Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, circa 24–26 March 1844, Orson Hyde Copy
Source Note
JS, Memorial, , Hancock Co., IL, to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, [], ca. 24–26 Mar. 1844. Version copied [between 25 and ca. 30 Apr. 1844]; handwriting of ; docket in unidentified handwriting; four pages; JS Collection, CHL.
in their locations and thus strengthen the Goverment and enlarge her borders— to extend her influence— to inspire the nations with a spirit of freedom and win them to her standard— to promote inteligence— to cultivate and establish peace among all with whom we may have intercourse as neighbors— to settle all existing difficulties among those not organized into an acknowledgment <acknowledged> government bordering on the and Territories— to save the national revenue in the s coffers— to supersede the necessity of a standing army on our western and southern frontier— to create and maintain the principles of peace and suppress mobs, insurrections and oppression in and all lands bordering upon the , and not encorporated into any acknowledged national government— to explore the unexplored regions of our continent— to open new fields of enterprize to our Citizens and protect them therein— to search out the antiquities of the land, and thereby promote the arts and Sciences, and general information to amalgamate the feelings of all with whom we may have intercourse, and the principles of equity, liberty, justice, humanity, and benevolence— to break down tyrranny and oppression and exalt the Standard of universal peace— provided he shall be protected in those rights and privileges which constitutionally belong to every Citizen of this :— Therefore, that the said memorialist may have the privilege, and that no Citizen of these shall obstuct or attempt to obstruct or hinder so good— so great— so noble an enterprize to carry out those plans and principles as set forth in these <this> preamble, and be shielded from every opposition by evil and designing men.
Sec. 1st. Be it ordained <enacted> by the Senate and house of Representatives of the in Congress assembled that Joseph Smith of the City of , in the State of is hereby authorized and empowered to raise a company of One Hundred Thousand armed volunteers in the [p. [3]]