numbers with every fresh persecution, and grow stronger in the faith as they approach nearer the martyr's stake.

The writer of this saw something of Mormonism in its infancy -- when the gift of miracles was claimed -- when old men dreamed dreams, and young men and maidens prophesied. The impositions, sooth-sayings, and conjurations practised by the 'gifted' in the new religion, were indeed confounding to many of strong discriminating minds and judgments, and convincing to others less guarded against the arts of the impostor. Large meetings, continued for successive days, were held -- earnest preachings and alarming exhortations were given -- the 'gift of tongues' was claimed and practised -- miracles were pretended -- swoons, trances, jerkings, and visions were frequent -- and the 'gift of the Holy Spirit,' was impiously claimed by the Disciples of Smith. Many in the sincerity of their hearts were converted to Mormonism, and with meekness and humility submitted to the jeers and contumely the world heaped most liberally on the new sect.

Such was the early spirit and such the pretensions of Mormonism. As imposition after imposition on the part of the founders was falsified by time and examination, the Evil One always came in for his share of the credit, as the exploded humbugs were at once denounced by them as the Devil's works, and renounced by the Mormon church. Prophecyings, the gift of tongues, visions, &c. accordingly fell into disrepute; and the sect of Mormons dropped their wild and fanciful notions, just as fast as they found people could no longer be duped by them.

But we write not their history -- already strange and eventful enough to swell a volume. As a matter of some interest to those acquainted with the singular sect at least, we copy what appears to be an authentic account of the origin of the famous 'Golden Book,' Smith has so successfully imposed upon his followers as a revelation from Heaven.

From the New-York Observer.

ORIGIN OF MORMONISM. -- The Book of Mormons [sic], or the 'Golden Bible,' it would seem, is the production of the Rev. [Solomon] Spaulding, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and formerly pastor of a Presbyterian church on the Western Reserve in Ohio. While suffering under disease, to amuse himself and his friends, he wrote an imaginary history of the mysterious race of men who built the ancient mounds and other works of art, which are scattered so profusely over the valley of the Mississippi. His manuscript, falling into the hands of wicked and designing men, has been preverted into the means of building up the new sect of fanatics who are making so much noise in the West. The Rev. John Storrs, of Holliston, Mass., learning that the widow of Mr. Spaulding (now Mrs. Davidson, having, since Mr. S.'s death, married a second husband) was still living at Monson, Mass., and could testify to this fact, addressed her a letter, and obtained the following narrative, which we copy from the Boston Recorder of last week....


Note 1: The Cleveland Herald and Gazette appears to have been one of the few western newspapers, in 1839, to offer a substantial local introduction for the widely reprinted statement of Solomon Spalding's widow. The writer of the Cleveland paper's introductory remarks speaks as an eye-witness to the rise of Ohio Mormonism, at Kirtland during the first years of the 1830s. Possibly the unnamed journalist was John Ransom St. John (1805-1868) who lived in the Cleveland area at the time, and who owned and operated the original Cleveland Herald between 1828 and 1831. St. John was an early acquaintance of Elder Oliver Cowdery, but from the editor's comments in the Nov. 25, 1830 issue of the Herald, he did not appear to have thought much of either the elder or his religion.

Note 2: The writer of the above piece polished and expanded his 1839 remarks in order to provide similar introductory paragraphs for a subsequent Cleveland Herald and Gazette article, published several months later and reprinted by the Huron Reflector in its issue for Dec. 21, 1841. Both introductions are presented as personal recollections and both reminiscences emphasize the earliest Mormon "pentacostal" manifestations at Kirtland, when "the gift of tongues and prophecy was claimed and taught by the elders."

Note 3: The writer's account of early Mormon "swoons, trances, jerkings, and visions" agrees well with similar reports published in 1830-31 newspaper articles, in Eber D. Howe's 1834 book, etc. Even in later years the elderly first observers of Kirtland Mormonism provided much the same memories. For example, Amos S. Hayden, in his 1875 History of the Disciples... concurs with Howe's description, on pg. 213 of the 1875 history, and there calls the Kirtland Pentecostalism "ridiculous practices... performed in Mr. Rigdon's absence." Hyden twice commends the Ohio Campbellite elder, Jesse J. Moss, for putting up a strong defense against early Mormon encroachments. Moss was teaching school at Kirtland when the first Mormon conversions were made there. At the converts' worship service, after the serving of communion, Moss witnessed "a scene far exceeding the wildest scene ever exhibited among the Methodists." Moss did not attribute the post-sacramental Pentecostal excesses solely to religious enthusiasm, however; after witnessing "the administration" he "became fully satisfied that the wine was medicated." (J. J. Moss to James T. Cobb, Dec. 17, 1878, original in A. T. Schroeder Collection, Wisconsin State Historical Society). Mormon leaders James J. Strang and William Smith were also later accused by some observers, of serving sacramental wine laced with hallucinogens, but such rumors were never positively sustained.

