Weekly Ohio State journal (Columbus, Ohio : 1841), 1843-10-11 page 1 |
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OfflOlllflt STATE WEEKLY 0 VOLUME XXXIV. COLUMBUS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1843. NUMBER 6. FUBUHHBw- EVERY WEIWEfiUAY, RV inABI.K MOTf. O.Ucs corner of High and Townslrcels, Bullies' Building. TERMS. Timet Doh.aih rr.lt ", which may bo-Iwharj-d b" lira pu"l of Two Dollars and Fifty Colds ill ad. Tl,e Journal i. also pnl.li.hcd daily during the session of Iho Lcrislaliiro and thrice a week remainder ol lira year, fr Do and Ihrec limea a week, yearly, f"r $. THURSDAY EVENING. OCTOBER 5,18-13. " THE LATE FORGED LETTER, Ever eince the organization of civilized society, mankind liave universally agreed to regard certain tiling as sacred. Among thoso are the sanctity of tho family circlo, and of the confidential correspondence between individuals. And henco it i, that tho eves-dropper, the miscreant that would secrete himself within the precincts of tho fumily or social circle, for the purpose of picking up matter to be circulated for injurious purposes; and the equally contemptible wretch who would, for any purpose, violate tho seals of privato correspondence, have ever been considered as without the pale of private and public esteem. Such has ever been tho detestation in which these practices have been regarded, that the gcnlle, tho simple, tho learned, and the unlearned, tho man of refined tasto, and even tho ordinary ruffian, hove, tut with an instinctiva horror like-that inspired by the contact of the serpent, shrunk from their contaminating touch. But to this like all other goneral rules there arc, it Boerns exceptions. Within the lOtli Congressional District it appears there aro four. These are the fellows who found, or stole the letter purporting to havo boen written by Mr. CalToo I he who forged the lcttur pretended lo havo been written by Mr. Jesse Smith ; the Statesman, who published theso puicrs, and the Aon. fccmrm a. moore, who exultingly points to tho Smith letter, as aflbrdingovidonco of bis groat popularity in Licking county I Worthy compeers ! voluntary associates! a galaxy of lights, distinguished for low cunning, tacl, and all tho other admirable qualities which constitute the nun of electioneering sagacity ! But the Statesman, maiigro the recklessness of its course, is evidently sick of this matter. It informs tho public that it has sent their letters to the Post master at Newark, and says "wo shall hear no more about forgeries, Ate." Why send them to the Postmaster? Is the Post office constituted Iho legitimate recipient of found, stolen, or counterfeit goods? Why wore not those papers sent to their ostensible address ? If genuine, they were entitled to them as their own property, nd if spurious, they wero equally entitled to them us evidence of tho oulrago that had been perpetrated upin their rights. There is another adage, tho correctness of which wo hnvo never board questioned ; it is, that the receiver of stolen goods is as bad as tho thiol to which wo will add that the publisher of a dishonorably acquired, or forged correspondence, assimilates his condition to that of the original offender. What would the Statesman have done if it had enme to the possession of a piece of plate, or other goods to which was lcrribly affixed tho name of Hcman A. Mooro ? Would it have sent it to the Pout Office to be identified and reclaimed ? It would havo done no anch thimr. There is in evory part and portion of this dercpu- table transaction, an exhibition ol meanness a stu-died effort at low. contemptible cunning, and dishon- orahlo benrinrf which must stick to all tho parties thereto, liko the fabled tunico of Nussus, and of which, in the eyes of correct thinking men, tncy never can rid themselves. THE LIBEL. The Statesman piles libel upon libel, and still growls liko a boar with a soro head, became a jury of honest men under oath, has rendered a righteous verdict Scarce a statement made in thit paper but has falsehood for its foundation. Witness tho ful lowing in tho last paper, on tho subject of its char ges against Mossrs. Ewing and stanoery, in relation to the purchase of Land Scrip : "The history of this scrip speculation can thin brielly bo given. At tno ciosu 01 wo r oi me Revolution, many of the gallant defenders of their country wore promised land for their services, and a portion of tho public domain was set apart for that purpose Each of theso soldiers had issued to them ,..,,,'... known iu land warrants, and with which they could locate any unentered land within the Military Luid district The land not being suffi cient in qiianliiy to satisfy the demands, theso war-nn. an,,,, heirsn in denreciale in nrice, and by the timo Thomas F.wmg was elected lo the Senate of the United States, had become a mere drug in Iho mar. kot being worth but a very few cents on tho dollar-A bill was introduced into tho lowor House of Congress, and which subsequently became a law, allowing these wnrranu to bo returned to Ihe Treasury Department and the owner lo receive ill lieu thereof land scrip, with which ho could cnler, at any Uniled States Land Offico, in Ohio, Indians, or Illinois, the .,n amount of land. While tins bill was pending, (and wo wish tho reader to mark what wo ny,) THOMAS EWING, then a Senator in Congress, finding that, Willi his own oxertions, nis inuuonce, ,l l. imin he hill would beromo a law, immedi ately borrowed money of the Bank of the United Nim,! and which II ink was then asking a rechar- ter and, hiring agents lo Usvorse the cuunlry, he bought up, at but a very few coma on the dollar, a mi numlmr nf theso warrants, and by the timo the law was paused, he was enabled lo present himself at tho door ol Hie Treasury iicpariniuin, , nw fr Hum,,, serin, which was worth as much as Laud f lllii-A nillHAV " Was it not, then, criminal In a Senator to take advantage ot his station to buy from tho ioor old soldier, their widows and their orphan children, the bounty of their Government, properly for far less than iu value? They were in profound ignorance that tho Government intended tu do them justice, but as a Senator, Mr. Ewing knew better. Would it not bo baso for a judge to purchase a doubtful claim, and then rrivo hul anient in his own favor. The case is a parallel lo tho one of Ewing, and yol in the case of the judge a man wliowouiii so act o "i" as an unmitigated scoundrel j bill in tho case of Ewing, and which is precisely similar, the Journal can see nothing wrung. Wo refer to this libel, not that wo think it ncces isry lo vindicalo Mr. Ewing's conduct in the train aclion, but to show that this, liko almoat every state ment in that paper, in which a prominent Whig, or Whig measure is referred to, is false in fact, falsa in inference and iniicndo. Tho gist of the chsrge of criminality against Mr. Ewing is, that he, "1 lioinaa Ewing, then a Senator in Congress, finding Ibat with his own exertions, his influence, and Ins vote, tho Dill would becomo a law," 4iC. Now this is every word false, Tho bill became a law on tho IKIth of May, 1SI0, and Mr. Ewing did nut take his sest in tho Senato until tho 5th of December, l&ll. What then but Ihe genius of falsehood itself could seek to put oh" aa true, and build upon it the moat gravo charge of criminality, an assertion so basely falso? Yol this is the kind of political aliment dealt out by tho Statesman to it deluded readers. Again t The Statcsmsn, in speaking of tho widows and orphans of the soldicra, in whose favor Oils land scrip was directed lo bo issued, says: "They wero in profound ignorance lhat the Government intended to do them justice " and tins is another falsehood of the most abandoned character, and thai the Statesman knew it to bo so, as is evident (roin iu stating that the law required the warrant upon which scrip might issue to be returned to the Treasury Department And could a holder of land warrant be ignorant of tho oxistenco of a law when in compliance with ils reqiromcnU ho was forwarding his warrant to the Treasury to get his crip ? What a terrible misfortuno has befallen tho Statesman ! It has been mulct in fJJHX) damages for a libel on a citizon of Columbus, and it tries 10 prove ils innocence by publishing a string nf false accusations against the counsel of the plaintiff, right in the face of Iho law, and the recorded facu I Vorily, il is clear I hat the Statoeman is for falsehood first, falsehood last, and falsehood always. - 11W7 REASONS. Presuming that every taxpayer will consider a dollar of unnecessary expenditure aa a good reason fur adopting measures or economy, we present in that behalf eleeen thousand lico hundred and seventy seven reasons why there ought not to be a Locofoco Legislature elected. It will be recollected that in 1840 the Legislature, in both branches, wsb Locofoco; and by reference to the Auditor's report of that year, it will be seen that the money paid to the State Printor was $'20,3-10. It will also be recollected that in 1841 the House of Representatives was Whig. That House set its face against the extravagant printing which has grown into practice, and which it contended wag of no public utility, but calculated solely to awell tho salary of the Stato Printer. The result waa that the amount paid the Stato Printor that year waa but 9,0(i3, making a difference of $11,277. The next year the Legislature was Locofoco in both branches, and the old practice of preparing sop for the State Printer was again adopted. Let every elector, when he votes for Representatives, think of tho 1 1,277 reasons why he ought not to vote the Locofoco ticket. And what are the reasons on the other side? They are not such as will be publicly offered, but they are in truth nothing more or less than the pub ic shall be made to pay through the medium of tax es, a sum sufficient to enable the Statesman to circulate to all parts of the State, pay or no pay. A public tax for the support of a party press. A NEW GOVERNMENT CURRENCY. Tho New York papers state that the Secretary of the Treasury has matured a plan for issuing, early n the ensuing month, a new circulating medium, which is to consist of fifty-dollar notes, made paya- bio to order, and bearing interest at the rate of one-tenth of one per cent per hundred dollars. They are to bo filled up to one uniform endorser and mailo payable on demand in specie in New York, all tho Banks of which city have agreed to receive them on deposite. Tho law governing this issue docs not permit a lower denomination of notes than fifty dol- urs. It is said that tho plate from which the notes aro to be alruck off corresponds in size with the old Troasuy noles. THE MAINE ELECTION. It appears thut Mr. Anpf.rson, the Locofoco can didate, has been elected Governor of tho Stato of Maino by a majority of less than a thousand votes. Only two members of Congress aro known to bo e- lectcd Mr. Ih-.ii.Ai' in the second district and Mr. Ikui.n in tho sixth. They are both Locos. The first and fourth districts are in doubt, and in the oth er three there is no choice. The Legislature will be decidedly anti-whig. ANOTHER PLUNDERER DISCOVERED. It is said that a Locofoco Land Receiver in tho Wcstorn part of the State, has recently been detected in buying up L-tnd Bonds, toiii Vie Slate's money and pocketing the discount ! So we go. Moro u Land Scrip" operations! Where sloops the indignation of the Statesman ? Where's that "Sentinel on tho watch tower?" How long, ye voters of Ohio, will yo bo ridden by Locofocoisin ? BVINGTON SOLD! It is said that Auditor Brough, when in New York hist spring, to procure tho loan authorized by tho Legislature, pledged himself to tho takors of Iho loan that Hiington should not again be elected to the Legislature! What office is Uyington to have to procure his ratification of this agreement? STRANGERS! Wo saw at the American tho other day, a lot nf tine Lobsters, all the wny from Boston. They woro brought by Hardin's Express to Cleveland and thenco to Columbus by stage, expressly fur Mr. Aesry or rather fur thuse who stop at the American. This is an enterprise seldom attempted, and ncvor equalled' But Kclsey ia the man to go ahead I From the Uliio Star. THE ELECTION. We foar that some of our Whig friends iindor-rate tho importance of tho election this full that they are not fully awaro of the importance of activity in the good cause wow. For seven years Ihe freo voico of Ohio has been well nigh stilled by the unfair and unjust apportionment ot lrH and Irio. Those ucg-islativo apportionment were framed by the Uicolu- cus on purpose to secure their own ascendancy, and every unlair advantage was taken of the v lugs in framing tho ilistrtcu. It is true that the dishonesty of tho Locofocos rc-acled upon themselves at ono election, and gavo tho Whigs a greater majority in tho rwpular branch, even than they wore equitably entitled to, but in tho mam the Locofocos have been enabled to keep the control of one or both branches every year. Only once in nine years past have Uie VI lugs had a majority in botli branches of the Legislature. 1 hero is now a roasunabio chance lor tno wings to carry both branches of the Legislature. If they out no Tiir.ia di'tv they can and will carry Hunt branches. Tins will ouablo them to frauio a fair and cifttitalile apportionment of legislative Districts tor lour years lo come. 1 hat npKirtiontniei,t tu to bo made this year. And if mado by Locufocua will again disfranchise thousands in order to secure to Ihein a dishonest ascendancy. ho has torgottcn tho great revolution ol IMU when the Wings swept tho State by a majority of moro than '.iO.UOO ? At that election, with all tint vast majority, Iho Whigs elected !l Senators osi.r and tho Ijocofocos II. How happened that? Not under any fair apportionment of Senatorial Districu, hut under the law of ISC' framed the saino year that Portage Cauntv was dismembered, and or the same iiurwir. to secure party advantnge. But fur mo dishonesty ol that uncotoco majority in lorming district, the will of tho people, so loudly and emphatically uttered at tho ballot-boxes in the fall of 18-10, would have been carried out at that session and Ohio would now bo enjoying tho benefits uf a sound well-regulated Banking System, and a sutli-cient currency of her own. The aiiatliy of Iho Whigs at the succeeding elections combined with oilier caoscs to give etlect to Ihe unfair apportionment of members and tho triumph of Locofocoisin in ttio annihilation of our Bunks is thus complete. It is Uiiis that Iho I,ocofoco party pcrpctuato their own power, by their own dishonesty, it is this very thing, and none other which lias enabled the Slate Printer snd Dictator by the ag-ncy of caucus to set the will of tho pooplo at utter and contemptuous defiance. An opportunity is now before the people to set this mailer right osier roa ah. To throw off this incubus, that weighs down their prosperity lo dethrone King Caucus, and drive his satraps to sumo other occupation. This fall Iho Whigs may easily carry tho Slate, and put an end to somo uf those standing abuses. It ia high time for a reformation in tho alfaire of our Slate high lime that the salaries of public functionaries bo reduced high timo thai measures bo taken, if not lo allevinto the burthen of taxes, at least to guard against an increase and to provide some currency in which thev may I :j .: .1... .1.. -.1! t li.l...... ue pmu iiigu nine tout tou mine tu cimu i n,,,,,, waa abolished, and with it the practical supremacy and dictatorship appertaining thereto, now vested in Iho person of Sam Medary with pay averaging 0(10 per annum, and s5.000 net profit high time in short that an end be put lo tho souses wlncn lKo-focoism has engendered and seeks to perpetuate. Can any Whig be indifferent in such a struggle ? Will any Whig atand tamely by and seo himself perhsps, at any rate thousands of his fellow-citizens disfranchised and I ho will of the peoplo systematically set at nought? Will any Whig omit sn honest effort this fall? let such an one, if anv there be, remember Iho past, and looking at the future at tho prospect of another rnra YKAas of Locofoco sway at the destructive spirit