Affidavit: Mob Movements.
STATE OF ILLINOIS, HANCOCK CO.,
CITY OF NAUVOO. ss.
June 16th, 1844. Personally appeared before me Willard Richards, clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Nauvoo, Thomas G. Wilson; and after being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that during the last evening Robert Johnson, of the county aforesaid, told deponent that fifteen hundred Missourians would assemble at Warsaw, in said county, on the morning of the 17th instant; that the arms of the Quincy Greys had been sent up to Warsaw; that they had five cannon at Warsaw; that said Missourians, and others who would join them, would proceed to Carthage, and the Quincy Greys and other companies from Adams county were to meet the Missourians in Carthage at the time before stated; that from Carthage they were going round to the branches of the Church of Latter-day Saints in said county, and inform them that they must deny Joseph's being a Prophet, and if they did not deny Joseph, they must leave immediately: and on Thursday next the whole mob were to proceed to Nauvoo and demand Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and the City Council of said city, and if Joseph and Hyrum and the City Council were not given up they would blow up the city, and kill and exterminate all the inhabitants of said city.
THOMAS G. WILSON.
[Seal of Municipal Court.]
Subscribed and sworn to before me, Willard Richards, clerk. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Municipal Court of said city, at the time and place above written.
WILLARD RICHARDS,
Clerk of the Municipal Court, City of Nauvoo.
I have compared the within affidavit with the original, and find it a true copy.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of court at the city of Nauvoo, this 16th day of June, 1844.
WILLARD RICHARDS,
Clerk of the Municipal Court, City of Nauvoo.
Brother Butler, from Bear Creek, came in and made affidavit before the Recorder that fifteen hundred Missourians were to cross the Mississippi to Warsaw the next Morning, on their way to Carthage.
I received a letter from Father Morley:
Letter: Isaac Morley to Joseph Smith—Mob Threats.
President Joseph Smith:
SIR.—Believing it to be my duty to inform you of the proceedings of a wicked clan against the Saints in this place, I improve this opportunity. On yesterday, George Baker, in company with Joseph Barber, a Mr. John Banks, Luther Perry and one more, (his name I have not got) came to my house. Mr. Baker came to my door and said he had some business, and wished to speak with me. I went out into my dooryard with him, and he came in company with a Mr. Banks and others. They informed me they were a committee appointed to inform me and our people that they had three propositions to make to us. In the first place, yourself and about seventeen others had broken the law and good order of society; that we, the Mormon people, must take up arms and proceed with them for your arrest, or take our effects and proceed immediately to Nauvoo, otherwise give up our arms, and remain quiet until the fuss is over. We have until Monday morning next to make up our minds. We have made up our minds that we shall not comply with any of these proposals, but stand in our own defense. We have no signature from the Governor, or any official officer, to accept of such wicked proposals.
We are informed that the company must be at Col. Williams' tomorrow morning at eight o'clock to proceed to Nauvoo.
I have thought it my duty to inform you of the proceedings here.
This from your humble servant,
ISAAC MORLEY.
June 16th, 1844,
We certify the above is true.
GARDNER SNOW,
EDMUND DURFEE,
IRA WILLSEY.
I sent the following answer by Joseph S. Allen:
Letter: Joseph Smith to Isaac Morley—Instructions on Resisting Mob.
HEADQUARTERS NAUVOO LEGION, NAUVOO.
LIEUT.-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
June 16th, 1844
Col. Isaac Morley:
SIR.—In reply to yours of this date, you will take special notice of the movements of the mob party that is stirring up strife and endeavoring to excite rebellion to the government and destroy the Saints, and cause all the troops of said Legion in your vicinity to be in readiness to act at a moment's warning; and if the mob shall fall upon the Saints by force of arms, defend them at every hazard unless prudence dictate the retreat of the troops to Nauvoo, in which case the mob will not disturb your women and children; and if the mob move towards Nauvoo, either come before them or in their rear and be ready to co-operate with the main body of the Legion. Instruct the companies to keep cool, and let all things be done decently and in order.
Give information by affidavit before a magistrate and special messengers to the Governor of what has occurred, and every illegal proceeding that shall be had on the subject, without delay. Also notify me of the same, and demand instruction and protection from the Governor.
JOSEPH SMITH.
Lieut.-Gen. Nauvoo Legion.
I insert the minutes of a public meeting:
Minutes of a Public Meeting at Nauvoo.