From the Cleveland Herald.

The Mormons -- Mormon Bible.

(see original article from Cleveland paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMON BIBLE. -- The origin of this work, which has puzzled many to account for, being evidently the production of a cultivated mind, yet found in the hands of exceedingly ignorant and illiterate persons, is at length explained. It was written in 1812, for amusement as a historical romance of the lost race, the remains of whose numerous mounds and forts are found on the Ohio. The author was Rev. Solomon Spaulding, a graduate of Dartmouth College, who resided at New Salem, Ohio; and on the appearance of a Mormon preacher there, many of the friends of the deceased clergyman recollected passages which he had read to them during the time he was engaged in composing it. On inquiry, the original manuscript was among his papers. -- It also appeared that at one time he had some thoughts in relation to printing the work, and that it remained at a printing office for a long time. Sidney Rigdon, who has figured so largely in the history of the Mormons, was at that time employed in this printing office, and it was no doubt copied by him.


Note: The above item follows generally the essentials of an article published in a late April issue of the Boston Daily Advertiser. The report was reprinted in several different versions: one interesting set of enhancements appears in the May 13, 1839 issue of the St. Louis Missouri Republican.

The Mormons. -- In the case of the Mormons taken prisoners last fall, the venue was changed from Clay to Boone county, Missouri. In removing them to Columbia, they were put into a cabin at Linn for the night, and in the morning Joe Smith and his companions were missing, and had not been found. They effected their escape through the floor.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormons. -- In the case of the Mormon prisoners last fall, the venue was [changed] from Clay to Boone county, Missouri. [In] moving them to Columbia, they were [put in] a cabin at Linn for the night, and in the morning Joe Smith and his companions [were missing], and had not been found. They made their escape through the floor.


Note: The above item appears to be a paraphrase of the main information concerning Joseph Smith's escape, as first published in the April 27, 1839 issue of the Columbia Patriot. See the Missouri Republican of May 2, 1839 for a reprint of the story.

It is said the Mormons have settled in Quincy county [sic], Illinois. Joe Smith has broken jail in Missouri, and joined his deluded brethren. He will doubtless get up another bank for the purpose of retrieving his fallen fortunes.

Notes: (forthcoming)

From the N. Y. Observer.

ORIGIN  OF  MORMONISM.

(see Apr. 19, 1839 Boston Recorder for text.

Note 1: With the appearance of this article, containing the statement of Solomon Spalding's widow, regarding his having written the story of the Book of Mormon, the Spalding authorship claims came full circle, back to the place of their origin. Oddly enough, there appear to have been no follow-up reports in the local press. Probably the peoples' interest in the Mormons had waned, since Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and their followers had departed for Missouri several months before this time. Also, many of the old neighbors of Solomon Spalding had, by this time, either passed away or moved out of the Conneaut area.

Note 2: Copies of Ashtabula Co., Ohio newspapers from the 1830s are very rare. Libraries in the area generally do not have back issue files for this period. The Library of the Western Historical Reserve Association in Cleveland has preserved a few scattered issues, however.

THE  MORMONS.

A portion of the Mormons are settling in Iowa, on the Half-Breed Tract, and the balance at Commerce, Illinois where they have been purchasing quite extensively. The Burlington (Iowa) Gazette says Rigdon and Smith are again quietly settled in homes of their own and among their own people.


Notes: (forthcoming)

            From the Peoria (Ill.) Register.

THE  MORMONS. -- Our readers will have seen, by the accounts we have published from time to time, that members of this much-wronged, deeply injured people, have sought Illinois as an asylum from the worse than savage barbarity of the Missourians. We hope their reception here will be such as American citizens owe to American citizens who have been hunted like wild beasts, their lives taken, their property pillaged and destroyed, and the survivors compelled to flee by the light of their own burning dwellings.

