A Mormon Odyssey: Charles B. Thompson and His Shifting Attitudes Toward the Issues of Slavery, Race and the Black Man 1848-1873

This digital file contains the entire contents of folder 6 from box 6 of the H. Michael Marquardt papers collection.

A MORMON ODYSSEY: ATTITUDES TOWARD CHARLES THE BLACK In North the and pamphlet, The page work of he was thereby save war."l civil of the the ,inherent black man, Origin of In Charles Blancher by a of issues ethnic contention to the since Divinely "created people were entitled to serviie bondage--as Thompson insisted free ful and the equal. reading of that black Instead, Hebraic North-South race and of horrors that his pamphlet well of the black In men," black same and according had to and doing this, "free and well as equal," their white Scripture race as black rights-including people would existed that "abolitionist" free a Southerners as overseers. "all were from and relationship white, dom resolve the origins refute that to 84 claimed "from as their white Mixed and Thompson, slavery States a bringing forth this desire master-servant Thompson claimed Black the Louis. United and the the race, Thompson believed between blacks soil" relations between and St. "true" THE breaking point this by making Northerners aware SHIFTING AND the motivated the RACE SLAVERY, Bringhurst as slavery, the HIS rapidly reaching author, over AND 1848-1873 G. 1860 Nachash its differences do were appeared in Races that South issues the over of spring OF MAN By Newell THOMPSON B. ISSUES free­ counterparts. not been Thompson, revealed to him created a care- that -2- blacks ·tion and from descended Nachash. intended product of the were by their Divine spread into by his arguments servanti that made slavery slavery would issues of slavery, and longer agitate The B. emergence Thompson of his propagation one phase in the at least to a on role Institution. He difficult a was three. Thompson he was eight. man a­ Thus, would Civil War of no Charles polygenesis represents just Biblical adventurous numerous personality.4 did New not defender born was in of compelled At the his to age earn of the to predestine him Peculiar South's at Niskanna,. Thompson Quaker parents. family's his this Thompson's background, January 1814 of York of of wanderings seem childhood with his Because was be states.,,3 of Schenetady County, had convinced eve ardent an as so the surface, the fact, American people. flamboyant colorful, In the the these of prevent its divide on all once ... black the Adam to strong pro-slavery proponent through a as and race, be "soon would dopted by the present non-slaveholding the to or were aware cease.2 Northerners Thompson to according be to would territories new Nachash South--were abolish to agitation all facts and North Americans--both this Thompson believed that his descendants. and of Creator crea­ "superbrute"--the subhuman a descendants black The separate pre-Adamic a mother meager own fourteen, dying when finances, living by he he was the time apprenticed -3- learn to out became self off and on Thompson 18 turned trade. a trade which he for the remainder tailor, a also was a the Methodists. drew from the what he But called the true point Thompson had the Elder Saint 1835 Thompson was of opportunity was travelled baptized life.5 his he When seeker. a joined Thompson with­ hear to Latter-day a with Kirtland, first movement and this At impressed to for looking year Christ." so he 18, support him­ to years, spend Latter-day Saint the observe and "Church he teachings that Mormon two Thompson preach. of of age Quaker birthright and within Methodists the used religious his renounced he At tailor's the the. Ohio hand. to In by Joseph Smith ordained himself. Following his ordination into the Thompson devoted hi full energies ter-day Saint religion. York in occasions two on and 1835 Gospel of Mormonism. Somehow, The following in marry 1836. Thompson organized Ohio. In 1838 he a But family with Thompson's wife Far West, occured in at 1838-9. five month the time of the Thompson old baby. 1836 horne was the Lat­ in New preach the to Thompson found time year while main the Missouri. at his to a body of to missionary, Latter-day Saint branch joined priesthood, promoting to returned He Mormon at Saints Sandusky, encamped tragedy struck the Thompson dying Mormon left with from exposure that expulsion. from Missouri the responsibility of a -4- himself threw known became day Saints. of the Book of his New York 20 miles cluded He settled Saints based Latter-day Saint four and converts preach- years Conference organizing of Latter- published his Evidence in he Two Mormon. years missionary from Hancock, at his next the 'Genesee as 1841 In spent the He Thompson, trauma, into ever baptizing 200 in New York; what than more labors. missionary ing this personal of wake the In main the Thompson later, labors moved and body of the Illinois con- west. Nauvoo- in remarried and Proof 1846.6 status Thompson's several his in new the with Mormon the a self with 7 James After sacred It is He his cast lot ordinances 1846 he had he conducted being Thompson quite possible that came broke Thompson's to ,despise Thompson then briefly associated himJ. Strang and his moving to Cincinnati growing in Mormon 1847, returned moved west to St. to the tailor Louis where trade. he move- however, Thompson