of lhat party, growing year by year, tone scrupulous and more rabid at tho prospect uf increased taxation and diminished mesna of payment wo say let every sluggish Whig think on llieso things and gird, himself note, nf oner, for a contest to result in a victory, and in the establishment of his principles. We said tho Whigs could easily achieve the victory. It needs but their earnest aclivc oxerliims for a few days, to seo and converse each man with Ins neighbor, and impress uwn bis mind the imporlsnco of the contest it needs only the attendance of all the Whigs at the polls early on the day of Ihe election. Let then overy man leul himself a vigilance commitlee authorized and charged with his duties as such frum this time till the election day. THE YOUNG MEN'S WHIG NATIONAL CONVENTION. WHICH WILl BE THE BANNER UF.I.EOATIO.I ? The subjoined preamble and resolutions, passed by the Whig Convention of Baltimore, at ils meeting lost evening, will attract the addition, and arouse the emulation of our Whig friends throughout the Union. Which shall be tho Banner Delegation ? Which of all the Slates shall send the greatest number of delegates to the great National Convention of May lK-Hi' Here is u generous rivalry proposeu lor tne Whirrs of the Union. Whatever State shall send tho largest proportionate Delegation to that Conven tion, will carry with tlioin homo a nelitting trupny, in a beautiful banner rich in all lhat art and skill can afford but richer far as the work of the fairest hands of the fairest daughters of Baltimore. Let the young Whigs of all the States bestir themselves tho prize is worthy of' all their gallantry and tho circumstances under which il is to bo won and worn should arouse ill the chivalry of the North and the South the East and the West. It is a trophy of honor it is a token woven by fair woman for brave men it is to be won by patriotism it is to be borne in tho great procession and next to those whose handy-work it is-to be, it will be the brightest attraction of the gorgeous scene. Who will win and wear it r Han. rat. BALTIMORE WHIG CONVENTION. At a meotiug of the Whig Convention of the City of Baltimore, held at "Union IIull,"on Thursday evening, September .rth, the following preamblo and resolutions were unanimously adopted: Whereas this Convention has liorclotore on bo- half and by authority uf the Whigs of the City of liuiiunore, suggcsieu lo uieir tviug oreuiren ui me United States, and cordially invited them to unite in the formation of a Yoi-.nu Men's Wimu National Convention, lo assemble in this city on Thurs day, the ad ot May, 10-14, to oe authorized to ratily the nominations for President and Vice President of the United States, which may be mndc by the regu-lurly cunstitutcd Whig National Nominating Convention, to meet in Bultiinore on Wednesday, the 1st ot May nnd to adopt such meuHiircs us in its wisdom the Convention muy deem necessary and proper to conduct the canvass to a successful and triumphant issue. And Whkreas tho Whigs of the City of Balti more are particularly desirous of having, on that oc casion, an opportunity to extend the hospitality of tho city to every Whig ill the Union who can possi bly attend ine lonvemion, anil believing that the larger the assemblage, the greater will be the favorable influence it will exercise on the result of the ensuing Presidential election, and being also desirous of showing some approval to their Whig brethren of the State that shall send ttio largest proportional delegation to the proposed Conveuliun ThereforeHesoleed, That the Whigs of the Cily nf TMti-moro, will have prepared an npproprinto BANNER, to bo presented tu such Slalo delegation, (Maryland excepted, as wo hope lo see her Whips hero en masse,) to the Young Men's Whig National Convention of Ratification, to assemble in said city on Thursday, the &I of May, r!44, as shall on thut occasion have the largest proportional number in at tendance, having in view the Whig population of the severul latcs as tested by the rresulenlal election of lr 10, and llicir respective distances frutu this city. Itrsolvcd, Thnt tho Editors of the Whig Journals throughout the Union, bo requested to publish these proceedings, aad to invite the attention of tho Whig party to tie-in. GEO. R. RICHARDSON, President. JAMES FKAXIEIt, ( v- -, , invji'i'ii iv ii i i;v Vico Presidents. C.C. Eoebton, Jr. ,Jr.' t u, J Secretaries. RoBT. M. 1 KOI1 From llio Nnliimnl lutrllifreiircr. JUDGE McLEAN and the WHIG CAUSE Wo copy with pleasure from the Chorluttusvillc (Vs.) Advocate part of a letter from this distinguished gentleman, which ono of his friends in lhat quarter lias communicated for publication, though (us be says) not designed fur tho public eye. So sound, uuwevcr, arc tno opinions, so right the lootings which il expresses, that ono cannot but be gratified that the public sh-juid cumc into iiossession of such a declaration, so worthy of a wide attention, and so certain, Irom the suurce Irum which it comes, tucummuiid it Let not tho manly rcerot with which Judiro Mc Lean speaks of the present condition of political morals be confounded witli that tnlkinir. tradiiiL'. shullling patriotism that mouths eternally iho names ol honor, country, liberty, the Constitution, as favor ite sounds abundantly suthcicnt, without ono noble or useful public act, to win the popular fuvor. Let not this sincere language pass for nu more than the declamatory virtue ol the day, which is irrowiiifr. in those who talk it most glibly, little else than a justification of Dr. Johnson s snarling definition of patri otism "that a patriot is ono who makes a great rout obout country and conscience, in order thut ho may sell the former, and because he never had any of the latter." Juilzo McLean is ono nf thuse whose public action has over answered to their speech ; who havo served Iho country more than they have (l ittered it ; who havo talked of principles less linn Ihoy have striven to advance them. This letter itself, little framed aa it is to llic tune nf nopulnrity-sockini?. ii an earncsl uf his sincerity ; but it is not the only one : he but speass now as no nas neretoiore acted with a disdain of jiersoual successes to bo won si the sacrifice I tho politic weal or ol his individual honor and independence. Wo know how truly this letter is in conformity with whni wna tho public impression nf his course, in that decisive moment ol his political fortunes, which others may not remember so well. It is to that period of his life that ho modestly refers when he suya, in Ibis letter, "a departure from theso principles drove me reluctantly from public life." Associated originally with the Adtims Administra tion, aa Itic chief of a service (tho Post Office) not then miikmg as a Cabinet department, he had given it by tho energy and skill oiuch he unused lulu it, un importance and popularity which furhado Ins removal at the accession uf the Jackson dynasty, and mado that violent but tiolitical ower willing lo adopt provided it might use linn. ilh this view under pretence of giving a new dignity lo his department but in reality thai ils patronage might be brought (as it had not hitherto been) iuln Ihe great Executivo fund of power they conttiltited his office a Cabinet one. Then (lie 1'ost Ulheo and all its wide machine ry and patronage began at onco to bo used for a political and electioneering and pirty engine, of which Ac waa left the resHiiMibiliiy, while Artouk thocoii. trol. Commanding as was the popularity of Iho Administration with which Mr. Mt-U'nn was thus associated, and iuvitinir as was the mad which (with the ,ptilar lavur thnt he enjoyed) it opened to the highest public success, he saw not the rewards uf ambition which it otVered, but tho iillicial abuses, Iho public cormpiion nnd disorders, the personal degrs- dstion and dishonesty which il involved ; and ho withdrew Trum Urn connection with that Jacobinic cabal whose pernicious schemes wero already pre- iaring, visibly (o hum the mischiefs which they have since inflicted, tho dangers at which hu is nuw a- larmed. When, therefore, that very parly, Ibo mere expec tation of whoso acts separated him frum them, now nll'ecl fur him an admiration which he so little returns, and are good enough to wish to uso nun to distract tho Whigs and fmstralo llieir own coming overthrow, John Mclean is now aa httlo their dupe as ho was furmorlv llieir tool ; and bo writes, there. fore, to a friend in Virginia, under date uf tho 10th August last, in the lulhming terms: kxtract rRim Jinnr. mile ins luttsb. Tho office of President in my opinion, has boen lowered, and also tho character of ll'o country, at home and abroad, by Ihe means used to secure thai ollico. High as the Presidency uf this groat nation is, it may bo reached at loo great a price. It sinks below tho ambition of an honorable mind, when it is attainable only by a sacrifice of the loftiest pnlriut- ism. rVtrt lo name others, we nave in iho elevation of JelTerson, Madison, and Monroe, examples of a high and honorable ambitiun which is worthy of im-ilsiinn, Theso eminent men, when named fur the ullice of President reposing on what Ihoy had dune and what Iheir known capaciiies enabled lliomtodo, in the highest public fruits, neither look nor seemed to take any agency in their own advancement. Fur many years I have boen deeply impressed with the injustice, the corrupting and ruinous oll'ccU of iHilitical partizanslup. Its introduction into the Federal Government, has well nigh ruined our beloved country. Before this hano hid perverted our moral sense, our luve uf country, and, sn far as pnliticsare concerned, almoat every noble feeling of Iho heart, we were happy, as a people, in the enjoyment nf great and uninterrupted prostierity. And whatever may he said tu tho contrary, Ibis terrible evil lies al tho foundation of all our embarrassment. It lias been mainly instrumental in the commercial revulsions we have witnessed, and it has prostrated our political morality. Our pecuniary losses within a low years past, are almost beyond the power of computation, but theso are scarcely worthy of consideration, in comparison with the loss, of moral force in our institutions. That man must bo blind to the admonitions of history, who supposes that a free government can be long sustained, which addresses itself, with all iu influence, to the baser passions of our nature. Such a course leads to a widely diffused corruption and consequent ruin. In u.y judgment nothing can rescue our government from this common fate of republics, but a cbango in its political action. This action must be elevated, it must roach and rouse tho moral tone of the nation. Instead of administering lo the prostituted appetites of demagogues, it must rest on a virtuous and an enlightened public opinion. It must gather strength by its acts moral strength. Its aim should bo tho general good. Tho chief of tho government in making appointments to office should carry out the the principles of the virtuous Monroe, who, on a certain person being recommended to him for an ufficc, as a personal friend, with good qualifications, remarked, with earnestness : u No man can feel more grateful than 1 do for personal acts of kindness, but in milking this appointment I havo a high public duty to perform, and I must look to the public interest." A departure from these principles drovo me, reluctantly, from politicui life; and in all sincerity I assure you that there is no political office, not even the Presidency, which could tempt me again into politics, on principles opposed to those which I approvo and on which I endeavor to act Pledges, when given by a candidate for public favor, should bo received with suspicion, as Ihoy are generally made to nnswcr a particular purpose, and are seldom redeemed. No ono, perhaps, should be named fur the Presidency, whose opinions, on the leading topics of the day, are unknown to Ihe public. Until within a few years past pledges were not required from iho candidates fur the chief magistracy. And I may sBk whut good has resulted from this innovation ? Has it ni ule our Chief Magistrates more faithful to Ihe Constitution and to their general duties ? Let a comparison of our late history with tho past, answer this question. Who thought uf asking a pledge from tho venerated fathers of the republic bIiiivo named ' A sound head and honest heart, I think, aro tho best pledges. Those will rarely fail, whilst experience shows that plcges are made to bo broken. No ono who is named for ihe Chief Magistracy, from a respectablo source should feel himself at liberty In say that he would decline a nomination for that office. But I beg you tu believe, my dear sir, that this remark is not prompted by a vainly which leads me lo suppose lhat my name could bo favorably considered by the contemplated Whig Convention. The friends of Mr, Clay, in consideration of his eminent qualifications and long public services, aro looking with no ordinaty solieitiulu tu his nomination. And I assure you, that I have no wiidi, by the obtrusion of my name to separato my friends, if I have any, iroin their preseutassociatious. I do not desire, and would not receivo Iho Presidency, if wiihin my reach, as tho instrument of a puny. Indeed I should count it no honor, to have mv nanio associated with the downward course uf our Government, and such a courso is accelerated and only accelerated, by ultra ntirtyism. To bring back tho Government to its old foundations, to restore iu lost character, its former polity, energy, and elevation, would be an achievement second only to tint of Washington's. An achievement which would moke any individual Iho favored son of his country. Of Ibis who would not bo proud ? nnd short of liiis ob ject, no Honest man can desirollie Presidency. nn me greaiesi re.ipeci, l sin Your grateful and obedient serv'l, JOHN McLEAN. Fiom tho nalliniore Amenrnn. RELIEF TO THE STATES. Mr. Wm. Cost Johnson, ihe author of tho nlsn of National relief tu the Slutes on tho basis ol iho Public Lands, has been aililressuur the ucoule of Si. Mury's on the subject of his proposition. We aro strongly persuaded thai nothing but a general and familiar acquaintance with the provisions ul liiis plan is needed tu , c urn it the apprubaliun uf the people uf tho United Stales. Tho measure in the first placo ia entirely coimli- lutiuiial. Even if il went upon the ground nf a direct assumption uf the State debls, it would havo precedent losu.-laill it In 1'IKJtho Naliunnl Government assumed State debts tu the amount ol'l,- 000,000, and this was done at a lime hen the sales ul the public lunds did nut amount to ono hundred thousand dollars annually; when the national debt was more than fill) -six millions ; when the population of Iho Umun was abuul three millions ; a Iu n the duty paying uniKirta were but a lillle above sixteen millions, and the gross revenues of the nation wero between two and three millions. Yet the measure wos highly ealuury. It relieved Iho imgEliiur Stalc of burdens w hich Willi their limned resources wero very oppressive ; it aided to restore the general credit; H gavu a new impulse In industry by remo ving uie snackies ol luxation winch lettered Iho people of Iho Slates; and by tho stimulus it imparted in business and enterprise il tended lo bring ihe resources of the country into play, and thus tu mereaso Uie rovonues far beyond Iho amount required for tho annual aymcnu ol interest on the assumed debt. Another measure ot assumption waa adopted in ItHfi during Mr. jEi rtasoN's first lernu By tho treaty of IJcfl with Great Britain, it was provided filial creditors on cither side shall meet with no lawful impediment tu the recovery of the lull value, in sterling inuney, of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted." But in many uf itic Slates impedimenta had been thrown in tho woy uf Iho recovery ofdebu due lo British suhjecu contracted before the Revo lutionary war, ami thuso obstacles were such that the British creditors could not obtain by courso of law tho moneys duo them. To preserve in good faith tho stipulation of tho treaty uf KM, il was determined in IHtrJ that tho National Government would assume these debts ; and they were accordingly assumed and paid lo Iho amount of n Aumfrrr thousand jMiiii'i tfrriiitr, iho amount agreed upon by Ihe am- uassauors oi tne two countries, as the sum justly duo. If the National Guveriunenl with its limited means in l!K) could nssuuio tho debls of the States to the advantage uf all parties, relieving the Slates without burdening itself, wilh how much greater advantago might the national aid he extended al this crisis to the aulfering Stales ? But tho measure now contem plated ii not so much an nmimotinn of Slalo debt as it is tho oxerciso of Iho national agency in the management of a groat fund, tho proieny of the Stales, for tho benefit uf tho Stales. "When tho General Government" aays Mr. Juiinson, in ono uf Ins letters lo t'ol. Cassoi.l, "nssinned Iho debts of the States in lIK), the proceeds of Uie sales of tho public lands were pledged "unhr the liquidation of that ih lit ; but tlio limitation by thut law extended only lo tho lime of siyment If an account wero opened, and tho Government credited with all tho money It has cxiendid lor Iho public lands, and Willi interest Iu .September, lr-10; and.lf Ihe Government were charged with all Iho money il lias received from tho public lands, and the donations of grants which it has made, mill interest lo the same le-riod, it w ill he found, aa the account slated in my address will exhibit, th.it the Genera! Government will he indebted to Iho Stales ill the sum of U'J,000,IKHX Now if aro imburtenieniofthissuiu were demanded by the Stales, as ihey havo a right lo demand it, the amount justly due them falls short only .,(KKI,. 