A dark and bloody page has been recorded in the annals of Missouri, which her citizens, ages hence, will look upon with shame and horror; and the perpetrators of these atrocities, if not divested of all the attributes of men, will be haunted to their dying day by remorse more terrible than the tearing of the vulture at the heart of the fabled Prometheus.

The Mormons were, from all accounts, an orderly, industrious class of citizens -- had large possessions and valuable improvements. Some difficulties existed between them and their neighbors, who made their obnoxious faith a pretext for the gratification of their cupidity and their fiendish passions at the same time. No one can believe the Mormons to have been entirely blameless; and doubtless there was just ground for strong prejudices against them. But from the very first they have been more 'sinned against than sinning.' We hold no fellowship with their absurd doctrines, and believe Mormonism as arrant an imposture as ever was palmed upon the credulity of men; yet this furnishes no excuse for the commission of violence against them, much less the diabolical deeds which their persecutors have been guilty.

The press should speak out upon this subject in tones of thunder, and hold up the perpetrators of these atrocities to the execration of all good men. This is but another act in the black tragedies which have been carried on for years -- but the climax of guilt to which they have all tended -- by a set of reckless ruffians, who set all law at defiance, and make their own malignant passions the arbiters of justice. This contempt for the constitutional authorities of the land is getting alarmingly common, and where these things will end no one can tell, but every thinking person must fear. Each new exhibition of the mob spirit is more aggravated than that which preceded it; almost every State in the Union has been disgraced by turbulent and lawless scenes; but Missouri, though not alone in her shame, has attained a 'bad eminence' of crime which time will 'point his slow, unmoving finger at.'


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMON MEETING. -- Agreeably to public notice, a meeting was held in the College Chapel last evening, which was opened by a few remarks from a gentleman accompanying Mr. Greene; after which Mr. Greene gave a statement of the early settlement of the Mormons in Missouri, and a history of their persecution, which has hardly a parallel even in the persecution of the primitive christians. They were ruthlessly driven from their homes, their property destroyed, the women and children forced into the woods, without any shelter from the inclemency of the weather, (it being in the month of January) where they roamed about till their feet became so sore that their enemies tracked them by the foot-prints of blood. The men were in many instances cruelly murdered. On one occasion the mob attacked a smith shop, into which nine of the Mormons and two boys had taken refuge; it being a log house, the mob fired between the logs and killed every individual of the nine men; they then entered and dragged the two boys from under the bellows who begged for mercy in most piteous tones; one of the miscreants applying his rifle to the ear of the youngest, (who was but nine years old,) said, "My lad we have no time to quarter you, but we will halve you," and immediately shot away the whole upper part of his head. The other boy was severely wounded in the hip, but had the presence of mind to fall and remain quiet, and so escaped; he is still living, and is at Quincy, Ill. Speaking of the massacre, he said, "they had killed my father and brother, and I was afraid if I moved they would kill me too." To cap the climax, the villains plundered the dead bodies of their clothes, &c. In another instance; part of the mob pursued an aged man, who, finding he could not escape, turned and raising his hands to Heaven begged for mercy: the reply he received was a shot from a rifle, and he fell mortally wounded; he still besought them to save him, when one of the party picked up a scythe, or sickle, and literally hacked him to pieces as he lay on the ground.

This man assisted in the achievement of our liberties in the revolutionary war. Mr. Greene's narrative contained many such instances, and was indeed a tale of woe and suffering at which the heart sickens.

Hon. Thomas Morris then addressed the meeting. He said he had been in the vicinity of these transactions, and had taken some pains to acquaint himself with the facts, and from all he could learn, the Mormons were an industrious and harmless people, that no specific charges had been brought against them by the executive of Missouri, but that their religion gave offence to a mob -- for causes which may at any time induce the same persecution of any religious sect in our land, -- He said he believed the statements made by the gentleman to be true, and that they were corroborated by those who resided in the vicinity of their occurrence.

On motion, a chairman and secretary were appointed, and resolutions passed condemning the conduct of the executive of Missouri; appointing a committee to prepare a statement of the treatment received by this distressed people, and recommending them to the favorable notice of the people of Cincinnati.

The meeting then adjourned, to meet next Monday evening at the same place.


Note: The date for this article appears to be June 18, 1839 -- however, the clipping may possibly be from the June 13th issue of the Daily News, as it is cited under that date in the Circleville, Ohio Religious Telescope of July 24, 1839.

