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Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 2 November 1843

This item is reproduced by permission of Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Rowley, Massachusetts.
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Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 2 November 1843

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to [], [, Adams Co., IL], 2 Nov. 1843; handwriting of ; one page; Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Rowley, MA. Includes notations.
Single leaf measuring 8 × 10 inches (20 × 25 cm) and ruled with twenty-six blue horizontal lines. Embossed in the upper left corner is a circle enclosing the words “Congress Southworth Co.” and an image of a bird holding an olive branch. The letter was inscribed on the recto of the leaf; the verso is blank. The document was trifolded in letter style and then folded again, perhaps for inclusion in another letter or envelope or later for filing. The document has some tearing and discoloration along one of the folds. Two of the folds contain remnants of cellophane tape. The document was apparently pasted or glued to one or more sheets of paper, perhaps when it was included in an autograph book. Remnants of blue and tan construction paper remain on the verso. There are graphite notations in unidentified handwriting.
The provenance of this document is somewhat unclear. Joseph Cheever obtained the letter at some point after its creation and then donated it to the Essex Institute in , Massachusetts, in 1855. At some point, the letter was included in the Margarette W. Brooks Autograph Collection, also held by that repository. This letter and a letter containing JS’s signature were removed from the autograph collection in 1977 and cataloged together. In 1992 the Essex Institute merged with the Peabody Museum of Salem to form the Peabody Essex Museum. The letter is now preserved at the Phillips Library, a department of the Peabody Essex Museum.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    This is likely the insignia of the Springfield, Massachusetts, paper mill firm established by Wells and Edward Southworth in 1839. (Weeks, History of Paper-Manufacturing in the United States, 249.)

    Weeks, Lyman Horace. A History of Paper-Manufacturing in the United States, 1690–1916. New York: Lockwood Trade Journal, 1916.

  2. [2]

    Peabody Essex Museum, “Donations to the Essex Institute, November 1854 to April 1861.”

    Peabody Essex Museum. "About PEM." Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. Accessed 2 Mar. 2020. https://www.pem.org/about-pem.

  3. [3]

    See Peabody Essex Museum, “About PEM.”

    Peabody Essex Museum. "About PEM." Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. Accessed 2 Mar. 2020. https://www.pem.org/about-pem.

Historical Introduction

On 2 November 1843, in , Illinois, JS wrote a letter to in , Illinois, responding to Heywood’s suggestion to enlist Colonel in petitioning Congress for redress for the ’ expulsion from in 1838 and 1839. Heywood had written to JS ten days earlier, on 23 October 1843, to inform him that Frierson was interested in helping with the Saints’ redress efforts and enclosed a copy of a letter Frierson wrote to former congressman Franklin H. Elmore as well as a circular supporting ’s presidential campaign. Both Frierson and Heywood lived in Quincy. Frierson was sympathetic to the ’s plight, well connected with members of Congress, and willing to use his influence to help church members.
JS probably replied to ’s letter after meeting with church leaders, including , , and , to discuss political matters and the contents of Heywood’s earlier missive. Apparently dictating to , his clerk, JS expressed satisfaction that shared his views on the importance of the “Patriotic principles of right and liberty.” JS informed Heywood that he looked forward to meeting Frierson as soon as possible so that he could give him “documents and evidence” about the Saints’ treatment in to aid him in preparing a memorial to Congress.
Due to a lack of postal markings on both documents, it appears that ’s 23 October 1843 letter to JS was hand delivered and that JS probably sent the response in like manner. The distance from to was approximately fifty miles, whether overland or via the , so the letter probably took at least a few days to reach Heywood. At some point, Heywood communicated its contents to , who visited Nauvoo on 25 November 1843 to meet JS in person for the first time and discuss further the prospect of helping the Latter-day Saints petition Congress.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 23 Oct. 1843.

  2. [2]

    Historical Introduction to Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 23 Oct. 1843; see also John Frierson, Quincy, IL, to Franklin H. Elmore, 12 Oct. 1843, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 5 June 1844, [2]–[3]; Jacob Bond I’On et al., Charleston, SC, to “Dear Sir,” 23 Sept. 1843, in JS Office Papers, CHL; and Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1017.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

    Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–1989: The Continental Congress September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States from the First through the One Hundredth Congresses March 4, 1789, to January 3, 1989, Inclusive. Edited by Kathryn Allamong Jacob and Bruce A. Ragsdale. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1989.

