The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-07

WIS InAQo 10 6ay some OF the GrO1eS-
sors demanded the instant withdrawal of
the Students" It should have read,
''Some of the press"
Sad Comedy.
We are not of those who find only
food for mirth in the disgraceful conduct
and unseemly behavior now too common
at the meetings of our City Council.
From the very FIRST days of their term,
Aldermen have made themselves conspic-
uous by their rowdyism and indecency.
The gravest accusations were banded
about; one Alderman branded another
as n lara third challenged the whole
Council to general scrimmage; charges
of corruption, peculation and nepotism
were an everyday affair. And SD the
government Of the city was carried on
each Alderman improving his opportuni-
ties, and widening his shoulders, like the
civic streets, sat the expense of the cor
poration"- the pistol, already talked
of, was actually brought tolight, and the
walls of the Council Chamber were de-
faced and Scared by bullets fred by one
infuriate radical magnate at the head of
q brother Alderman. This crowning
piece of blackguardism led to the meeting
held on Thursday night. During the
meeting, tho Aldermen who had before
made themselves notorious broke loose
from all restraint. Alderman T. J.
Mackey threatened "to strip every mask
from the corrupt body" Of Alderman
Geddings. who is, we know, respectable
conservative citizen. The same Alder
man said he was prepared to prove that
several Aldermen had been 6ribed, and
had suOrn to convict him and expel him
for shooting at his aldermanic nephew.
Alderman Collins declared that witness
who was put on the stand had sworn to
ga damnable and atrocious lie." Another
Alderman retorted that the moral char
acter OF Alderman Collins was 80 low
that one hundred and fifty merchants of
this city certified that she was unfit to
hold On Office under the United States
Government" which does not, we know,
selecting partisan officials. Collector
Clark, witness of the scene, stung by
what was said of him, denounced Alder
man Il. J. Mackey as ga liar" who re-
Joined by saying that Clark "was so we'll
known in the community as thief that
it was not necessary to answer him. {"
Then camo the turn of Alderman Barrow,
who was charged with receiving bribe
to vote against tho accused. Alderman
Barrow jumped up, saying: II am ready
to prove, before Almighty God, that this
charge against me is one of the damndest
lies ever uttered" The Council were
soon after abused by Wholesale, and
styled, in the chaste language of Alder
man r. j. Mackey, Villains, miserable
thieves, robbers, polygamists, perjurers,
forgers. - The two Mackeys resigned,
their designations were accepted, and
the Council adjourned. The audience,
gathered together to behold what was
fun for them, laughed and clapped their
ands and stamped with their feet as the
Aldermen lunged and thrust nt each
other. AS the din became moro deafen-
ing, the audience chuckled and shouted
the more. AS the Spartans bade their
children witness the antics of their
drunken slaves to wean them from even
leaning to intemperance, 80 might tho
respectable citizens of Charleston send
their boys to our Council chamber, that
there might grow with their growth, and
strengthen with their strength, fixed
hate Of the rottenness and beastliness of
South Carolina radicalism.
AS we have said, the conduct of the
City Council fills us not even with n
grim pleasure. but with regret and
alarm. We have had one year of this
radical city government, and in that
year the city spent $158,000 more than
it actually earned. In the Mayor, no
man has confidence. The few Aldermen
who are decent and upright have had no
power to check the waste and the profit
gacy, the vituperation and abuse. And
what is our condition I? A city of forty
thousand inhabitants, with twenty mil
lions Of real estate, with debt of five
millions, ruled by majority who com
bine oil the worst qualities of the fool
and the knave, the dol. and the shrewd
politician.
We do not speak of this as a political
question. These aldermanic rowdies are
Judged by us and by the public, not as
members of q political party, but as men.
And we oppose them, aud ever will
oppose them, not because they are radi-
Gals, but because they are doing their
best to destroy the city, and with it
every honest citizen Charleston Neps.
The following gentlemen have been
appointed to represent the Lancaster Ag-
ricultural Society at the State Fair: J. B.
| Erwin TX a. RiII;poo n. r N n.I.