Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-01-22
ALEXANDRIA:
THURSDAY, JANUARY %, 1874.

of taking into consideration the amend.
men,s proposed by the Common Council
10 be made in The charter o. the foyn, and
anpointed a committee to confer with The
Commoa Council on the subject.
u would seem proper. before the Levy
Court Of the county called IN question the
power OF the Common Council, 10 have in.
a. ed how far they we're acting within
their official duty. to interfere, as a ps6tse
body. al all with the subject.
II may not be improper for the citizens
o. he town 10 inquire, how the mem
bers Of the Levy Court and the Common
Council are appointed? The members OF
the Levy Court are appointed by the Pre-
silent aud Senate OF the United Ststes,
ami hold their offices at the will OF the Ere.
sidrni-conssquen,iy that they are not the
imasdia,e representatives OF the people.
What are the Official duties of the members
OF the Levy Couri!-As Justices OF the
Peace Tor thu rhoIs county. they are to
preserve The puoi'c peace, to try civil
suits 10 a lim;tei amount between indivi-
duals; and, as Commissioners OF the Taxes.
or members Of the Levy Court, to lay tax.
e. 70 a certain amount, tor the ordinary
Expense OF the county. Here their pow
ess end. They have no legislative autho-
rity.
The members of the Common Council
are appointed annually by the people Of the
corporation. and are, OF course, their I'M
mediate representatives., and, as such, are
presumed 10 know. aud represent more
fairly, the opiuioss and Interests OF the
people than any body Of men not appoint
ed by them. The powers OF the Common
Council are con6nrd 10 the municirai regu-
Da!ions OF the tom. in whichthe county can
have no interest Dor right 10 interfere The
CommonC ouncil derive their right to legis.
late from the Charter Of Incorporation: the
members of il, who are appointed for he
special uurposeoi administering theoharter,
are to be presumed to know, from eSpe-
rience. whether any and what defects exist
10 it; and. therefore, are better quail 6ed 10
der de on the propriety OF having 1t a.
mended, than he Levy Court, who, off.
cially, can have no information OF the alte.
ration which may be necessary TO make in
IT,.
Having given this short view Of the ori
gin and powers Of the Levy Court. and
the Common Council, il may, with great
proprety, be asked, uSder what authori-
ty do the Levy Coxrt undertake 10 inter
fere with the municipal regulations Of the
corp Grafton. or about the amendments Of
tire charter? If the Levy Court of the eoun
ty Of Alexandra can legally int rfere, may
not the Circuit Court the Orphans Court,
the Collector, the Postmaster. and the
Justices OF the Peace, all interfere in
their respective official characters. as well
as the different Banks in their corpo
rate characters, to prevent Congress from
passing laws Tor the municipal government
OF the town?
u the gentlemen composing the Levy
Cnu't ,r Judges Of the Circuit, or other
officer. or those COMPOSING he direction
.. ihe different Banks, are dissatisfied with
ad &C any o. the amendments proposed TO
the charter, s. are inhabitants of the corpo
rofion hey ave he right. as citizens, to
Petition Congress against the amendments:
further than this, il seems to me they
hase no legal right TO go
The pre cedrn, of the Levy Court inter.
tering with the concerns of the Corpora
ton, NAV lead TO consequences not now
anticipated, and which may be regretted
when too late
The Levy Court consists, in part. oil
persons who do not reside within the cor
p~oration, and who have no property with
IN il; and, Of course. cannot be affected ~
their persons OF property by any amend.
ment Of the charter. II the Lspy Court
can Interfere, it will be giving certain per
sons a right to control The municipal regu'
lations OF the town. through the Levy Court
which, as private citizens, they have nc
right to concern with.
The Levy Court. during the last anc
present session Of Congress, have applied
ios the passage OF a Law enlsrging theil
own powers, and also making alteration.
10 tie law relating 10 the Orphans Court