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Jubilee Songs, between 11 and 18 January 1843

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Jubilee Songs, between 11 and 18 January 1843

Source Note

[, ], and , Jubilee Songs [Nauvoo, IL: Taylor and Woodruff, between 11 and 18 Jan. 1843]; one page. Includes docket. The copy used for transcription is held at CHL.
Unevenly cut broadside measuring 12¼ × 9–9¼ inches (31 × 23 cm). The printed text block is bordered by a printed floral design. The broadside was later folded and docketed for filing.
The docket is of the title and the composition date of the first printed poem and is in unidentified handwriting—presumably that of an early church clerk. The date may be in the handwriting of , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. The document was in the possession of the Church Historical Department (now CHL) by 1987, when it was cataloged. Its early docketing and later cataloging suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  2. [2]

    See the full bibliographic entry for Jubilee Songs: Part First / [Wilson Law and Willard Richards]; Part Second / E. R. Snow, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

In mid-January 1843, JS apparently commissioned a compilation of songs to be printed in , Illinois. On 5 January, JS’s hearing in , Illinois, concluded with the verdict that the requisition to extradite JS was defective and void—thus ending the threat of extradition. JS returned to Nauvoo on 10 January, and the next day he began planning a party to celebrate his recent legal victory. At the party, held on 18 January, JS personally distributed a broadside containing the lyrics of two songs. later recounted that the broadside was “printed for the occasion,” which suggests that JS commissioned it at some point between 11 January, when he began planning the party, and the morning of 18 January, when he distributed it at the event.
Although the first of the two songs is printed without attribution, it was written by and on 7 January while they and the others traveling with JS were on the road between and ’s tavern in Morgan County, Illinois. According to JS’s journal, the song was “sung repeatedly during the evining” on the night of their stay with Dutch. The song was apparently a favorite of those in the company, as they sang it again on 8, 9, and 10 January, including when the procession arrived at JS’s home in . , an accomplished Latter-day Saint poet, wrote the second of the two songs found on the broadside sometime between JS’s return to Nauvoo and the 18 January party. The songs were sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” or “There’s Nae Luck about the House,” with the first song even borrowing its opening lyrics from “There’s Nae Luck about the House.” Both songs recounted the trial, celebrated JS’s legal victory, and praised the individuals who had helped JS achieve it.
Though it is unclear precisely when wrote her song or when JS commissioned the broadside, the began preparing the songs for publication in a Nauvoo newspaper by 14 January 1843 and probably earlier. On the day of the celebration, the guests—around fifty in number—arrived at JS’s home at ten o’clock in the morning, and sometime before noon JS distributed the broadsides containing the songs. The guests then sang the two songs to begin the formal celebration. In his journal, noted that the songs were “vary appropriate to the occasion.” similarly wrote that after singing, “the company was very cheerful and truly it was a time of Jubilee; all hearts rejoiced.”
The broadsides were apparently commissioned for JS’s celebration, but their circulation was not limited to the party attendees. The 21 January 1843 issue of the Wasp described the contents of the broadside and advertised that copies were “for sale at the .” Still, it does not appear that the broadside was widely circulated, although the two songs independently reached a much broader audience after the newspapers published them using the same typesetting as the broadside. and ’s song was intended for publication by the Illinois State Register, but it appeared only in the Wasp. ’s poem was republished in both the Wasp and the Times and Seasons in mid-February. On 8 March 1843, the New York Herald reprinted extracts from the Times and Seasons that included Snow’s song, describing it as one of “the most curious things in the literature of the day.” It is unclear whether the featured copy of the broadside was one JS distributed to his party guests or was one sold in the printing office.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Invitation to Wilson and Elizabeth Sikes Law, 11 Jan. 1843.

  2. [2]

    Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 18 Jan. 1843, 9.

  3. [3]

    JS, Journal, 7 Jan. 1843; “Jubilee Songs,” Wasp, 21 Jan. 1843, [2].

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 8–10 Jan. 1843.

  5. [5]

    “There’s Nae Luck about the House,” st. 1, l. 1, in Turnbull and Buchan, Garland of Scotia, 56.

