1846-02-05-New York Tribune-Letter from Nauvoo
Letter from Nauvoo—Course of the Mormons
New York Tribune, 5 February 1846, pg 2
- NAUVOO, Jan. 14th, 1846.
Since our publications have ceased in this city, preparatory to our departure to the West, many evil-designed persons have taken this opportunity to slander, misrepresent and falsify our views, intentions and designs. Some have even affected to be our friends and partial advocates of the Mormon doctrine, that they might be the more successful in raising an influence and a storm against us. I will now give you some of our views and designs.
The letter purporting to be written by Mrs. Emma Smith, and published in "The Sun," renouncing the religion of her husband, is a hoax and a base forgery, notwithstanding its genuineness was vouched for by Gen. James Arlington Bennett. There are many things in the letters of that gentleman that are extravagantly wild, foreign from our designs, and some things that are false. His productions have evinced and extravagance and vanity that will never render him eligible to a very high station in the Mormon Church, should he think to aspire after it.
Should we settle down in the Western wilderness where there is no established Government, we should have to govern ourselves, or go ungoverned until some Government should take us in. Should we settle where there is an organized Government, we intend to support that Government. We are Americans by birth, and, consequently, by choice; and if we can have equal advantages with other citizens, we want no other wordly Government. We consider it the best Government of any nation in existence, if its laws can be administered impartially. We shall ever desire to live under it if this can be the case. Some of the last instructions given us by our martyred Prophet concerning the Indians, were, taht we teach them to be at peace among themselves, and also to be at peace with the "white man"—to cultivate the earth, and to become civilized and industrious. We consider it for our good and also for theirs to abide his instructions, and we have no disposition other than to do it. We hope to live long enough to prove to the citizens of these United States that the tales told by evil-designed persons about our tampering with the Indians to the detriment of our country, are wicked and false.
We have repeatedly told the people of this country that judgments and afflictions awaited them because they have persecuted and killed the Saints and Prophets, and no man layeth it to heart, but all think they have done God a service. Now, should any calamity come upon the people by our hands, they would say that we had done it and not the Lord, which would operate against us instead of in our favor. It is my wish that no evil may come upon our nation by Mormon influence over any human being. But if evil and calamity come by other hands and by other influence than ours upon the country, they may then say what they will, but we are clear. I say again to the American people, as an humble watchman, that trouble is near your doors. It will come suddenly. Oh famine and sword! Would to Heaven thou hadst never been commissioned to visit our country and blast many of our prospects! Oh persecution by fire, by muskets, and sword!! Would to Heaven thou hadst never provoked, by thy cruelty, the Omnipotent Jehovah who holds the destinies of nations in his hands, to visit thee in wrath and in his sore displeasure!!
We design to go and settle in some distant valley, and let the Lord fight our battles and redress our wrongs. None need fear that we shall ever take part against America. We do not intend to do it.—But it is our faith that God will do all things right, and should our services be required, we should not like to back out from the service of our Country.—We trust in God for salvation. We wish our Country no wrong. But our prayer is, that truth may be exalted, mercy flourish, and justice be established throughout the earth.
- Respectfully, your obedient servant,
- ORSON HYDE.
- Respectfully, your obedient servant,
