, 1876-05-14
L FEW CORRECTIONS,

| "AAe "o alo ulhposeU 70 encourage Mf.
CoISm's speech-mhking proclivitias, We can
not permit his misrepresentation to 70 un-
answered One Of them was corrected by
the Citizens Association the other day. In
his speech to the Council he claimed credit
for proposing made-up case which went
before the Supreme Court whereas the
fact is that Co1y1S was not even a party to
that suit. This was the application for a
zuondanaus compelling the old Council to call
an election before it had refused to do 50.
GOWNS agreement or disagreement to the
proceedings had nothing whatever to do with
it. The action WAS brought by competent
persons, and the Council Was forced into
Court. The decision was really no decision
at al, but tie vote Of the Judges, three Of
whom declined to take action, because the
Council had not at that time refused to do
what the Court WIS asked to compel them to
do. The subsequent action Of the old 0oun-
Gil, under tbs pressure of the CoLy1N gane,
enabled him to hold his Office until the peo-
pie had an opportunity for themselves to
vote in q successor.
Of a similar character was the u,isrepre-
sentation which CoLvN made in his speech
to some North-Siders last Friday evening.
He sought to gain some credit by the state
ment that he Was again willing to go into
the Courts On made-up case and abide by
the issue. He neglected to explain to his
hearers (and they we're probably Of class
who would not have understood it if he had
exp1aineD that his proposition was to sub
nit side-issue which was sure to result in
his recognion as the de Jacto Mayor, and that
he wanted the whole case to rest upM this
side-issue. That is, he desired the refusal
Of the City Treasurer to cash an order signed
by him to be made the basis Of q case, when |
it is well known practice of the Courts to
recognize de .fdc1o Government in order |
that the public service may not suffer BY |
bringing the public business to standstiu, |
Such case as eoIvN proposed would prob
ably have been decided without including
any decision on the rights Of Mayor HorsE
and the rights of the people whom Mayor
HoEsE represents
Now, it there is a particle Of decency left
in Mr. GOWNS composition, and it he is
content, as he processes, to rest his claim
1pon the decision Of the Courts, why does he
lot sue out writ Of quo tca,ranto institutine
IN inquiry why Mayor HOME assumes to e1-
'rcise the functions Of Mayor. No delay
Tin be interposed to the immediate decision
It such an inquiry, and Mayor HoxHz will
'bide by the result. Let such case be TAX
"A before the Circuit Court, or the Superior
;ourt, or both, and Mayor HOME will abide
p the decision Of the majority Of the Judges
R1thout appeal. But it is absurd1y presump
uous in h1r. Co1vn to ask that Mayor
1oTNE shall retire aud make a fight for |
he Office, since be was elected by the people
the last election, and has been recognized
s the lawful Mayor by the Legislative body
the city: Mayor HOME has the Office
ow; he is fully recognized BY the Common
ouncil, by the City Attorney, by the City
lerk, and by the City Treasurer, and he is I
position to coerce the recognition of the {
ther city officers appointed by the Mayor, or t
} Ill their places. Now, if Mr.. Co1vy I
links his rights have been unjustly forfeited. {
should look for his relief where other i
tzens must go, VIZ, in the Courts. In his =
'se, however, there is additional encourage &
ent to proceed in this way, since Mr.. HoTxs a
dlcates willingness to abide by the first .
'cislon, without invoking any Of the usual b
lays Of the law. Let A1r. Co1r1s either do n
is OR cease to claim in his ward haraneues T
y forbearance on account Of his willing d
IS to stand On his rights as defined by the 3
1f,~*1 !