The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-06
LOCAL MATTERS.

TIE Police BoARD--MR- JOHN S., WISE
DEC1Isas TO SERyE--HIs REASONS THEEE-
Poa.- Captain, John s., Wise has PLACED the
following paper in the hapdsi 81 Major a.
Il. Courtney for presentation to the Board
OF Public Interests this afternoen - !ss.s.
RICHMOND, Va, July 5, 1871 Ti4i
To the Board of Public Interests Of the City
nj of Richmond: . .EatTt t:jt,.,i.tl j Z.
;.Gentlemen,- yet i bars re-
ceiyed NO official notification OF the fact. l
have sect, in. the public prints OF the city
thatI am chosen, upon your denomination, TO
act as police commissioners Tor the city OF
lRichmofd from Monroe Ward. y, ;E&,iias, 7
@Tffeef iaattered by this evidence OF your
confidence, and willie did not see6i and
didinot want the Office, which at best Is a
very responsible and donerous one, am
willing to discharge its duties, because do
not think have the right to- refuset TO bear
nv part Of the public burden. gfi.
It becomes my duty, however, to inform
Won that / am, in my Judgment, disqualified
by the terms, OF The act The act reads
| (Acts 1867, page 215. chapter. .2G5, section
IL. "The said Board Of Public Interests
shall select = ~ eighteen persons
Who who are voters. - and who shall
not hold any ofice-state, municipal or l;
Federal"
The Governor Of Virginia has appointed
me member of the Board OF Visitors OF
the Virginia Military Institute. I have held
this Office over year, and my tern has now
nearly year to run. BY the terms OF our
statute (Code OF 1878, chapter 81, secGlons
2. 8, 4, &c.) the Board Of Visitors are de-
clared to be a corporation, whereof the
Acknowledgement is constituent element
2. q 4 <ho,, do ii N
nv Judgment. officers; OF the Common
wealth, with very considerable powers en-
trusted to them and duties imposed upon
them i'm the administration OF an institution
on q State foundations = Not content with
nv own opinion on this matter, and un-
willing to appear to evade my duty rs
citizen on mere technicality, ! have taken
the opinion Of eminent counsel in this mat
ter, and find they concur With my view.
AS illustrative OF this case, respectfully
refer you TO the very recent rulings touch.
Ing centennial commissioner acting as cleo
tor. The commissioner was, held to be a
Federal officer, although he was mere rep
resentative OF the Government in. private
corporation. The Military Institute is State
property, and its Visitors represent no pri-
Yate interests. #. na,aEs
It is true that might resign as member
OF the Board OF Visitors; but do not feel
at liberty to abdicate this public trust which
have accepted to assume another; and in
this case, as I am an alumnus OF the Insti-
tute, the duty is perhaps more imperative
to remain where I am. To this course
more readily consent, because know your
honorable Board will find no difficulty in
procuring substitute whose eligibility is
beyond question, and who in every respect
will be worthy OF this honor. 49,. s...
With sincere thanks, am yours, truly,
JOHN S. WISE.
Major Courtney suggests that the MEM
bers OF the Board of Public Interests at the
meeting to be held this evening come pre-
pared to make nominations to ill the va
can,y.