Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-24

not be taken unless nine members voted thele'
for and il would be strange indeed If it requlr'
ed niue to vote thatan election be gone into,
and then that less than nine votes could elect.
Mr. Smoo, detailed the action of the board on
the night of the election. He contended that
the work Of election was flushed two weeks
ago, and NJ appra was taken. L was now wv"
late to make Grange. There Is ouly one
tribunal u the land that can settle this ccctloH
aud that is the Judiciary. If any one else has
q claim greater than mlue the courts eau settle
his sra,.'' Mr.. S. continued his argument at
length occupying the attention TOR nearly an
! hour.
Mr. Latham did not know which to symps-
thisc with the most, The errng memory or the
unstable posiioo Of Mr. Smoot. He, too, dis
cussed the question at length. He said AS
to carrying to question to the courts, when
there were only two mure meetings, II was 40
.uri. especially Coming from the gentleman.
He'll plead his own case and III have to en-
ploy counsel. -,
Mr.. Smoot, in reply, urged that while at
the opening of the Board, the charter alone
being the rule, less than ninc might elect a
President, yet, alter rule 23rd was adopted, II
needed majority OF The whole number to chose.
he spoke OF the conluct of Mr.. Latham IN
former days, when, with the royal purple OF
the Mayorajty fl wing down to his feet. he
claimed the power to prorosuc the Council ana
remove the Councilmen from Office:
Mr.. Latham explained that the Constltutlon
gave the Mayor tie power 10 remove all ON
GERS and COuncmen were officers, tut nc mad
| told Mr.. Smoot it was power be lMr. Lath-
any would not dare to exercise. Mas that the
bloody tyrant "a curious noise was then maze
| outside the BARI that the gentleman had de
| nlc;cd.
Mr.. Smoot then introduced resolution, as q
substitute, declaring that d. l.. Smoot had
bceu chosen a! d qualified as President, and the
| Board was incompetent to decide upon his
| right 10 the Office.
On this the vote stood yeas 6. nays g. and
the Chair declared ii was rejected.
| The question then REQUIRED 90 Mr.. Harlow S
rcsolu ion declaring Mr.. Latham to have been
elected President on Tuesday hight, and the
vote stood yeas ), nays l..
The Chair held the resolution lost and that
the rejection Of this resolution left MIR. Smoot
as the declared President of the Board
MIR. Latham rcntroduced the resolution OF
Mr. Hopkins, declaring Mr.. omoot to have
been elected President.
The Chairman decided that the rejection OF
the resolution. Of Mr.. Harlow carried with 1t
the declaration that Mr. Smoot was elected
President.
Mr. Hopkins appealed.
| Mr.. Evaus moved to adjouro.
The Chair decided that pending an appeal
from the decisioD of the Chair motion to ad-
| iourn was not 10 order.
The vo;e being taken CD the appeal OF MIR.
Hopkins it stood ayes /, noes t.
The vote was then taken Oh the resolution oil
Mr.. Latham, declaring Mr.. Smoot President,
aud resulted yeas s, nays ).
The Chair ruled that it required nine votes
TO pass the resolution, aud that the effect OF
the vate was to d clare Mr.. Smoot not elected.
Mr. Sm0ot appealed.
The Char WIS sustaiued-ycas I, nays 5.
Mr. H opkus announced his intention 10 offer
resolution REQUESTING both contestants to re-
| sign.
Mr. Latham said he was out OF the question;
thc. vote OF the Council had decided his case.
Mr.. Smoo Ito the Chair)-Just write my
resignation aud consider it signed. (ScusatlOu.
| 5 me Quest Oh occurred at this point as t
whether Mr. Latham had made any reservation
OF the rights ulaiuud ny him and Mr.. Smoo'
declare! that his withdrawal was based on that
OF MF. Latham.
MIR. Latham-You have disposed OF me and
[ shall not contest it, but will not stultity my:
self
1t vas Dow II o'cock, bu new election was
ordered.
Nlr. Harlow nominated Mr.. Latham and Mr..
RisheI nominated Mr.. Smoot. Mr.. Beck
ham was also placed in norulnation.
| The Chair 10 advance ruled it required nine
votes t. elect
Mr. Hopkins appealed from the decision Of
the Chair, but the Chair was sustalued-l cas-
!; nays,
MIR. Smoot withdrew, leaving Mcssrs. Lath
am and Bcckhatn as the Candidates.
Mr.. Beckham left the chair.
The Clerk tock the chair.
Mr.. Evaus retired, saying, have to 90 VI
the road on the train tonight, aud it won't WALL
for me.
The balIotug proceeded:
First ballot: Bcckham, 7; Latham, s.
Second ballot: B.ckham, I; Latham, 5.
Third ballot: 3 :ckham, I; Latham, t.
Mr.. Latham declined but WAS rcnomnatcd
by Mr.. Harlow.
Fourth ballot: Bcckham, S. L.tham, g.
Campbell, |. Laughter.
Board adjourned until Monday evening next
] A DRUNKARDS DKATH BY SPONTANEOUS
| CoMBUsTIoN.-Au iuhabitant at Fontenay.
SOU Bois one Of the most charming little sub
! urbs of Paris, has recently departed this lite
under circumstances which merit the attention
of everybo iy, but more particularly of the
scientific and medical world. The man il
question had been confirmed drunkard, and
imbibcd, 90 az average, quart aud half Of
brandy per diem CoU; cinus OF the degrade.
ton OF his bescttng vice, he kept aoof from
his family, and at times shut himself up in bis
room tor days together in ordor to pursue bis
devotion to Bacchus uamolested by the re-
preach or RI mnustrauce OF the lnidel. He
had frequently been forced to abandon the
brandy bottle by the approach of deliriuu tre-
mens, but he was no sooner cured by the
doctors than he returned to his fsvorite love.
At length be was seized with an irresistible de
sire to destroy himself, which the medical
sAgcs call the 'nustagia of alcohol. On
Easter Sunday, he shut himself up again: but,
remaioing secluded longer than usual the
neighbors broke opeu his door. An oyerpow
ering smell of spirits struck them on entering
the room, where hercmans ola charcoal FIRE
were found, and on looking on the bed, there
| L. II 4