Palmyra, Dec. 4, 1833.
We, the undersigned, have been
acquainted with the Smith family, for a number of years, while they resided near
this place, and we have no hesitation in saying, that we consider them destitute
of that moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of any
community. They were particularly famous for visionary projects, spent much of
their time in digging for money which they pretended was hid in the earth; and
to this day, large excavations may be seen in the earth, not far from their
residence, where they used to spend their time in digging for hidden treasures.
Joseph Smith, Senior, and his son Joseph, were in particular, considered
entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits.
Martin Harris was a man who had acquired a handsome property, and in matters of
business his word was considered good; but on moral and religious subjects, he
was perfectly visionary -- sometimes advocating one sentiment, and sometimes
another. And in reference to all with whom we were acquainted, that have
embraced Mormonism from this neighborhood, we are compeled to say, were very
visionary, and most of them destitute of moral character, and without influence
in this community; and this may account why they were permitted to go on with
their impositions undisturbed. It was not supposed that any of them were
possessed of sufficient character or influence to make any one believe their
book or their sentiments, and we know not of a single individual in this
vicinity that puts the least confidence in their pretended revelations.
Geo.
N. Williams, Clark Robinson, Lemuel Durfee, E. S. Townsend, Henry P.
Alger, C. E. Thayer, G. W. Anderson, H. P. Thayer, L. Williams, Geo. W.
Crosby, Levi Thayer, R. S. Williams, P. Sexton, M. Butterfield, S. P.
Seymour, D. S. Jackways, John Hurlbut, H. Linnell, Jas. Jenner, S.
Ackley, Josiah Rice, Jesse Townsend, Rich'd. D. Clark, Th. P. Baldwin,
John Sothington, Durfey Chase, Wells Anderson, N. H. Beckwith, Philo
Durfee, Giles. S. Ely, R. W. Smith, Pelatiah West, Henry Jessup, Linus
North, Thos. Rogers, 2d., Wm. Parke, Josiah Francis, Ames Hollister, G.
A. Hathaway, David G. Ely, H. K. Jerome, G. Beckwith, Lewis Foster,
Hiram Payne, P. Grandin, L. Hurd, Joel Thayer, E. D. Robinson, Asahel
Millard, A. Ensworth, Israel F. Chilson,