A Condensed History
OF THE
Expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo
BY
ELDER JOHN S. FULLMER,
(OF UTAH, U. S. A.)
Pastor of the Manchester, Liverpool, and Preston
Conferences
Liverpool:
F. D. RICHARDS, 15 WILTON STREET
London:
LATTER-DAY SAINTS' BOOK DEPOT, 35 JEWIN STREET, CITY. AND
ALL BOOKSELLERS.
1855
An
Explanatory Note
' The
Expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo was published in
the same pamphlet as the Assassination
of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
John
S. published these two writings as a single pamphlet or
tract while a missionary in England.
The
two documents have been separated here for web
publication.
John
Solomon Fullmer was in a unique position to write about
both Assassination and the Expulsion.
This pamphlet has been described in
Bancroft's History of Utah as the best narrative,
and indeed the only one that enters circumstantially
into all the details of the expulsion from Nauvoo. The
work is written from a Mormon standpoint, but including
as it does copies of the dispatches of Illinois officers
and officials, of the stipulations between the
belligerents, and of some comments made by the Quincy
Whig, appears in the main reliable.?
John Solomon Fullmer, his wife Mary Ann and their two
daughters moved from Nashville, Tennessee into their
first real home, in Nauvoo, in the Spring of 1840.
Here, they were as John S. said, "comfortably but not
splendidly situated."
From the time of their arrival in Nauvoo until the death
of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Fullmer family was
closely associated with him and his brother Hyrum, and
their families. Being a neighbor for a time to the
Prophet, they saw a lot of each other.
Because of his great friendship with the two brothers,
he was one of those who accompanied Joseph and Hyrum
Smith to
Carthage Jail.
He spent the day and night before the martyrdom with
them in the prison. On the morning of the day they
were assassinated, June 26th, when he was sent on several
legal errands by the Prophet. He was only a couple
of hours on this last errand when the local militia , "the
Carthage Grays" attacked the jail, killed Joseph and his
brothers and left other companions in the jail seriously
wounded. John S. was much effected by this event.
He wrote a strident account of these events a few months
later to his uncle. The
Assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
seems to have been developed from that original writing.
In
a council meeting held by Brigham Young in the Temple, in
January 1846, John S. Fullmer was appointed as one of the
three Trustees-in-Trust to care for and dispose of Church
property after the Saints had departed Nauvoo.
Almon W.
Babbitt,
Joseph L. Heywood, John S. Fullmer,
Henry W.
Miller, and
John M. Bernhisel
received letters of attorney
authorizing them to act legally for the Church.
John
Solomon Fullmer's account of the expulsion of the Saints
from Nauvoo
(1846-published
1855)
As with John's account of the
Assassination of Joseph and
Hyrum Smith, which was written within two months of
that event but not published until much later, it seems
probable that this account of the Expulsion of the Saints
from Nauvoo, was written while John was still in Nauvoo.
Although most of the Saints were forced to flee the city
on the hill in 1846, provisions were made for the trustees
and their families to remain there until their business
could be completed. So it was that they stayed behind for
another eighteen months. It is obvious that they had much
to do during that time but it also seems likely that there
were periods of waiting, during which John's account of
the expulsion could well have been written. This is borne
out by the fact that while he remained in Nauvoo, he
continued to copy letters into his "letter book."
After leaving Nauvoo, his time was undoubtedly so
filled with the necessary activities of crossing the
Plains and trying to establish a home in a strange, new
land that there would have been little time for writing.
And again we note that copies of letters entered into his
"letter book" almost ceased after the departure for the
West.
These and many other writings of John S. Fullmer are found
in " John Solomon Fullmer, The Man and His Writings
complied by Jerry D. Wells and published by Brigham Young
University. For more information about this book
please e-mail me at
RichardWinmill@yahoo [DOT] com. I
will put you in touch with the compiler. I
will put you in touch with the compiler or
you may order
it here.
 |
 |
The Expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo
Disturbances at
Morley Settlement-Meeting of Anti
Mormons-Destruction of Property-Sheriff Bachenstos
Apprehended and Tried for Murder--Propositions of
the First Presidency to leave Nauvoo-Evacuation of
the City commenced-Warlike Resolutions of Quincy and
Carthage Conventions-Major Warren and Posse sent to
Nauvoo to keep Peace-His Posse disbanded and
re-mustered-His Proclamation to the Citizens of
Hancock-Golden's
Point Expedition-Breaking up of the
same-Resignation of the Mob Military Committee-A
Party of Harvest-men whipped and robbed by the
Mob-The Offenders brought to Nauvoo, removed by
Habeas Corpus to Quincy, and bailed out-P. H. Young,
B. H. Young, R. Ballantyne, etc., kidnaped-They
escape- Warrant for W. Pickett-Deputation of Nauvoo
New Citizens to
Governor Ford-Major Parker- sent to Nauvoo-His
Proclamation-Proclamation of Nine Mob
Leaders-Colonel Singleton to Major Parker--Treaty
for Removal of the Saints-The Mob refuse to stand by
it-Colonel Singleton and Major Parker return
Horne-Rev. T. Brockman commands the Mob as
General-Propositions of Carlin and Brockman-Mob take
Position near Nauvoo-Nauvooites defend
themselves-Messrs. Flood, Wood, Conyers, and Rice
visit the Mob-The Mob fire on the Nauvooites, move
Position, demand Unconditional Surrender, which is
denied-Battle-Death of the two Andersons-The Mob
retreat- Treaty to Surrender the City and leave the
State.
It is an undeniable and a
self-evident fact, that the great combined
movements, first against the founders of Nauvoo, and
subsequently against the city itself, were not
prompted by a desire to enforce the laws, and
correct whatever abuses might have existed, or that
the mob fancied might have existed, in the execution
of them; but by a settled determination to break up
the religious and political organization of the
Latter-day Saints, or exterminate them from the
earth.
The death of the Prophet, which
occurred some fifteen months previous to the
Expulsion, did not produce the results contemplated.
It was hoped and expected that if the leader-this
anomaly as he was looked upon-were removed, his
society would of necessity crumble to atoms. This,
however, was not the case. It was cemented by a
greater power than that of man, and it stood, like
the sturdy oak in the storm, unmoved.
Having failed in the great object
for which so many had imbrued their hands in human
gore; and seeing that another competent and mighty
chieftain was found to lead this great people, whose
prosperity under the auspices and guidance of their
new leader, President Brigham Young, seemed equal to
anything they had experienced during any former
period; as soon as the shock and general sensation,
created by the murder of such distinguished
prisoners [the Smiths] had in a manner subsided; our
enemies, still determined on revenge, found that
instruments of
mobocracy, in the shape of leaders, were not
wanting. These began to devise plans and adopt means
by which a crusade could be brought to bear upon the
whole society; for it had become a sine qua non
with them, that it must be broken up in some
way.
To prove the truth of my
position, I will refer the reader to an editorial of
S. M. Bartlett, Esq., editor of the
Quincy Whig, and published in that paper
dated Wednesday, l 7th September, 1845. In this
article we have a fine specimen of mobocracy, not
by the "Mormons" but by the people, upon
a peaceable community minding their own business;
and yet the editor heads his remarks, to throw odium
on the Saints-"MORMON
DISTURBANCES. It gives the origin of the
difficulties which ended in the reduction of NAUVOO,
and the exile of her citizens. Mr. Bartlett said-
We have some particulars of
Mormon disturbances in the northern part of this
county, in Lima Precinct, known as the
"Morley Settlement." Our particulars are not
very full and we give them as they come to us. It
seems the Anti Mormons in the settlement determined
to hold a meeting, and devise some means of ridding
that section of thieves, believed to infest it. "The
meeting was accordingly held, and during its
deliberations-as the story goes-a gun or guns were
fired against or in the house in which it was held.
These guns, it is alleged by the Anti-Mormons, were
fired by the Mormons. The consequence was, that the
whole settlement took fire at once. Great
exasperation prevailed against the brethren of
Nauvoo, and in public meeting it was resolved to
expel the obnoxious lovers of other people's pork,
beef, honey, horses, etc., from the borders of Adams
County. Last Thursday evening, we believe, was
selected by the Antis for the commencement of their
operations, and we understand they did assemble, and
actually proceeded to extremities so far as
destroying several Mormon houses, and committing
other depredations upon their property. In these
assemblages the people were armed, and manifested a
most determined spirit to carry into execution their
threats against the Nauvooites.
Such incidents as these are
multiplying every day, to show that the Mormons,
with their bigoted, selfish, illiberal notions,
cannot live in quiet with ordinary people-and it
is not difficult to foretell what these
differences will eventually result in.
P.S.-We learn the
depredations of the Anti-Mormons were more
extensive than were generally supposed.
Something like twenty houses were burned down,
and the families compelled to take refuge in the
bushes. Thursday night must have been a severe
one to the women and children, who were
compelled to lie out; as it rained nearly the
whole night.
It appears by this extract, that
the Anti-Mormons held a meeting to "devise some
means of ridding that section of thieves, believed
to infest it."
It seems that the people, or some
of them, believed that there were thieves infesting
a certain section of the county; that is to say they
thought so; they did not say they knew it to be so,
and of course they could not say who the thieves
were, if there really were any; they could not and
did not say but what some vile persons might have
stolen, on the credit of the "Mormons." This might
easily have been so, as it proved to be on several
occasions elsewhere.
Again-"A gun or guns were fired
against or in the house in which the meeting was
held. "Now it seems the Anti-Mormons did not know
whether one gun or more than one was fired, neither
whether it was fired against or into the house. It
follows, that they could not tell what it was fired
at, and as we are not told at what distance from the
house the gun was fired, and knowing that the
American rifle can be heard at a considerable
distance, it is not unreasonable to suppose that
some person may have fired at a target or some small
game somewhere in the vicinity of this excitable
meeting, and that such characters as were assembled
there, were not slow in availing themselves of such
an incident, to make an excuse for proceeding to
extremities against the "Mormons." But it remained
yet to be proved that, if any gun was fired; at or
into the house, it was not fired by some one of
their own party to excite the rest.
