BACKSLIDING. 155
other they were esteemed as hard-working and thrifty American citizens, whose votes, to the party in power, were worth as much as those of the baptist or the methodist.
Such was their past and present status in the com- munity. They were now treated, pohtically and socially, with consideration, especially by politicians. Thomas Carlin, governor of Illinois, was their friend, and granted them all the privileges they asked; Rob- ert Lucas, governor of Iowa, was their friend, and 2:)romised them the protection due to every citizen of the United States, of whatsoever religion, creed, superstition, fanaticism, craze, or whatever people might choose to call "it.
But soon there came a governor, named Thomas Ford, who knew not Joseph. He was a well meaning man enough, not blood-thirsty like Boggs, nor strong and cool-headed like Carlin, nor yet a man of positive action and opinion hke Lucas; still. Ford was not a bad man, and if the saints had conducted themselves according to the wisdom of the world, they might in time, perhaps, have overcome the prejudices of the people. But prosperity seemed as fatal to them as adversity was profitable. All the best of heaven and earth was now theirs, and again Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked, revelations becoming less frequent as the cares of this world, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life crept in among the people.
The city charter of Nauvoo^^ allowed the enact- ment of any laws not in conflict with those of the state or of the United States, and particularly that a writ of habeas corpus might be issued in all cases aris- ing under city ordinance. In the interpretation of this
'■^ Describing Nauvoo at this period, Linforth remarks: 'Before the close of 1S42 a vast improvement had taken place. The city, which then extended 3 or 4 miles on the river, and about the same distance back, had been regu- larly laitl oiriiito blocks, containing 4 lots of 11 by 12 rods each, between 700 and 800 houses had been erected, and the population numbered about l.">,000. Two steam-mills and 2 printing-presses existed, and buildings for various manufactures we^'C rapidly going up. In the mean time the temple and Nauvoo House were progressing.' Route from Liverpool to G. S. L. Valletj, 02.
