The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-20
THE MAJORITY MACHINE FOB MAX.
ING MLSCHIEVOUS LAWS
Botvycen Aldermen
Cunningham and Maokey-Tney
Talk Pretty-Almost q
ScrimmaRe.
MAYOR PlLLSBURY FIRM AS A ROCK-H0W
1HE MAJORITY ARE DONE FOR.
ANOTHER EXHIBITION TONIGHT,
&o.,, &C., sc.

| special meeting Of City Council was held
last night at the City Hall. Present-the
Mayor, and Aldermen Geddngs, r. J. Maokey,
| e. W. NJ. Mackey, Collins, Cunningham,
| Greene. Potter and Barrow; and Hampton,
Small, Brown, E. P. Wall, Thorn, L. F. Wall,
Howard. and Holloway.
| Alderman T. j. Mackey occupied a seat
opposite to that which he usually takes, and
| was che flgth Alderman on the right Of the
Mayor.
The character OF the proceedings of Council
at the meeting held on Tuesday night caused
the meeting of last night to be looked for with
| much interest. AS, however. no more persons
were allowed to enter the building than the
chamber would hold, three .fourths of the anx-
| ious ones we're disappointed. large crowd
Of colorea people gathered on the steps and in
| front OF the City Hail long before the hour of
meeting, and by eight O'Clock several hundred
persons, chiefly negroes, were gathered to-
gether discussing the sole Man. and the gem
eral situation. In the Council Chamber there
were about sixty persons. Among them were
the Hon. d. T. Corbin, ex-Mayor Clark, and
| the Hon. @. p. Leslie State senator from
Barnwell and Land Commissioner.
At few minutes after eight O'Clock the
Council was called to order by the Mayor, who
| said that this was an adjourned meeting for
| a specific purpose, and that the regular order
| of business would not be adhered to.
| Alderman T! j. Mackey rose and said L
rise to question OF privilege, which will pro-
ceed to state. The Alderman then read the
following paper
COUNCIL CHAMBER
CHARLESTON. May 10, 1869 I
| !, Wnereds, at meeting of Council, held on
Ghe 10Th instant, while in the discharge OF my
gu les as an Alderman OF Ward No. 8, / was
Tor an alleged violation of rule of order Or
dered into the custody OF the police by the
| suant to such order. l do therefore protest
against such arrest as breach of my .privi-
lege as member Of Council, and IN derogation
OF the rights of the people whom r. presen,.
I respectfully demand that this protest be
spread upon the journals Of Council.
Alderman Ward No. 8.
Alderman Potter moved to lay the protest on
the table, which was seconded by Alderman
Collius. The question being taken, Council
refused to lay the protest on the table, AYES
s. noes 8.
Alderman Barrow then moved that the re-
quest Of the Alderman be granted and the pro-
sessae sest bs sprs rs saa Upon the journal m MAe EHa
adopted. Ayes 8, noes5 s.
Alderman e. w. M. Mackey then, pursuant
to notice, introduced o bill to prevent police
officers from being posted in the Council
Chamber.
This 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 cbaracteris-
tically employed. Alderman Potter looked
mildly over the top Of his specta.es and called
for the reading of the minutes. TO this there
was no response, save that Malcolm Brown
winked with both spectacles and looked
seriously at his inkstsnd. Alderman Cunning
ham was studying square yard Of s'Rules OF
Council" and Collins, cool as q cucumber, was
perusing THE CHARLESTON NEWS
Before the bill was read the first time the
Mayor said It makes no difference whether
this bill is passed or not. am the Chief
Executive Office: of this city and must con-
troll the police until the law is changed. am
in charge Of the public buildings and the pro-
perty Of the city. I am responsible for them.
\ The police force is raised and guaranteed me
by law to protect the interests OF the city. II
you see At to deprive me Of this, and the pro-
perty Of the; city from THAT protection, do so.
take the responsibility.
Alderman Geddings objected to the bill be-
ing entertained at all, unless twas 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 nights in council and no
business had been done.
The Mayor said : have stated my convic-
tions, and have submit ted it to Council whether
this bill should be entertained. will leave it
to Council to decide. l
The question was taken and Council deter
mined to entertain the bill. Yeas 1O-nays 5.
The bill was then read the first time.
Alderman e. w. Nj. Mackey called for the Sc
cond reading OF the bill, which was seconded
by Alderman Barrow.
Alderman Geddings again objected to the
manner in which the bill was being presse !, as
contrary, to custom, convenience and the public
| good. II it was de ermined to force the second
| reading the minority must submit It was not
| difficult to perceive how the votes would be
| gwen. There WIS no necessity for all this
| haste. We sit here. he said, as members of
this Council or so-calied Council, aud have
! sworn t administer the city affairs to the best
| of our abilities. The mover Of the bill should
| explain why 1t is pressed and what are its
prominent features, SO that Council may act
understandingly. There is no room for the
exercise OF reason or judgment 1t this course is
to be continually e.sed. 1t may be legal to
press the bill. but it is dscourteous and ex-
ceedingly improper.
Alderman e. w. M. Mackey said that iudg-
ing from what had occurred at previous meet
ings, the majority had much more reason 70
complain Of the discourtesy OF the minority
than the minority had to complain Of the ma
jority. The bill only proposed to keep the
police from the chamber and passages. not
from tho do6fsg OF theI City Han. 1t is not
necessary TO have band OF armed men to keep
us In order. We only wish to prevent the pos
nbility os.the arrest OF any member Of thie
Council for EXPRESSING what he believes to be