MORMONS. -- Yesterday we had to see us Mr. ____ Green, one of the much persecuted and abused Mormon tribe. We found him affable, intelligent, and, as far as our judgment goes, candid. -- He told us the story of the first, continued and last wrongs of his sect, in Missouri; bringing with him letters of credit from some of the most respectable citizens of Quincy, Illinois, and documentary evidence of the truth of his narration. These letters we have not yet perused. The object of Mr. Green's visit is charity. He seeks relief for those families of his sect that are shelterless and entirely destitute, owing to wrongs inflicted by lawless citizens of the United States. We can only say, that if only half of what this individual professes to show, and prove, be true, the citizens of this Republic have no idea of the spirit of anarchy and mobocracy which has heretofore been acting in the far west.

The foregoing is from the Cincinnati Whig, of yesterday [June 12th]. We marked the outrages upon the Mormons, in their progress of perpetration, and never doubted that the blackest enormities were practiced upon them, enormities, aggravated by calumnies foul as ever were employed to excuse the most devilish deeds. A decided expression of these facts has several times been made in the Gazette; Mr. Green comes to confirm them in detail, and he has been advised to ask the citizens to convene, in a public meeting, and listen to his tale of sorrow. We hope that he may have a full hearing. Every citizen of the Union is deeply concerned in knowing the truth of the alleged horrors, or of being satisfied that they are wicked inventions.

One object of Mr. Green is, to obtain some pecuniary means for supplying the absolute wants of women and children, wants terrific even to contemplate, in a land of plenty, of christian profession and of established laws. But before he comes to ask this assistance, he is anxious to show wherein, those whom he represents are not wholly unworthy of it. It is suggested that a public meeting convene at the Court House, this afternoon, Thursday, June 13th, at early candle-light, where Mr. Green may have an opportunity to address them.


Note: This article first appeared in the Cincinnati Daily Gazette of June 13th -- that is why the mentioned "yesterday" refers to June 12th, therein.

OUTRAGES  OF  MISSOURI  MOBS  ON  MORMONS.

Reader! Let not the word Mormon repel you! Think not that you have no interest in the cruelties perpetrated on this poor people! Read, we pray you, the history of this persecuted community; examine the detailed facts of these atrocities; reflect upon the hallowed principles and usages trampled under foot by ruffians; bring before your mind the violations of all law, human and divine, of all right, natural and civil, of all ties of society and humanity, of all duties of justice, honor, honesty, and mercy, committed by so called freemen and Christians -- and then speak out, speak out for prostrate law, for liberty disgraced, for outraged man, for heaven insulted;

"Loud as a summer thunderbolt shall waken
  A People's voice." We speak strongly, for we feel strongly; and we wish to attract attention to a tragedy of almost unequaled horror, which has been unblushingly enacted in a state of this Union. Its history should be trumpeted abroad until the indignant rebuke of the whole land compels the authors, abettors and tolerators of these wrongs, to make the small return now in their power, for their aggravated injustice. Life cannot be restored to the murdered, nor health to the broken down in body and soul, nor peace to the bereaved; but the spoils on which robbers are now fattening, can be repaid; the loss of the destitute can be made up; the captive can be freed, and, until by legislative acts she makes redress -- Missouri is disgraced!

It seems like some horrid dream, that these enormities, which Nicholas would have shrunk from inflicting on the Poles, have been deliberately committed in an age of peace, in a land of laws and freedom, upon our own brethren. Is it actually true, that citizens, peacable, industrious, temperate, orderly citizens, have been driven from their property, their houses burned, the furniture broken and scattered, their crops laid waste, their stores plundered, their cattle killed, their horses stolen, their clothes stripped from them, and themselves expelled under threats of instant death? Is it true that men have been tarred and feathered, whipt till they were raw from head to foot, till their bowels gushed out, that their skulls have been knocked in, and brains scattered with musket-buts, that they have been shot down while crying for quarter, shot down unarmed and defenceless like hogs in a pen? Is it true that sick women have been driven from burning houses at midnight on the snowy prairies, where they have given birth to children on the frozen ground, that they have forded rivers with helpless infants in their arms, fleeing from heartless pursuers, that they have been insulted when their natural protectors were hid from the murders, that they have been violated by the guards appointed for their defence? And were the guilty instigators and executioners of these massacres, arsons and rapes, really men of standing, ministers of the gospel, judges, senators, military officers, and the Governor of the state? Were not the evidence on which the narrative of each one of these cruelties rests incontrovertible, no one could conceive that such fiend-like acts had actually been wrought by beings in human shape. Would, that, for the honor of our nature, they could be discredited. Our statement is strictly, unexaggeratedly true. It is only too meagre, too feeble.

