“15 of March Times and Seasons ☞ This paper commences my editorial career, I alone stand responsible for it, and shall do for all papers having my signature henceforward. I am not responsible for the publication, or arrangement of the former paper; the matter did not come under my supervision— Joseph Smith.”

“Honor among Thieves, we extract the following from the New York Tribune, [“]The paymaster, of the Militia, called out to put down the Mormons, some two years since, was supplied with money some time since and started for Western , but has not yet arrived there. It is feared that he has taken the Saline slope.” We are not surprised that persons who could wantonly, barbarously, and without the shadow of law, drive fifteen thousand men, women, and children, from their homes, should have among them a man who was so lost to every sense of justice, as to run away with the wages for this infamous deed: it is not very difficult for men who can blow out the brains of children; who can shoot down, and hew to pieces our ancient veterans, who fought in the defence of our , and delivered it from the oppressor’s grasp; who could deliberately, and in cold blood, murder men, and rob them of their boots, watches &c and whilst they were yet weltering in their blood and grappling with death, and then proceed to rob their widowed houses. Men who can deliberately do this, and steal near all the horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and property of a whole community, and drive them from their homes en-massê in an in[HC 4:551]clement season of the year, will not find many qualms of conscience in stealing the pay of his brother thieves, and taking the “saline slope.” The very idea of government paying these men for their bloody deeds, must cause the sons of liberty to blush, and to hang their harps upon the willow; and make the blood of every Patriot run chill. The proceedings of that have been so barbarous, and inhuman, that our indignation is aroused when we reflect upon the scene. We are here reminded of <​one of​> the patriotic deeds of the government of that , who after they had robbed us of every thing we had in the world, and taken from us many [p. 1288]