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Letter from J. Brouder, 20 May 1844

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Letter from J. Brouder, 20 May 1844

Source Note

, Letter, , Philadelphia Co., PA, to JS, [, Hancock Co., IL], 20 May 1844; handwriting and signature presumably of ; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes redaction and use marks.
One leaf measuring 9⅞ × 7½ inches (25 × 19 cm). The upper left corner of the recto of the leaf bears an illegible embossment. The letter was trifolded twice in letter style and was later refolded for filing.
The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The letter’s listing in the circa 1904 inventory and its later inclusion in the JS Collection suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [4], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  2. See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 20 May 1844, an individual identified as “” wrote a letter from to JS in , Illinois, asking him to run for president of the . It is unclear who “J Brouder” was or what previous acquaintance, if any, he had with JS or the . It appears that Brouder was unaware that JS had already declared his candidacy for president and issued a pamphlet on his political positions, even though at least one Philadelphia newspaper had reported on JS’s candidacy since March 1844.
While had planned on writing to JS for some time, the immediate impetus for writing his letter may have been an article published in the 17 May 1844 issue of the Philadelphia newspaper Public Ledger. The article reported on an April meeting held in during which members of the church addressed “measures for the furtherance of their designs in the next Presidential election” and noted that they could “bring, independent of any other party, from two to five hundred thousand votes into the field.” Because the article did not mention JS’s candidacy for president, Brouder may have read it and, believing that JS was a viable candidate if the Latter-day Saints could bring so many votes to the election, felt it important to encourage JS to run. According to Brouder, he wrote the letter after God’s Spirit impressed upon him the need for JS to run for president. He also told JS that he would be in at the end of the month, possibly because Brouder planned to attend the Democratic National Convention.
There are no postal markings on the letter, which may indicate that it was delivered by courier to . There is no known response from JS to the letter.

Footnotes

  1. “Another Candidate for President,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 15 Mar. 1844, [2]; “An Expounder of the Constitution,” Public Ledger, 20 Mar. 1844, [2]. At a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in January 1844, the apostles nominated JS as a presidential candidate, and JS accepted the nomination. In February he and William W. Phelps composed General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, which was then sent to federal officials, state governors, and postmasters. On 17 May 1844, a convention held in Nauvoo formally nominated JS for the presidency with Sidney Rigdon as his vice president. (JS, Journal, 29 Jan. 1844; General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, ca. 26 Jan.–7 Feb. 1844; JS, Journal, 24 and 27 Feb. 1844; “Minutes of a Convention Held in the City of Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, May 17th, 1844,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 22 May 1844, [2].)

    Public Ledger. Philadelphia. 1836–1925.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  2. “Mormon Politicians,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 17 May 1844, [2]; “Public Meeting,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 24 Apr. 1844, [2].

    Public Ledger. Philadelphia. 1836–1925.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  3. The Public Ledger article noted that the Saints planned to send “several gentlemen” to Baltimore in May to attend the Democratic National Convention. (“Mormon Politicians,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 17 May 1844, [2].)

    Public Ledger. Philadelphia. 1836–1925.

  4. Letters mailed between Nauvoo and Philadelphia took about two or three weeks to arrive. For example, JS received a letter written on 1 May 1843 in Philadelphia on 22 May. (Letter from Sybella McMinn Armstrong, 1 May 1843; Clayton, Journal, 22 May 1843.)

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

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mention this to your people and let me know the result of your conclusions if I cum to your Cuntrey I will Call on you but I must close for the presant time but more hearfter [hereafter]
yours with due respect &c
Joseph Smith)
Mor) [3/4 page blank] [p. [2]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from J. Brouder, 20 May 1844
ID #
1367
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • J. Brouder
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