1844-07-04-New York Herald-Mormon War in Boston
Mormon War in Boston
- New York Herald, 4 July 1844, col B.
It seems that the Mormon war has extended to the quiet village of Boston. We find in the Mail and Times of the 2nd inst., the following account of the first onslaught.
We mentioned in our first edition this morning that a "State Convention" was holden in this city yesterday to take into consideration the claims of Gen. Joseph Smith for the Presidency. In was convened in the Melodeon, and was attended by a large assembly—many of the audience having probably gone to the meeting for the purpose of interrupting its proceedings. Although we have no sympathy in the objects of the meeting—yet we acknowledge the right of all to assemble peaceably in our midst and to be secure against disturbance and violence, we are sorry to say, that was not the case yesterday, and that the Mormons were interrupted through the day, by various noises, and in the evening the Melodeon was blessed with the presence of several well-known rowdies, many of them whig young gentlemen—who always act a conspicuous part in endeavoring to break up every assembly, which does not happen to be of their own political family. Many of the proceedings and speeches were eccentric of course, and characterized by a vein of ridiculousness and broad farce in the estimation of those who dissent from the Mormons in opinion—but these things offered no justification to others to rush in and break up their meetings. if this is the spirit they meet with in Illinois, then are they more sinned against than sinning. Abby Folsom was there in the course of the evening, and tried to get a hearing, but the cat-calls and other cries abounded so much, that even she was ashamed of the disturbers and retired from the Hall in disgust. Gen. White of Nauvoo aptly declared in the course of the evening, that he had seen Eastern missionaries among the Indians of the West, trying to civilize them, but if the proceedings of the rowdies that evening were a sample of Boston civilization, he thought that for the future the missionaries had better stay and begin the work at home. Gen. White also said that he would send a mission of Sacs and Foxes to civilize Boston. In fact the Mormons last night appeared to great advantage by the side of the Boston elite. During the latter part of the evening, while one of the speakers was addressing the audience, a young man in the gallery rose and commenced a series of rowdy remarks, in the delivery of which he was encouraged by some companions. He kept on, and when the police came in to take him out, they were assaulted and beaten badly by a set of young desperadoes. After much hard fighting however, they succeeded in clearing the gallery. One of the assistants, Mr. Sheldon, a fine athletic fellow, was cut badly, but not dangerously in the face by a stick in the hands of one of the cut-throats. The meeting was soon after broken up. These tings are a disgrace to Boston, and are owing to the culpable conduct of a portion of our "respectable six pennies," who make fun out of, and encourage these violations of the rights of others, and also to the supineness of the Mayor and other officers. The influence of such papers as we have referred to, if it continues to be exerted, will make Boston a Pandemonian shortly, where human devils will reign trumphant. The Mormons adjourned their meeting to Bunker Hill this afternoon at 4 o'clock.
We give the doings of the Convention below, as a feature in the history of the times:
Hon. Brigham Young, of Nauvoo, President.
Hon. William Smith and Gen. Lyman White, of Illinois, Vice Presidents.
Hon. William Woodruff and Prof. Orson Pratt, of Illinois, and Ananlas McAllister, Esq., of Boston, and J. H. Felt, Esq., of Salem, Secretaries.
The Convention was addressed with much animation and zeal, in the course of the day and evening, by the President, Gen. White. Hon. Orson Hyde, Daniel Spencer. Hon. William Smith, Prof. Orson Pratt, all of Illinois, and George B. Wallace, Esq. of Boston.
The Mormon Convention last evening at the Melodeon broke up in a row. A set of uneasy spirits continually annoyed the speaker, until finally aunt Nabby Folsom rose in her place and essayed to speak (she only asked the modest time of two minutes to tell her story.) when the cry of "hear her, hear her," drowned every thing also, and Nabby put on her dignity and left the place. A young gentleman in the gallery then rose, and, in spite of all the efforts to put him down, made a sentimental speech and sung a sentimental song. This—that is, either the song or the speech, or both—was too much for Mormon philosophy to bear; and a party of the faithful having been sent after the police, and attempt to take the last speaker into custody caused confusion to confound itself, and such a scene came off as has not been seen since the great Tyler Mass Convention at Faneuil Hall. Finally, lights were partially extinguished, and it was voted to dissolve the meeting. The audience mostly left, and saints seemed to be of the opinion that it was useless to expend their eloquence upon bare walls, and they have it up. The whole affair was disgraceful enough. The Mormons had hired the Melodeon, and had a right to work off their own folly in their own way, so long as they did not interfere with the rights of others. That they are a set of Ignorant and designing men, there cannot, we think, after what has transpired, be any doubt among intelligent men; but still they have their rights, and these should not be interfered with.
