History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

208
BRIGHAM YOUNG SUCCEEDS JOSEPH.
Fresh disaster now approached Nauvoo. Th
whigs and the democrats of Illinois had both sought
to secure the Mormon vote, until finally they began
to declare that Mormonism signified a government not
in accord with that of the United States. The city
charter had been repealed in January 1845, and Daniel
Spencer, who had been elected to fill the remainder
of the term of the murdered mayor, was deposed,
as were all the other city officers; a new charter was
before the legislature, but never granted. These and
like measures, followed as they were by the discharge
of Joseph Smith's assassins, imparted to the gentiles
renewed courage. The crimes of the whole country
were laid at the door of the saints. Nauvoo was denounced
as a den of counterfeiters, cattle-thieves, and
assassins, 31 the leaders of the gang being men who in the
name of religion outraged all sense of decency. The
saints retaliated in kind ; and shortly it came about that
in sections settled by Mormons gentiles feared to travel,
and in sections settled by gentiles Mormons ^ feared
to travel. In view of this state of affairs, which was
more like old-time feudalism than latter-day republicanism,
Governor Ford made an inspection of the
city, and declared that fewer thefts were committed
in Nauvoo in proportion to population than in any
other town in the state. The cause of this, however,
may have lain in the fact that the population of Nauvoo
was chiefly Mormon, and whatever might be their
depredations upon the gentiles, the saints were not
accustomed to steal from each other.
At a place called the Morley settlement, in Hancock
county, in September 1845, the people held a
meeting to devise means for the prevention of thievery.
Though few definite charges were advanced, there
was much said derogatory to Mormon honesty.
Presently the discharge of a gun was heard, once or
twice, perhaps more. It was said the shots were fired
31 For specimens of the accusations brought against them, see Hall's Mor-
monism Exposed, 24-34.
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