The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-04
MANIFESTO OF THE NEW MAYOR.
Tho End Of tho Contest-Condition OF
tho Ctty-Pauper Labor-Compu ulsory
Eduo.tion-Program OF the Admin
istratton.

istratton.
The following is the address delivered yes
terday by Mavor Pillsbury uoon the occasion
of his installation as Mayor Of Charleston. We
do not propose to enter now into any long dis
cussion Of the principles which Mayor Pillsbury
lays down for his guidance and ours; but 1t is
somewhat singular that in the first flush oi
success he should take gloomy view Of the
situation Of the city. The aspect Of affairs
generally is not discouraginG, although it may
be made so. Trade this year has been better
IL an in any other year since the beginning ol
the war. There are hundreds Of idlers IN the
city, 1t is true but this is because they prefer to
live here in idleness to working in the country.
| No city, whatever it's size, can undertake to
support every abIe-bodied wanderer who
chooses to squat within the corporate limits,
and the scheme Of finding employment for
every colofed man who prefers Charleston to
| the oorn-feld. would, If carried out double the
debt Of the city, and make progress and i'm
provement impossible. Mayor Pillsbury ad
mits that he is ignorant ofthe wants and gene
raj condition of the city, and when he under
stands better the true position OF affairs he
he will, perhaps, find good cause for chang
ing his opinions in regard to those measures
which he nov assumes to be necessary.
Gentlemen of lhe Coanoa : We have con-
| yeued under circumstances somewhat peculiar.
| Our election took place nearly Blk months
slrce, yet events beyond our control have
| transplred to detain US from our seats till the
tp Iom IN
TO the Legislature, and then back again to the
courts, has at last placed US in the uuenviable
pontious which we now assume. Without
reviewing the influences which hlve operated
against us TO debar us, We can exult IN tue con-
sclousness that we are not here as usurpers
We entered the Municipal struggle presum-
ing that all parties would consent to be gov
erned by the great democratic principle lying
at the foundation OF every free government
that the minority must defer 10 the majority.
luis principle has been recognized at every
stage OF the tedious and annoying contest
through which We have been dragged. TO
have advanced single step without it would
could not have passed trlumpbantly through
all the var.ed searching or ieas to which our
case has been subjected. We have, therefore,
been constituted The official board OF this city;
not only after the usual manner OF sn eec-
ton, but also by the iudgme.t OF the
courts, both inferior and superior, and by
the high sanction Of the State Legislature.
To the discharge of our official duties, we
shall doubtless encounter difficulties, which,
10 some, might appear almost insurmounta-
BILE: and vet, if we move ccura2eously CT Onward.
sacredly observing the oath We have taken,
acting wiihout tear, favor or discrimination,
these difficulties will, one by one, vanish from
before us.
From the singular position in which have
oip no nlppt1On NnVpnbaT
last uncertain ,olen the duties OF Mayor
sh .uld devolve upon me, and from the un-
-frUTUIy rCIuIIUrT.5- rInfnfvct
predecessors in office, have not felt at liberty
to resort 10 the usual sources OF Information
as to the pact workings OF the City Govern
meut. or as % tho present wants and general
condition Of the city itself. shall now, how
ever. enter at once upon that duty with what
ever of zeal aid earnestness shall oe aole
command aud shall, from time to time, give
such information and submit tor YOUR consid-
Grafton such suggestions as the e1igencles o.
the time shall seem 10 indicate.
Without enterlug into details, we may see ut
a glance that the condition OF the city presents
n souewhat dlscouraging aspect. war mas
stumpud ITS relentless footpr.n's IN every d.
rectlon. The devourne fame has swept over
large sections and the city has oue partially
table institutions are unusually crowded Win
dependent inmates, while the general sta.na-
t,on Z business curtails the means necessary
for their generous support. Every street and
corper is thronsed with needy applicants for
labor and bread. The limited variety of en-
ployments IN the city and State, together with
the vast number VI uuskiled workers, rs nders
this our task OF supplying these needs Of the
laborer embarrassing. varied agriculture
and the mechanic arts are sources OF proml-
nent prosperity to cities. With these elements
in the background, with the plavfdi but lndo-
lent currents OF our rivers chained to water
wheels and belts; with furnaces, foundries and
FORCES in full operation; with the products OF
sn,3dles and looms constantly flowing in upon
ma. our City by the Sea" would soon become
t ne coronet OF beauty to the State.
But at present IL is far otherwise The lathes
turns sluggishly In the workshop; the hammer
falls irresolutely upon the anvil, and every
branch Of business seems as If stricken with
paralysis. The city groans under a debt
Amounting to nearly or quite ore-tourth Of its
entire valuation the interest, at least, OF which
must be kept down or it will accumulate with
the ratio Of the swift revolving months, till
fiuanci IL ruin may become complete.
Such, gentlemen OF the Council. Is the lnherl-
tapce transmitted to us by virtue OF our acoes-
sion 10 cfice. And, though the present dig
couraging aspect Of affairs cannot properly be
charged to our account, We might not be held
| bameless for it's continuance. Let US, then,
| endeavor to discharge our high tru 'ts with q
determination aud honesty Of purpose to
achieve anything but impossibillties.
The first requisite for administering the gov
| erpmeut Is money. This must be raised manly
| from taxation. In determining upon the
| amount to be raised reference should be had
| frat to our actual necessities. and then to The
ability Of taxrayers to project improvements,
which, though desirable may not be galded
| as Indispensable. In our present condition
We shall, no doubt, be-just,fied in appl lying
the rule of retrenchmunt. wherever 1t can be
done without jeopardizlng our most vital lu-
terests. First in imp p)rtance to any communl-
| ty are measures pertaining 70 lts health and
mo.als. Soundness Of body ls requisite
to the fHl ano proper enjoyment Of all
other blessings, and hence our sanitary
regulations should not only be rigid, but
| t.,ey should be strictly enforced. Moral
| ty, also, and virtue are as essential to
general prosperity as are pure air and whole
some diet 10 health. Therefore We should
| throw around them all the safeguards which 1t
| is within our province TO supply.
Our charities should not be curtailed too par-
simoniously, notwithsiandi & the fuancial
pressure upon US. The aged the infirm, the
orphan have demands upon us which no peo-
| pe, claiming to recogniZ. common humanity,
can disregard. Sickness, accident, aud other
| varied mlstortunes throw many helpless at our
| teet And while we should lend no sanction TO
ldleness or vagrancy, we must not turn deaf
car to utter distress and heple.sness. 70 The
able bodied employment should be FURNISHED,
30 far Us 1t is needed and cau receive proper re-
niuneration. Ii tue demand for labor in the
CITY should not be sufficient 10 meet the wants
Of au those dependent upon it, they should be
encouraged aui il need be. asslstoI 10 go out
ord h.. hr n norpa Ot tho