Letter to John C. Calhoun, 4 November 1843, as Published in New York Herald
Source Note
JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , Fort Hill near , Pickens District, SC, 4 Nov. 1843. Version published in “City of Nauvoo—Its Prospect,” New York Herald, 26 Jan. 1844, vol. 10, no. 25, p. [2]; edited by James Gordon Bennett. Transcript from digital images obtained from Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress, in 2025.
Hon. ,—Dear Sir,—As we understand you are a candidate for the Presidency at the next election; and as the , (sometimes called Mormons, who now constitute a numerous class in the school politic of this vast republic) have been robbed of an immense amount of property, and endured nameless sufferings by the State of , and from her borders have been driven by force of arms, contrary to our national covenants; and as in vain we have sought redress by all constitutional, legal, and honorable means, in her courts, her executive councils, and her legislative halls; and as we have petitioned Congress to take cognizance of our sufferings without effect, we have judged it wisdom to address you this communication, and solicit an immediate, specific, and candid reply to what will be your rule of action, relative to us as a people, should fortune favor your ascension to the chief magistracy? Most respectfully, sir, your friend, and the friend of peace, good order, and constitutional rights,