Mormon Publications: 19th Century - General Smith's views of the powers and policy of the government

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Smith, Joseph. General Smith's views of the powers and policy oe [sic] the government of the United States . Nauvoo , Illinois : Printed by John Taylor: 1844.

8 p. 24.5 cm.

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Exactly what Joseph Smith's expectations were for his presidential campaign is open to question. Some have suggested that its purpose was only to publicize the Mormon position, that he had no thought of being elected. On the other hand, the fact that over 300 campaign "missionaries" were sent to every part of the country with instructions to advertise his political views would seem to indicate a serious candidacy, at least one intended to influence national politics.

Joseph Smith dictated the principal ideas in his Views to W. W. Phelps on January 29, 1844 ; but the text itself was certainly written by Phelps. Fifteen hundred copies were printed in February 1844, and during the next four months General Smith's views was twice reprinted in Nauvoo, and republished in Pittsburgh ; Pontiac , Michigan ; Philadelphia ; Kirtland , Ohio ; and New York .

It is a windy document, peppered with foreign language phrases-some misspelled. Beginning with a strong anti-slavery statement, it lists eight specific proposals, among them the institution of a tariff; the reduction of the number of congressmen, by one-half; the abolishing of imprisonment for all crimes except murder; the establishment of a national bank; the granting of authority to the president to independently suppress civil uprising in the states; and the annexation of Oregon and Texas.

Excerpted and edited from Peter Crawley and Chad J. Flake, A Mormon Fifty: an exhibition in the Harold B. Lee Library in conjunction with the annual conference of the Mormon History Association. (Provo, Utah, Friends of the Brigham Young University Library, 1984). Item 23, p. [19]; and Peter Crawley, A Descriptive bibliography of the Mormon Church. Volume One, 1830-1847. (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center, [1997]). Item 210, p. 254.

Used by permission of the authors and the Religious Studies Center , Brigham Young University .