8th It is still cold. I spent the day at
But I met with a congregation of the citizens
in the room over for the purpose
of hearing the views of General Joseph Smith
given concerning the affairs of Government
his views were written & were re^a^d by
& were in the highest degree interesting. Gen
Smith gave his reasons for permitting his name to
go forth as a candidate for the Presidency of
the United States, which were as follows I would
not have suffered my name to have been used by
my friends on any wise as president of the united
States or candidate for that office If I & my
friends could have had the privilege of enjoying
our religious & civel rights as American citizen
even those rights which the guarantee
unto all her citizens alike but this we as a
people have been denied from the beginning Persecution
has roolled upon our heads from time to time from
portions of the United States like peels of thunder
because of our religion & no portion of the
government as yet has steped forward for our relief
& under view of these things I feel it to be my
right & privilege to obtain what influence & power
I can lawfully in the United States for the
protection of injured innocence & If I loose
my life in a good cause I am willing to be
sacrificed on the of virtue
& truth in maintaining the laws & constitution
of the United States if need be for the general
good of mankind. Many other interesting
remarks were made. He was followed by Elders
& , & a vote was taken whether
the views of Gen would be maintained by
the assembly or not. the vote was universal in
the affirmative
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