The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-29
CITY COUNCIL.
The City Debt-The City Council De-
clares that 1T has no Voice OF Power rs
to It's Validity.

regular meeting of the City Council was
held last night, at which were present the
Mayor, Aldermen Yolgt, Barrow, Collins, Pot
ter, Cunningham, E. P. and L. F. Wall, Thorne,
Holloway, Small, McKin!ay, Brown, Hampton
and Howard.
AT q quarter of o'clock the Mayor called
the Council to order.
The minutes ef the last meeting were read
and confirmed.
THE CITY DEBT.
The petitions were then called for, and
Alderman vogt. ''in behalf Of sundry citi-
zens," submitted the following:
CHARLESTON, S. c., June %, 1870.
To the Honorable. Ste Mayor and Aldermen OF
the City Of Charleston:
GENTLEMEN-At recent meeting of the citi-
zens of Charleston, q committee was appoint
of the city debt, and that committee accepting
office and proceeding to act under the resolu-
ton of that meeting, nave instructed us to ad-
dress you upon certain matters connected
with the objects of their appointment.
The committee are advised that q large por-
ton of the present stock of the city was origl-
nally issued to the construction of railroads
-
the city charter.
They are advised also that the powers OF the
city government are strictly limited to the mu-
nicipal functions indicated in the charter. and
that stock to other objects Is invalid, and they
have been informed that it is your purpose to
pay instalments OF interest on TINS stoch ,,?a Oh
the first of July proXimO, and that under the
ordinances of your predecessors In Council you
ere now issuing stock for arrears and Interest
on this stock, so questionable as we nave
stated.
In view of these facts, they have instructed
us to advise you OF their appointment, ana
that IL Is their purpose, at an early day, to take
the measures necessary to test legally the
validity of all the stock so issued as aforesaid,
and they have instructed us to present, That
you yourselves have been elected to the same
charter under which your predecessors acted;
that In this charter you find no warrant TO
subscribe to railroads. or to invest 10 any
other than strictly municipal objects; and that
If, under that charter, you have no power TO
ly without the power to pay interest on sucn
illegal issues.
They also instruct US to present that the tax
es assessed for the present year, chiefly Tor the
payment of such interest, are very heavy; tnaC
few can pay them easily; that many cacnotpay
them but at the sacrifice OF the property they
are made to charge; that If the interest be not
paid, and your body shall expend only to
municipal objects, at least one instalment OF
the current taxes may be spared; that the re-
mission OF this instalment will be a great re,
lief to large portion of the community, and
they instruct us to request, therefore, that you
suspend the payment Of interest on the city
debt, pending the question of the validity Of
such portions as upon the grounds mentioned
are to be put in issue; that you discontinue
issue of stock to the arrears and interest there
on, and that you remit, If In your Judgment 1t
may be done, the lust instalment OF taxes TO
be levied this year.
The committee are conscious you have no
motive to be partial in this contest; they be-
lleve that you would he pleased to spare this
community unnecess;.y burdens, and trust
ing that In the wan. !. original power to issue
this stock, you will see the propriety OF with
holding such endorsement of 1t as will consist
in the payment Of the interest. they express
the hope that your action in this regard may be
In accordance with the requests which they
have made. With great respect,
Your obedlent servants.
r..