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Previous sectionA revelation to Orson Pratt, given in November, 1830Next section(From the Boston Weekly Bee.)

From the Boston Bee

Times and Seasons, vol. 4, pp. 305 to 306

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

SIR-In my last I touched upon the vested rights of the city of the Saints, as they appear upon the face of the charter; and it may be proper hereafter, to go into the merits of that document, for I hold the maxim good that the "Union is interested in the Union" but at the present time I have another subject on the tapis, which more immediately concerns the wise and honest portions of the American people. I reason from facts, no matter who may cry 'hush!' as to Mormonism, and the 'disgrace' which the State of Missouri inherits from her barberous [barbarous] treatment, and unlawful extermination of the Mormon people. The great day has already been ushered in, and the voice of a Mormon is not only heard, setting forth his own rights, and preaching the gospel of the Son of God, in power and demonstration, incontrovertibly from revelation, in every city and hamlet in our wide-spread American free states, but other realms and kingdoms hear the same tidings; even the Indians, Australia, Pacific Islands, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and the Holy Land, where God himself once spoke, have heard a 'Mormon;' and all this in the short space of twelve or fourteen years; yea, and measures have been taken, that Russia may hear the 'watchman cry.'

Now sir, 'what has been done, can be done.' I shall not be surprised if the Mormons undertake to cope with the world. Virtue and truth, are twin sisters, of such winning charms, that honest men of every nation, kindred and tongue, will fall in love with them; and what hinders the Mormons, with the Bible in one hand and humanity in the other, from Mormonizing all honest men? Nothing. The meaning of Mormon, the prophet Joe says, is 'More Good,' and no matter where it is, the Mormons will have it, and if they cannot obtain it by exertion in the world, they will merit it by faith and prayer from the 'old promise' of 'ask and ye shall receive.' But do not think that I, even I, have been Mormonized, by what I write, for I say Nay, though I am willing to admit, and all men of sense will do the same; the more light, the more truth; the more truth, the more love; the more love, the more virtue; the more virtue, the more peace; the more peace, the more heaven; what every body wants. The Mormons believe rather too much for me, I 'can't come it.'

Another word on Missouri. When her Constitution was framed, they commenced the preamble as follows: 'We the people of Missouri &c., by our representatives in convention assembled, at St. Louis, on Saturday the 12th day of June, 1820 do mutually agree to establish a FREE AND INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC, &c.' Independent Republic! well some of their subsequent acts prove the truth of it, as the broad folds of the constitution often conceals more than meets the eye, notwithstanding it is the Aegis of the people to keep law makers and

law-breakers within and without bonds;-let me quote from the 13th article of the aforesaid constitution, the 3d paragraph; 'That the people have a right peaceably to assemble for their common good, and to apply to those vested with the powers of government, for redress of grievances; and that their right to bear arms in defence [defense] of themselves and the State, CANNOT BE QUESTIONED. This over-wise right of gun-fence was made, as I have learned, for breachy Indians, but was used by Gov. Boggs, as a sine qua non, pointed with steel and burning with brimstone, to exterminate the Mormons. Truly, we may ask, what is right, and what is law, contrary to the constitution? The Legislature of Missouri acknowledged the exterminating order of Boggs as constitutional, and appropriated more than $200,000 to pay the drivers and robbers, and I may as well say, mobbers of the Mormons, for services rendered in the state in 1838. O Gladius! O Crumena!

VIATOR.

Nauvoo, July 26, 1843.

There is something so very novel and interesting in the communication of "Viator," that we cannot let is pass without making a few remarks. Whoever the gentleman is who is the author of the following translation, he is evidently a man of great tact and genius, and of no mean literary attainments.

By comparing this translation with the translation of James, we shall find a very material difference exists between them. How far our Mormon friend may be correct, time must determine. He has given the literati an opportunity to investigate and correct, if they can. It is evident that a great deal of obscurity is removed from this hitherto mysterious chapter, by the translation of our friend; and we would respectfully invite him to proceed with his researches, whether his interpretations are orthodox or not. ED.