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Letter to Editor, 22–circa 27 April 1843, Initial 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 Boston 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, 22 Apr. 1843, 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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; three pages; “Truthiana No. 6,” Truthiana, 1843, drafts, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to Editor, 22–ca. 27 Apr. 1843.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Editor, 22–circa 27 April 1843

Page [2]

before I sleep; but I must pass over the order of the day, & numerical force of this mighty host, till I am better informd, & fill my sheet with I have heard a great
7

TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.


deal said about the Mormon’s being a warlike people, &, surely, present appearancs indicate the truth of the remark; but ’tis not a sure sign that a man is a murderer <​merely​> becaues he was seen to rush <​go​>
8

TEXT: Cancellation and insertion in blue ink.


out of a house, where a murder had been committed, with a bloody knife in his hand; he might have been a butcher or a Larderer a[nd] blooded his knife lawfully; in total ignerance of the household Slaughter. Thus it may be with the mormons for aught I know, though they appear to take the liveliest interst in military affirs of any people in the west, yet they say they “will not fight and except it be for peace,” and that every body has a right to do, for self <​presrvation​> defence
9

TEXT: Insertion and cancellation in blue ink.


is the first law of nature.
But
10

TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.


They profess a high regard for the constitution of our
country

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

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, & say they wish to be “prepard to defend her rights should any invasion <​they ever​> be invaded by a foreign force foe,— & for self defence in case of unbearable oppression & Tyrrany from & mobocracy:” & that <​This​>
11

TEXT: Cancellations and insertion in blue ink.


is laudable, & woud, be so in any people, and Their
12

TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.


History of the past goes for to prove their assertions, for while <​when​>
13

TEXT: Cancellation and insertion in blue ink.


they were driven from
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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, by Mobocracy, they submitted without defence, because the mob assumed the color of law, <​legal <​operation,​>​>
14

TEXT: Cancellation and insertion in blue ink.


under the powers that then existed, and absolutely left the
state

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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rather than fight. under such circumstances.— This is a matter of history which I have not seen contradicted, & why this people should be hanged for treason merely
15

TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.


because they have a more powerful or better disciplined [p. [2]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Editor, 22–circa 27 April 1843, Initial Draft
ID #
12052
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [7]

    TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.

  2. [8]

    TEXT: Cancellation and insertion in blue ink.

  3. [9]

    TEXT: Insertion and cancellation in blue ink.

  4. [10]

    TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.

  5. [11]

    TEXT: Cancellations and insertion in blue ink.

  6. [12]

    TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.

  7. [13]

    TEXT: Cancellation and insertion in blue ink.

  8. [14]

    TEXT: Cancellation and insertion in blue ink.

  9. [15]

    TEXT: Cancellation in blue ink.

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