The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-05-22

we extract from tho Ne1os the following racy
account OF tho proceedings in the Charleston City
Council, ut the meeting on the 10Th:
Alderman I J. hackey roso and said: 1 rise to
question OF privilege, which L will proceed to
state Tho Alderman then read the following
paper:
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
CHiRLKsToN, May 49, 1860
whereas, At meeting OF Council, held on the
18th instant, while in the discharge Of my duties
az an Alderman Of Ward No. g. was, for an alleged
violation of rule Of order, ordered into the Gus
tody Of the police by the Mayor, and was then and
there arrested pursuant to such an order. I do
OF my privilege as q member Of Council, and in
derogation OF the rights of tho people whom
respectfully demand that this protest be
spread upon the journals OF Council.
49,, L. J; MACKEY, Alderman Ward No. 8.
-, Alderman In1a Potter moved to lay the protest
Inns. The question being taken, Council refused
to lay the protest on the table. Ayes 5; noes 9.
Alderman Barrow then moved that the request
OF the Alderman be granted, and the protest be
spread upon the journal, which was seconded by
Alderman E. W. N. Mackey, and adopted. Ayes
s; noes B.
Alderman f. W. M Mackey then, pursuant to
notice, introduced a bill to prevent police officers
from being posted in the Council Chamber.
Ihis was objected to by Alderman Geddings,
and the Mayor referred the matter to Council for
it's decision.
While the Mayor was making up his mind the
Aldermen were variously and characterstically
the Mayor said: 1t makes no difference whether
this bill is passed or not am the chief executive
officer OF this city, and must control the police
until il the law is changed. I am in charge Of the
public buildings and the property of the city.
am responsible for them. The police force is
raised ; and guaranteed me by law to protect the
interests OF the city. If you fit to deprive mo
or this and the property Of the city from that pro-
lection, do 30. I take the responsibility.
Alderman Geddings objected to the bill being
entertained at all, unless it was special business
for the meeting. He objected to the Mayor being
ruled by objections or by votes, unless there was
necessity for it; Council had spent five or six
The Mayor said: have stated my convictions
anu have submitted it to Council whether this bill
to decide.
The question was taken, and Council deter
mined to entertain the bill-yeas 10; nays 5. The
bill was then read the first time.
E: W. NJ. Mackey called for the second reading
of the bill. which was seconded by Barrow.
Geddings again objected to the manner in
custom oe he eubs
was determined to force the second reading the
minority must submit. 1t was not difficult to per-
no necessity for all this haste. We sit here, he
said, as members of this Council or so-called
Council, and have sworn to administer the city
affairs to the best OF our abilities The mover OF
the bill should explain why it is pressed and what
are its prominent features, that Council may
act understandingly. There is room for the
exercise of reason or judgment if this course is
to bo continually pressed. 1t may be legal to
press the bill but it is discourteous and exceed
ingly improper.
Il. W. NJ. Mackey said that judging from what
MAD occurred at previous meetings, the majority
had much more reason to complain of the dis
courtesy of the minority, than tho minority had
to complain of the majority. The bill only pro-
posed to keep the police from the chamber and
passages, not from the doors of the City Hall. 1t
is not necessary to have q band of armed men to
keep. us in order. We only wish to prevent the
possibility of the arrest of any member of this
Council for expressing what ho believes to be
right II armed band of policemen is to be
stationed in this hall to ovcr-awe the members of
the board, there is for our sitting here any
longer We might well break mp at once We
want to get them out of the chamber. We do not
wis, 10 let i! appear to the outside world that we
cannot preserve order without policemen. We
can preserve order ourselves.
COllins-It was Ouiy last evening that CnnD;no