Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-04-19
Mr.. CHAHooN's PROPOSITION.

MR. cHAHooN's PROPOSITION.
RICHMOND, Va APRIL IL. 1870.
FL. K. E'lyson, Esq: .a a.r H4a ~.
Sir Without going into the merits of our
municipal difficulty. it must be apparent to ey-
cry one having an interest In Richmond that
the city is being greatly injured by the present
anomalous condition OF things and while |
am thoroughly satisfied that justice and right
sustain me in the course have taken, and that
the final decision, when reached, will vindicate
the correctness Of that opinion, still the case
has just been postponed, and may be again
In the meantime the city is the sufferer both
in reputation and money. am unwilling that
any private interest or ambition of mine shall
be maintained at the expense of Richmond
and to the end that good feeling may be re-
stored, and the unnecessary drain upon our
city treasury be stopped, and that injunctioas
may be dismissed which act to stop the pay of
our police, the teachers of our public schools,
the laborers upon our Streets In the gas and
water departments, &c, from the best of mo-
tiyes, and In the hope that you viii feel no del
icacy in its acceptance, l respectfully submit
the following proposition:
We shall both at once cease to exercise The
duties of Mayor, and leave the Recorder or Sc
nior Alderman to act as though there were
vacancy iu the Mayors Office. The police
force to be recognized as constituted on the
10Th Of March the men since appointed by
either of us to be paid as special policemen up
to the date of this agreement and discharged
This proposition is to be construed as not in
any manner affecting our case before the courts,
nor to be binding after a judicial settlement is
effected, its whole intention being to save the
city from q large and useless expenditure of
money and to secure the payment to large
number of worthy persons who are wholly de-
pendent upon their daily labor for support
If you consider this proposition illiberal in
any respect, please state your objections eau
didly, with view that some agreement may
be speedily effected. ~
Very respectfully,
aia Your obedient servant,
GEORGE CHAHOON
MR.. ELIYs0N's REPLY AND COUNTER-P -PROPO-
8 sITIoN.
RICHMOND, April llsh, 1870.
George Chohooa, Esq:
Sir-Yours Of this date has been received -
Using your own language, have TO say that
II am unwilling that any private interest or
ambition OF mine shall be maintained at the ex-
pepse Of Richmond. If had consulted my
private interests l would have declined the
Office of Mayor when rendered NE by the unan-
imous and wholly unsolicited vote of the City
Council and as to personal ambition, it exists.
on my part, only to the extent of earnestly de-
string to discharge faithfully all the duties
which are devoved on me- and thus to secure
the approved OF my fellow-citzens
In the steps which have been taken by my
self and those associated with me to maintain
the rights of our city and State under our Con-
stitution aud laws, we have been Influenced by
no private interests or personal ambition; and
we are confident of a triumphant vindication
OF our course by the courts OF our country.
can assure you that there is no necessity for
anxiety as TO the payment from the city treas
ury of the public school teachers, and other
EMPLOYERS of the city, except the police Ar.
rangements have been already made for their
payment, aud there will be no greater delay in
meeting all the pecuniary obligations of the
city than is usual at this period Of the year.
[ decline your proposal that we both cease TO
exercise the duties Of Mayer, and also decline
the proposition to consolidate the police This
is not necessary to save expense, for the city
ought never TO consent to pay both police or
ganizations Aud under the instructions which
both of us have given to our men there is 10
danger of collision. The peace and good order
of the city will be fully preserved
But, participating in your desire for speedy
settlement Of the matters In controversy, pro-
pose the following: That we bring before full
bench of the Supreme Court of Appeals Of
Virginia (which meets tomorrow, by writs of
habeas corpus sued out by person you have
confined in Jail and by person | have confned
in lall, the question of the constitutionality of
the law of the State known as the enabling