and the Latter Day Saints, to use their own expression, "had an interesting time of it." Several hundred elders were present, “and the work of God increased both in America and England, and in the islands of the great sea." A circumstance unfortunately happened here, of which no mention is made in their church records, and is not, I believe, alluded to in any of the Mormon publications.

A bank was incorporated at Kirtland, at the instance of, or purchased by, the Mormons, and "the prophet," Joseph Smith, became its president. The bank failed for want of capital, or integrity in its managers, and its failure was accompanied by more than ordinary depravity. Property to a considerable amount had been purchased, and paid for in its bills, and the title to property thus purchased, had become vested in "the saints," and the bills were unredeemed. This, however, affects neither the truth nor the falsity of the Mormon doctrine. Other banks failed at the same time; even the "wild-cat" banks of Michigan, based on real estate, which is said to be more permanent than any other, failed about this time, and some of them probably from the same cause. We ought not, therefore, to consider the Kirtland bank as having anything to do with the Mormon creed; and we now speak of it merely to show the danger of uniting the prophet, the apostle, and the banker, all in one. Whether the temple at Kirtland was paid for in bills of this bank, we are uninformed. Of this, however, we are certain-the residence of "the prophet," after its failure, became irksome in Ohio, and he thereupon, with his "apostles," his elders, and the great body of "the saints," removed to Caldwell county, in Missouri, and purchased a large tract of land, and built the city of the "Far West." Difficulties, however, attended them even here; and in August, 1838, these difficulties rose to such a height, that the militia were called in, and the Mormons were finally driven, by force of arms, from the State of Missouri, and sought protection, as we have already stated, on this side of the Mississippi. After wandering about some time, (their leader, Joseph Smith, in jail,) they finally purchased a beautiful tract of land in Hancock county, in this State, and in the spring of 1840 commenced building the city of Nauvoo. They were kindly received in Illinois, and its Legislature, at the first session thereafter, passed several acts for their benefit-all tending to establish an "imperium in imperio,” a government within a government. The folly of our Legislature, in passing those acts, if not manifest already, is destined soon to become so.

On the 7th of December, 1840, the General Assembly of Illinois met at Springfield, and notwithstanding the delay incident to business in the early part of the session, an act to incorporate the city of Nauvoo passed through all the forms of legislation, and was approved on the 16th of December, early in the second week of the session. It preceded even the "Poetry Bill,"* of that year, by two days. There are some provisions

The "Poetry Bill" is a name given to the act, authorizing each member and officer of the General Assembly, to draw his warrant on the treasurer for a hundred dollars; which is usually the first legislative act done.

in this bill a little extraordinary, though founded, it is presumed, in great wisdom-such presumptions being always attached to the doings and proceedings of legislative bodies, and especially to those of ours. The 1st section of the act fixes its boundaries equal to some of the largest cities in Europe. The 2nd section authorizes its extension indefinitely: "Whenever any tract of land, adjoining the city of Nauvoo, shall have been laid out into town lots, and duly recorded according to the law, the same shall form a part of the city of Nauvoo."

The 3rd section of the act authorizes the city to purchase, receive, and hold real estate out of the city, for the use of its inhabitants; and to sell, lease, convey and dispose of property, real and personal, for the benefit of the city. This, we believe, is the first instance of a city having been converted, by legislative enactment, into a land speculator.

The 11th section of the act, authorizes the city council to make, ordain, establish, and execute all such ordinances, not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, or of this State, as they may deem necessary, etc. The laws of this State being omitted when they ought to have been inserted, rendered the ordinances of the city council paramount, apparently so at least, to any law of the State, and in fact nullifies the statutes of Illinois, not only in the present city of Nauvoo, but in the country adjacent thereto, whenever the city shall think proper to extend its jurisdiction thither. The act to incorporate the city of Chicago, (section 3rd,) authorizes the common council to pass ordinances, etc., “not contrary to the laws of this State." The city of Chicago is thereupon subject to these laws; the city of Nauvoo, it would seem, is not; such, at all events, is the construction put upon the act of incorporation by the common council of Nauvoo, as will appear from the ordinances they have since passed-whether with or without authority, we assume not the province of determining.

