Life in Nauvoo.
Correspondence of the Missouri Republican.
NAUVOO, Hancock County, III, April 25th, 1844.
Messrs. Editors: Here am I in the holy city of the Mormons, especially set apart and dedica-tdd to the use of that peculiar people by their great High Priest, Gen. JOSEPH SMITH, Esq, L. L. D. and H. O. A. X. What the Juggernaut is to a crowd of Hindoo devotees—what Jerusalem was to the Crusaders, who poured out their blood to rescue the holy sepulchre from profanation—what Mecca is to the troop of pilgrims, who year-ly throng the shrine of the "False Prophet"—so and such is Nauvoo to some of the weavers in Lancashire, the miners in Cornwall, and the cord-wainers who thump the lapstone near the former abode of the witches, which have given Salem immortality. Thither they have flocked: the cry being "still they come," until a prairie and river bottom which five years ago was a desert, is en-livened by the hum sent up by fifteen thousand human souls—besides much cattle. How power-ful is superstition! How sincere are those who yield themselves, body and soul, to its fatal em-braces! Can any believer in the Trinity, or Pre-destination, or Apostolic succession—or baptism by immersion—or Purgatory, or the Virgin Mary, be more earnest, more devout, or more faithful than he, who thinks the everlasting Gospels were written on plates—now deposited at Nauvoo, in Joe Smith's holy of holies—but formerly dug out of a side hill of clay or gravel in the Western part of the State of New York? The Mussulman cries out "God is God and Mahomet is his Pro-phet"—the Mormon varies it, with " God is God and Joe Smith is his Prophet." In many respects, Joe has the advantage over his illustrious prede-cessor: he, Joe, is not only Prophet, but is also Mormon King, and in his triune function of Pro-phet, Priest and King, he lords it over God's herit-age with such a strict eye to the Lord's treasury, that he will by and by be enabled to present the world with a faint imitation of the outward glories of Solomon's temple.
Of course, neither you nor your readers expect me to trouble them with the history of Mormon-ism—of it, as a form of superstition—as a mani-festation of that phrenzy to which men are some-times subjected, of credulity and fanaticism. For 1800 years, to go back no further, there have, from time to time, started up some gloomy or hairbrained enthusiasts who were convinced that, shortly after the preaching of their belief, the sun would rise for the last time, and the things of time and sense be no longer. The Millerites are the latest example of this superstition—not to men-tion others equally absurd and fanatical.—These were the Anabaptists of Munster, the Fifth Monarchy men—the followers of Joanna South-cote, and of Ann Lee. The face of society has been, and is now so speckled over with these eruptions of fanaticism and folly, that the re-mark may not be far from the truth : that the sane man is the exception, the madman the rule. But a truce to speculation, and now a few words about Nauvoo.
The "townsite" of Nauvoo is most beauti-ful; probably no situation on the Mississippi above St. Louis, can compare with it for beauty of location. Rising gradually from the river to a slight elevation, it extends out in abroad and lev-el plain, nearly a mile, then rather more abruptly to a still higher elevation, on the highest point of which, the Temple is (to be) situated, the first story of which is now completed. Stone masons and other workmen, to the number of near a hundred, are busily at work upon it; all other public improvements are at present suspended, so that the faithful may concentrate their means for the purpose of completing it without delay. If it is ever finished, (and the prospect seems now favorable,) it will be the most remarkable public building of modern times. It is to be built of stone, 127 feet long, 88 feet broad, 26 feet high, with a tower 150 feet high from the ground.—These arc the general outside dimensions; the in-terior plan is yet undecided upon; or rather, the Prophet has not received a revelation in regard to the interior arrangements, the Lord having re-vealed to him thus far only, how the baptismal font must be constructed. This is quite finished. It is a large vessel built of wood—oblong in shape—about six feet deep, capable of containing twelve or fifteen hogsheads of water, and resting upon twelve oxen, carved out of wood; the beasts are as large as life, and about "three times as na-tural." Although specially revealed to Joe in these latter days, yet the idea is evidently borrow-ed from scripture, as may be found in 1st Kings, 7th chapter.
There are two public houses—the "Nauvoo Mansion" and the "Masonic Hall." The former is kept by the Prophet. Another hotel, three stories high, built of brick, situated near the Tem-ple, is nearly completed. The Nauvoo House, when finished according to the present design, will be an elegant and commodious hotel—front-ing on two streets 127 feet; the foundation is already laid. The city is laid off into lots of one acre each—the streets all intersect each other at right angles. It is impossible to estimate cor-rectly the number of buildings by a general obser-vation: there are many substantial brick build-ings, stores and private dwellings, dotted over a space of near three thousand acres, comprising the limit of the city. The appearance of every thing here is flourishing. In reference to Joseph Smith, and the Mormon religion, I presume there can be but one opinion out of his Church; but Joe and his religion have been the subject of gross and unfounded misrepre-sentations. That his followers are laboring under most unaccountable delusion, admits of little doubt—the majority, however, are honest and sincere in their belief. Joe has, doubtless, become somewhat arrogant, not to say tyrannical. He has attempted to force measures of public policy, as well as articles of religious belief, which many of the better part of his people resist, causing at the present time some little trouble. In the end, such division will doubtless bring the whole sys-tem to an end; it is idle to think they can be put down by any other means. I cannot understand why it is that persons, having opportunity to judge correctly, will persist in misrepresenting these people and their leader. A story was recently put in circulation that Joe and his wife had quarrel-ed, &c. This story, like a hundred others of similar character, is not only false, but without the shadow of foundation. So long as these peo-ple are misrepresented or persecuted, so long will they grow and flourish; so long as they have a pressure from without to resist, they will be unit-ed as one man The country in the immediate vicinity of Nau-voo is really beautiful, the land being of the best quality, with an abundance of timber, &c. To a great extent it is under cultivation; many of the Mormons being farmers, have settled on these lands and opened fine farms, giving support and employment to a great number of laborers.
You have seen it announced that Joseph Smith is a candidate for the Presidency of the United States. Many think this is a hoax—not so with Joe and the Mormons. It is the design of these people to have candidates for electors in every State of the Union; a convention is to be held in Baltimore, probably next month. The leaders here are busy in organizing their plans—over a hundred persons leave in a few days for different States, to carry them out as far as possible. I mention these facts only to show that Joe is really in earnest. He indignantly spurns the proposition to run for the second office on the same ticket with Mr. Van Buren: he thinks his chance would be much better alone than to be associated with the sage of Lindenwald; doubt-less, it is equally as good.—The true reason for this movement is, to prevent his followers in this county from becoming divided even upon politi-cal questions.
There are many thoughts suggested to the mind by a visit to this place; but I have neither the space nor present inclination to follow them out.
In conclusion, I would say, let no man sneer at these people, or deem them as of little conse-quence, either for good or for evil. They are be-coming of potent influence to the people of the State of Illinois, it is a serious question: What will be the end of these things?
When it is considered that four years since this place was a desert—that but four families existed here, numbering scarcely twenty souls in all; and that now the population undoubtedly exceeds fifteen thousand, of hardy, persevering and enthu-siastic people, surely it will strike the mind of the most ordinary observer that these people, what-ever else may be thought of them, cannot with any degree of propriety be sneered at or deemed beneath notice. W.
