Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-02
Organization of the city council.


Organization of the City Council.
The new Boards of Municipal Government
of this city organized yesterday.
The Recorder administered the oath of Of
fee to the Aldermen, who Immediately cleo
ted Aid. Rhea President of the Board. Mr..
Rhea made neat little speech, upon taking
the chair.
The Recorder then, in the Council Cham
Der, administered the oath to the Councilmen
elect, who elected Mr.. Darden their President
the same gentleman who held the position
last year. Mr.. D. returned thanks in few
appropriate remarks.
The two Houses then met in Convention
and appointed committee, composed of
Messrs. Bell and Newman, of the Board of
Aldermen, and Demonbreun, McCann and
Paul, of the Board of Common Council. to
inform the Mayor of their organization, and
that they were ready to receive any commu-
nication he might see proper TO make. The
committee then introduced r. B. Cheatham,
Mayor elect, who delivered the following
message:
Gentlemen of the Gig Council
The charter of the city under which we are
organized, its various interests, and a sense
of the responsibility of official to the public.
impose the duty on the Mayor of communica1
ting in writing to you, and through you to
the citizens. such information in regard to
the affairs of the city, its future wants and
demands, together with a summary of the
action OF the various departments for the last
municipal year. as may be at bis command.
In the beginning of the present municipa
year, and for several months thereafter moth
ing occurred to mar the trade or check the
general prosperity of the city. In all its de-
partmentS it moved on under the impetus and
influence heretofore acquired from the pru-
dent legislation of your body, and the gene
raj guardianship and personal interest felt
and manifested by all of the officials. Such
harmony has characterized the relations of
the Executive and Legislative departments,
that in no instance has the Mayor been called
upon to exercise the restraining power en-
trusted to his hands, and he confidently hopes
that such may continue to be the relation
of the two departments, and such has been
his intercourse with the other various depart
mentS and officials.
The present deplorable condition of our
country, with bitter and cruel war raging
on every hand, and an enemy menacing the
borders of our State on all Sides with view
to an occupation of our Capital with their
''vandal hordes;" the narrow and compressed
channel to which our trade is threatened to
be reduced; the reduction of our population
by the absence of many gallant sons, who
have responded to their cOuntry's call; the
general sympathy felt by various interests of
the city, with the condition of the country in
its disturbed and unquiet state, may induce
a necessity for modification or change of
the principles which have heretofore governed
you in your legislation. What all these mod
ifications or changes may be, am unable TO
recommend at present, but shall trust to your
discernment and ability to meet and dispose
of them as the emergency may dictate. In
this you shall have my hearty cooperation.
FINANCE.
In this connection, enough has already been
manifested to induce Inc 10 recommend to
you a 1Udtchfut and stringent economy of the
revenue of the city. Let no channel be now
opened by new legislation, through which the
revenue of the city can flow, that is not de-
manded by higher cause thau mere con-
yenience or probable comfort; and if gentle
men, in your sagacity, you perceive that by
reason of the operation of any law, or by
other means, there is an expenditure of
money that necessity does not demand, 1
urge upon each of you the importance of an
will effectually prevent it. / therefore re-
to you TO scrutiniZe, through your
committees, every department of the Corpo-
ration.
l need not suggest to you, all the reasons
for the importance of this step at this time.
aside from the stringency of the money mar
ket generally, the depressed condition ofpro-
perty and trade, and the small profits now
derived by many of our citizens from their
demands made upon the resources of our cit
liens to clothe, arm and equip generally,
those who are in the army of the South,
whose claims are personal and mus, be re-
sponded to literally and generously, are suffi-
cient, and doubt not will diminish the pri-
vate means of all to such an extent to
make a heavy taxation on the part of the
city, oppressive and onerous, and as the last
Municipal year has witnessed dimlnution
of the expenses of the city, so let the ensuing
if possible. / refer to you for you iuspec-
ton the report of the city Treasurer and Re-
cordrr, showing the receipts and disblrse-
ments for the Municipal year just closed. In
these you will find the fields in which you are
to labor and the means which are entrusted
to your hands.
In this department though the duties have
been more difficult and trying than at any
time heretofore, arising necessarily from the
unsettled condition of affairs, the presence of
large bodies of men, moving to and fro, aud
the excitement consequent, and in some de-
gree the prevalence of disregard to law and
order, which at such times affect large num-
Der of persons, yet, under all these causes
and influences, there has not been single
tumult, riot, or scene, that would excite the
attention of single citizen. la this, l con-
graduate you and the citizens generally. and
the Police, who have been so nm
renting in their attention, so discreet in
their official conduct, and so watchful of the
delicate and important trusts committed TO
their hands, and very frequently to their in
dividual discretion
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This department as Is well known TO all,
about the beginning of the last Municipal
year, underwent radical change, from that
of volunteer companies to paid Steam Fire
Department. This change has necessarily
increased the expenses of that Depart
ment, in the fact that engines, horses, and
the necessary apparatus had to be purchased.
Its success has been entirely aud completely
satisfactory. / here refer you to the able re
port of the Chief of that department, and its
ability and suggestions recommend that it be
printed; and in this connection / feel bound
to express to you my admiration of the ser
vices and aid this department has derived
from the voluntary services of the old conpd-
mics, who have at all times rendered their as
sistance and performed efficient aid l am
induced to commend these from the fact that
many have left their homes in the cause of
the South, thus illustrating the principle,
that those who are most watchful of the well
fare of the city, are those who defend their
country in the hour of its greatest peril.
SCHOOLS.
1t is needless, in this connection, to call
your attention further than to the general
condition of this department. Whatever
causes have heretofore contributed to give an
uneasiness to ii public mind in relation
to this branch of your dutiss, trust have