Life and Labors of Sidney Rigdon, IV

THE LIFE AND LABORS OF SIDNEY RIGDON. BY JOHN JAQUES, ASSISTANT CHURCH HISTORIAN.

IV.

On Sunday, July 25, 1841, Elder Sidney Rigdon preached a general funeral sermon, designed to comfort and instruct the Saints, especially those who had been called to mourn the loss of relatives and friends. He was followed by President Joseph Smith, illustrating the subject of the resurrection. At a special conference at Nauvoo, August 16, President Rigdon made some "appropriate remarks on speculation," and on November 1, he resigned his seat in the city council, on account of ill health. Joseph baptized Sidney in the font in behalf of his parents, December 28. On the 12th of May, 1842, Joseph dictated a letter to Sidney, "concerning certain difficulties or surmises which existed." The next day Joseph received a letter in reply. In the evening, Joseph, accompanied by Elder Willard Richards, had an interview with Elder Rigdon, at the post office, "concerning certain evil reports, put in circulation by Francis M. Higbee, about some of Elder Rigdon's family and others; much apparent satisfaction was manifested at the conversation by Elder Rigdon." In the Nauvoo Wasp of July 23, Sidney Rigdon says: "As there seems to be some foolish notions that I have been engaged with J. C. Bennett, in the difficulties between him and some of the citizens of this place, I merely say in reply to such idle and vain reports that they are without foundation in truth."

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Elder Rip^don called Elder William Clayton into his office,

October 5, and told him that Judge Douglass had said, at Carthage, that he had ascertained that Governor Carlin had intentionally issued an illegal writ to get Joseph to Carthage, where he might be acquitted by habeas corpus before Judge Douglass, and then be arrested by a legal writ, as soon as released under the illegal one, and be seized by waiting emissaries and borne away to Missouri, without further ceremony. On the 7th, Elder Elias Higbee stated similar things, and that he had heard that many Missourians were going into Illinois, to endeavor to take Joseph. On hearing these things, Joseph said, "It is more and more evident that Carlin is determined to have me taken to Missouri, if he can." In answer to a letter of the 17th, Justin Butterfield, on the 20th, wrote from Chicago to Sidney Rigdon upon the illegality of the requsition made by the Governor of Missouri upon the Governor of Illinois for the surrender of Joseph Smith, on the charge of being an accessory to the shooting of Governor Boggs. Mr. Butterfield said he had no doubt that the supreme court of Illinois would discharge Joseph upon habeas corpus. In a letter to Horace R. Hotchkiss, Esq., November 26, Joseph wrote:

In regard to your having written to me some few weeks ago, I will observe that I have received no communication from you for some months back. If you wrote to me, the letter has been broken open and detained,

no doubt, as has been the case with a great quantity of letters from my friends of late, and especially within the last three months. Few if any letters for me can get through the post office in this place, and more particularly letters containing money, and matters of much importance. I am satisfied that S. Rigdon and others connected with him have been the means of doing incalculable injury, not only to myself, but to the citizens in general ; and, sir, under such a state of things, you will have some idea of the difficulties I have to encounter,

and the censure I have to bear through the unjust conduct of that man and others, whom he permits to interfere with the post office business. Having said so much I must close for the present.

Concerning going to Missouri, Joseph said, December 28:

Let the government of Missouri redress the wrongs she has done to

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the Saints, or let the curse follow them from generation to generation until they do. When I was going up to Missouri, in company with Elder Rigdon and our families, on an extremely cold day, to go forward was fourteen miles to a house, and backward nearly as far. We applied to all the taverns for admission in vain; we were "Mormons," and could not be received. Such was the extreme cold that in one hour we must have perished. We pleaded for our women and children in vain. We counseled together, and the brethren agreed to stand by me, and we concluded that we might as well die fighting as freeze to death. I went into a tavern and plead our cause to get admission. The landlord said he could not keep us for love or money. I told him we must and would stay, let the consequence be what it might; for we must stay or perish. The landlord replied, "We have heard the Morraong are very bad people; and the inhabitants of Paris have combined not to have anything to do with them, or you might stay." I said to him, "We will stay; but no thanks to you. have men enough to take the town; and I

if we must freeze, we will freeze by the burning of these houses." The tav-

erns were then opened, and we were accommodated, and received many apologies in the morning from the inhabitants for their abusive treatment.

