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Letter to Orson Hyde, 25 May 1844

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Letter to Orson Hyde, 25 May 1844

Source Note

on behalf of the (including JS), Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , [], 25 May 1844. Featured version drafted [25 May 1844]; handwriting and signature of ; three pages; Willard Richards, Papers, CHL. Includes dockets, redactions, use mark, and notation.
Bifolium measuring 9⅝ × 7¾ inches (24 × 20 cm). The upper left corner of the first page bears an illegible embossment. The recto and verso of the first leaf are ruled with twenty-six and twenty-nine printed lines (now faded), respectively. The recto of the second leaf is similarly ruled with twenty-nine lines (now faded). The letter was inscribed on both sides of the first leaf; a postscript was written on the recto of the second leaf. The document appears to have been trifolded and later refolded along the same folds for storage.
The letter was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854. It was also docketed by Jonathan Grimshaw, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (now CHL) from 1853 to 1856. The graphite notation “A.J” was apparently added by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941. The letter was cataloged as part of the Willard Richards papers in 1980. The document’s early dockets and notation and its later inclusion in the Willard Richards papers suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

    Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

  3. Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  4. See the full bibliographic entry for Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, 1821–1854, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 25 May 1844, JS chaired a meeting of the in , Illinois, wherein the council instructed to write a response to a letter from in ; the response provided Hyde with directives and further information on topics he had written about. At the direction of the council, Hyde had left Nauvoo on 4 April 1844 to deliver memorials from JS to both houses of Congress and the president, . The documents, in part, petitioned the federal government to make JS a member of the United States Army and authorize him to raise one hundred thousand volunteers to protect American citizens emigrating to and . Hyde arrived in Washington on 23 April and began pursuing the council’s agenda, apprising JS and the Council of Fifty of his activities through a series of letters. His latest letter to the council, dated 30 April, reported political news about Texas and Oregon, informed leaders about the status of the memorials, proposed that the Latter-day Saints emigrate to Texas, and suggested economic undertakings for Nauvoo. On 25 May council members read and discussed this letter and “orderd an answr” written by Richards.
likely drafted the response around eight o’clock in the evening, after returning home from the , where he spent the entire day working. His letter highlighted the importance of JS’s presidential campaign, emphasized the need to gather the poor, instructed Hyde about his responsibility with the memorials, and requested him to assist with JS’s continued efforts to become ’s postmaster.
Although a later docket identifies the letter featured here as a copy, this version is likely the original draft. The disjointed structure of the letter and ’s declaration that his response “must be brief” suggest that he spent little time planning, writing, and editing the draft. Richards sent a fair copy of the letter on 26 May 1844. Since mail took around two to three weeks to travel between and , Richards’s letter probably arrived sometime in early or mid-June. ’s 9 and 11 June letters to the council, however, make no mention of its receipt, which suggests that he had not yet received the letter. By 11 June, Hyde concluded that he had done all he could in Washington to assist the Latter-day Saints, and he left the city sometime between 12 June and the end of the month. It is unclear when or even if Hyde received the letter.
The sent copy of the letter is apparently not extant. The original draft, which was apparently retained in , is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. Council of Fifty, “Record,” 21 Mar. 1844; JS, Journal, 31 Mar. and 4 Apr. 1844; Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 24–26 Mar. 1844; JS, Memorial to the President of the United States of America, 30 Mar. 1844, draft, JS Collection, CHL. In the 11 March entry of the Council of Fifty minutes, William Clayton reported that members “all seemed agreed to look to some place where we can go and establish a Theocracy either in Texas or Oregon or somewhere in California &c.” (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 10–11 Mar. 1844.)

  2. Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 26 Apr. 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 30 Apr. 1844.

  3. Council of Fifty, “Record,” 25 May 1844; JS, Journal, 25 May 1844; Richards, Journal, 25 May 1844.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

  4. Richards’s 25 May journal entry suggests that he returned home before he began writing to Hyde. (Richards, Journal, 25 May 1844.)

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

  5. Richards, Journal, 26 May 1844.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

  6. For example, Hyde’s 25 and 26 April 1844 letters to JS and the Council of Fifty reached Nauvoo by 13 May 1844. (Historical Introduction to Letter from Orson Hyde, 26 Apr. 1844; see also Letter from Edward Partridge, 3 Jan. 1840.)

  7. Letter from Orson Hyde, 9 June 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 11 June 1844. Hyde attended a conference in Boston on 29 June 1844. (Woodruff, Journal, 29 June 1844.)

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

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to Orson Hyde, 25 May 1844
History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

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May 25th. 1844
Mr Esqr
Sir
Yours of April 30th is received. The council convened this after noon, and after investigation directed an answer, which must be brief to correspond with a press of business.
All the items you refer to had previously received the deliberation of the council.
Messrs and , will doubtless be in before you receive this, by <​frm​> whom you will learn all things relative to . &c.— Our great battle <​succss​> at. present, <​depends on our faith in​> must grow out of the Doctrine of Election, this, once won, all o , &c will be play things. comparatively. Gen Smith must be presedent. <​and For works we shall and our faith must be made manifest by our works, and every honorable exertion made to elect Gen Smith.—​>
Agricultural pursuits will take care of themselves, and regulate <​regulating​> their own operations, and the rich also, but the poor we must and take care of, for they are to inherit the kingdom.
will be a “corner of .” forever. we most assuredly expect.— Here is the and the extend where else we may.
Press the bills through <​the Two houses​> if possible, but <​&​> <​if​> Congress will not pass them let them do as they are <​have​> a mind to. with them.— If they will not pass our bills, & but will give us “something,” they will give what they please & we <​it will​> will <​be at our option to​> accept or reject as we please. [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Orson Hyde, 25 May 1844
ID #
10312
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. Letter from Orson Hyde, 30 Apr. 1844.

