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Letter to John J. Hardin, 19 April 1844

Image courtesy of Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.
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Letter to John J. Hardin, 19 April 1844

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , [], 19 Apr. 1844. Featured version copied 7 May 1844 in John J. Hardin, to the editor of Daily Globe [], 7 May 1844; handwriting of ; Stephen A. Douglas, Papers, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.
Bifolium measuring 10 × 7⅝ inches (25 × 19 cm). The letter was copied onto the bottom third of the recto of the first leaf beneath a different letter written by Hardin to the editor of the Daily Globe. The bifolium was trifolded twice in letter style.
A docket was written on the verso in unidentified handwriting. It is unknown how this document came into the possession of , although both he and were prominent politicians and undoubtedly had common acquaintances among the editorial staff of the Daily Globe. Douglas died in 1861. Sometime thereafter his private papers were acquired by the University of Chicago.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See “Guide to the Stephen A. Douglas Papers, 1764–1908,” Stephen A. Douglas, Papers, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

    Douglas, Stephen A. Papers, 1764–1908. Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library, University of Chicago.

Historical Introduction

On 19 April 1844, JS wrote a letter from , Illinois, to congressman in requesting his help in publishing a letter to , the editor of the Daily Globe. JS had written the letter to Blair in response to an editorial the Globe had published that mocked JS, his presidential campaign, and his calls for a new national bank and criminal justice reform. The Times and Seasons and the Nauvoo Neighbor had already published JS’s rejoinder to Blair, but JS wanted it to also appear in the Daily Globe or another prominent Washington DC newspaper, the National Intelligencer, though he did not specify the daily or weekly edition of that paper. It is unclear why JS wrote to Hardin instead of to , who represented the district in which Nauvoo was located.
JS’s 19 April letter to likely arrived in in early May. Hardin sent a copy of JS’s letter to the Daily Globe, requesting that the publish it. If the editor did not, Hardin wanted the letter returned to him. Neither the Daily Globe, the Weekly National Intelligencer, nor the Daily National Intelligencer published JS’s rejoinder.
The original letter JS sent to is apparently not extant. However, Hardin transcribed a copy of JS’s letter into his 7 May correspondence with the of the Daily Globe. Hardin’s copy of JS’s letter is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to Editor, 15 Apr. 1844.

  2. [2]

    “The Globe,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1844, 5:508–510; “The Globe,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2].

  3. [3]

    “Official Returns,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 16 Aug. 1843, [2].

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  4. [4]

    John J. Hardin, [Washington DC], to “Editor of the Globe,” 7 May 1844, Stephen A. Douglas, Papers, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

    Douglas, Stephen A. Papers, 1764–1908. Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library, University of Chicago.

  5. [5]

    John J. Hardin, [Washington DC], to “Editor of the Globe,” 7 May 1844, Stephen A. Douglas, Papers, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

    Douglas, Stephen A. Papers, 1764–1908. Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library, University of Chicago.

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Ill April 19th 1844
Sir
Will you have the goodness to solicit the Globe, as it commented on my “views,” to publish the enclosed reply, as a favor of curtesy— If it refuses try the National Intelligencer—
Respectfully
I have the honor to be yours &c
Joseph Smith
Hon )
) [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to John J. Hardin, 19 April 1844
ID #
13322
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • John J. Hardin

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, ca. 26 Jan.–7 Feb. 1844; “A New Advocate for a National Bank,” Daily Globe (Washington DC), 14 Mar. 1844, 251.

    Daily Globe. Washington DC. 1831–1845.

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