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Letter from Elias Higbee, 9 March 1840

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Letter from Elias Higbee, 9 March 1840

Source Note

, Letter, , to JS, [, Hancock Co., IL?], 9 Mar. 1840. Featured version copied [between Apr. and June 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 104–105; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 9 March 1840, wrote JS a letter from , the sixth in a series of letters apprising JS of the actions of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, which was considering the ’s memorial for redress to Congress. In this letter, Higbee reported that the Senate had not yet reviewed the committee’s report and its recommendation that the Senate no longer consider the memorial. He also updated JS on the whereabouts of various church members then traveling in the eastern , including several members of the who were preparing to serve their mission in .
presumably sent this letter by post to , Illinois. The original letter is not extant. copied the version featured here into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between April and June 1840.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Historical Introduction to Letter from Elias Higbee, 20 Feb. 1840–A.

  2. [2]

    Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17, 19.

    Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Elias Higbee, 9 March 1840 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
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Page 105

offence towards God in this matter— The subscription of which the Report makes mention— was on condition, they could not lawfully do any thing for us— After examination we were to submit and wait untill the great disposer of human events, shall adjust these things, in that place where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest— (This I think is nearly the sentiment, though perhaps not the very worlds words). And I for one hope and pray, the time will soon come, when they will not trouble us in the West as they have hitherto done— There is a man here, <​who​> owns two printing presses, and much Type, reading our Books, (on whom I occasionally call), I will, with the assistance of God, get to come to the West as soon as possible with his press, that you may set him to printing the truth— He told me if we had any printing to do, he would do it cheap; and even go to the West if necessary—
Give my respects to , and also all the household of faith
[p. 105]
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Source Note

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Page 105

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Elias Higbee, 9 March 1840
ID #
525
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:223–225
Handwriting on This Page
  • Howard Coray

Footnotes

  1. [14]

    See Acts 24:16.

  2. [15]

    “The subscription” refers to the resolution in the report of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. (Report of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 4 Mar. 1840.)

  3. [16]

    See Job 3:17.

  4. [17]

    In a subsequent letter, Higbee identified the printer mentioned here as William Green. In response to Parley P. Pratt’s request to print the Book of Mormon and other church publications in New York, Hyrum Smith urged Pratt to send to the Commerce area any printers willing to settle there so that the First Presidency could supervise the printing. (Letter from Elias Higbee, 24 Mar. 1840; Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 22 Nov. 1839; Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt, New York City, NY, 22 Dec. 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 80–81.)

  5. [18]

    Rockwell and Foster were part of the group that traveled to the eastern United States with JS, Rigdon, and Higbee. (Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 29 Oct. 1839, 66; Historical Introduction to Letter of Introduction from Sidney Rigdon, 9 Nov. 1839.)

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