0(H) of the wholo aggregate ol t'.HKMXK),MKI called for by Mr. Johnson's plan as Ihe sum lu he distributed in national stuck among Ihe States. The General Government then is in fact solicited for the loan of its credil merely to Iho amount uf ."H,IXHV 000 on the pludgo and security of u,o whole public domain. Taking J 100,000,(XX) as the nggregalo of the Slalo dolus, the interest on Iho amount at aix per cent ia I'2.0WI,(HHI annually. This Ihe Siatea must strive to pay with such resources aa ihey havo. But a national stock of t0O,IKIO,0O) at three per cent, if it wore vxcnangeii iur tno existing Mialo slocks, would mquirc Iur Ihe annual paymenu of interest only ii,IKHUKH. Here would be an actual reduc tion ot the debt ol one halt at a single touch. The sales of the public lands fmm IK'UI tu 10 both inclusive, amounted to M,'.i:i,UI7, averaging nearly eight millions annually. More would bo an ample prevision at once tor the six millions of inter est on account ol the nationalized Stato debts. The very adoption ol such a measure of relief would. moreover, mereaso Iho amount of the public land sales, and by removing the shacklos of taxation from properly, it would givo sucn nuoyance and lifo to business, such an enlarged scope to industry, Ihst the recoipu from custom house duttea would bo ailundsiitly mllicienl for the ordinary wants of tho Treasury, and for the acemnulalion of a sinking fund lor the gradual extinction of tho wholo debt Of this lliero need be no doubt Our Stale debu thus nationalized would not only ceaso lo be a burden by such an arrangement as this, but the very creation of a national stink nf iisl,. uuu.inoj wuuiu in inu vnu pruve oi great uso in allur ding a desirable menus of investment and thus draw hoarded sums from idleness and diffuse them into the circulation. Atler all, however, the only question is, since our debu as State or National do and must exist, whether as States we can bettor pay by taxation twelve millions annually in the shape of interest than six millions annually as a nution, by means of the public land sales and impost duties. This is ihe poiut to which the whole matter reaolvca itself. Front die Akrou Beacon. HORACE GREELEY. Of the many distinguished and able men which Ihe late Universalist Convention brought to our vil- uago, none waa more cordially greeted, than the tal ented and warm-hearted editor of tho New York Tribune, not alone by tho particular religions denomination with which ho was associated, but by thoso of all creeds, and by men of all parties. And this was not caused so much by his acknowledged talents, as by that genuine philanthropy and hearty good will towards all with which he seems to be tliuroiighly imbued. Mr. Greeley's name ia connected with many uf the prcjecU of reform, now before tfic public, which has given occasion to sneering remarks from thuse who huve no confidence in any reform, and who believo lhat if the condition of man is at all to be improved, it must be done by accident no one must presume to suggest the plun, or point to the mode. With such we have no sympathy, and at the same time, we cannot but admire theself-sacrificing spirit of tho man who, fur the sake of promoting the happiness of his race, is willing to submit his name to obtonliv and the scorn of fools, hv advocating measures unpopular and little understood. It is the number ol theso urns, in winch Mr, Orcelcv is interested, that gives us an insight into his character. We see by it that he cherishes an ardent faith in man a Btrong hopo that ho may be made better thun ho is, and a feeling heart for the untold weight ot misery that crushes to tho earth, the toll ing multitude he seeks by various means to teach mankind to throw off this weight, and though wo think him mistaken lis some things, we catinol but respect his motives and admire the man. Mr. Greeley spoke at the old Court Room on Thursday evening, at a Whig meeting. As a spea ker, his manner is somewhat uwkward but after tfie first few sentences, yon begin to forget the mull, and finally, hefurc he cuneludes, you are lost to overy thing but the subject he is discussing. His grout faculty is conccutrutiun he clings to his subject with great tenacity, never once leuvinir it, till it is disposed of. His moinory is ready, and his language, simple, elegant and furcible. Mingled with mutter, tune and speech is an air of curnestncBS and simplicity, th-it disarms opposition and carries cunvic-lion. Ho spoke of the Bankrupt Law, National B-iuk, and a Protcclivo Turin" ably forcibly upon all, but particularly upon the latter, which is a question in which he seems more deeply interested thun any other. I Ic is thoroughly versed in this subject, mid spoke fur nearly an huur upon it the audience manifesting nu impatience, though it was past ten o'clock when he concluded. Thruiighout this speech wo could perccivo thut his great object in politics as well as social reform, is to benefit ihe poor laborer, and raise tho unfortunate rattier than fill the pockets uf tho rich rnther to make tho mass of the tuition comfortable and happy, than to raise up tho "merchant princes," und lurdly manufacturers it is for the working man Hint tho Tor ill' n made, and nut the capitalist it is for the poor that we want a National Bunk, for it is upon the luboring class that the expense of keeping up a horde of brokers and money shavers fulls st Inst. It was for the poor snd unfortunate thnt the Bankrupt Law was passed, and although it waa defective, this was no reason why it should have been repealed it should have been amended. Tho present jiosition of Mr. Greeley aa a man of t-iienu ami great iniiucncc hi the nation, ia an example for our young men. Less than twenty years ago ho wns a poor printer's boy in Vermont with nothing but talents, perseverance and industry to aid him he lias placed himself upon an equality with the great men of tho land without wealth, without family influence, without the benefit uf even the graduation of some literary institution, he stands beside the most tuvurcd and most tortunatc. tay, wo forget ho has had the benefit of one literary in stitution thnt is beginning to bo snmo what known and felt a Printing Office conferred the honors oj grotfiwrion nwn niei. "imjor aiott, ihen, ye young men who aro struggling in obscurity and poverty jiernccre ana uie uay win oe yunr own : TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION. Tho lost Southern mail brings sccotinUof a most tnrriblo steam boat explosion at Iho town of Bayou Sara, on tho Mississippi river by which tnurtecn persons were killed ten others missinr, believed to no killed nine wounded. Tho Iuisiana Chrom ic, extra, of the 20th September, furnishes Uie ful lowing particulars: It has becume our mournful duty to record one of, the most terrible catastrophes which has ever ban pencil on the Mississippi. Yesterday, at about a itiarlcr past IU u cluck, aa the steamer Clipper ISa I. wns backing out from her moorings at our landing, no blew up wim an explosion that shook earth, air ml heaven, aa though iho walls ol tho world wore tumbling to pieces about our ears. All the boilers orating simultaneously machinery, vast fragments f Iho boilers, hune beams of timber, furniluro and human beings in every degrco of mutilation, were like shot up perpendicularly many hundred fathoms in the air. On reaching the greatest heitrhth. the various bo dies diverged like the jeu of a tounlain in all dircc lioua fnlling to the earth, and upon roofs of houses, in some instances aa much as two hundred and fifty yards from tho scene of destruction. Tho hapless victims wero icalded, crushed, lorn, mangled and scattered in every possible direction many into Uio river, some in Iho sin-els, somo on Ihe oilier side of tho llayou, nenrly .TOO yards some torn asunder by coming in contact wilh pickets and nnsls, and others snoi iiko cannon nans through Uie solid walls of Houses at a great distsnee from l ie boat All in front of tho wheel houses appears as though swept oy a wniri-winu. nut anything like an adequate uescripuon oi the accuo ot wreck and ruin is utterly out of the question. On reachinir the spot upder whin and anur. wo immediately bent our stops towards tho temporary hospital hastily prepared for tho reception of such as might be found to rctiin a spark of lifo. The sceno was such aa wo hope nevorto look upon again. t iic noon oi uie iwo mrgo warcrouma were literally strewn with tho dead and dying, and others pouring in aa fast as it was posaihlo to convey them praying, groaning, howling and writhing in every powihlo contortion uf physical agony. In the midst oi tins coi mg am, up lo tneir arm-piu in oil anil cimon ana nsmiages, wo lounu our praiseworthy phtmcians liko insid Samaritans dm no- dnksI oui- olly and silently, but with the energy and activity apparently ni liny pair ol Hands now washing a burn, now dreasing a wound, and sunn splintering a fruetiired limb. Indeed, our citizens rrenerallv. eve ry man and mother's son, aptxiarcd oly anxious as tu how they might render most service to the puor siill'orers while and black without distinction. I he followm ; aro Ihe most important particulars. as inr as we nave neen ablo to gather them: l-atte liters u 1 nomas, uussinei J. u, Jlohta- mnt con, mission uierclnnl, New Orleans, and ono mall boy, wuuiidcd. Ikck I'assenirers. 1 wounded. -s not nun. Cant. Laurent escaped unhurt i Mr. Bessy, chief clerk, missing, and the second clerk killed ; John lysoii, duel ongvneer, badly wounded ; Win. Sum- ter, M engineer Ihrown iM or !KH) yards through tho roof and gshlo end of a house into the back yard against tho fence one arm wss lorn elf and the friiements of Ins carcass scattered over Iho trees; vi m. nelson, ;id engineer, tree man ol color killed ; Arnault J. Lavnud, pilot, missing; Win. Wall, pilot killed ; John Peterson, nnle, badly scaled, though likely to recover ; Gabriel Pool, carienter, missing; watchman killed; chambermaid saved unhurt; stewards all killed or missing; two nf tho cooks killed and ono wounded; eirihl firemen killed or missing; four deck hands killed or missing. It may be well enouirh here to state, that all thoso wo havo put down missing, are doubtlesa dead, an overy search hns been made in the vicinity to nover their bodies in vain. They have doubllosa found a wotery gravo. The watchman, a while man, was Ihrown alive, 100 yards, Uimugh tho solid wall of Baker's Hotel, into a bed. Ho retained his senses perfectly fur some time a(er, but Uio poor felluw expired during the evening. Thceabin boy was thrown about 'JOO yards threugh the roof of a shed, and was picked up in a mangled condiuun. Mr. Thomas, grocer of Bavoii Sara, rind bill just taken leave of Ins wife and family, and stepped un board when Uie explosion ocriirnd. His wile and child, and another lady and child who happened lu be with her, hearing Iho uproar ran immediaiely to Ihe front windows lo ascertain the cause. They had scarcely done so, when, wilh a deafening crash driving in a Uiird of Ihe entire roof in iu indent lay a vast fragment of the boiloruit tho very spot they had quilted ! THE PRAIRIES, NAUVOO, JOE SMITH, THE TEMPLE, THE MORMONS, be. Letter from tbe Editor of the Piltsburgh Gazelle, dated Waksaw, Illinois, Aug. 30, 1813. Nauvoo, as most of your readers probably know, is about U0 miles above this town, on the Mississippi ; Warsaw lying at Uie foot of tho Ilea Moines rapids, and Nauvoo at the head. There are two roads ono by the river bank and one by the prairie. vv e loon ine latter, although it u some tour or live miles further. Nauvoo lies about north of this point, but we first took a due eost course in order to get on the prairie, aa the bluff which divides the prairie Irom Uie river, all through this region, consists ot wooded hills and ravines generally from Uirce to five miles wido. Our road, therefore, for tho first four miles was very rough, after which we got out on tho open, illimitable prairie, when we altcied our course to the north, and stretched away for Nauvoo, over one of tho finest roads iu the world. I was much surprised, on arriving at Uie prairie, to witness the great changes that had taken place within three years. Three years before, on a prairie some fifteen miles across, immediately east of Warsaw, scarcely a house was to be seen ; now the whole prairie appeared to be settled, presenting the appearance of an old inhabited country, with the exception that not a tree was to be seen. I was informed that twenty-five furms could be counted from one little hillock on this prairie. But our course north soon took us from this settled country, and we travelled over vnst prairies, extending in every direction as far as the oye could reuch, except on our right, whore lay the bluff which intervened between us and the river. Herds of cattle could occasionally be seen dotting the surface of the eaith, and it wanted but a small stretch of the imagination to fancy these the primeval lords of Uie prairie, the fierce buHitlo, that a few years ago roamed in solitude and security over these inland oceans. As we approached the " kingdom." as Nau voo is denominated here, tho country again began lo be settled, while Uio luxuriant herbage of the pniirio was cropped quite snort oy l no herns ot cattle belonging to tho Mormons. Most of the prairie near Nauvoo, is fenced wilh turf. A ditch some two feet deep is dog on each sido of Uio fence, and the turf piled up between, making a very good and durable fence. Those fences are bread enough on Uie tup fur a fout path. Quito a number of Uie houses or huls in which the inbabitanu on the prairies live, arc also made of turf, and covered with clnp-boards. As mis tun is black, as is all the aoil on the prairies, these huts present a very sombre appearance, and as there is nut a tree, and scarcely a hillock to ward ufT the scorching suu ot summer, or the culd blast of winter, they present a very bleak and desolate ap- jiearmice. As wo ncared tho city, about six o clock in the evening, we passed an immense herd of cows which were being drivon into tho city, from the prairie, to supply Uie inhabitants with milk. Wo al so passed a largo number of wagons loaded with liny, the produce of the natural grass of Iho prairie. About tbrco miles from ttio river, we onlered the kingdom uf Nauvoo;" it beinir about four miles long, up and down tho river, and thrco miles brood. The part near the prairie, about a mile and a half from Iho river, is quite broken up with ravines; nevertheless it is all laid out in sere lots, and more or