Letter:—Joseph and Hyrum Smith to Governor Ford—Consenting to go to Carthage.
BANK OF THE RIVER MISSISSIPPI,
Sunday, June 23rd, 1844, 2 p.m.
His Excellency Governor Ford:
SIR.—I wrote you a long communication at 12 last night, expressive of my views of your Excellency's communication of yesterday. I thought your letter rather severe, but one of my friends has just come to me with an explanation from the captain of your posse which softened the subject matter of your communication, and gives us greater assurance of protection, and that your Excellency has succeeded in bringing in subjection the spirits which surround your Excellency to some extent. And I declare again the only objection I ever had or ever made on trial by my country at any time, was what I have made in my last letter—on account of assassins, and the reason I have to fear deathly consequences from their hands.
But from the explanation, I now offer to come to you at Carthage on the morrow, as early as shall be convenient for your posse to escort us into headquarters, provided we can have a fair trial, not be abused nor have my witnesses abused, and have all things done in due form of law, without partiality, and you may depend on my honor without the show of a great armed force to produce excitement in the minds of the timid.
We will meet your posse, if this letter is satisfactory, (if not, inform me) at or neat the Mound, at or about two o'clock tomorrow afternoon, which will be as soon as we can get our witnesses and prepare for trial. We shall expect to take our witnesses with us, and not have to wait a subpoena or part at least, so as not to detain the proceedings, although we may want time for counsel.
We remain most respectfully, your Excellency's humble servants,
JOSEPH SMITH,
HYRUM SMITH.
Also wrote to Horace T. Hugins, Esquire:
Letter: Joseph Smith to H. T. Hugins—Engaging Counsel.
NAUVOO, Sunday, June 23, 1844.
H. T. Hugins, Esq:
SIR.—I have agreed to meet Governor Ford at Carthage tomorrow to attend an examination before Justice Morrison, and request your attendance professionally with the best attorney you can bring.
I meet the Governor's posse on the Mound at 10 a.m.; in Carthage at 12 noon. Do not fail me, and oblige,
Yours respectfully,
JOSEPH SMITH.
per W. RICHARDS, Clerk.
P.S.—Dr. J. R. Wakefield I wish as witness, &c.
And also to Dr. J. Wakefield as follows:
Letter: Joseph Smith to J. R. Wakefield Soliciting Latter's Attendance as Witness.
NAUVOO, June 23, 1844.
Dr. J. R. Wakefield:
SIR.—I would respectfully solicit your attendance at court in Carthage tomorrow at 12 noon, as witness in case "State of Illinois on complaint of Francis M. Higbee, versus Joseph Smith and others." Dear sir, do not fail me, and oblige your old friend,
JOSEPH SMITH,
per WILLARD RICHARDS, Clerk.
P. S.—Esq. Hugins and co-partner are expected. We meet the Governor's posse on the Mound at 10 a.m.: at Carthage at 12 noon. Bearer will give particulars.
The Prophet Returns to Nauvoo.
About 4 p.m. Joseph, Hyrum, the Doctor and others started back. While walking towards the river, Joseph fell behind with Orrin P. Rockwell. The other shouted to come on. Joseph replied, "It is of no use to hurry, for we are going back to be slaughtered," and continually expressed himself that he would like to get the people once more together, and talk to them tonight. Rockwell said if that was his wish he would get the people together, and he could talk to them by starlight.
It was the strong persuasions of Reynolds Cahoon, Lorenzo D. Wasson and Hiram Kimball, who were carrying out Emma's instructions, that induced Joseph and Hyrum to start back to Nauvoo. They re-crossed the river at half-past five. When they arrived at the Mansion in Nauvoo, Joseph's family surrounded him, and he tarried there all night, giving up the idea of preaching to the Saints by starlight.
Vacillation of Governor Ford.
He sent the letter of this date to Governor Ford by Col. Theodore Turley and Elder Jedediah M. Grant, who carried it to Carthage, where they arrived about 9 p.m. They gave the letter to Governor Ford, who first agreed to send a posse to escort General Smith in safety to Carthage. Immediately afterwards Mr. Skinner came in and made a very bitter speech to the Governor, in which Wilson Law and Joseph H. Jackson joined, telling him naught but lies, which caused Elder Grant to ask if messengers to him were to be insulted in that manner. The Governor treated them coldly, and rescinded his previous promise, and refused to send or allow an escort to go with Joseph, as he said it was an honor not given to any other citizen. He would not allow the messengers to stay in Carthage through the night, but ordered them to start at 10 o'clock, and return to Nauvoo with orders for General Smith to be in Carthage at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning without an escort; and he threatened that if General Smith did not give himself up at that time, that Nauvoo would be destroyed and all the men, women and children that were in it. Messrs. Grant and Turley immediately started; but on account of their horses being wearied, they did not arrive in Nauvoo until about four a.m. of the 24th, when they went to General Smith to report to him the state of excitement in Carthage. He would not hear one word of the warning, as he was determined to go to Carthage and give himself up to the Governor.