rejected Strang and his teachings. Cincinnati, with participated with even in changed movement plural marriage which he passion. with Thompson However, Temple. over came Mormon Twelve. certain Brigham Young. break mente in wife within the and Brigham Young of Initially, times. Joseph Smith in 1844, death the Following again While in By 1849, used the -5- tailor's trade , f aml'I y. growlng remain just 8 attention to religion ticular. In that Divine of the millennium. up "schools 1853 Here fifty real literally In or Iowa Thompson Mormon base of the owned clbthing leader proceeded on the returning to his old during the ten year Thompson first articulated black future man. to west In Monona following of a thousand several set Louis. St. operation its to the over on There anti-black, their on backs. acres. property issues the is a of certain pro-slavery wrath of horne in St. from periqd a set race, irony his of advocate 1858 disgruntled Louis.9 1848 to attitudes, the a in and slavery and in As fact 1858 often the that a never- for prepare developed against Thompson flee contradictory, as personal--of his, followers until by 1853, to was a direct to and Thompson gathered forced was followers It and his priesthood remained, followers families" sixty resentment result, that Mormon his turned abolished be to Divinely commanded new to assassination 1844 Thompson assumed increased control --both he Morr.l0n moved Iowa. County, "some The The content receive to preparation." initially in of hompson Church the gather his operation, more him that the caused with Thompson theless, once Thompson claimed organization. formal not was general and Mormonism in par- in showing Joseph Smith had he 1849, In year revelation support himself and his h owever, h Tompson, tailor. a to means a as the apparently fell -6- under influence the prophet.lO black-Indian confusion tween the over later where account Thompson, of ,,12 This certain places these under Old again" While the in in and doctrine bodies of man Cincinnati-II in Louis St. black-Indian of transmigra- of race, transferred been had individuals on and of is it now became transmigration had influence the to prophets and other Testament New the slavery, counted be- concept involved the belief that the souls impact McCary toward some colored a in the of doctrine the part of Thompson's teachings, what under individuals two is According living "tuition" the righteous Biblical peoples "born while following interaction alleged preaching Christ" instructed "was prophet, Jesus 1848 There Strang. the that place in occurred J. James "commenced Thompson calling himself t'lone This self-proclaimed a McCary and Thompson took place. Strang, A with break Thompson's William McCary, of not to or living. essential an completely clear Thompson's developing attitudes the the black Thompson dis- man. "Pretended Lamite [sic] that rhompson prophet."l3 Despite expressed race and an confusion, this acute black lively believed between an that is interest Thompson, people. rivals, it an individual's intimate clear in questions like Utah-based Mormon relationship existed racial-ethnic legitimate priesthood authority. his involving background According to and Thompson's -7- periodical, Zion's chosen are seed ,,14 h 00 d and The Laws that the his seed," regenerated" . their of "Book the Enoch in its of Joseph Smith, of was an contemporary black man, had been "the Lord set a mark in all and Cain, to According this of "disinherited his father. ,,17 and feated the divine punishment forever. in righteous and And th@ the there the tents" had group "the Lord had barrenness was a the Thompson, to also Enoch" involving According dwelt which of Cain" of rights of priesthood by "Book ,,16 generations. son of sin was of concerned descendants of "people of the de- and fought against people of seed the upon chains in "reserved the of ancestor alleged "Enoch work, conflicts Canaan. heat, known Thompson's Canaan much same the itself with past Cain be they might that writings of Moses." "Book the particularly earlier the to substance terms. remarkably similar work a Thompson presented in his were race Cain darknessi" followers.lS largely negative in Thompson, to According the Prophet," and structure black the of Thompson's views the "Ephraim his among ancestors alleged be to and "Isaac people in particular, black to in rested only felt not Thompson Israel, himself beleived but priest- to right a through his doctrinal work, priesthood" the "Keys of Turning of "the- Beneemy's Organ, have and to further Covenants first-born viewed entitled Expanding • and Harbinger Shem." As a cursed their "land with thereof shall go blackness that came forth upon all -8- children the people. ,,18 seed black st. Louis. and Prophecy the bonds by a of fierce become so "martial in many on and concern union The war. conquering on discipline their instances belief from that South and North the then North that they would for WAR, who SLAVES their weapons turn would South upon their will, own Thompson established his Latter-day Saint County during the mid-1850's, Monona had moved C. to R. Marks, "many" of Thompson's writings were 1857-58, Thompson's anti-slavery sympathies sent Virginia two and against two of slavery.,,21 his Kentucky slaveholding it appears strong anti-slavery position. a to these over "Revelation own According