John C. Bennett wrote to Sidney Rigdon and Orson Pratt, from Springfield, Illinois, January 10, 1843, showing that he (Bennett) was endeavoring to have Joseph rearrested and taken to Missouri. In connection with this circumstance Joseph said, "I would just remark, that I am not at all indebted to Rigdon for this letter, but to Orson Pratt, who, after he had read it, immediately brought it to me." There was a time of rejoicing and congratulation on the release of Joseph from arrest at Carthage; and on the 18th, concerning a party at his house, he says:

I then read John C. Bennett's letter to Mr. Sidney Rigdon and Orson Pratt, of the 10th inst, and told them that Mr. Pratt showed me the letter. Mr. Rigdon did not want to have it known that he had any hand in showing the letter, but wanted to keep it a secret, as though he were holding a private correspondence with Bennett; but as soon as Mr. Pratt got the letter, he brought it to me, which proves that Mr. Pratt had no correspondence with Bennett, and had no fellowship for his works of darkness.

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Joseph says, February 11: "This day had an interview with Elder Rigdon and his family, they expressed a willingness to be saved; good feelings prevailed, and we again shook hands together." The same day Sidney Rigdon was elected city attorney. On the 13th, he "gave a brief history of our second visit to Jackson County, Missouri." Joseph also received a letter from Sidney about William H. Rollison wanting to get the Nauvoo post office, and inclosing petition in opposition to Rollison. Sidney Rigdon, postmaster, wrote to Alfred Edward Stokes, on the 19th, deprecating and denying the many false stories circulated concerning the Saints. Sidney Rigdon's physical constitution appeared to have been not very strong, and his sufferings in Kirtland and Missouri from the mobs evidently had somewhat weakened his mind as well as his body. Although Joseph thought much of him and was ever kindly disposed towards him, yet, at times at least, Joseph evidently could

not place full confidence in him. Nor could some other brethren. Consequently, on March 27, Joseph wrote to him as follows:

Dear Sir: — It is with sensations of deep regret and poignant grief that I dictate a few lines to you this morning, to let you know what my feelings are in relation to yourself, as it is against my principles to act the part of a hypocrite or to dissemble in anywise whatever with any man. I have tried for a long time to smother my feelings and not let

you know that I thought you were secretly and underhandedly doing all you could to take advantage of and injure me; but whether my feelings are right or wrong, remains for eternity to reveal. I cannot any longer forbear throwing off the mask and letting you

know of the secret wranglings of my heart, that you may not be deceived in relation to them, and that you may be prepared, sir, to take whatever course you see proper in the premises. I am, sir, honest, when I say that I believe and am laboring under the fullest convictions that you are actually practicing deception and wickedness against me and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and that you are in connection with John C. Bennett and George W. Robinson in the whole of their abominable practices, in seeking to destroy me and this people; and that Jared Carter is as deep in the mud as you, sir, are in the mire, in your conspiracies; and that you are in the exercise of a traitorous spirit against our lives and interests, by combining with our enemies and the murderous Mksourians. My feelings, sir, have been wrought upon to a very great extent, in relation to your-