That persons uninformed as to the facts may form some idea of the character of these Missouri mobs, we will extract an account given under oath by Joseph Young, of the massacre at Haun's Mill.

"It was about 4 o'clock, on the 29th of Oct., when I saw a large company of armed horsemen directing their course towards the mill with all possible speed, David Evans, seeing their superiority of numbers, (there being about 240 of them, according to their own account) swung his hat and cried for peace. This was not heeded, and they continued to advance, and their leader Mr. Comstock, fired a gun which was followed by a solemn pause of ten or twelve seconds, when, all at once they discharged about 100 rifles, aiming at a blacksmith's shop, into which our friends had fled for safety; and then charged up to the shop, the cracks of which between the logs were sufficiently large to enable them to aim directly at the bodies of those who had there fled for refuge from the fire of their murderers.

"When we arrived at the house of Mr. Haun, we found Mr. Merrick's body lying in rear of the house, Mr. McBride's in front literally mangled to pieces. We were informed by Miss Rebecca Judd, who was an eye witness, that he was shot with his own gun, after he had given it up, and then was cut to pieces with a corn cutter, by a Mr. Rogers, of Davies county, who keeps a ferry on Grand River, and who has since repeatedly boasted of this act of savage barbarity. In the blacksmith's shop we found nine of our friends, eight of whom were already dead; the other struggling in his last agonies. Among others slain, I will mention a son of Warren Smith, nine years old, who, through fear, had crawled under the bellows in the shop, where he remained till the massacre was over, when he was discovered by a Mr. Glaze of Carroll, who presented his rifle near the boy's head, and literally blowed off the upper part of it. -- Mr. Stanley, of Carroll, told me that Glaze boasted of this fiend-like murder and heroic deed all over the country. The number killed and mortally wounded in this wanton murder was 18."

These, it may be said, were the acts of unauthorized mobs, against whom the militia of the state had been called out. True! But when after months, we may say years, of suffering from similar outrages, harrassed by anxieties, goaded by wrongs, and under the advice of authorities, civil and military, these poor fellows deserted by the militia guard, unprotected by the state, did at last defend their houses from pillage, their children and wives from abuse, themselves from murder -- then was the cry of "Mormon War" raised; and Gov. Boggs, to his lasting infamy, sent out his order for exterminating these citizens of Missouri, whom it was his duty under oath, to save. In his order of Oct. 27, he says:

"The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state, if necessary, for the public good."

The Mormons had only defended themselves against infuriated and lawless rioters; so soon as Gen. Lucas arrived and presented the Governor's orders, they submitted to the authorities of the state. They gave up their arms, and were made prisoners. Let them tell their own story. We extract from their memorial to the legislature of Missouri.

"Men from the country were not allowed to go to their families, though in a suffering condition for food and firewood, the weather being very cold and stormy. (It will be recollected that at this time there was a most unprecedented fall of snow and severity of weather.) Much property was destroyed by the troops in town, such as burning house-logs, rails, corn cribs, boards, &c., the using of corn and hay, the plundering of houses, the killing of cattle, sheep and hogs, and also the taking of horses not their own, and all this without regard to owners, or asking leave of any one. In the mean time men were abused, women insulted and abused by the troops, and "all this while we were kept prisoners."

But Major Gen. Clark had now taken command, and we present his cold blooded, heartless address to these "prisoners of war."

"It now devolves upon you to fulfil the treaty, (treaty, indeed!) that you have entered into, -- the leading items of which I now lay before you. The first of these you have already complied with, which is to deliver up your leading men, to be tried according to law. Second -- That you deliver up your arms; this has been attended to. The third is, that you assign over your property to defray the expenses of the war this you have also done. Another thing yet remains for you to comply with, which is, that you leave the state forthwith; and whatever your feelings concerning this affair, whatever your innocence; it is nothing to me. -- Gen. Lucas has made this treaty with you. I am determined to see it executed. The orders of the Governor to me, were, that you should be exterminated, and not allowed to continue in the state, and had not your leaders been given up, and the treaty complied with, you and your families would have been destroyed, and your houses in ashes."

