The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-08
spEC1AL msErINs OF cfrT COUNCIL.

A special meeting OF Couroll was hed ias'
night.
Present-the Mayor, Aldermen Potter, ded'
diaes, Collins, T. J. Mackey, E. ". III. Mackey
Barrow. Cupuingi am, Greene, Holloway tcoI'
oled.) McKinlay (colored,) Thorne (colored,)
Small tcolored,) Howard (coIored,) Brown (col'
ored,) L. F. Wall (colored,) E. P. Wall (co!or'
ed,) and Hampton (colored.)
A quorum being present the Mayor announc'
ed that the meeting wasopen for business, and
called for report from the committee appoint
ed to prepare o jury list.
The Clerk read the report stating that list
had been made on the basis OF one juror TO
| twenty voters. They calculated 5S7l colored
and 5lSs white voters. making 2SS colored and
ass white jurors. They also recommended
that the report be engrossed and posted IN
some public place for ten days and then cub
jected to the supervision Of Council. They
recommended the Courthouse and Postoftice.
Onmotion Of Alderman MoKinlay, the report
was adopted.
Alderman McKinlay (colored) moved that un-
til otherwise ordered the rules that governed
the City Council heretofore be observed.
Adopted.
Alderman McKinlay tcolored) moved that as
the majority Of the board were new members,
the rules of the City Council be read for their
benefit. The rules were then ordered to be
read by the Clerk.
Alderman Barrow said that there was great
deal OF business before them. They were,
most Of them, new and raw hands, and must
feel their way, and must do SO as board. he
moved therefore that the meetings be held
weekly until such business as was necessary
was dispatched, and they could then resume
the semi.montMy meetings. He said it was
important that they should obtain the thor
ough control OF the city. Work WAS now being
done, and there was no one to- superintend or
to be responsible. y
Alderman Collins, in reply, said the Council
bad Just adopted the rules OF the former Coun-
cil specifying the time for meetings, and the
change was somewhat sudden. He trusted
the motion would not prevail. II was not Sc
conded, and failed. :: IT, Z -. -' - -
Alderman McKinlay (colored) moved that
the Mayor. appoint a committee OF three to
prepare list Of the unfinished business of the
former Council, and present the same as early
as practicable.
The Mayor appointed Aldermen McKinlay,
(colored. Potter, and Small, (colored.)
Alderman E. ". NJ. Maokey moved that Coun-
cii' do 20 into an election for city officers on
the 18th instant, and that the Clerk do give
public notice OF the same through the city
journals.
Alderman Collins said that he thought that
the first step should be the nomination of COM
mittees, who would consider the subject and
report. @
Alderman McKnlay (colored) opposed ths
resolution as premature, and tending to delay
matters. He thought the Offices should be de-
clared vacant previous to that notification and
thus avoid confusion.
Alderman T. j. Mackey said it was timely
and just. The present Council had been elec:-
ed over one hundred and eighty days ago, but
their right was held in abeyance, and in the
interim rigid prescription was practiced on
every one who had voted for their ticket. About
sixteen hundred able. bodied men were thus
prevented from obtaining work and we're still
idle. Their votes won the election. They were
the true constituents OF Council, and any meas
ure was welcome that would shorten the tenure.
of-ofice OF the present incumbents. There
was q strong and influential party formed who
we're actively working to delay just such action
as proposed by the resolution. 1t was the old
story, the cash box vs.. the ballot box. he
trusted the election would not be deferred, as
the delay would only give the opposition
strength.
Alderman Collins said that he did not wish
to reveal anything that had transpired in eau
Gus. but would only allude to what was we'll
known, and limited if the cap fitted, some would
show the cloven foot. A majority, or perhaps
q large minority Of the board thought that
they. could retain their POSITIONS and yet
hold Fat city offices. he was proceeding to
show the impossibihty Of this, when ealledto,a
point Of order. BY alderman T. J. Mackey, the
discussion being foreign to the subject.
The point was not sustained and Alderman
Collins said that he. only accepted the position
TO keep worse man out. He wanted no Office,
ahile .hise opponent, like other great men,
wanted to provide for his whole family.
Alderman E. WIN. Maokey said that it was
FULLY time to act on this subject, and that he
inssuded to vote only FOR those who voted for
him., He called for the ayes and noes.
Alderman Geddings asked if the officers had
been declared vacant, for the p resent discus
aion reminded him Of Q resolution adopted in
, certain country town where it was deter
mined, first, to erect new Jail; second, that
the old Jail stand until the new one be built;
third, thst the new jail be built frem the
msteriaa otthe!old one: {.
Alderman r. J. MsSkey, in reply, stated that
the reference to the Jail was probably induced
by the Alderman's association with these city
officers.
Alderman Geddings said that the city Offices
we're held by different tenures, and that no &C.
tion Of Council could declare them all vacant.
After some further discussion, the call for
the yeas and nays was renewed, and the vote
being taken only three yeas we're recorded
Alderman T. J. and E. W. NJ. Mackey (whitc,)
and Small (colored,) and the motonNgas lost.
The Mayor read communication from the
Hon. W. d. Porter, resigning his position as
City Attorney. On motion, the resignation
was accepted.
Alderman Wall (eoored,) moved to adjourn,
and Alderman Barrow request ed him to with