From the Quincy (Ill.) Herald

Mr. Editor:-

Sir:-As I was perusing the Whig of the 28th of February last, my eye caught some remarks made by the editor of that paper, justifying himself for publishing an article from the New York Tribune, reflecting severely upon the Mormon leaders. I read the article alluded to, after which I made the following observations:

"I have heard it observed by medical gentlemen, that if a person wish to commit suicide by taking poison, he will fail to accomplish his object if he take a very extravagant dose, for it being too strong for the stomach to retain, it meets with an immediate resistance, and is thrown off before time will allow it to be conveyed to the blood. So with the article in the Whig. It is so strongly tinctured with the bane of falsehood, slander and reproach, that it can do the Mormons no harm; for every person who has been to Nauvoo and witnessed there the fruits of industry and untiring perseverance which exhibit themselves both in the city and on the wide-spread prairie, must confess that the statements in the above named article are false; and how the editor should be ignorant of the fruits, I am at a loss to determine, for they have not grown in a corner!!

He says of the Mormons, "we are sorry we cannot please them," but he need not be. We are not sorry, and why? Because Christ has said, "if ye were of the world, the world would love you; but as ye are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

I was very glad he had modesty enough to qualify the terms, "Mormon friends" with, "or rather acquaintances;" for conscious as he must have been, that he had forfeited all claim to our friendship by giving publicity to an article which we verily believe he knew to be false, his conscience smote him with guilt when he called us friends, and therefore modestly altered it to 'acquaintances.' We would inform the editor of the Whig, that considering the way in which not only the Mormons, but several other worthy citizens have to feel the lash of his abusive tongue, we shall not be very jealous if he leave out all those endearing words, expressive of friendship and good will when he talks about us, neither shall we feel ourselves very highly complimented if he put them in. If we are wrong, his course will never reclaim us: but if we are right, the flood of abuse and scandal against us, which he endorses for truth, must sooner or later recoil upon his own head, and associate him and give him a place with those "who love and make a lie."

He is very jealous of religious and political power being united. But I would ask, does not every wise legislative body invoke the aid of a religious power to order their deliberations in wisdom, and direct their political course with prudence? If not, why all these chaplains, in our legislative halls, in the army and in the navy? But probably the editor of the Whig would say: "It is true, in all christian governments, there are men selected of acknowledged worth and piety to ask wisdom upon the State and National councils, and also blessings upon the army and navy: yet says he, it is all a sham and mock ceremony; for if God were to give a revelation of wisdom and knowledge by the Holy Ghost, or by an Angel to any of these chaplains, and they should declare it in the national councils, it would not be regarded at all, only as the height of extravagance, presumption and folly. So you see it is all a sham." Yes Mr. Editor, your views are, no doubt, correct. They are too self evident for me to contradict. But Joseph Smith, more sincere and consistent than they all, prays to God for wisdom, receives it by revelation, and then as a test of his implicit confidence therein, acts upon it.

Would the editor have us to understand that there is one department in heaven to guide the

destinies of the political world, and another directing the affairs of religion? If so, he is much mistaken. There is one God who presides over the destinies of all nations and individuals, both religiously and politically, and numbers the hairs of all our heads. I would ask if the editor of the Whig ever prays after the following manner: "Thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven:" if he does, he virtually asks God to destroy the distinction of Church and State on earth: for that distinction is not recognized in heaven. With God, politics and religion are both one, but not with us. He also prays that God may establish a government on the earth like that in heaven, and that "the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ." Church must not triumph over State, but actually swallow it up like Moses' rod swallowed up the rods of the Egyptians.-If this be not so, the kingdom of God can never come. Satan can never be bound, the millennial glory never dawn upon our world, Christ never reign king of nations, as he now does king of Saints, neither can death be swallowed up in victory. But Christ will reign, and put down all rule, and authority and power.

Whoever, therefore, will always labor to keep up a distinction of Church and State, must oppose his own prayers, fight against the decree of heaven, and perpetuate strife and confusion on earth. Whoever are to be the honored instruments in carrying forward the ark of this covenant and affecting this union, time must determine; whether the Monks, the Methodists or Mormons, or any of them; yet it will certainly be that people whom the Lord shall choose.

But to close. It may sometime happen to him who freely indulges in abusing a virtuous, industrious, and sincere people; a people who have been made poor by cruelty and oppression a people who are trying to live by all laudable industry, who have faced opposition in almost every form, and waded through "much tribulation;" a people against whom the popular cry is raised, mingled with vengeance and extermination, and whose voice can seldom be heard in reply, that he fall into the same difficulties in which he tries to involve them, that he die in poverty and disgrace when no relatives can lament, nor friends can bury.

A Friend to the Mormons.