Show THE PROPHET SMITH asio asid STATES rights KIGHTS IN rn december 1843 joseph smith wrote letters to several prominent statesmen whose names were before the nation hus bus as probable probable candidates for the presidency during the tho ensuing campaign asking each of them categorically what his rule of action would be relative to the latter day saints as a peo people lile should fortune favor his ascension to the chief magistracy the latter day saints had but recently been expelled from missouri and his inquiry was an important one as it involved the entire question of states rights the reply of john 0 calhoun was brief hebald that if he should be elp els elected eted he would strive to administer the government according to the constitution and the laws of the union and that as they make no distinction between citizens of dlf dif different ferent religious creed creeds she he should make mak enone none but he continued 11 As ks you refer to the case of missouri candor compels me to repeat what I 1 said to you at washington ton that according to my views pews the ca case e does not come within the jurisdiction of the tho federal government which is one of limited and specific powers according to his view the federal government had not the power to redress the wrongs inflicted upon the latter day saints in missouri the latter state according to his doctrin doctrine ewas was independent and must be sense of justices and right to correct any abuses to which the residents within its |