Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-29
ANSExATToE.


EdeefeId, she Common Council, and
the New Charfer-EeiII y. Brown BE-
fore the Corporation SOz0ns-The
Board Flicker, FizzIe. and IRgIori-
ousIy AdJOurH-AII About the Meet
tBE last Night
A called meeting of the Common Coun-
Gil was held last night, chairman Shank
land presiding. Present, Councilmen Con.
ners, Coyle, Cramsr, Emery, Grant. Griffin,
Kercheval, Olsen, Smith.
The following unique message from the
Mayor was received and filed:
MAYORS OTFIcE, NASHVILLE, Jan. % -
Gentlemen of the City Council: You are
called together this evening to discuss and
decide upon the policy Of adopting the new
charter which has been drafted under the
immediate supervision of three of our
most able members OF the bar.
The chief points 70 which this revision
Of the city chaeer tends is:
First. The extension Of the limits OF our
corporation. W
Second. The means by which municipal
taxes may be assessed and enforced, and
thus relieving the city from the burden of
debt which is palsying the efforts and Grips
pling the energies Of the present city adj
ministration.
Touching the first point, scarcely anything
can be urged against it. Common law
throughout the United States gives almost
illimitable power TO corporations to extend
their territory when such measures are
deemed necessary, and in view of our stu
alton, geographically considered, nothing
seems more clear than the policy and JUS
tice of the extension set forth in the new
charter.
The incorporation Of specific taxes in
the new charter seems TO be a solution of
innumerable difficulties that have hars
raised the city for years past The action
on the part of the State, rendering il obi
gatory on the part of something left ont
here to acqnaint themselves of this obli-
CATION to the city, is, in my opinion.
worthy of the cordial support of every
loyal citizen. Very respectfully, your ODE
dent servant, A. Z. ALDEN, Mayor.
Gov. Neill S. Brown, on the part of a
committee Of the citizens of Edgefeld, SUBJ
mitted a memorial protesting against its
annexation to the city. The memorial as.
serted that no territory had ever been an
nexed to the city unless through the ex-
press wish of the people; that the popula-
ton of Edgefeld had been settled there
during the past twenty years, going there
TO secure cheap country homes, and
TO avoid the noise and dust of the city;
that they had been renters of stores and Of
fees in Nashville, thereby becoming tribu-
tary to the city in the payment Of taxes,
though enjoying no corresponding advan.
tages that they had nothing to do with
the creation of the city debt The memo
rial closed by appealing to the sense and
Justice Of the Council in the premises.
Gov. Brown followed the memorial with
a lengthy and terse argument against an
uexation, declaring that il was contrary to
the policy that had characterized the city
through all time. Law and order were
the rule in Edgefeld, and they needed no
police,or any of the other institutions of
Nashville. IL would be ridiculous to an
mex people and then charge them toll for
crossing the river and beside, when would
they be supplied with gas-light and water
He characterized the union of cid Nash
Vile with young Edgefeld, as a marriage
for money, and if it was not a rape, then
there was nothing in the law books
Against such a marriage he entered his
solemn protest. Consent was the founda-
ton of all political harmony and good
will, and he appealed to the Council to
stay their action, and not saddle burdens
upon people who had nothing to do with
incurring them Gallatin, or Halifax, or
Jerusalem, might Just as well come into
the corporation as Edgefeld, to help pay
its debts.
Chairman Shankland was here granted
leave of absence, Mr. Kercheval taking
the chair
BY invitation, Judge Lowering made
speech advocating annexation, referring
to the case of Boston and East Boston, and
other instances of annexation opposed By
the people annexed, but which had re
suited in great good to all parties. Peo-
pie who were enjoying the benefits of
proximity to a city, he thought should
bear a share Of its burdens. Property tax
able in city could be removed to SUI
burban residence where it could not be
renewed. There was no question as TO the
right of enforcing annexation.
Capt, f. A. Otis by request, made some
remarks, asserting the right and power OF
the Legislature TO make Edgefeld part
of Nashville.
Mr.. Cramer then asked for an expires
sion from some of the Council.
A long mll ensued, which was finally
broken by Mr.. Grant jumping up and
moving an adjournment. This motion Mr..
Emery moved 10 lag on The table
The motion 10 adjourn was then regu-
larly put, and was lost.
Remarks by Capt. Otis and Mr., Cramer
were followed by another motion 10 adj
iourn, which was lost, and the reading OF
the new charter commenced.
In about Eve minutes Mr.. Kercheval
abandoned the chair to Mr.. Thayer, and
along with several other members, retired,
leaving the Board, in the midst of the
charter, without quorum.
The roll was at once called, and amid
the expostulations of Cramer and Judge
Lowering, the Board adjourned until to-
night
There was call issued for a meeting
of the Board of Aldermen, but not enough
members could be got together TO constir
tnte a quorum.