The 17th section of the act, gives the mayor exclusive jurisdiction in all cases, arising under the ordinances-with a right of appeal to the municipal court, held before the mayor and aldermen, and from thence to the circuit court of Hancock county. The same section authorizes the municipal court to grant writs of habeas corpus, etc. These last powers, we believe, are given to no other city in the State; they, in fact, render the mayor of Nauvoo, who is elected by its citizens, an absolute prince in his dominions; and to confirm his independence, and to render it more certain, the 25th section of the act organizes the inhabitants of said city into a body of independent military men, to be called the "Nauvoo legion ;" and however strange it may appear, the commissioned officers of this legion are created a perpetual court-martial, with full power and authority to make, ordain, establish, and execute all such laws and ordinances, as may be considered necessary for the benefit, government, and regulation of the legion. Its commanding officer is created, also, a lieutenant-general, and of course outranks every other military officer in the State, except the governor. He is, by law, at the disposai

of the mayor, in executing the laws and ordinances of the city. The act, also, "entitles the Nauvoo legion to its proportion of the public arms." Joseph Smith, "the prophet," has since been commissioned lieutenant-general, and the Nauvoo legion been supplied with arms out of the public arsenal. When we take into consideration the fact, that Lieutenant-general Smith had just arrived here from Missouri, at the time of receiving his commission, we must confess, that his promotion was exceedingly rapid. In order to carry out and perfect this system of entire independence, the city council, by the 24th section of the act, is author. ized to establish a university, by the name of the "Chancellor and Regents of the University of the City of Nauvoo," with perpetual succession, "and full power to pass, ordain, establish, and execute all such laws and ordinances, as they may consider necessary for the welfare and prosperity thereof," regardless of the laws, which are again omitted here as before. The act, therefore, to incorporate the city of Nauvoo, it would seem, is a perfect anomaly in legislation. The beneficence, however, of the General Assembly, did not terminate with the incorporation of the city. On the 23rd of February thereafter, they incorporated a tavern within the city, with a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, under the name of the "Nauvoo House Association." This is the house of which we have already spoken. The 9th section of the last act declares, that no liquors shall ever be vended as a beverage, or introduced into common use in said house. (See note 4.) And as Joseph Smith furnished the lot whereon to erect said house, it was further declared, "that said Smith and his heirs, shall have a'suite of rooms in said house, in perpetual succession."

Having incorporated a city, and a tavern within the city, the General Assembly proceeded next, and four days only thereafter, (February 27, 1841,) to incorporate the "Nauvoo Agricultural and Manufacturing Association," with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and the privilege of increasing it to three hundred thousand dollars.

The sole object of said association, by the 2nd section of the act, is declared to be "the promotion of agriculture and husbandry, and for the manufacturing of flour, lumber, and such other useful articles as are necessary for the every-day purposes of life."

The General Assembly also passed a special law, for the appointment of a notary public, in the city of Nauvoo. Of this, however, we do not complain.

And in the act in relation to a road therein named, which is an act to amend "an act, concerning the road from Warsaw to Quincy;" they added a second section, which provides "that any citizen of Hancock county may, by voluntary enrollment, attach himself to the Nauvoo legion, with all the privileges which appertain to that independent military body."

This last act, and this last extraordinary provision, is referred to on this occasion, merely to exhibit a specimen of improvident legislation;

The

not on account of any intrinsic importance it possesses. In a country, and under a government like ours, excessive legislation is always inexpedient, and sometimes dangerous; it should, therefore, be avoided. idea of passing a special statute for every little daily occurrence, is too ridiculous to be tolerated, too expensive to be endured, and too absurd to be persisted in for a length of time. The Mormons are entitled to the same protection as the rest of our citizens; to the same privileges, which are common to us all. The idea, however, of enacting half-a-dozen statutes, in as many weeks, for their special benefit, is too preposterous, we hope, to be repeated.

The practice of the Mormons, under their act of incorporation, deserves next our attention.