    Turnbull, John, and Patrick Buchan. The Garland of Scotia; A Musical Wreath of Scottish Song, with Description and Historical Notes, Adapted for the Voice, Flute, Violin, &c. Glasgow, Scotland: William Mitchison, 1841.

  6. [6]

    The 14 January 1843 issue of the Wasp included the song by Law and Richards with the same typesetting that was later used for the broadside. (“The Mormon Jubilee,” Wasp, 14 Jan. 1843, [1]; Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:214.)

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

    Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

  7. [7]

    JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  8. [8]

    Woodruff, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  9. [9]

    Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843. The attendees continued to talk and read various letters and newspaper articles until two o’clock in the afternoon, when they sat down to eat, with JS and Emma Smith waiting tables. The party continued until around six in the evening. (JS, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 18 Jan. 1843.)

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  10. [10]

    “Jubilee Songs,” Wasp, 21 Jan. 1843, [2].

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

  11. [11]

    A draft copy of the song in Richards’s handwriting specified that it was “for the State Registr.” (“The Mormons Farewell,” JS Office Papers, CHL.)

  12. [12]

    Eliza R. Snow, “Jubilee Song,” Wasp, 8 Feb. 1843, [1]; “Jubilee Song,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1843, 4:96. Although the Times and Seasons issue was dated 1 February 1843, it was printed sometime around 15 February. (See Historical Introduction to Poem to William W. Phelps, between ca. 1 and ca. 15 Feb. 1843.)

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  13. [13]

    “Highly Important and Curious from Nauvoo, the Capital of the Mormon Empire,” New York Herald (New York City), 8 Mar. 1843, [2]; see also Poem to William W. Phelps, between ca. 1 and ca. 15 Feb. 1843.

    New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.

Page [1]

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JUBILEE SONGS.
PART FIRST.
Written at ’s, Post Office, Morgan county, Ill., on the evening of the 7th of January 1843, and sung by the party who accompanied General Joseph Smith from , (where he had voluntarily been for trial on ,) on his return to .
Dedicated to all lovers of liberties.
Tune.— ‘Na luck about the house;’ or, ‘Auld Lang Syne.’
 
And are you sure the news is true?
And are you sure he’s free?
Then let us join with one accord,
And have a jubilee.
We’ll have a jubilee, my friends,
We’ll have a jubilee;
With heart and voice we’ll all rejoice
In that our Prophet’s free.
 
Success unto the Fed’ral Court,
presiding there,
And also his associates* true,
So lovely and so fair.
We’ll have a jubilee, my friends,
We’ll have a jubilee;
With heart and voice we’ll all rejoice,
In that our Gen’ral’s free.
 
And to our learned counsellors
We owe our gratitude,
Because that they in freedom’s cause
Like valiant men have stood.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
In the defence of innocence,
They made the truth to bear;
and ’s baseness both
Did fearlessly declare.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
and and ,
We’ll mention with applause,
Because that they like champions bold
Support the Federal laws.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
Th’ of the ,
His duty nobly did,
And ably brought those errors forth,
From which we now are freed.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
One word in praise of ,
Our Governor so true;
He understands the people’s rights,
And will protect them, too.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
There is one more we wish enroll’d
Upon the book of fame;
That master spirit in all jokes,
And ‘’ but in name.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
The we’ll praise in song,
She’s succour’d us indeed,
And we will succour her in turn,
In every time of need.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
Our charter’d rights she has maintain’d
Through opposition great;
Long may her charter champions live,
Still to protect the .
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
We’ll stand by her thro’ sun and shade,
Through calm and tempest, too;
And when she needs our ’s aid,
’Tis ready at .
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
With warmest hearts we bid farewell,
To those we leave behind;
The citizens of all
So courteous and so kind.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
But we cannot pass,
Without a word of praise;
For he’s the king of comic songs
As well as comic ways.
We’ll have a jubilee, &c.
 
And the fair ladies of his house,
The flow’rs of Morgan’s plains,
Who from the soft Piano bring
Such soul-enchanting strains.
We’ll have jubilee, &c.
 
