ded over for trial. Rigdon was afterwards
discharged on _habeas corpus_, and Smith and his comrades, after being
in prison several months, escaped from their guards, and reached Quincy,
Illinois. The Mormons had been before ordered to leave the State, by
direction of the governor, and many had retired to Illinois previous to
Smith's arrival.

The Mormons, as a body, arrived in Illinois in the early part of the
year 1839, in a state of great destitution and wretchedness. Their
condition, with their tales of persecutions and privations, wrought
powerfully upon the sympathies of the citizens, and caused them to be
received with the greatest hospitality and kindness. After the arrival
of Smith, the greater part of them settled at Commerce, situated upon
the Mississippi river, at the lower rapids, just opposite the entrance
of the river Des Monies, a site equal in beauty to any on the river.
Here they began to build, and in the short time of four years they have
raised a city. At first, as was before said, on account of their former
sufferings, and also from the great political power which they
possessed, from their unity, they were treated by the citizens of
Illinois with great respect; but subsequent events have turned the tide
of feeling against them.

In the winter of 1840, they applied to the legislature of the State for
several charters; one for the city of Nauvoo, the name Smith had given
to the town of Commerce; one for the Nauvoo legion, a military body; one
for manufacturing purposes, and one for the Nauvoo University. The
privileges which they asked for were very extensive, and such was the
desire to secure their political support, that all were granted for the
mere asking; indeed, the leaders of the American legislature seemed to
vie with each other in sycophancy towards this body of fanatical
strangers, so anxious was each party to do them some favour that would
secure their gratitude. This tended to produce jealousy in the minds of
the neighbouring citizens, and fears were expressed lest a body so
united, religiously and politically, might become dangerous to liberal
institutions.

The Mormons had at every election voted in a body with their leaders;
this alone made them formidable. The legion of Mormons had been amply
supplied with arms by the state, and the whole body was under the
strictest military discipline. These facts, together with complaints
similar to those which were made in Missouri, tended to a