History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

ATTITUDE OF ILLINOIS AND IOWA. 137
strangers recently arrived here from the state of Missouri,
known by the name of latter-day saints, are
entitled to our sympathy and kindest regard." The
working-men of the town should be informed "that
these people have no design to lower the wages of
the laboring class, but to procure something to save
them from starving." Finally it was resolved: "That
we recommend to all the citizens of Quincy, in all
their intercourse with the strangers, that they use
and observe a becoming decorum and delicacy, and
be particularly careful not to indulge in any conversation
or expressions calculated to wound their feelings,
or in any way to reflect upon those who, by
every law of humanity, are entitled to our sympathy
and commiseration." 45
How in regard to neighboring states'? In case the
people of Illinois soon tire of them, what will they
then do? From Commerce, Isaac Galland writes to
Robert Lucas, governor of Iowa, asking about it.
The answer is such as one would expect from the
average American citizen—neither better nor worse.
It is such, however, as to condemn throughout all
time the conduct of the people of Missouri. 46
45 Pratt's Persecution of the Saints, 185.
46 'On my return to this city,' writes Lucas from the executive office at
Burlington, Iowa, 'after a few weeks' absence in the interior of the territory,
I received your letter of the 25th ult. [Feb. 1839], in which you give
a short account of the sufferings of the people called Mormons, and ask whether
they could be permitted to purchase lands and settle upon them in the territory
of Iowa, and there worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their own cousciences, secure from oppression, etc. In answer to your inquiry,
I would say that I know of no authority that can constitutionally deprive
them of this right. They are citizens of the United States, and are all
entitled to all the rights and privileges of other citizens. The 2d section
of the 4th article of the constitution of the United States (which all
are solemnly bound to support) declares that "the citizens of each state
shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the
several states;" this privilege extends in full force to the territories of the
United States. The first amendment to the constitution of the United States
declares that "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. " The ordinances of congress
of the 13th July, 1787, for the government of the territory north-west of the
river Ohio, secures to the citizens of said territory and the citizens of the
states thereafter to be formed therein, certain privileges which were by the
late act of congress organizing the territory of Iowa extended to the citizens
of this territory. The first fundamental article in that ordinance, which is