And now we’re bound for home, my friends,
A band of brothers true,
To cheer the hearts of those we love,
In beautiful .
We’ll have a jubilee, my friends,
We’ll have a jubilee;
With heart and voice we’ll all rejoice,
In that our Mayor’s free.
*’s daughter and distinguished ladies of , filled the bench during the trial.
PART SECOND.
By miss .
That deed—that time we celebrate,
So rife with liberty;
When the official pow’rs of
Pronounc’d the Prophet free.
chorus.
When foul oppression’s hand was stay’d—
A feast of Liberty,
The Prophet and his made,
To crown the jubilee.—
 
’Twas once, no subject, theme of song,
For honest men to gain,
Those rights that legally belong
To every humble swain.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
But now our Fed’ral Court has done
A deed deserving praise:—
There’s something ‘new beneath the sun’
In these the latter days.
When foul oppression’s &c,
 
Some patriot feeling yet remains—
Such as our father’s felt,
When on Columbia’s fertile plains
Their blood, they freely spilt.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
Tho’ Freedom weeps o’er many a blot;
Still here, she lifts her spires;
And here, has champions. who are not
Unworthy of their sires.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
Protection’s wreath again will bloom,—
Reviv’d by ;
Which under had become
Like Jonah’s wither’d gourd.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
Like Freedom’s true and genuine son,
Oppression to destroy,
His has begun
To govern .
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
His ‘Mormon’ subjects fondly trust,
The citizens will share,
A legislation wise and just,
While he retains the Chair.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
Long, long, they’d felt injustice’s weight,
And grappled with its yoke;
Ere the authorities of
The Prophet’s fetter’s broke.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
The justice done a righteous cause
By those who stand in pow’r;
Does honor to our country’s laws,
In this degen’rate hour.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
And while we give our feelings scope
And gratitude award,
To , and ,
We’ll not forget the Lord.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
The Lord who guides the Prophet’s cause;
Inspir’d our rulers’ minds,
To execute those equal laws,
And break the chain that binds.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
Elijah’s God! we’ll praise his name,
And own his mighty hand,
Who brings his Prophet’s foes to shame
In this republic land.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
Tho’ wicked men should rage and scoff—
Though earth and hell oppose,—
The Lord will bear his people off
Triumphant o’er their foes.
When foul oppression’s &c.
 
Now let the Prophet’s soul rejoice—
His noble ’s too;
While praise to God with heart and voice
Is heard throughout .
chorus.
When foul oppression’s hand was stay’d,
A feast of Liberty;
The Prophet and his made,
To crown the jubilee. [p. [1]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Jubilee Songs, between 11 and 18 January 1843
ID #
10742
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:335–344
Handwriting on This Page
  • Printed text

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    According to JS’s journal, Wilson Law began composing and singing the song “while riding” to Dutch’s home. (JS, Journal, 7 Jan. 1843.)

  2. [2]

    Pope was the United States district judge for Illinois who presided over JS’s hearing.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: This asterisk is keyed to another asterisk at the end of the poem explaining who Pope’s associates were.

  4. [4]

    Legal partners Justin Butterfield and Benjamin Edwards who represented JS at the habeas corpus hearings.

  5. [5]

    Missouri governor Reynolds and former Illinois governor Carlin had respectively requested and issued orders for JS’s extradition to Missouri. (See Thomas Reynolds, Requisition, 22 July 1842; and Thomas Carlin, Proclamation, 20 Sept. 1842.)

  6. [6]

    Josiah Lamborn—attorney general for Illinois—argued against JS’s habeas corpus petition on behalf of the state.

  7. [7]

    Ford encouraged JS to come to Springfield for a hearing and promised him protection during his journey. (See Letter from Thomas Ford, 17 Dec. 1842.)

  8. [8]

    Willard Richards noted in JS’s journal that William Prentiss, a United States marshal, had been “very friendly” to JS during the hearing, even inviting him and his party to visit his home once JS was freed. (JS, Journal, 31 Dec. 1842; 2 and 4 Jan. 1843.)

