the other candidate

Last Thursday at our ward's monthly fellowshipping fireside, I presented the topic of Joseph Smith's 1844 presidential campaign. Not too many people attended, perhaps because of the vice presidential debate, though I did get home in time to hear Palin ask, "Can I call you Joe?"

Alvin had asked a while back if I would share what I glean from the book that I had on my list of potential October reads. So here is a summary of how Arnold Garr presents Joseph Smith's move into the political arena.

• Oct. 1838 - Gov. Boggs issues extermination order
• March 1839 - while in Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith (JS) receives a revelation (D&C 123); verses 1-6 are instruction to take details of persecutions to the gov't for appeal
• Oct 20, 1839 - Nauvoo High Council select JS as a delegate to take grievances to the president and congress of the United States
• Nov 1839 - journey to DC; JS stops a runaway stagecoach and is declared a hero; presents documents to President Martin Van Buren, who says, "What can I do? I can do nothing for you! If I do anything I shall come in contact with the whole state of MO."
• Dec 1839 - present to congress petition for assistance in bringing justice for the Mormons
• March 4 1840 - Judiciary Committee declines the Mormons' petition, essentially stating that it is a matter for MO
• Dec. 16, 1840 - IL state legislature approves the Nauvoo Charter; JS said, "I concocted it for the salvation of the Church, and on principles so broad, that every honest man might dwell secure under its protective influence."
• Feb 1, 1841 - JS elected to the Nauvoo City Council
• Feb 3, 1841 - JS introduced bills to organize the militia (the Nauvoo Legion) and the University of the City of Nauvoo. JS is named a regent of the University
• Feb 4, 1841 - JS elected lieutenant-general of the Nauvoo Legion
• Jan 22, 1842 - JS elected Vice Mayor of Nauvoo
• May 19, 1842 - JS elected Mayor of Nauvoo after John C. Bennet is ousted from the office for many acts of gross misconduct
• Summer of 1842 - multiple attempts to arrest the prophet, including one by the former Gov. of MO, Lilburn Boggs. The IL refuses to help JS, instead offering a $200 bounty.
• Mar 3, 1843 - IL House of Reps. vote to repeal the Nauvoo Charter. The Senate votes to retain it.
• Oct. 1843 - editorial in "The Times & Seasons" titled "Who Shall Be Our Next President?"
• Nov. 1843 - JS wrote letters to 5 leading presidential candidates, essentially asking, "What will you do for the Mormons?" He received 3 replies but no pledge of support. In fact, John C. Calhoun said, "[The Mormon case] does not come withing the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, which is one of limited and specific powers."
• Jan 29, 1844 - local leaders in Nauvoo meet; Willard Richards motions that JS should run for President of the United States. JS works with W.W. Phelps to draft "General Smith's Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States," which outlines much of his presidential platform.
• JS political platform includes the following: increase the power of the presidency, especially to be able to suppress mobs, reduce the number of members in the House of Representatives by approximately one fifth (2 reps per 1 million people) and reduce their pay from $8/day to $2/day, abolish slavery by 1850 and "pay every slave owner a reasonable price for his slaves." reform the prison system, abolish court martial for desertion, form a national bank, annex OR and TX
• March 11, 1844 - JS organizes the Council of 50, to help with the campaign
• April 9, 1844 - call for volunteer electioneer missionaries to preach the gospel and spread JS campaign message
• June 7, 1844 - Nauvoo Expositor publishes articles with hostile charges laid against JS
• June 10, 1844 - The Nauvoo City Council sees the Expositor as a threat to the peace of Nauvoo and orders its removal
• June 27, 1844 - JS is martyred
• July 1, 1844 - State convention held in Boston, delegates are chosen for nat'l convention
  

Some people doubt JS ability to win the election or even his own perception of a real campaign. The author does a decent job of defending his view that JS was serious about becoming president. He also mentions various informal polls, which indicated that JS and his proposals had high popularity. JS antagonists were concerned enough to say that even if JS "did not get in the presidential chair this election, he would be sure to next time."

Joseph Smith said of President Van Buren, "[our interaction shows] … he was an office seeker, that self-aggrandizement was his ruling passion, and that justice and righteousness were no part of his composition." He was frustrated by the lack of desire and ability that the president and the candidates had to help the Mormons. He was determined to do something about it. He said, "If I ever get into the presidential chair, I will protect the people in their rights and liberties." He was sincere in his desire to help the injured innocent, regardless of faith.

I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read, but it provided a good detail of the campaign. There are several interesting tid-bits of history in there. Let me know if you would like to borrow the book, or if you have any questions about details that my brief summary left out.