The Vote of the Mormons—Hoge Elected.
Correspondence of The Tribune.
NAUVOO, Ill., August 7, 1843.
The Polls have just closed, and I hasten to give you the result of our City Election.
For the last week or two, there has been much feeling and excitement on the subject of politics, in fact more than was ever manifested by this people on any previous occasion—because it has been presumed that the Mormon vote will turn the scale in this Congressional district.
Cyrus Walker of McDonough county, a Law-yer of eminence and ability, equal to any in the State, is the Whig candidate—Mr. Walker has visited this city many times, is well known by the people, and a particular and personal friend of the Prophet's. He has defended and cleared the Prophet in several cases, and rendered signal ser-vice in his last difficulty. It was therefore sup-posed the Mormons felt friendly for him, and would give him their support—and if so, elect him. Col. John P. Hoge of Galena, a Lawyer of high rank and standing, is the Loco-Foco candi-date. He is a young man of decided talents and made a good impression after a short stay with us, but left, believing that Walker would carry Nauvoo, and so thought many of his friends 'till last Saturday; when Hiram Smith, the elder brother of the Prophet and next to him in power and influence, addressed a large concourse of people instructing them how to vote, and whom to support if they considered their own interest and good of the place, and advised them to go for Hoge. This was a death-blow to Mr. Walker. Mr. Wm. Law, one of the heads of the church, followed Mr. Smith and opposed him with ability and zeal, and had the matter stopped here, Mr. Walker's case would have been triumphant—but in conclusion Mr. Smith rose and said, he had sought to know, and knew from knowledge that would not be doubted, from evidences that never fail, that Mr. Hoge was the man, and it was for the interest of this place and people to support him,—this sealed the matter.
On Sunday the Prophet after concluding his discourse adverted to the Election, as there would be no other opportunity. He spoke of Mr. Walker—his acquaintance with him, and said he never changed an old tried and proved friend for a new one—his personal and private feelings were with Mr. Walker—he should vote for him and wished his election, but desired to influence or control no man's vote, and so far as he was concerned they would vote as they pleased, and were at perfect liberty to do so.
The polls were crowded to-day from the time they opened 'till they closed, and Hoge, Hoge, Hoge, was all the rage. They seemed deter-mined to go the whole swine. The Prophet and Mr. Walker rode to the polls together, and he voted for him. There were 1191 votes cast, 99 for Mr. Walker, 1092 for Mr. Hoge, which gives the latter 993 majority, and will no doubt elect him.
Should Mr. W. come to Hancock county with the majority Gov. Duncan got a year ago he will be elected notwithstanding the Mormon vote is against him. But so far as I can learn, the Whig majority of '42 will be greatly diminished.
The election at one of the polls at which half of the City votes were cast, and which gave Hoge 495 majority, will no doubt be contested, and if so, and that is thrown out, Mr. Walker will be elected. The cause of the contested election is that votes were being taken so slow that many voters were returning to the country without voting at all—so to expedite the matter, at noon, the Judge took two sets of clerks and instead of recording the votes as fast as taken, and in the presence of the voter as the law requires, the ticket was taken by one of the Judges who called out the name of the voter, while one of the clerks wrote it upon the back of the ticket, and then deposited it, afterwards to be recorded. This method is considered by many illegal, and on these grounds it will be contested. Yours, K.
