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ATTITUDE OF ILLINOIS AND IOWA. 137

strangers recently arrived here from the state of Mis- souri, known by the name of latter-day saints, are entitled to our sympathy and kindest regard." The working-men of the town should be informed "that these people have no design to lower the wages of the laboring class, but to procure something to save them from starving." Finally it was resolved: "That we recommend to all the citizens of Quincy, in all their intercourse with the strangers, that they use and observe a becoming decorum and delicacy, and be particularly careful not to indulge in any conver- sation or expressions calculated to wound their feel- ings, or in any way to reflect upon those who, by every law of humanity, are entitled to our sympathy and commiseration."*^

How in regard to neighboring states'? In case the people of Illinois soon tire of them, what will they then do? From Commerce, Isaac Galland writes to Robert Lucas, governor of Iowa, asking about it. The answer is such as one would expect from the average American citizen — neither better nor worse. It is such, how^ever, as to condemn throughout all time the conduct of the people of Missouri.*^


 * ^ Pratt's Persecution of the Saints, 185.

Burlington, Iowa, 'after a few weeks' absence in the interior of the terri- tory, I received your letter of the 25th ult. [Feb. 1839], in which you give a short account of the sufferings of the people called Mormons, and ask whether they could be permitted to purchase lands and settle upon them in the terri- tory of Iowa, and there worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences, secure from oppression, etc. In answer to your inquiry, I would say that I know of no authority that can constitutionally deprive them of this right. They are citizens of the United States, and are all entitled to all the rights and privileges of other citizens. The 2d section of the 4th article of the constitution of the United States (which all are solemnly bound to support) declares that "the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states;" this privilege extends in full force to the territories of the United States. The first amendment to the constitution of the United States declares that "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of re- ligion or pi-ohibiting the free exercise thereof. " The ordinances of congress of the 13th July, 1787, for tlie government of the territory nortli-west of the river Ohio, secures to the citizens of said territory and the citizens of the states thereafter to be formed therein, certain privileges which were by the late act of congress organizing the territory of Iowa extended to the citizens of this territory. The first fundamental article in that ordinance, which is
 * ^ 'On my return to this city,' writes Lucas from the executive office at