The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-05

An article a The Wig Of yesterday, en-
,,,iod tho Z. Petersburg Outrage" calls LOT
an answer In behalf OF the substantial ana
timetable neopIe OF this gallant little
town who. despite defeat after deieaI,
never cease to work and battle against Vir-
oinia,s arcb-enemy, Malone, who' tnahk
God cannot claim 10 be one OF her natiVe-
horn sons A more outrageous articie tnan
the one referred 10 we have never read. its
whole tenor "a 10 the effect that Judge
Weisiper should have periured nimsen,
sorsworr the oath which he took when ne
assumed the judicial ermine, ana NJ tne
command Of the Boss decided that 10 DE
law which as an honest, learned Judge ne
did not believe TO be such. n,.
The truth OF the matter Is Simply tn,s
Messrs. Jarratt and Couch, hesdluster
members OF the Common Cotincii, were on
the 25th OF May last elected respectively
Mayor and City Treasurer, both being
members OF the City Council. The cnar.
ter OF the city Of Petersburg required that
these gentlemen should enter upon the dis
charge of their duties on July /, 1882. YET,
Notwithstanding this plain provision OF the
charter, both Of these gentlemen acted as
members of the Council on July lst last.
Mr.. Jarratt still continues member OF the
Council, Notwithstanding the fact that the
DeoDle elected him Mayor. He. at least by
Implication, promised to act as such on
July 1st. Mr.. Couch acted as councilman
ON list July until late in the afternoon OF
that dav, then resigned, and ftcelUe men,
hers of the Council elected his successor.
Mr.. Couch then offered to qualify before
Judge Mann rs Treasurer, which he was
allowed to do, Notwithstanding the deci-
sion OF the Court of Appeals in the late
case OF Bunting Us. Willis.
And just here, while we are discussing the
abuse OF Judge Weisiger by the Wing and
ANONYMOUS correspondents from Peters
burg. we cannot refrain from calling your
attention and that Of the people Of Vir-
ginia to the marked contrast between the
attitude of our people towards Judge
Mann and that OF the Readjusters towards
Judge Weisiger. While we believed Judge
Mann TO be wrong i'm his decision; while
he decided the case within five minutes
after the last counsel spoke; while lie adj
journed his court until certain hour and
announced that he would hear no argu-
ment after II O'Clock; and while General
Malone had been here the whole day, and
during the argument took a seat directly
in front OF Judge Mann, we have never
seen line in any Funder paper denounc-
ing Judge Mann rs a partisan Judge, or In
anywise to be dwarfed in his judicial decl-
sions by his political preferences, and this.
too. Notwithstanding the fact that General
Malone was in Judge Mann's office for
some time previous to the rendering OF
Judge Mann's decision.
But the vital question is as to whether or
not our Common Council had legal right
to do as they did on June 2Sth, 10Th, and
3Oth. The city charter (section 6, chapter
81 gives the Council the power to "make
such ordinances, bylaws, orders, and regu-
lations, as they may deem desirable" Gtalics
ours) to carry out the following powers,
which are hereby vested in them; and here
follows the power as to Police, Fire De-
partment, &c.
Under this provision the Council did en-
act as chapter 8, entitled ''Rules for the
Government OF the Common Council"
that an ordinance could not be introduced
and passed at the same meeting at which 1t
was introduced, unless under suspension
OF the rules by vote OF two thirds OF the
members. This tcdS done at the meeting
OF June 18th, when by vote OF two thirds
OF the members present the existing ordi-
nance, which provides for an election OF
CITY OlUCtGS on July Isl, WIS ClullS'u ~
as to elect such officers on June 2Sth
instead of July LIST. Anything wrong about
that! Yet, Notwithstanding this legal cleo
ton, the Readiuster Council, on July 1st.
introduced and passed, at the some meet
ing contrary to the ordinances in forcel
and without a suspension Of the rules, as
provided by the existing ordinances, elect
ed an entirely new set Of officers. Any
law in this! SO that, Mr.. Editor, we claim
that had Judge Weisiger decided otherwise
he would have laid himself liable TO be the
butt and ridicule Of all decent and respect
able people. Judge Weisiger never said
that he decided as he did because
he chad the power" to do so.
The reasons for his decision were grounded
on legal principles, and to the mind OF any
fair-minded man they were conclusive.
Again, We utterly deny that majority
OF the respectable people" OF this city de-
nounce Judge Weisiger and " imperatively
demand his impeachment" We charge
that Malone cannot to-day poll three hum
bred white votes in this city. He was
beaten in his own ward last election, and
out of a total vote Of $50 he did not poll
over IS white votes.
Such, Mr.. Editor, is 4 cursOry review OF
the situation; and we hold ourselves ready
to answer, rebut, and prove faIlacious any
argument which the Wing may advance as
to the Petersburg muddle." BOURBON.