Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-07
ORGANIZATION OF THE EDGE
FIELD BOARD.

GOmmlS810nef bneF10an7S Little game
BIocked-The Contested Seat Given
to Judge Guild-Judge w. q. Glenn
Elected Mayor.
The frat meeting Of the newly elected
Board of Aldermen of Edgefeld was
held at the Office Of ]. B. Garfield on the
Gallatin pike and was largely attended.
Several colored men were also in atten-
dance.
The first business transacted was the
swearing in of the Aldermen.
When DR.. Jones, contestant for a seat
in the Board, handed his certificate to the
magistrate, Judge Guild said that he
would enter his protest against DR.. Jones
being sworn in.
After Justice Garfield had sworn in all
thelaldermen The Board was called to order
and Judge Glenn appointed Chairman
pro tenn and ]. G. Roach Secretary.
Judge Guild then rose andpresented his
credentials as an Alderman elect. He said
that he had understood that his seat
was contested by Mr.. Jones. He then read
what was the sworn duty of the Registrar
under section 1868 of the Code. 1t was
his sworn duty to deliver, to each person
having the largest number Of the votes
cast, a certificate Of election. He was not
to Judge as to who the people should vote
for, and he was not an autocrat in thisland
to dictate to the people whom they should
vote for. The law makes it his duty to
hold the election and 10 give certificates to
the seven highest men voted for by the
people. II there was then any contest
beween one of these these seven and
an outsider who received a much
smaller number of votes, thea you as
a body, having been duly qualified,
are the sole judges of the credentials
and have a right to give any gentleman a
seat in this body. Suppose the Registrar
had taken it into his head to have ignored
entirely the government Of the people and
given the certificate of election TO seven
others who received few or no votes, would
his certificate be conclusive; certainly not,
otherwise there never would be contested
election. There is no question but this
Board are the exclusive judges in regard
to men who present themselves for seats as
Aldermen. He was entitled to the
certificate, the law gave it to him, The
Registrar takes it upon himself to run
up to the Secretary of States Office to
see what oaths have been filed,
Mr.. McClay beat DR.. Jones in the cleo
ton and filed the candidates oath; why
would he not give the certificate to him?
Simply because he would not have the
Office under such circumstances. He had
always believed that the law in regard to
filing candidates oaths did not apply to
municipal affairs. No Aldermen has ever
filed an oath except where ''the ring" pre-
walls in Nashville, Chattanooga and Men,
phis, and such places. He placed his right
to the seat upon the will of the people he
had come there with their certificate, he
would feel himself degraded to take the
seat without it and would not accept or
hold the position unless a majority Of
the people desired it. His contestant was
not entitled to the seat and he thought 1t
was not necessary Tor him 10 file the oath.
The Registrar had no right TO go around
and hunt some one to fill that Office and
give the certificate TO Mr.. Jones and he
come here and ride over the people.
Mr.. Jones replied to Judge Guild in a few
remarks. The following is synopsis: He
had no contest whatever, with Judge Guild.
1t exists between the Registrar and Judge
Guild. He did not intend to litigate
Judge Guild. The Registrar concludes
that it is his duty to do SO, that
Judge Guild failed to file the required oath
and that he would be violating the law to
give the certifcate-to Judge Guild. Mr..
McClay was not entitled TO the certificate
because be waited until the election day be-
fore he filed his oath, and he being the next
one on the ticket whoreceived the majority
ofthe votes cast, would, of course, receive the
certificate. He had presented the certiii'
cate to the magistrate who had right tc
swear him in. Such was the opinion o
many lawyers with whom he had discussed
the matter.
Mr.. StubbIefeld made a few remarks
and at the conclusion of his speech moved
that Judge Guild be duly sworn in as {
member of the Board. Carried unani
mously.
Here Mr.. Jones, who was very calm
throughout the meeting, and who wore hi
'bee-gum" all the time he was in the room
while all the others had their hats of, lef
the house, for parts unknown perhaps.
On motion of Mr.. Stubble6eld thu
Board proceeded to elect Mayor.
Judge Guild nominated Judge Glenn
and there being no other nominee Judg'
Glenn was unanimously elected. A speech
being called for he spoke as follows;
GENTLEMEN / thank you cordially fol
| this mark of your esteem and confidence
| and will state that | will endeavor TO dis
| charge the duties as Mayor Of Edgebelt tC
| the best of my skill and ability; and il
doing so l will expect all the assistance
| that the Board Of A ldermen can give me
which know will be rendered on all oc
casions. l thank you again, gentlemen.
Judge Guild moved that neither thu
Mayor or any Of the Board of Aldermen
receive any compensation for their service
for the ensuing year. Carried.
On motion of Mr.. Campbell, a committee
of three was appointed to prepare th'
rules, regulations and bylaws to govern
the Board. Messrs. Campbell, Stubblefel'
and Wood were appointed.
A motion was carried authorizing tn
Mayor to purchase a minute book for tn
/ Board.
Messrs. SInford, Sharp and Guild wer
| appointed a committee Oh salaries, also Il
rent suitable place for the Board to NEE
at.
The Board then adjourned until mex
Wednesday night at 7 o'clock.
Medal of the OIden Time.
We yesterday noticed in the possession
of our friend w. s Higgins, of Manches