he toward ,,20 colony in that ,,19 issued 1849 famous the between bloody civil intent and race. anxiety of Proclamation until earth; by rebellion in SQuth Carolina followed By the time he human the Thompson echoed his national masters that initial vlar," and the of Inspired by Joseph Smith's broken be would of seed expressed He his in issue face Cain would of contradictory in his 'attitudes was slavery. this the from "Seed" all among future anticipated the that destroyed from the perish despised were also predicted It "be Thompson they "Book" Thompson's ultimately that Canaan, strife. racial his of principal to petition states to It is alleged followers the "religious were that so south legislatures abolish black by strong, into of involuntary -9- do "the so following the collapse of his community and his articulated was Black Mixed and of Biblical was created white to occupy "an Despite his inferiority Nachash first Nachash This Eden. 26 According rather "super-brute" partaking of - the Fall. 27 begui1ing harder, But "more and all'the Adam than God at was took became a beasts to the vagabond. race, Nachash "seduced" thus or into precipitating in role subject the Nachash Nachash of Eve his "bowing the Garden for or 29 the 24 field.,,25 the of this Nachash about white was and Nachash soul. it fruit the or in serpent who a the place or race the to were spirit Eve degraded service" this negro the as and Thompson, forbidden Angered Eve, before master" the known Adamic the to served to "the declared, immortal an to "superior was he creation" with the of position of, subjects the inferior Origin that prove "negroes," The creature" living to 1858. late through his presentation Thompson, tried history, contrast previously indicated, as Nachash The his work Races. race.,,23 product of "a in sharp by Thompson in Louis Thompson's pro-slavery position, them.,,22 County religious Monona St. to return assumed stance strong pro-slavery the in stood not upon be would Lord the anti-slavery position This to of vengeance they did if that Southerners these warning servitude; down "fled to a service." from his 28 -10- into dants his Following the ished fled and "the to of Nod" or "vagabond the "fugitive Nachash" mixed or "mulatto" descendants alliance" known became , the Adam Enosh men kinds of the ,,32 God" of in a with Adam. The matri- 31 to The all to "every misery" glorious a wife contrast subject ... hope of the took "unnatural 0 f ban- was ressurec- "seduced" corrupted the earth and so race men afflicted" without "death This "sons degraded incurably evil, including t'lon. "low were people. Cain he descen- race.,,30 Enoshmen as d escen d' ants untalnted or men where this of his servile black, land from monial and his brother Abel, of murder this of history Cain work to Thompson also managed or from the holy gratification of fleshy lusts and appetites and through the practice of sensuality the pure race of men had become so amalgamated with the Nachash of commandments race that ... their wives seed of Adam Therefore to the . to Noah and "entire The servile Nachash gathered some them aboard flood, these servants in however, the ark Nachash the did Just race. pure, the of unmixed to "chosen not of the Nachash that were Ham prevent 34 spell the end of the before creatures and seed." flood the bring race" Enosh preserve household to necessary "accursed corruption" flood, only uncorrupted ... it found with sons, 33 remaining Lord three his the were . . the God, destroy the entire the seed chosen the of children and deluge, Noah creatures species. and After domesticated became took known the as from -11- then on as Ham had a whom he by eldest the servi tude, explained Thompson, affirmation of their thel'r natural Th ere f ore, and tawny" particularly the Canaanites, and on occasion they or pure that state into way still were unmixed, Africa wild clared Cushite and that race at state." are of 39 races fled time these . In 0f th e sons, Babylonians, mighty empires chosen 38 of Noah. and people, Meanwhile, the from Cushites . because through race the servile They country called a of all sons e ff or t s servants. be these liberty "the mixed ... the Cushite light-skinned "peopled However, vagabond to of merely the these Egyptians, "Cushites" held uncontrolled and the destined black they Ethiopia." selves dominate of th e to build up Chaldeans, to d espl't e desceridants red, Assyrians servile curse upon for moreover, condition the declaration intended was was, the to relationship 37 It sons. the of mother. "brown, Noah's Ham. of bestowed had that Noah of son "half-breed" Ham's "illicit an "Nachash or expansive view an servants" of servant Canaan, But sons. ,,36 Thompson also took "a of result accoun t , s namely Canaan, sons; Cushite female a ' five white had the as Th ompson t0 "half-breed" Nimrod, and with Cush connection" A ccor d'lng four had Ham Mizraim, servant. wife white addition, Phut, Cushl'tes.35 . their made . by "taking . Cushan to them- relapsed into their . 8onclusion . with naturally doomed Thompson de- their to brethern the servitude.,,40 in -12- maintained that including blacks to "civilized a ance them of dominion a h i19 h realized "content Thompson white went to on man But blacks ,,42 the appear- which made "under When benefit the with black people they would them, "in obedience." their masters make and "capable of attaining were not slaves as seasoned ... cu tlvatlon. 