The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-18

passion Tor oeing huHDuSged IN the same
way" A aia It.
Editor Union appeal: In order to fully
comprehend the amount of merit or demerit
that should attach to any action, it is necessary
to understand the motive and object of the
actor; it not unfreqnently happens that what
in itself would be a good action is performed
out of personal pique or for selfish ends.
L am led to this reflection by the conduct of
a late member Of the present Board Of Alder
men. So 5aa
| At the last meeting but one of the Board,
motion was adopted to appoint committee
of three to Investigate the qualifications and
| eligibility of she members of the present
| Board. This was deemed necessary, as it was
rulnored that some Of ths members we're nell
gible. a
NJ. Brooks was summoned to appear before
said committee. Previous to the meeting of
the committee hes.sted bis own case to some
of the members of it, fom which it appeared
| that he had lived IN the Third ward, but that
within six months past he had rented and
occupied house in the Seventh ward, but
still expecting at future time to return to
the Third ward, which expectation has been
fulfilled; that tor some time be had been ..ont
of town, filling some official capacity under
Col. w. r. Hunt, Chief of the Ordnance for
the Southern Confederscy, and this within
six months next preceding the election. :
Some members Of the committee told him
that according to his own statement he was
certainly ineligible. He then requested the
committee not 10 rep-r upon his case at ali,
and he would resign at the next meeting of
the Board Up to this time nothing was
heard of the lleg ,lity of the city govern
ment.
The committee at the last meeting reported
thst the only case brought before them was
eligible, and supposed that the other members,
| no charge being against them, were all right.
This report was made with the understand
ing that so soon as Mr.. Brooks handed in his
report from Police committee, he would re-
sign; so that the Committee of Investigation
did not look upon him as being member of
the Board. Had it not been for this the com
mittee would have been under the necessity of
reporting unfayorably upon his claim to q
d seat in the Board, and would have recoin-
mended that his seat be declared vacant.
The Committee treated Mr.. Brooks with a
good dead of courtesy and forbearance, for
which they conceive be has not made very
T suitable retur i,
Now, if the Board was Illegal why did Mr.
Brooks take . seat in it, endorse its action BY
, his vote and take part in the election of Off
) GERS? 1t appears the scales fell off his eyes
, very suddenly. No doubt the anticipated
action of the investigating committee tended
to give him more light.
When asked after the reading of his protes
i why he had not published the illegality sooner
he said that in examining the City Charter
/. concerning his necessary qualifications, he has
discovered that the Board of Mayor anC
: Aldermen was illegal. So the inelegibihty o
: the one was the cause of the ilIegality of tn
other.
: Whilst do not question the purity of an,
r mans motives nor the sincerity of his words
g do think that the Board of Mayor ard Alder
men would have been perfectly legal and tina
! Mr.. Brooks would have been burning an.
d shining Night in said Board had it not been 70
the committee of investigation.
! Ny only object in the publication of thi
note, is to prevent any false impression in refer
: ence to the resignation of DR.. B. f. ,
Brooks. A CITIZEN.