Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-28
ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

NateI meeting Aesterday-Ihey &C
eept the Withdrawal OF
BrOsn and Cotton from the Canvas.
dismissal Of the Special Police. etc
A called meeting of the City Council wa.
held yesterday afternoon, President Cotton
in the chair.
The President stated the object of the
meeting TO be the consideration of the
present condition of city affairs and the
rights Of the people under the laws.
The correspondence between the Mayor
aud Gen. Thomas was read by Mr.. VIM
ston, and joint committee of five, consist =
ing Of Councilmen Rhea, Morris, Lellyett,
and Aldermen Chiffon and Kircher. was
appointed 10 report upon all resolutions
and other matters laid before them.
Mr.. Coltart desired TO express his indig-
nation at the outrageous and high-handed
measures to be forced upon the people, and
offered the following resolution, which was
referred to the committee:
Resolved, That il is the most emphatic
opinion of the City Council, that the
Judges, Receivers aud Clerks shall hold
the election for the different city officers on
the 2Sth day Of September, in accor dance
with resolution passed at the former
meeting, and in conformity with the laws
aud charter of the city Of Nashville. Re-
feraed.
A bill of $I75 from the Western Union
Telegraph Company, was allowed, and inn
mediate payment ordered.
On motion, Gov. Neill s. Brown, Gov.
II. $. Foote and Judge Gaut, were invited
to meet with the joint committee.
The committee then retired, and brought
in the following report
Whereas, By the charter of the city of
Nashville it is made the duty Of the Mayor
and Board Of Aldermen to appoint the
necessary officers to hold the regular an
nual election on the last Saturday of Sep
TENDER in each year for the election of
Mayor and members of the City Council;
and
Whereas, The present city authorities,
believing and having legal advice that the
same duty still devolved upon them, and
that the provisions Of the franchise law OF
the State do not interfere with nor change
the charter of our city in this respect, did
at a late regular meeting appoint judges,
clerks and receivers Of votes to hold the
annual municipal election to be held on
Saturday, the 18th inst, being the last
Saturday in the present month of Septem-
her; and
Whereas, As has been the duty and GUS
tom of our City Marshal, he by public adj
vertisement, designated the places in the
different wards for holding said election;
but
Whereas, Captain Sheridan, register OF
l. IL oFT o~.I-o, "a
city authorities had appointed their cleo
ton officers, made other appointments Of
officers for the same purpose, claiming the
power TO do so, under the laws of the State,
which action is sustained by the procIama-
ton Of w G. Brownlow, Governor Of the
State, and by Gen. Cooper, commander of
the State Guard or Militia, the latter of
whom in his published order has declared
that the city authorities shall not be al
lowed 10 hold any election, and that if
necessary all the military forces Of the
State shall be used to suppress the same;
aud
Whereas, Upon application to the mill
tary authorities in this district, and to the |
President of the United States for protec.
tion, Major General Thomas, commanding |
the United States troops here, has received |
such orders from the War Department az
are understood to instruct him to recognize
the legality of General Cooper's order, that
the troops Of the United States cannot be
used to prevent its execution, but shall, if
necessary, be used to sustain it,
Now, inasmuch as the city authorities OF
Nashville have never desired to do any
thing in the premises but what they had a
vf~lf ,tnAar fl,.. ,l,urtar md Ioxua of
the State 10 do, in peaceable and orderly |
way, and have been only DESTROYS to dis |
charge what they honestly believed to be a
duty under the law to their respective con- |
yet, inasmuch as it is apparent |
that they can proceed nc further in the |
matter without endangering the lives and |
of the citizens Of the city of Nash |
Vile, and perhaps bring unjust Odium and |
SANDER upon our community, furnishing is |
name and character as a peaceable, loyal |
and law-abiding people, therefore be it
Resolved by the City Council of Nash
Vile that while we still think that We have |
been legally right in the steps We have |
taken ~ aforesaid preparatory to holding |
our charter election on Saturday, the 18th |
inst. aud that ours is the only legally con
stituted authority vet in the premises con
sidered and "a We cannot hold said cleo
lion without certain collision with the
military forces, possibly thereby bringing
upon our people a terrible calamity, We
hereby advise our Judges, Clerks and Re
ceivers TO proceed no further in the matter, |
and report accordingly; this we do without !
hereby intending TO surrender whatever |
legal rights the city authorities may have |
been before the courts of the country, 10 be |
tried hereafter, regretting very much that |
as we never contemplated interfering n |
theleast with the officers appointed by Capt. /
Sheridan in holding their election, the |
United States authorities could not be |
permitted 20 protect our officers in holding |
their election peaceably, and then sub. |
hitting the disputed question as to who |
was right to the courts OF the country.
Mr. Cotton moved to lay the report upon |
the table
Mr.. Paul moved its adoption.
Mr.. Coltart said he might be considered
alone in what he was about 20 say, but he |
was acting from principle. He had
always considered the President and all
bis subordinates rs public servants, and had
looked TO the constitution for protection.
The constitution was still in force, and
neither Grant or the President could yio-
late it with impunity. We still had laws
in this country, despite Brownlow and his
imps. He then offered the following:
Whereas BY the reading of the dis
patches from Gen. Grant and others. we
are informed that We the constituted
authorities Of the city Of Nashville, duly
elected according TO the charter of the city,
and in accordance with law, have ordered
an election to be held on the 2Sth inst
polls to be opened in the different wards
cannot hold said election, by our appointed
Judges being prevented holding said
election by an order from Gen. Grant to
Gen. Thomas, is bigh-handed usurpaiion
of power, and in direct violation Of our
vested rights, anti-republican in its acts,
and autocratic in its operation, violating