Again, "It was resolved to expel
the obnoxious lovers of other people's beef, pork,"
etc. This, then, was the "means devised" to rid that
section of the "Mormons," who were believed to be
thieves, but not proved to be such; and chronicling
events in pursuance of the above resolutions, the
editor acknowledges the burning of many houses, and
depredations upon other property, "in execution of
their threats against the Nauvooites," and says
"Such incidents as these are multiplying every day,
to show that the Mormons, with their bigoted,
selfish, illiberal notions, cannot live in quiet
with ordinary people." Now in this quotation, if
there is any sense in it, the editor means to say
that the Saints are so bigoted, selfish, and
illiberal, that the ordinary people must and do burn
the Saints' houses and destroy their property,
"every day," to show, that we "cannot [or shall not
?] live in quiet" with them..
Now whether the "Mormons" or
their persecutors were the disturbers of the peace
and the violators of the law, can be easily gathered
from the above: all goes to prove that the Saints
violated no law; for in the law is ample regress for
all grievances, except for "bigotry, selfishness,
and illiberal notions; " and because we were
accused of these, by a people who disregarded the
rights of man, the laws of God and their country,
and were deaf to the cries of plundered and
defenseless women and children, does it prove
us to have been so? And does it justify them in
violating the laws of God and man? But on this point
I will call the attention of the reader to a
postscript of Sheriff Backenstos's second
proclamation, to wit-
16th Sept., 1845, half-past 2
o'clock.
P. S.-It is proper to state that
the Mormon community have acted with more then
ordinary forbearance, remaining perfectly quiet, and
offering no resistance when their dwellings, other
buildings, stacks of grain, etc., were set on fire
in their presence, and they have forborne until
forbearance is no longer a virtue.
(Signed,)
J. B. BACKENSTOS,
Sheriff of Hancock County, Illinois.
Let the editor of the
Quincy Whig also, who has not yet lost all
sense of propriety and feeling, speak-
Seriously, these outrages should
be put a stop to at once; if the Mormons have been
guilty of crime, why punish them, but do not visit
their sins upon defenseless women and children. This
is as bad as the savages. It was further stated
that a reinforcement was expected from Nauvoo to
protect the Mormons at "Morley's;" and that the
Anties were concentrating their forces to give them
battle. It is feared that this rising against the
Mormons is not confined to the "Morley settlement,"
but that there is an understanding among the
Anties, in the northern part of this and Hancock
County, to make a general sweep, burning and
destroying the property of the Mormons, wherever it
can be found. If this is the case, there will be
employment for the Executive of the State, and that
soon.
We learn that, on Sunday last, a
company of twenty-five men, commanded by Senator
Davis, of Hancock, left Warsaw for the scene of
difficulty, with the design of aiding the
Anti-Mormons. Captain Dunn, of Augusta, is at the
head of a large force of Anti-Mormons, and the
Sheriff of Hancock, rumor has it, is about to march
to the same point to apprehend the Anti-Mormons. A
breeze may be expected if these elements of
opposition meet in force, and that a serious one.
Some of the Mormon families, who were dispossessed
of their dwellings at Lima, have taken refuge in
this city.
It is plain to be seen that the
Mormon difficulties are just commencing. All that
has gone before will not be a priming to that which
is to come. The difficulties will never cease, so
long as the disturbing cause remains in the country.
STILL LATER.-News from above was
received late on Monday night. The outrages were
still continued. The flouring mill, carding machine,
etc., of Norman Buel, a Mormon, one mile and a-half
west of Lima, is now a heap of ashes.
Colonel Levi Williams, of Green
Plains, has ordered out his brigade, it is said, to
aid the Anti-Mormons. The Anti-Mormons from
Schuyler, and the adjoining counties, are flocking
in, and great distress of life and property
may be expected. HEAVEN only knows where these
proceedings will end. It is time the strong arm of
power was extended to quell them.
It is worthy of notice, that this
same editor, just two weeks after the above was
written, calling for the execution of the LAWS
instead of lawless savage VIOLENCE held the
following language-
It is a settled thing that the
public sentiment of the State is against the
Mormons, and it will be in vain for them to contend
against it; and to prevent bloodshed and the
sacrifice of so many lives on both sides, it is
their duty to obey the public will, and leave
the State as speedily as possible. That they
will do this, we have a confident hope, and that,
too, before the last extreme is resorted
to-THAT OF FORCE.
What can be expected of the
people-the masses-when the press, the bulwark of
liberty, is silenced or bought up, and thus
openly advocates the violation of the constitution
and the laws?
It was about this time, when the
active and spirited sheriff, J. B. Backenstos, at
the head of his posse, was making head against the
incendiary forces who were rapidly increasing by
voluntary acquisitions from neighboring counties,
that General J. J. Hardin, a governmental officer,
commissioned by the Executive of the State,
interposed, and thereby covered the lawless acts and
the retreat of the mob, and had the sheriff
apprehended and tried for murder, because of the
deaths of several persons during his attempts to
restore order in the county, in his official
capacity.
By a reference to No. 12, Vol.
VI., of the Latter-day Saints' Millennial
Star, the sheriff's proclamations from one to five,
inclusive, can be seen. These are of great interest,
but too lengthy to insert here.
We will now give the proposition
of the Presidency of the Church to leave the State,
under certain conditions
Nauvoo, September 24, 1845.
Whereas, a council of the
authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, at Nauvoo, have this day received
a communication from Messrs Henry Asbury, John P.
Robins, Albert J. Pearson, P. A. Goodwin, J. N.
Ralsten, M. Rogers, and E. Conyers, committee of the
citizens of Quincy, requesting us to "communicate in
writing" our disposition and intention at this time,
particularly with regard to removing to some place
where the peculiar organization of our Church will
not be likely to engender so much strife and
contention that so unhappily exists at this time, in
Hancock and some of the adjoining counties.
And, whereas, the said Committee
have reported to us the doings of a public meeting
of the citizens of Quincy, on the 22nd instant, by
which it appears there are some feelings in that
place concerning us, as a people, and in relation to
which sundry resolutions were passed, purporting to
be for the purpose of maintaining or restoring peace
to the country.
And, whereas, it is our desire,
and ever has been, to live in peace with all men, so
far as we can, without sacrificing the right of
worshiping God according to the dictates of our own
consciences, which privilege is guaranteed to us by
the constitution of the United States.
And, whereas, we have, time and
again and again, been driven from our peaceful
homes, and our women and children been obliged to
exist on the prairies, in the forests, on the roads,
and in tents, in the dead of winter, suffering all
manner of hardships, even to death itself, as the
people of Quincy well know: the remembrance of whose
hospitality, in former days, still causes our hearts
to burn with joy, and to raise the prayer to Heaven
for blessings on their heads.
And, whereas, it is now so late
in the season that it is impossible for us, as a
people, to remove this fall, without causing a
repetition of like sufferings.
And, whereas, it has been
represented to us from other sources than those
named, and even in some communications from the
Executive of this State, that many of the citizens
of the State were unfriendly to our views and
principles.
And. whereas, many scores of our
houses in this county have been burned to ashes
without any justifiable cause or provocation, and we
have made no resistance till compelled by the
authorities of the county so to do, and that
authority not connected with our Church.
And, whereas, said resistance to
mobocracy, from the legally constituted authorities,
appears to be misunderstood by some, and
misconstrued by others, so as to produce an undue
excitement in the public mind.
And, whereas, we desire peace
above all other earthly blessings.
Therefore, we say to the
committee above-mentioned, and to the Governor, and
all the authorities and people of Illinois and the
surrounding States and Territories that we propose
to leave this county next spring, for some point so
remote that there will not need to be a difficulty
with the people and ourselves, provided certain
propositions necessary for the accomplishment of our
removal, shall be observed as follows, to wit:
That the citizens of this and the
surrounding counties, and all men, will use their
influence and exertions to help us to sell or rent
our properties, so as to get means enough that we
can help the widow, the fatherless, and destitute,
to remove with us.
That all men will let us alone
with their vexatious lawsuits, so that we may have
the time, for we have broken no law, and help us to
cash, dry goods, groceries, good oxen, milch cows,
beef, cattle, sheep, wagons, mules, harness, horses,
etc., in exchange for our property, at a fair price,
and deeds given on payment, that we may have the
means to accomplish a removal, without the suffering
of the destitute, to extent beyond the endurance of
human nature.
That all exchanges of property to
be conducted by a committee or committees of both
parties, so that all business may be transacted
honorably and speedily.
That we will use all lawful
means, in connection with others, to preserve the
public peace while we tarry, and shall expect
decidedly that we be no more molested with house
burning, or any other depredations, to waste our
property and time and hinder our business.
That it is a mistaken idea that
we " have proposed to remove in six months,"
for that would be so early in the spring, that grass
might not grow nor water run, both of which would be
necessary for our removal, but we propose to use our
influence to have no more seed time nor harvest
among our people in this county after gathering our
present crops. And that all communications be made
to us in writing. By order of the Council.
Brigham Young, President.
Willard Richards, Clerk.
In consequence of the
arrangements for the Saints to leave the State
according to these stipulations, quiet was for a
time again restored, pending the execution of the
strict letter of the terms in them on our part,
irrespective of a strict compliance on the part of
our enemies.
It will be seen that they were to
"use their influence and exertions, to
help us to sell or rent our property, so as to get
means," etc. These propositions, General Hardin
says, he was informed, by the delegates from nine
counties, were accepted. But were they observed? No,
anything else rather. The delegates pledged for the
people; the people therefore could not violate the
pledge, without forfeiting all claim that the
agreement gave them; but instead of using their
influence and exertions to help us to sell, it was
notorious that they did all in their power to
depreciate our property, and even ran away
purchasers, that property might be reduced to a
merely nominal value, or be left unsold, so
that the tax law would claim it.
