Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-05-22


cordial welcome Will be given to all who
will attend upon these means of grace.
Estiei Sc-r.res AT King street, wharf ut
at y. m, weather permitting
GsrV1p Lrthcr0H.-Service at . III. by
Rev. Mfr. Burger in Grace Church.
Guy CoUNCu. An adjourned nIeetint OF
the City touncil Wa nald a,r night For "ta
cial proceedings see another coiumn.
COMMON CoUScm There being ~ quorum
prescott the Board did not Ors acl2t, Though tho
lncmhct5 Nh1 were present Remained about the
chamber until ;ho Board Of Aldermen adj
i1urdod.
BOARD oF NpfE}ir+. Alter sJDl1 delay
u quorum NJ "htatu'd. l., 7"J'"g the meS-
,eneuI altot th> .h,rntcr'.
ia, r., -iden; Ma IN. stated that a. re
max, had tccn mad. ,oot,rnihg the propnety
If has serving un COMMITTEE, lie would resign
his position A. "a member ut the Finance COm-
mite, a1d appoint Mr.. Johnson III his stead.
Nj. Armstrong hoped that the President
Vas not influenced IN his action by any re-
marks OF HE, as he certainly had 10 intention
If ihsInuating, aurht against him.
The President disclaimed being influenced IN
IA, resignation OF hi1 position az a member Of
the Comlnlttcc Oh Finance by any remarks
nude IA tl, B1afi OF Altcrmen-~the COM
meats hc alluded IL having cone from the
tUmmOh Council
The unfinished business beng the order the
Revenue bill va, taken up ami read the second
tiule, previous to filling the blanks.
li, Armstrong took the iloor IN opposition
To- that section OF the bill imposing 4 tax on
personal property. lie did not want to be
contentious, neither did lac want the Couneil to
pass bill that would put the shenf at the
throat Of every man iD the city. tie would
,n6ye that the bill be- rec0mmltcd To the coin
inittce with Instructions to report bill 10 ac-
cordanes with the provi,inhs u! the Code OF
Virginia a copy Of which wa before HIM
He offered the resolution on the ground ol
Justice. \ tax on personal property To pay IN
terest TO baudhOller+ was unjust. 1t 1t Was
sald that the real estate oi the city cannot bear
the burden imposed on It, admit At, but do not
call INTO the vortex OF rum that which should
be exempt lie was in his place upon his oath
to 10 even handed justice to all. The city gov
eminent had made had bargain, but 1t was
ma, right now that they had done so, Tor them
/, ,s,,l out the sheriff to collar him to pay
J.ht he did not owe and had no hand in max
nv People from abroad will not come here
ami invest their capital with such policy IN op-
Grafton. lie continued at considerable length,
rharacterzng the tax on personal property rs
4 scheme conceived III niluity and born In per
inr,. aud arguing from constitutional grounds
lenounced bonds generally as wicked, and cor
marathon bonds in particular, he was understood
- say. We're the greatest frauds ever perpetra
ted Ue inveighed against banks and bankers,
directors and stockholders, aud said II was
these latter, who, having Jailed and swlnded
the people out ol their money, hal bought W.
the corporation debt at anOmlnal price, and were
NOW pressing and clamorouS for the payment oil
IL,
ale ON the people until the people turn upon
them IN sell delenSe. He had seen IN years
,ooc by the INJURIOUS effects OF enormous taxa
tion-himsrlt Frustrated, and property at a
nominal valua-when a palace could be rented
tor a sony. Lake causes produce like effects
md the proposed tax would crush to the earth
those who had to pay it, and what had been
once would be seen again. The Finance Com
mltiee had hunted up sources IRON which to
draw money Illegal aud unconstitutional
sources-aud If tested, what lie asserted could
be substantiatcd. for upon different OCCASION
an appeal that he, rs mumber OF the Board,
had made Ia the Court OF Appeals IN Rich
mond--
At this point lac was Interrupted by the
President, who read the rules OF the Board toshow
that members must cOnhne themselves to the
matter under consideration aud saIdthe question
was tue VI ll' biil uON tut wv
stitutiouality and legality Of the acts of previous
Councils, aud that it the member supposed
that the repetition Of conversations he had
held years ago with Judge Tyler upon consti-
tutional points was pertinent Ia the question,
1t was more than he did,
Mr. Armstrong rose To continue his remarks,
Uhcu he was again interrupted 10y the PrcSi-
dent, who said that the occasion now presented
.t>eli when. perhaps, H. well a. at any other
ume, he could state what Tor some time past
IL had been his intention 10 state, aud that was
that he, and he supposed the other sensible
mcmbers of the Board, attended its meetings
tor the purpose IT transactng the business of
the corporation aud as they cayuc at consider
able Inconvenience To themselves, 1t was then
wish tn complete the business as soon a. posi-
bic, 50 that they might adjourn aad 40 to their
homes They did not attend the meetings to
listen to prolonged harmeues upon the constl
nationality OF old laws Tor it they desired such
entertan,ocnt they would join some debating
society. lie did not think it right that the
time of the Council should be occupied with
tue delivery OF speeches OF the character OF
tLc. of Mr.. Armstrong, aud while dlsclalming
any Intention OF Iudeness he must inform MIR.
Armstrong that it he continued IN the same
strain he would not have him MIR. Bell as an
auditor.
Nr. Armstrong said that ii his remarks were
uupalatable he could not help it, but would
de>iSt.
Tho question on the reconmitmont of the
b,il was PUT and lost Mr. Armstrong voting
the only aye
The question then was the adoption OF the
section imposing a tax on personal property
and On THIS Mr.. Armstrong. iron his seat,
callcd Tor the ayes anl nay
The President. bending the call. stated that
question OF parliamentary ruinq had arisen
IT the last meeting concerning the number Of
votes required to pass hill As he considered
the rules a majority OF the entire Board was
not necessary to legislate, though it was to pass
tll, but only majority OF aquorum. lie
-tated this a. he supposed Me-. Armstrong
would consider the whole hill defeated it ma
Jorlty OF only those present voted IN the ahl-
NATIVE.
Nlr. Armstrong then rose, and taking his hat
aud cjat, stated that he would not retain his
,elt under such ruling, and resigned his posi-