to pass ordinances in violation of the laws of the State, and to
erect a system of government for themselves. This charter also
incorporated the Nauvoo Legion,--entirely independent of the military
organization of the State, and not subject to the commands of
its officers. Provision was also made for a court-martial for the
Legion, to be composed of its own officers; and in the exercise of
their duties they were not bound to regard the laws of the State.
Thus it was proposed to establish for the Mormons a Government
within a Government, a Legislature with power to pass ordinances
at war with the laws of the State. These charters were unheard
of, anti-republican and capable of infinite abuse. The great law of
the separation of the powers of government was wholly disregarded.
The mayor was at once the executive power, the judiciary, and part
of the Legislature. One would have thought that these charters
stood a poor chance of passing the Legislature of a republican
people, jealous of their liberties, nevertheless they did pass both
Houses unanimously. Each party was afraid to object to them,
for fear of losing the Mormon vote."

Some indications of the hopes and fears of party leaders may be
gleaned from the statement of the politic John Reynolds, then a
representative in Congress. He thus speaks of the visit of Joseph
Smith to the national capital:

"I had recently received letters that Smith was a very important
character in Illinois, and to give him the civilities that were
due him. He stood at the time fair and honorable, except his
fanaticism on religion. The sympathies of the people were in
his favor. It fell to my lot to introduce him to the President,
and one morning the Prophet Smith and I called at the White House to
see the chief magistrate. When we were about to enter the apartments
of President Van Buren, the prophet asked me to introduce him as
a Latter-day Saint. It was so unexpected and so strange to me that
I could scarcely believe he would urge such nonsense on this occasion
to the President. But he repeated the request, and I introduced
him as a Latter-day Saint, which made the President smile. The
Prophet remained in Washington a greater part of the winter, and
preached often. I became well acquainted with him. He was a person
rather larger than ordinary stature, well proportioned, and
would weigh about one hundred and eighty pounds. He was rather
fleshy, but was in his appearance,