Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-01-31
LOCAL. NEWS.

CITY CHARTER. Pursuant to public notice a
meeting was held last night at the Assembly
Rooms to take action upon the proposed new
city charter. The hall was well filed, portion
of those present being coored Mayor Latham
was called to the chair and DR.. j. B. johnson
appointed secretary The object Of the meet
ing was explained by the chair who also read
the following correspondence
- RIcHMoND, Jan. g. 1871 I
H. DEAR 1 Slss:IYlesse hasten the residue of the
charter, or rather request the members Of the
City Council who have charge Of the subject to
do so. s.. ...4.. &.
There is, am aware, a division of opinion
among our people rs to the mode OF appointing
officers, whetherit shall be done by popular cleo
ton or by the Council There is also much di-
versity upon the subject of having one or two
Boards in our Council. l don't know the views
of ShoWden or of Seaton on either question.
shall, of course respect to q due extent the
wishes of the members of the Council, but as the
framing Of city charters is not among their speci-
fc power and duties, do not by any means re-
gard them as authorized to instruct the members
from our county on the subject; butin the absence
of an expression of opinion by our people, think
they may beregardeda Ms fair opponents of the inter-
.sts, if not of the wishes Of the community.
Under these circumstances l feel anxious that
the charter framed by the City Councilshould be
cent down in full without delay and that tshould
come to us with the popular approval so far as
it can be seasonably ascertained. To give our
people fair chance early action on the part of
the Council is very desirable, including publica-
lion of the proposed charter among the voters :.
Let me hear from you rs soon as possible,
There is only one disputed point believe, and
that is about the mode of clecting officers. MY
own decided opinion is that all officers connected
,pn,,, hno,o tod h1,f mail
Yours truly, Il. JOHNSTON.
RICHMOND, Jan. II, 1877.
IT. Latham, Esq, Mayor.
DEAR SIR 81 have your favor IN answer 10
mine i'm relation to the proposed city charter for
Alexandria. AS the charter was to be presented
bv Snowdcn in the Senate this morning handed
Your letter to him, that it might take the same
direction
for in the selection of officers care but little for
the rest. though my preference would befor elect
ing Ill By the Council where there will be some
sense of responsibility and duty whereas there Is
none, whatever, as far MS my observation extends,
On the other hand have seen too much of our
city Solons to be very socitous for charging
their powers.
Should YOU wish to elaborate your views fur
Their, | will see that what you have tosay receives
proper attention.
When the charter is printed will send up
co,,ies. rs many as can get The number print
I'd /, very small Very respectfully,
.-E r. JOHNSTON.
MAYORS OFFICE,
ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 2G, 1871. :
Ruben JoItnstoh Esq.
DEAR SIR Il have just heard that the charter
Inns PASSED the Senate. 1 regret this hasty action
and regret still more the Indifference manifested
in this business by Mr. Snowdcn: l think he
could have had the consideration of the subject
7,ostponed for Il short time. L respectfully ASK
that you urge the House to postpone the conSiae-
ration of it until, ut least, one voter has had an
opportunity to read it, no copies OF the document
have ever been circulated some few copies OF the
very imperfect copy you had in this Office, say
two or three have been seen, $40 more.
The pcoDlc have been completely ignored IN
this matter, nay, more, they have been shameful
" insultcd and abused by these 'Soons' of the
City Council not content with their actions ut
home, but they have arrogantly presumed to
visit Richmond rs the special guardians OF TINS
city, and urge the speedy passage VI Ii's "p''"A
sulls measure
The next elections will clearly indicate the
gratitude of the people Of this city towards all
who have aided and abetted this great outrage.
again appeal to you to delay the passage OF this
bIi until u meeting can he held, which, think,
will be next Monday night, If it Is held hope
the thunders of al outraged and indignant people
will be such rs to inform our "Solons' thu they
are in hopeless minority.
Col. &. E. Stuart WILL | hope, address let
,,r T., YOU on this subject, and he can confirm my
statement how the white people stand feel that
something is due to the people, and II we are uh-
fortunate to have m element among them tnat
so,nc do not admire that is no reason why the
noble Conservative vote of the city should be dis
regarded Don't fail to ask that this subject be
r,.1srred t. the voters for confirmation or rcjec-
lion.
}. B. Smoot, ESQ.,, called on me inns mo 'rh;
and asked me to withdraw my letter toyou, when
WAS presented with the charter, this declined TO
do and expressed myself very emphatlcally ana
freely upon the presumption oiany persons gong
from, here Oh such anerrand as that ol thetr'umF-
rate, or amy other man
Your obt. servant HUGH LATHAM
RICHMOND Jan. u, 1871.
Dr,R SIR handed yours to the Chairman
uro tenn MIR Peatross) of the Committee on
Counties, Cities and Towns, to which the chartci
bill from the Senate was referred, and requested
him to move for the printing OF It, whlcii he
When printed, will send all the copies can get.
hone nothing will be done to prevent the
clio elton of Collectors, Mt least, by Council. My
on;n ION on the subject of tho mode appointing
the subordinate officers remains uhchangeu,
nomalv that they should all be appointed oy
1;nmncil. but cannot bring myself to ignore the
r;ght Of the people to be heard upon the subject;
believe this is the only feature of the proposed
charter about which thcrcisany serious dlnerehce
Of opinion. Very respectfully yours,
" r. JOHNSTON.
Speeches in opposition to the new charter
and eomu,endatory of the Mayor, and condemn
atory of the Council, were made by Col. Chas.
T.. Stuart and Mr.. W. d, Massey. DIR. }. Is.
johnson and Mayor Latham also spoke in OPP
position to the proposed charter and condemn
atory of the action of the Council, and the re-
marks of all the speakers were frequently greet
cd with rounds of applause
COL Stuart presented the following pream-
BILE and resolutions which were unanimously
adopted.
Whereas, we the people of Alexandria have
understood that the City Conncil of Alexandrla
have recommended to the General Assembly OF