February 7, 1844 ~ Wednesday

7^th It was an exeeding cold day I spent my
time trying to regulate my affairs I met in the
evening withe the Twelve at the store to make
some arangments about political affairs but nothing
was done

February 8, 1844 ~ Thursday

8^th [Joseph Smith Papers Document] It is still cold. I spent the day at home
But I met with a congregation of the citizens
in the room over Joseph store 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 W^m W Phelps
& 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 Constitution 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 alter of virtue rightousness
& truth in maintaining the laws & constitution

February 7, 1844 ~ Wednesday

7th It was an exeeding cold day I spent my time trying to regulate my affairs I met in the evening with the Twelve at the store to make some arangments about political affairs but nothing was done

February 8, 1844 ~ Thursday

8th It is still cold, I spent the day at home. But I met with a congregation of the citizens in the room over Joseph store for the purpose of hearing the views of General Joseph Smith given concerning the affairs of government his views were written & were read by Wm. W Phelps & 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 Constitution guarantee unto all her citizens alike but this we as a people have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rolled 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 alter of virtue rightousness & truth in maintaining the laws & constitution