0 fl" serve" to nature 41 would creation." brute the "inferior" freedom would that "habits assume above According they received government. the state concerned, themselves, to entirely and an benevolence," and mercy left ... self of all for best "cultivation" had moreover, incapable ruling if society" scarcely ... Blacks, be the the was non-slaveholding whites. and from Thompson pro-slavery arguments, slavery blacks, Thompson, retrogress in his presenting In startling assertion that blacks those who have not masters-will so appreciate the relation of servant to the white man, that they will petition to be thus adopted into respectable families that they may thus ful43 fill the purpose of their creation and be happy. \ As benefit for Ehat to Thompson, to capitalists tasks universal from the According and non-slaveholding whites, they involved they sovereign were in use the farming, to of failure black compelled race." enslavement slaves use Thompson lashed out people. farmers perform Ehe menial and "hired also black all Northern to industry, of would conunerce servants at the of meant the hypocrisy -13- of Northern those Northerners form of pocketed "the profits of while race" own workers this of "their situation, "every white an d catt I e the at time same shall possess ,,44 with the "extend Adam" and to laying West, cestuous would into "break" The all under non-white a time when tied up of Thompson, Northerners In upon the red-skins the the America peoples had, Thompson, nations Great, the mother of would be destroyed or he In was a universally according to and destined dominant Thompson, as subjugated by a the United of to . "Babylon abominations ,,48 over Thompson looked characterized and to blood. "corrupted by the blood harlots Cubans broader Kingdoms of mixed as in­ and Mexicans domination.47 to the expand toward would addition, all "pieces was to which the slaves According Nachash," of involving children according all lands, nation which would strong millennialistic orientation. the of the white American of day when the of ,,46 destiny to dominion "hands their America, sense, as acting in unison, Mormons. come America of areas. Southerners alleviate situation ownership of black sovereign new white . . . white des.tiny the these ,,45 servan t s universal their inheritance an Thompson believed that the ideal the of toil To forward Thompson looked man the "robbing" dominion. rightful These "wage slavery." own engaged in their slavery who to opposed entrepreneurs the the earth," States.49 -14- In Saints seed," white in High would act millennium. the his He This Races The wanted appeal to "h an d s the over, lead of Congress, the states of Origin as Americans many put to work a 52 cltlzen. American the the all American Thompson designed his appeal for "all and to each of public the press 54 their and country." ... More focus sectarian of all his that or fact, and to help Christian citizens.,,53 love who citizens its to avoid a narrow Thompson was careful him associations. Legislators Christian ministers any slavery through the "the political parties all tried "affect church Thompson called upon the denominations President, the concepts did not religious faith in more- "to by appealing denominations." into this work despite important, strong religious orientation, possible. Thompson, and Governors as and Black the this work of copy to of Second 51 ..." his the to ushering destroy the devil and then to in instrument Divine every Amerlcan dedicated Houses two 0f unadulterated pure, would people of the Nachash to expressed his desire or a as universal. Kingdom Thompson Mixed 50 God" Christ who would of Corning make Most the of "the composed of America, doing this, point of of In various publicize his concepts of out religion, denomination." leaders formation ,,55 articles the or to on "cosmopolitan race -15- also Thompson direct by more of 1860, he the as the the St. Louis the Methodist of ideas his Samuel various the New August 1860, a periodical The then Thompson decided discourse which his of he Nachash advertised on "a , and h i.s t.o r i c a L the work," throughout the "new Biblical philosophy" of the progress publication the designed was 58 Of of to vehicle Black and course, to promote Mixed Races, philo- . Associations" "check States. logically argumentive, Thompson also called for the or a as .. . Loq i.ca l pro-slavery "Nachashology" which he Nachash. the Origin of as Dr. further to This Nachashlogian. Thompson used The Nachashlogian sale including United a . "a as of 57 present Thompson's philosophy of defined organ Thompson also submitted Orleans-based Davis, Jefferson and 56 publicize his pro-slavery ideas through of Bow's De prominent individuals, .... In publica- South--acknowledged the Episcopal Church, f rom M1SS1SSlppl. Senator various Christian Advocate--the official Cartwright polemicist to diverse Such Orleans-based Thompson's pamphlet. to A. summer Republican free-soil Daily Intelligencer and Review, receipt New pro-slavery and Origin Nachash The of copies throughout the country. newspapers tions Throughout the spring means. sent publicize his pamphlet to attempted se a copy. Ll.Lnq for 25 ¢' formation United of "Nachashlogian States to Nachashology and abolitionism, 59 now so promote to his counter potent for -16- in evil our country." 