Pictured is the campaign tract, "General Smith's Views of the Power and Policy of the Government of the United States," published in Pontiac, Michigan. The year 1844 was a presidential election year. The Saints were acutely dissatisifed with the platforms of the major candidates and were thus undecided as to whom they should support. Some leading Church members met on January 29, 1844 and determined that an independent ticket be formed, with Jospeh Smith as the candidate for the presidency.