History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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other they were esteemed as hard-working and thrifty
American citizens, whose votes, to the party in power,
were worth as much as those of the baptist or the
methodist.
Such was their past and present status in the community.
They were now treated, politically and
socially, with consideration, especially by politicians.
Thomas Carlin, governor of Illinois, was their friend,
and granted them all the privileges they asked; Robert
Lucas, governor of Iowa, was their friend, and
promised them the protection due to every citizen of
the United States, of whatsoever religion, creed,
superstition, fanaticism, craze, or whatever people
might choose to call it.
But soon there came a governor, named Thomas
Ford, who knew not Joseph. He was a well meaning
man enough, not blood-thirsty like Boggs, nor strong
and cool-headed like Carlin, nor yet a man of positive
action and opinion like Lucas; still, Ford was not a
bad man, and if the saints had conducted themselves
according to the wisdom of the world, they might in
time, perhaps, have overcome the prejudices of the
people. But prosperity seemed as fatal to them as
adversity was profitable. All the best of heaven and
earth was now theirs, and again Jeshurun waxed fat
and kicked, revelations becoming less frequent as the
cares of this world, the lusts of the flesh, and the
pride of life crept in among the people.
The city charter of Nauvoo 15 allowed the enactment
of any laws not in conflict with those of the
state or of the United States, and particularly that a
writ of habeas corpus might be issued in all cases arising
under city ordinance. In the interpretation of this
15 Describing Nauvoo at this period, Linforth remarks: ' Before the close
of 1S42 a vast improvement had taken place. The city, which then extended
3 or 4 miles on the river, and about the same distance back, had been regularly
laid off into blocks, containing 4 lots of 11 by 12 rods each, between 700
and S00 houses had been erected, and the population numbered about 15,000.
Two steam-mill3 and 2 printing-presses existed, and buildings for various
manufactures were rapidly going up. In the mean time the temple and
Nauvoo House were progressing. ' Route from Liverpool to G. S. L. Valley, G2.