less settled. We drovo down near Ihe river, and put up at a very resiiectublc Uvcrn, kept by one of the elders a temperance house. After lea wo walked uut post tho house of the prophet, who has a very gouu garden containing about an acre, wilh a very fiuo fence around it painted white, as is also his house, a moderate sized, and bumbled luokinir framo dwelling. Near the prophet's, on the other bank of the river, is the site ol tho u Nauvoo House," building by revelation. The basement is finished. It is built of a good, hard, white stone. The front on the river ia about 1-10 feet, and is entirely above ground, uf cut stone. It has a wing running back about 100 feet All this work is of the best and most substantial character. When this building is finished, it will bo equal to any hotel in the western country. By special revelation, Uie prophet and his heirs are lo have a suit of rooma in this house forever. The next morning, after breakfast, we paid a visit to tho pniphct We wero received in a common sitting room, very plainly furnished, where Ihe prophet and Uie older membcre of the family had jusl boon breakfosUng, and his numerous children and depend- aula were Uicn silting at tho table. He received us in quito a good humored, friendly manner, asked us to sit down, and said he hoped fur a belter acquaintance. On the gentleman w ho accompanied me ask ing him how he prospered, he replied, "None can e-et ahead of me, and few can keep behind me." lie seemed to think he had said something very witty, lor no laognca very heartily, wo spent about an hour conversing on various subjecta, the prophet hioisclf, with amazing volubi)ity,occupying tho most of Iho lime, and his whole theme waa himself. Let us give wbnt lorn we would to the conversation, ho would adroitly bnng it back to himself. The gentleman who accompanied mo is a strong Whig, and as the Mormon voto had been given al the recent election to the Locofoco candidate for Congress, Uicrcby defeating Cyrus Walker, Esq, Whig, who had defended "Joe" in several law auiu with the Missourians, tho conversation look a political turn at first "Joe" professed lo be a great friend to Mr. Walker, and said he had voted for him, but would not interfere wilh his people in tho matter. He said he had never asked the Ixird anything about politics; if he bad done so, the Lord would have told him what to do. The Ird," said he, "has promised to givo us wisdom, and when I lack wisdom I ask the Lord, and he tells me, and if he did'nt tell me, I would say he waa a liar; tint's the way I feel. But I never asked him anything about politics. 1 am a Whig, and I am a Clay man. I am made of Clay, and I am tending to Clay, and I am going to vole for Henry Clay; that's the way I feel. (A laugh,) But 1 won't interfere with my peoplo, religiously, to afl'ect their yotea, though I might lo elect Clay, for ho ought to be President ! have aworn by tho eternal gods it's no harm to swear by Uie gods,bo-cause there is nune : if there ia only one God, there can't be gods, and it's no harm to awear by nothing, (a laugh) I havo aworn by Uio eternal gods that I never will vote for a democrat again ; and I intend to awear my children, putting their hands under the thigh, aa Abraham swore Isaac, that Uiey never will voto a democratic ticket in all llicir generations. It is the meanest lowest party in all creation. There is fivo-sixths of my peoplo led away by the cuphon-eous tenn "democrat" lhat ihoy will voto Uie Ixko foeo ticket I amadomncratmysolf. I am a Washington democrat, a Jefferson democrat Jackson democrat, and I voted for Harrison, and I am a going lo vote for Clsy. 1 ho Locofocos aro no democrats, but Iho meanest, lowest, most tyrannical beings in Ihe world. Thoy opposed me in Missouri, and took mo prisoner, and wero a going to shoot me for treason, and I had novor commuted anv treason whatever. I never had anything bigger than a jack-knife about me, and Ihey took me a prisoner of war, and had twenty men to guard mo. I had nothing to do w,Ui lighting. Our men, six hundred strong, were in anna, under Col. Hinekle. When Uie Missourians came marching up, Col. Ilincklo ordered us to retreat, when I lifted up my hand, and said, 'Bovs, I think wo won't go yet ; ,.' stand our grounil,''aiid ihey stood linn, but Col. Ilincklo nin like Ihe devil. For doing this they charged me with treason." In tins manner the pmphcl ran nfl, talking incessantly. Speaking of revelations, he stated lhat when no was in a "quandary," ho asked the Iird for a rcv elaliun, and when ho cuuld nut iret it ho "fullowod 1 11,0 dictatee of his own judgment, which were as P" revelation (o him ; but he never gave any tl,inlf to hii peoplo aa a revelation, unless il ws a I revelation, and Iho Lord did reveal himself lo him." Running en in his voluble style, he said: "Tho world poraocutoa mo, it always bus persecuted me. The ! i"-"i" at tannage, in a public meeting laioiy, saiu aa for Joe, he's a foul, but he's got some smart men about him.' I am glad they give mo so much credit. It is nut every fool thnt has sense enough to get smart men abuul him. Tbe Inl does reveal himself to me. I know it Met revealed himself to me first when I waa about fourteen veara old, a mere boy. I will tell you about it There waa a reformation among the different religious denoniinsliona in the ncigliburhood where I lived, and I became scriuus, and waa desirous to know what Church to join. Whilo thinking of Ibis matter, I opened Ihe testament promiscuously on llieso words, in Jamea, 'Ask uf the Ixml who givelh to all men liberally and up-braidelh not.' 1 just determined I'd ask him. I immediately went nut into the wuoda where my father had a charing, and went to the stump where I had stuck my axo when I had quit work, and I kneeled down and prayed, saying, "O Ixvnl, what Church shall I join i Directly I saw a light and then a glorious personage in Iho light and then anolhor personage, and Ihe first personage said lo tho second, iieiuuu my Dciovctl eon, hear him." 1 then addressed this aeennd person, saying, 11 lird, what Church shall I join 7 Ho replied, 'don't join any of them thoy are all corrupt The vision then -. . "ml when I come to mvaelf, I w- -e'""" n my bacK and it was inins's ooloro my strength relurned When I vent liomft and told the people lhat 1 had a revelation, and that all the churches were corrupt ihey persecuted me, and they havo persecuted nio over since. They thought lo put me down, but ihey havn't succeeded, and they can't do it When I have proved Uiat I am right, and get all the world subdued under me, I think I shall deserve something. lujr iuvciiuiuns nave mreauy provua to oe true, be cause ihey have been delivered before they came to puss, and they came to pass exactly. 1 had a revelation in Missouri which waa fulfilled to tho letter. The Missourians had got us all prisoners, and were threatening to kill us. The principal men of us ' were lying under a log, with a guard standing round us in the night. I fell into a trance. I call it a tranco. I heard a voice which said, 'Joseph, fear not; you and all your friends shall be delivered without harm, and shall yet stand upon Uie hills of Zion." When I awoke out of tho trance, I aroused Eldur Rigdon, and said, I have a revel.iinn v. oil nil escape. Elder Rigdon shouted, and told it to the next one, and in the morning it was told to my family and all our friends, and they all rejoiced. That revelation came to pass, althouirli thev were hnldincr a council at tho time I had the tranco, and had resolved to kill me. They can't harm mo. I told my family lately, before I left home for Dixon, that if I was taken up the Lord would deliver me, didn't I Emma (appealing to his wife, who wss standing behind his chair, playing with his hair, and who answered in the affirmative) and when they took me I was passive in their hands, and the Lord compelled them to bring mo right to Nauvoo. They couldn't ncip uiemacivea, alUiough they gnashed their teeth with rage." Speaking of the temple which he is erecting, ho said, "1 dou't know how the world will like it, itsuiu me ; i nave no nook learning ; 1 am not capacitated to build according to the world. I know nothiinr about architecture, and all thai, but it pleases me; and that's the way I feel." A good deal of conversation of a similar charac ter took place, the prophot occupying nearly Iho whole lime, and talking of himself incessantly. Judging from his conversation, manner, and appearance 1 should Uiink him a man of small capacity, smaller ncquiremenu, and a dupe to his own iinposturea His language is rude and vulgar, snd his conduct is ngiit auu iruiing. no is lunu ut his own jokes and low wit, and laughs immoderately when he thinks he has said a good Uiing! He is a large fleshy man with a fine blue eye, largo and aensual looking mouth and lips, with an evident nredoniiusnce of the animal propensities. It is surprising to seo the awe with which his follower! approached him with hat in hand, contrasted wilh the cavalier and heartless style of his treatment of them. A poor man came to the door while wo were there, and with evident trepidation addressed the prophet Ho wished to obtain some information astowhal he had best do with his family, bavins' just arrived. "Had 1 bettor come into town, and settle on one of Uie lots, or ttay out on the prairie." "If you are going to farm it, yon had better stay on the prairie," was the reply of the Prophot "I wish to buy a pieco of land, fur which I will pay trade of various kinds lo the amount of $500; will you sell mo some?" "My lands ore all good titles, and I must huve tho money for Uicm," was Uio reply of Ihe prophet, as ho turned on his hcol and left the man lo reflect on tho Christian politeness and courtesy of one whom ho esteemed a prophet of tho Lord, and to obey whom, he had left his early homo, and braved tne uamsuipsoi a western nio. It is surprising lhat the conduct of the protended prophet docs not open the eyes of his poor, deluded followers. But they seem to bo perfectly blinded. "Joe" is profane end vulgar in his conversation, and frequently gelu drunk, and yet ho ia venerated ns tho favorite ol Heaven, and his revelations put on a par with divine writ After taking our lcavo of the prophet we spent some time in viewing the cily and lemple. Tho silo of Nauvoo is one of the most beautiful on the Mississippi river. The river stilus place makes a large bend, forming a semi-circle; within which lies tho lowor part of tho city, running back to the blult'. This scmi-circulnr piece of ground is pet feclly let el, and lies abovo high water mark, extending at Iho widest place aboot three-fourths of a mile back from the river, and is about a mile and a half in lengtn along Uie blnfl'. The bluff rises gradually, and ie not very high, and presents most beautiful building sites. On the bluff immediately opposite the centre of the scmi-circlo, and aboul a mile from the river, stands Ihe temple. Tho site ia beautifully choacn, as it is in a central and elevated position, and can bo soen from Iho river all around Uie bend, and from every part of the town. All over the bluff and bottom, are buildinea. eith er erected, or in progress of erection, but no pait of tho town ia completely built The whole soaee in conglomeration of houses, fenco, gardens, cornfields, stables, huu, &c. One looks in vsin for any thing like a oompacUy built street Tho object seems to have been to icalter aa widely aa at all convenient, and to cover aa much ground aa possible. The ground ia sold out in aero lou, and every man builds hu house, or ahanteo, or hul, asthe cai.o may be, and planU his ground in corn and vegetables for Uio support of his family. The housea are of all aorta, shapes and sizes. Some, very many, are fine brick dwellings. Olhcra are quite respectable looking frames. Others, again, aro more shanlees, somo log, some turf, some mud, and some mere shreds of boards. There are very few stores, mechanic shops, or business houses, and no trade going on. There ia nothing to export, and no ability to import Every body appears lo be engaged in putting up houses, taking care of gardene, and getting in nay from tho prairies. As crowds of emigrant are Hocking in daily, the whole community ia em- pioyuu in proviuing inciter, and in procuring the barest necessaries for existence. It ia hard lo estimate tho number of Uie population, it is scattered over so largo a space, and aevcral families aro frequently crowded into one bouse. The prophet slated to me. that he estimated thoir number at l'J.000. He aaid he could muster, in half a day, 3,000 able bodied men, fit lo bear arms, who could whip any five Uioua-and Missourians. It ia thought there aro at least 'AOOO Mormons in tho county. They havo a ma jority oi uie voters, and hold nearly all Uio county offices. There must bo a great deal of auflerinrr in the winter lesson, from cold and hunrrcr: and Ihcro ia considerable sickness in tho community at this time. une sees insny paie laces about Uie streets. Bill I must hasten to somo account of Uio 77mn and then bring this long, and I fear, dry epistle to a close. Tins modern structure, which ia In revive tho departed glories of the temple of Jerusalem, and which is as apparently dear to every Mormon heart, as was that famous and venerated house to Uie do-voul Jew, ia building, aa we stated before, on tho bluir, and is indeed "beautiful for situation." It ia about I 'JO fret long by !K) broad. When finished il is to consist of a basement, and two twonty-rive feet stories. The basement and ono twenty-five feet etnry up, and the remainder in prncesa of completion. Tho basement story is about VI feet in Ihe clear, the half of w hich is under ground. It ia divided oft" into various sized rooms running along each sido, with a largo hall or room in Iho centre. In Uiis large room stands Iho consecrated Inter, unoortod by twnlva oxen, carved with groat fidelity lo the living origi ns,, c uur ot mo oxen laeo uie north, lour the south, nnd two onch, cnat and west Thoy, aa well aa the lavcr, are composed of wood, and are to be overlaid who goto. The layer is of oblnmr ahann. mms in,, m f,vn feet and large enough fur two priesu to olliciate at tho rite of baptism, for which it is intended, at once. n pump sinniis oy it to supply it with water. Stairs approach H from either aido. I walked op and looked in. It contained nothing but a few inches of water. The Inver, oxen, iic, are at present protected from tho weather by a temporary roof. What the uiuneroiia rooms in Uus basement aro intended lor I did not learn. The walls are all oxceodingly strong and massy, even Ihe partition walls, generally from two to three feet thick. The basement is lighted by numerous windows, about five feet high, and aa ma-ny wide, arched over tho lop. Between Uiese windows aro very heavy pilasters, on Uio lop of which rest tne osscment atones ot uio lose heavy pilasters between Ihe windows of the upper stories. On each of Iheso basement stones ia carved a crescent or figure of Iho new moon, wilh a profile of a man'e face, aa seen In old Almanacs. The windows of the up per stories art somo nilccn or eighteen leet high, arched over Uie tup in a perfect semicircle. Tho first story abovo the basement is divided into two apartmonta called the outer and inner courta, Tho walls between Iheso couru are Uireo feet thick, of solid mason work, with Iwo immense doora for pas-ssge between them. The cuter court ia sometwenty-five, feel wide, by ninety feet long tho inner court ia about ninety feet square. These facts about the dimensions ol Iho building I obtained fTi ' '. himself. All the work ia of good - "' ' ,l","",t white, and it will pre. J? PInce when finished II"- econd 95 leet story is to betin-;.k- ' nut learn. I have been thus utrticulnr in my description of this building, as many exsggcrated stones are circulated in regard to it Having (bus visited the prophet, and examined tho cily and lemple, I left fur my temporary home at tins place, thsnklul that I had been preserved from such vain and unhappy delusions, which cannot but work temporal and spiritual woe lu all concerned in llicui, unless speedily repented of.