60 Thompson declared that it odical, an furnished subscribers to this in Advance." Year periodical was size issued and publication. is There no ,,62 soon indication further of the several Thompson remained in years 1864 the Louis st. it By 1867, not that appears to come of pass. the For Louis. next Despite his listed was "author." an as its Nachash- The Thompson City Directory number warrant to issues apparent lack of literary activity, in respectable ... st. of prospectus of August 1860 propsectus. Iogian beyond issue Au<j'.ust sufficient a as apparently did This One "of be "enrolled be could as of price "mere a as and initial The which would regularly subscribers" 61 described forthcoming paper" the of a and Gentlemen low very edited "be to was Literary the at . Dollar of Association published by Nachashlogian peri- The for As Thompson has moved 63 to Philadelphia64 where he wrote and published his Qreat Divine Charter Universal and IABBA's work which This Everlasting Kingdom. and of Constitution Sacred appeared in 1873 in conjunction with Thompson's efforts to establish basic concepts changed his a new slavery, on in very much Great Divine or "the domestic the subjects" race years people after that his had not 1860. 65 In Thompson insisted that the black children of indicates black and thirteen the Charter, "Cushites, race religious society, of Nachash" the white race.66 should be Thompson -17- his made assertion slavery in could as Thompson did expect, many to War the some allow blacks not "be to ,,67 admitted other colored civil government" within his religious son's refusal races after even the Reconstruction paralleled Utah Church Mormon each white "receive subjects As one might nor any of citizens as he as the of the society.68 Thomp­ grant blacks citizenship within his to religious society the when day before. years domestic black inheritance. his upon Civil religious society would dominion manage the abolition of black the forward look to citizen within his under- his of wake the continued He despite blacks during and refusal within continuing admit to Civil War the to their priest­ hood.69 difficult is It the after 1873. 1880's, of issues toward However the periodical late as slavery, is it in the as of Kingdom date are time after not Herald Cyipz was Reverend God.,,71 clear. and listed throughout the. He of "the to build a up to managed IABBA's in man It appears Evangel.70 As Philadelphia City the Cyipz Peoples however re­ publish Church Thompson's activities after that he died of that some­ 1892.72 Thompson's shifting slavery, that clear the black and race, Philadelphia. Thompson 1892, Directory the Thompson's attitudes determine Thompson continued his efforts ligious following a to race and the attitudes blacks toward which often the issues of accompanied his -18- geographic odyssey which On one mind an Thompson's level, influenced in beginning South But war. that in against their white masters. of in "Book of Moses" Biblical ancestors son, seed of a more Nachash Joseph Smith utah Mormons. 73 and blacks would rebel Thompson's Likewise, various of behavior later "Book alleged Thomp­ fate and efforts, from of these that the the face of through his expound upon the racial concepts of to cast the While black man in a subordinate their ideas differed in there Latter-day Saints Brigham Young, against the at important respects, other step one compared with the parallel efforts of the can like went negative light, predicting to and role of martialed contemporary black people. of Thompson's Origin, be following slavery over slaves the ultimately eradicated Cain be earth. the took Joseph Smith, like Thompson narrative its looked however, people in a Prophet" clos@ly paralleled Joseph Smith's the Enoch reasons. thought Civil War these further predicting a with Carolina, for disciplined and of of by Mormonism represents Thompson, possibility colorful products of the as Mormon forgotten path the prophesied conditioned and and number a attitudes Joseph Smith. of death interesting an significant for was alternate, the represent moves in are a similarities. including Joseph number Thompson, Smith and expressed contrasting attitudes both favor of black slavery. Like his Utah -19- people should be Civil War and Despite that his black and American Civil War running high In turn, to result a a of a followed In Races, presse"d'lh The Thompson t he Dre d in his serious work indicates nature represents of was S cott a possibility tensions debate were the Qver recently possibly influenced by slavery of 1858 was Missouri--a to of Origin eC1Slon. D" in slave acute Black and by similar ideas 76 1860 the In the of the awareness of the albiet warped, ex- addition, eve on impending sectional sincere, prohibited.75 strong pro-slavery a influenced Thompson's the the pro-slavery ad anti-black Nachash Thompson's pamphlet written Civil War larger over the and territories were where move articulating through the Thompson's apparent anti-slavery state his in Thompson's alarm national Western mid-1950's the Iowa, the Thompson's assumption attitudes Mixed as during position state. at with sectional time when carne of significant issues. issue slave issues the expressing 1849 shifting also were these on the of from Mexico. acquired move the interacted he