Mormon History
Mormon Caused Problems at Carthage - 1844
Warsaw Message – January 17, 1844
For the Warsaw Message.
Meeting of
Citizens at Carthage.
At a large and respectable meeting of the
citizens of Hancock county, held in the court house in Carthage, on Wednesday
the 10th day of January, 1844 --
The meeting was organized by the appontment of Jas. B. Matthews, Chairman, and
John C. Elliott, Secretary.
The objects of the meeting having been stated by the chairman, on motion, it was
decided that Valentine Wilson address the meeting, which he accordingly did in
an appropriate and eloquent speech.
After which it was moved and decided that the chairman appoint a committee of
three to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, in regard to
certain difficulties with the community of people called Mormons.
The chair named Walter Bagby, Colonel Levi Williams and Henry Newton, for that
committee, who reported the following Preamble and Resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted:
That while we have been denied the ends of Justice in Nauvoo, by the
interposition of armed bodies, set up by the authorities of that city, and
ordered to rescue a prisoner at all hazards, regardless of law or justice, from
the rightful custody of an officer, which order was accordingly carried into
successful execution, as is well authenticated in the case of Smith, the leader
of the Mormon community at Dixon, in Lee county of this State.
And while the authorities of the city of Nauvoo have been continually passing
ordanances in designation of the laws and constitution of the State of Illinois
and of the United States, calculated, if carried into effect to be a source of
galling oppression to the citizens of this county, and indeed to all who may be
so unfortunate as to be placed under their operation; which laws have been in
many cases executed upon individuals to their great detriment and annoyance.
And while we have seen a growing disposition on the part of that community and
especially of their leader, the most potent Joseph Smith, to harrass us, by
dragging our citizens from the most remote parts of the county to Nauvoo, to be
tried for every petty offence, and when there to be subjected to all the
indignities that the said Smith -- the most foul-mouthed blackguard that ever
was commissioned by Satan to vex and torment the children of men -- could
invent.
And while we have been threatened, vilified and abused in every possible form
and manner, insomuch that we are driven to the conclusion that there is no
alternative now left us, but the most object and ignominious resistance;
Still we desire to hold ourselves responsible to the laws of the country, so far
as they are reasonably administered; and will at all times cheerfully submit to
be tried by officers of our immediate vicinage; Yet --
Resolved, That seeing we have been constrained to believe that the authorities
of Nauvoo, by a succession of the most extraordinary ordinances that were ever
known to be passed by a deliberating body, design to bar themselves against the
just and equitable operation of the laws, as well as by many other indications
too numerous here to name. We hereby determine and pledge to each other, our
sacred honor, and all our substance, so far as it may be needed, to resist every
oppression that may be attempted to be imposed upon us, and every indignity that
may be offered to any individual or community in this county, or the surrounding
counties, by the authorities of Nauvoo, at the point of the bayonet.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves most solemnly, that we will at all times hold
ourselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning, to any point to which we
may be called.
Resolved, That each and every one of us will use our influence and our best
exertions, to induce those of our immediate neighborhood to engage heartily in
the work, by organizing themselves into defensive bodies, that we may be at all
times prepared for any emergency.
Resolved, That the editor of the Warsaw Message be requested to publish
in his paper the proceedings of this meeting, -- the late ordinances of the City
of Nauvoo in relation to the services of process, and the selling of liquors in
said city...
THE AFFAIR AT CARTHAGE.
The Nauvoo Neighbor, as is usual with that
print, on such occassions, comes out with a long rigmarole of untruth, about the
affair at Carthage last week, between the citizens and Mormons.
The facts as they occurred, were about as follows: A constable from
Nauvoo, went to Carthage on Saturday, and arrested one Milton Cook, on a charge
of Bastardy, Before reaching the Justice -- but whetehr before they left
Carthage or not, we did not learn -- the prisoner made his escape from the
officer. In the mean time, some of the citizens turned out to defend Cook,
declaring that he should not be taken to Nauvoo for trial; but offered no
resistance to a hearing before any other magistrate. The officer, seeing that he
could not succeed in his attempt, returned to the Justice who issued the writ,
who summoned 11 men to his assistance. With this reinforcement, he returned on
Monday night; when three or four of the party attacked Mr. Bartlett's grocery,
in which Cook was supposed to be. They were met at the door with five or six
bayonets, firmly grasped; and it appeared that one Mr. Eagel had no more
prudence than to rush violently against one of them, and get himself hurt. Thus
repulsed, the party retired for the night.
In the morning, it would seem, as by accident, the parties again met at Wilson's
store. Considerable confusion and volence prevailed for a moment; when the
pistol of Dr. Morrison, as he was attempting to draw it from his pocket, was
accidently discharged. The ball, instead of striking one of the officer;s
party in the forehead, and glancing off afain, to the imminent danger of the
whole -- as the Neighbor has it -- passed very near the Doctor's own head, and
lodged in the ceiling! -- No pistol was intentionally fired, and no bayonet
plunged at the breast of any of the assailants, during the whole affray.
The combatants now separated; the constable and his posse set out for Nauvoo,
declaring that they would return with the Legion, and take the prisoner, or lay
the town in ashes!