Owing to vexatious prosecutions
contrary to the settlement of the parties, the
evacuation of Nauvoo was begun several months
earlier than was contemplated. Several thousands
started in February, 1846, the most inclement
portion of the year, and camp after camp followed in
quick succession all the spring following. But with
the approach of summer, purchasers became scarcer,
and trade slackened; which, with the reduced number
of persons to emigrate, caused a very perceptible
abatement in the weekly departures. This, coupled
with the fact of a swelling population of new
citizens, gave the city an appearance, as to
numbers, which the old citizens of the county did
not anticipate. It would seem they had formed the
idea that when the "Mormons" were gone, not a living
soul would be seen, and that nothing short of this
would satisfy them.
But to get a better understanding
of their system of operations, I will go back and
refer to several resolutions adopted by a
meeting which was called in the town of Quincy, in
Adams County, in September, 1845, relative to the
propositions made by the "Mormons" to leave the
State, for it must be understood that as many as
nine counties made common cause in this matter-
Resolved: That we accept, and
recommend to the people of the surrounding
counties to accept, the proposition made by the
Mormons to remove from the State next spring,
etc.
Resolved: That it is now too
late to attempt the settlement of the
difficulties in Hancock County upon any other
basis than that of the removal of the Mormons
from the State.
Resolved: And if they
shall not comply with their own proposition, the
consequences must rest upon them who violate
faith. And we now solemnly pledge ourselves to
be ready at the appointed time, to act as the
occasion ma y require. AND THAT WE WILL
IMMEDIATELY ADOPT A PRELIMINARY MILITARY
ORGANIZATION FOR PROMPT FUTURE ACTION IF
OCCASION SHOULD DEMAND.
Resolved: That a committee of
five be appointed for the purpose of adopting
and carrying into operation volunteer military
organizations for Adams County. And said
committee are hereby authorized to do all things
lawful, necessary, and proper, for the purpose
of preparing such a force, without delay, to be
used to preserve the peace of this and the
adjoining counties.
Listen, will you? "To preserve
the peace of the adjoining counties. "
It appears from the proceedings
of this meeting that A. Williams, Esqr. presided,
and that the following members of the bar
were present, and largely participated, to wit-Henry
Asbury, J. N. Morris, A. Johnston, J. N. Ralston, J.
P. Robbins, C. A. Warren, J. H. Holton, O. H.
Browning, A. Jonas, George C. Dixon, and C. M.
Woods. And Mr. Bartlett, the editor, says that "but
one spirit-one mind-seemed to prevail on the
occasion, and that was the removal of the Mormons
from the State; peaceably, if possible; BUT
LEAVE THEY MUST;" and, "these resolutions were
finally adopted by a unanimous vote."
One unacquainted with the facts
would be led to suppose, that not even territorial
organization, civil or military, had yet taken
place; and that, consequently, the above were the
first efforts at establishing authority of any kind
for the public good. Few would suppose that such
proceedings could take place, publicly, and be
facilitated by means of the public press, in one of
the great Federal States of the Union, every nook
and corner of which is under the direct supervision
of both a civil and military organization, according
to the constitution and laws thereof. Comment is
unnecessary. It is clear, when such proceedings
are tolerated by a Sovereign State-procedings
revolutionary in every respect; in which not the
rabble and the masses only, but
dignitaries-officers, civil and military, and
conspicuous members of the bar, participate, yet all
under a solemn oath of office to support the
constitution and laws of their country, that the
Executive Officer himself, and the State at large,
have with one consent become a lawless, mobocratic,
and perjured community; that the constitution and
laws have become a dead letter; and that liberty,
property, and life have no guarantee left.
On the 1st and 2nd October, 1845,
a Convention of Delegates from nine surrounding
counties was held at
Carthage, Illinois, where the proceedings and
resolutions adopted at Quincy were considered and
also adopted by them, with others of a similar
nature. The plan of organizing was adopted, public
meetings were to be called, to procure volunteers in
support of the proceedings of this Convention. Said
companies were to select their own officers, who
were to be amenable to the Quincy Military
Committee, viz.:-A. Jonas, Andrew Johnston, J. H.
Holton, E. J. Phillips, and John B. Schwindler. A
resolution was passed, "requesting the Hon. N. H.
Purple, Judge of the Circuit, not to hold court in
Hancock County, this fall; as, in the opinion of
this Convention, such court could not be held
without producing collision between the Mormons and
Anti-Mormons," etc. Another resolution requested the
"papers of this State to publish the proceedings of
this Convention," etc.
I speak of these resolutions to
show how perfectly the mob. the officials, and, in
fact, the State, understood each other, and worked
into each other's hands. And yet, in the face of
this lawlessness, and to throw dust into somebody's
eyes, they also-
Resolved: That this
convention deem it proper to recommend that a
small military force be stationed in Hancock
County until next spring, to prevent
depredations on private property, and preserve
the peace of said county; and that it be
respectfully, yet earnestly recommended to the
Executive of this State, to furnish the same for
the purposes above named.
The real object of this was to keep, at the
public expense, a force in the field to oppose
the "Mormons," against which the latter dare not
take up arms, under pain of treason.
In accordance with these warlike proceedings in
Quincy and Carthage, on the 19th October, 1845,
the editor of the Quincy Whig heralds to the
world a call, in flaming capitals, for
volunteers-
ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE!! This should be the order of
the day with all who desire to see the
proceedings of the Carthage Convention carried
into effect.... If the Mormons violate their
pledged faith, and fail to leave in the spring,
according to their own proposition, they may be
certain that CIVIL WAR will be stirred up in
these counties, that will not be quelled until
the last vestige of Mormonism disappears from
the State.
The Governor's sympathy was so great with this
Convention, that he forthwith sent Major Warren
with some twenty men, ostensibly to keep the
peace, but more properly to prompt the "Mormons"
in their operations to leave. This is evident
from the following announcement in the Nauvoo
Eagle, near the close of the campaign-
Carthage, April 16, 1846.
Wm. E. Matlock, Esq.-Will you permit me, through
the medium of your paper, to announce to the
citizens of Hancock, that I have been directed
by his Excellency, Governor Ford, to disband the
force under my command on the first of May
proximo? It seems to be the understanding of the
Executive, and the State at large, that the
terms stipulated for the removal of the Mormons
will expire on that day, I indulge a hope that
the understanding so general may not be
disappointed.
The removal of the entire Mormon population has
been looked forward to, as an event that could
alone restore peace and quiet to this portion of
our State; and, for the peace of the inhabitants
and honour of the State, public expectation must
be gratified. With great respect, I am, etc.,
W. B. WARREN,
Major Commanding Illinois Volunteers.
It appears, from this modest
exterminating order or proclamation, that his
Excellency still considered himself, as he was at
Carthage when the Smiths were murdered,
Commander-in-Chief of the mobocratic forces, and
a party in the settlement made with the "Mormons,"
and that he intended they should have the full
benefit of that negotiation; but the liberality
which is known in law of "three-days' grace, " was
not allowed; not even a day, nor an hour; for, on
that day on which the terms expired, the force under
Major Warren, the only apparent barrier against mob
violence, had to be disbanded, as if honour
compelled the fulfillment of the treaty, but as if
after that day he cared little how soon the Saints
fell a prey to their enemies. This threaten and
protect policy was, after all, thought to be the
best, perhaps, by those who had influence over
Governor Ford, and wished to spare the effusion of
blood; for on the 2nd of May, the day after Major
Warren had disbanded his force, an order arrived for
him to muster them into service again. I presume it
is due the Governor to say, that he did not wish to
have the "Mormons" murdered outright, if they could
be induced to abandon their homes, their rights,
and their all, to save life.
Major Warren and others report
in the Quincy Whig of May 20th-
The Mormons are leaving the city
with all possible dispatch. During the week four
hundred teams have crossed at three points, or about
1350 souls . . . The demonstrations made by the
Mormon population are unequivocal. They are
leaving the State, and preparing to leave, with
every means God and Nature have placed in their
hands . . . This ought to be satisfactory ... A man
of near sixty years of age, living about seven miles
from this place, was taken from his house a few
nights since, stripped of his clothing, and his back
cut to pieces with a whip, for no other reason than
because he was a Mormon, and too old to make a
successful resistance. Conduct of this kind would
disgrace a horde of savages.
Major Warren's position was,
certainly, in some respects, an unenviable one; he
was a government officer, bound to obey orders. He
was expected to see that the treaty (for it was
nothing else) between the "Mormons" and the Governor
was duly observed, according to "the understanding
of the Executive, and the State at large:" and that
was, the entire removal of the "Mormons" by the
first day of May. And it was therefore, while in the
discharge of his duty, that we heard him say, April
16th, "For the peace of the inhabitants, and honour
of the State, public expectation must be gratified."
We see that as an individual he had some feelings of
humanity, in pleading for time in behalf of the
oppressed, and in pronouncing the conduct of some of
the Anti-Mormons as bad as the savages. He felt that
his position was a conspicuous and responsible one.
But that position, while it compelled him to enforce
the conditions of the treaty, also gave him an
opportunity, by a stretch of power, to grant some
lenity to the oppressed "Mormons." Thus, while with
one hand he pushed the Saints from their
possessions, across the river, to save their lives,
with the other he kept at bay the savage fiends who
thirsted for blood, and who would fain have washed
their hands in the blood of innocence, and
feasted their eyes on the smoking ruins of their
martyred victims.
It was under such circumstances
that he concluded his report or proclamation, "TO
THE CITIZENS OF HANCOCK COUNTY," as follows-
To the Mormons I would say, go on
with your preparations, and leave as fast as you
can. Leave the fighting to be done by my detachment.
If we are overpowered, then re-cross the river and
defend yourselves and property.
