The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-04-27
LOCAL ArrAIRs
Tun MAnr.mu. :.

TIE MAHrAMUs.--A very large oon.
course OF persons assembled at the stst. non :.
Isas yss.sraay morning. to hear the opinion Of
commanding the City Council r. a.csrss ssta :. -
eater upon their Journal tho election al n. ..Ir.
liAakka superintendent of Tho Gas Work Th.
ssdse revlewsd such sootions OF the City Charter
as referred 70 elections, aud gave Ma on - %
each. Ii tho fifteenth section were Tho nnIr ~ "
On the subject, tt would be quite clear that tho
C0aneil could do no more than the tsondnctor a.,
asesrtaining the iaenbers elect Of their own bod
~aho.s so,ag oehind the retorns-but additional
power Is given them. The 10Th section gives the
Council the power to prescribe the mode OF deter
iaining sContested Elections, and tho 18th sec,
ton sises that body thepower, under certain con.
inselees, TO refer tho election back to the people
thus showing that the Council have entire cone
troll over the subject The Council 10 but the
servant OF the people, and cannot part with
the rights OF q community by neglect or waiver,
The fact that no mode Of contesting elections was
prescribed before the election, does not impair
tho power OF the Council to prescribed the pecessa.
~ rules afterwards, and the rules lately laid down
are in no wise retroactive and therefore not ex post
facto. The parties knew that the Council had
the power, under the charter, to provide for con-
test, and could not, therefore have been taken by
surprise The ordinance providing for the contest
Is merely remedial and does not effect the right of
any one. Mr.. Hagerty has but prima facie
right to the Office because OF the returns Of
the Conductors, and until that right 10 ascer-
tanned that bis right is based on the will of the
legal voters, a majority of when have declared for
him, aud the Council then refused to permit him
to qualify. mandimus could not issue. The
Coureil we're the proper body to ascertain who
were elected, and when they have done that it is
their duty to enter the fact upon their Journal,
and to allow the party receiving the largest mum
Der OF voters to qualify. He therefore declined to
order mandamus. Judge NJ. was very clear in
his opinion, which he delivered orally, and In no.
ticing which we have merely intended to say, that
he refused to grant the mandimus asked for, be.
lieving that il was the duty of the City Council to
ascertain aud enter on their journal who is elected
that they are now in motion to perform that
duty-and that they have provided way for the
coatest to be carried on
The Council for Mr.. Hagerty, as soon as the
opinion of Judge Meredith was delivered, asked
for copy of the record, intending to take the
question to the Court Of Appeals.
ENDOWMENT FUND OF THE YOUNG MEn's
CHRISTIAN AssoCIATIoN.An effort has recently been
made In several of the larger cities of our country,
to raise funds Tor the permanent endowment Of the
Young Mems Christian Associations. Iu Boston
and Philadelphia, the Associations have been en-.
couraged by liberal contributions; and In the late
ter city, arrangements in progress for the
tion of splendid Hall, at a cost of not less thai
s50,0o0 The object of these endowmeuts are the
relief of the Associations from embsrrassments Ia
their benevolent and religious en- nterprses aud the
establishment of libraries for the of the public
The proceeds of life memberships and donations al
appropriated to this permanent fund, aud the Gu r
rent expenses are paid out of the annual contribu
tions. An effort will be made to awaken more
decided interest Oh this subject, among the MEM
bers OF the Young Mems Christian Association of
Richmond, and the citizens generally, during the
present year.
W tn this view the Association has invited the
Hoo bt Winthrop, of Boston, to deliver an sd i.
dress, which il designed especially to iuaugurate
this laudable enterprise. MIR Winthrop has kind.
ly consented to deliver the address for the benefit
of the "Endowment Fund" of the Association on
Thursday, the 5th IF May next. Those VINO are
acquainted with Mr. Ninthrop's ability will re
qnire no other inducemeut to insure their atten.
dance, and every friend of the Association will
doubtless show his appreciation of tho value of an
Institution which has enlisted the services of one
of the most accomplished orators in our country
Mr. winthrop has often been invited to appear be-
fore our historical aud literary societies, and he
has uniformly declined; but now. at the first So NJ
mons in behalf of the cause of purity, like hia
great compeer, Everett, in advocating the claims
of patriotism, he promptly consents to render his
valuable aid.
Oar citizens, we trust, will show that Virginia
aud Massachusetts, are ever ready to stand shout
der to shoulder ia sustaining the cause of purity
aud patriotism, the bulwarks of our glorious
Union Mr. Wiothrop's liberal and conservative
views should entitIe him to the highest considera-
tion from Richmond audience.
I OF a G6tcIuay w aS
q grand day for the Richmond Grays, and one that
will prove brilliant spot In their history for all
time to Pursuant to orders the corpse paraded
eighIy-ons strong: under the command of Capt.
Elliott and after short march, repaired to the
Capitol Square to receive stand of "Minnie Mus
kets,' from Gov. Wise. The announcement that
the presentation would take place. had drawn to
the square hundreds of ladies, gentlemen and
children, to witness the presentation, the greater
proportion of whom gathered about Washington
ant ubi la nf 9th sd fho xuip
dows of the capitol, and of such private houses as
were conveniently situated to furnish view of
the exciting scene.
About half past o'clock the Grays entered the
Square, aud after marching, counter marching aud
firing salutes, formed on the south side of the
Monument. where the new muskets had been
stacked, aud where, Immediately between the
atues of Henry and JeT,rsoD, the Governor and
his staff had taken their positions.
Maj VIM. Nun ford, on behalf of the Execu
tive then presented to Capt. Elliott, for the Grays
the beautiful Minnie muskets before him. Maj ,r
NJ said that this distinction had been conferred
on the Grays at the instance of the Adjutant Geu-
eral as reward for their gallant bearing as citi-
zen soldiers, whose fine dIil admirable discipline
and high character, gave assurance that the State
could ever rely upon them to defend her rights and
redress her wrongs, should it ever be necessary
for the Executive to call upon them. Hsj. Nj.
spoke about ten minutes and complmented the
Company highly in his remarks
Capt Elliott responded on behalf of the Greys,
and appropriately acknowledged the honor con-
ferred upon his command, pledging for them that
they would ever do all that could be expected OF
them to protect and defend the rights and inter.
ests of the city aHd State, and the institutions
with which they ale surrounded and to which they
are warmly attached. lCspt Els remarks were
most happily received by those who were fortu-
nate enough to hear.
After the presentation, the Grsys shoudered
their new muskets, went through the drill, we're
reviewed by the Governor, Maj. Munford and Col.
and then mArchad 10 their sarmorv tn he
stirring music of the Armory Band, doubtless re-
solved in their own minds to deserve more than
ever the honors they had received.
STEALING ToBACCo.-John B. Dobson,
charged with receiving box of tobacco stolen from