The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-26
THE M4ND4Mus IND THE COUNCIL.
Mysterious Caucussing The Pubic
Excluded-No Quorum.


dou,,ls. issued by Judge Graham, as the time al
which he City Council should meet ard consider
the protest Of the Collins Hendricks Clique agaihs.
the election In August last. as "a'te' Y.
course the political square, at me corner VI
and Meetin streets, was fn.i Oh small Ano's VI
men discussing the great question Of tue oay' ou'
these we're almost entirely coiored. Little OF no
excitement was visible, owing IN great meas
rre nrobably, to the fact thai IL was generally
regarded as settled that there would be no QUO
rum. Before entering the City Hall our reporter
walked over to the Guardhouse on business, ans
Cn entering the gloomy precinct OF the Hadlcai
del was struck By the unusual preparations a1oot.
= .ge body OF policemen in full Uniform were
seen, as 1t were, ready for action, and forming a
striking picture as they lounged, sat and stood IN
the blue uniforms ard bright brasses at the back
OF tie entrance hall. They were al armed as
usual, and seemed ripe for startling game OF
"Follow your leader.n About hall.paet one
O'Clock, the meeting Of the Council being ordered
for two our reporter entered the City Hall anu
a:cended to the upper noor to note the hrst de-
yeIopments of the interesting occasion. The
door OF the Council Chamber was closed and
locked, as also the Mayors Off e, but from the
latter could be heard the hum Of voices IN
converse. The doorkeeper having ainted mat
his presence would hardly be pleasant OF alio"a-
bic in the Mayors conclave, our reporter crossed
over TO the office OF Clerk Mitchell and biandIy
inquired II there WIS to be meeting OF Council
and if SO why everything was locked up. Ihe
clerk replied that there was TO be meeting, and
that the chamber had not yet been opened for the
with
reporter seated himself in a position TO command
an open view or the Mayors door anu lne ianu'
ing. place, and proceeded TO take notes, as loi'
lows: l45 P. NJ, Mayors door opened anu city
inspector, Uulted States inspector OF drugs
medical purveyor, &C., &C., NJ. Ii. Collins comes
ont; tn nks he may be kept in Council all nlght'
and twaadles or in his usual dignifed gait to the
restaurant for some-diuner
1.47P. M.-The calm aad chillilHe countenanc CO
Of Alderman E. P. Wall, the Rupert OF debate, ap'
pears over the railing, under the shady canopy ol
his weather. ten felt He looks into the clerk 8
office. but see ing the caucus going on IN tine
MAYORS ROOM he crosses over quickly. Alder
man L. F. Wall, with that classic expression
peculiar to his countenance, follows dutlully III
the rear OF his brother.
Afew moments OF silence follow, when the door
of the Mayors room is flung open, and the Chie1
OF Police, Hendrick,, stalks forth, and with tragic
mien descends the stairs.
l5sP. M-Two policemen arrive. armed TO the
teeth with revolyers and clubs They knock and
are admitted to the awful presence.
l.5s-Too dark to wr te-heayy cloud over the
enthusiastically the inky visage OF Alderman
smalls peerlng over the balustrade. BE ascends
doubtfuly, and reyerentially enters the mysteri.
Gus portals.
The door was now kept open for second or
two niger than usua and, looking through tne
gap, our Reporter beheld the grand, gloomy and
peculiar features OF Thomas Jefferson Mackey.
he was standing by the table In front OF the
Mayor, in The act OF bringing his righ; hst down
upon the inonensive baize In most emPna'lc
eesticulation. His Picksnifian forelock stood
bolt upright, and bstokened the excitement unoer
which the speaker labored. Around his throat
was dexterousy wound white handkerchief, 10
a manner known only to professionals, aud tne
suggestive knot was fitted with singular grace
us. below his left ear. AS the nst descended on
the table the door closed, and ere the pleasant
Impressions produced by this picture had van ish'
ed, the two policemen came out. They proceeded
10 clean the passage way OF several colored
Ioupgers, who had been attracted by the interest
ing occasion. 1t being now the hour appointed
for the meeting our reporter ask ID to be admit
ted to the chamber, when clubs and stars gra.
ciously impaired the information that none OF
the public would be allowed admittance, and
that he had inquired particularly az TO the re-
porters, and they were to be excluded also.
Observatory seat resumed. A young mu latto,
said TO be named r. E. Wall, comes out Of Mayors
room-the same who did such conspicuous SER
wee in serving the 7nandanuS writ.
Alderman Howard now comes up and enters
the Mayors room.
Alderman Collins follows and as the door open
ed wide to sd nit this bulky official the empty
seats and chairs showed that the concaVe had
adjourned to The Council Chamber.
Alderman McKinlay next entered The chamber
along with Trial Justice o. R. Levy.
Alderman Cunningham next ascends the stairs,
and with a complacent smile upon his features
enters the chamber, making, with Alderman
Hampton, the eighth alderman. An anxious
half hour followed, but no ninth alderman sp'
peared. From one present we learn that the
Mayor called the Council to order, and Informed
them that the meeting was held In obedience TO
ihe order contained in the naanddnsuS. The roll
was called, and the Mayor and only eight alder
men answered. NJ being able to entertain the
protest as commanded, the Aldermen adjourned
to explain the matter before Judge Granam, al
orangeburg, on Saturday next.
BUSINESS ENvELoPEs.-THE NEWS Job once