The neighboring counties, under
the circumstances, cannot and will not lend their
aid to an unprovoked and unnecessary attack upon the
Mormons at this time; and without such aid the few
desperadoes in the county can do but little
mischief, and can be made amenable to the law for
that little.
The force under my command is
numerically small, but backed as I am by the moral
force of the law, and possessing, as I do, the
confidence of nine-tenths of the respectable portion
of the old citizens, my force is able to meet
successfully any mob which can be assembled in the
county; and if any such force does assemble, they or
I will leave the field in double quick time.
W. B. WARREN,
Major Commanding Illinois
Volunteers.
Nauvoo, 11th May, 1846.
After what has already been made
public, such language as is held in this last
paragraph, is exceedingly open to criticism. He
speaks of "the moral force of the law, " and
of having the confidence of nine-tenths of the
"respectable portions of the old citizens." This
may possibly have been true; but he did not venture
to say or intimate what portion he considered
"respectable. " This, however, was not policy
for him to do; for, in order to hold an influence
over them, he must flatter them, though it should be
all gas; he doubtless did have great influence over
them, and they felt baffled in their movements; his
proclamations tended to expose them, and his
sympathy for the "Mormons" prevented him from acting
with that vigor and promptitude that they had
anticipated; and his publishing that the "Mormons"
were "using all the means that God and nature had
given them to leave the State," and that this
demonstration was "unequivocal, " etc., was
like throwing cold water on their fire, and like a
strong man wresting a weapon from a weaker foe.
I will now give the statement of
an anonymous writer from Carthage, which is reported
in the Quincy Whig of the 24th June, as
giving something of the history of the mobocratic
movement, called the "Golden's Point Expedition"-
Carthage, June 15th, 1846
Mr. Bartlett.
Dear Sir-This county has recently
been the theatre of a drama of a singular and rather
serious character, and concerning which many
erroneous accounts will, no doubt, be sent abroad. I
will, therefore, take the liberty of giving you a
correct statement of the affair, so far as I can
learn its history from others; for owing to absence
from the county, I saw and knew nothing of it,
personally, up to Saturday morning last.
On Saturday, the 6th
instant, there was a meeting at Carthage of the
citizens of Hancock, in pursuance of previous
notice, to make arrangements for a celebration on
the approaching 4th of July. At an early stage of
the meeting, a resolution passed to the effect that,
as the Mormons were not yet all removed from the
county, its citizens were not free; and, therefore,
public rejoicings for the blessings of freedom would
be out of place. The meeting then went into a
consideration of Mormon affairs, and finally
adjourned to meet again on Friday, the 12th instant,
to inquire why the Mormon population had not all
left the county by the first of June [May] according
to the agreement, and to decide upon the proper mode
of action to be adopted in view of their failure to
depart; and an invitation was sent to the near
citizens of Nauvoo to attend that meeting. This was
designed and expected to be strictly a citizens'
meeting, for the purpose of inquiry and deliberation
only. But its appointment happened to be on the same
day with that appointed by the Governor for the
assembling of the militia of the county to raise
volunteers for the Mexican war. This circumstance
suggested the idea to some person that it might, to
good purpose, be converted into a demonstration
against the Mormons still remaining in Nauvoo, and
quicken their motions in removing, which had, of
late, very much slackened.
The suggestion was made to one of
the military officers of the county, and struck him
as being a good one; and without taking time to
consult, or reflect much upon it, he dispatched an
official communication (that is, an officer's
communication, brief and decisive,) to his
fellow-officers, stating that it was thought best to
thus change the object of the gathering at Carthage,
on Friday, and requesting them to concur in the
movement, to notify their under-officers and
companies to appear on the ground prepared and
provisioned for a few days' campaign or encampment.
The officers to whom this communication was sent,
took it for granted that the thing was settled; that
the assembling was to be for this purpose; and
without stopping to decide or inquire much into the
expediency of the movements, gave the required
notice to the soldiers under their command. The
soldiers, as is a soldier's wont, obeyed promptly,
and without questioning the propriety or authority
for the measure. So that, in effect, some three or
four hundred men assembled on Friday, with
appearances decidedly Anti-Mormon, without knowing
how or why the matter was set on foot, but supposing
that it was well considered and concerted somewhere,
and by somebody. Neither had they any definite idea
of the plan and ultimate object in view, whether
they were to fight or frolic, and were, many of
them, about as well prepared for one as the other.
After coming together, the question came naturally
to be considered, what they should do? and it was
what the lawyers would call a new question.
It had not, as yet, been decided, nor considered at
all by any body. There was a pretty general
inclination to march into Nauvoo, and accelerate the
removal of the Mormons. It seemed to be supposed
that by threatening the reluctant, and assisting
such as were unable to go, and working upon the
fears of all, the city could, without violence, be
cleared of Mormons in two or three days. Mistaking
altogether the true condition of things in Nauvoo,
and greatly underestimating the number or Mormons
still there, they seemed to think that the only
obstacle to their entering the city would be the
objections of new citizens, which they thought to
obviate by an assurance of friendly purposes, and a
pledge to abstain from all destruction or injury of
property. But the objections of the new citizens
were not so easily removed; they had been lied to,
and abused, in reference to the character and aims
of the old citizens of the county, and time and
better acquaintance were required to overcome their
prejudices and distrust. It was, therefore,
determined to take up an encampment at Golden's
Point, within five or six miles of Nauvoo, and there
await the effect of further conferences in removing
the scruples of the new citizens; or till the terror
of their being assembled in force should frighten
away the remaining Mormons, who had now recommenced
leaving the city with great hurry and expedition.
They accordingly proceeded to
Golden' s Point on Friday evening. During
Saturday, interviews were had with committees of
the new citizens, which brought the parties into
friendly acquaintance, and mutual esteem for each
other, but did not effect a definite conclusion;
and the subjects under consideration were
postponed to the next morning for decision.
But in the mean time the aspect
of affairs became entirely changed. Several hundred
Mormons had secretly returned from Iowa, many of
them with Stephen Markham from the camp of the
Twelve- completely armed and prepared and determined
upon fighting. Backenstos had summoned them and all
the Mormons in Nauvoo to turn out, as a posse, to
attack and disperse the encampment, and many of the
new citizens, some of them deceived as to the
designs of the old citizens, but most of them being
Mormons, and Jack-Mormons in disguise, had enrolled
themselves under his standard. Altogether he had
mustered a force of eight hundred or a thousand men;
and a better armed, or a more desperate,
bloodthirsty band, never met on the face of the
earth.
The attack was to be made on
Sunday. The citizens encamped were, therefore,
unexpectedly reduced to the alternative, either of
engaging in a desperate conflict, or leaving the
ground, which course a rational regard to
consequences required them to adopt, there could be
no doubt. Their number was but about one-third or
one-half that of the Mormons; and they were
imperfectly armed, and almost destitute of
ammunition. As they had left their homes without the
expectation of battle or bloodshed, they were
totally unprepared for such a struggle. The
consequences of a defeat, moreover, would not end
with their own lives. There was little doubt that it
would be followed by indiscriminate plundering and
destruction; and there was too much reason to fear
that in the frenzies and tumults, the new citizens
in Nauvoo, who are friendly to us, might fall a
sacrifice.
The encampment, therefore,
immediately retreated to Carthage, and there
disbanded FOR THE PRESENT, pledging themselves to
return promptly, at the call of their officers, but
with a clear understanding of the job before
THEM- and better preparations for its
accomplishment. This whole business was unadvised
and indiscreet on the part of the Anti-Mormons. All
now acknowledge it to have been so: and, had a
consultation been held upon the subject, either
among the officers or citizens of the county, before
it was gone into, it would not have been undertaken;
but it was merely indiscreet, not criminal nor
cruel in its object. There was no design to
injure the persons or property of any body in
Nauvoo. The sole purpose was, by a hostile
demonstration, to hasten off the remaining Mormons,
who had begun to manifest indifference on the
subject of removing, and many of them an intention
of remaining.
But unwise as it was, and
unlooked for, and unpleasant as has been the result,
it has had some good effects. It has brought the old
and new citizens partially to an acquaintance and
understanding of each other; and it has manifested
the fact, that the new citizens of Nauvoo, instead
of composing the majority and controlling power
there, are comparatively but a handful, and
completely in the power of the Mormons. It has,
also, made the people acquainted with the fact, in
contradiction to the many representations which have
been made upon the subject, that Nauvoo still
contains many thousand Mormons, nearly or quite
one-half of the houses being yet occupied by them;
and if these wretches are to be compelled to leave
Hancock, it must be through the assistance of the
surrounding counties.
ORION.
One feels almost as much
amusement as contempt and indignation, in tracing
this infamous and cowardly apology for the
assembling of this mob camp, their famous Golden's
Point Expedition, and their ignominious and
dastardly retreat. 'Tis true, Colonel Markham, with
several men, had just then returned from Council
Bluffs for some Church property, in the capacity of
a teamster; but his name, it seems, was such a
terror to evil doers, that a whole camp of these
Hancock BRAVES fled for their precious lives when no
one pursued them. Whether or not this Golden's Point
Expedition was set on foot by the Quincy Military
Committee, we have no positive means of knowing; but
it is not at all likely that such a move would have
been made, with all the responsibility attending it,
without the knowledge and the direction of that
committee; as it would naturally have destroyed the
organization voluntarily entered into by all. But
from some cause unknown-whether it was that the
people acted in this expedition without consulting
their wisdom, or whether it was through
disappointment and disgust at the cowardly retreat
from Golden's Point, is a matter of indifference to
our purpose-we find, in a few days after this event,
these military barristers, or a majority of them,
presenting to the people, in language most confused
and nonsensical, the resignation of their high
military honors, to wit
At a meeting of the Committee
appointed by the Carthage Convention on the 2nd day
of October, 1845, as a Military Committee, held on
the 15th day of July, A. D. 1846, on motion, it was
Resolved-That the period for
which the said Committee was appointed by the
said Convention having elapsed, the said
Committee regard their functions as at an end.
