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Letter to the Editors, 17 May 1839

Source Note

, JS, and , Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to the editors of the Quincy Whig, , Adams Co., IL, 17 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 27 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 14–15; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 17 May 1839, the wrote a letter to the editors of the Quincy Whig, responding to ’s letters recently published in that newspaper. Wight’s letters described the violence the experienced in and expressed disappointment that Missouri senator and other Democratic officials had not helped the Saints. After the letters were published, wrote to the First Presidency, warning of the dangers Wight’s letters posed, particularly to the relationship between church members and Democrats in . In response, the First Presidency wrote to the Whig, stating that Wight did not speak with authority for the church, affirming the church’s political neutrality, and explaining that no single political party in Missouri was to blame for the Saints’ suffering there. , the first signatory, may have composed this 17 May letter on behalf of the First Presidency. Alternatively, Rigdon or another individual may have inscribed the letter as JS dictated it.
In the days that followed, JS dictated letters to and , expressing sentiments similar to those found in the letter to the editors. When the 17 May letter from the First Presidency was printed in the Whig on 25 May, an editorial preceded the letter. Titled “Difference of Opinion,” the editorial acknowledged that Wight did not speak for the church, questioned the First Presidency’s conclusion that all political parties were equally responsible for the Saints’ persecution, and defended Wight’s sentiments, arguing that Democrats shouldered most of the blame for events in . Soon thereafter, on 1 June, the Democratic Quincy Argus republished the First Presidency’s letter along with a letter from , , and , who indicated their agreement with the sentiments in the First Presidency’s letter. In response to the First Presidency’s letter, Wight wrote a letter that was printed in the 1 June issue of the Quincy Whig. Wight stated in the letter, “Having discovered a note in your last number, signed Smith and , which stated that our difficulties originated by all Parties, and that they did not wish to make a political question of it, neither do I, but duty prompts me to tell the truth.” He then continued to publish articles criticizing Missouri’s Democratic leaders.
The original letter from the First Presidency is apparently not extant. copied the text, likely from a retained copy of the letter, into JS Letterbook 2 between 27 May and 30 October 1839. Mulholland’s copy is featured here. The versions of the letter published in the Quincy Whig on 25 May 1839 and in the Quincy Argus on 1 June 1839 are similar to Mulholland’s version. The editors of the Whig made a few changes to the text before publishing it, standardizing capitalization and punctuation. Significant differences between the versions are noted in annotation.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Letter from Robert B. Thompson, 13 May 1839. Thompson was concerned that Wight’s letters would incite political rivalries and jeopardize the warm reception and much-needed aid being provided to church members in Quincy, Illinois. At least one other politically based paper, the Daily Missouri Republican, took note of Wight’s letter in the Whig and contested some of his claims about leaders in Missouri. (See Editorial, Daily Missouri Republican [St. Louis], 4 June 1839, [2].)

    Daily Missouri Republican. St. Louis. 1822–1869.

  2. [2]

    See Letter to Robert B. Thompson, 25 May 1839; and Letter to Lyman Wight, 27 May 1839.

  3. [3]

    “Difference of Opinion,” Quincy (IL) Whig, 25 May 1839, [1].

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  4. [4]

    Sidney Rigdon et al., Commerce, IL, 17 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy (IL) Argus, 1 June 1839, [1]; John P. Greene et al., Letter to the Editors, Quincy Argus, 1 June 1839, [2].

    Quincy Argus. Quincy, IL. 1836–1841.

  5. [5]

    Lyman Wight, Quincy, IL, 30 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy (IL) Whig, 1 June 1839, [2]. The letter published 1 June was not the first in which Wight expressed remorse for the results of his letters. A week before the First Presidency’s letter appeared in the Whig, the editors published a note from Wight in which he expressed regret that members of the church had been “assailed in round language” because of the personal opinions he presented in his letters. (Lyman Wight, Letter to the Editors, Quincy Whig, 18 May 1839, [2].)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  6. [6]

    See Lyman Wight, “Missouri-ism,” Quincy (IL) Whig, 18 May 1839, [1]; Lyman Wight, “Missouri-ism, No. II,” Quincy Whig, 1 June 1839, [1]; Lyman Wight, “Missouri-ism, No. III,” Quincy Whig, 8 June 1839, [2]; and Lyman Wight, “Missouri-ism, No. IV,” Quincy Whig, 22 June 1839, [1].

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  7. [7]

    Mulholland copied this letter into JS Letterbook 2 after letters dated 27 May 1839, making that the earliest likely copying date.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Letter to the Editors, 17 May 1839, as Published in Quincy Whig Letter to the Editors, 17 May 1839, as Published in Quincy Argus *Letter to the Editors, 17 May 1839 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 15

barbarities, neither any religious society as such: They were committed by a Mob Composed of all parties regardless of all difference of opinion either political or religious.
The determined stand in this , and by the people of in particular made against the lawless outrages of the Mobbers by all parties in politics And religion have entitled them equally to our thanks and our profoundest regard, And such, Gentlemen, we hope they will always receive from us.—— Favours of this kind ought to be engraven in on the rock to last forever. We wish to say to the public through your paper, that we disclaim any intention of making a political question of our difficulties with , believing that we are not justified in so doing. We ask the aid of all parties both in politics and religion to have justice done us, And obtain redress. We think, Gentlemen in so saying we have the feelings of our people generally, however individuals may differ, and we wish you to consider the letters of as the feelings And views of an individual but not of the as such.
We are satisfied that our people as a body disclaim all such sentiments And feel themselves equally bound to both parties in this , as far as kindness is concerned, and good will, And also believe that all political parties in are equally guilty.—— Should this note meet the public eye through the medium of your paper it will much oblige your humble servants.
Joseph Smith Jr
. [p. 15]
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Source Note

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Page 15

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to the Editors, 17 May 1839
ID #
448
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:464–467
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Mulholland

Footnotes

  1. [3]

    The Quincy Democratic Association, a key public supporter of Latter-day Saint refugees, raised funds and collected supplies to support church members who fled Missouri. (Elias Higbee et al., “To the Quincy Democratic Association,” Quincy [IL] Argus, 16 Mar. 1839, [1].)

    Quincy Argus. Quincy, IL. 1836–1841.

  2. [4]

    See Job 19:24. In the version of this letter published in the Quincy Whig, this sentence is set in italics, perhaps reflecting emphasis included in the original letter. (Sidney Rigdon et al., Commerce, IL, 17 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy [IL] Whig, 25 May 1839, [1].)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  3. [5]

    The version of this letter published in the Quincy Whig adds “of our grievances.” Around 22 March 1839, JS instructed church members to draft affidavits describing their suffering in Missouri, preparatory to seeking redress from the federal government. During the general conference of the church on 4–5 May 1839, Sidney Rigdon was appointed to lead a delegation to Washington DC to present the church’s claims. (Sidney Rigdon et al., Commerce, IL, 17 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy [IL] Whig, 25 May 1839, [1]; Letter to Edward Partridge and the Church, ca. 22 Mar. 1839; Minutes, 4–5 May 1839; see also Historical Introduction to Bill of Damages, 4 June 1839.)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

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