History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 5Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 5
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
And now I appeal to your Excellency, as I would unto a father,
who is not only able but willing to shield me and mine from
every unjust prosecution. I appeal to your sympathies, and beg
you to spare me and my helpless children. I beg you to spare my
innocent children the heart-rending sorrow of again seeing their
father unjustly dragged to prison, or to death. I appeal to your
affections as a son, and beg you to spare our aged mother--the only
surviving parent we have left--the unsupportable affliction of
seeing her son, whom she knows to be innocent of the crimes laid to
his charge, thrown again into the hands of his enemies, who have
so long sought for his life; in whose life and prosperity she only
looks for the few remaining comforts she can enjoy. I entreat of
your Excellency to spare us these afflictions and many sufferings
which cannot be uttered, and secure to yourself the pleasure of
doing good, and vastly increasing human happiness--secure to
yourself the benediction of the aged, and the gratitude of the
young, and the blessing and the veneration of the rising generation.
Respectfully, your most obedient,
EMMA SMITH.
P.S.--Sir, I hope you will favor me with an answer.
E. S.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Removal to Carlos Granger's in Nauvoo.]
Several rumors were afloat in the city, intimating that my retreat
had been discovered, and that it was no longer safe for me to remain
at Brother Sayers'; consequently {118} Emma came to see me at night,
and informed me of the report. It was considered wisdom that I should
remove immediately, and accordingly I departed in company with Emma
and Brother Derby, and went to Carlos Granger's, who lived in the
north-east part of the city. Here we were kindly received and well
treated.
[Sidenote: Governor Carlin's Views of Affairs in Nauvoo.]
_Friday morning, 19_. William Clayton presented Emma's letter of the
17th to Governor Carlin at Quincy, in presence of Judge Ralston. The
governor read the letter with much attention, apparently; and when
he got through he passed high encomiums on Emma Smith, and expressed
astonishment at the judgment and talent manifest in the manner of her
address. He presented the letter to Judge Ralston, requesting him to
read it. Governor Carlin then proceeded to reiterate the same language
as on a former occasion, viz., that he was satisfied there was "no
excitement anywhere but in Nauvoo, amongst the 'Mormons' themselves;"
all was quiet, and no apprehension of trouble in other places, so far
as he was able to ascertain.
He afterwards stated, when conversing on another subject, that "persons
were offering their services every day, either in person or by letter,
and held themselves in readiness to go against the 'Mormons' whenever
he should call upon them; but he never had the least idea of calling
out the militia, neither had he thought it necessary."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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