The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-20
THE MAJORITY MACHINE FOR MAX
ING MISCHIEVGUS LAWS
Passage-at-Arms Between Aldermen
Cunningham and Mael<sy-They
Talk Prctty-AImost .
ScrimmaRe.
MAYOR PILLsBUsY FIRM AS A Rock-Bow
TIE MAJORITY ARE DONE FOR
ANOTHER EXHIBITION TONIGHT,
&C., &C., &c.

A special meeting Of City Council was held
last night at the City Hall. Present-the
Mayor, and Aldermen Geddings, 7. ]. Mackey,
e. ". 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 the fifth 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 an1-
ious ones were disappointed. A large crowd
of colored people gathered on the steps and in
front Of the City Hall long before the hour Of
meeting, and by eight o'clock several hundred
persons, chiefly negroes, were gathered to-
gethsr discussing the sole Man" and the gen.
eral situation. In the Council Chamber there
were about sixty persons. Among them were
the Hon. D. T. CorbD,, e1-Mayor Clark, and
the Hon. c. 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
specific purpose, and that the regular order
of business would not be adhered to.
Alderman T. j. Mackey rose and said:
rise to question Of privilege, which will pro-
ceed to state. The Alderman then read the
following paper:
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
CHARLESTON, May 19, 1869
Whereas At meeting Of Council, held on
the 18th instant, while in the discharge ot my
du lies as an Alderman OF Ward No. 8, l was,
for an alleged violation of rule OF order. or
dered into the custody Of the police by the
Mayor, and was then and there arrested pvr-
suant to such order. lido therefore protest
against such arrest as breach OF my prlvi-
lege as q member OF Council, and In derogation
of the nights of the people whom r presen..
I respectfully demand that this protest be
spread upon the journals OF Council.
7. j. MAcKEY,
Alderman Ward No. 8.
Alderman Potter moved to lay the protest on
the table, which was seconded by Alderman
Collps. The question being taken, Council
refused to lay the protest on the table. Ayes
5, noes 9.
Alderman Barrow then moved that the re-
quest Of the Alderman be granted and the pro-
test be spread upon the journal, which was
seconded by Alderman E. ". NJ. Mackey, and
adopted. Ayes 8. noos 5.
Alderman z. ". II. Mackoy thon, PURSUANT
to notice, introduced 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 we're variously and Characters
ticaHy employed. Alderman Potter looked
mildly over the top OF his specta:les 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 inkstand. Alderman Cunning
ham was studying square yard OF "Rules OF
Council" and Collins, cool as cucumber, was
perusing TIE 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; Tor them.
The police force is raised and guaranteed me
by law to protect the interests of the city. 1t
you see fit to deprive me Of this, and the pro-
perty OF tho city from that protection, do 90.
l take the responsibility.
Alderman Geddlngs objected to the bill be.
ing entertained at all, unless it was special
business for the meeting. BE objected to tho
Mayor being ruled by objections or BY votes
unless there was necessity for it. Council
hat spent FIVE or Blk nights in council aud no
business had been done.
The Mayor said have stated my convic-
tions AMI have submitl ed it to Council whether
this bill should tie entertained. l will leave it
to Council to decide.
The question was taken and Council deter
mined to entertain the bill. Yeas 10-nays S.
The bill was then read the first time.
Alderman E. W. NJ. Mackoy called for the Sc
cond reading OF the bill, which was seconded
by Alderman Barrow.
Alderman Gcddlngs again objected to the
manner in which the bill was being pressed, as
contrary to custom, convenience and the public
good Irlt was dc ermined to forco the second
reading The minority must submit. 1t was not
difficult to perc'vo how tie woes would be
given. There w's no necessity for ull tbis
haste We sit her., he said, as members of
this Council, or s,-cllled Council, aud have
swornt id Minister the city affL is TO the b--t
of oil: abilities. Tho mover OF the bill shou d
explain Why it is pressed. and what are its
prominent features, SO that Council my act
understaudinSly. Thele is no room for the
exercise reason OF judgment II this course is
to be continually p e,sed. 1t mly be legal to
press the bill, but it is discourteous and ez-
ceed.ngy improper.
Alderman L. W. NJ. Mackey said that judg
ing rom what had occurred at previous meet
lngs, the majority had much more reason 10
complain Of the discour.esy of the minority
than the minority had to complain of the MA
jorlty. The bill only proposed to keep the
police from. the shamAer and passages, not
from the doors OF the City Hall. 1t is not
necessary to have band OF armed n,on to keep
US in order. We only wish to prevent the pos
slblllty of the arrest Of any member Of this