Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-16
= CITY Council.


| AT called meeting Of the Board Of
Mayor and Aldermen Of the city of Mem
phis, on Friday, January Is, 1862
present: Hon. John w. Leftwich, Mayor;
Chairman Swayne, Aldermen Clancy,
Foley, Joyce, Marshall, Black, Dnrff,
Cartwright, Dyer, Hoist, 0'Donnell,. CT
Gala, Gallagher, Renner, Moffet, VOL
colt, Vincent and Ellis. A quorum
being announced the chairman took his
seat, called the Board to order and had
the roll of Aldermen called.
NAY0R's MESSAGE.
MEMPHIS. TENN. January Is. 1859.
Honorable Board Of Aldermen
You are assuming the reins of city
government at most critical period in
its history, and to insure success it is
essential that you clearly comprehend
and accept the situation"
Through the exercise Of practical
economy, and sleepless guardianship
over the treasury, our credit gradually
improved throughout the past corporate
year, till very recently, for reasons that
coming events will expose; combined
and successful opposition was made
against the line of policy that had been
agreed upon as necessary to protect our
honor and credit.
| This was loudly heralded as great
victory" and one modest individual
claimed that "a hecatomb" should be
raised in his honor therefor. 1t may
have seemed victory" to those who
owe no debts, and who live in ease and
luxury, with no want unsupplied; but
to the poor and dependent, the unpaid
street laborer, hospital nurse, fireman
and other city employees, as well as
merchants, druggists, coal dealers, ETC.,
not to mention bankers, to whom the
city is indebted, the victory" was not
apparent, and the hecatomb, if costly
one, they were willing. for the present at
least, to dispense with.
The smoke of victory" having
passed away, and the din of self-lauda-
| ton been hushed, the stubborn fact is
revealed that our debts are still unpaid,
and after all it remains for you to pro-
vide for their payment. A leading ed
itor, claiming large financial ability,
suggests certainly novel plan, to-wit
the sale of thirty year bonds at Csc, and
the purchase, through "shrewd agent,
of our due indebtedness at SOC. / would
question both the morality and feasibil-
ity of the plan, but that its sensitive
author might think it "a sneer at the
press" and consequently "a fatal blum
DER" / leave it to his brethren of the
press, who have better right to discuss
the merits of his plan; and if found APP
plicable in this instance, it solves the
problem of resuming specie payment
and insures also the prompt payment of
the national debt.
To avoid repetition, Respectfully refer
to my last message as embracing my
carefully matured convictions, which
time and reflection have but confirmed.
| | have sought in vain for other relief
than therein suggested, or the alterHa-
tive of pledging our railroad stocks to
secure loan. Objections are made to
| both these propositions, but the directors
do nothing more than object, and we
| need positive aid rather than negative
advice. One thing is certain, you must
adopt one or the other of these plans, or
propose one of your own, else the Alder
men, and not the Mayor, must be held
responsible by the poor and needy who
daily throng these halls pleading for
mere pittance of their hard earned
Dues speak not of those creditors
who will not, but those who cannot wait;
and individual instances of injustice and
suffering are now in my mind, the bare
recital of which would bring the blush of
shame to your cheeks as it has to mine.
One warning suggestion: Indications
justify the fear that large appropriations
some for visionary schemes and spec
ulatve "jobs," and others for legitimate
and meritorious purpeses-will be asked
for at an early day. Till our present
obligations are met and our oppressive
taxation reduced, hope you will oppose
all such demands; but it will require the
highest order of moral courage to sue
cessfully resist the Establishments and
threats that will be used In their behalf
Our only safety lies in making no ap-
preparations whatever, without knowing
where the money to meet it is to come
from, and then to sell all that we have
and give it to our creditors.
This course rigidly adhered to for one
year, with close collection of taxes,
will put Memphis out of debt, except her
bonded indebtedness, and whoever aids
in producing this happy result will be
honored and respected by all good men,
the clamor of rival and jealous rings"
to the contrary notwithstanding.
have ignored all questions except the
financial one, because | esteem that OF
first and paramount Importance; and for
more detailed statement of our wants
and resources, respectfully refer you
to the report and books of the Controller.
Yours, very respectfully, etc.,
JOHN W. LEyTwICH, Mayor.
Received and action laid over for the
present, and ordered printed.
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CON-
TESTED ELECTIONS.
Honorable Board Of Mayor and Aldermen:
Your committee appointed to investi-
gate the matter Of contested elections,
report that in the case Of the seat Of the |
Tenth Ward, Mr.. Bendergast withdrew
his objections to Mr.. ]. E. Williams |
taking his seat, and would, therefore,
recommend his being qualified as Alder
man of the Tenth Ward,
In that of the Seventh Ward the COM
mittse, after patient investigation, and
being blessed with the argument of emil
nent legal gentlemen for snS against,
have come to the conclusion that the
Board of Aldermen have no right to set
aside elections-such matters being sub
jects for the courts alone to take cogni-
sance of, and consequently Mr.. s. Og-
den is Alderman elect for the Seventh
Ward.
Since the appointment Of the commit
tee paper signed by number Of vo-
tiers of the Ninth Ward Directing to Mr..
L. D. Vincent being an Alderman for
that ward on account of citizenship,