That the Mormons were dealt harshly with in Missouri, there is no doubt. That they were wronged in many respects, we believe. That Governor Boggs's exterminating order was issued without authorityoppressive, impolitic and unjust-seems now to be conceded. Still, it furnishes no excuse for some of the Mormon proceedings.

On the 8th of December, 1943, an extra ordinance was passed by the city council of Nauvoo, for the extra case of Joseph Smith; by the first section of which it is enacted, "That it shall be lawful for any officer of the city, with, or without process, to arrest any person who shall come to arrest Joseph Smith with process growing out of the Missouri difficulties; and the person so arrested, shall be tried by the municipal court upon testimony, and if found guilty, sentenced to imprisonment in the city prison for life.'

Here, then, is a direct attempt to set the laws of the State, and of the nation, at defiance; an attempt to legislate without authority, and to nullify a solemn act of our Legislature.

On the 17th of February, 1842, an ordinance was passed, entitled “ An ordinance concerning marriages," by the second section of which a person is authorized to marry with, or without license. We have a statute, requiring a license, in all cases, from the clerk of the commsssioner's court. Whether the law be expedient or not is immaterial. The idea of its being repealed, or annulled, by the city council of Nauvoo, is not to be tolerated.*

On the 21st of November, 1843, an ordinance was passed by the city council, making it highly penal, even to one hundred dollars fine, and six months imprisonment, for any officer to serve a process in the city of Nauvoo," unless it be examined by, and receive the approval and signature of the mayor of said city, on the back of said process."

* A new kind of ceremony, appertaining to marriage, has lately been introduced into the municipal regulations of Nauvoo. Persons, inclined so to do, are married for the next world, as well as this. The ceremony is, therefore, performed in the alternative for time or eternity. Those married for time, have recently, as we have been informed, been mar ried a second time, for eternity.

The conduct of the city council, in relation to the above ordinances, or rather the conduct of Lieutenant-general Smith, who unites in his own person the office of prophet, priest, and king, and is, in fact, council, mayor, and executive officer of Nauvoo, has begun already to breed a tempest; and great prudence will, unquestionably, be required to assuage its fury. The Mormons have occupied already more space than we had intended; still we are unwilling to leave the subject without inserting some extracts from the British Critic, an English publication, printed in London, in October, 1842.

"An English gentleman, (Mr. Henry Caswell,) of talents and respectability, ascending the Mississippi in a steamboat, in 1842, was told that three hundred English emigrants were on board, to join 'the prophet' at Nauvoo. He walked into that part of the vessel appropriated to the poorer class of travellers, and beheld his countrymen crowded together in a comfortless manner. He addressed them, and found they were from the neighborhood of Preston, in Lancashire. They were decent looking people, and by no means of the lower class. He took the liberty of questioning them respecting their plans, and found they were the dupes of Mormon missionaries.

"Early on Sunday morning he was landed opposite to Nauvoo, and in a few minutes crossed the river in a large canoe, filled with Mormons 'going to meeting;' and in a few minutes found himself in this extraordinary city. It is built on a grand plan, accommodated to the bend of the river, and to the site of the temple.

"The view of the winding Mississippi from this elevation, (the temple,') was truly magnificent. The whole lower part of the town from thence was distinctly seen, and contained, as was said, ten thousand people.*

"The temple," says Mr. Caswell, "being unfinished, about half-past ten o'clock a congregation of perhaps two thousand persons assembled in a grove, within a short distance of the sanctuary. Their appearance was quite respectable, and fully equal to that of dissenting meetings generally in the western country. Many gray-headed old men were there, and many well-dressed females. Their sturdy forms, their clear complexions, and their heavy movements, strongly contrasting with the slight figure, the sallow visage, and the elastic step of the American. There, too, were the bright and unconscious looks of little children, who, born among the privileges of England's church, baptized with her consecrated waters, and taught to lisp their prayers and repeat her catechism, had now been led into this clan of heresy, to listen to the ravings of a false prophet, and to imbibe the principles of a semi-pagan delusion.

* Large accessions to its population have been made since, and it is now (1844) said to contain eighteen thousand people; some say twenty-two thousand. This may be, and probably is, an over estimate. It is, however, the largest town in the State, and rapidly increasing.