Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-20

'2o'0'' e'Stc ny any -. coi IIctoIlC'il utSsS'
This deformity cannot be hidden, nor its rot
tcnncss snothercd. Mr.. Preston, though he
male good speech, though he wove 4 beautiful
robe, almost without the impcrfcction of a seam,
and with but few blots TO stain its purity, it
was all "loyc's labor lost" by hanging it upon
the shoulders of deformity and corruption.
The discussion was characterized by gentle
manly department throughout; both par
ties were delighted with their respective orl-
tors-and, We may add, justly 50, for both met
the expectations Of their friends.
1902
THE GAS QUESTION AND THE HIGHER LAW"
The action of the kaow-Nothing majority in
the City Council upon the late election of SUI
perintendcn, of the Gas Works, deserves the
condemnation of every citizen who values right
and justice above the temporary advantages OF
party contest. Determined to rob the people
of their right Of election, no subtcrfngc has
been too low for their adoption. Vampiag up
contested election to prevent the damaging
I effect of defeat i'll Richmond upon the State
, contest, they found that their haste hid i'll
volvcd them in the dilemma Of leaving the
Gas Works without icgal Superintendent
Their own ordinances forbid Mr.. Wynnc hold
position BY section II, "the Superintendent,
Clerk and Inspector shall each use for an Office
such room as the committee may prcscribe.-
Neither of them shaN pert"rm any @rrires
t6r compensation other than those pfrtormrI
far tie ciiy, aad aeitLtr cr' them shall, for ser
vices performed for the city, receive any other
compensation than is allowed by the sixth sec
tiop. Tie rhols time n each shaH be dtroted
10 HE performance 4J hn cJicial @Etjss. =
! Here was Il clause of their own ordinance
which, in their hot haste to repair the damages
of their recent defeat in Richmond, the majori-
t. had entirely forgot or deliberately violated.
To repair this wrong upon their city ordinance,
the Council adopted Il resolution. OF the 18th
of April, in the following language:
Resolved, That the Committee on Light be
authorized to appoint Superintendent Of Gas
during the interval of the contested election
now before the Council.
This poor effort 10 10 right to the city is the
only comlncndablc act which the know-Notll-
ing najority has done concerning this election.
And Mr.. Wynne feeling the embarrassment of
his own illegal position, considered it to be his
duty to signify his desire to be relieved, and
accordingly wrote his letter DECLINING to be a
candidate for the position" This was not
strictly resignation, because Mr. Wynne was
Wegolly diScharging the duties OF the office; his
acccptanccuf the office Of Snpt. Of the Peters
burg Railroad had disqualified him for longer
holding the place Of Superintendent of the Gas
Works. lie was no longer in one Of the "of-
fees mentioned in the Gth and 1th sections.
lie had, by his own act terminated his legal
I service, and was mere s2Hatter IN the Gas
Works. His 'resign"tio"' was, therefore, an
unnecessary act.
''Terms of service" which expire by limlta-
ton of time may be prolonged by law until the
successor has qualiicd'-but Mr.. Wynnc $
term of service" had already expired" by the
acceptance of place which legally disqualified
him for the position Of Superintendent The
office was then in the hands of the Council,
and that body considered it to be in their
hand, or they would not have stultiicd them
selves by authorising the Committee on Light
''to app9iM Il Superintendent during the in
terva of the contested election. This resolution
orthc Council plainly shows that they considered
the office of Superintendent vacant. Mr.. Wynne
having accepted position which disqualified
himself; he had "rsmorCT himself from the
office as he had a perfect right to do, and the
office was at the bcstowal of the Council, and
beinr at their bcstowal during the nterrcsnum
Of the contested election, the Council delegated
their mower to the Committee on Light, to fill
the vacant Office.
The Committee on Light proceeded to dis
charge duty dcvolvcd upon them b. tive
Council and appointel .W Hagerfy-and h"t
r1, Tie yu6. The contested election had been
gotten up to prevent Mr. llagcrty from holding
this position prior to the election for State
offices. but the Council had been ovcrrcached
by the Committee on Light; but the injustice
had been rcctficd by the Committee, and the
capital far tie State election "as fost.
Mr.. Wynnc was their last resort, his highcr
hr doctrine was their only safety. Higher lar
i.m is at this time in great vogue with the |lr-
cinia element of the Opposition About to form
\ coalition with the higher la~itts ofthc North
they attest their devotion to the doctrine by
accepting its precepts as articles of their faith
for municipal affairs in Virginia Higher t"ism
in Richmond tlcfraudS Mr.. Ilagcrty Of his just
rights, as higher lawism at the north has defraud-
ed Southern men of their negroes VIII the peo-
ple of Richmond elect to the next Legislature MIR.
D J. Saunders defender of Mr.. Wynnc's
Ljo1,r Iarism, Does Richmond expect to OBJ
tain any faYors from the Democracy OF Virginia
through the Legislature that will be called upon
to rcbukc the higher law resolutions Of Vermont,
when the city is represented by the supporter
and defender of the same Infamous doctrine in
her municipal affairs: We ask the people oi
Richmond to pause and reflect. This is the first
time that this infamous ism has been avowed
on the soil of Virginia, and, by strict party
vote in the City Council, it has been adopted
as tenet of party faith. The extension of the
city limits will be before the next Legislature,
and this favor will scarcely be obtained by the
efforts n higher lac delegate.
The Democracy Of Virginia are too deeply
interested in the discountenance Of this odious
i'm to tolerate it any shape or form, or in its APP
plication to any subject whatever. MIR. saun-
dcrs voted to sustain Mr.. Wynne with the
avowal of higher awism before him, and he Is
not the man to vote upon the higher lavish
of Vermont; nor is he the man most likely TO