Greene, John Portineus, 1793-1844
Letter, 1839 June 30, Cincinnati [Ohio], to Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith.
Joseph Smith Letterbook, 1837-1843, p. 75-75, Joseph Smith Collection, Historical Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.
Cincinnati, June 30th 1839
Hon & Ever respected Brother [Joseph Smith] also to Prests S. Rigdon & H Smith
Sirs
It is with
great satisfaction that I address you at this time, Altho I have been detained
in this place much longer than I intended but I very [sic] believe the Lord has
directed my way since I left Quincy - when I first came to Cincinnati the doors
seemed all colosed for about a week before I could get a hearing & at that
time but very few came out for some said the Mormons deserved all that Missouri
had done to them and others believed what the priests said. But some came out
& heard as they said the tale of woe for themselves, the Lord helping me to
tell the things in quite a systematic course & the people with Doctors
Lawyers Priests & Drunkards all opened their ears eyes mouths & then
their hearts were accessible, and when I had done credulity had no place in the
Colledge[.] Mr. Morris Esqr & Mr Wm. Greene Esq. with others spoke freely
on the subject, and declared they believed all that I had stated to the letter
their appropriate resolutions were adopted - the meetings was then adjourned
for one week so as to be accomodated with the House. but when the week came the
house could not be occupied by us & the friends of liberty got their eyes
pealed & to She the spirit of opposition & I think that all the wrath
of man will yet work for our good. At the meeting I was advised to publish my
documents. a comittee was appointed of the Citizens to examine the proof that
was affixed on that subject. This committee after examining my papers
requested me to publish: and accepted their invitation; I have compiled the
whole document, with an appendix & it is now in the press a pamphlet of more
than forty pages (of which I will send you as soon as they are out of press)
the Sound of Mormon representative in Cincinnati makes a great fuss here and
also a far off the first day after I arrived in Cincinnatti my arrival was
announced in the City of N York in one of the most noted papers of the Union
with strong terms of disapprobation of the [p. 76] administration of Missouri
& also a very pathatic invitation for the Mormon representative to soon
appear on the Sea Board that the Citizens of the East might have an oppertunity
to sympathize with them in their afflictions. At the same time the Mo
republican complains very bitterly of the Editors of Cincinnati for their
sympathies expressed for the mormon<s> & also accuse them of that
wicked & notorious crime (which deserved all the abuse that Mo had given
them) their leader Jo Smith pretended to hold converse with the Deity So we
see that the people are stirred up for some reason — But Dear Sirs this course
of things will have the desired effect it awakens up the attention of the
people to hear and read and know for themselves & when ever these things
are laid before them every honest man must believe them from the very nature of
things & the former reffuse of lies are swept away. she Missourians
appear in her own garb of mobocracy while the mormons are stripped of that
dark sable mantle of all manner crime & wickedness which has come from
th[e] pulpit and the press; & the credulity of the people allows them to
believe the truth; and the church does appear in its own native plainess
with<out> partiality and without hypocracy but I must bid you adieu for
the present, but I will write you again & I wish you to write to me at
philadelphia or New York and express your mind and feelings on this subject. I
am yours in the Covenant of the Gospel of Christ
“J. P. Green
“Joseph Smith Jr |
Sidney Rigdon | pres
Hyrum Smith |
“N B excuse all the imperfections of this scrawl & ever pray for me as I do for you
“J. P. G.”
[Transcribed and proofread by Brian D. Reeves, 21 April 1999.]