The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-08
Special MEETING OF CITY co UNC1h.

o1eu,) mcNlnlay (COlOreQ,) IhOrne (cOlOfeC,)
Small tcolored,) Howard (colored, brown (coL
ored,) L. f. Wall (colored,) E. P. Wall (co!or-
ed,) and Hampton (colored.)
quorum beng present the Mayor announc-
cd that the meeting was open for business. and
called for report from the committee appoint
ed to prepare jury list.
The Clerk read the report stating that list
had been made on tho basis of one juror to
twenty voters. They calculated 567t colored
and 5133 white voters, making 2SS oolorod and
256 white jurors. They also recommended
that the report be engrossed and posted in
some public place for ten days and then sub.
jeoted to the supervision Of Council. They
recommended the Courthouse and Postof6ce.
Onmotion OF Alderman McKinlay, the rep ort
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 wa. 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 q board. He
moved therefore that the meetings be held
weekly until such business as was necessary
was dispatched. and they could then resume
the semmonthly 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.
Alderman Collins, in reply, said the Council
had just adopted the rules OF the former Ooun-
Gil specifying the time for meetings. and tue
change was s6mewhat sudden. He trusted
the motion would not prevail. It was not Sc
conded, and failed. na
Alderman McKinlay (colored) moved that
| the Mayor appoint committee of three to
prepare list Of the unfinished bus ness of the
| former Council, and present the same as early
as practicable.
The Mayor appointed Aldermen McKinlay,
(colored,) Potter, and Small, (colored.)
Alderman E. W. Nj. Mackey moved that Coun-
| Gil do go into an election for city officers on
the 18th instant, and that the Clerk do give
public notice or 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. ut
| Alderman McKinlay (colored) opposed the
| 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 +. j. Mackey said it was timely
and just. The present Council had been elect
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 were still
idle. Their votes won the election. They we're
the true constituents OF Council, and any meas
ure was welcome that would shorten the tenure
of-office Of the present incumbents. There
was strong and influential party formed who
were actively working to delay Just such action
as proposed by the resolution. 1t was the Ola
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. majority. or perhaps
large minority of the board thought that
they could retain their positions and yet
hold fat city Offices. He was proceeding. to
show the impossibility Of this. when called to o
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,
while his opponent. like other great men,
wanted to provide for his whole family.
Alderman e. w. M. Mackey said that it was
fully time to act ON this subject, and that he
intended to vote only for those who voted for
him. He called for the ayes and noes.
Alderman Geddings asked il the officers had
been declared vacant, for the p resent Discus
sion reminded him of q resolution adopted in
certain country town where it was deter
mined, frstss to erect a new Jail; second, that
the old jail stand until the new one be built;
third, that the new jail be built from the
materials Of the old one. le,.>s.
Alderman +. j. Mackey, in reply, stated that
the reference to the Jail was probably induced-
by the Alderman's association with these city
officers. 'T
Alderman Geddings said that the city Offices
were held by different tenures, and that no &C.
tion OF Council could declare them all vacant.
After some further discussion, tho call for
the yeas and nays was renewed, and the vote
being taken only three yeas were recorded
Alderman T. J. and e. w. M. Mackey (white,)
and Small (colored,) and the motion was 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 (colored,) moved to adjourn,
and Alderman Barrow request ed him to with
draw the motion, as he WISHED to bring some
matters of Importance before Council. Refer
ring to his watch, Alderman Wall said it was
too late for any more business. Alderman
Barrow replied that they were not working on
time, but for the good Of the whole communi-