Resolved-That the said
Committee hereby resign the trust committed them
by the said Convention into the hands of the
people.
(Signed,)
A. JONAS.
J. H. HORTON.
A. JOHNSTON.
J. B. SCHWINDLER
Up to this period there
seemed to be some kind of order, lawless and
revolutionary as it was, to cause a concert of
action; but by the resignation of the Military
Committee, everything was thrown back into its
natural and legitimate state. This could not,
however, be long endured by a people who had
lived in lawless excitement so long, while a
single object of their hatred and malicious
persecution remained in or about Nauvoo.
Something must be done, if even in a small way,
to stir up an excitement.
An occasion was soon found. A
party of six "Mormons" and one or two new
citizens, so far disregarded an injunction of
the mob, as to leave the bounds of the city of
Nauvoo, and did actually undertake to harvest a
field of wheat, some six or eight miles in the
country, after the Anti-Mormons had expressly
forbidden the "Mormons" to be found outside the
city, except on their removal westward. These
men, although they went armed, were surprised
while at work, by an overpowering force, armed
to the teeth, and severely beaten with hickory
gads, cut for the purpose. Their arms were taken
and carried off, and they threatened with worse
treatment if they were found outside the city
any more. This circumstance, as may well be
supposed, created no little stir in Nauvoo.
"Mormons" and new citizens were indiscriminately
outraged and beaten, and they, of course, made
common cause in bringing the offenders to
justice. Warrants were issued for the
apprehension of these lawless desperadoes. A
posse was sent out with the officers, and
several of the mob were apprehended and brought
to Nauvoo. Major McCalla was among the number.
These worthies, after remaining several days in
the city awaiting trial upon further evidence,
were removed, by virtue of a writ of Habeas
Corpus, to Quincy; to answer the prosecution
in that famous little city, whose best lawyers
and statesmen, almost to a man, figured so
largely in the mobocratic movements already
described. Of course the prisoners gave bail for
their appearance at court, which would sit,
perhaps, when the prosecutors would be flying
before a mob force, not only from the city, but
from the State. No one need fear being bound
over to the next court, under such
circumstances. But during the time these men
remained in the charge of officers in Nauvoo, a
most shameful outrage was committed by a band of
mobbers upon five of the brethren, who had a
short time previous returned for supplies, and
were then on their way from the up river mills
with their flour. This outrage was the
kidnapping, or forcibly apprehending without
warrant, Phineas H. Young, Brigham H. Young,
(son of Phineas,) Richard Ballantyne, James
Standing, and a person of the name of Herring,
and running them into the wilderness and
thickets of under-brush along the river, and
then skulking with them from wood to wood, and
even from county to county, to escape the hot
pursuit of "the brave boys of Nauvoo," who came
near overtaking them on several occasions.
It was supposed that the
object at first was to effect an exchange of
prisoners, but those in Nauvoo were in the hands
of the law, and could not be exchanged, and were
afterwards taken, as I have already said, to
Quincy. The five kidnapped persons were kept for
fourteen days, almost without sleep, rest, or
food, as they were handed from one band to
another, and made to lie, on the bare ground
every night, whenever they got opportunity, from
travels to take rest; and on several occasions
the mob were actually making arrangements to
shoot them, when the noise of the brethren's
near approach interrupted them; and the
prisoners dare not give the alarm, as they were
threatened with instant death if they stirred or
opened their mouths; but finally, falling into
the hands of a more tolerant band, they were not
so closely watched, and made their escape.
All this created that kind of
excitement that must end in something serious
where no law is in force. But it will be
observed that it became necessary, after the
resignation of the committee, that a new issue
should be formed; and these difficulties
presented a most favorable opportunity. When
Major McCalla was apprehended, as already
stated, a singular stocked rifle was found in
his possession, which William Pickett and others
instantly recognized as one that had been taken
from those harvest men by these land pirates, of
whom the prisoner was one. Of course they took
possession of the rifle and carried it away; and
this is the theft which was alleged
against William Pickett, in a warrant, which
John Carlin, an especial officer, had to serve
on him (as will be seen in the course of this
narrative), and which Pickett resisted. Pickett
had made himself somewhat conspicuous in these
little campaigns; and he was marked by the mob.
It was told him that this warrant was got up to
get him into the hands of the mob, and that they
intended to waylay him and kill him; whether
this was well or ill founded, is, of course, not
known; but he did go privately, after resisting
the officer, and deliver himself up to the
magistrate at Green Plains, who issued the
warrant, but the magistrate had no record of it,
and refused to try him. This all occurred in the
presence of several new citizens, who
accompanied him as a body guard. Pickett
returned, therefore, the same night, in safety.
And now, the people of Nauvoo, "Mormons" and new
citizens, denounced the demands, and disregarded
the clamor of John Carlin, the special
constable; it being now evident, that this was
only a pretext to get up an excitement.
It was while these things
were transpiring, that the new citizens sent
several statements and a special deputation to
his Excellency Governor Ford for protection. The
Governor accordingly sent Major Parker to
Nauvoo, under the following instructions
Executive Department,
Springfield, August 24, 1846.
To
Major James R. Parker, of the 32nd
Regiment of the Illinois Militia.
Sir- I have received
information that another effort is to be made on
Monday next to drive the inhabitants of Nauvoo,
new as well as old, and destroy the city. I am
informed that it is believed in the surrounding
counties that the new citizens in Nauvoo are all
Mormons, and that the remnant of the old Mormon
population are determined to remain there,
although I am assured that the contrary in both
particulars is the truth.
You are, therefore, hereby
authorized and empowered to repair to Nauvoo,
and there remain until you are relieved. You
will immediately inquire how many of the
inhabitants are new citizens, and how many of
them are Mormons; how many of the old Mormon
population remain, and what the prospect is of
their removal in a reasonable time. And in case
an attack on the city should be attempted, or
threatened, you are hereby authorized to take
command of such volunteers as may offer
themselves free of cost to the State, to
repel it and to defend the city. You will also
have full power to pursue, and, in aid of a
peace officer with a proper warrant, arrest the
rioters who may threaten or attempt such an
attack, and bring them to trial.
You will have power with an
armed posse to assist any peace officer in
making arrests, and with a like force will guard
the prisoners to and during their trial, and as
long as you may believe them to be in danger of
mob violence.
You will also, from time to
time, publish in the Nauvoo and Quincy papers
the results of your investigations, and a brief
history of your proceedings.
You are also authorized to
accept of the services of ten men as volunteers
from Fulton County, to serve under you in
performing the above services, who will be paid
for their service.
I am, respectfully, your
obedient servant,
THOMAS FORD,
Governor and
Commander-in-Chief.
A new issue being once more
formed, we will again refer to the Quincy
Whig of August 26th to illustrate the
avidity with which these lawless spirits laid
hold of what their leaders called an "issue
fairly formed." The editor says
From all appearances the
difficulties in Hancock are rapidly approaching
a crisis. In this instance the Anti
Mormons of Hancock have the law on their
side. They have been stigmatized as a mob,
regulators, etc., etc., and sympathies of a
large class were enlisted against them on the
side of Nauvoo, under a mistaken view of the
difficulties. Now the case is different. An
officer has been resisted-an offender against
the law is at large in Nauvoo, threatening
and boasting that he will not be taken, and that
a force sufficient cannot be got together to
take him. The law, therefore, through its
legally appointed officer, calls upon the people
to aid in the execution of the writs placed in
his hands, and to make a signal example of such
offenders as trample upon the laws and defy the
power of the State.
One who had not traced this
most shameless of all editors through his scores
of lawless, piratical and revolutionary
ebullitions, would almost suppose, from reading
the above extract, that he had never sinned. But
of the Anti-Mormons he says, that "in this
instance they have the law on
their side." This is as plain an admission
as language can make, that they had not
before the law on their side.
And does he insist that
they should be made an example of? No.
Although the laws of the State can be openly
trampled under foot in nine counties by hundreds
of land pirates; yet does the editor of the Whig
insist that any of them should be made an
example of? Not a word of the kind. His own neck
would be the first to pay the penalty. This he
knows.
We will now give the
PROCLAMATION of Major Parker, to wit-
State of Illinois, }
Hancock County. } s.s.
Whereas, I, James R. Parker,
Major of the 32nd Regiment of the Militia of the
State of Illinois; have been ordered with a
portion of said regiment to rendezvous in the
said county of Hancock, to preserve the peace,
and for other purposes:
Whereas, also, I am credibly
informed that large bodies of armed men are
assembling themselves together in various parts
of said county, with the avowed intention of
disturbing the peace of said county:
I, THEREFORE, in the name of
the people of the State of Illinois, and by
virtue of the power in me vested by the Governor
of said State, hereby call upon and order all
good citizens in said county to return to their
homes, and keep the peace of said county, and
not again assemble themselves together, unless
called upon so to do by me, to enable me to
preserve the peace of said county, or to assist
the proper officer in serving writs in his
hands.
Given under my hand at
Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, August 25th,
1846. JAMES R. PARKER, Major.
To show still further the
state of the parties at this juncture, we will
make several extracts from a PROCLAMATION TO THE
PUBLIC, of nine leaders, from four different
counties, dated "Carthage, August 29th 1846."
Speaking, of the arrest of Pickett, and his
resistance to the officer, they say-
Carthage, August 28th, 1846.
Mr. Carlin, therefore,
determined at once to call out the
Posse Comitatus, and if found insufficient,
to certify the same to the proper military
officer, and demand from him assistance.
Accordingly, on the 17th
instant, Mr. Carlin issued his proclamation for
the people of the county to meet him in
Carthage, on Monday, the 24th, armed and
equipped, and provided with necessary
provisions.
On Monday last, the 24th, the
posse commenced assembling according to previous
orders; but as a work of some magnitude was
before them, it was determined not to march into
Nauvoo until every necessary preparation could
be completed; and hence some considerable delay
has been occasioned.
