You have violated the Constitution, in at least four particulars you have violated that part of it which declares that the printing presses shall be free being responsible for the abuse thereof and that the truth may be given in evidence This article of the constitution contemplates that the proprietors of a libellous press may be sued for private damage or may be indicted criminally; and that upon trial they should have a right to give the truth in evidence

In this case the proprietors had no notice of the proceeding The consitution also provides that the people shall be protected against unreasonable Searches and Seizeures of their property; and “that no man shall be deprived of life liberty or property; except by the judgement of his peers” (which means a Jury trial) “and the law of the land”; which means due process of law and notice to the accused. You have also violated the constitution and your own charter in this Your council which has no judicial power and can only pass ordinances of a general nature, have undertaken to pass judgement as a court and convict without jury a press of being libellous and a nuisance to the The council at most could only define a nuisance by general ordinance & leave it to the court to determine whether individuals [p. 4]