The above are substantially the facts of the case. We leave our readers to make
their own comments.
According to request of the Citizens' Meeting, we publish in this No. several of
the Nauvoo Ordinances, tending to show how utterly regardless of all law and
right & decency, the authorities of that city can make themselves. One ordinance
authorizes marriages without a license; another sets Smith above the license
laws of the State, "fir the health and convenience of travelers; another takes
all process out of the hands of State officers, and puts it into those of the
city; & yer another takes the pardoning power away from the Governor!
THE QUESTION OF COMPROMISE.
Mr. Gregg: -- in your paper published on the
10th inst., we find some remarks on the fifficulties which occured between the
Carthagenians and the Mormons on Monday and Tuesday last, in which I think may
be seen a strong squinting at a disposition to compromise with that people. Your
closing paragraph runs thus:
"As a means of bringing about so desirable a result, we respectfully suggest
that a public meeting of all parties be called, to meet at Carthage on as early
a day as practicable to take into consideration the grievances and their remedy.
What say you, fellow citizens?"
As for one, I say, NO Never!! Just as well might you call upon us to strike
hands with Pirates or to compromise with the Powers of Darkness. Who is there
amongst us so wanting in discrimination as not to be able to see, that a
community constructed as is that at Nauvoo, headed by a leader so destitute of
every moral principle, as we know Jo Smith to be, can be trusted? -- obeying a
leader most implicitly who in their very midst has committed so long a catalogue
of the most adominable acts, of which the imagination of man can conceive;
attempting at the same time to cloak all his outrages under the sacred garb of
religion, and that too, the pure and holy religion of Jesus Christ! In view of
such wonderful presumption, I am constrained to cry out -- "O blasphemous
wretch! Who can trust him?" I repeat it most emphatically, "Let no such man be
trusted!" I again answer, I can make no compromise with Nauvoo, as a community,
while it avows allegiance to the Beast and the False Prophet. If there are
those, as you suggest, who would be willing to rid themselves and the country,
of the evils growing out of the mad projects of that presumptuous wretch, let
them show their faith by works, and come out, and disabuse themselves of the
odium which cleaves to them like the fatal shirt of Nessus, and that will
suffice me. For I hold that the little philosophy which I can lay claim to, has
never yet taught me that when I see a thief, and other partakers with him, that
these last can be honest men! No, Sir, I can never compromise with Jo Smith; nor
yet with a community who consider his will as their pleasure -- no matter how
absurd. And more especially cannot I compromise with Jo Smith, until I shall
have seen his inflated vanity and his intoerable audacity humbled and subdued. I
have seen too much of his treachery, and felt too much of his dastardly tyranny,
when in the plenitude of his power, he expected no resistance. Who, then, in
view of such a being, but with the full assurance that so soon as he shall have
found himself in a situation to crush them with impunity, that he will not
withold his hand for a moment? These are my feelings: They are the feelings of
one who presumes to subscribe himself, --- Hannibal.
Remarks on the Above.
WE are
glad that our Query has brought so prompt an answer -- though so unfavorable to
our own views. One has spoken, -- and he has spoken, no doubt, the sentiments of
many -- and we desire a further expression, on the part of our citizens. Our
columns are always open to well tempered articles on a subject so momentous.
Again we ask -- Fellow Citizens, what say you?
We acknowledge, that, inview of all the circumstances -- regarding the high
state of excitement which has been produced upon the public mind -- the danger
there is of collision and bloodshed, and consequent misery and ruin and death,
to hundreds of innocent people -- in view of all these things, we have a
"strong squinting at compromise." Rather thando worse, we would "strike hands
with Pirates, or compromise with the Powers of Darkness" -- so far, at least, as
to agree to a system of non-intercourse. We would not compromise with Joe Smith
one inch, in the acknowledgement of his right to plunder, and destroy, and
tyrannize, and dupe, as he is doing; or that he is any thing short of a demon in
human shape, sent to scourge mankind. But we do believe that there are
"ten righteous persons in the city" -- yes, fifty times ten -- who are innocent
of any intention to do wrong. And, shall they, too, suffer? Shall there be no
discrimination made between these, and that ruthless and guilty band, who
disregard all law and all right? Shall all be made to suffer alike -- the
innocent with the guilty. God forbid!
We see no use in attempting to disguise the fact, that many in our midst
contemplate a total extermination of that people; that the thousands of
defenceless women and children, aged and infirm, who are congregated at Nauvoo,
must be driven out -- aye, DRIVEN -- SCATTERED -- like the leaves before the
Autumn blast! But what good citizen, let us ask -- what lover of his country and
his race, but contemplates such an event with horror?
Shall not, we would ask -- shall not the olive branch be at least held out to
those innocent -- though deluded -- followers of the prophet? Shall not an
attempt be made to set them right, in reference to the designs and aims of
those, whom they have heretofore been taught to regard as their wirst enemies?
We still persist in the opinion that a compromise may be ebtered into that will
do much good; that will, in its operation, entirely stay the work of
destruction. And we call upon all our fellow citizens to aid in bringing about
such a compromise.