Object Description
Title | Weekly Ohio State journal (Columbus, Ohio : 1841), 1843-10-11 |
Place |
Columbus (Ohio) Franklin County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 1843-10-11 |
Searchable Date | 1843-10-11 |
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Description
Title | Weekly Ohio State journal (Columbus, Ohio : 1841), 1843-10-11 page 1 |
Place |
Columbus (Ohio) Franklin County (Ohio) |
Searchable Date | 1843-10-11 |
Submitting Institution | Ohio History Connection |
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Full Text | OfflOlllflt STATE WEEKLY 0 VOLUME XXXIV. COLUMBUS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1843. NUMBER 6. FUBUHHBw- EVERY WEIWEfiUAY, RV inABI.K MOTf. O.Ucs corner of High and Townslrcels, Bullies' Building. TERMS. Timet Doh.aih rr.lt ", which may bo-Iwharj-d b" lira pu"l of Two Dollars and Fifty Colds ill ad. Tl,e Journal i. also pnl.li.hcd daily during the session of Iho Lcrislaliiro and thrice a week remainder ol lira year, fr Do and Ihrec limea a week, yearly, f"r $. THURSDAY EVENING. OCTOBER 5,18-13. " THE LATE FORGED LETTER, Ever eince the organization of civilized society, mankind liave universally agreed to regard certain tiling as sacred. Among thoso are the sanctity of tho family circlo, and of the confidential correspondence between individuals. And henco it i, that tho eves-dropper, the miscreant that would secrete himself within the precincts of tho fumily or social circle, for the purpose of picking up matter to be circulated for injurious purposes; and the equally contemptible wretch who would, for any purpose, violate tho seals of privato correspondence, have ever been considered as without the pale of private and public esteem. Such has ever been tho detestation in which these practices have been regarded, that the gcnlle, tho simple, tho learned, and the unlearned, tho man of refined tasto, and even tho ordinary ruffian, hove, tut with an instinctiva horror like-that inspired by the contact of the serpent, shrunk from their contaminating touch. But to this like all other goneral rules there arc, it Boerns exceptions. Within the lOtli Congressional District it appears there aro four. These are the fellows who found, or stole the letter purporting to havo boen written by Mr. CalToo I he who forged the lcttur pretended lo havo been written by Mr. Jesse Smith ; the Statesman, who published theso puicrs, and the Aon. fccmrm a. moore, who exultingly points to tho Smith letter, as aflbrdingovidonco of bis groat popularity in Licking county I Worthy compeers ! voluntary associates! a galaxy of lights, distinguished for low cunning, tacl, and all tho other admirable qualities which constitute the nun of electioneering sagacity ! But the Statesman, maiigro the recklessness of its course, is evidently sick of this matter. It informs tho public that it has sent their letters to the Post master at Newark, and says "wo shall hear no more about forgeries, Ate." Why send them to the Postmaster? Is the Post office constituted Iho legitimate recipient of found, stolen, or counterfeit goods? Why wore not those papers sent to their ostensible address ? If genuine, they were entitled to them as their own property, nd if spurious, they wero equally entitled to them us evidence of tho oulrago that had been perpetrated upin their rights. There is another adage, tho correctness of which wo hnvo never board questioned ; it is, that the receiver of stolen goods is as bad as tho thiol to which wo will add that the publisher of a dishonorably acquired, or forged correspondence, assimilates his condition to that of the original offender. What would the Statesman have done if it had enme to the possession of a piece of plate, or other goods to which was lcrribly affixed tho name of Hcman A. Mooro ? Would it have sent it to the Pout Office to be identified and reclaimed ? It would havo done no anch thimr. There is in evory part and portion of this dercpu- table transaction, an exhibition ol meanness a stu-died effort at low. contemptible cunning, and dishon- orahlo benrinrf which must stick to all tho parties thereto, liko the fabled tunico of Nussus, and of which, in the eyes of correct thinking men, tncy never can rid themselves. THE LIBEL. The Statesman piles libel upon libel, and still growls liko a boar with a soro head, became a jury of honest men under oath, has rendered a righteous verdict Scarce a statement made in thit paper but has falsehood for its foundation. Witness tho ful lowing in tho last paper, on tho subject of its char ges against Mossrs. Ewing and stanoery, in relation to the purchase of Land Scrip : "The history of this scrip speculation can thin brielly bo given. At tno ciosu 01 wo r oi me Revolution, many of the gallant defenders of their country wore promised land for their services, and a portion of tho public domain was set apart for that purpose Each of theso soldiers had issued to them ,..,,,'... known iu land warrants, and with which they could locate any unentered land within the Military Luid district The land not being suffi cient in qiianliiy to satisfy the demands, theso war-nn. an,,,, heirsn in denreciale in nrice, and by the timo Thomas F.wmg was elected lo the Senate of the United States, had become a mere drug in Iho mar. kot being worth but a very few cents on tho dollar-A bill was introduced into tho lowor House of Congress, and which subsequently became a law, allowing these wnrranu to bo returned to Ihe Treasury Department and the owner lo receive ill lieu thereof land scrip, with which ho could cnler, at any Uniled States Land Offico, in Ohio, Indians, or Illinois, the .,n amount of land. While tins bill was pending, (and wo wish tho reader to mark what wo ny,) THOMAS EWING, then a Senator in Congress, finding that, Willi his own oxertions, nis inuuonce, ,l l. imin he hill would beromo a law, immedi ately borrowed money of the Bank of the United Nim,! and which II ink was then asking a rechar- ter and, hiring agents lo Usvorse the cuunlry, he bought up, at but a very few coma on the dollar, a mi numlmr nf theso warrants, and by the timo the law was paused, he was enabled lo present himself at tho door ol Hie Treasury iicpariniuin, , nw fr Hum,,, serin, which was worth as much as Laud f lllii-A nillHAV " Was it not, then, criminal In a Senator to take advantage ot his station to buy from tho ioor old soldier, their widows and their orphan children, the bounty of their Government, properly for far less than iu value? They were in profound ignorance that tho Government intended tu do them justice, but as a Senator, Mr. Ewing knew better. Would it not bo baso for a judge to purchase a doubtful claim, and then rrivo hul anient in his own favor. The case is a parallel lo tho one of Ewing, and yol in the case of the judge a man wliowouiii so act o "i" as an unmitigated scoundrel j bill in tho case of Ewing, and which is precisely similar, the Journal can see nothing wrung. Wo refer to this libel, not that wo think it ncces isry lo vindicalo Mr. Ewing's conduct in the train aclion, but to show that this, liko almoat every state ment in that paper, in which a prominent Whig, or Whig measure is referred to, is false in fact, falsa in inference and iniicndo. Tho gist of the chsrge of criminality against Mr. Ewing is, that he, "1 lioinaa Ewing, then a Senator in Congress, finding Ibat with his own exertions, his influence, and Ins vote, tho Dill would becomo a law," 4iC. Now this is every word false, Tho bill became a law on tho IKIth of May, 1SI0, and Mr. Ewing did nut take his sest in tho Senato until tho 5th of December, l&ll. What then but Ihe genius of falsehood itself could seek to put oh" aa true, and build upon it the moat gravo charge of criminality, an assertion so basely falso? Yol this is the kind of political aliment dealt out by tho Statesman to it deluded readers. Again t The Statcsmsn, in speaking of tho widows and orphans of the soldicra, in whose favor Oils land scrip was directed lo bo issued, says: "They wero in profound ignorance lhat the Government intended to do them justice " and tins is another falsehood of the most abandoned character, and thai the Statesman knew it to bo so, as is evident (roin iu stating that the law required the warrant upon which scrip might issue to be returned to the Treasury Department And could a holder of land warrant be ignorant of tho oxistenco of a law when in compliance with ils reqiromcnU ho was forwarding his warrant to the Treasury to get his crip ? What a terrible misfortuno has befallen tho Statesman ! It has been mulct in fJJHX) damages for a libel on a citizon of Columbus, and it tries 10 prove ils innocence by publishing a string nf false accusations against the counsel of the plaintiff, right in the face of Iho law, and the recorded facu I Vorily, il is clear I hat the Statoeman is for falsehood first, falsehood last, and falsehood always. - 11W7 REASONS. Presuming that every taxpayer will consider a dollar of unnecessary expenditure aa a good reason fur adopting measures or economy, we present in that behalf eleeen thousand lico hundred and seventy seven reasons why there ought not to be a Locofoco Legislature elected. It will be recollected that in 1840 the Legislature, in both branches, wsb Locofoco; and by reference to the Auditor's report of that year, it will be seen that the money paid to the State Printor was $'20,3-10. It will also be recollected that in 1841 the House of Representatives was Whig. That House set its face against the extravagant printing which has grown into practice, and which it contended wag of no public utility, but calculated solely to awell tho salary of the Stato Printer. The result waa that the amount paid the Stato Printor that year waa but 9,0(i3, making a difference of $11,277. The next year the Legislature was Locofoco in both branches, and the old practice of preparing sop for the State Printer was again adopted. Let every elector, when he votes for Representatives, think of tho 1 1,277 reasons why he ought not to vote the Locofoco ticket. And what are the reasons on the other side? They are not such as will be publicly offered, but they are in truth nothing more or less than the pub ic shall be made to pay through the medium of tax es, a sum sufficient to enable the Statesman to circulate to all parts of the State, pay or no pay. A public tax for the support of a party press. A NEW GOVERNMENT CURRENCY. Tho New York papers state that the Secretary of the Treasury has matured a plan for issuing, early n the ensuing month, a new circulating medium, which is to consist of fifty-dollar notes, made paya- bio to order, and bearing interest at the rate of one-tenth of one per cent per hundred dollars. They are to bo filled up to one uniform endorser and mailo payable on demand in specie in New York, all tho Banks of which city have agreed to receive them on deposite. Tho law governing this issue docs not permit a lower denomination of notes than fifty dol- urs. It is said that tho plate from which the notes aro to be alruck off corresponds in size with the old Troasuy noles. THE MAINE ELECTION. It appears thut Mr. Anpf.rson, the Locofoco can didate, has been elected Governor of tho Stato of Maino by a majority of less than a thousand votes. Only two members of Congress aro known to bo e- lectcd Mr. Ih-.ii.Ai' in the second district and Mr. Ikui.n in tho sixth. They are both Locos. The first and fourth districts are in doubt, and in the oth er three there is no choice. The Legislature will be decidedly anti-whig. ANOTHER PLUNDERER DISCOVERED. It is said that a Locofoco Land Receiver in tho Wcstorn part of the State, has recently been detected in buying up L-tnd Bonds, toiii Vie Slate's money and pocketing the discount ! So we go. Moro u Land Scrip" operations! Where sloops the indignation of the Statesman ? Where's that "Sentinel on tho watch tower?" How long, ye voters of Ohio, will yo bo ridden by Locofocoisin ? BVINGTON SOLD! It is said that Auditor Brough, when in New York hist spring, to procure tho loan authorized by tho Legislature, pledged himself to tho takors of Iho loan that Hiington should not again be elected to the Legislature! What office is Uyington to have to procure his ratification of this agreement? STRANGERS! Wo saw at the American tho other day, a lot nf tine Lobsters, all the wny from Boston. They woro brought by Hardin's Express to Cleveland and thenco to Columbus by stage, expressly fur Mr. Aesry or rather fur thuse who stop at the American. This is an enterprise seldom attempted, and ncvor equalled' But Kclsey ia the man to go ahead I From the Uliio Star. THE ELECTION. We foar that some of our Whig friends iindor-rate tho importance of tho election this full that they are not fully awaro of the importance of activity in the good cause wow. For seven years Ihe freo voico of Ohio has been well nigh stilled by the unfair and unjust apportionment ot lrH and Irio. Those ucg-islativo apportionment were framed by the Uicolu- cus on purpose to secure their own ascendancy, and every unlair advantage was taken of the v lugs in framing tho ilistrtcu. It is true that the dishonesty of tho Locofocos rc-acled upon themselves at ono election, and gavo tho Whigs a greater majority in tho rwpular branch, even than they wore equitably entitled to, but in tho mam the Locofocos have been enabled to keep the control of one or both branches every year. Only once in nine years past have Uie VI lugs had a majority in botli branches of the Legislature. 1 hero is now a roasunabio chance lor tno wings to carry both branches of the Legislature. If they out no Tiir.ia di'tv they can and will carry Hunt branches. Tins will ouablo them to frauio a fair and cifttitalile apportionment of legislative Districts tor lour years lo come. 1 hat npKirtiontniei,t tu to bo made this year. And if mado by Locufocua will again disfranchise thousands in order to secure to Ihein a dishonest ascendancy. ho has torgottcn tho great revolution ol IMU when the Wings swept tho State by a majority of moro than '.iO.UOO ? At that election, with all tint vast majority, Iho Whigs elected !l Senators osi.r and tho Ijocofocos II. How happened that? Not under any fair apportionment of Senatorial Districu, hut under the law of ISC' framed the saino year that Portage Cauntv was dismembered, and or the same iiurwir. to secure party advantnge. But fur mo dishonesty ol that uncotoco majority in lorming district, the will of tho people, so loudly and emphatically uttered at tho ballot-boxes in the fall of 18-10, would have been carried out at that session and Ohio would now bo enjoying tho benefits uf a sound well-regulated Banking System, and a sutli-cient currency of her own. The aiiatliy of Iho Whigs at the succeeding elections combined with oilier caoscs to give etlect to Ihe unfair apportionment of members and tho triumph of Locofocoisin in ttio annihilation of our Bunks is thus complete. It is Uiiis that Iho I,ocofoco party pcrpctuato their own power, by their own dishonesty, it is this very thing, and none other which lias enabled the Slate Printer snd Dictator by the ag-ncy of caucus to set the will of tho pooplo at utter and contemptuous defiance. An opportunity is now before the people to set this mailer right osier roa ah. To throw off this incubus, that weighs down their prosperity lo dethrone King Caucus, and drive his satraps to sumo other occupation. This fall Iho Whigs may easily carry tho Slate, and put an end to somo uf those standing abuses. It ia high time for a reformation in tho alfaire of our Slate high lime that the salaries of public functionaries bo reduced high timo thai measures bo taken, if not lo allevinto the burthen of taxes, at least to guard against an increase and to provide some currency in which thev may I :j .: .1... .1.. -.1! t li.l...... ue pmu iiigu nine tout tou mine tu cimu i n,,,,,, waa abolished, and with it the practical supremacy and dictatorship appertaining thereto, now vested in Iho person of Sam Medary with pay averaging 0(10 per annum, and s5.000 net profit high time in short that an end be put lo tho souses wlncn lKo-focoism has engendered and seeks to perpetuate. Can any Whig be indifferent in such a struggle ? Will any Whig atand tamely by and seo himself perhsps, at any rate thousands