The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-11

Aldermen Kecoil In Horror-Aldcrmnn
It. j. Mackey Deserts tho Cause OF his
Perennial Candidute-Thc Result.
In yesterdays NEWS mention was made OF
the recent CAUCUS OF Aldermen, hold on Thurs
day night, for somo mysterious purpose, whore
OF the public in general, and newspaper re-
portors in particular, wore kept in biissful
ignorance. Tho secret, however, WIS too good
q joke to romain secret long, and yesterday
morning niuo separate accounts Of the pow
WOW, doubtless pvnned by ss many oonfiding
Aldermen, were sent to The NEWS for the on
ightenment and ediaoation OF the community.
These oommunications-for which, by the
way, wc must not omit to thank their respsc-
tive authors-agreo substantially in their
statement OF tha object and proceedings OF the
conclave. It should be promised that tho
caucus was not q general one, certain Alder
men whose discretion or good feeling wero
not beyond suspicion having been care
fully omitted whom the invitations were sent.
1t is worthy OF note that the Aldermen thus
left out were decidedly tho most respectable OF
tho lot, viz: Geddings, voigt, Cunningham
aud Potter.
The purpose OF tho meeting was to give IN
informal but decisive consideration to little
account which United States District Attorney,
&C., Corbn, with characteristic modesty, had
presented to the City Council for compensa-
tion for his individual services as counsel for
Gilbert Pillsbury and his Aldermen during tho
long and tedious struggle with tho Clark adj
| ministration, which has now become histori-
| cal. Corbiu's bill, as originally made out,
amounted to $4,000; but with that unsel1sh
consideration for the public veal which has
| marked his career in South Carolina, he con-
sented to lop off cool thousand, AMI to caIl
things square with the city for tho trifling sum
| OF $1,000 cash.
| To secure tho prompt payment of this hard
| earned fec, without any inconvenient rucsrons
or awkward objections. Mayor Pillsbury detor-
| mined to call together the Aldermen privately,
| in order that this very dirty pieco of NUM-
| cipal linen might not be washed in public
| meeting Of Council. The Mayor dclicately in
troduced the subject for discussion, and then
had little moro to say during the meeting than
that it was not meet that ho should speak
about tho matter lavorably or otherwise.
Tho conscientious Inspector-G General Of Tim
ber, however, was soon on his feet In jealous
opposition to paying the bill. He showed
that this was merely the individual bill
Of the. learned counsellor, and that il it were
paid. the accounts Of his equally learned col
leagues in the case might be expected to ag-
gregate something io tho neighborhood OF
$40 900. The disinterested views OF ON Alder
man who had so consistently supported Major
Corbin for almost every Office in the gift OF
Council, evidently had much weight; and as
he took his seat, the frequent notis Of approval
from Aldermanic pates were ominous OF the
result of the meeting.
Alderman Collins, who is always ready to
sacrifice his individual interests when the
good OF the city Is concerned: made propo-
sition that $4,000 should be paid to the learned
counsel, and that the sum should be made I'D
BY contribution among the Aldermen whose
seats were affected. This generous proposal
did not 60 down.
Various other Aldermen gave utterenoe to
views showing them to be vigilant cu=todians
OF the city Golfers, rather thai grateful clients
ofthe modest Corbin. One Alderman stated
that as he had heard that Cofbin threatened to
sue the city il it's Council refused to pay the
whole bill, he would move to pay him thou.
SAM or twelve hundred dollars, and let him
sue for the remainder if he wished. Another
stated that he should be satisfied With his pay
as City Attorney, which Office was given him in
order to recompcnse him for his legal labors,
Upon the sense OF the CAUCUS being taken IL
was found that most OF those present were con-
vinoed that tho consciousness OF duty nobly
performed TO the cisy and to bis party would,
in the end be enough. and more than enough,
to compensate the learned Corbin for his legal
Iabors.
There is much feeling against Corbin among
the Republicans, who are not choice in their
expressions in regard to him. AS they think
this small affair in q man who has an in
come Of nearly twenty Thousand dollars year
from the Offices OF United States District At
torney, City Attorney, President Of the Senate,
Codifer Of the Laws, Chairman Of tho Com
missioners OF Election, and from ss'chancesp
while acting sss Lheut tenant- Governor andnow
and then Governor, to all of'which positions
he has been raised by Republican votes, he
will hardly get a judgment in his favor in the
suit he proposes to institute against the city.
The Aldermen who have jerked his arm out OF
the treasury, laugh at the report that he In
tends to make raid upon IL through the
courts. ssE
Appointment Radical states that last year, when
opposition was made to the members OF the
present Board Of Aldermen taking their seats,
United States Distriot-Attorney, D. T. Corbiii,
Attorney-G General p. 81. Chamberlain and Con-
gressman Bowen, were retained BY the board
to conduct their case against the opposition.
After the case had been put In their hands,
they refused to proceed unless thousand dol
lars wore paid to them; and they promised II IL
were paid, to carry the case through all OF
the courss, Il secessary, and asserted that they
did not expect to; get Justice from; the old
board, before which the case was first to be
argued. The elected Aldermen cast about to
raise the one Thousand required. About one.
third Of them contributed, and the remainder
was raised BY contributions from the colorod
charitable societieSsa and by collections taken
up in the oolored churches: After the case
had gone to the Supreme Court, the lawyers
refused to attend to .it, unless. Ave hundred
dollars moro we're dlyided among them. Bowen
stating that. although he desired to take share
in the FIVE hundred. he would refund hereafter.
This amount was not raised then,? but the
lawysrs conducted the case, nevertheless.
| n