Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-09
LOCAL Ew .
,rIIE. CRY COUNCIL.

Position OF ihe Democratic and Re-
publican NTcn1e RS W hO Embarrass
the City Government!
The Al0rittag Journal of yesterday, after
mentioning the meeting at the Council
Chamber on Monday evening; the absence
of-the Democratic members, and the pres
ence of'GN the Republican members except
Mr.. Booth, says: !
The course of the Democratic members
can scarcely meet with the appreciation OF
even their constituents. They are em0ar-
raStiug the city government by system
pf'inactivity, on the prttense that the cleo,
ton of Mr. COmstOck was Illegal, Instead
,Of inaugurating some system to dlsplace
him. If he wa, illegally elected. why not
displace him ?--why not refer the question
to the proper court? This simple lodging
of a question Is an evidence of their weak
ness. If they have confidence, why not do
something? The city government Is em-
barrassed, and the people will not be long
in deciding who are the responsible par
ties.
We think the course of the Democratic
members will meet with the appreciation oil
their constituents, and OF all right-minded
and honorable men.
If it be true that ''they are embarrassing
the city government" there is certainly
mode of redress. The Journal asks, If MIR.
Comstock twas illegally elected, why not
dsplace him?-why not refer the question
to the proper court?" The Democratic
members, in holding that Mr.. G. was not
| legally elected President of the Council,
simply sustain negative position, while
the Republican members hold the aflrma-
tive. 1t is their business to make it good.
If the position Of the Republican mem
bers be correct, the Council has been legal
ly organized in conformity with the char
ter. 1t has President, a City Clerk hold
ing over, and a. City Marshal as its Ser
geant-at-Arms, or Executive officer. If
"the Democratic members are embarrass-
ing the city government" as the Journal
charges, shy system of inactivity" by
staying away and prev venting Council al
ready duly organized from having quo
rum, and thus from transacting any busi-
ness for the benefit OF the city and for
making any provision for the payment of
| its creditors, there is unquestionably way
to compel their attendance.
tits clearly the Republican members who,
on their own ground, "are embarrassing.the
city government by a system of inactivity"
on the pretense that the election Of Mr..
Comstock was legal, "instead of inaugural
ing some system" to establish its legality,
and compel the attendance of the members
whom they charge with embarrassing the
city government" If he was legally elect
ed, and the Democratic members are recu-
SAINTS or violators of law, in wilfully alb
scnting themselves from the meetings In the
Council Chamber, at which he assumes to
take the Chair as President, why not refer
the whole question to the proper court, that
the alleged refractory members may be
punished and made to do their duty?
"The simple dodging of the question" by
the Republican members is clearly "an
evidence of their weakness" If they have
confidence in their position and have the
opinion OF eminent counsel TO sustain them,
why not publish that opinion, for the en-
lightenment and the satisfaction Of the pub
lie? They say they arein the right; thatlaw
and justice are on their side, and that the
Democratic members are in the wrong, and
have neitherlaw nor justice to sustain their
position. Why, then, in the name of com
mon sense and of the good people of CO.
lumbus, don't they "do something?"
"The city government" the journal reit-
crates, sis embarrassedp Granted. But
"who are the responsible parties?" Plain
ly those who, according to their own show
ing, have on their side legally elected
President of the Council, and in their
hands the means and the power, If their
claim be good, to carry on the city govern
ment in spite OF alleged refractory alb
sentees, whose attendance they can, if they
are in the right, compel. II they fail to
make good their claim, the people will hold
them responsible for assuming a false posi-
ton, and thus embarrassing the city gov
arnment - and doinp the nuhlic a great in