Page "Nauvoo Expositor" Paragraph 5

Nauvoo's charter granted the city council powers equal to the Illinois legislature within the jurisdiction of Nauvoo.

Power was granted to the city council to pass ordinances for the order and welfare of the city.

For two days, Smith and the city council debated and discussed the matter.

Ultimately, after considering William Blackstone's canon, the council declared the press a nuisance and ordered Smith, as Nauvoo's mayor, to order the city marshall to destroy the paper and the press.