History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 1678
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19 July 1843 • Wednesday
<​July 19​> A shower of rain in the p.m. The son of , aged 8 years, killed by lightning while standing in his s door-way in Bain Street.
To shew the spirit of the times, altho’ I do not vouch for the accuracy of all the statements, I copy from the State Register:—
“The public is already aware that a demand was lately made upon the of this for the arrest of Joseph Smith; and that a writ was accordingly issued against him. We propose now to state some of the facts, furnishing strong ground of suspicion that the demand which was made on the here was a manoeuvre of the Whig party.
1. A letter was shown to a gentleman of this city by the Agent of from the notorious to a gentleman in one of the Western counties of that , urging the importance of getting up an indictment immediately against Smith, for the five or six year old treason of which he was accused several years ago.
2. This charge had been made once before and afterwards abandoned by . It is the same charge on which Smith was arrested and carried before and discharged two years ago. After that decision the indictment against Smith was dismissed and the charge wholly abandoned. [HC 5:513]
3. But in the letter alluded to, says to his Agent, go to the Judge and never leave him until he appoints a special term of the court; never suffer the court to adjourn until an indictment is found against Smith for treason. When an indictment shall have been found, get a copy and go immediately to the and never leave him until you get a demand on the of for Smith’s arrest, and then dispatch some active and vigilant person to for a warrant, and let him never leave the until he gets it; and then let him never come back to without Smith.
4. A special term of the circuit court of , Missouri, was accordingly called on the 5th. day of June last. An indictment was found against Smith for treason five years old. A demand was made and a writ issued as anticipated by the 17th. of the same month.
5. , it is well known, has for a year past been a mere tool in the hands of the Whig junto at . He has been under their absolute subjection and control, and has been a regular correspondent of the Sangamo Journal, the principal organ of the Whig party. He has been a great pet of both the Journal and the Junto; and that paper has regularly announced his removals from place to place until latterly; and within the last year has published more of his writings, than of any other person except the editor.
6. , a short time after his nomination as the Whig candidate for Congress in the 6th. district, made a pilgrimage to for the purpose of currying favor with the Mormons and getting their support. But in this he was disappointed; as it appeared that many of the Mormons were disposed to support the democratic candidate. went home disappointed and dejected, and it was generally believed that failing to get the Mormon vote he would be beaten by his democratic opponent.
7. Let it be also born in mind that the treason of which Smith was accused was five or six years old; that it had been abandoned as a charge, [p. 1678]
19 July 1843 • Wednesday
July 19 A shower of rain in the p.m. The son of , aged 8 years, killed by lightning while standing in his s door-way in Bain Street.
To shew the spirit of the times, altho’ I do not vouch for the accuracy of all the statements, I copy from the State Register:—
“The public is already aware that a demand was lately made upon the of this for the arrest of Joseph Smith; and that a writ was accordingly issued against him. We propose now to state some of the facts, furnishing strong ground of suspicion that the demand which was made on the here was a manoeuvre of the Whig party.
1. A letter was shown to a gentleman of this city by the Agent of from the notorious to a gentleman in one of the Western counties of that , urging the importance of getting up an indictment immediately against Smith, for the five or six year old treason of which he was accused several years ago.
2. This charge had been made once before and afterwards abandoned by . It is the same charge on which Smith was arrested and carried before and discharged two years ago. After that decision the indictment against Smith was dismissed and the charge wholly abandoned. [HC 5:513]
3. But in the letter alluded to, says to his Agent, go to the Judge and never leave him until he appoints a special term of the court; never suffer the court to adjourn until an indictment is found against Smith for treason. When an indictment shall have been found, get a copy and go immediately to the and never leave him until you get a demand on the of for Smith’s arrest, and then dispatch some active and vigilant person to for a warrant, and let him never leave the until he gets it; and then let him never come back to without Smith.
4. A special term of the circuit court of , Missouri, was accordingly called on the 5th. day of June last. An indictment was found against Smith for treason five years old. A demand was made and a writ issued as anticipated by the 17th. of the same month.
5. , it is well known, has for a year past been a mere tool in the hands of the Whig junto at . He has been under their absolute subjection and control, and has been a regular correspondent of the Sangamo Journal, the principal organ of the Whig party. He has been a great pet of both the Journal and the Junto; and that paper has regularly announced his removals from place to place until latterly; and within the last year has published more of his writings, than of any other person except the editor.
6. , a short time after his nomination as the Whig candidate for Congress in the 6th. district, made a pilgrimage to for the purpose of currying favor with the Mormons and getting their support. But in this he was disappointed; as it appeared that many of the Mormons were disposed to support the democratic candidate. went home disappointed and dejected, and it was generally believed that failing to get the Mormon vote he would be beaten by his democratic opponent.
7. Let it be also born in mind that the treason of which Smith was accused was five or six years old; that it had been abandoned as a charge, [p. 1678]
Page 1678