On Tuesday, the 25th instant,
a proclamation appeared from Nauvoo, signed by
James R. Parker, Major in the 32d Regiment
Illinois Militia, who claims to have authority
from the Governor to preserve the peace in
Hancock County. In this he assumes that the
peace of the county is threatened, and orders
the people assembled under Mr. Carlin to
disperse. To this Mr. Carlin replied by letter,
stating that he was a legal officer, acting in
obedience to the requirements of the law, and he
did not acknowledge the authority of any one to
interfere with him in the discharge of his duty.
On the 26th Major Parker replied to Mr. Carlin's
letter, reiterating the substance of his
proclamation, and stated that if the posse did
not disperse he would regard them as a mob, and
treat them as such. Mr. Carlin, in reply, stated
to Major Parker, that he, having been resisted
in the service of process, it was his duty to
call out the civil posse, and that with that
posse no one had a right to interfere; and if
Major P. attempted to molest them, he should
regard him and his command as a mob, and treat
them as such; that it was time enough for him- a
military officer to step in when his services
were demanded, and not sooner.
The undersigned would now
state that they regard the interference of Major
Parker as altogether illegal and unwarrantable.
The law expressly provides that the military
shall not interfere with a civil officer in the
discharge of his duty. If it were otherwise, our
government would, in effect, be a military
despotism. Major Parker claims to be a military
officer; he does not pretend to any other than
military authority. Such being the case, it is a
gross assumption of power, on his part, to
attempt to interfere with a civil posse,
and to dictate to civil officers, that they
shall first call on him, if they want aid in the
service of process, when the law expressly says,
they shall first call on the civil posse, and if
that is not sufficient, then on the military.
Now, fellow citizens, an
issue is fairly formed. On the one hand, a large
body of men have assembled at Carthage, under
the command of a legal officer to assist him in
performing legal duties. They are not
excited-they are cool, but determined, at all
hazards, to execute the law in Nauvoo, which has
always heretofore defied it. They are resolved
to go to work systematically and with ample
preparation, but under a full knowledge that on
their good and orderly behavior their character
is staked.
On the other hand, in Nauvoo
is a blustering Mormon mob, who have defied the
law, and who are now organized for the purpose
of arresting the arm of civil power. Judge ye
which is in the right.
Your fellow-citizens,
ARCHIBALD WILLIAMS, }
JOHN B. CHITTENDEN, }
of Adams County
THOMAS MORRISON, }
JOHN D. MELLEN, }
WESLEY WILLIAMS, } of
Hancock County,
JASON H. SHERMAN, }
JOHN H. MITCHELL, )
of Warren County,
THOMAS S.
BROCKMAN, }
JAMES W. SINGLETON, }
of Brown County.
Another correspondent
writes as follows
Carthage, Illinois, August
27,1846.
Mr. Bartlett.
Dear Sir- I arrived in this
place at eleven o'clock this forenoon, and found
about 550 men under arms, and reinforcements
arriving every hour. They all express a
determination to stick together until they
accomplish the object for which they assembled,
"if it takes until next spring." There is a
feeling of determination among them that never
existed before. It is a general saying, "that if
the resolutions of the Carthage Convention
cannot now be carried out, they will leave the
country, or turn Jack-Mormons."
Mark the expression-"If
the resolutions of the
Carthage Convention cannot be carried
out, they will leave the country." It will be
recollected that that Convention had for its
only object, the removal of the entire Mormon
population from the State. This writer continues
Notwithstanding all the
Anti-Mormons have suffered, they still dislike
to shed blood if it can possibly be avoided;
that is, if the Mormons will give up Pickett and
others to be dealt with according to law, and
remove themselves peaceably from the State,
every assurance of protection will be given them
if they agree to do this.
Here the cat is fairly let
out of the bag; the removal of the "Mormons"
according to the decrees of the Carthage
Convention is the real object, and the plea that
process had been resisted, was only a
shallow pretext for assembling the heroes of the
Golden's Point expedition, under the semblance
of law, as a Posse Comitatus And the
Governor having a full understanding of their
tricks and movements, sent Major Parker among
them, as we have seen, with authority to
superintend and control all matters for a time.
Hence the pretty little quarrel that sprung up
between his Excellency the Mobocrat-in-Chief and
his Major on the one part, and John Carlin, the
Special Constable, and Colonel James W.
Singleton, of Brown County, two rebel mobocrats,
on the other part.
We do not see any very
particular need of this quarrel between these
valorous chiefs, and their calling each other
such hard names, seeing they all had the same
great object in view, the removal and
disfranchisement of the "Mormons." They only
differed as to the time and modus operandi
of effecting this. The great chief was a
little more, patient and systematic, perhaps
because he had more practice and was conscious
of having more power; but he was equally bent on
the thing. Hear him in his orders to Major
Parker
You will immediately inquire
how many of the inhabitants are new citizens,
and how many of them are Mormons. How many of
the old Mormon population remains and what
the prospect is of their removal in a reasonable
time.
While they were considered
formidable by him, he insisted, through Major
Warren, that the stipulations must be kept, and
he then gave them till the first of May to leave
the State; but now, kind man, he is willing to
give them a reasonable time, rather than kill
them outright.
But the rebel chiefs having
been unexpectedly favored with a happy pretext,
by which they could avail themselves of a
posse under the shadow of law, thought it
best to "make hay while the sun shone."
But the last correspondent
quoted states that "Colonels Singleton, of
Brown, and Chittenden, of Adams counties, are in
command."
Now, after all, the fun of
the thing is this, that John Carlin, an especial
constable, appointed for this one service only,
should consider himself empowered to call out
Majors, Colonels, and Generals, and soldiers by
the thousand, not only from Hancock, the county
in which his civil jurisdiction terminated, but
also from Adams, Pike, Warren, Brown, M'Donough,
Marquette, Schuyler, and Knox counties, to make
a "posse comitatus " to serve a
constable's writ in Hancock. Who wouldn't laugh
with indignation to think of such foolery? And
to think that legal men, with a
reputation at stake, should be found defending
this proceeding, and through such a farce
contending for the execution of the laws, and
vociferously denying to the Executive and
Commander-in-chief of all the military forces in
the State, the legal right to send an officer to
keep the peace, at a time, too, when the county
was in anarchy and a CIVIL WAR!
But we have said that
Colonel Singleton had command, and we will
now introduce to the reader a precious document
of his to Major Parker
Head Quarters, Camp Prairie,
Sept. 7th, 1846.
Sir- I have received, by the
hands of Messrs. Smith and Reynolds, yours of
the 6th inst. Like yourself, I am sincerely
anxious of settling the unhappy difficulties in
Hancock without the shedding of blood, or
destruction of property; either, I fear, will be
the result of an extremity, to which I am about
to be forced. I cannot, in your letter, seize
upon any proposition, that would accomplish the
removal of the Mormons, that is a "sine qua
non" with us-nothing else will give peace to
the country. At the earnest solicitations of the
bearers of your letter, I am induced to submit
the following as the best terms.
1st. The Mormons shall
surrender their arms into the possession of
some responsible person in Quincy, or St.
Louis, to be redelivered upon their leaving
the State.
2nd. They shall leave the
State, or disperse, in sixty days.
(The two foregoing
propositions will not be receded from, or
enlarged.)
3rd. That a force
sufficient be stationed in Nauvoo, by the
Governor, for the protection of all parties.
That one half the expense of said force be
paid by the citizens of, and the other half by
the citizens out of, Nauvoo.
4th. In case of accepting
the foregoing, I would recommend to the
Governor the collection of the State arms in
the county.
When I say to you the Mormons
must go, I speak the minds of the camp and the
country. They can leave without force or injury
to themselves or their property; but I say to
you, sir, with all candor, they shall go.
They may fix the time within sixty days, or I
shall fix it for them.
JAMES W. SINGLETON.
It appears from this letter
of Colonel Singleton to Major Parker, that the
issue which this same Singleton, with eight
other worthies from four counties, said was
"fairly formed," was now quashed and no longer a
consideration; for it was not so much as
referred to, neither was Carlin, the especial
constable. But Singleton's propositions are
based solely upon the old issue; and in this he
throws the mask aside, and even hesitates not to
dictate to the Executive, for the third
proposition upon which he is willing to treat
is, "that a force sufficient be stationed in
Nauvoo, by the Governor, for the
protection of all parties;" That is to say, if
the Governor should refuse to do this, he, of
course, should refuse to treat.
Although the propositions
were written to Major Parker, he was only
considered as the agent, the Governor was
considered the principal, inasmuch as the latter
was required to respond to or comply with the
demand. Of course all that is said in this
letter is said to the Executive. Yet the great
Russian Bear could hardly snarl a more impatient
and tyrannical dictum to a serf slave
than this pseudo Colonel addresses to the
chief magistrate of the State. "But I say to
you, sir, with all candor, they shall
go-they may fix the time within sixty days, or I
shall fix it for them."
How, or with what grace the
Executive and his Major swallowed the above
pill, we, unfortunately, have it not in our
power to state; but suppose, from the very
extraordinary document which followed without
date, and was published in the same paper with
the above, that the dose was not only gulped
down, but actually digested, and that it worked
most admirably to the prescription. It appears
that the independent daring and commanding tone
of Singleton, regardless of its treasonable and
revolutionary spirit, won for him the esteem and
fellowship of Major Parker in his official
capacity, as is exemplified in the following
document already referred to, to wit
For the purpose of
producing a permanent settlement of the
difficulties now existing in Hancock County,
of securing a permanent peace, and insuring a
proper execution of the laws, it is hereby
stipulated and agreed :
1st. That the Mormon
population of the city of NAUVOO, shall
commence moving immediately, and the whole
shall within sixty days, move from the State
or disperse, except the men, who with their
families may remain for the transaction of
business.