  2. Most members of the Council of Fifty were absent—because they were campaigning for JS’s presidency, had other council assignments, or lived outside of Nauvoo and were unable to travel to the meeting—but seventeen members who were still in Nauvoo met in council at the Nauvoo Mansion. Council minutes indicate that the meeting took place at 1:00 p.m., although JS’s journal reports that members met at 2:00. (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 25 May 1844; JS, Journal, 25 May 1844.)

  3. Subjects that Hyde wrote about in his 30 April letter received attention during Council of Fifty meetings on 11, 18, and 25 April and 3, 6, 13, and 25 May 1844. On these dates, the council discussed Texas, Oregon, the possibility of the Saints emigrating to Texas, and JS’s recent memorial to Congress. (See Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11, 18, and 25 Apr. 1844; 3, 6, 13, and 25 May 1844.)

  4. On 13 May 1844, the Council of Fifty assigned Wight and Kimball to travel to Washington DC and deliver the council’s response to Hyde’s 25 and 26 April 1844 letters. In its 13 May letter to Hyde, the council expressed its “dis-approbation and indignation” with Hyde for striking out the part of JS’s 26 March memorial that petitioned Congress to make JS a member of the United States Army. Wight and Kimball left Nauvoo on 21 May. They arrived in Washington on 2 June and delivered the letter to Hyde on 8 June. (JS, Journal, 13 and 21 May 1844; Letter to Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt, 13 May 1844; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844; Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 24–26 Mar. 1844; Kimball, Journal, 21 May and 31 May–2 June 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 9 June 1844.)

    Kimball, Heber C. Journal, Sept. 1842; May 1844–May 1845. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box. 3, fd. 4.

  5. Willard Richards was possibly referring here to a report that Lucien Woodworth gave to the council on 3 May. In his report, Woodworth recounted the events of his recent mission to Texas, including his interview with Texas’s president, Sam Houston; he also addressed the prospect of establishing a Latter-day Saint settlement there. On 6 May the council voted to send Woodworth back to Texas to meet with its congress. Council minutes indicate that Lyman Wight was present on 3 and 6 May; Kimball may have attended on 3 May and did attend the 6 May meeting. (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 3 and 6 May 1844.)

  6. While the “doctrine of election,” or doctrine about whom God will elect or save, is a component of Christian teachings, Richards here appears to have referred instead to JS’s 1844 presidential campaign. (See, for example, Romans 11:5; and 2 Peter 1:10.)

  7. TEXT: Possibly “a”.

  8. JS’s campaign pamphlet, General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, indicated that as president, JS would support the idea of Oregon, Texas, Canada, and Mexico becoming part of the United States. (General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, ca. 26 Jan.–7 Feb. 1844.)

  9. See James 2:17–18.

  10. JS made plans to run for president as early as 29 January 1844. At an Illinois state convention held in Nauvoo on 17 May, he was officially nominated for president. On 21 May church elders left Nauvoo to campaign for his presidential run. (Minutes and Discourse, 29 Jan. 1844; “Minutes of a Convention Held in the City of Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, May 17th, 1844,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 22 May 1844, [2]; JS, Journal, 21 May 1844; see also JS, Journal, 9 Apr. 1844; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6–9 Apr. 1844, 34–36; “Special Conference,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1844, 5:504–506; and General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, ca. 26 Jan.–7 Feb. 1844.)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

    Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

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

  11. In his 30 April letter, Hyde proposed that the fastest way to strengthen the Saints’ economy was to purchase and develop farms in Hancock County, Illinois, and surrounding areas. After the Saints accrued enough “agricultural capital” and territory, the poor would be able to gather. (Letter from Orson Hyde, 30 Apr. 1844.)

  12. See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:2].

  13. The Nauvoo temple, which was under construction, was also called the Lord’s House. A January 1841 revelation designated the temple as a space where ordinances, or sacred rituals, would take place. During an 8 April 1844 discourse, JS expressed his plan for missionaries to “build up stakes in all North and South America.” (JS, Journal, 4 May 1844; “Special Conference,” Times and Seasons, 16 Jan. 1843, 4:80; “Special Conference,” Times and Seasons, 1 May 1843, 4:180–183; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:27–41]; Discourse, 8 Apr. 1844.)

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

  14. Illinois senator James Semple presented the memorial to the Senate on 6 May 1844, and Illinois representative John Wentworth presented it to the House on 25 May 1844. In his 9 June letter to the Council of Fifty, Hyde indicated that “the bill has been rejected in both houses.” (Congressional Globe, 28th Cong., 1st Sess., pp. 575, 624 [1844]; Letter from Orson Hyde, 9 June 1844.)

    The Congressional Globe, Containing Sketches of the Debates and Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Congress. Vol. 8. Washington DC: Blair and Rives, 1840.

  15. During a 21 March 1844 meeting of the Council of Fifty, JS told Hyde that if Congress did not pass the bill “in its pure original State, let them reject it altogether. He did not care whether Congress would grant it or not, it would serve to goad them with.” (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 21 Mar. 1844.)

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