And thus, during the greatest cold of the last winter, were men, women and children, aged, sick and helpless driven out from shelter, and, half clothed, unfed, robbed of teams and horses even, forced to make their way as they could to other states. One more picture we must present in order to give a glimpse of the horrors thus permitted by a State Executive -- thus authorized and commanded by the highest power of Missouri. We take the account given under oath by Lyman Wight, of "a few facts concerning his family. (While he was in jail.)"

"His wife was confined on the 3rd of November, whilst Cornelius C. Gilliam, with one hundred painted men surrounded the house, screeching and hallooing in the attitude of Delaware Indians; and it was with the utmost difficulty that the militia officers could keep them out of the house. In this situation the family remained, threatened day by day that they must leave the country or be exterminated. Accordingly, when her babe was eight days old, she was informed she could stay no longer, that she must not only leave the county but the state; that she need not flatter herself that she would ever see her husband again, for if they could not find law to kill him, they would kill him without law. She was stripped of her bed and bedding, and of her household furniture, then placed in an open waggon with six helpless children, to make the best shift she could to get out of the state. The last news received from her, she was on the banks of the Mississippi river in a tent, depending on the charity of the people for her support. This is the fifth time that I and my family have been unlawfully driven from house and home."

Now Let every one reading this tale of horror, speak out fully, fearlessly. Had the Mormons been pirates, blood-stained, had they been Indians, girdled with scalps, they would have deserved better treatment. Let the unsupported accusations brought against them be true, and yet the conduct of their plunderers and murders was utterly without a palliation or excuse. Before the face of heaven, and in the sight of men, such acts are devilish.

What, in a word, were the causes of the madness of these mobs? The Mormons were deluded, obstinate, zealous, exclusive in their faith. They used the vague, prophetic denunciations of an enthusiastic sect. They retaliated the reproaches heaped upon them by religious opponents. This, we believe, was the great exciting cause. Their first persecutions were attacks on their opinions, and ridicule of their absurdity.

Again, there were suspicions against the sincerity of their leading men. They were thought to be speculators on the credulity of the ignorant. Blind prejudice multiplied evil suspicions, enmity misconstrued natural acts, slander swelled trifles into monstrous wrongs, idle curiosity, greedy of alarm, and eager to gossip, circulated rumors. Now add that they were a larger and growing community, allied together both by necessity and choice, and withal prosperous, and we have an explanation of the fear, jealousy, envy and hatred felt against them; -- an explanation, but no justification. The same elements were active and fierce in these Missouri outrages, which have kindled the faggot, and bared the sword, and opened the dungeon in all times. The elements were bigotry, ignorance, panic. And when we talk of living in an age of enlightenment liberty, and law, let us recollect with shame the burning of the convent at Charlestown, the absurd humbug of Maria Monk, and the countless wrongs which other mobs, for as slight pretexts, have wrought in almost every State in the Union. The blaze of these other disgraceful proceedings, is lost, however, in the hot glare of this infernal outbreak.

Our immediate object is to excite sympathy for these people, many of whom are now in distress, all of whom have been shamefully robbed by burnings, killings of cattle, &c., wasting of fields, and last and chief, by forced sales of property. Mr. John P. Green, one of their number, is now on a tour, with the twofold desire of raising contribution for the destitute, and of making known their accumulated persecutions. The legislature of the state of Missouri has as yet made no restitution to these poor victims of unbridled mobocracy. Let the lashes of free-spoken censure scourge them into this act of justice.   W. H. C.


Note: It appears as though the Unitarian Editor of the Messenger happened upon a copy of Elder John. P. Greene's Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons and read its inflamatory contents with something less than a critical eye. Elder Greene had traveled through Cincinnati the summer before, solociting donations in behalf of the beleaguered Mormons, and had tarried long enough to publish his Facts... pamphlet there in 1839, before continuing his donation-seeking rambles in the East. This article was reprinted in the Nauvoo Times & Seasons of Dec. 1, 1840.

Sidney Rigdon, one if the Mormon leaders, denies the truth of the statement made by a Mrs. Matilda Davidson, on the subject of the origin of the Mormon Bible.

Note: This appears to be one of the very few news items ever published, arising from President Rigdon's 1839 denial of having any involvement with the writings of Solomon Spalding, or the production of the Book of Mormon. It was not widely reprinted, however -- the one known repetition in New England (where Spalding's widow the lived) was in the Hartford New England Review of July 27, 1839. See the June 15, 1839 issue of the Alton Telegraph for a similar brief report on the subject, as well as the Cincinnati Western Messenger for August, 1839, which reprinted a different sort of Mormon response..