society the after even Thirteenth Amendment-- the people slavery in those of his race involvement, Hormon Proclamation of actions white black that servitude. involuntary explosive potential status of demonstrate-that non-Mormon of the to adoption the race, they initial believe expressed by Thompson toward attitudes slavery, slaves black abolishing to Thompson continued counterparts, crisis. effort This to find a -20- solution Thompson's 1873 like most Charter North both the the ideology during attitudes toward black of Biblical of emergence to reconcile of men had the for as 0f son's primary of the Black Southern effort and writers.80 Mixed and press Races the Southern time same emerged Like Cartwright, A. as strong proponents Thompson they used it Institution.81 Thompson on articulated the While to familiar with Thompson's theories, work. of moreover, did 82 emerged Davis, the and Dr. polygenesis. defend the precise influence the Biblical by Davis and cartwright is men in pro-slavery polemist, means a emerging theories evident that both of these racial as notice Origin Thompson's Biblical of Thomp- spokesmen and Jefferson Southern the Peculiar that 79 races Biblical Nachash The received wide pamphlet first appeared in 1860, Samuel G eneS1S. direction, from various about At this in the . contalne d'ln as The effort an various . e creatlon t h· story he that period. origins--with diverse from 78 viable a the that slavery. role polygenesis represented polygenesis--the idea emerged black ante-bellum late he, "un- played in promoting Biblical polygenesis racial that remained significant also was indicates abolition formal of tone South, and their negative in despite, Thompson Divide Great Americans reconstructed" people, ,,77 "irrepressible conflict. the pro-slavery and anti-black the Likewise, avoid thus and not read Davis' at a and time of polygenesis clear, and South's it is were Cartwright's when most -21- reject polygenesis to seemed clergymen Southern of heretically against their views for creation Thompson on South during tween widespread turn Kingdom son, stood a a in God of in on "progressive to North As relationship be- crisis North-South apocalypse. the Old Order.8S to those millenniarians a world millennialist." through the universal would lead the millennium would of establishment the and warfare, This of erase the and expected the conflict ashes form" to a the contrast cataclysm the and millennium the the of Many millennialistic minded immediate to destruction usher the lead to slavery for sectional particularly in the North, people, in acute millennium. the both period.84 of perceived Races increasingly the coming 6f over Mixed and Black sense Thompson in The Nachash Origins of previously indicated, the in ante-bellum late the theories his strong a evident anticipation, millennialistic and reflected blacks slavery and race, significant in this also was single Adamic a included.83 blacks mankind, all as who Thomp- longed they rejected, in that he Thompson looked toward "re- adoption the and of slavery, Second in which Coming. In this of Thompson reflected the pro-slavery millennialism many churchmen 86 , perlo d . At "Progressive been has - , Amerlcan in the least South one scholar millennialism" overlooked by lsm. '11' ennla l' ml those 87 the during has among late ante-bellum pointed out, that such pro-slavery advocates interested in the history of was turn -22- Finally Thompson classic a between individual's his and attitudes. socio-economic lower to work his at trade least S el f Thompson, as and h.i s f am i, ly. average, higher was precarious and then lost of all in his a It levels or fact declined following his move from state scientists tion of have changes the group Missouri of suggested tend or to in 90 which for As lawsuit has been groups than Thompson, position changed, state, late He to 1850's. the slave- Social people whose social posi- that conform society the or "prejudice" free a a It individuals" socio-economic Iowa, 1858. of result followers. atlC. "t s remalnlng his holding at the following the as disgruntled that is the people colony after Mormon property evident it on are, than white ' up II t h i te th aWl sugges t e d b een h as "greater" degree of ethnic ose movlng t h' at on difficulty in supporting him- "downward mobile suggested that In Thompson's socio-economic position pushed by his former, exhibit appears that a forced was it Iowa-based collapse of his he moreover, 88 levels.,,89 the child support himself. bitterly anti-Negro more a from came to socio-economic people in the lower status order had he occasion one As background. tailor, a life pro-slavery and antiblack previously noted, as early age in an socio-economic precarious embrace to willingness his that study of the interrelationship case represents an significant in was to the norms and they have just prejudices joined.91 -23- Thus, self, was even a minor society during this colorful race and in unique of his black the figure the within and ante-bellum figure through his people ways--many fellow Blancher though Charles reflected of the Thompson, context and American of War periods, toward slavery, post-Civil attitudes him­ articulated--albiet attitudes' and prejudices Americans--both in the North and South. -24- Footnotes lC. and Black Blancer Mixed 2 3 Races, (St. I b'J.d., passm. Ibid., xvi. Nachash The Thompson, Origin of the 1860) ,-Vi-.