The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-22

sn,sgns,lon OF James A. Gentry as Mayor
- Gau~hes.er. The following members
,yere nreseut: Messis. Perdue (presldenll.
Evans. w. r.. Perdue, Ballowe. L. W.
Gentry. sbotwcll. Robertson, and Patteson'
THE Council was called TO order ABOUT
,.,r,er TO q O'Clock. and Immediately AFTER
sards the presideut read the following com-
mun,catiou from MaycrGentry
MANCHESTER. February q, 1881.
l. X f'rdae, Esq. President Of the Cusl
Cowacif OF said city:
sir.-l teader to you, and through you 10
she civ Council. my resignation as nayor
Of Manchester, TO take eject on the e'ecuon
an ouali6eation of my successor, which
Aone vii, he rs soon IS practicabie.
Very respectfully, c
Mr.. sbo, sell moved that the resignation
Al Mayor tsasuy be accepted.
A wore was taken aud the resignation was
accepted by the Council.
ymmedistek afterwards Mr.. Evans arose
and mosed 10 adjourn. This surprised
SONY az the members, who evidently
though, that the meeting was6alled 10 nh
the vacancy ooeasioned by the resignation
OF the Mayer. go III,
Mr.. Patieson asked IL the Council con'd
NOT 90 Into an c4ection at oDee, ana u ,he
Chair did not anticipate an eleetien wDeh
he cslled the meesiSg.
As 10 the eleclioF, Mr.. Perdue Ncsa'fmanl
said he did not anticipate II. lie tb"ugnl II
would he bes, TO postpone the mater uhti'
the next regular meeting OF the COUNCIL 20
,hat ali The members could be present and
vote. ,.,,,
Mr.. Patteson said the meeting was N fulI
a one as any held for some time back. lie
said. as far as he was concerned, he w0Gid
}u,. ms leave go on with the election TO-
night. and did not think much could be
ACCOMPLISHED by delaying the matter.
Mr.. Perdue (chairmaD) again SAID .nat ne
simply called the meeling upon the face OF
tho r. sienation, no, thinking 10 go into an
eIec,ion right away. There seemed to be
doub. in the minds Of some whether tbe
Council had the authority 10 oil the va
CA, CIV. and that 1t was In the power OF tae
Judge OF the Hastings Court to make the
appointment.
The President said he was satisfied That
the Council could 60 into tue election II IL
so desired.
law prohibiting the Council from filling the
vacancy.
The President here stated that he bad
asked the Civ Attorney, Mr.. e. &. McRae,
about the matter, aud that Mr.. McRae SAID
there was no doubt but that the CITY Coun-
ciI had the right to make the appointment.
II having been decided that the Council
had full jurisdiction in the matter,
MIR. T. W. Gentry moved that the Coun-
ell 20 into the election OF Mayor.
MIR. Patteson seconded the motion offered
by Mr.. GENTRY.
The Chair decided the motion to be out
OF order.
MIR. Gentry moved 10 take an appeal from
the ruling OF the Chair. An appeal was
taken and the Chair Oyerrued.
The Council then agreed to have an elec'
ton.
Mr.. Arthur Evans arose, and said: Mr..
President, take Heat pleasure IN noml-
mating Mr.. james NJ. Pcrdue.
MIR. Gentry next took the floor, and said !:
MFR. Pres ident, rise TO place In nomination
gentleman well known to US alone who
has been connected with the affairs oil the
city for some Years, and who is well Tilted
TO oil the office. | allude 10 Mr.. W. L.
Lithgow, and hope that it may be the plea
sure Of this body TO elect him.
Mr.. Perdue's nomination was seconded
by Mr.. w. L. Perdue. and Mr.. Lithgow's
by Mr.. Patteson.
No further nominations being made, bal
lot was taken, resulting a. follows: Lith-
gov, 4; Perdue, 3-the Chair not voting.
The following gentlemen voted for Mr. Lih-
gov: Mtssrs. Gentry, BallOwe, Patteso0,
and Robertson. Messrs. Evans, Shotwell,
and w. r. Perdue voted for Mr.. Perdue.
President Perdue said the Council could
excuse him from voting.
Mr.. Evans said he hoped the Council
would not excuse Mr.. Perdue from voting;
that he ought TO be required 10 vote. lie
old not think anybody ought 10 object to
bis voting under the circumstances.
Finally The president voted for Mr.. John
r.. Taylor (wbo was NOT candidate). ana
subs, quently decided that there was no
election. rs 1t required majority OF votes
cast TO have one.
A second ballot was taken, resulting as
Above.
Mr.. Evans moved that the name OF the
person receiving the smallest vote be drop
ped and another vote he taken.
The President said this could not be done,
for every member had perfect right to vote
for anybody he wanted.
Mr.. Evans was called TO the chair, and
President Perdue made a motion 10 post
poDe the election until some other
time. He thought the Council was
that 1t would be no more than right TO give
other persons chance who might want 10
run for the Office. He was anxious to have
every member of the Council present TO
vote, and doubted the proprieiy OF entering
into an election right away.
A motion was here made 10 adjourn, but
Ii met with no second.
Mr.. Pa;teson said the reason he voted Tor
Mr. LItbgow was because the people, the
majority OF the people, of the Fourth ward
voted for him when he rau for Commits soner
Of The Revenue, and that he OR. Patteson)
was sure a majority OF the people in his
ward preferred Mr.. Litbg0w.
Mr.. Gentry used the same remarks eX-
planning his course.
Mr.. Perdue said Mr.. Patteson bad the
advantage of him In knowing the feelings OF
the people in his (Patteson's) ward relative
TO the matter. He (Perdue) did not know
who the people Of his ward preferred, but
wanted TO postpone the election so as 10 find
oft.
Finally, 1t being clearly shown that an
election could not be hid, a motion TO
adjourn was adopted. and the matter was
continued until the next regular meeting
Il the Council.
Mr.. w. 7. Lithgow, who received The
highest nUmber 81 votes, Is one OF the mosl
esteemed citizens OF Manchester, aud was
ut one time Commissioner OF the Revenue
OF this City, and Is now Grand Prelate Of
the Grand Lodge OF knights o. Pylhias Of
Virginia.
Mr.. James n. Persane Is one Of the oldest
citizens of Manchester. and Is the father OF
Mr.. j. II. Ptrdue. president of the CITY
Councii, AND s. NJ. Pordue, superintendent
nj Man. y ,eesnetery He has DasSed half 4