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Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Partial Draft

Source Note

[
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, (Viator, pseud.)], Letter,
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Hancock Co., IL, to the Editor of Daily Bee,
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

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, Suffolk Co., MA, 17 Mar. 1843, partial draft; handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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; one page; “Truthiana No. 1,” Truthiana, 1843, drafts, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introductions to Letter to Editor, 22–ca. 27 Apr. 1843, and Letter to Richard Blennerhassett, 17 Mar. 1843.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Partial Draft
Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Draft Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843

Page [1]

1

TEXT: At least one page is not extant. For a complete draft, see Letter to Editor, 17 Mar. 1843, Draft.


do them the justice to say, that I have never found more of the true, gentlemen among any family <​people​> <​among any people,​>;— Entirely free from that sophistry <​in manners deportment,​> which characterises many of the fashionable of the day of civilized Society.— The <​Mormon​> prophet may well be considered— the <​one hundred & first,​> wonder of the age, and the caution too; for if I may judge by a few calls at his office, and frequent exhibitions of his himself in public;— for his offical, The dignity, combined with urbanity with ease, familiarity & urbanity of manner, which characterizes his deportme[n]t; on the Judgme[n]t seat, as mayor of the
city

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, as Comomader of
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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the
Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

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; as head of President of a numerous church; as head of noble family, & as a general business calculator, is unsurpassed: in my observation: but <​this​> appear <​things are is​> not sufficet to occupy his mind; his eye <​appears to​>
2

TEXT: Insertion in blue ink.


glances with the velocity of lightning to the utmost bo[u]nds of earth.— & he compasses other wo[r]lds in his imagnation, or revelation (true or false, Jud[g]e ye,) never loosing sight of the Signs in the heaven, the commotion of eleme[n]ts, the contentions of nations, on and every even minute circumstances which of any <​every​> description, which he supposes will have an influence on the happiness, misery misery or destiny, of himself, or his fellow men, and especially, of those his followers who depend on <​refere to​> him for counsil,
I[t] has been often reported that that “Joe Smith” is surround with some “learnd and talented menn, who does all the work, and he gets the credit,” of this I doubt;— that there are men of talent here, there is not question;— but, thus far, the prophet has presented himself to my view as his own, best, councillor.
I have take a public survey of the <​location of the​>
city

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, and many other things, such as, its history <​its​>— charters, number of inhabitants, morals, municipal discipline, organization, & discipline, politics, Legion, General and particular relations, as individuals and body politic; Literary institutions, morals, commerce, currency, wealth & pove[r]ty, prophets, revelations,
ordinances

A religious rite. JS taught that ordinances were covenants between man and God, in which believers could affirm faith, gain spiritual knowledge, and seek blessings. Some ordinances were considered requisite for salvation. The manner in which ordinances were...

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, faith, &c, &c,— so far as the intense cold wo[r]ld suffere a man with safety, put <​push​>
3

TEXT: “sh” was written over the “t” in “put” in blue ink, changing “put” to “push”.


his nose out of doors, which has been seldom: but will say no more, till I have examind more critically; for there has been so much Speculation concerning this people, I am detirmnd to writee nothing but what from my own observation—
Your Respectfuly, Viator
<​Nauvoo March 17, 1843.​>
4

TEXT: Insertion in blue ink.


[p. [1]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Partial Draft
ID #
12040
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page

    Footnotes

    1. [1]

      TEXT: At least one page is not extant. For a complete draft, see Letter to Editor, 17 Mar. 1843, Draft.

    2. [2]

      TEXT: Insertion in blue ink.

    3. [3]

      TEXT: “sh” was written over the “t” in “put” in blue ink, changing “put” to “push”.

    4. [4]

      TEXT: Insertion in blue ink.

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