When the people petitioned for a National Bank, I would use my best endeavors to have their prayers answered, and establish one on national principles to save taxes, and make them the controllers of its ways and means. And when the people petitioned to possess the territory of Oregon, or any other contiguous territory, I would lend the influence of a Chief Magistrate to grant so reasonable a request, that they might extend the mighty efforts and enterprise of a free people from the east to the west sea, and make the wilderness blossom as the rose. And when a neighboring realm petitioned to join the union of liberty's sons, my voice would be, _Come_--yea, come, Texas; come Mexico, come Canada; and come, all the world: let us be brethren, let us be one great family, and let there be a universal peace. Abolish the cruel custom of prisons (except certain cases), penitentiaries, court-martials for desertion; and let reason and friendship reign over the ruins of ignorance and barbarity; yea, I would, as the universal friend of man, open the prisons, open the eyes, open the ears, and open the hearts of all {209} people, to behold and enjoy freedom--unadulterated freedom; and God who once cleansed the violence of the earth with a flood, whose Son laid down His life for the salvation of all His Father gave him out of the world, and who has promised that He will come and purify the world again with fire in the last days, should be supplicated by me for the good of all people. With the highest esteem, I am a friend of virtue and of the people, JOSEPH SMITH, NAUVOO, ILLINOIS, February 7, 1844. Footnotes: 1. Reference is had to Crockford's famous gaming club house at No. 50 on the west side of St. James St., London. 2. For Explanation of Ellipses See footnote p. 75 this volume. 3. For explanation of Ellipses See footnote p. 75 this volume. {210} CHAPTER IX. COMMENTS ON CANDIDACY OF JOSEPH SMITH FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES--TENDERS OF PEACE TO MISSOURI--PRELIMINARY STEPS TO WESTERN MOVEMENT OF THE CHURCH--JAMES A. BENNETT AND VICE PRESIDENCY. _Wednesday, February 7, 1844.--_A piece of doggerel appears in the _Warsaw Message_ of this date, entitled "Buckeye's Lamentations for the Want of More Wives," evidently the production of Wilson Law, and breathing a very foul and malicious spirit. _Thursday, 8.--_Held Mayor's court, and tried two negroes for attempting to marry white women: fined one $25, and the other $5. In the evening there was a political meeting in the assembly room, when Brother Phelps publicly read for the first time my "Views of the Powers and Policy of the General Government." I addressed the meeting as follows:-- _Views of the Prophet on His Candidacy for President of United States_.