The Mormons have excited a good deal of interest in Cincinnati, where one of the sect has been giving a history of that people, and of the persecutions to which they have been recently exposed in Missouri. It is stated, in the report given in the Cincinnati News, that they were ruthlessly driven from their homes, their property destroyed, the women and children forced into the woods, without shelter from the inclemency of the weather of January, where they roamed about till their feet became so sore that their enemies tracked them by their foot prints of blood, The Mormons stated that there were instances where men were murdered in cold blood, and boys who had taken shelter from the fury of the mob were dragged from their hiding places, and, after being cruely maltreated, deliberately shot. In one case an old man, a soldier of the Revolution, was pursued by a mob, but finding he could not escape, turned and supplicated their mercy. The reply he received was a shot from a rifle, which wounded him mortally; he still besought them to spare him, when one of the party picked up a scythe, or sickle, and literaly hacked him to pieces as he lay on the ground.

Thomas Morris, formerly U. S. Senator, addressed the meeting:

"He said he had been in the vicinity of these transactions, and had taken some pains to acquaint himself with the facts, and from all he could learn, the Mormons were an industrious and harmless people, that no specific charges had been brought against them by the executive of Missouri, but that their religion gave offence to a mob -- for causes which may at any time induce the same persecution of any religious sect in our land, -- He said he believed the statements made by the gentleman to be true, and that they were corroborated by those who resided in the vicinity of their occurrence." -- Nat. Int.


Note: The Repository reprint drops out the final lines of the Cincinnati Daily News report of June 13: "On motion, a chairman and secretary were appointed, and resolutions passed condemning the conduct of the executive of Missouri; appointing a committee to prepare a statement of the treatment received by this distressed people, and recommending them to the favorable notice of the people of Cincinnati. The meeting then adjourned, to meet next Monday evening at the same place."

ORIGIN  OF  MORMONISM.

(view original article from Boston paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMON  BIBLE.

Having given last month a statement of the injuries done to the Mormons, we now reprint, from the Boston Recorder of last April, the letter of the widow of Mr. Spaulding, to whom their bible is supposed to have owed its being.

"As this book has excited much attention, and has been put up by a certain new sect, in the place of the sacred scriptures, I deem it a duty which I owe to the public, to state what I know touching its origin. That its claims to a divine origin are wholly unfounded, needs no proof to a mind unperverted by the grossest delusions. That any sane person should rank it higher than any other merely human composition, is a matter of the greatest astonishment; yet it is received as divine by some who dwell in enlightened New England, and even by those who have sustained the character of devoted Christians....

(see original article from Boston paper)

Note: For a belated follow-up to the above article, see the Aug., 1840 issue of the Western Messenger.

The Painesville Telegraph and Whig, has passed editorially into the hands of Mr. L. L. Rice. From its first specimen under his control we are led to look for a strong accession to our ranks. If the people of Geauga do not sustain him, they deserve to be ridden by Toryism rough-shod. -- Its editorials are characterized by a manly and independent tone, which we admire.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Joe Smith, the Mormon Prophet. -- It is stated in the Jeffersonian (Missouri) that governor Boggs has called on the proper officers for the necessary papers, with a view of making a demand on the governors of Illinois, Iowa or Wisconson, for the persons of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wright [sic], and others of the Mormons who are now fugitives from justice.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- It is an old saying 'that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.' The persecution and war of extermination waged on the Mormons by the people and government of Missouri have justly awakened much sympathy for the followers of Smith and Rigdon. In New Jersey, Mormonism has taken root, and is extending its borders to several neighborhoods. A number of persons have been converted to the Mormon faith, and the zeal of its teachers has been strengthened by former persecutions and is now increased by accessions of converts. We notice that Mr. Green, the Mormon preacher who excited so much feeling in Cincinnati by his recital of the sufferings and attempted extermination of this sect in Missouri, is now in New York seeking for contributions in aid of the women and children, who without fault or crime, have been turned homeless and houseless upon the world. Mr. Green is deputed by the society, and seems to be favorably received in New York.


Note: This item was reprinted in the Painesville Telegraph on Sept. 26, 1839.

Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, is about to demand of the Governors of Illinois State and Iowa and Wisconsin territories, two Mormon prisoners, who had escaped.