-- LouiMissouri, 4For the best historical accounts of Charles B. Thompson his and activities "Monona Marks, R. C. see Science County, and Letters, I, "Sioux City Academy of IO'wa Annals inthe April 1903-04, 8S-ll6 (later reprinted in B. of Charles and "Revelations George Thompson" 1906) Bartholomew Arbaugh, Revelations in Mormonism (Chicago, 1932), Also see Dale L. Morgan-,-"A Bibliography of the 159-171. Iowa of Mormons, - Churches of the Dispersion," (Summer, 1952), 262-3; Smith the Reorganized Church, III, stOry of the HistorY-of F. and Humaniti€s Smith, 53-61; eds., Inez Smith Review, The VII, History of -­ Davis, The 1969, 8th ed;)7-9, Ill., 1890), 270-74, County, "A Minor Prophet in Iowa," Palimpsest, VIII, Church (Independence, Mo., Iowa Monona R. Western (Chicago, Aumann, "Dimming Trail Marks Site of Mormon Prophet's Colony in Monona County," The Sioux City Sunday Journal, November 14, 1965," Historicar5tatus for Preparation House," Des Moines Sunday Register, November 5 2, 1975. Marks, "Monona 6Ibid., 90-9l. 7Ibid., 9l. 8Ibid. By this County, time in Iowa Mormons," addition had to had his 89-90. oldest second daughter daughter from his first marriage he and was expecting a third child by his second wife Catherine. This according to 1850 census information on the Thompson family as given to aui;hor in November 24, 1976, letter from the State Historical Society of Missouri (original in possession of Author). 9Marks, "Monona County, Iowa a Mormons," 91-114. lOAccounts of McCary's activities during the period On the Mormon are contained Ln Juanita Brooks, e d Frontier: The Diary of Hosea stout (Salt Lake-City, 1966), 1846-8 , , 8, April 25, 1847; "Manuscript History of the Church," 26, 1847; Willard Richards, "Journal," March 26, 1847, Willard Richards Papers; Wilford Woodruff "Journal, March 26, 1847, Wilford Woodruff Papers; Lorenzo Brown, "Journal," April 27, 1847; Lorenzo Brown Papers; Nelson W. Whipple, "Journal," All of these are October 14, 1847, Nelson W. Whipple Papers. in the L.D.S. Church Historical Department, Salt Lake City. Also see Voree Herald, October 1846; Zion's Revelle (Voree, Wisconsin), February 25, 1847, July 29, 1847; True Latter Day Saints Herald, March 1861; and The Gazette (St. Joseph, Missouri), March March December 11, 1846. -25- llGospel Herald, October 5, 12 True 1848. 1861. March Day Saints Herald, Latter l3Gospel Herald, October 5, 1848. l4september 1852. 15 The Laws Jehovah the MIghty B. Ephraim from to rtion, Iowa, and Thompson, Charles Written Israel of Covenants Jacob--(Prepa­ of God l857). l6zion's Harbinger and Baneemy's Organ Missouri), 1852. October Scriptures, Genesis in which finding him "the 40 5:25 Lord or set a it with him." kill should (St. Louis, Joseph Smith's Holy Pearl of Great Price, Moses, 5:37, mark upon [only] Cain, lest any Compare l7zion's Harbinger and Baneemy's Organ, October Pearl 1852. of Compare with Holy Scriptures, Genesis 5:27, 28, Great Price, Moses, 5:42, 43 in which no mention is made of priesthood proscription on Enoch. or l8zion's Harbinger and Baneemy's Organ, December, of Cainan" "Shem. or "Canaan" were or Shum" of "people the of Pearl Compare with Holy Scriptures, Genesis Price, Moses 7:6-8 in which the people defeated by 7:6-10 a 1852. Great the--"people than rather " 19zion's Harbinger and Baneemy's Organ, 20This November, 1853. initially published as part of "A Proclamation" in Zion's Harbinger Baneemy's Organ, January 1849 and later Covenants of Israel,· as Chapter III. Laws and The in Thompson's was and Italics 87 in origina-l-.--Cbmpare particularly 4 verse pass, after many days, who shall be marshaled 21 Marks, 22Ibid., Recollectionsof Thompson Kentucky) sent his slaves this wi th Doctrine and Co"venants, states that "And it shall come to shall rise up against their masters, disciplined and "Monona County, 110-111. Also Monona Iowa, see to war." for Mormons," "Charles County Pioneers. followers Virginia 106. Blancher According and to Louisiana Thompson," this account, (rather than . 23 Races, which Thompson, iii, xi, 35. The 24Ibid., xvi-xv. 25"rbid., xv. Nachash Origin of the Black and Mixed -26- 26Ibid., 48. 39, 27Ibid., 38. dent within indicates tionship a Thompson in the way he described this inci­ of being "seduced," "seducing" and "seduces" the preoccupation with the sexual overtones of the rela­ context between and Eve 28Ibid., 48, 29Ibid., 6l. 30Ibid., 62. Nachesh. the 60. 31Ibid. 32Ibid., 33 those I b'd 1., 71, 62, 79 79. Accor d'lng . "fleshy lusts" that 34Ibid., 71, 79. 35Ibid., 35. mixed this This h Tompson po 1 ygamy t0 was in race was conflict with the and Biblical account which had Cush as a son of See Genesis 10:6-8.· Nimrod. According to Thompson of the mistranslation inaccurate because of the was Ham 36Ibid., was named 37 Ibid. , "hired See 74, 79. 65, 38Ibid. , 64, 39Ibid. , 45. 40Ibid. , 63. 41Ibid. , 75. 42Ibid. , 76, 43Ibid. , xvi. 44Ibid., Southern black servants 45Ibid., Ibid., Standard the father of this account original texts. Thompson Ham1s white wife 63. 73, 79. Thompson pointed out, moreover, that provided for by far than" white were' "better the v. 46Ibid., vi. 47 p. to among in. 84. 76-77. slaves in According 61. 44, "Naamah." was involved v-vi. North." -27- 48Ibid., 49Ibid 79. .. 50Ibid., 79-80. 5lIbid. 