1844-06-15-Jeffersonian Meeting

The Prophet v1n5 15 June 1844 pg 3

JEFFERSONIAN MEETING.

At a meeting of the friends of General Joseph Smith convened in the Military Hall, (Bowery) pursuant to notice, June 11, 1844. Geo. T. Leach Esq. was called to the chair and Wm. H. Miles was appointed Secretary. Garry T. Newell, was called to act as Pres. Pro. Tem. until Mr. Leach should arrive at the meeting. Parley Pratt, Esq. then arose and said:

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen and Ladies, we are met this evening for the purpose of serving God, and this is the service he requires, according to Isaiah, viz:

"THAT WE BREAK EVERY YOKE AND LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE."

As we have been in bondage in this country for about ten years, and without any Government as a general thing, is it not high time for the people to awake from their lethargy and begin to attend to the weightier matters of justice, judgment, right and protection, as well as to pay so much attention to "tythe," "mint" and "cummin." I again repeat that for some years past we have had no Government. My reasons are, that white men have been shot and hung, and negroes burned without trial, judge or jury; abolitionists have been mobbed and shot; Catholic churches, dwellings and convents burned, and fifteen thousand American citizens robbed of millions, and driven from a State, and many of them murdered, and this by executive and legislative authority, without shadow of law or justice, and still there is no redress or protection, though years have past since the perpetration of these horrid crimes: who then shall dare to say there is a Government? If we know it at all, it is only by having to pay taxes occasionally, and not from any protection we receive from it. Is not the Governor of Missouri a murderer and a robber? are not the legislators of Missouri murderers and robbers, in passing acts to pay the criminals for committing these crimes? Surely they would if justly administered. Is not Martin Van Buren a murderer by being accessory to these crimes while President of the United States, by fellowshipping Missouri and refusing redress when appealed to by thousands of the sufferers? He is a murderer in this respect, and we can prove it. Are not the members of Congress murderers and robbers, as accessories after the fact, when, after coming to the knowledge of these things of these things, they still fellowship Missouri and refuse redress? certainly they are murderers in this respect, and can be proved such in law, and so are all the people who knowing of these crimes still uphold such men, or hold their peace while their fellow-citizens are deprived of their rights. The fact is, the halls of Congress are stained with the blood of innocence, the chair of the presidency is stained with blood, and the officers of this Government, with a few exceptions, stand with their skirts stained and their hands dripping with the blood of innocent men, WOMEN and children, the saints and martyrs of this nation.

The cries of innocent blood, and the prayers and tears of the widow, the orphan, and the oppressed, have ascended into the ears of the Almighty, and, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin," is written on the capitol. Washington is a stink in my nose, and in the nostrils of God and all good men, and except this nation speedily reform and hurl down such men, and put in men who will execute the laws for the just and equal protection of all, their halls of congress and their thrones of pride, and the whole Capitol at Washington will soon be a fit and secure residence for the cormorant, the bittern, the owl and the bat.

Some will assert that the general Government had no jurisdiction in the case, that the matter belonged to Missouri only.

But I would ask whether a single State is more independent of the general government than a foreign power, for instance, Great Britain or France?

Had either of these powers committed a hundredth part of these outrages upon American citizens, the nation would have exhausted all its blood and treasure to obtain redress. But Missouri and Carolina are so independent! yes, Missouri is so independent that she may dissolve her political existence and become an organized banditti of murderers and robbers, and it is all just right. Poor little Presidents and Congressmen have no power over such big matters.

Fellow-citizens, we want a Government which will protect our homes, our lives, and our wives and children�these are the weightier matters of justice, judgment, and the law. The tithe, mint and cummin of tarrif, bank, and other questions of minor importance, we are not particular about; we are in no wise difficult, almost any Government is better than none at all. We have no fault with the laws or the Constitution of the country. Our complaint is that we cannot enjoy the benefit of them, for the want of an efficient administration. Laws are weak and powerless of themselves. The ministers of law are all in all, and without them we have no Government.

