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Letter to Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt, 13 May 1844

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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on behalf of the
Council of Fifty

An organization intended to establish the political kingdom of God on the earth. An 1842 editorial in the church newspaper stated that the “design of Jehovah” was to “take the reigns of government into his own hand.” On 10 and 11 March 1844, JS and several...

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(including JS), 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
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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and
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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,
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
, 13 May 1844. Featured version copied [between ca. Aug. 1844 and ca. Feb. 1845] in Council of Fifty, “Record,” pp. [249]–[252]; handwriting of
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Council of Fifty, “Record.”

Historical Introduction

On 13 May 1844,
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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signed a letter on behalf of the
Council of Fifty

An organization intended to establish the political kingdom of God on the earth. An 1842 editorial in the church newspaper stated that the “design of Jehovah” was to “take the reigns of government into his own hand.” On 10 and 11 March 1844, JS and several...

View Glossary
in
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....

More Info
, Illinois, to council members
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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and
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

View Full Bio
in
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
censuring Hyde for making changes to a memorial he had presented to the
United States

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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Congress. As originally approved by the council, this memorial petitioned Congress to authorize JS to raise one hundred thousand armed volunteers to protect westward migrating settlers and also asked Congress to make JS a “member of the Army of the United States.”
1

Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 24–26 Mar. 1844.


Before Hyde left Nauvoo with the memorial, the Council of Fifty specifically instructed him not to make any changes to the document. After arriving in Washington on 23 April, Hyde met with several members of the
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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congressional delegation, including Senator
James Semple

5 Jan. 1798–20 Dec. 1866. Realtor, lawyer, politician, judge, farmer, postmaster, inventor, land agent. Born in Green Co., Kentucky, 5 Jan. 1798. Son of John Walker Semple and Lucy Robertson. Moved to Burkesville, Cumberland Co., Kentucky, by 1810; to Edwardsville...

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and Representatives
Stephen A. Douglas

23 Apr. 1813–3 June 1861. Lawyer, politician. Born at Brandon, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Stephen Arnold Douglass and Sarah Fisk. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, 1830. Moved to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Illinois, 1833. Served as attorney general of Illinois...

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and
John Wentworth

5 Mar. 1815–16 Oct. 1888. Teacher, newspaper editor and owner, lawyer, politician, historian. Born in Sandwich, Strafford Co., New Hampshire. Son of Paul Wentworth and Lydia Cogswell. Graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, Grafton Co., New Hampshire...

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, on 25 April in hopes of garnering their support for the memorial.
2

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 21 Mar. 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844.


After conversing with Semple, Hyde determined that the section in the memorial concerning JS’s appointment as a member of the army was likely unconstitutional and that Congress would not pass the memorial if that section remained. Despite the Council of Fifty’s instructions to present the memorial without alteration, Hyde decided to follow Semple’s advice and strike the section on JS’s army appointment. On 25 April, Hyde wrote to the Council of Fifty regarding his decision to edit the memorial. The following day, he wrote another letter to the council emphasizing that
Latter-day Saints

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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should only submit memorials that Congress was likely to pass.
3

Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 26 Apr. 1844.


Upon receiving
Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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’s letters, JS called a council meeting on 13 May. Expressing his dismay, JS stated that “it was not the business of a delegate to alter a memorial.”
4

JS, Journal, 13 May 1844; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844.


He and the rest of the council unanimously voted on a motion to send Hyde a letter of reprimand.
5

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844.


William W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

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was assigned to write it, but the letter was inscribed by
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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, the council’s secretary.
6

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Mar. and 13 May 1844.


It may be that the letter was drafted by Phelps, after which Richards made a fair copy. Richards also signed the letter on behalf of JS and the council from the “council chamber”—the main room on the second floor of
JS’s store

Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. Completed 1841. Opened for business, 5 Jan. 1842. Owned by JS, but managed mostly by others, after 1842. First floor housed JS’s general store and counting room, where tithing...

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.
7

Although the copy of the letter bears Richards’s signature as “Secy.,” JS’s journal indicates that he instructed his clerk, which in this context could refer to either Phelps or Richards, to write the letter. It is unknown which of the two men wrote the letter or if they collaborated on it. (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844; JS, Journal, 13 May 1844.)


Although the letter addressed
Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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as well as Hyde, its contents pertained to Pratt only insofar as he was part of the “delegation from
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....

More Info
.”
8

Pratt was assigned to take a memorial to Washington DC on behalf of the Nauvoo City Council requesting that Congress grant Nauvoo the powers and rights of a federal territory. He departed sometime in March after the Council of Fifty was founded. Pratt also carried a memorial from the city council and other Latter-day Saints regarding redress for losses in Missouri in the 1830s. Pratt had given the memorials to Senator Semple, who had already presented them to the United States Senate. (Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 12 Feb. 1844, 2; Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 16 Dec. 1843–12 Feb. 1844; Authorization for Orson Pratt, 12 Mar. 1844; JS et al., Memorial to U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 28 Nov. 1843, Record Group 46, Records of the U.S. Senate, National Archives, Washington DC; Congressional Globe, 28th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 482 [1844].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Congressional Globe, Containing Sketches of the Debates and Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Congress. Vol. 8. Washington DC: Blair and Rives, 1840.

