Given under my hand and seal this 8th day of December, 1843.
In consequence thereof, I received from the City Marshal;--
SIR:--Your order to have the ordinances of this city fully carried into effect will be duly attended to; but in order to so do, it will be necessary for you as Mayor of the city, to issue orders to Major General Wilson Law for a suitable portion of the Nauvoo Legion to be in readiness to _compel obedience_ to said ordinances, if necessary.
_Mayor's Order to the Commander of the Nauvoo Legion_.
The Marshal of this city having made a demand of me for a suitable portion of the Nauvoo Legion to protect the rights of the citizens and carry the ordinances of said city into full effect, you are hereby directed and required to hold in readiness such portions of the said Nauvoo Legion, which you have the honor to command, as may be necessary to compel obedience to the ordinances of said city and secure the peace of the citizens, and call them out, if occasion require, without further notice.
{ 105} Four p.m., attended City Council, which passed "An extra ordinance for the extra case of Joseph Smith and others."
_Special Ordinance in the Prophet's Case, vs. Missouri_.
Whereas, Joseph Smith has been three times arrested and three times acquitted upon writs founded upon supposed crimes or charges preferred by the State of Missouri, which acquittals were made from investigations upon writs of _habeas corpus_--namely one in the United States Court for the district of Illinois, one in the Circuit Court of the State of Illinois, and one in the Municipal Court of Nauvoo:
And whereas, a _nolle prosequi_ has once been entered in the courts of Missouri upon all the cases of Missouri against Joseph Smith and others:
And whereas, there appears to be a determined resolution by the State of Missouri to continue these unjust, illegal, and murderous demands for the body of General Joseph Smith:
And whereas, it has become intolerable to be thus continually harassed and robbed of our money to defray the expenses of these prosecutions:
And whereas, according to the Constitution of Illinois, "all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, and of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property and reputation, and pursuing their own happiness:"