Friday, 3.—I was again sitting on the case of Dana versus Brink until half-past ten p. m. Many witnesses were examined, many lawyers' pleas made, and much law read. It was a very tedious suit, and excited much feeling among the people. When I returned home, I found my mother's health improving. In company with Dr. Willard Richards I visited Sister Durphy, who was sick.
Bishop Newel K. Whitney returned from Ramus this evening, with five teams loaded with provisions and grain, as a present to me, which afforded me very seasonable relief. I pray the Lord to bless those who gave it abundantly; and may it be returned upon their heads an hundred fold!
Action of the House Repealing Part of the Nauvoo Charter.
Mr. William Smith, of Hancock, moved a roll call of the house (some members were leaving).
The bill passed by yeas and nays, as follows:—
Yeas—Messrs. Aldrich, Baillache, Bell, Blakeman, Bone, Brinkley, Brown (of Sangamon), Burklow, Busey, Caldwell, Cloud, Cochran, Compton, Courtright, Danner, Dollins, Douglas, Edwards, Epler, Ervin, Ewing, Ficklin, Flanders, Fowler, Glass, Gobble, Haley, Hambaugh, Hick, Hickman, Hinton, Horney, Howard, Hunsucker, Keorner, Kuykendall, Lawler, Loy, McClernand, Marshall, Menard, Mitchell, Murphy, Nesbit, Norris, Penn, Shurley, Simms, Thomson, Turner, Vance, Vinyard, Weatherford, Wheat, White, Whitten, Wilson and Woodworth—58.
Nays—Messrs. Adams, Ames, Andrus, Arnold, Brown (of Pike), Browning, Collins, Cushman, Dougherty, Dubois, Graves, Hanniford, Hanson, Harper, Hatch, Jackson (of McHenry), Jackson (of Whiteside), Jonas, Kendall, Langworthy, Lockhart, Logan, McDonald (of Calhoun), McDonald (of Joe Davis), Owen, Pickering, Smith (of Crawford), Smith (of Hancock), Spicer, Stewart, Tackerbury, Vandever, Whitcomb, and Mr. Speaker—33.
The Speaker: The bill is passed. The title of the bill:—(The Speaker recited the title of the bill).
Mr. Smith, of Hancock: I wish to amend the title of the bill. (Profound silence.)
The Speaker: The title has passed.
By several members: In time, in time.
Mr. Smith sent his amendment to the chair.
The Speaker: The amendment is not respectful, and not in order.
Great sensation. Several members called for a reading of the amendment.
The amendment was read—"A bill for an act to humbug the citizens of Nauvoo." (Profound sensation.)
Mr. Smith said he considered the amendment as perfectly describing the contents of the bill. He was anxious that things should be called by their right names.
The chair decided that the amendment was not in order.
A member: I wish a vote, to ascertain if the house does not sustain the decision of the chair.
Mr. Smith withdrew his amendment.
The title of the bill then passed.
English papers report an eruption of Mount Etna; considerable torrents of lava flowing towards Bronte, doing immense damage.
Manner of Disposing of Church Property.
Saturday, 4.—In council with Brother Benjamin F. Johnson and others from Ramus, on the subject of building a meetinghouse there, out of Church property. I told them the property of the Church should be disposed of by the direction of the Trustee-in-Trust, appointed by the voice of the whole Church, and made the following comparison:—There is a wheel; Nauvoo is the hub; we will drive the first spoke in Ramus, second in La Harpe, third Shokoquon, fourth in Lima: that is half the wheel. The other half is over the river: we will let that alone at present. We will call the Saints from Iowa to these spokes, then send elders over and convert the whole people.
I agreed to go to Ramus this day week.
At ten o'clock, I attended the city council.