| 581 The report of the English mission to the conference at Manchester, June 1,1842, showed a membership of 7,514.
On June 17,1842, Elder William Law made a statement regarding the morals and loyalty of Nauvoo, which makes an extraordinarily good showing for the dominant church there. 11
of the demise of Lilburn W. Boggs, Esq., Ex-Governor of Missouri, by violent hands. Boggs was a candidate for the State Senate and, I presume, fell by the hand of a political opponent, with "his hands and face yet dripping with the blood of murder;" but he died not through my instrumentality. My hands are clean, and my heart pure, from the blood of all men. I am tired of the misrepresentation, calumny, and detraction heaped upon me by wicked men; and desire and claim only those principles guaranteed to all men by the Constitution and laws of the United States and of Illinois. Will you do me the justice to publish this communication, and oblige, yours respectfully,
JOSEPH SMITH.
-Millennial Star, vol. 19, pp. 439, 440
11 What have the Mormons done in Illinois? is a question which I have frequently asked of those who are busy with the tongue of slander in calumniating the Latter Day Saints, but as yet I have found none who are willing to answer me honestly or correctly. Perhaps many judge from rumor, not having investigated the matter for themselves. I have, therefore, thought it might be well to lay before the public some facts in relation to the case, believing that there is a respectable portion of community who, after having received correct information, will frown with indignation upon the conduct of those who are endeavoring to raise a persecution against our people.
In the first place, we would say, that where a crime is committed there is a law broken, for if no law has been violated there cannot have been a crime committed; if, then, our people have broken the law, is there not power in those laws to vindicate themselves, or to redress the wrongs of those who are injured? We say there is; neither would we cast any aspersion upon the characters of the administrators of the laws as though they were not vigilant in the discharge of their duty; we believe they have been (with very few exceptions).
With these facts before us, there is then no difficulty in obtaining correct information as to the amount of crime committed by the Mormons throughout the State. You have only to refer to the various dockets kept by the administrators of law, from the highest court to the lowest, throughout the length and breadth of the land, and there you will find recorded the crimes of the Mormons, if it so be that they have committed any. We say their faults are few compared to the population. Where is there a record of murder committed by any of our people? None in the State. Where is there a record against any of our people for a penitentiary crime? Not in the State. Where is there a record of fine or county imprisonment (for any breach of law) against any of the Latter Day Saints? I know of none in the State. If, then, they have broken no law, they consequently have taken away no man's rights-they have infringed upon no man's liberties.
We have been three years in this State, and have not asked for any county or State officer. Laws have been administered by those not of our persuasion; administered rigorously, even against the appearance of crime, and yet there has been no conviction of which I have heard.
(page 581) |
