John Solomon Fullmer Assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Prophet and the Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. They thirsted, like the beast of prey, for blood, and nothing short of that would satisfy them. And therefore, instead of taking the peaceable and quiet course suggested above, the cry was raised far and near, that Smith refused to subject himself to the law, in not going with the constable to Carthage. The writ of Habeas Corpus, and the action of the Municipal Court, they refused to recognise and they sent runners, making flaming speeches, throughout Hancock and the neighbouring counties, to excite the people. In this way they succeeded in procuring several thousand volun teers, regularly ofiicered in martial order, to put themselves under the direc tion of said constable as his posse, to again arrest Joseph Smith, in defiance of his liberation, or to exterminate, literally and utterly, the Mormon, people, man, woman, and child, and then to lay Nauvoo in ashes. Such was their language in the Warsaw Signal, and in all their numerous meetings, until their forces had collected together. The idea of making the arrest spoken of, seemed gradually to wear away as their forces increased, and utter. Extermination seemed now uppermost in their thoughts, and expressed in all their movements. Volunteers from abroad were constantly invited, even from Missouri, by their corresponding committee, and by the Warsaw Signal. Neither were these calls in vain - they were promptly responded to, and a constant increase of the mob forces was the result. But before I proceed further, I will mention one circumstance which I had. Like to have forgotten, and that is this - as soon as the Expositor was des troyed, some of the lawyers gave it as their opinion, that a press or public journal, whatever might be its character, could not be constitutionally de stroyed as a nuisance and that the City Council had become liable to damages. The mayor, therefore, immediately addressed the Governor a letter, informing him of what had transpired, with the reasons that led to it, an stated emphaticall