The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-27

move on aud work on. Tie Fair, the
bazaar, the survivors meeting, the tour
nament, the ballet the whole pro-
graname be carried out.
The Fair Grounds Mnttcr-The Fair.
It is known to many of our renders
that the State Agricultural and Mocha
nical Society have control Of the Fair
Grounds in this city, by virtue Of con-
veyance, made by the city authorities in
1869. Of said grounds to Aressrs. John
B. Palmer. John P. Thomas and Wm.
Wallace. in trust for the said Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical Society said mr.
rangemens to- hold so, long, .as the said
society shall hold on annual Fair in Co
lumbia.a 1T 4tis. further known TINT the
present City Council are not satisfied
with this arrangement. Some months
ago, o oolored Alderman, Sam. Thomp-
son. moved that the said action of q
previous Council be referred to the City
Attorney, to consider whether or not the
present Council could upset the con
Yeynnce in trnst. ,nnd thus let them OBJ
tdini nicontrol OF the Fair Grounds. Act
ing under the legal advice Of thoir at
torney, it was agreed to carry the ques-
tion before the courts. Proceedings
have been instituted against the trustees.
1t is charged, in effect, that Mayor Nc
Kenzie fraudulently and illegally, and
for political purposes. conveyed away
city property, ard damages are claimed
for the loss thus, inflicted upon the city.
General Butler and Messra. Bachman Sc
Waties have been engaged to manage
the defence, and the claims of .the pre-
sent Council will be fully contested.
We have not undertaken to enter into
the details of tho declaration, but we
believe We have given the gist of it. The
answer is, that the act of Mayor McAen-
zie and Council was legal, was conceived
and was carried out in good faith. and had
no political object; that the oonsidera-
ton was good and valuable one; that
the city had been largely benefited by
the investment of the oity in the Fair
Grounds building; that the property had
been enhanced in value to the extent OF
about $4,000 in the way of permanent
improvements added by the State Agri-
cultural and Mechanical Society.
Thus the matter stands. The case
will come up for adjudication in the
course Of next year. It is important for
it to be understood that the City Coun-
Gil cannot interfere, at least for this year.
It is also but just to the Council and due
to fair dealing, that we should add that,
in taking this action, they claim to have
no disposition and no intention to ipiure
the Fair and the enterprise Herewith
connected
In order, now, to place this matter
fairly before the public, we desire briefly
to refer to the history OF the Fair
Grounds. Before the war, the city au.
thorities bought the Fair Grounds and
gave them to the then State Agricultural
Society, to bold so long as it might keep
up its annual fairs. The Fair buildings
were destroyed at the burning of Co.
lumbia and the Fairs were discontinued
during the war. The Fair Grounds, there
FORE. reverted to the CITY OF Columbia.
This was the condition of things whom,
in 1869, the present State Agricultural
and Mechanical Society was formed.
The citizens OF Columbia we're anxious
to fix the Fairs Of the gooiety here.
They became uneasy about the matter,
as Charleston was seeking to secure the
privilege OF being the seat OF the fairs,
and some members OF the society were
urging the plan of making the fairs mi
gratory. At this crisis, the City Council
OF 1869 resolved to act promptly, but
they determined also to act adyisedly.
A meeting Of the taxpayers Of Colp mbia,
irreppectiyeo Of party and color. was called
to instruct the City. Council. The meet.
/, ing was held in Carolina HILL, and tho
-raault Is indicated in the report made to
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