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self, ever since soon after the first appearance of John C. Bennett in this place. There has been something dark and mysterious hovering over our business concerns, that are not only palpable but altogether unaccountable, in relation to the post office. And, sir, from the very first of the pretentions of John C. Bennett to secure to me the post office, (which bythe-bye, I have never desired, if I could have justice done me in that department, without my occupancy,) I have known, sir, that it was a fraud practiced upon me, and of the secret plottings and connivings between him and yourself in relation to the matter the whole time, as well as many other things which I have kept locked up in my own bosom. But I am constrained, at this time, to make known my feelings to you. I do not write this with the intention of insulting you, or of bearing down upon you or with a desire to take any advantage of you, or with the intention of laying one straw in your way detrimental to your character or influence, or to suffer anything whatever that has taken place, which is within my observation or that has come to my knowledge to go abroad, betraying any confidence that has ever been placed in me. But I do assure you, most sincerely, that what I have said I verily believe; and this is the reason why I have said it —that you may know the real convictions of my heart, not because I have any malice or hatred, neither would I injure one hair of your head; and I will assure you that these convictions are attended with the deepest sorrow. I wish to God it were not so, and that I could get rid of the achings of my heart on that subject; and I now notify you that unless something should take place to restore my mind to its former confidence in you, by some acknowledgments on your part, or some explanations that shall do away my jealousies, I must, as a conscientious man, publish my withdrawal of my fellowship from you to The Church, through the medium of the Times and Seasons, and demand of the conference a hearing concerning your case; that on conviction of justifiable grounds, they will demand your license. I could say much more, but let the above suffice for the present. Yours, in haste, Joseph Smith. Sidney answered Joseph's letter the same day, expressing surprise at its contents. He denied having any collusion with John C. Bennett, or others, or giving him any countenance in regard to the post office, or any other troubles. Bennett had threatened Sidney if he did not cease aiding Joseph, and had made a violent attack upon him (Sidney) in a speech at St. Louis. Sidney's letter is too lengthy for insertion here. In it he said: "Now, on the broad scale, I can assert in truth, that with myself and any other

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person on this globe there never was nor is there now existing anything privately or publicly to injure your character in any respect whatever; neither has any person spoken to me on any such subject. All that has ever been said by me has been said to your face, all of which you know as well as I." "I do consider it a matter of just offense to me to hear about Bennett's assisting me to office. I shall have a lower opinion of myself than I now have when I think I need his assistance." At the general conference, April 6, on the floor of the Temple, Nauvoo, when Elder Rigdon's name was presented as counselor to President Smith, Elder Rigdon said the last time he attended conference was at the laying of the corner stones of the temple. He had had poor health since, and had been connected with most forbidding circumstances, resulting in "some feelings." He had never had a doubt of the work. He had told his family to guard against that fellow, Bennett, for some time he would attempt to make a rupture among the people. Elder Rigdon had just received a threatening letter from Bennett to the effect that if he (Rigdon) did not change his course, he should feel the force of Bennett's power. As he (Rigdon) had an increase of health and strength^ he desired to serve the Church in any way possible. Dimick B. Huntington asked what he meant when he said Bennett was a good man, and when he called him a perfect gentleman. Elder Rigdon said he did not recollect it, and Dimick must have been mistaken. Dimick said he knew he was not. The vote to sustain Rigdon was put and carried unanimously, At the conference the next day (7th), while the choir was singing, President Joseph Smith remarked to Elder Rigdon, "This day is a millennium within these walls, for there is nothing but peace," showing that Joseph was inclined to accept Rigdon's professions. But that condition did not last long. Joseph said on Thursday, April 20, "Elder Rigdon received a letter last Sunday, informing him that the Nauvoo post office was abolished. He foolishly supposed it genuine, neglected his duty, and started for Carthage to learn more about it, but was met by Mr. Hamilton, an old mail contractor, who satisfied him it was a hoax; and he returned home, and the mail arrived as usual today." On the 9th of May, Joseph, Sidney, P. P. Pratt, John Taylor,

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Wilford Woodruff, and about a hundred others, gentlemen and ladies, took a trip on the Maid of Iowa, on the Mississippi River.

On the 1st of July, on investigation of writ of habeas corpus, in the municipal court of Nauvoo, in the case of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon gave lengthy testimony concerning the Missouri troubles. On the same day, Sidney acted as moderator at a public meeting of the citizens of Nauvoo in the Assembly Hall, "in relation to the late arrest of General Joseph Smith." On Sunday afternoon, August 13, at the stand, President Joseph Smith made the following remarks^

"We have had certain traders in this city, who have been writing falsehoods to Missouri; and there is a certain man in this city who has made a covenant to betray and give me up to the Missourians, and that, too, before Governor Carlin commenced his persecutions. That man is no other than Sidney Rigdon. This testimony I have from gentlemen from abroad, whose names I do not wish to give. "I most solemnly proclaim the withdrawal of my fellowship from this man, on condition that the foregoing be true; and let the Saints proclaim abroad, that he may no longer be acknowledged as my Counsellor; and all who feel to sanction my proceedings and views will manifest it by uplifted hands.

