Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-03-24
The Mayor-Mania.

l WOfu ana
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| The Mayor-Mamia.
Our columns, as well as the readers pa
tience nodoubt, have been tasked for some
time past, to portray the peculiar merits Of
the several candidates who havebeennomi-
mated by their friends for the Office Of
Mayor. This was proper enough, and
we were willing to submit to it, as the
space occupied did not materially interfere
with our usual variety; but more recently
a new question has sprung up, which abso-
lutely threatens to overwhelm us with
oommunlcatlons-we mean, whether we
are to have asa'aried Mayor. Now whilst
we admit this is matter of public interest
to many ofour readers, and we would not,
therefore, willingly close our columns a.
gainst all discussion on the subject, yet we
must respectfully suggest to those of our
friends who are infected with the cacocthes
scr7bendi, the propriety, nay the absolute
necessity, of condensing their essays, in or
der to insure their publication. Hereafter
we shall be compelled to apply the prun-
ing knife to all long communications on
this subject.
But why need there, in fact, be any
thing more said ON the subject at all! If
we understand t.Ahe matter is already set
ted, and settled too, by the Legislature
That body has enacted law authorizing
the qualified voters of the townto elect the
Mayor, and the law repeats all former acts
and parts of acts relating to the subject;
SO that there is now no other way of ap-
pointing that officer than that provided for,
by the act 1t is obvious then that, unless
he is elected by the people, we shall have
no Mayor at all; for the law is not merely
permissory in its nature, but obligatory on
the Council, to provide for his election.
A word or two in regard to the salary.
We think an undue excitement has grown
out of this subject, from the fact that it is
not correctly understood. The Legisla-
ture imposed upon the council the duty of
fixing the Mayors salary,a as well as that of
prescribing the fees attached to his Office
The council fixed the salary at $500 than
which, he can receive no more and shall re-
ceive no less. The fees of his office do not
60 to the Mayor, but are to be paid into
tile treasury Of the Corporation; and as
these fees are to be paid only by the par
ties having business before the Mayor, it
may happen, and doubtless will, that the
Corporation would actually make money
by the operation If the fees of the Office,
for instance, should amount to $1,000, du-
ring the year, the Corporation would just
gain 500, since it would have to pay,
out Of the gross receipts into the treasury,
only $500, to the Mayor for his services.
One word more, now that we have al
luded to the subject. We hope we shall
beexcuscd for suggesting to our citizens,
the high duty which rests upon them, of
selecting for this responsible Office, man
of character, intelligence, and integrity,
who will have the capacity to see the right
and the moral 6rmness to pursue it. 1t is
ahighly important Office, and they should
bring to the discharge of its functions, the
best talent and most suitable qualities with
in their control. We humbly suggest that
the mere personal attachments offriends
ought not to be permitted to decide this
question, but that voters should have refer
ence exclusively to the fitness ofthe person
to perform the duties with which he will be
charged. Ofcourse we have no reference
to any of the candidates that have been
named, of whose fitness we are not at all
prepared to judge; but we only state our
views on the general question, and the
reader can receive them for what they are
worth.