  9. [9]

    The “Sucker State” was a common nickname for Illinois in the nineteenth century. The name apparently originated in the late 1820s as a comparison between the laborers from southern Illinois who traveled north to Galena, Illinois, to work in the lead mines in the summer and the migratory habits of sucker fish. (“The Lead Mines of the Upper Mississippi,” 224; Ford, History of Illinois, 67–68.)

    “The Lead Mines of the Upper Mississippi.” New-England Magazine 1 (Sept. 1831): 218–226.

    Ford, Thomas. A History of Illinois, from Its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. Containing a Full Account of the Black Hawk War, the Rise, Progress, and Fall of Mormonism, the Alton and Lovejoy Riots, and Other Important and Interesting Events. Chicago: S. C. Griggs; New York: Ivison and Phinney, 1854.

  10. [10]

    As a result of the efforts to prevent JS’s arrest using the provision in the Nauvoo city charter regarding habeas corpus, several members of the Illinois General Assembly submitted resolutions calling for the repeal of Nauvoo’s charter, which they felt allowed the Saints to skirt state and federal laws. Hancock County’s representatives, including JS’s brother William, defended the charter, and many moderates, including Governor Ford, argued that the state legislature should repeal only the provisions of the charter they thought were obnoxious. (“Illinois Legislature,” Sangamo Journal [Springfield, IL], 15 [16] Dec. 1842, [2]; “Gov. Ford’s Inaugural Address,” Sangamo Journal, 15 [16] Dec. 1842, [1].)

    Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

  11. [11]

    The entry in JS’s journal describing the stay at Dutch’s tavern stated that the party “had a rich entertainment.” Charles Allen, who traveled with JS, recalled that the company members stayed overnight with Dutch and “were very kindly entertained by the family. The women played the piano & sang songs, while Captain Dutch recited his humorous recitation & sang songs.” (JS, Journal, 7 Jan. 1843; Allen, Autobiography, 6; see also Clayton, Journal, 7 Jan. 1843.)

    Allen, Charles Hopkins. Autobiography, after 1920. Microfilm. CHL. MS 6589.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  12. [12]

    See Shakespeare, Henry V, act 4, sc. 3, l. 60, in Wadsworth Shakespeare, 1004.

    The Wadsworth Shakespeare, Formerly “The Riverside Shakespeare”: The Complete Works. Edited by G. Blakemore Evans, J. J. M. Tobin, Herschel Baker, Anne Barton, Frank Kermode, Harry Levin, Hallett Smith, and Marie Edel. 2nd ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 1997.

  13. [13]

    Between six and eight women attended each day of the three-day hearing and sat alongside Pope on the bench. According to a later reminiscence, among these women were one or more of Pope’s daughters, one of Butterfield’s daughters, a recently married Mary Todd Lincoln, and either Sarah Dunlap or her sister Minerva Dunlap. Marshal William Prentiss informed JS that it was the first time in his administration that women had attended the court. Their presence caused some controversy in Springfield, as some of JS’s critics accused them of wanting to gaze at JS’s “manly form” and fantasize about John C. Bennett’s allegations. (JS, Journal, 2 and 4–5 Jan. 1843; Arnold, Reminiscences of the Illinois Bar Forty Years Ago, 6–7; Kiper, Major General John Alexander McClernand, 6–8, 153–154; “Case of Joe Smith,” Sangamo Journal [Springfield, IL], 26 Jan. 1843, [3].)

    Arnold, Isaac N. Reminiscences of the Illinois Bar Forty Years Ago: Lincoln and Douglas as Orators and Lawyers. Chicago: Fergus Printing, 1881.

    Kiper, Richard L. Major General John Alexander McClernand: Politician in Uniform. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1999.

    Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

  14. [14]

    See Ecclesiastes 1:9.

  15. [15]

    See Jonah 4:6–7.

  16. [16]

    Ford was sworn in as governor of Illinois on 8 December 1842. (Journal of the House . . . of the State of Illinois, 8 Dec. 1842, 39.)

    Journal of the House of Representatives of the Thirteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their Regular Session, Begun and Held at Springfield, December 5, 1842. Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1842.

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