Mormon History
Slander of Henry Clay by Joe Smith - 1844
Warsaw Messenger – June 5, 1844
Joe Smith and Henry Clay.
The last Nauvoo Neighbor contains the correspondence between Joe Smith and
Henry Clay, which has been long talked of, but nothing known in relation
thereto, of a definite character. In Joe's first letter to Mr. Clay, he
enquires, what will be his course of action if elected to the Presidency, in
relation to the Latter Day Saints, having reference to the Missouri
difficulties. Mr. Clay answered in a very courteous, yet frank and firm manner,
that as a candidate for the Presidency, he can make no promises, nor give
pledges of favor to any particular class of the community. Joe replies in a
style characteristic of himself. A more scurrilious, low, blackguard production,
we have seldom seen. He speaks to Mr. Clay in his rejoinder, thus: "A blackleg
in politics, begging for a chance to shuffle yourself into the
Presidential chair, where you might deal out the destinies of our beloved
country, for a game of brag, that would end in 'Hark from the tombs a
doleful sound.'" He then speaks of him as a "gambler, duelist, intriguer, &c.,"
and uses every vituperative phrase that the political slang dictionary contains.
And what is all this for? What has provoked the ire of his Holiness? Mr. Clay
has dared to be candid, and has too much honor and regard for character, to play
the sucophant to such a beast as Joe, and some of our two penny politicians in
this vicinity have, and therefore, in the eyes of that miscreant he is a vile
loathsome wretch.
Joe, you are [the] very thing you accuse Messrs. Van Buren, Clay and Calhoon of
being; and more, we do not believe that even your blackguard pen, or rather that
of your man Friday's, (for no one would accuse you of being able to put two
sentences in the English Language together correctly,) can picture a wretch so
depraved, and loathsome as yourself. Yos Joe! we have that confidence in your
saintship, that we do not believe that the concentrated extract of all the
abominations of the Infernal Regions, can add one stain to the blackness of your
character. Look in a mirror Joe and you will see the reflection of the most
detestable wretch that the earth contains. The man who under the garb of a
Commissioned Minister of the Most High, has made the seduction of innocent
females an amusement -- the man on whose skirts rests the blood of hundreds of
his confiding followers -- the man who has hired assassins in his employ,
commanding them to perform deeds that Satan might shrink from -- the traducer of
character -- the swindler who robs without compunction his deluded victims of
their sll, that he may revel in wealth. Behold yourself Joe! and as you may well
say as a prototype of your Holiness once said,
'Not hell with all its powers to damn.
Can add one taint to the foul thing I am!
LAST RESORT OF JOE. --
Whenever any individual renders himself obnoxious to Joe Smith, in Nauvoo, and
his influence is likely to produce a disasterous effect upon his prospects and
schemes, he immediately sets himself to work, to destroy the character and
reputation of his enemy, that he may thus render him harmless. Thus it was, that
to put down the Laws and Fosters, he invented and circulated the most scandulous
reports, and procured the oaths of his miscreant minions, to substantiate them.
He hoped, by this means, to divert the attention of the honest and well meaning,
amongst his followers, from his own rottenness, by discrediting the witnesses,
who bore testimony against him. His last resort to this same game, is the most
despicable of all. In the last Neighbor, is published the affidavits of three
females, who have been compelled by his holiness, to make statements which
entirely blasts their own fame, in order that he might thus destroy the
influence of a man, who he felt to be a dangerous enemy. We say that these
females have been compelled to publish their own shame, for we cannot
conceive how any woman, having left one spark of that native modesty, which
characterizes the sex, could voluntarily consent to publish to the world the
loss of her virtue, and the degradation of her chastity. A female, that can do
such an act, must either be influenced by fear, or else she must be an abandoned
strumpet, whose word is unworthy of credence.
What then can Joe hope to gain by such pitiable resorts? Can he hope to turn
public indignation from himself, as a base seducer, by fastening the brand upon
C. L. Higbee! No Joe! all the evidence which you can manufacture from the ready
material which you have at hans -- all the affidavits which you can force weak
females yo [make]: or induce abandoned srumpets to publish will never make a
sensible man believe that the accused is guilty, or that you are not a villain.
These affidavits bear upon the face of them, their own condemnation. Women who
wear their virtue so loosely, as to throw it off, on so slight a representation
and inducement as they say Mr. Higbee made to them, should never be used as
witnesses in any sensible community. No Joe, these affidavits are but evidence
against yourself. They show conclusively that the females of your city, are
taught by you, to hold virtue, chastity, decency and propriety, eh! every thing
that gives adornment to the character of the sex, as subservient to your will
and desire. Yes Joe! by your showing, you have made it appear to the world, that
the women of your church, will willingly submit to a seducer if he can make it
appear that it is your will that they should. Shame where is thy blush?