52Ibid. , iv. 53Ibid. , v. 54Ibid. , iii-iv. 55Ibid. 56De Bow's Review (New Orleans), August 1860, Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling, Virginia), May 1, 1860; St. Louis Christian Other periodicals acknow­ Advocate (St. Louis, Mo.), May 10, 1860). included The Daily Picayune (New Orleans), ledging Thompson's pamphlet March 23, 1860 and the Jefferson Cityo.) Examiner, March 31, 1860. 57see letters from Samuel A. 1860 ,Thompson, (St. Louis), and June 5, August 1860. June Also 58The Nachachlogian, 28 see as Cartwright to C. Blancher reprinted in The Nachachlogian De Bow's Reviewugust 1860. August 1860. 59Ibid. 60Ibid. 6lIbid. 62Ibid. 63Ibid. 64This according to A. Atlas of the State of Iowa, T. 1875. However Historical Morgan in his Illustrated Andraes, Dale L. "Bibliography of this Churches of the Dispersion, 263 unable to place Thompson in Philadelphia before 1879. 65There is, date however, some confusion has concerning Church been both the Historical Department publication. title as Great Divine Chart:er and Sacred Constitution of IABBA's Universal and Everlasting Kingdom-TPhiladelphia? l873?) while George B. Arbaugh in his Revelations in'Mormonism cites it I find the 1873 as Stewardship of the Shiloh (St. Louis, 1858-59). date more convincing because Thompson's ideas on race as contained in this work appear to have been developed after rather than before Also those contained in his earlier 1860 work The Nachach Orgins. title and gives the of The LDS within the work itself Thompson cites 1873 and which imminent future events will take place. 1877 as dates on -28- 66 67 1 I b'd of black Bush, 2. " , For b est t he Dialogue, orlg1n an d d eve 1 opment Utah Church see Lester E. th e 0f i d lSCUSS10n the priesthood denial within Negro Doctrine: 1973). (Spring VIII 70 "A Morgan, Historical An "Mormonism's Jr., 32. Charter, • 68Ibid., 69 Divine Great Thompson, Overview," 263. Bibliography," 71AS cited in letter to Author from Philadelphia Historical Society, July Bancroft 1977 of Possession in (Original Author) . the 72Although according to the Dale L. Morgan papers in in Berkeley, Philadelphia beyond 1892. Library, 73see Bush, apparently lived California he "Mormonism's Negro Doctrine." 74For a good discussion of the national crisis surrounding the sectional crisis of Conflict (Lexington, possibly also northern regions during 1846-50 Holman see Hamilton, Prologue 1964). Kentucky, 75Thompson'in his developing anti-black attitudes influenced by the attitudes such in 77 his 84. H. in In a discussion The Berwinger, 1967). h' s Tompson of Origin Nachash concern 'h' 1n t 18 Origins particularly pp the and Black regar d'1S iii-iv, v, Mixed eV1 'd ent vii, xi, t h roug h out xvi, the White Mind His Image 1970), (New York, (Durham, 165-332 Carolina, North .. W. Hoover, The Red 80see above Cf. and 56 the and Black Shelton Smith, and 1972), (Chicago, 208-305. Davis in U.S. Senate April Davis, Constitutionalist: His Jefferson Jefferson Dunbar Roland (Jackson, 71-90, 197123-137. 57. 81See for example De Bow's Review, ed. 76-77, b est t he 79Fredrickson, The Black Image in the White Mind, of 84. , For the Dwight Race, 1 'h' t e cont1nulng d eved 1SCUSS1ons i concern1ng South and North both the in theories anti-black racial Civil War see: George M. Fredrickson, The Black Image opment of after For was other . Thompson, Nachash 78 and Iowa period. ante-bellum of Northern anti-black attitudes see Eugene Frontier Against Slavery (Urbana, Illinois, 76 to Mississippi, 12, August 1860 and speech 1860 Letters, 1923), reprinted in Papers and Speeches, as IV, 231,3, 235. -29- 82As indicated by remarks by Samuel A. and Nachashlogian, August 1860 The Davis' before remarks by the 81 Cf. See: Senate. u.S. Cartwright in content of . Jefferson Above. 831 tend to believe that niblical polygenesis had only I base my tentative conclusion on appeal in the South. various of contemporary Southern writings a preliminary examination in The Leopard's Spots Stanton William of and on the arguments Jenkins in Pro-Slavery S. William and 164-8 (Chicago, 1960), 112, This runs 279. 1935), Old South (Chapel Hill, Thought in the and Fredrickson M. of Dwight to the counter George arguments a limited W. Hoover polygenesis 84 (Chicago, (Chicago, tne See widespread. was 1971), 1968), 93-4, 97 and 187. For a Klaus 1967), Lansing, Michigan, 85This Southern The Roots of Ernest Tuveso discussion J. Biblical of acceptance 79. Cf. Sandeen, R. Ernest See: Utah Mormons-see the that who maintain Hanson, of Fundamentalism Redeemer Nation millennialsm among Quest For (East Empire 167. in the attitudes and behavior of such Northern "millenarians" as William Lloyd Garrison and John Brown. individual It was also evident in the South in the behavior of an such as Nat be can seen Turner. 86Jack P. Maddex, "Slavery and the MillennIum: The Paper given at Annual Meeting of Southern History Association, in Dallas, Texas, 1974. November 6-9, (Copy in possession of Author). Eschatology of Southern Calvinists 1840-1870." 87Ibid. 88According to al least two accounts. Arbaugh, Revelations in Mormonism, 89Gordon W. Allport, 171, History See: of George B. County, Monona 273. Massachusetts, 90 in 1954), Seymour Industrial M. Society 91Ibid., 257. The Nature of Prejudice (Cambridge, 80. Lipst and (Berkeley Bendix, Social Mobility Angeles, 1962), 71. Reinhard & Los