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Vol VIII. April 1887. No 6.

The Rise and Fall of Nauvoo.

V.

THE City of Nauvoo was incorporated by act of the legislature of Illinois, on the fourteenth of December, 1840. The charter granted on that date described the boundaries of the city, but gave to the citizens whom it erected a body corporate and politic-the right to extend the area of the city whenever any tract of land adjoining should have been laid into town lots and recorded according to law. The City Council was to consist of a mayor, a four aldermen and nine councilors to be elected by the qualified voters of the city. The first Monday in February, 1841, was appointed for the first election of officers.

The charter granted to the citizens of Nauvoo the most plenary powers in the management of their local affairs. Indeed, about the only limit placed upon their power was, that they do nothing inconsistent with the constitution of the United States, and the State constitution of Illinois. But inside of those lines they were all powerful to make and execute such laws as in the wisdom of the city council, were necessary for the peace, good order, and general welfare of the city. It afterwards became a question in the State as to whether or not too great powers had not been granted the city government, but of that we shall have occasion to speak further on.

The leading men of the State appeared not only willing, but anxious to grant the privileges of this city government to the Saints. S. H. Little, of the upper house, especially, stood by the Saints, and pleaded for their rights, together with Snyder, Ralston, Moore, Ross and Stapp; while Charles, the representative to the lower house, from the district in which Nauvoo was located, manfully discharged his duties to the Nauvoo portion of his constituents, by using all his energy to secure them their city government.

An incident connecting Abraham Lincoln with the passage of this charter may not be out of place. The State of Illinois was at that time divided into two political parties, Whig and Democrat. Both parties were friendly to the Saints, who considered themselves equally bound to both parties for acts of kindness. Lincoln was a whig, and in the November election his name was on the State electoral ticket as a whig candidate for the State legislature. But the Saints wishing to divide their vote, and to show a kindness to the democrats, erased the name of Lincoln, and substituted that of Ralston, a democrat. It was with no ill feeling, however, towards Mr. Lincoln that this was done, and when the vote was called on the final passage of the Nauvoo charter, he had the magnanimity to vote for it; and congratulated John C. Bennett on his success in securing its enactment.

The Saints rejoiced in the prospects of liberty secured to them by their city government, and of it Joseph said:

"I concocted it for the salvation of the Church and on principles so broad, that every honest man might dwell secure under its protective influences, without distinction of sect or party."