[1] I spoke 2 1/2 hours on Missouri persecution. the government in gen. men & measures &c. to a crowded & select congregation Many could not get admission 2 Missourians present.

Nauvoo Neighbor 1 (6 December 1843)

A public meeting was called on Monday evening for the purpose of reading a memorial to congress, for the purpose of seeking redress for grievances sustained in the State of Missouri….

At an early hour the house was crowded to overflowing, and great numbers had to go away for want of room.

As soon as the meeting was opened, they called for the reading of General Smith's "Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys;" [2] which was read by W. W. Phelps after which P. P. Pratt read an address to the "Empire State" of New York, and Dr. Richards [3] was called upon to read the memorial before alluded to.

General Smith then arose, and in his happy eloquent, masterly manner, delivered one of the most powerful interesting addresses that we ever heard; he spoke for two hours and a half and was listened to with breathless silence by all present. To attempt to give even a faint outline would be superflous, suffice it to say that all were gratified, instructed and riveted to the spot. Two gentlemen from Missouri were present on the occasion and we think that if they possessed the least spark of intelligence, the vivid, glowing color, in which the inhuman deeds of Missouri, was painted, must have made them feel that they were living on a polluted soil, and associated with a degraded bloody herd.

His address to the Green Mountain Boys is a masterly piece, and will be read (as it was listened to) with great interest; we shall probably publish it hereafter.

—4 December 1843

Notes

[1] See History of the Church, 6:99. Not in Teachings. This meeting of the citizens of Nauvoo was a continuation of the meeting held on 29 November 1843. The original source for the report in History of the Church is based on the Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards, and the Nauvoo Neighbor (6 December 1843).

[2] The Prophet's appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont is found in History of the Church, 6:88-93.

[3] Willard Richards.