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

i'm a "Little BilI''-The Conscientious
Aldermen Recoil in Horror-Alderman
T.J. Mackey Deserts the Cause OF his
Perennial Candidate-The Result.
In Yesterdays NEWS mention was made OF
the recent caucus of Aldermen, held on Thurs
day night, for some mysterious purpose, where
of the public in general, and newspaper re-
porters in particular, were kept in blissful
ignorance. The secret, however, was too good
a Joke to remain q secret long, and yesterday
morning nine separate accounts Of the pow
WOW, doubtless peuned by ss many confding
Aldermen, were sent to TIE NEWS for the en-
ightenment and edi6cation Of the community.
These communications which, by the
way, We must not omit to thank their respsc.
tive authors-agree substantially in their
statement OF the object and proceedings of the
conclaye. It should be promised that the
caucus Was not general one, certain Alder
men whose discretion or good feeling were
not beyond suspicion having been care
fully omitted when the invitations were sent.
II ia worthy OF note that the Aldermen thus
left out we're decidedly the most respectable Of
the lot, viz: Geddings, Voigt, Cunningham
and Potter.
The purpose of the meeting was to give an
informal but decisive consideration to Little
account which United States District Attorney,
&C., Corbin, with characteristic modesty, had
presented to the City Council for compensa-
ton for his individual. services as counsel for
Gilbert Pillsbury and his Aldermen during the
long and tedious struggle with the Clark ad-
ministration, which has now become histori-
cal. Corbiu's bill, as originally made out,
amounted to $4,000; but with that upsel6sh
consideration for the public veal which has
marked his career in South Carolina, he con-
septed to lop off cool thousand, and to call
things square with the city for the trifing sum
of $1,000 cash.
To secure the prompt payment of this hard
earned fee, without any inc9nvenient questions
or awkward objections. Mayor Pillsbury deter
mined to call together the Aldermen privately,
in order that this very dirty piece Of NUM-
cipal linen might not be washed in public
meeting of Council. The Mayor delicately in
troduced the subject for discussion, and then
had little more to say during the meeting than
that it was not meet that he should speak
about the matter lavorably or otherwise.
The conscientious Inspector-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 if it were
paid, the accounts of his equally learned col
leagues in the case might be expected to ag-
srsgate something 10 the neighborhood OF
$40, 900. The disinterested views Of an Alder
man who had SO consistently supported Major
Corbn for almost every Office in the gift OF
Council, evidently had much weight; and as
he took his seat, the frequent nods 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 5000 should be paid to the learned
counsel, and that the sum should be made up
by contribution among the Aldermen whose
seats were affected. This generous proposal
did not go down.
Various other Aldermen gave utterance to
views showing them to be vigilant custodiars
Of the city Golfers, rather than grateful clients
of the modest Corbiu. One Alderman stated
that as he had heard that Corbin threatened to
sue the city il its Council refused to pay the
whole bill, he would move TO pay him thou
sand or twelve hundred dollars, and let him
sue for the remainder II he wished. Another
stated that he should be satisfied with his pay
as City Attorney, which Office was given him in
order to recompense him for his legal labors.
Upon the sense OF the Caucus being taken it
was found tbct most OF those present were con-
vinced that the consciousness OF duty nobly
performed to the city and to his party would,
in the end, be enough, and more than enough,
to compensate the learned Corbin for his legal
labors. - 80. sl-.r
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 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,
Codi6er OF the Laws. Chairman Of the Com
nlssioners 1f Election, and from chances"
while acting as sLieutenant-do Governor and now
and then Governor, to ell Of which positions
he has been raised by Republican votes. he
will hardly get iudgment 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 rapport that he in
tends 70 make a raid upon it through the
courts - -
Appointment Radical states that last year, when
opposition was made to the members Of the
present Board of Aldermen taking their seats,
United States District-Attorney D. T. Corbin,
Acknowledgement D. II. 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 we're paid to them; and they promised il it
were paid, to carry the case through all OF
the courts, il necessary, 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 colored
charitable societies and by collections taken