  3. [3]

    JS, Journal, 25 Nov. 1843; John Frierson, Quincy, IL, to Franklin H. Elmore, 12 Oct. 1843, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 5 June 1844, [2]–[3]. Frierson promised to “open a correspondence with Ex-Governor Lucas and other members of Congress, whom I know to be friendly and engage their ass[is]tance.” Frierson did not identify his congressional connections. “Ex-Governor Lucas” is probably Robert Lucas, who had served as governor of Ohio and Iowa Territory. (“Lucas, Robert,” in Dictionary of American Biography, 6:487–488.)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

    Malone, Dumas, ed. Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. 9. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1932.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 2 Nov. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 2 Nov. 1843.

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

  5. [5]

    When JS met with Frierson later that month, he showed him documents including affidavits from Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, George Pitkin, and Sidney Rigdon regarding the treatment of the Saints in Missouri. (Woodruff, Journal, 26 Nov. 1843; Hyrum Smith, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843; Brigham Young, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843; Parley P. Pratt, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843; Lyman Wight, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843; George Pitkin, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843; Sidney Rigdon, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)

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

  6. [6]

    JS, Journal, 25 and 26 Nov. 1843; see also John Frierson, Quincy, IL, to Franklin H. Elmore, 12 Oct. 1843, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 5 June 1844, [3]; and Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 23 Oct. 1843.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Page [1]

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November 2nd. 1843
Dr :
I have received your favor of Octr. 23rd. accompanied by a “Copy of a letter by to Hon. F[ranklin] H. Elmore” and a “Circular” all which have been duly considered and in due time shall be promptly attended to.
In regard to the proposition of to use his influence in favor of a petition & memorial &c I would reply that it is gratifying to me and must be to suffering innocence universally to find those Patriotic principles of right and liberty dwelling yet in the bosoms of some of our neighbors. The history of our sufferings as a people in is no secret; it is known to the ends of <​the​> earth, and no man can be so depraved who understands the circumstances fully as to oppose the idea of our seeking redress. I am glad of the offer made by and shall be happy to have him step forth and investigate the whole matter &c &c. Should he come to we can furnish him with documents and evidence to substantiate all the necessary facts, and shall be pleased to have him come, and attend to the business as soon as prudence and convenience will permit him.
I shall be happy to hear from you again on this subject and in the mean time I remain Dr Sir Your sincere friend and well wisher
Joseph Smith [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 2 November 1843
ID #
1195
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:242–245
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The “Circular” referred to a document supporting John C. Calhoun’s presidential candidacy. At a council meeting held before this letter was written, church leaders determined to write to all the presidential candidates, including Calhoun. (Jacob Bond I’On et al., Charleston, SC, to “Dear Sir,” 23 Sept. 1843, in JS Office Papers, CHL; JS, Journal, 2 and 4 Nov. 1843; see also Letter to John C. Calhoun, 4 Nov. 1843.)

  2. [2]

    The Saints made several attempts to publicize their treatment in Missouri, including publishing accounts of their persecution in serialized histories, a broadside (which was reprinted in a special issue of the church’s newspaper), and several pamphlets. (“A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in Missouri,” Dec. 1839–Oct. 1840; “The Outrage in Jackson County, Missouri,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833–Mar. 1834 and May–June 1834; Parley P. Pratt et al., “‘The Mormons’ So Called,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Extra, Feb. 1834, [1]–[2]; John P. Greene, Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter Day Saints, from the State of Missouri, under the “Exterminating Order” [Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839]; John Taylor, A Short Account of the Murders, Roberies, Burnings, Thefts, and Other Outrages Committed by the Mob and Militia of the State of Missouri, upon the Latter Day Saints . . . [Springfield, IL: By the author, 1839].)

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

    Greene, John P. Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter Day Saints, from the State of Missouri, under the “Exterminating Order.” By John P. Greene, an Authorized Representative of the Mormons. Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839.

    Taylor, John. A Short Account of the Murders, Roberies, Burnings, Thefts, and Other Outrages Committed by the Mob and Militia of the State of Missouri, Upon the Latter Day Saints. Springfield, IL: By the author, 1839.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: Beginning here through the end of the text, the ink is a darker shade of brown than the ink of the letter’s earlier text.

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