Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-15


him and others on the night of the 9Th of that
month, in frolt of the Governors house, the com
mittoe should have little to DO But it has pleased
him to express, in regard to his relation to the
Council, views which appear utterly erroneous
and uncalled for; aud it the views are permitted
to pass without comment the example may ope-
rate badly upon other officers of the city who are
elected by the people,
The Committee recite that chapter of the Code,
in which power is granted to the Council to
'adopt measures to suppress riots and giving
them also power ''to protect the property of the
town, its inhabitants, and to preserve peace and
good order therein"
Under the same chapter, the Mayor is al
lowed to exercise such control over officers of the
town other than the Recorder aud Aldermen,
may be prescribed by the ordinances OF the town.
The ordinance of the 25th November, 1850,
concerning the police of the city, prescribes what
control may be exercised over them by the
Mayor He may direct number of watchmen
to be allotted any night to any district-may pre-
scribe rules for the employment of the six watch
men not allotted to particular district-he has a
general superintendeuce tho police, and from
time to time is to make report to the Council of
the state OF the police, with such suggestions for
its improvement as he may SEQ fit. No such
suggestion having been made, the committee
had right to suppose the Mayor had mono to
make which no deemed worthy of reporsing.
As the Mayor has this general superinten-
dance, the committee think such a tumultuous
assembage, occurred on tho 9TH May before
the Governors house, furnished a suitable occa-
sion for written communication by the Mayor
to the Council, giving detailed statement of what
occurred there on that night, so that the Council
might publish the same for general information,
as the Council had no such information and yet
desired to be accurately informed, as to what had
occurred and the manner in which the Mayor
had discharged his duties on this occasion. We do
not see what better mode it could have taken for
information, than to pass the resolution which it
did requesting from the Mayor such detailed
statement as it desired.
The committee think this request on the part of
the council as the exercise of power reasona-
bic and right, and compliance with it On the
Mayors part as the performance only of his
duty. Yet the Mayor, instead of complying, has
taken on himself to say that he regards himself
us no further responsible to the Council in
his official capacity than he holds himself to be to
any other number of respectable citizens of the
town. The committee expressed their surprise
at this position, inasnuch the council have
powers which other respectable citizens have not
Among other powers enumerated by the commit
tee, as belonging to the council, is that by which
theyare empowered to grant compensation to the
Mayor, and the same power which has granted
this compensation many repeal Or suspend the
grant.
While the Mayor no doubt is sincere in think
ing there were or 500 persons in the Governors
yard, yet information from others states that the
number was much smaller
He is mistaken in supsosing that under tho law
of the State he was "frst to call on the rioters to
arrest themselves"-hisd duty was sin the name of
the law to command them to disperse, and if
they refused, then to command assistance of any
white person; and if such person refused assist,
then he was to be deemed rioter.
The object of the committee is to make use Of
the past for the benefit of the future. The citi-
zens of Richmond have with great unanimity, APP
proved the resolution of the Council, that good
der must be preserved in the city. The resolu-
ton is to be strictly observed. There must no
be agan in this city, any such tumutuous assem-
blage as that the night of the 9TH May, or if
any such begin, it must be promptly suppressed.
The preservation of good order in the city is
essential to its welfare; it is matter of the deep
est interest to all who feel any pride in its credit
and good name.
THE committee nd tha fo1lo.yi raso
zion:
A.esolved, That the Committee of Police be
authorized to bring in ordinance prescribing
that the compensation fxed by the Council for the
Mayor, or any officer whose duties are prescribed
by the Council, shall be in consideration of his
performing those duties in manner approved by
the Council, and giving such information in rela-
ton thereto rs the Council may from time to time
request; and prescribing further that whenever the
Council considers there is a failure in such per-
formance, or failure to give such information,
the payment otthe compensation may thenceforth
be suspended at its pleasure.
The question taken on this resolution, and
it was adopted unanimously.
The preamble was then taken up and likewise
adopted unanimously.
sY- The meeting called at the City Hall yes
terday afternoon, to take action relative to the
forthcoming National Anniversary turned out to
be failure. So the duty of paying proper res
ny, as usual.
DIED,
AT the residence of his uncle Mr.. Leon Levy in
tne county OF Louisa Thursday night the 10th inst
af fe severe illness Of eight days. in the a2d year