of his fellow-citizens disfranchised and I ho will of the peoplo systematically set at nought? Will any Whig omit sn honest effort this fall? let such an one, if anv there be, remember Iho past, and looking at the future at tho prospect of another rnra YKAas of Locofoco sway at the destructive spirit of lhat party, growing year by year, tone scrupulous and more rabid at tho prospect uf increased taxation and diminished mesna of payment wo say let every sluggish Whig think on llieso things and gird, himself note, nf oner, for a contest to result in a victory, and in the establishment of his principles. We said tho Whigs could easily achieve the victory. It needs but their earnest aclivc oxerliims for a few days, to seo and converse each man with Ins neighbor, and impress uwn bis mind the imporlsnco of the contest it needs only the attendance of all the Whigs at the polls early on the day of Ihe election. Let then overy man leul himself a vigilance commitlee authorized and charged with his duties as such frum this time till the election day. THE YOUNG MEN'S WHIG NATIONAL CONVENTION. WHICH WILl BE THE BANNER UF.I.EOATIO.I ? The subjoined preamble and resolutions, passed by the Whig Convention of Baltimore, at ils meeting lost evening, will attract the addition, and arouse the emulation of our Whig friends throughout the Union. Which shall be tho Banner Delegation ? Which of all the Slates shall send the greatest number of delegates to the great National Convention of May lK-Hi' Here is u generous rivalry proposeu lor tne Whirrs of the Union. Whatever State shall send tho largest proportionate Delegation to that Conven tion, will carry with tlioin homo a nelitting trupny, in a beautiful banner rich in all lhat art and skill can afford but richer far as the work of the fairest hands of the fairest daughters of Baltimore. Let the young Whigs of all the States bestir themselves tho prize is worthy of' all their gallantry and tho circumstances under which il is to bo won and worn should arouse ill the chivalry of the North and the South the East and the West. It is a trophy of honor it is a token woven by fair woman for brave men it is to be won by patriotism it is to be borne in tho great procession and next to those whose handy-work it is-to be, it will be the brightest attraction of the gorgeous scene. Who will win and wear it r Han. rat. BALTIMORE WHIG CONVENTION. At a meotiug of the Whig Convention of the City of Baltimore, held at "Union IIull,"on Thursday evening, September .rth, the following preamblo and resolutions were unanimously adopted: Whereas this Convention has liorclotore on bo- half and by authority uf the Whigs of the City of liuiiunore, suggcsieu lo uieir tviug oreuiren ui me United States, and cordially invited them to unite in the formation of a Yoi-.nu Men's Wimu National Convention, lo assemble in this city on Thurs day, the ad ot May, 10-14, to oe authorized to ratily the nominations for President and Vice President of the United States, which may be mndc by the regu-lurly cunstitutcd Whig National Nominating Convention, to meet in Bultiinore on Wednesday, the 1st ot May nnd to adopt such meuHiircs us in its wisdom the Convention muy deem necessary and proper to conduct the canvass to a successful and triumphant issue. And Whkreas tho Whigs of the City of Balti more are particularly desirous of having, on that oc casion, an opportunity to extend the hospitality of tho city to every Whig ill the Union who can possi bly attend ine lonvemion, anil believing that the larger the assemblage, the greater will be the favorable influence it will exercise on the result of the ensuing Presidential election, and being also desirous of showing some approval to their Whig brethren of the State that shall send ttio largest proportional delegation to the proposed Conveuliun ThereforeHesoleed, That the Whigs of the Cily nf TMti-moro, will have prepared an npproprinto BANNER, to bo presented tu such Slalo delegation, (Maryland excepted, as wo hope lo see her Whips hero en masse,) to the Young Men's Whig National Convention of Ratification, to assemble in said city on Thursday, the &I of May, r!44, as shall on thut occasion have the largest proportional number in at tendance, having in view the Whig population of the severul latcs as tested by the rresulenlal election of lr 10, and llicir respective distances frutu this city. Itrsolvcd, Thnt tho Editors of the Whig Journals throughout the Union, bo requested to publish these proceedings, aad to invite the attention of tho Whig party to tie-in. GEO. R. RICHARDSON, President. JAMES FKAXIEIt, ( v- -, , invji'i'ii iv ii i i;v Vico Presidents. C.C. Eoebton, Jr. ,Jr.' t u, J Secretaries. RoBT. M. 1 KOI1 From llio Nnliimnl lutrllifreiircr. JUDGE McLEAN and the WHIG CAUSE Wo copy with pleasure from the Chorluttusvillc (Vs.) Advocate part of a letter from this distinguished gentleman, which ono of his friends in lhat quarter lias communicated for publication, though (us be says) not designed fur tho public eye. So sound, uuwevcr, arc tno opinions, so right the lootings which il expresses, that ono cannot but be gratified that the public sh-juid cumc into iiossession of such a declaration, so worthy of a wide attention, and so certain, Irom the suurce Irum which it comes, tucummuiid it Let not tho manly rcerot with which Judiro Mc Lean speaks of the present condition of political morals be confounded witli that tnlkinir. tradiiiL'. shullling patriotism that mouths eternally iho names ol honor, country, liberty, the Constitution, as favor ite sounds abundantly suthcicnt, without ono noble or useful public act, to win the popular fuvor. Let not this sincere language pass for nu more than the declamatory virtue ol the day, which is irrowiiifr. in those who talk it most glibly, little else than a justification of Dr. Johnson s snarling definition of patri otism "that a patriot is ono who makes a great rout obout country and conscience, in order thut ho may sell the former, and because he never had any of the latter." Juilzo McLean is ono nf thuse whose public action has over answered to their speech ; who havo served Iho country more than they have (l ittered it ; who havo talked of principles less linn Ihoy have striven to advance them. This letter itself, little framed aa it is to llic tune nf nopulnrity-sockini?. ii an earncsl uf his sincerity ; but it is not the only one : he but speass now as no nas neretoiore acted with a disdain of jiersoual successes to bo won si the sacrifice I tho politic weal or ol his individual honor and independence. Wo know how truly this letter is in conformity with whni wna tho public impression nf his course, in that decisive moment ol his political fortunes, which others may not remember so well. It is to that period of his life that ho modestly refers when he suya, in Ibis letter, "a departure from theso principles drove me reluctantly from public life." Associated originally with the Adtims Administra tion, aa Itic chief of a service (tho Post Office) not then miikmg as a Cabinet department, he had given it by tho energy and skill oiuch he unused lulu it, un importance and popularity which furhado Ins removal at the accession uf the Jackson dynasty, and mado that violent but tiolitical ower willing lo adopt provided it might use linn. ilh this view under pretence of giving a new dignity lo his department but in reality thai ils patronage might be brought (as it had not hitherto been) iuln Ihe great Executivo fund of power they conttiltited his office a Cabinet one. Then (lie 1'ost Ulheo and all its wide machine ry and patronage began at onco to bo used for a political and electioneering and pirty engine, of which Ac waa left the resHiiMibiliiy, while Artouk thocoii. trol. Commanding as was the popularity of Iho Administration with which Mr. Mt-U'nn was thus associated, and iuvitinir as was the mad which (with the ,ptilar lavur thnt he enjoyed) it opened to the highest public success, he saw not the rewards uf ambition which it otVered, but tho iillicial abuses, Iho public cormpiion nnd disorders, the personal degrs- dstion and dishonesty which il involved ; and ho withdrew Trum Urn connection with that Jacobinic cabal whose pernicious schemes wero already pre- iaring, visibly (o hum the mischiefs which they have since inflicted, tho dangers at which hu is nuw a- larmed. When, therefore, that very parly, Ibo mere expec tation of whoso acts separated him frum them, now nll'ecl fur him an admiration which he so little returns, and are good enough to wish to uso nun to distract tho Whigs and fmstralo llieir own coming overthrow, John Mclean is now aa httlo their dupe as ho was furmorlv llieir tool ; and bo writes, there. fore, to a friend in Virginia, under date uf tho 10th August last, in the lulhming terms: kxtract rRim Jinnr. mile ins luttsb. Tho office of President in my opinion, has boen lowered, and also tho character of ll'o country, at home and abroad, by Ihe means used to secure thai ollico. High as the Presidency uf this groat nation is, it may bo reached at loo great a price. It sinks below tho ambition of an honorable mind, when it is attainable only by a sacrifice of the loftiest pnlriut- ism. rVtrt lo name others, we nave in iho elevation of JelTerson, Madison, and Monroe, examples of a high and honorable ambitiun which is worthy of im-ilsiinn, Theso eminent men, when named fur the ullice of President reposing on what Ihoy had dune and what Iheir known capaciiies enabled lliomtodo, in the highest public fruits, neither look nor seemed to take any agency in their own advancement. Fur many years I have boen deeply impressed with the injustice, the corrupting and ruinous oll'ccU of iHilitical partizanslup. Its introduction into the Federal Government, has well nigh ruined our beloved country. Before this hano hid perverted our moral sense, our luve uf country, and, sn far as pnliticsare concerned, almoat every noble feeling of Iho heart, we were happy, as a people, in the enjoyment nf great and uninterrupted prostierity. And whatever may he said tu tho contrary, Ibis terrible evil lies al tho foundation of all our embarrassment. It lias been mainly instrumental in the commercial revulsions we have witnessed, and it has prostrated our political morality. Our pecuniary losses within a low years past, are almost beyond the power of computation, but theso are scarcely worthy of consideration, in comparison with the loss, of moral force in our institutions. That man must bo blind to the admonitions of history, who supposes that a free government can be long sustained, which addresses itself, with all iu influence, to the baser passions of our nature. Such a course leads to a widely diffused corruption and consequent ruin. In u.y judgment nothing can rescue our government from this common fate of republics, but a cbango in its political action. This action must be elevated, it must roach and rouse tho moral tone of the nation. Instead of administering lo the prostituted appetites of demagogues, it must rest on a virtuous and an enlightened public opinion. It must gather strength by its acts moral strength. Its aim should bo tho general good. Tho chief of tho government in making appointments to office should carry out the the principles of the virtuous Monroe, who, on a certain person being recommended to him for an ufficc, as a personal friend, with good qualifications, remarked, with earnestness : u No man can feel more grateful than 1 do for personal acts of kindness, but in milking this appointment I havo a high public duty to perform, and I must look to the public interest." A departure from these principles drovo me, reluctantly, from politicui life; and in all sincerity I assure you that there is no political office, not even the Presidency, which could tempt me again into politics, on principles opposed to those which I approvo and on which I endeavor to act Pledges, when given by a candidate for public favor, should bo received with suspicion, as Ihoy are generally made to nnswcr a particular purpose, and are seldom redeemed. No ono, perhaps, should be named fur the Presidency, whose opinions, on the leading topics of the day, are unknown to Ihe public. Until within a few years past pledges were not required from iho candidates fur the chief magistracy. And I may sBk whut good has resulted from this innovation ? Has it ni ule our Chief Magistrates more faithful to Ihe Constitution and to their general duties ? Let a comparison of our late history with tho past, answer this question. Who thought uf asking a pledge from tho venerated fathers of the republic bIiiivo named ' A sound head and honest heart, I think, aro tho best pledges. Those will rarely fail, whilst experience shows that plcges are made to bo broken. No ono who is named for ihe Chief Magistracy, from a respectablo source should feel himself at liberty In say that he would decline a nomination for that office. But I beg you tu believe, my dear sir, that this remark is not prompted by a vainly which leads me lo suppose lhat my name could bo favorably considered by the contemplated Whig Convention. The friends of Mr, Clay, in consideration of his eminent qualifications and long public services, aro looking with no ordinaty solieitiulu tu his nomination. And I assure you, that I have no wiidi, by the obtrusion of my name to separato my friends, if I have any, iroin their preseutassociatious. I do not desire, and would not receivo Iho Presidency, if wiihin my reach, as tho instrument of a puny. Indeed I should count it no honor, to have mv nanio associated with the downward course uf our Government, and such a courso is accelerated and only accelerated, by ultra ntirtyism. To bring back tho Government to its old foundations, to restore iu lost character, its former polity, energy, and elevation, would be an achievement second only to tint of Washington's. An achievement which would moke any individual Iho favored son of his country. Of Ibis who would not bo proud ? nnd short of liiis ob ject, no Honest man can desirollie Presidency. nn me greaiesi re.ipeci, l sin Your grateful and obedient serv'l, JOHN McLEAN. Fiom tho nalliniore Amenrnn. RELIEF TO THE STATES. Mr. Wm. Cost Johnson, ihe author of tho nlsn of National relief tu the Slutes on tho basis ol iho Public Lands, has been aililressuur the ucoule of Si. Mury's on the subject of his proposition. We aro strongly persuaded thai nothing but a general and familiar acquaintance with the provisions ul liiis plan is needed tu , c urn it the apprubaliun uf the people uf tho United Stales. Tho measure in the first placo ia entirely coimli- lutiuiial. Even if il went upon the ground nf a direct assumption uf the State debls, it would havo precedent losu.