Notes: (forthcoming)

From the Portland Mirror.

REVIVALS. -- The Home Missionary contains a communication from Rev. A. Wright of Missouri... [and] Rev. B. F. Morris, writing from Carthage, Ill., says, that the departure of the Mormons from Missouri has flooded that part of Illinois with the disbanded followers of Joe Smith, and their apostles and elders are exerting themselves to make proselytes. The great lesson taught by the story and operations of these deluded men, is the vast importance of thorough biblical instruction. -- Very few of them have any extended knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible. If we desire to save a community from error and fanaticism, we must give instruction in the Bible....


Notes: (forthcoming)

One of the Mormons, King Follet, indicted for murder in the late disturbance between the citizens of Missouri and that sect, has been tried at Columbia, in that State, and acquitted.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                    From the Xenia Torch-Light.

THE  MORMONS.

The history of this singular sect is very generally known to most newspaper readers. Like all sects, they have had many obstacles to encounter, and endured the most shameful persecutions from those who profess to believe in the religion taught by the Bible. One of the members of the society is now in New York City, and very recently addressed a large meeting, recounting the brutal persecutions of the people of a portion of Missourui, toward himself and associates. -- Some of the scenes portrayed by him are of the most henious and revolting character, and their verity may be relied upon.

In 1831, about 100 families of Mormons settled in Jackson county, Missouri, purchased land, built themselves houses and cultivated the soil for the purpose of obtaining a livlihood. In 1833, without any provocation on the part of the Mormons, an armed mob assembled at Independence, and having warned the Mormons to leave the country, which they refused to do, destroyed a large brick building with its contents, a printing office, assailed the women and children, and tarred and feathered the publisher of the newspaper. Four days after, the mob assembled again, seized several of the most prominent members of the society, took them to the public square, and tarred and feathered them. The mob also threatened them with instant death if they did not instantly abjure their faith in the Book of Mormon. This they refused, but the threat was not executed. After this the Mormons compromised and agreed to leave the country, but before they had time to remove, the mob again set upon them, burned their houses, destroyed their property, and abused their women. A recourse was then had to arns -- The Mormons defended themselves as well as they could, but were overpowered, and gave up their arms on condition that they should be protected by the State government. The very next day the mob divided and attacked their different settlements, drove them from their homes, and burnt two hundred and forty of their houses. Before noon of the next day, after their flight, their course could be traced by the blood which flowed from their feet. Several of the women gave birth to children during the retreat, at a time when they had no clothing to shield them from the inclemency of the season, no canopy but the frozen earth. Twelve hundred persons were thus rendered homeless and destitute in the month of November.

Finally they crossed the Missouri, and were sheltered for the winter in Clay county. Soon after, they petitioned the Legislature to set them off a county, which was done, and again they built houses and improved the land. At the election of 1838, an attack was again made on the Mormons for claiming their right to vote, and a general engagement followed. -- Finding it impossible to defend themselves they petitioned the Governor for protection, who refused to render any, unless they would agree to leave the State, telling them they would all be massacred if they did not. They were eventually driven entirely out of the State, and took shelter in Quincy, Illinois. -- We extract a scene of a heart-rendering nature, as related by Mr. Green, the gentleman spoken of above:

"A number of the Mormons -- some thirty families -- emigrating there to join them, were living at Haun's Mills, on Shoal creek, about twenty miles from Far West. Notwithstanding an agreement which was entered into between them and the mob, that neither party should disturb the other, they were attacked. One of the Mormons swung his hat and cried for peace, which was answered by the discharge of a rifle at him, which was succeeded in a few moments by a whole volley. The Mormons fled for safety to a blacksmith's shop. Thither they were pursued, and deliberately shot at through the interstices of the logs. Eighteen persons were killed, and a number of others were severely wounded. Among others who took shelter in the shop, were two boys, who concealed themselves under the blacksmith's bellows. They were found, and while one of them was begging for mercy, a rifle was presented, and the top of his head was blown off. The other boy was shot through the hip, and only saved by his pretending that he was dead."

Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- This persecuted sect is going ahead. At a protracted meeting held by them near West Chester, Pa., recently, forty converts were baptized. Strange as it may seem, wherever their doctrines are preached earnestly, converts are multiplied. The Mormons have started a paper at Commerce, Illinois, where a portion of those expelled from Missouri have located.


Note: See the Chester Co. Register of Feb. 11, 1840 for a follow-up account.