2nd. That a force of
twenty-five men for the protection of all
parties, and the preservation of the peace, be
stationed in Nauvoo, by the authority of the
Executive, to remain for the said period of
sixty days, and that one half of the expenses
of said force be borne by the citizens of
Nauvoo.
3rd. That an attorney be
selected by the Governor to be stationed in
Nauvoo, to take the supervision of all writs
issued, or to be issued, who shall have
discretion and control of said place.
4th. That the Mormon
population of NAUVOO shall, by their trustees,
deliver up their arms to Mr. Brayman, in
Illinois, to be by him receipted for, and
safely kept, to be returned on the order of
said trustees, upon their leaving the State.
5th. That as soon as Mr.
Brayman shall certify to General Singleton,
that the provisions of stipulation 4th are
complied with, by the delivery of the arms of
the Mormons, the force under the command of
General Singleton shall be disbanded and
return home.
6th. A bond shall be made
by the citizens of Nauvoo, for the payment of
their half of the sum necessary, to pay the
expenses of the force to be raised, and, a
similar bond by the
citizens out of Nauvoo, to
be paid at such times and in such sums as may
be drawn for by the said Mr. Brayman.
7th. It is understood that,
on the beginning of the stipulations, all
hostilities of any kind, are to cease between
the respective parties, all bodies of armed
men are to be dispensed with, no armed posses
are to be raised, but the force herein
provided to be raised, shall be called upon to
aid the civil officers and preserve the peace,
when necessary, it being the intention of the
undersigned, in good faith to secure and
maintain tranquility in the county of Hancock.
Agreed to on behalf of the
Anti-Mormons, by
JAS. W. SINGLETON, of
Brown County,
J. B. CHITTENDEN, of Adams,
N. MONTGOMERY, of
M'Donough,
JAMES KING, of Schuyler,
and
J. H. SHERMAN, of
Hancock.
On the part of the Mormons,
by
Major J. R. PARKER,
Commanding Illinois Volunteers at the City
of Nauvoo,
Mr. SMITH, of Nauvoo,
Mr. REYNOLDS, of Nauvoo,
and
Mr. EDMONS, of Nauvoo.
It will be recollected that
Major Parker threatened the especial constable
that if he did not disband his posse, he would
consider them as a mob, and treat them as such.
But Carlin having called out an army, officered
and equipped for a campaign, gave the command of
it to Colonel Singleton, a man of too much game
for Major Parker; so, in order to accomplish the
object the Governor had in view, viz., the
removal of the Mormons "in a reasonable
time," and to "keep the peace " between
himself and this mob force, the Major concluded
to consider them as his equals, and to make a
treaty with them; and in order that they
might be fully satisfied, he agreed to all their
terms, and more too, and signed it in his
official capacity, with all the formality that
is observed in treating with nations.
It is proper here to observe,
that those gentlemen who, with Major Parker,
signed this treaty "on the part of the Mormons,"
were themselves not "Mormons," but near
citizens, and friendly to them, and perhaps did
the best they could in behalf of the oppressed.
We have given the skeleton of
a treaty as published in the Quincy Whig,
as between the parties named, but have never had
the privilege of seeing the precious document
itself. It was, however, only on paper, not in
the hearts of the people-the posse. It appears
they would not regard it or stand by it, and
rebelled against their leaders. The consequence
was that GENERAL SINGLETON (as he was styled in
the treaty), Major Parker, and others put their
treaty in their pockets, abandoned their
respective commands, and went home, leaving the
assembled multitude still in the hands of
John Carlin the Constable.
There were still, however,
men left in the camp, equal to the object they
had in view. The command was now given to the
Rev. Thomas S. Brockman, of Brown County,
who was elevated to the dignity and command of a
General, it is with this Reverend,
therefore, that we shall have to do for the
future, as GENERAL BROCKMAN.
We will now call attention to
a proposition from Brockman and Carlin. Carlin
was still in the field, although he had been
overlooked by the Singleton treaty-
September 8th, 1846.
It is proposed, on behalf of
the Anti-Mormon forces assembled, camped in
the vicinity of Nauvoo, by the Officers in
Council:
1st. That the writs in the
hands of John Carlin shall be served, if the
individuals against whom they exist, can be
found.
2nd. The Mormons shall all
give up their arms to some gentleman in
-------to be agreed on by the parties, and
any gun or other weapons shall be returned
to the owner, whenever the officer the
Anti-Mormons may station in the city, shall
certify that the owner of said gun has
bona fide left the State with his goods
and chattels.
3rd. The Anti-Mormon forces
shall be permitted to march peaceably
through the city, we pledging ourselves to
molest neither person or property, unless
attacked, in which case we will defend
ourselves as best we can.
4th. The Mormons shall leave
the State in thirty days.
5th. The Anti-Mormons shall
station a force at their discretion in the
city, to see that the above terms are
complied with.
JOHN CARLIN,
THOMAS S. BROCKMAN,
In behalf of the
Officers in Camp.
It would seem that John
Carlin was fast rising in the world. A few days
previous he figured as especial Constable
to serve a writ on a supposed criminal, nothing
more; but now we behold him dictating terms of
peace to a whole city, disfranchising a large
portion of its inhabitants, and expelling them
from their own homes and from the State. This
man is what the learned members of the bar in
Quincy call a "legal officer," with a "large
body of men to assist him in performing legal
duties."
Upon Major Parker's leaving,
his mantle fell upon a new citizen,
MAJOR CLIFFORD. But Clifford was as much
disrespected by Brockman, as Parker had been by
Singleton; and on the morning of the l0th of
September, the mob, commanded by BROCKMAN,
appeared in force in the immediate vicinity of
Nauvoo, and encamped upon the "Hunter Farm."
Alarmed by the threatening
attitude of a force which had now swelled to
over 1000 men, with several hundred baggage
wagons, and in every way prepared for a
campaign, the new citizens, and what few of the
"Mormons" were left and fit for duty, thought it
high time to stand on the defensive. They took a
position in the skirt of a wood, in the suburbs
of the city, and about three quarters of a mile
from the enemy. The force of the city did not
exceed three hundred men, and was daily
diminishing on the part of the new citizens, who
felt that danger was fast approaching, and who
expected a general massacre of the defenders of
the city, as well as the sick and afflicted of
the "Mormons," who had emigrated to the utmost
possible extent of their means, and had still
some hundreds of sick, of women and children,
and destitute left, and those among them who had
strength to shoulder a gun, felt to stand by and
defend those who had not, to the last, and, if
it was a "sine qua non" with the enemy
that all must leave or perish, to perish with
those that could not leave.
With an overwhelming force
within gun range of their defenses, the citizens
of Nauvoo hourly and anxiously waited for the
recruits which Major Parker, upon leaving, gave
them reasons to hope would be sent to their
relief from the Governor. But no reinforcements
came, and it was now evident that they must rely
upon their own resources. In the meantime, moved
with indignation towards their fellow
countrymen, in the course they were pursuing
towards an oppressed and a defenseless
community, Major Flood, of Quincy, in company
with John Wood, Esq., Mayor of Quincy, Dr.
Conyers and Mr. Joel Rice, visited the mob camp
with the hope of dissuading them from their
purpose, but without effect. Scarcely had their
conference ended, and they on their way to the
city, before a shower of six-pounders was
sent among us and over our heads, but happily
without injuring any one. This little exploit,
with a few exchanges at long rifle distance
between the respective guards, ended the
hostilities for that day.
On the day following, the mob
broke up their quarters, and took up a line of
March for the La Harpe road, northwards, and it
was hoped they were on their retreat; but on
arriving at the road they changed their course,
and marched direct for the city, evidently
intending to take it by storm that day. But a
company of some thirty-five picked men,
organized and led by the worthy and lamented
William Anderson (with whom the writer of this
narrative consented to operate whenever he could
be relieved from the duties of his appointment,
as one of the Trustees of the Church), watched
their movements, and hung upon their flank, in
ambush, as they thought; and although they were
themselves partially surprised, and nearly cut
off by a detached party of the enemy, they
quickly rallied, and returned such a spirited
fire that their pursuers broke and fled in the
utmost confusion, although more than double
their number. This checked, for a time, the
advance of the main body, which until now had
been moving steadily forward. They opened a
shower of grape, which fell like hail about us.
We thought it prudent to fall further back, as
we had nothing of a longer range for defense
than the rifle. The enemy now again advanced,
very cautiously, however, lest some mines should
be sprung upon them, of which they had reason to
think they were in some danger. Seeing our men
take possession of some vacant buildings on the
line of their approach, they took a position on
an elevated spot of ground, and opened a heavy
cannonade at a distance of something less than
half a mile. This was returned with great spirit
on our part, from guns made of some steam
shafts, that carried six-pound balls.. Many were
the balls that we picked up as they came rolling
and bounding among us, and we sent them back
with as much spirit and precision as they were
first sent. The mob made many good shots, taking
effect upon the buildings aimed at, but no lives
were lost on the defensive. The day closed
without any further attempt at storming the
city. During the night a large log barn and
other buildings were torn down, and thrown up in
the shape of breast works for defense.