"There was unanimous vote that Sidney Rigdon be disfellowshiped, and his license demanded."

At the stand, on Sunday, 20th, Sidney Rigdon read a copy of a letter, to show the people that he was not guilty of treachery. On Sunday morning, 27th, at the stand, Joseph said: "Two weeks ago today, something was said about Elder Sidney Rigdon, and a vote was taken to disfellowship him, and to demand his license on account of a report brought by Elder Hyde from Quincy." He then read a letter from Thomas Carlin to Sidney Rigdon in answer to one from him. The nature of Carlin's letter was to shield Sidney from imputations of unfaithfulness to Joseph, who then said, "The letter is one of the most evasive things, and carries with it a design to hide the truth." At conference, October 7, "Elder Sidney Rigdon addressed the conference on the subject of his situation and circumstances among the Saints. President Joseph Smith addressed the conference, inviting an expression of any charges or complaints which the

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conference had to make. He stated his dissatisfaction with Elder Sidney Rigdon as a counselor, not having received any material benefit from his labors or counsels since their escape from Missouri. Several complaints were then brought forward in reference to his management in the post office; a supposed correspondence and connection with John C. Bennett, with ex-Governor Carlin, and with the Missourians, of a treacherous character; also his leaguing with dishonest persons in endeavoring to defraud the innocent. President Joseph Smith related to the conference the detention of documents from Justin Butterfield, Esq., which were designed for the benefit of himself (President Smith), but were not handed over for some three or four weeks, greatly to his disadvantage; also,

an indirect testimony from Missouri, through the mother of Orin P. Rockwell, that said Rigdon and others had given information, by letter, of President Smith's visit to Dixon, advising them to proceed to that place and arrest him there. He stated that, in consequence of those and other circumstances, and his unprofitableness to him as a counselor, he did not wish to retain him in that station, unless those difl^iculties could be removed; but desired his salvation, and expressed his willingness that he should retain a place among the Saints. Elder Sidney Rigdon pleaded, concerning the document from Justin Butterfield, Esq., that he received it in answer to some inquiries which he had transmitted to him; that

he received it at a time when he was sick, and unable to examine it; did not know that it was designed for the perusal and benefit of President Joseph Smith; that he had consequently, ordered it to be laid aside, where it remained until inquired for by Joseph Smith. He had never written to Missouri concerning the visit of Joseph Smith to Dixon, and knew of no other person having done so.

That concerning certain rumors of belligerent operations under Governor Carlin's administration, he had related them, not to alarm or disturb any one; but that he had the rumors from good authorities, and supposed them well founded. That he had never received but one communication from John C. Bennett, and that of a business character, except one addressed to him conjointly with Elder Orson Pratt, which he handed over to President Smith. That he had never written any letters to John C. Bennett." The next day, Sunday, 8th, "Elder Rigdon resumed his plea of

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defense. He related the circumstances of his reception in the city of Quincv, after his escape — from Missouri the cause of his delay in not going to the city of Washington, on an express to which he had been appointed; and closed with a moving appeal to President Joseph Smith, concerning their former friendship, associations, and sufferings; and expressed his willingness to resign

his place, though with sorrowful and indescribable feelings. During this address, the sympathies of the congregation were highly excited." Elder Almon W. Babbitt and President William Law spoke in defense of Sidney, Elder Babbitt stating that Esquire Johnson exonerated Elder Sidney Rigdon from the charges or suspicion of having had a treacherous correspondence with ex-Governor Carlin. President Joseph Smith explained the supposed treacherous correspondence with ex-Governor Carlin, and expressed entire lack of confidence in Sidney's integrity and steadfastness, judging from past intercourse. President Hyrum Smith advocated the exercise of mercy toward their fellows, and especially towards their aged companion and fellow servant in the cause of truth and righteousness, whereupon, on motion by William Marks, the conference voted that Elder Sidney Rigdon be permitted to retain his station as counselor to the First President, President Joseph Smith arose and said: "I have thrown him off my shoulders, and you have again put him on me; you may carry him, but I will not."