The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

Letter from Robert B. Thompson, 13 May 1839

Source Note

, Letter, , Adams Co., IL, to “the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” (including JS), [, Hancock Co., IL], 13 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 22 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 7, 10–11; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 13 May 1839, wrote a letter to the , expressing his concern that two letters church member had written and recently published in local newspapers might cause difficulties with the non-Mormon population in western and with government officials in Illinois and . After the Saints’ expulsion from , most church members were destitute. In early 1839, many gathered to , Illinois, and the surrounding area, where they were met with generosity. Residents of Quincy collected donations on behalf of church members, opened their homes to them, and offered them desperately needed loans.
The editors of both local newspapers, the Quincy Whig and the Quincy Argus, published articles discussing the conflict in , the political repercussions of that conflict, and the treatment of the Saints. On 4 and 11 May 1839, the Quincy Whig published letters that wrote during his imprisonment with JS in the in , Missouri. The letters described the violence the Saints endured in Missouri and condemned Democratic officials in Missouri for their failure to protect the Saints and to redress the Saints for their losses. The editors of the Quincy Whig may have printed Wight’s letters partly to undermine local Democrats, who the editors believed were pandering to the Saints for political gain. However, because the Quincy Democratic Association helped facilitate the Saints’ warm reception there, feared that Wight’s letters might offend the church’s benefactors in . Thompson was also likely sensitive to Wight’s attack on Democrats because Thompson supported the party and worked as an editor for the Democratic Quincy Argus.
On 12 May, met with church leaders in and raised his concerns about ’s letters. The church leaders shared these concerns and appointed a committee to meet with Wight and dissuade him from further politicizing how the Saints were treated in . The next morning, Thompson wrote the letter featured here to the members of the First Presidency, who were in , Illinois. Thompson expressed concern that Wight’s statements would be misconstrued as representing the views of the church as a whole, potentially upsetting local interests in Quincy and leading to a repeat of the Missouri violence. Thompson called upon the First Presidency to “correct the publick mind on this subject, And as a Church disavow all connexions with politics.”
The original letter from to JS is no longer extant. The version featured here was copied, presumably from the original, into JS Letterbook 2 by sometime between 22 May and 30 October 1839.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    For more information on the generosity of Quincy residents, see Letter from Edward Partridge, 5 Mar. 1839; “Proceedings in the Town of Quincy,” Quincy (IL) Argus, 16 Mar. 1839, [1]; George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 22 June 1855, in Northern Islander (St. James, MI), 9 Aug. 1855, [1]; and Tillson, History of the City of Quincy, Illinois, 68.

    Quincy Argus. Quincy, IL. 1836–1841.

    Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

    Tillson, John. History of the City of Quincy, Illinois. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing, 1900.

  2. [2]

    See Editorial, Quincy (IL) Whig, 23 Feb. 1839, [1]; News Item, Quincy (IL) Argus, 2 Mar. 1839, [2]; “Proceedings in the Town of Quincy,” and “The Mormons, or Latter Day Saints,” Quincy Argus, 16 Mar. 1839, [1]–[2]; “The Mormons,” Quincy Whig, 16 Mar. 1839, [1]; Isaac Galland, Commerce, IL, 12 Apr. 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy Argus, 20 Apr. 1839, [1]; “The Quincy Argus an Enemy of Missouri,” Quincy Whig, 27 Apr. 1839, [1]; and “The Mormons,” Quincy Argus, 11 May 1839, [2].

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

    Quincy Argus. Quincy, IL. 1836–1841.

  3. [3]

    On 1 May 1839, Wight sent the Quincy Whig a letter containing extracts of a letter he wrote to the Louisville Journal on 2 April 1839. On 4 May, the Whig published the letter, in which Wight assailed Democratic leaders in Missouri. On 7 May 1839, he sent the newspaper a letter consisting of extracts from a 30 March 1839 letter he sent to Thomas Hart Benton, a United States senator from Missouri. The Whig published the condensed letter on 11 May 1839 and included Wight’s introduction to the letter, in which he criticized the Democratic leaders of Missouri. Wight represented himself as one who had “heretofore been a strong advocate” of the Democratic Party. (Lyman Wight, Quincy, IL, 1 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy [IL] Whig, 4 May 1839, [2]; Lyman Wight, Quincy, IL, 7 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy Whig, 11 May 1839, [2].)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  4. [4]

    Lyman Wight, Quincy, IL, 1 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy (IL) Whig, 4 May 1839, [2]; Lyman Wight, Quincy, IL, 7 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy Whig, 11 May 1839, [2].

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  5. [5]

    See “Proceedings in the Town of Quincy,” Quincy (IL) Argus, 16 Mar. 1839, [1].

    Quincy Argus. Quincy, IL. 1836–1841.

  6. [6]

    Thompson’s wife, Mercy Fielding Thompson, later recounted that in November 1838, her husband and many male church members were “threatened and persued by a Mob” and fled from Far West, Missouri, arriving in Quincy sometime in January 1839. By the time his family arrived in late February, Thompson had secured housing and a position with the Quincy Argus. (Mercy Fielding Thompson, “Robert B. Thompson Biography,” Nov. 1854, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, 1839–1860, CHL; Thompson, Autobiographical Sketch, 2–3, 5.)

    Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.

    Thompson, Mercy Rachel Fielding. Autobiographical Sketch, 1880. CHL. MS 4580.