On the morning of the 12th
Sept., being the day following the cannonading,
a flag was sent in from the enemy, with a demand
of an unconditional surrender. A council
of war was called, but they would now treat with
none but the Trustees. Their summons was
promptly and unanimously rejected. We returned
for answer that we would never surrender
without terms. Our answer was replied to
without delay, from their whole line of
batteries, which now opened upon us, and soon
their entire camp was in motion, and on the
advance. They moved steadily on, in excellent
order, under the most skillful military
discipline, with the Stars and Stripes (and Oh!
how dishonored) floating in the breeze;
discharging their artillery every now and then
as they approached. No sooner, however, had they
opened their first fire, than they were answered
with as good as they gave; and one round created
a great sensation in their ranks, and drew from
the defensive a loud and hearty cheer. A brisk
cannonade was kept up on both sides during the
whole of the engagement. Before the enemy came
within full rifle range of our breast works,
they began to flank, and sweep a compass to the
south, with every prospect of an unchecked
advance to the Temple square, which it was their
object to get possession of. But there was a
small band of devoted heroes that had not yet
participated in the struggle of the day; this
was the company of picked men, before spoken of,
called the
"Spartan Band, " commanded by Captain
Anderson. This company, being free, by common
consent, to direct its own movements, had taken
a position in the woods nearly a mile north of
our defenses, as it was feared the enemy might
approach the City by that route, unless it
should be guarded. Learning, from the successive
reports of the artillery on both sides, that the
battle had begun in earnest, and that the enemy
were advancing; and having ascertained that they
were not detached by separate commands, but
remained in full force; it now became evident
that we had to change our ground to make our
force available. (After the rejection of the
notice to surrender, the writer hastened to the
little band with which he was connected, to
operate with them.) We accordingly took up a
line of march under quick time, passed by the
rear of our whole line to some distance on the
south, and threw ourselves directly in front of
the entire force of the enemy. This was an
unexpected movement to them, and our first fire
brought them to a halt. We took position about a
small brick shed, and along a slender picket
railing; and being armed, many of us, with
revolving rifles, we kept up such an incessant
fire that portions of the enemy repeatedly fell
back a little way into a slight hollow, but as
often returned again to the attack. It was here
that the brave Anderson fell, almost at the
opening of our fire his eldest son, a lad about
sixteen years of age, having fallen a few
moments before, in another part of the field, by
a cannon shot.
The battle lasted about an
hour and a half, and after Captain Anderson's
company opened upon them, the enemy advanced no
further; and the firing continued and was
concentrated with such spirit from every part of
the defense, that the assailants finally gave
way and retreated in great confusion. Excepting
the "Spartan Band," the entire command was given
to Colonels William Cutler and Daniel H. Wells,
the latter of whom is now Lieutenant General of
the Nauvoo Legion in Utah. And while they won
immortal honors in this unequal encounter, the
writer of this claims the honor of not only
suggesting, but directing, the strategical
movement and point of attack by the "Spartan
Band," a movement which did not escape the
notice of Major Floyd and Esquire Wood from the
dome of the Temple, and was admitted by them to
have turned the fate of the day. (To explain
this, it is, perhaps, necessary to state, that
the rank which the writer yet held in the Nauvoo
Legion-that of Colonel-as well as the office of
Trustee, which he then filled, gave him that
influence with Captain Anderson, that the latter
solicited his judgment and direction on every
movement, when present.)
I will here also take
occasion to say, that the other Trustees-A. W.
Babbitt and J. L. Heywood, were equally well
employed, and equally exposed to danger. The
former had his horse shot from under him with a
cannon ball, while encouraging the men; and the
latter was a conspicuous target, as he would fly
from rank to rank with his ponies and carriage
with supplies. In short a braver band of heroes
could not be found on the face of the earth,
than was that which composed the defense of that
day.
There were a number of wagons
discovered carrying off those who fell in the
engagement. It was impossible to learn the
enemy's true loss; from the blood left upon the
ground, it must have been considerable. The loss
of the "Mormons" was three killed, and a number
slightly, but none seriously, wounded. This was
considered highly providential by them. There
were less than one hundred and fifty men engaged
on the side of the defense, in this engagement,
and these were mostly "Mormons." As we have
said, the enemy numbered above a thousand.
This last battle was fought
on Saturday, and it exhausted the stock of
ammunition that the mob brought with them. And
although they were driven from the battle field,
they were secure in their encampment. Their
first object now was to seek supplies. A train
of baggage wagons was immediately dispatched to
Quincy; and it was said that that town,
generally, on the following day, which was the
Sabbath, was all in a bustle-men and women
preparing the required supplies. The distance
between Nauvoo and Quincy being fifty miles, the
train did not return till some time on Monday.
This battle, and especially the way in which the
mob were handled, had something serious in it,
and awakened the sensibilities of the legal
men in that town, most of whom had been
prominent in getting up this mob. The idea now
of forming a committee of mediation was acted
upon; hence, what was called the
Quincy Committee of one hundred,
waited upon the belligerent parties, during
the time that preparations were making for
further hostilities. This committee did not
mediate for the rights of man, but to
spare the effusion of blood, which they
represented would inevitably flow in case of
failure to settle on some terms, and perhaps a
general massacre and conflagration, the
responsibility of which must come upon our own
heads, if we should refuse to treat. We had been
summoned, before the last engagement, to
surrender at discretion, without terms;
now, however, terms were again offered, and
perhaps through the influence of the committee.
The mob was also daily swelling in numbers,
while the force in the city was materially
diminishing. Several hundred men, who had been
stationed on the west side of the river before
the last battle, with red flags, denoting
no quarter, and to cut off our retreat, still
occupied that threatening position. Under these
trying circumstances the Trustees of the Church
were called upon to accept or reject the best
and last proposition-the ultimatum of
General BROCKMAN. This was a fearful
responsibility, to treat upon the terms offered
seemed cruel, but when it was considered that
the cruelty attached itself to those who had the
power to impose such terms, and that to reject
them would, in all probability, be followed by a
general massacre, it was deemed folly to
hesitate. The following are the terms of the
ultimatum to wit-
Articles of accommodation,
treaty, and agreement, made and entered into,
this sixteenth of September, A. D. 1846,
between Almon W. Babbitt, Joseph L. Heywood,
and John S. Fullmer, Trustees in trust for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
of the one part-Thomas S. Brockman, Commander
of the posse, and John Carlin, Special
Constable and civil head of the posse of
Hancock County, of the second part-and Andrew
Johnson, Chairman of the Citizens of Quincy,
of the third part
1st. The city of Nauvoo
will surrender. The force of Colonel Brockman,
to enter and take possession of the city
tomorrow, the 17th of September, at three
o'clock p.m.
2nd. The arms to be
delivered to the Quincy Committee, to be
returned on the crossing of the river.
3rd. The Quincy Committee
pledge themselves to use their influence for
the protection of persons and property from
all violence, and the officers of the camp and
the men pledge themselves to protect all
persons and property from violence.
4th. The sick and helpless
to be protected and treated with humanity.
5th. The Mormon population
of the city to leave the State, or disperse as
soon as they can cross the river.
6th. Five men, including
the Trustees of the Church, and five Clerks,
with their families, (William Pickett not one
of the number,) to be permitted to remain in
the city for the disposition of property, free
from all molestation and personal violence.
7th. Hostilities to cease
immediately, and ten men of the Quincy
Committee to enter the city in the execution
of their duty as soon as they think proper.
We, the undersigned,
subscribe to, ratify, and confirm the
foregoing articles of accommodation, treaty,
and agreement, the day and year first above
written.
ANDREW JOHNSON, Chairman
and of the Committee of Quincy
ALMON W. BABBITT,
JOSEPH L. HEYWOOD, JOHN S. FULLMER, Trustees
in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
THOMAS S. BROCKMAN,
Commanding posse,
JOHN CARLIN, Special
Constable.
It is now seen that this
treaty, the surrender of a city, the expulsion
of its inhabitants, and the
disfranchisement of hundreds
of American citizens, were the object and are
the result of the farce of John Carlin's
Posse Comitatus. What right had a Constable
of a day, to propose terms and ratify a
Treaty? Just as much right as the Commander
of the posse, or a renowned lawyer as Chairman
of a Committee, neither of whom have any right;
but all have violated the Constitutions of the
State and the United States, and the laws of
both, in the highest sense possible. And
Pickett, instead of being arrested by this
posse, is not permitted to come into their
presence, but singled out and forbidden to
remain in the city. They have no use for him
now. "O tempera, O mores!"
Why did Carlin, the special
constable, and Brockman, the commander of the
posse, not take the body of William Pickett,
and make him their prisoner? Why did they, on
the contrary, sign a treaty requiring him to
take his body away from the city, out of their
reach? Was this performing "legal duties"
after the "issue was fairly formed?" Said the
leaders and lawyers already mentioned-
On the one hand, a large body
of men have assembled at Carthage, under the
command of a legal officer, to assist him in
performing legal duties. They are not excited.
They are cool; but determined, at all hazards,
to execute the law in Nauvoo, which has
always heretofore defied it. They are resolved
to go to work systematically, and with ample
preparations, but under a full knowledge
that, on their own orderly behavior, their
character is at stake.
Now let me ask those
would-be-law-abiding gentlemen, and the world-
Were they "orderly?" Did they "execute the law
in Nauvoo?" No! and with confusion of face they
must themselves confess that they did not. They
have, then, all of them, forfeited their
character, for they staked it upon a
contingency, which they violated by the most
lawless cruelty that could well be devised or
inflicted. They forced terms, at the point of
the bayonet, upon the miserable remnant of the
Saints of Nauvoo-upon the poor, the sick, the
widow, and the orphan, and upon such as were
tarrying only to sell what little property they
had left, to bless themselves and friends with,
in leaving for their mountain home. They forced
them, destitute of every comfort of life, and
many without the means of living in any shape,
across the river, where they had neither house
nor shelter, nor the means of procuring any, and
among enemies nearly as bad as the mob itself.
They have not only forfeited their characters,
but have lost the confidence of every good man,
and even the power to respect themselves. Such
was this posse cornitatus, and such were
the leaders, whose names are everywhere known,
as having held prominent places in community.
And although this is an unexaggerated statement
of facts, not one of these persons has ever been
arrested for breach of the peace, violation of
laws, for perjury, or treason against the
government; and all these have been committed
openly, day after day, right in sight and under
the very nose of the Executive of the State.
Neither have the people expressed their
dissent by any public demonstration, in any
portion of the State. All, therefore, are
guilty, either before or after the fact; and all
will, consequently, some day, have to make
restitution.
PRINTED BY B. JAMES. 39, SOUTH
CASTLE STREET, LIVERPOOL.
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