A public meeting was held in the city of Nauvoo on Sunday evening, the 16th inst.
Mr. John Taylor was unanimously called to the chair, and William Clayton appointed clerk.
The chairman stated briefly the object of the meeting, whereupon it was unanimously
Resolved, that inasmuch as many false reports are being circulated through this county by designing characters for the purpose of bringing persecution upon the peaceable citizens of this city we will use our endeavors to disabuse the public mind, and present a true statement of facts before them as speedily as possible.
Resolved that for the more speedy accomplishment of this object, this meeting appoint delegates to go to the different precincts throughout the county to lay a true statement of facts before the public.
The following delegates were then appointed;
To Warsaw precinct, Messrs. Joseph A. Kelting, Hugh McFall and John T. Barnett.
Rocky Run precinct, Messrs. Anson Call, E. Horner, Nicholas Boscow and David Evans.
Carthage precinct, Messrs. Lewis Robinson, Jeremiah Hatch, Jun.. and Dr. Robinson.
Lima precinct, Messrs. William Allen, Elam Luddington, and Charles Warner.
La Harpe and Pilot Grove, Messrs. Benjamin Warrington and Hiram Kimball.
Spilman's Landing and Appanoose, Messrs. Elijah R. Swackhammer, and Truman Gillett, Jun.
St. Mary's and Chili, Messrs. Philander Colton and Averett.
Fountain Green and Macedonia, Messrs. Moses Claire and Andrew R. Perkins.
Augusta and Plymouth, Messrs. Peter Slater, Darwin Chase and John McIllwrick.
On motion, meeting adjourned sine die.
JOHN TAYLOR, President,
WILLIAM CLAYTON, Secretary.
PROCLAMATION.
MAYOR'S OFFICE, NAUVOO, June 16th, 1844.
As there are a number of statements in circulation which have for their object the injury of the Latter-day Saints, all of which are false and prompted by black-hearted villains, I therefore deem it my duty to disabuse the public mind in regard to them, and to give a plain statement of facts which have taken place in the city within a few days past, and which have brought upon us the displeasure of the unprincipled and the uninformed, and seems to afford an opportunity to our enemies to unite and arouse themselves to mob. And already they have commenced their hellish operations by driving a few defenseless "Mormons" from their houses and homes in the vicinity of Warsaw and Carthage.
A short time since a press was started in this city which had for its object the destruction of the institutions of the city, both civil and religious. Its proprietors are a set of unprincipled scoundrels, who attempted in every possible way to defame the character of the most virtuous of our community, and change our peaceful and prosperous city into a place as evil and polluted as their own black hearts. To rid the city of a paper so filthy and pestilential as this became the duty of every good citizen who loves good order and morality. A complaint was made before the City Council, and after a full and impartial investigation it was voted (without one dissenting voice) a public nuisance, and to be immediately destroyed. The peace and happiness of the place demanded it, the virtue of our wives and daughters demanded it, and our consciences demanded it at our hands as conservators of the public peace.
That we acted right in this matter we have the assurance of one of the ablest expounders of the laws of England, namely, Blackstone, the Constitution of the state of Illinois, and our own chartered rights.
If, then, our charter gives us the power to decide what shall be a nuisance, and cause it to be removed, where is the offense? What law is violated? If, then, no law has been violated, why this ridiculous excitement and bandying with lawless ruffians to destroy the happiness of a people whose religious motto is "Peace and good will toward all men?"
Our city is infested with a set of blacklegs, counterfeiters and debauchers, and that the proprietors of this press were of that class the minutes of the Municipal Court fully testify, and in ridding our young and flourishing city of such characters we are abused by not only villainous demagogues, but by some who from their station and influence in society, ought rather to raise than repress the standard of human excellence.
We have no disturbance nor excitement among us, save what is made by the thousand-and-one idle rumors afloat in the country. Everyone is protected in his person and property, and but few cities of a population of twenty thousand people, in the United States, have less of dissipation or vice of any kind than the city of Nauvoo.
Of the correctness of our conduct in this affair, we appeal to every high court in the state, and to its ordeal we are willing to appear at any time that his Excellency, Governor Ford, shall please call us before it. I therefore, in behalf of the Municipal Court of Nauvoo, warn the lawless not to be precipitate in any interference in our affairs; for, as sure as there is a God in Israel, we shall ride triumphant over all oppression.
JOSEPH SMITH, Mayor.