  7. [7]

    Mulholland began to “write for the Church” on 22 April 1839, and Thompson’s letter was one of the first documents Mulholland inscribed in Letterbook 2, following a letter dated 22 May 1839.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Robert B. Thompson, 13 May 1839 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 10

which have been inserted in the Whig, I am aware that upon a Cursory view of these, nothing very objectionable may appear; yet if they are attentively considered there will be found very great objections to them indeed: for instance in condemning the Democracy of why condemn that of the Whole Union, And why use such epithets as “Demagogue” to for not answering his letter when it is very probable that he had not received it. Yesterday I was waited upon by Mr Morris who asked me what was intended by such publications, And why we should come out against the democracy of the nation, when they were doing All in their power to assist us; It was something which he could not understand And wished to know if we as a people countenanced such proceedings. I told him for my part, I was sorry that his letters had ever made their appearance, and believed that such a course was at variance with the sentiments of the greater part of our people. Yesterday I brought the subject before the authorities of the who are here, where it was manifest that his conduct was not fellowshipped And the brethren wished to disavow all connexion with such proceedings and appointed a committee to wait on to beg of him not to persist in the course, which if not nipt in the bud will probably bring persecution with all its horrors upon an innocent people by the folly and imprudence of one individual.
From information I understand that the feelings of the are very much hurt by the course which is pursued. I think we ought to correct the publick mind on this subject, And as a Church disavow all connexions with politics; by such a course we may in some measure counteract the baneful influence which his letters have occasioned: But if such a course which he () has adopted, be continued (as I understand that he intends to do) it will block up our way and we can have no reasenable prospect of obtaining justice from the authorities of the whom we wantonly condemn before we have made application.
The same feelings are beginning to be manifested in by those who have been our friends there. The Whigs are glad of such weapons and make the most of them.— You will probably think that I am a little too officious but I feel impressed with the subject, I feel for my brethren; The tears of widows, the cries of orphans & the moans of the distressed are continually present in my mind And I want to adopt and continue a course which shall be beneficial to us—— but if through the imprudence And Conduct of Isolated individuals 3- 4- or 5 years hence our altars should be thrown down our Homes destroyed, our brethren slain, our wives widows and our Children orphans, your unworthy unworthy brother wishes to lift up his hands before God and appeal to him and say, thou who knowest all things, knowest that I am innocent in this matter. I am with great respect, Gen<​t​>. Yours in the Bonds of Christ.
.
Excuse haste &c &c)
I have not time to Copy)
(N.B Postcript other side. ) [p. 10]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 10

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Robert B. Thompson, 13 May 1839
ID #
447
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:459–464
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Mulholland

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    That is, the government officials in Missouri who belonged to the Democratic Party.

  2. [3]

    In his letter to Benton, Wight described the “wicked mis-rule of Democracy” and how the opposition that “commenced in 1832” was “fanned by enthusiastic demagogues; until they have succeeded in driving at least five or six thousand inhabitants” from Missouri. He questioned why Missouri representatives and senators, especially Benton, did not address the persecution. Wight later echoed these sentiments in his letter to the editors of the Louisville Journal. (Lyman Wight, Quincy, IL, 1 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy [IL] Whig, 4 May 1839, [2]; Lyman Wight, Quincy, IL, 7 May 1839, Letter to the Editors, Quincy Whig, 11 May 1839, [2].)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  3. [4]

    In 1821 Benton became the first United States senator to represent the newly admitted state of Missouri. Originally a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, he joined the Democratic Party in 1825 when the Democratic-Republicans disbanded. (Meigs, Life of Thomas Hart Benton, 133, 260, 262; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005, 646; Arrington and Bitton, Mormon Experience, 98–99.)

    Meigs, William M. The Life of Thomas Hart Benton. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippencott, 1904.

    Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005, the Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States, from the First through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 2005, inclusive. Edited by Andrew R. Dodge and Betty K. Koed. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2005.

    Arrington, Leonard J., and Davis Bitton. The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latterday Saints. 2nd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1992.

  4. [5]

    Likely Isaac N. Morris, editor of the Quincy Argus, where Thompson worked as an editor. (“Death of Hon. Isaac N. Morris,” Daily Quincy [IL] Herald, 30 Oct. 1879, 3.)

    Daily Quincy Herald. Quincy, IL. 1865–1881.

  5. [6]

    Thomas Carlin, a Democrat, served as the governor of Illinois from 1838 to 1842.

  6. [7]

    By spring 1839, church leaders were gathering accounts of the violence against the Saints in Missouri and enumerating the Saints’ losses there, in preparation for seeking redress in Washington DC. The Saints directed their petitions for redress to United States president Martin Van Buren, who was a Democrat, as were the majority of the Saints. (Letter to Edward Partridge and the Church, ca. 22 Mar. 1839; Minutes, 4–5 May 1839; Bill of Damages, 4 June 1839.)

  7. [8]

    In May 1839, roughly forty community leaders in Springfield signed a declaration denying the Latter-day Saints permission to use the Christian Church’s building in Springfield. One of the signers, Illinois congressman John T. Stuart, later helped publicize the Saints’ complaints in Washington DC. (Washington, They Knew Lincoln, 199–200; Miller, Lincoln and His World, 317–318.)

    Washington, John E. They Knew Lincoln. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1942.

    Miller, Richard Lawrence. Lincoln and His World: Prairie Politician, 1834–1842. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2008.

  8. [9]

    See 1 Kings 19:10.

  9. [10]

    See Genesis 14:22.

  10. [11]

    See John 16:30.

  11. [12]

    See Philemon 1:13.

  12. [13]

    TEXT: The pagination of this copy of the letter does not include the numbers “8” and “9” because Mulholland inserted a loose leaf, which he numbered “8” and “9,” into JS Letterbook 2 using adhesive wafers..

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06