-laill it In 1'IKJtho Naliunnl Government assumed State debts tu the amount ol'l,- 000,000, and this was done at a lime hen the sales ul the public lunds did nut amount to ono hundred thousand dollars annually; when the national debt was more than fill) -six millions ; when the population of Iho Umun was abuul three millions ; a Iu n the duty paying uniKirta were but a lillle above sixteen millions, and the gross revenues of the nation wero between two and three millions. Yet the measure wos highly ealuury. It relieved Iho imgEliiur Stalc of burdens w hich Willi their limned resources wero very oppressive ; it aided to restore the general credit; H gavu a new impulse In industry by remo ving uie snackies ol luxation winch lettered Iho people of Iho Slates; and by tho stimulus it imparted in business and enterprise il tended lo bring ihe resources of the country into play, and thus tu mereaso Uie rovonues far beyond Iho amount required for tho annual aymcnu ol interest on the assumed debt. Another measure ot assumption waa adopted in ItHfi during Mr. jEi rtasoN's first lernu By tho treaty of IJcfl with Great Britain, it was provided filial creditors on cither side shall meet with no lawful impediment tu the recovery of the lull value, in sterling inuney, of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted." But in many uf itic Slates impedimenta had been thrown in tho woy uf Iho recovery ofdebu due lo British suhjecu contracted before the Revo lutionary war, ami thuso obstacles were such that the British creditors could not obtain by courso of law tho moneys duo them. To preserve in good faith tho stipulation of tho treaty uf KM, il was determined in IHtrJ that tho National Government would assume these debts ; and they were accordingly assumed and paid lo Iho amount of n Aumfrrr thousand jMiiii'i tfrriiitr, iho amount agreed upon by Ihe am- uassauors oi tne two countries, as the sum justly duo. If the National Guveriunenl with its limited means in l!K) could nssuuio tho debls of the States to the advantage uf all parties, relieving the Slates without burdening itself, wilh how much greater advantago might the national aid he extended al this crisis to the aulfering Stales ? But tho measure now contem plated ii not so much an nmimotinn of Slalo debt as it is tho oxerciso of Iho national agency in the management of a groat fund, tho proieny of the Stales, for tho benefit uf tho Stales. "When tho General Government" aays Mr. Juiinson, in ono uf Ins letters lo t'ol. Cassoi.l, "nssinned Iho debts of the States in lIK), the proceeds of Uie sales of tho public lands were pledged "unhr the liquidation of that ih lit ; but tlio limitation by thut law extended only lo tho lime of siyment If an account wero opened, and tho Government credited with all tho money It has cxiendid lor Iho public lands, and Willi interest Iu .September, lr-10; and.lf Ihe Government were charged with all Iho money il lias received from tho public lands, and the donations of grants which it has made, mill interest lo the same le-riod, it w ill he found, aa the account slated in my address will exhibit, th.it the Genera! Government will he indebted to Iho Stales ill the sum of U'J,000,IKHX Now if aro imburtenieniofthissuiu were demanded by the Stales, as ihey havo a right lo demand it, the amount justly due them falls short only .,(KKI,. 0(H) of the wholo aggregate ol t'.HKMXK),MKI called for by Mr. Johnson's plan as Ihe sum lu he distributed in national stuck among Ihe States. The General Government then is in fact solicited for the loan of its credil merely to Iho amount uf ."H,IXHV 000 on the pludgo and security of u,o whole public domain. Taking J 100,000,(XX) as the nggregalo of the Slalo dolus, the interest on Iho amount at aix per cent ia I'2.0WI,(HHI annually. This Ihe Siatea must strive to pay with such resources aa ihey havo. But a national stock of t0O,IKIO,0O) at three per cent, if it wore vxcnangeii iur tno existing Mialo slocks, would mquirc Iur Ihe annual paymenu of interest only ii,IKHUKH. Here would be an actual reduc tion ot the debt ol one halt at a single touch. The sales of the public lands fmm IK'UI tu 10 both inclusive, amounted to M,'.i:i,UI7, averaging nearly eight millions annually. More would bo an ample prevision at once tor the six millions of inter est on account ol the nationalized Stato debts. The very adoption ol such a measure of relief would. moreover, mereaso Iho amount of the public land sales, and by removing the shacklos of taxation from properly, it would givo sucn nuoyance and lifo to business, such an enlarged scope to industry, Ihst the recoipu from custom house duttea would bo ailundsiitly mllicienl for the ordinary wants of tho Treasury, and for the acemnulalion of a sinking fund lor the gradual extinction of tho wholo debt Of this lliero need be no doubt Our Stale debu thus nationalized would not only ceaso lo be a burden by such an arrangement as this, but the very creation of a national stink nf iisl,. uuu.inoj wuuiu in inu vnu pruve oi great uso in allur ding a desirable menus of investment and thus draw hoarded sums from idleness and diffuse them into the circulation. Atler all, however, the only question is, since our debu as State or National do and must exist, whether as States we can bettor pay by taxation twelve millions annually in the shape of interest than six millions annually as a nution, by means of the public land sales and impost duties. This is ihe poiut to which the whole matter reaolvca itself. Front die Akrou Beacon. HORACE GREELEY. Of the many distinguished and able men which Ihe late Universalist Convention brought to our vil- uago, none waa more cordially greeted, than the tal ented and warm-hearted editor of tho New York Tribune, not alone by tho particular religions denomination with which ho was associated, but by thoso of all creeds, and by men of all parties. And this was not caused so much by his acknowledged talents, as by that genuine philanthropy and hearty good will towards all with which he seems to be tliuroiighly imbued. Mr. Greeley's name ia connected with many uf the prcjecU of reform, now before tfic public, which has given occasion to sneering remarks from thuse who huve no confidence in any reform, and who believo lhat if the condition of man is at all to be improved, it must be done by accident no one must presume to suggest the plun, or point to the mode. With such we have no sympathy, and at the same time, we cannot but admire theself-sacrificing spirit of tho man who, fur the sake of promoting the happiness of his race, is willing to submit his name to obtonliv and the scorn of fools, hv advocating measures unpopular and little understood. It is the number ol theso urns, in winch Mr, Orcelcv is interested, that gives us an insight into his character. We see by it that he cherishes an ardent faith in man a Btrong hopo that ho may be made better thun ho is, and a feeling heart for the untold weight ot misery that crushes to tho earth, the toll ing multitude he seeks by various means to teach mankind to throw off this weight, and though wo think him mistaken lis some things, we catinol but respect his motives and admire the man. Mr. Greeley spoke at the old Court Room on Thursday evening, at a Whig meeting. As a spea ker, his manner is somewhat uwkward but after tfie first few sentences, yon begin to forget the mull, and finally, hefurc he cuneludes, you are lost to overy thing but the subject he is discussing. His grout faculty is conccutrutiun he clings to his subject with great tenacity, never once leuvinir it, till it is disposed of. His moinory is ready, and his language, simple, elegant and furcible. Mingled with mutter, tune and speech is an air of curnestncBS and simplicity, th-it disarms opposition and carries cunvic-lion. Ho spoke of the Bankrupt Law, National B-iuk, and a Protcclivo Turin" ably forcibly upon all, but particularly upon the latter, which is a question in which he seems more deeply interested thun any other. I Ic is thoroughly versed in this subject, mid spoke fur nearly an huur upon it the audience manifesting nu impatience, though it was past ten o'clock when he concluded. Thruiighout this speech wo could perccivo thut his great object in politics as well as social reform, is to benefit ihe poor laborer, and raise tho unfortunate rattier than fill the pockets uf tho rich rnther to make tho mass of the tuition comfortable and happy, than to raise up tho "merchant princes," und lurdly manufacturers it is for the working man Hint tho Tor ill' n made, and nut the capitalist it is for the poor that we want a National Bunk, for it is upon the luboring class that the expense of keeping up a horde of brokers and money shavers fulls st Inst. It was for the poor snd unfortunate thnt the Bankrupt Law was passed, and although it waa defective, this was no reason why it should have been repealed it should have been amended. Tho present jiosition of Mr. Greeley aa a man of t-iienu ami great iniiucncc hi the nation, ia an example for our young men. Less than twenty years ago ho wns a poor printer's boy in Vermont with nothing but talents, perseverance and industry to aid him he lias placed himself upon an equality with the great men of tho land without wealth, without family influence, without the benefit uf even the graduation of some literary institution, he stands beside the most tuvurcd and most tortunatc. tay, wo forget ho has had the benefit of one literary in stitution thnt is beginning to bo snmo what known and felt a Printing Office conferred the honors oj grotfiwrion nwn niei. "imjor aiott, ihen, ye young men who aro struggling in obscurity and poverty jiernccre ana uie uay win oe yunr own : TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION. Tho lost Southern mail brings sccotinUof a most tnrriblo steam boat explosion at Iho town of Bayou Sara, on tho Mississippi river by which tnurtecn persons were killed ten others missinr, believed to no killed nine wounded. Tho Iuisiana Chrom ic, extra, of the 20th September, furnishes Uie ful lowing particulars: It has becume our mournful duty to record one of, the most terrible catastrophes which has ever ban pencil on the Mississippi. Yesterday, at about a itiarlcr past IU u cluck, aa the steamer Clipper ISa I. wns backing out from her moorings at our landing, no blew up wim an explosion that shook earth, air ml heaven, aa though iho walls ol tho world wore tumbling to pieces about our ears. All the boilers orating simultaneously machinery, vast fragments f Iho boilers, hune beams of timber, furniluro and human beings in every degrco of mutilation, were like shot up perpendicularly many hundred fathoms in the air. On reaching the greatest heitrhth. the various bo dies diverged like the jeu of a tounlain in all dircc lioua fnlling to the earth, and upon roofs of houses, in some instances aa much as two hundred and fifty yards from tho scene of destruction. Tho hapless victims wero icalded, crushed, lorn, mangled and scattered in every possible direction many into Uio river, some in Iho sin-els, somo on Ihe oilier side of tho llayou, nenrly .TOO yards some torn asunder by coming in contact wilh pickets and nnsls, and others snoi iiko cannon nans through Uie solid walls of Houses at a great distsnee from l ie boat All in front of tho wheel houses appears as though swept oy a wniri-winu. nut anything like an adequate uescripuon oi the accuo ot wreck and ruin is utterly out of the question. On reachinir the spot upder whin and anur. wo immediately bent our stops towards tho temporary hospital hastily prepared for tho reception of such as might be found to rctiin a spark of lifo. The sceno was such aa wo hope nevorto look upon again. t iic noon oi uie iwo mrgo warcrouma were literally strewn with tho dead and dying, and others pouring in aa fast as it was posaihlo to convey them praying, groaning, howling and writhing in every powihlo contortion uf physical agony. In the midst oi tins coi mg am, up lo tneir arm-piu in oil anil cimon ana nsmiages, wo lounu our praiseworthy phtmcians liko insid Samaritans dm no- dnksI oui- olly and silently, but with the energy and activity apparently ni liny pair ol Hands now washing a burn, now dreasing a wound, and sunn splintering a fruetiired limb. Indeed, our citizens rrenerallv. eve ry man and mother's son, aptxiarcd oly anxious as tu how they might render most service to the puor siill'orers while and black without distinction. I he followm ; aro Ihe most important particulars. as inr as we nave neen ablo to gather them: l-atte liters u 1 nomas, uussinei J. u, Jlohta- mnt con, mission uierclnnl, New Orleans, and ono mall boy, wuuiidcd. Ikck I'assenirers. 1 wounded. -s not nun. Cant. Laurent escaped unhurt i Mr. Bessy, chief clerk, missing, and the second clerk killed ; John lysoii, duel ongvneer, badly wounded ; Win. Sum- ter, M engineer Ihrown iM or !KH) yards through tho roof and gshlo end of a house into the back yard against tho fence one arm wss lorn elf and the friiements of Ins carcass scattered over Iho trees; vi m. nelson, ;id engineer, tree man ol color killed ; Arnault J. Lavnud, pilot, missing; Win. Wall, pilot killed ; John Peterson, nnle, badly scaled, though likely to recover ; Gabriel Pool, carienter, missing; watchman killed; chambermaid saved unhurt; stewards all killed or missing; two nf tho cooks killed and ono wounded; eirihl firemen killed or missing; four deck hands killed or missing. It may be well enouirh here to state, that all thoso wo havo put down missing, are doubtlesa dead, an overy search hns been made in the vicinity to nover their bodies in vain. They have doubllosa found a wotery gravo. The watchman, a while man, was Ihrown alive, 100 yards, Uimugh tho solid wall of Baker's Hotel, into a bed. Ho retained his senses perfectly fur some time a(er, but Uio poor felluw expired during the evening. Thceabin boy was thrown about 'JOO yards threugh the roof of a shed, and was picked up in a mangled condiuun. Mr. Thomas, grocer of Bavoii Sara, rind bill just taken leave of Ins wife and family, and stepped un board when Uie explosion ocriirnd. His wile and child, and another lady and child who happened lu be with her, hearing Iho uproar ran immediaiely to Ihe front windows lo ascertain the cause. They had scarcely done so, when, wilh a deafening crash driving in a Uiird of Ihe entire roof in iu indent lay a vast fragment of the boiloruit tho very spot they had quilted ! THE PRAIRIES, NAUVOO, JOE SMITH, THE TEMPLE, THE MORMONS, be. Letter from tbe Editor of the Piltsburgh Gazelle, dated Waksaw, Illinois, Aug. 30, 1813. Nauvoo, as most of your readers probably know, is about U0 miles above this town, on the Mississippi ; Warsaw lying at Uie foot of tho Ilea Moines rapids, and Nauvoo at the head. There are two roads ono by the river bank and one by the prairie. vv e loon ine latter, although it u some tour or live miles further. Nauvoo lies about north of this point, but we first took a due eost course in order to get on the prairie, aa the bluff which divides the prairie Irom Uie river, all through this region, consists ot wooded hills and ravines generally from Uirce to five miles wido. Our road, therefore, for tho first four miles was very rough, after which we got out on tho open, illimitable prairie, when we altcied our course to the north, and stretched away for Nauvoo, over one of tho finest roads iu the world. I was much surprised, on arriving at Uie prairie, to witness the great changes that had taken place within three years. Three years before, on a prairie some fifteen miles across, immediately east of Warsaw, scarcely a house was to be seen ; now the whole prairie appeared to be settled, presenting the appearance of an old inhabited country, with the exception that not a tree was to be seen. I was informed that twenty-five furms could be counted from one little hillock on this prairie. But our course north soon took us from this settled country, and we travelled over vnst prairies, extending in every direction as far as the oye could reuch, except on our right, whore lay the bluff which intervened between us and the river. Herds of cattle could occasionally be seen dotting the surface of the eaith, and it wanted but a small stretch of the imagination to fancy these the primeval lords of Uie prairie, the fierce buHitlo, that a few years ago roamed in solitude and security over these inland oceans. As we approached the " kingdom." as Nau voo is denominated here, tho country again began lo be settled, while Uio luxuriant herbage of the pniirio was cropped quite snort oy l no herns ot cattle belonging to tho Mormons. Most of the prairie near Nauvoo, is fenced wilh turf. A ditch some two feet deep is dog on each sido of Uio fence, and the turf piled up between, making a very good and durable fence. Those fences are bread enough on Uie tup fur a fout path. Quito a number of Uie houses or huls in which the inbabitanu on the prairies live, arc also made of turf, and covered with clnp-boards. As mis tun is black, as is all the aoil on the prairies, these huts present a very sombre appearance, and as there is nut a tree, and scarcely a hillock to ward ufT the scorching suu ot summer, or the culd blast of winter, they present a very bleak and desolate ap- jiearmice. As wo ncared tho city, about six o clock in the evening, we passed an immense herd of cows which were being drivon into tho city, from the prairie, to supply Uie inhabitants with milk. Wo al so passed a largo number of wagons loaded with liny, the produce of the natural grass of Iho prairie. About tbrco miles from ttio river, we onlered the kingdom uf Nauvoo;" it beinir about four miles long, up and down tho river, and thrco miles brood. The part near the prairie, about a mile and a half from Iho river, is quite broken up with ravines; nevertheless it is all laid out