History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

174 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
and would trust him. What he purposed doing was
to demand the surrender of Joseph Smith and others.
He wished them to promise him that they would lend
their assistance to protect the prisoners from violence,
which they agreed to do.
After his arrival at Carthage the governor sent two
men to Nauvoo as a committee to wait on Joseph
Smith, informing him of his arrival, with a request
that Smith would inform him in relation to the difficulties
that then existed in the county. Dr J. M.
Bernhisel and Elder John Taylor were appointed as a
committee by Smith, and furnished with affidavits and
documents in relation both to the proceedings of the
Mormons and those of the mob; in addition to the
general history of the transaction they took with them
a duplicate of those documents which had previously
been forwarded by Bishop Hunter, Elder James, and
others. This committee waited on the governor, who
expressed an opinion that Joseph Smith and all par-
ties concerned in passing or executing the city law in
relation to the press had better come to Carthage;
however repugnant it might be to their feelings, he
thought it would have a tendency to allay public excitement,
and prove to the people what they professed,
that they wished to be governed by law. The next
day the constable and a force of ten men were despatched
to Nauvoo to make the arrests. The accused
were told that if they surrendered they would be protected;
otherwise the whole force of the state would
be called out, if necessary, to take them.
Upon the arrival of the constable and his posse, the
mayor and the members of the city council declared that
they were willing to surrender. Eight o'clock was the
hour appointed, but the accused failed to make their
appearance; whereupon the constable returned, and
reported that they had fled. The governor was of opinion
that the constable's action was part of a plot to
get the troops into Nauvoo and exterminate the Mormons.
He called a council of officers and proposed to