General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, circa 26 January–7 February 1844
Source Note
JS, General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States; [1]–12 pp.; Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, 1844. The copy used for transcript is held at CHL.
to join the of the sons of liberty, my voice would be, come: yea come : come ; come ; and come all the world—let us be brethren: let us be one great family; and let there be universal peace. Abolish the cruel custom of prisons, (except certain cases,) penitentiaries, and court-martials for desertion; and let reason and friendship reign over the ruins of ignorance and barbarity; yea I would, as the universal friend of man, open the prisons; open the eyes; open the ears and open the hearts of all people, to behold and enjoy freedom, unadulterated freedom: and God, who once cleansed the violence of the earth with a flood; whose Son laid down his life for the salvation of all his father gave him out of the world; and who has promised that he will come and purify the world again with fire in the last days, should be supplicated by me for the good of all people.
With the highest esteem, I am a friend of virtue, and of the people,
JOSEPH SMITH.
, Illinois, February 7, 1844. [2/3 page blank] [p. 12]