| Smith Diary | Woodruff Journal |
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9 A. M. I^Joseph presented to the meeting the proceedings of O. F. Bostwick. & the Lawyers &c - for the people to speak out, say whether such men should be. tolerated. and supported in our midst. = and from this time I design to bring such characters before the committee of the whole.- and if these things cannot be put a stop to. I will give them in to the hands of the mob - -. the hands of the officers of the city falter, and are palsied by the conduct of such men.
¶ There is another I will speak about he is a
mormon. = a certain man. who lived here before we come here. the two first letters of
his name are Hiram Kimball - - when the city had passed an ordinance to tax steam boats.
He goes and tells the captains of the steam boats that he owned the landing. and they
need not to pay tax- and I am determined to use up such men if they will not stop their
efforts. If this is not true. Let him come forward & throw of the imputation. - when
they annother thing. I want to speak about. the Lawyers of this city.- I have good feelings & and I will reprove them - and the prophets always did say wo unto you ye Lawyers.- the Maratime laws of the U. S. have ceded up the tolls wharfage &c to the respective corporations who have jurisdiction. &c = =
¶ Shallow drafts intoxicate the brain &c. Look at the reason.= no vessel could land any where if Subject to individuals laws.- = Corporation owns the streets of the city, and have a right to tax the Boats to make wharfs. the same as to tax citizens to make roads - want every man in this city to stay at home & let the Boat Captains, peace officers and every body alone.- ¶
How are we to keep peace in this city. & defend our selves
against mobs.= disgrace evry man, by preaching him on the house top, who will, |
The Prophet arrived & took the stand. and arose in the midst of people & said (Orson
Pratt come & take your post) & further remarked I do not know whether the object of
the meeting has been told or not I apologize for not comeing sooner. I have had so
much on my mind since I saw you that I hardly know whare to begin or to say but one
of the grand objects that I had in view in calling this meeting was in making a few
remarks relative to the laws & ordinances and building the temple, the reason I want
to speak of the laws is the Officers have difficulty in administering the laws. We
are republican & wish to have the people rule but rule in righteousness, Sone would
complain with what God himself would do, the laws are enacted by petition and they
can all be repealed if they wish it but the people ought not to complain of the
officers but to complain of the law makers, I am instructed by the City Council to
tell this people that if you do not like any law we have passed we will repeal it
for we are your servants, Any that Complain of our rights and Charters it is because
they are wicked the devil is in them. the reason I called it up is we have a simple
gang of fellows who does not know whare their elbows or head is if you preach virtue
to them they will oppose that if you preach the Methodist God to them they will oppose
that or any thing els & if their is any Case tried they want it appealed to Carthage
Mr Boswick's case had to go to Carthage our Lawyers will send any thing to Carthage.
I want to know if the Citizens will sustain me when my hands are raised to heaven for
the people, I will areign the person before the people that act against the interest
of the City & I will have the voice of the people which is republican and as likely to
be the voice of God And |
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¶ A couple of merchants in this city. I was^ ¶
another Man. will not call his name. has been writing to the New York Tribune
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some of the |
How can we keep off mobs & keeping innocent Blood from being shed, By
striking a blow at evry thing that rises up in disorder & I will war
an eternal war with those that oppose me while I am labouring in behalf
of the City. A man has been writing to the New York Tribune I will not
mention his name. He says that much has been appropriated for the
building the Temple that has been spent for other purposes. But I
pledge myself that any man that has paid any old shoes, harnesss,
horses, or any thing els if he will come I will show him on Book
that evry farthing has gone on Book & been appropriated for the
building of the Temple |
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;¶ he also states that the Temple cannot be build it costs so much.= who dont know. that we can put the roof on this building this season? by turning all the means of the N. House & doubling our diligence we can do it. ¶ The best way for such men is to be still. If I did not love men I would not reprove them. but work in the dark as they do = = = read the Tribune & you see for yourself - ¶ he is not a Lawyer. he is nearer related to a Doctor. a small man.- "Mr. McNeil = enquired if he was the man.-" No did not know you - you are a stranger.- - Joseph rested. [during Hyrum Smith's remarks]. ¶
Chas. Foster asked. if Joseph meant. him Joseph said. I will
ask you a questn [F.] that is no way. [J.] yes that is the way the
Quakers do. Why did you denominate yourself.--Jesus said-- whose image &
superscription is it--[F.] Did you mean me.--[J.] Why did you denominate
yourself.
