1842-06-25-New York Herald-The Mormons

The Mormons

Source: New York Weekly Herald, 26 June 1842, v6 n40, p. 319.

The Mormons

The Mormons

JAMES GORDON BENNETT, L. L. D.:—

Sir:—

I find it generally understood among my acquaintances and others, that I have received the commission of Major General from Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet. I beg of you, therefore, to permit me to correct this error. Surely any person who is at all acquainted with the constitution and laws of the States and United States, must know that a commission in any military service in this country can come from the Executive alone, either from the Governor of a State or from the President of the United States. Joseph Smith has, therefore, no power to grant commissions in the Nauvoo Legion or in any other portion of the militia of the State of Illinois, as he is only a commissioned officer himself in the service of the State, being Lieutenant General of the Nauvoo Legion.

I am commissioned as Inspector General, with the rank and title of Major General in the Militia of the State of Illinois, the Nauvoo Legion being a corps of that Militia, organized under a special act of the Legislature of that State. My commission is granted and signed by His Excellency Governor Carlin, and countersigned by the Secretary of State, and is passed under the great seal of the State, as in all such cases.

All my authority, therefore, as well as that of every commissioned officer in the State Militia, is derived from the people of the State of Illinois, subject to the orders and directions of the Commander-in-Chief.

It is true, however, that Major General John C. Bennett, of the Nauvoo Legion, being aware of my having been an officer in the corps of United States Artillery during the late war, and finding that I was somewhat acquainted with Military Engineering, nominated me to the office to which I have been elected. Major General J. C. Bennett was himself, Commissary General of the State of Illinois, and in his selecting me to fill the important office which I hold, did it with a view of benefiting the Military service of the State, however short my abilities may fall of his expectation.

I take this opportunity, therefore, of offering to Lieut. General Smith, Major General Bennett, and the other officers composing the Court by which I was elected, my most profound acknowledgements for the high honor conferred on me.

I suppose it will be said that the Mormon Chief has conferred on you the honorary degree of L. L. D., whereas the majority of the Regents, of the Nauvoo University, (25 in number) as I am assured, are not Mormons. James Gordon Bennett and James Arlington Bennet are the only persons who have had that honor conferred on them by the University. And the learned Chancellor assures me that no others are likely to have it very soon. You and I must, therefore, be held in very high esteem by the Regents and learned Professors of that Institution, which is chartered with large privileges by the State. For which honor, on my part, I return them my most sincere thanks, and assure them that I value the Degree of L. L. D. as highly as though it come from Oxford or Cambridge.

Your correspondent from Nauvoo, signing himself "An Officer of Artillery," might have spared himself the trouble of intimating that the Mormons have me under pay, as nobody will believe it. Nor are the "Latter Day Saints" quite so dangerous a people as he attempts to make them. On the contrary, they are extremely peaceable and well disposed, and will only attempt to defend their own rights against mob violence, when the authorities are either unable or refuse to do it.

They are called fanatics by others, but those are greater fanatics, I think, who will not permit them to enjoy their Religion according to the dictates of their own conscience. Religious persecution has existed quite long enough in the world.

JAMES ARLINGTON BENNET.

Arlington House, June 17, 1842.