The
Council of Fifty

An organization intended to establish the political kingdom of God on the earth. An 1842 editorial in the church newspaper stated that the “design of Jehovah” was to “take the reigns of government into his own hand.” On 10 and 11 March 1844, JS and several...

View Glossary
sent the letter to
Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

View Full Bio
and
Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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with council members
Lyman Wight

9 May 1796–31 Mar. 1858. Farmer. Born at Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of Levi Wight Jr. and Sarah Corbin. Served in War of 1812. Married Harriet Benton, 5 Jan. 1823, at Henrietta, Monroe Co., New York. Moved to Warrensville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ...

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and
Heber C. Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

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, who were also their fellow apostles in the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

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. Wight and Kimball delivered the letter to Hyde in
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
on 8 June 1844. The next day, Hyde wrote a contrite response explaining why he made the change.
9

Orson Hyde, Washington DC, to “Dear Brethren,” Nauvoo, IL, 9 June 1844, JS Collection, CHL.


The original letter, inscribed by
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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, is apparently no longer extant. Before
Wight

9 May 1796–31 Mar. 1858. Farmer. Born at Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of Levi Wight Jr. and Sarah Corbin. Served in War of 1812. Married Harriet Benton, 5 Jan. 1823, at Henrietta, Monroe Co., New York. Moved to Warrensville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ...

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and
Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

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left
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....

More Info
with the letter, council clerk
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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copied it into the council’s records.
10

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844.


The copy made by Clayton is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 24–26 Mar. 1844.

  2. [2]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 21 Mar. 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844; Letter from Orson Hyde, 26 Apr. 1844.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 13 May 1844; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844.

  5. [5]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844.

  6. [6]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Mar. and 13 May 1844.

  7. [7]

    Although the copy of the letter bears Richards’s signature as “Secy.,” JS’s journal indicates that he instructed his clerk, which in this context could refer to either Phelps or Richards, to write the letter. It is unknown which of the two men wrote the letter or if they collaborated on it. (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844; JS, Journal, 13 May 1844.)

  8. [8]

    Pratt was assigned to take a memorial to Washington DC on behalf of the Nauvoo City Council requesting that Congress grant Nauvoo the powers and rights of a federal territory. He departed sometime in March after the Council of Fifty was founded. Pratt also carried a memorial from the city council and other Latter-day Saints regarding redress for losses in Missouri in the 1830s. Pratt had given the memorials to Senator Semple, who had already presented them to the United States Senate. (Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 12 Feb. 1844, 2; Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 16 Dec. 1843–12 Feb. 1844; Authorization for Orson Pratt, 12 Mar. 1844; JS et al., Memorial to U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 28 Nov. 1843, Record Group 46, Records of the U.S. Senate, National Archives, Washington DC; Congressional Globe, 28th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 482 [1844].)

    The Congressional Globe, Containing Sketches of the Debates and Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Congress. Vol. 8. Washington DC: Blair and Rives, 1840.

  9. [9]

    Orson Hyde, Washington DC, to “Dear Brethren,” Nauvoo, IL, 9 June 1844, JS Collection, CHL.

  10. [10]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 13 May 1844.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt, 13 May 1844
*Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845

Page [249]

Council chamber
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....

More Info
May 13th. 1844
Messrs
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

View Full Bio
&
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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Sirs,
Mr Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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s Letters dated at
Washington City

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

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April 25 & 26 are received.
1

See Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844; and Letter from Orson Hyde, 26 Apr. 1844.


The council conversed immediately and after hearing said letters expressed by speech and vote their decided dis-approbation and indignation at the course pursued by
Mr Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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in his conversation with
Mr [James] Semple

5 Jan. 1798–20 Dec. 1866. Realtor, lawyer, politician, judge, farmer, postmaster, inventor, land agent. Born in Green Co., Kentucky, 5 Jan. 1798. Son of John Walker Semple and Lucy Robertson. Moved to Burkesville, Cumberland Co., Kentucky, by 1810; to Edwardsville...

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in proposing to erace that portion of the memorial relative to Mr Smith’s being constituted a “member of the
United States

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 ...

More Info
Army”
2

TEXT: The phrase “member of the United States Army”, which occupies a full line in the minute book in which this letter was copied, is enclosed within quotation marks. In the minute book, however, nearly every line of this letter begins with an opening quotation mark (not reproduced here) to indicate that the entire letter was being copied (or quoted) in the record book. Therefore, it is possible that the opening quotation mark before “member” was only continuing the pattern and that the closing quotation mark after “Army” was marking the end of a quoted paragraph. This is the only line in the letter that ends with a quotation mark.


The council were surprised at [p. [249]]
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Source Note

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Page [249]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt, 13 May 1844
ID #
13242
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844; and Letter from Orson Hyde, 26 Apr. 1844.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: The phrase “member of the United States Army”, which occupies a full line in the minute book in which this letter was copied, is enclosed within quotation marks. In the minute book, however, nearly every line of this letter begins with an opening quotation mark (not reproduced here) to indicate that the entire letter was being copied (or quoted) in the record book. Therefore, it is possible that the opening quotation mark before “member” was only continuing the pattern and that the closing quotation mark after “Army” was marking the end of a quoted paragraph. This is the only line in the letter that ends with a quotation mark.

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