Give me a candidate who goes for equal rights and protection of all parties, sects and individuals. Give me the patriot who would spill his blood for the protection of his fellow-citizen, even if he wishes to worship a toad, or if he does not worship at all. It is the security of person, liberty and property for all parties, that is of the first importance; until this is provided for no person is safe. The Catholics may be the sufferers to-day, the Mormons to-morrow, the Abolitionists next day, and next the Methodists, or Presbyterians. Where is safety if a popular mob must rule, and the unpopular must suffer. This course is directly calculated to fill the country either with martyrs or hypocrites. Martyrs if they have the courage to be honest, and hypocrites if they have not.

And while there is a man in America, black, white or red, who cannot enjoy his rights, and be protected in his person, property and liberty, or while there is a Martyr's blood to cry, a Widow to lament, or an Orphan to weep, my voice shall be heard in behalf of right, and against oppression, and if I must die for this, my spirit shall cry from under the alter of the martyrs, for vengeance on the earth.

While I have a tongue to speak, or an arm to raise in behalf of the injured, I will not rest under so terrible a despotism. The fact that I am an American citizen, and a citizen of New York. My father before me was born there, and my grandfather was a Connecticut man, and his fathers were Pilgrims of Plymoth Rock.

There noble blood thrills through my veins,and their spirit and love of liberty burns in my bosom. And should I die with my country unredeemed, I will swear my children, and swear them to swear their children to seek the restoration of departed liberty and American glory.

It is well my friends that Americans have erected a monument or two (like that of Bunker hill) in memory of departed liberty, or very soon (with such rulers as ours) it would be quite forgotten that liberty once was. As it is now dead and buried it needs a monument, sacred to its memory. So that our children (should any of them survive the wreck) may learn perchance that even here in America liberty once existed; although like Josah's gourd, it grew up and perished in a night.

But, fellow citizens, we can bear it no longer. We must�We will revolutionize this corrupt and degraded country, so as to restore the laws and rights of its citizens, or we must and will perish in the attempt. And it matters not whether with many or with few; had I but ten patriots, to associate with me I would either restore the country to its rights or leave it and live with the heathens, or sleep with the dead.

Fellow Citizens we once voted for Van Buren. We are sorry for it, we repent of it with all our hearts, we will never do it again. What! vote for a murderer! he who votes for him or his party knowing what we know is a partaker with murderers and robbers.

And we will not vote for Henry Clay. Why? Because, knowing all these outrages he has refused to pledge himself to restore our rights and thus support the constitution, laws and rights of his country. We have no use then for such a servant, and sooner than vote for such men we will dwell in the clefts of the rocky mountains, or turn quakers, and not vote at all.

Who then shall we vote for as our next President? I answer, Gen. Joseph Smith of Nauvoo, Ill.

He is not a Southern man with Northern principles; nor a Northern man with Southern principles. But he is an independent man with American principles, and he has both knowledge and disposition, to govern for the benefit and protection of ALL. And what is more HE DARE DO IT, EVEN IN THIS AGE, and this can scarcely be said of many others.

Come then, O Americans! rally to the Standard of Liberty.

And in your, generous indignation trample down

The Tyrant's rod, and the Oppressor's crown,

That you proud eagle to it's height may soar,

And peace triumphant reign for-ever more.

I have spoken.

On motion, Resolved, That the following named persons be appointed as Delegates to the Convention of the friends of Gen. Smith, to be held in Utica, Aug. 23d. Dr. Doremus, E. J. Bevin, John Leach, S. Lane, N. T. James, Mr. Wyckoff, George T. Leach, William H. Miles, Theo. Curtis, ____ Gwatkins, John Schwackhammer, S. Leaver.

Professor Orson Pratt, C. W. Wandell, Esq. and J. B. Meynell, Esp. severally addressed the meeting in very eloquent strains, and concluded their remarks amid the deafening applause of the audience.

On motion, Resolved, That a Standing Committee of three be appointed to call meetings in this city.

Resolved, That Messrs. Lane, Wright and Meynell, be said Committee.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this Meeting be published in the "Prophet," (New York), the "Nauvoo Neighbor," the "Nauvoo Times & Seasons," the "Politician," and all papers that are favorable to the cause.

On motion, adjourned.

GEO. T. LEACH, Chairman

Wm. H. Miles, Secretary