The governor having refused to issue commissions to the aldermen-elect of the city, Councilor Whitney inquired who were aldermen. The mayor explained that if the governor refuses to grant a commission, it does not disqualify the officer elect from acting in his office; consequently, there is no virtue in the commission, but the virtue of the office consists in the election. Councilor Young thought they were aldermen all the time or none of the time. Mayor said he wanted all the aldermen to be added to the city council. {236} Alderman Wells said he considered the election made the aldermen, and not the commission. Mayor said if he had been elected alderman and filed his bonds, he would act as councilor and magistrate. [Sidenote: Packard's Memorial to Legislature of Massachusetts] Noah Packard sent a memorial to the governor, senate, and house of representatives of Massachusetts, his native state, setting forth in detail the sufferings of the Saints in Missouri, and their expulsion from that state. _Wednesday, 6--_Went to my office, and thence with Brother Phelps to Mr. Bryant's, to see him about his uniting with Hiram Kimball and others to resist the ordinances of the city. The _Neighbor_ publishes the name of James Arlington Bennett as candidate for Vice-President. _Thursday, 7.--_A splendid day; wind from the southwest. _Minutes of a General Meeting in the Interest of the Temple_. [Reported by Elders Willard Richards and Wilford Woodruff.] A vast assembly of Saints met at the Temple of the Lord at nine o'clock a.m., by a special appointment of President Joseph Smith, for the purpose of advancing the progress of the Temple, &c. The Patriarch, Hyrum Smith, was present; also of the Twelve Apostles, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, and George A. Smith; also the temple committee and about eight thousand Saints. A hymn was sung by the choir; prayer by Elder Parley P. Pratt, when another hymn was sung. Patriarch Hyrum Smith took the stand and said, The object of the meeting is to stir up your minds by way of remembrance. It is necessary to have a starting-point, which is to build the Temple. With the assistance of the sisters, we expect to get the nails and glass; and with the assistance of the brethren, we expect to do the rest. I will proclaim in public and in private that the sisters bought the glass and nails by penny subscription. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. We shall call upon this vast multitude for a donation to buy powder and fuse-ropes to blast the rocks in the quarry. We want the brethren to at least do as much as the sisters.