¶ W. W. Phelps read Gen Smiths views of the powers & policies of the Gen Government, after which it was voted unanimously with one exception, to uphold Gen Smith for the Presidency. ¶
"A voice of Innocence from Nauvoo"
was then read by W. W. Phelps.2 ---and all the ¶ Doctor Foster read a letter from Thomas Ford Governor ¶ 30 minutes past 12. adjourned till 2 p.m. |
1. The man writing to the Tribune was Charles Foster, a later conspirator in plots to murder Smith.
2. The "Voice" was authored by Phelps, though appearing over the signature of Emma Smith. See Samuel Brown, "The Translator and the Ghostwriter: Joseph Smith and William W. Phelps," Journal of Mormon History 34/1 (2008):26-63.
| Smith Diary | Woodruff Journal |
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Joseph said in relation to those who give property on the temple. be careful into whose hands it come into that it may be entered into the church books. that those whose names are found in the church books shall have the first claim in that house. I intend to keep the door at dedication myself---& not a man shall pass who had not paid his bonus | President Smith remarked in relation to those who give in property for the temple we want it brought to the proper source that it may be put on the Church Book So that in the endowment those whose names are on Book shall have the prefference. |
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¶ I do not care 1/2 so much about the Pres election as I do the office I have got we have as good a right to make a political party to gain power to defend ourselves as for |
As to politics I care but little about the Presidential Chair., I would not give half as much for the office as I would for the one I now hold, but as the world have used the power of Goverment to oppress & persecute us it is right for us to use it for the protection of our rights. when I get hold of the eastern paper & see how popular I am I am afraid myself that I shall be elected, But if I should be I would not say that your cause is just & I could not do anything for you. 2 |
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¶ on the annexation of Texas---some object--the anti-Mormons are good fellows--- I say it in anticipation they will repent object to Texas on account of slavery.--- Tis the very reason why she should be received.-- ¶ Houston says "gentlemen if you refuse to receive us we must go to the British" and the first thing they will do will be to set the negroes free & Indians & they will use us up. ¶ British officers running all over Texas to pick a quarrel with us.---more honorable for us to receive them. & set the negroes free & use the negroes & indians against our foes. ¶
dont let Texas go out. Our Mother & the daughter of the land, will laugh us in the teeth.--
and if these things are not so-- God never spoke |
What I said in relation to the annexation of texas is with some unpopular the
people are opposed to it, I will take this objection away. the opposition is
because it is filled up with Slavery, now I wish to turn the argument it is
the vary reason why it ought to be received in order to watch over them of the
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¶ south held the balance of power &c---by annexing Texas.--I can do away this evil liberate 2 or 3 states & if that was not sufficient, call in Canada-- ¶ Send the negroes to Texas. from Texas to Mexico where all colors are alike.---Notice was given for the relief Society to meet saturday 2 p.m. to adopt "the voice of Innocence from Nauvoo." ¶ Joseph stated the Mormon Zion has endured all animus ¶ Singing & prayer by B. Young. |
as soon as texas was annexed I would liberate two or three states & pay them for their salves [slaves] & let them go to Mexico whare they are mixed blacks &c I would also receive Canida & stand by them & many other useful remarks He made. |
2. During the redress of grievance mission to Washington in 1839, then President of the U. S. Martin Van Buren made this statement to Joseph Smith and the Mormon delegation.
3. The Mormons had been accused of being abolitionists during their Missouri troubles. Here Joseph Smith makes clear that his personal views are anti-slavery on principle. The Mormons as a whole held mixed views on the subject however.