in sere lots, and more or less settled. We drovo down near Ihe river, and put up at a very resiiectublc Uvcrn, kept by one of the elders a temperance house. After lea wo walked uut post tho house of the prophet, who has a very gouu garden containing about an acre, wilh a very fiuo fence around it painted white, as is also his house, a moderate sized, and bumbled luokinir framo dwelling. Near the prophet's, on the other bank of the river, is the site ol tho u Nauvoo House," building by revelation. The basement is finished. It is built of a good, hard, white stone. The front on the river ia about 1-10 feet, and is entirely above ground, uf cut stone. It has a wing running back about 100 feet All this work is of the best and most substantial character. When this building is finished, it will bo equal to any hotel in the western country. By special revelation, Uie prophet and his heirs are lo have a suit of rooma in this house forever. The next morning, after breakfast, we paid a visit to tho pniphct We wero received in a common sitting room, very plainly furnished, where Ihe prophet and Uie older membcre of the family had jusl boon breakfosUng, and his numerous children and depend- aula were Uicn silting at tho table. He received us in quito a good humored, friendly manner, asked us to sit down, and said he hoped fur a belter acquaintance. On the gentleman w ho accompanied me ask ing him how he prospered, he replied, "None can e-et ahead of me, and few can keep behind me." lie seemed to think he had said something very witty, lor no laognca very heartily, wo spent about an hour conversing on various subjecta, the prophet hioisclf, with amazing volubi)ity,occupying tho most of Iho lime, and his whole theme waa himself. Let us give wbnt lorn we would to the conversation, ho would adroitly bnng it back to himself. The gentleman who accompanied mo is a strong Whig, and as the Mormon voto had been given al the recent election to the Locofoco candidate for Congress, Uicrcby defeating Cyrus Walker, Esq, Whig, who had defended "Joe" in several law auiu with the Missourians, tho conversation look a political turn at first "Joe" professed lo be a great friend to Mr. Walker, and said he had voted for him, but would not interfere wilh his people in tho matter. He said he had never asked the Ixird anything about politics; if he bad done so, the Lord would have told him what to do. The Ird," said he, "has promised to givo us wisdom, and when I lack wisdom I ask the Lord, and he tells me, and if he did'nt tell me, I would say he waa a liar; tint's the way I feel. But I never asked him anything about politics. 1 am a Whig, and I am a Clay man. I am made of Clay, and I am tending to Clay, and I am going to vole for Henry Clay; that's the way I feel. (A laugh,) But 1 won't interfere with my peoplo, religiously, to afl'ect their yotea, though I might lo elect Clay, for ho ought to be President ! have aworn by tho eternal gods it's no harm to swear by Uie gods,bo-cause there is nune : if there ia only one God, there can't be gods, and it's no harm to awear by nothing, (a laugh) I havo aworn by Uio eternal gods that I never will vote for a democrat again ; and I intend to awear my children, putting their hands under the thigh, aa Abraham swore Isaac, that Uiey never will voto a democratic ticket in all llicir generations. It is the meanest lowest party in all creation. There is fivo-sixths of my peoplo led away by the cuphon-eous tenn "democrat" lhat ihoy will voto Uie Ixko foeo ticket I amadomncratmysolf. I am a Washington democrat, a Jefferson democrat Jackson democrat, and I voted for Harrison, and I am a going lo vote for Clsy. 1 ho Locofocos aro no democrats, but Iho meanest, lowest, most tyrannical beings in Ihe world. Thoy opposed me in Missouri, and took mo prisoner, and wero a going to shoot me for treason, and I had novor commuted anv treason whatever. I never had anything bigger than a jack-knife about me, and Ihey took me a prisoner of war, and had twenty men to guard mo. I had nothing to do w,Ui lighting. Our men, six hundred strong, were in anna, under Col. Hinekle. When Uie Missourians came marching up, Col. Ilincklo ordered us to retreat, when I lifted up my hand, and said, 'Bovs, I think wo won't go yet ; ,.' stand our grounil,''aiid ihey stood linn, but Col. Ilincklo nin like Ihe devil. For doing this they charged me with treason." In tins manner the pmphcl ran nfl, talking incessantly. Speaking of revelations, he stated lhat when no was in a "quandary," ho asked the Iird for a rcv elaliun, and when ho cuuld nut iret it ho "fullowod 1 11,0 dictatee of his own judgment, which were as P" revelation (o him ; but he never gave any tl,inlf to hii peoplo aa a revelation, unless il ws a I revelation, and Iho Lord did reveal himself lo him." Running en in his voluble style, he said: "Tho world poraocutoa mo, it always bus persecuted me. The ! i"-"i" at tannage, in a public meeting laioiy, saiu aa for Joe, he's a foul, but he's got some smart men about him.' I am glad they give mo so much credit. It is nut every fool thnt has sense enough to get smart men abuul him. Tbe Inl does reveal himself to me. I know it Met revealed himself to me first when I waa about fourteen veara old, a mere boy. I will tell you about it There waa a reformation among the different religious denoniinsliona in the ncigliburhood where I lived, and I became scriuus, and waa desirous to know what Church to join. Whilo thinking of Ibis matter, I opened Ihe testament promiscuously on llieso words, in Jamea, 'Ask uf the Ixml who givelh to all men liberally and up-braidelh not.' 1 just determined I'd ask him. I immediately went nut into the wuoda where my father had a charing, and went to the stump where I had stuck my axo when I had quit work, and I kneeled down and prayed, saying, "O Ixvnl, what Church shall I join i Directly I saw a light and then a glorious personage in Iho light and then anolhor personage, and Ihe first personage said lo tho second, iieiuuu my Dciovctl eon, hear him." 1 then addressed this aeennd person, saying, 11 lird, what Church shall I join 7 Ho replied, 'don't join any of them thoy are all corrupt The vision then -. . "ml when I come to mvaelf, I w- -e'""" n my bacK and it was inins's ooloro my strength relurned When I vent liomft and told the people lhat 1 had a revelation, and that all the churches were corrupt ihey persecuted me, and they havo persecuted nio over since. They thought lo put me down, but ihey havn't succeeded, and they can't do it When I have proved Uiat I am right, and get all the world subdued under me, I think I shall deserve something. lujr iuvciiuiuns nave mreauy provua to oe true, be cause ihey have been delivered before they came to puss, and they came to pass exactly. 1 had a revelation in Missouri which waa fulfilled to tho letter. The Missourians had got us all prisoners, and were threatening to kill us. The principal men of us ' were lying under a log, with a guard standing round us in the night. I fell into a trance. I call it a tranco. I heard a voice which said, 'Joseph, fear not; you and all your friends shall be delivered without harm, and shall yet stand upon Uie hills of Zion." When I awoke out of tho trance, I aroused Eldur Rigdon, and said, I have a revel.iinn v. oil nil escape. Elder Rigdon shouted, and told it to the next one, and in the morning it was told to my family and all our friends, and they all rejoiced. That revelation came to pass, althouirli thev were hnldincr a council at tho time I had the tranco, and had resolved to kill me. They can't harm mo. I told my family lately, before I left home for Dixon, that if I was taken up the Lord would deliver me, didn't I Emma (appealing to his wife, who wss standing behind his chair, playing with his hair, and who answered in the affirmative) and when they took me I was passive in their hands, and the Lord compelled them to bring mo right to Nauvoo. They couldn't ncip uiemacivea, alUiough they gnashed their teeth with rage." Speaking of the temple which he is erecting, ho said, "1 dou't know how the world will like it, itsuiu me ; i nave no nook learning ; 1 am not capacitated to build according to the world. I know nothiinr about architecture, and all thai, but it pleases me; and that's the way I feel." A good deal of conversation of a similar charac ter took place, the prophot occupying nearly Iho whole lime, and talking of himself incessantly. Judging from his conversation, manner, and appearance 1 should Uiink him a man of small capacity, smaller ncquiremenu, and a dupe to his own iinposturea His language is rude and vulgar, snd his conduct is ngiit auu iruiing. no is lunu ut his own jokes and low wit, and laughs immoderately when he thinks he has said a good Uiing! He is a large fleshy man with a fine blue eye, largo and aensual looking mouth and lips, with an evident nredoniiusnce of the animal propensities. It is surprising to seo the awe with which his follower! approached him with hat in hand, contrasted wilh the cavalier and heartless style of his treatment of them. A poor man came to the door while wo were there, and with evident trepidation addressed the prophet Ho wished to obtain some information astowhal he had best do with his family, bavins' just arrived. "Had 1 bettor come into town, and settle on one of Uie lots, or ttay out on the prairie." "If you are going to farm it, yon had better stay on the prairie," was the reply of the Prophot "I wish to buy a pieco of land, fur which I will pay trade of various kinds lo the amount of $500; will you sell mo some?" "My lands ore all good titles, and I must huve tho money for Uicm," was Uio reply of Ihe prophet, as ho turned on his hcol and left the man lo reflect on tho Christian politeness and courtesy of one whom ho esteemed a prophet of tho Lord, and to obey whom, he had left his early homo, and braved tne uamsuipsoi a western nio. It is surprising lhat the conduct of the protended prophet docs not open the eyes of his poor, deluded followers. But they seem to bo perfectly blinded. "Joe" is profane end vulgar in his conversation, and frequently gelu drunk, and yet ho ia venerated ns tho favorite ol Heaven, and his revelations put on a par with divine writ After taking our lcavo of the prophet we spent some time in viewing the cily and lemple. Tho silo of Nauvoo is one of the most beautiful on the Mississippi river. The river stilus place makes a large bend, forming a semi-circle; within which lies tho lowor part of tho city, running back to the blult'. This scmi-circulnr piece of ground is pet feclly let el, and lies abovo high water mark, extending at Iho widest place aboot three-fourths of a mile back from the river, and is about a mile and a half in lengtn along Uie blnfl'. The bluff rises gradually, and ie not very high, and presents most beautiful building sites. On the bluff immediately opposite the centre of the scmi-circlo, and aboul a mile from the river, stands Ihe temple. Tho site ia beautifully choacn, as it is in a central and elevated position, and can bo soen from Iho river all around Uie bend, and from every part of the town. All over the bluff and bottom, are buildinea. eith er erected, or in progress of erection, but no pait of tho town ia completely built The whole soaee in conglomeration of houses, fenco, gardens, cornfields, stables, huu, &c. One looks in vsin for any thing like a oompacUy built street Tho object seems to have been to icalter aa widely aa at all convenient, and to cover aa much ground aa possible. The ground ia sold out in aero lou, and every man builds hu house, or ahanteo, or hul, asthe cai.o may be, and planU his ground in corn and vegetables for Uio support of his family. The housea are of all aorta, shapes and sizes. Some, very many, are fine brick dwellings. Olhcra are quite respectable looking frames. Others, again, aro more shanlees, somo log, some turf, some mud, and some mere shreds of boards. There are very few stores, mechanic shops, or business houses, and no trade going on. There ia nothing to export, and no ability to import Every body appears lo be engaged in putting up houses, taking care of gardene, and getting in nay from tho prairies. As crowds of emigrant are Hocking in daily, the whole community ia em- pioyuu in proviuing inciter, and in procuring the barest necessaries for existence. It ia hard lo estimate tho number of Uie population, it is scattered over so largo a space, and aevcral families aro frequently crowded into one bouse. The prophet slated to me. that he estimated thoir number at l'J.000. He aaid he could muster, in half a day, 3,000 able bodied men, fit lo bear arms, who could whip any five Uioua-and Missourians. It ia thought there aro at least 'AOOO Mormons in tho county. They havo a ma jority oi uie voters, and hold nearly all Uio county offices. There must bo a great deal of auflerinrr in the winter lesson, from cold and hunrrcr: and Ihcro ia considerable sickness in tho community at this time. une sees insny paie laces about Uie streets. Bill I must hasten to somo account of Uio 77mn and then bring this long, and I fear, dry epistle to a close. Tins modern structure, which ia In revive tho departed glories of the temple of Jerusalem, and which is as apparently dear to every Mormon heart, as was that famous and venerated house to Uie do-voul Jew, ia building, aa we stated before, on tho bluir, and is indeed "beautiful for situation." It ia about I 'JO fret long by !K) broad. When finished il is to consist of a basement, and two twonty-rive feet stories. The basement and ono twenty-five feet etnry up, and the remainder in prncesa of completion. Tho basement story is about VI feet in Ihe clear, the half of w hich is under ground. It ia divided oft" into various sized rooms running along each sido, with a largo hall or room in Iho centre. In Uiis large room stands Iho consecrated Inter, unoortod by twnlva oxen, carved with groat fidelity lo the living origi ns,, c uur ot mo oxen laeo uie north, lour the south, nnd two onch, cnat and west Thoy, aa well aa the lavcr, are composed of wood, and are to be overlaid who goto. The layer is of oblnmr ahann. mms in,, m f,vn feet and large enough fur two priesu to olliciate at tho rite of baptism, for which it is intended, at once. n pump sinniis oy it to supply it with water. Stairs approach H from either aido. I walked op and looked in. It contained nothing but a few inches of water. The Inver, oxen, iic, are at present protected from tho weather by a temporary roof. What the uiuneroiia rooms in Uus basement aro intended lor I did not learn. The walls are all oxceodingly strong and massy, even Ihe partition walls, generally from two to three feet thick. The basement is lighted by numerous windows, about five feet high, and aa ma-ny wide, arched over tho lop. Between Uiese windows aro very heavy pilasters, on Uio lop of which rest tne osscment atones ot uio lose heavy pilasters between Ihe windows of the upper stories. On each of Iheso basement stones ia carved a crescent or figure of Iho new moon, wilh a profile of a man'e face, aa seen In old Almanacs. The windows of the up per stories art somo nilccn or eighteen leet high, arched over Uie tup in a perfect semicircle. Tho first story abovo the basement is divided into two apartmonta called the outer and inner courta, Tho walls between Iheso couru are Uireo feet thick, of solid mason work, with Iwo immense doora for pas-ssge between them. The cuter court ia sometwenty-five, feel wide, by ninety feet long tho inner court ia about ninety feet square. These facts about the dimensions ol Iho building I obtained fTi ' '. himself. All the work ia of good - "' ' ,l","",t white, and it will pre. J? PInce when finished II"- econd 95 leet story is to betin-;.k- ' nut learn. I have been thus utrticulnr in my description of this building, as many exsggcrated stones are circulated in regard to it Having (bus visited the prophet, and examined tho cily and lemple, I left fur my temporary home at tins place, thsnklul that I had been preserved from such vain and unhappy delusions, which cannot but work temporal and spiritual woe lu all concerned in llicui, unless speedily repented of. |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn85025897 |
Reel Number | 00000000022 |
File Name | 1605 |