Mormon History
Warning to Politicians About the Mormons - 1841
The Warsaw Signal – July 7, 1841
To all Office-holders and Office-seekers in the State of Illinois, Greeting.
FELLOW CITIZENS. --
At a drill of the Nauvoo Legion, at Ramus, a Mormon town situated in the western
part of Hancock county, General Smith, otherwise the Prophet, stated, in a
public speech, that Governor Carlin and suit, and many other respectable
citizens of Quincy, together with Judge Douglass, and other officers of the
State, were to visit Nauvoo on the 3d July next, to witness their splendid
parade. Now we, the Gentiles, lookers on and suffers in the loss of porkers,
&c., feeling that your own interests and the honor of the State is concerned in
this matter, calmly warn you to keep away from these Mormons. We have long
viewed with disgust upon the fawning sycophancy of politicians to this people;
but we have been silent. Now, however, that it is officially announced, that the
chief functionaries of our State are about to lend countenance to this most
corrupt and abominable combination, we feel that, as citizens, it is our
privilege, nay, our duty, to speak out. -- Know, therefore, that the
politicians, of either party, who will fawn on the Prophet, or permit friends to
do so in order to obtain his political influence, will be proscribed by the
independent citizens of this and adjoining counties.
Further, it is our opinion that the national compact should be honored, and that
Joe Smith should be delivered to the authorities of Missouri in obedience to the
demand made on our Executive: -- And we submit the question, whether his
excellency, the Governor, had a constitutional right to grant a commission for a
responsible office to Joe Smith, when he held the demand of the Governor of
Missouri for that individual; and more especially when the said Smith was
charged with the capital crime of High Treason?
With great regard, we have the honor to subscribe ourselves orderly privates, in
the Gentile Legion of Hancock, Warren, and McDonough counties.
The above communication was intended for our paper of last week, but was
unavoidably crowded out. It is not yet too late, however, for those to whom it
is addressed to take warning from it.