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Source: Church History Vol. 2 Chapter 31 Page: 712 (~1844)

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712 United States, the first, fourteenth, and seventeenth 'specific' and not very 'limited powers' of the federal government, what can be done to protect the lives, property, and rights of a virtuous people, when the administrators of the law, and lawmakers, are unbought by bribes, uncorrupted by patronage, untempted by gold, unawed by fear, and uncontaminated by tangling alliances-even like C�sar's wife, not only unspotted but unsuspected! And God, who cooled the heat of a Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, or shut the mouths of lions for the honor of a Daniel, will raise your mind above the narrow notion that the general government has no power, to the sublime idea that Congress, with the President as executor, is as almighty in its sphere as Jehovah is in his.

"With great respect I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

"JOSEPH SMITH.

"Hon. ('MR;'!) J. C. Calhoun, Fort Hill, S. C."

-Times and Seasons, vol. 5, pp. 393-396.

He also wrote Henry Clay on the same date and in the same words. (See page 709.)

To this Mr. Clay responded promptly as follows:-

ASHLAND, November 15, 1843.

"Dear Sir:-I have received your letter in behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, stating that you understand that I am a candidate for the Presidency, and inquiring what would be my rule of action relative to you, as a people, should I be elected.

"I am profoundly grateful for the numerous and strong expressions of the people in my behalf, as a candidate for President of the United States; but I do not so consider myself. That much depends upon future events, and upon my sense of duty.

"Should I be a candidate, I can enter into no engagements, make no promises, give no pledges, to any particular portion of the people of the United States. If I ever enter into that high office, I must go into it free and unfettered, with no guarantees but such as are to be drawn from my whole life, character, and conduct.

(page 712)

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