Ordinance Concerning Libels and for
Other
Purposes
Whereas
the Saints in all ages of the
world have suffered persecution and death by wicked and corrupt men
under the
garb of a more holy appearance of religion; and whereas the Church
of Jesus
Christ of Latter day Saints, from the moment that its first truth
sprang out of
the earth till now, has been persecuted with death, destruction, and
extermination; and, whereas men to fulfill the Scriptures that a man's
enemies
are they of his own household, have turned traitors in the Church, and
combined
and leagued with the most corrupt scoundrels and villains that disgrace
the
earth unhung, for the Heaven-daring and damnable purpose of revenge on
account of
disappointed lust, disappointed projects of speculation, fraud.
and unlawful
designs to rob and plunder mankind with impunity; and, whereas such
wicked and
corrupt men have greatly facilitated their unlawful designs,
horrid intentions,
and murderous plans by polluting, degrading and converting the
blessings and
utility of the press to the sin-smoking and blood-stained ruin of
innocent communities-by
publishing lies, false statements, coloring the truth, slandering men,
women, children,
societies, and countries - by polishing the characters of blacklegs,
highwaymen, and murderers as virtuous; and whereas a horrid, bloody,
secret
plan, upheld, sanctioned and largely patronized by men in Nauvoo and
out of it,
who boast that all they want for the word go, to exterminate
or ruin the
Latter day Saints, is for them to do one unlawful act, and the work
shall be
done, is now fostered, cherished, and maturing in Nauvoo - by men,
too, who
helped to obtain the very charter they would break, and some of them
drew up
and voted for the very ordinances they are striving to use as a
scarecrow to
frighten the surrounding country in rebellion, mobbing, and war; and
whereas,
while the blood of our
brethren from wells, holes and naked prairies, and the ravishment of
female
virtue from Missouri, and the smoke from the altars of infamy,
prostituted by
John C. Bennett, and continued in the full tide of experiment and
disgraceful
damnation by the very self-called fragments of a body of degraded
men that
have got up a press in Nauvoo to destroy the charter of the city-to
destroy
Mormonism, men, women, and children as Missouri did; by force of
arms-by
fostering laws that emanate from corruption and betray with a kiss;
wherefore
to honor the State of Illinois, and those patriots who gave
the charter, and
for the benefit, convenience, health, and happiness of said city: -
Sec. 1.
Be it ordained by the City
Council of Nauvoo that if any person or persons shall write or publish
in said
city any false statement or libel any or the citizens, for the purpose
of
exciting the public mind against the chartered privileges, peace, and
good
order of said city, or shall slander (according to the definition of
slander or
libel by Blackstone or Kent, or the act in the statute of'
Illinois,) any
portion of the inhabitants of said city, or bribe any portion of the
citizens
of said city for malicious purposes, or in any manner or form excite
the
prejudice of the community against any portion of the citizens of said
city,
for evil purpose, he, she, or they shall be deemed disturbers of the
peace;
and, upon conviction before the Mayor or Municipal Court, shall be
fined in any
sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned six months, or
both, at
the discretion of said Mayor or court.
Sec. 2.
Be it further ordained that
nothing in the foregoing section shall be so construed as to interfere
with the
right of any person to be tried by a jury of his vicinage, with the
freedom of
speech or the liberty of the press, according to the most liberal
meaning of
the Constitution, the
dignity of freemen, the voice of truth, and the rules of
virtue.
Sec.
3. And be it further ordained that this ordinance shall be in force
from and
after its passage.
Passed
June 10th, 1844.
GEO. W.
HARRIS, President, pro tem.
W.
RICHARDS, Recorder.
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