The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-09
MAYORS OFFICE,
WHEELING, w. VA. Feb.7, 1865.

WHEELING, w. VA, teO. I, lcoo.
TO the Members of the FIRST Branch, and
the President and Members 0f the Second
Branch, Of the Council;
GENTLEMEN: On page 81 Of the print
ed ordinances, will be found section i'm
posing duty upon the Mayor, i'll the fol-
lowing words:
Sec. Il 1t shall be the duty of the
Mayor 10 submit to the Council, at its
first meeting Omor after the fifteenth day
of February, annually, hereafter, com
muuication in relation TO the interests OF
the city generally, with such reconmen-
dations touching the management OF Its
affairs for the current year, as to nm may
seem necessary OF proper.
I am not aware that any message, III
conformity to this law, has been commu-
nicated to the Council since 1889. Or
dinarily, il may not be necessary, but
the circumstances in which We are
placed, and the propriety, at this time, OF
some suggestions in regard to matters OF
municipal interest embolden me 10 obey
il.
lou, gentlemen, are to legislatc for tins
corporation, and it should be your ann,
as il is your duty, TO establish such rrSu-
lations, and adopt such measures as VIII
best promote the interests OF the rIty ana
of the people, your constituents, 80 far as
YOU can determine them, not only III re-
gard 10 municipal affairs, which, OF
course, are your most Important trusts,
hut also, permit me 10 suggest To give
expression To public feeling III respect to
other matters, to which the unfortunate
condition of our country gives proml-
nencc.
In times past, the highest honors aud
marks of respect paid by citizens, were
those rendered through constituted au-
thoritcs and while others have adhered
to this plan, this city has not. All the
courtesics extended our soldiers, nave
been by private enteTprise--the expenses
have been borne by few-and the de-
mOnstratiOns have been too much theeX-
preston of patty.
Among the soldiers of the army OF the
| United States, are our relatives, our
friends and our fellOw-citizens; they are
engaged in hazardous work Ill our be-
| half. aud their labOrs, i'll their undcrtak-
| ing tn restore the Union, vindicate the
| Constitution, enforce the laws, and re-
establish the civil authority wherever 1t
has been trampled upon, merit and must
receive the gratitude, the applause, and
the hearty approval of every lover OF his
country object to any set OF men act
ing as partisans -arrogating to them
selves the sole possession OF these feel
| inrs. / rank myself second no man in
love OF liberty, the Union, the laws, and
the integrity of republican government,
and / have felt hurt and pained by the
course pursued Oh several occasions, by
| which many persons were carefully eX-
| cluded from all participation III the cere-
| monies who entertain as warm and sin
| cere desire to pay honor to the soldiers,
As do those who Seltishly claimed that
they only were true to the Government.
| might instance the circumstances at
tending the arrangement OF the funeral
of Colonel ThOburn, man universally
beloved and respected, and sincerely
mourned Such proceedings are calcu-
lated to engender and keep alive i'll feel
ing and animosity, aud ought not again
occur I believe that niuety-iIine one
hundredths of the people will concur
with me in recommending that the Coun-
ell and authorities of the city should
take charge of, and direct all demenstra-
tions of honor aud respect shown to our
soldiers, and | submit the matter to you
for such action, in the future, as you, In
your wisdom, may deem right andproper-
The maintenance of the peace
and quiet of the city, and the
enforcement of municipal laws are
of the greatest Importance to the
citizens, and the means necessary to
secure these ends demand your serious
oousidsration. 1t must be evident to