At a meeting of the Council held on the 11th day of July, a petites, signed by several hundred citizens of the city, was presented, asking that Mr. Pleasant be reinstated as Captain of the Night Watch, or that a poll be opened in each ward in order that the people may re-elect him. This petition was read and referred to the Committee on Police.
And at a meeting of the Council held on the 21st instant, the Chairman of the Committee on Police presented the following report:
‘ The Committee on Police, to whom was referred the petition of Wm. Taylor, John at Higgles and others, asking the Council to reinstate. Captain James B Pleasant to the office of Captain of the Night Watch, or that a poll be opened in each ward in order that the people may elect him, respectfully report.--
’ That the Charter does not provide for filling a vacancy in the office, of Captain of the Night Watch by an election. They also report that there are only 457 signatures to the petition, and of these 41 are not on the Assessor's books and two signed twice, so that there were only 444 voters on the petition, and if there were more, the committee are of opinion that it would not justify them in recommending to the Council to change their action. They the before respectfully recommend to the Council the rejection of the prayer of the petitioners.
They also recommend to the Council, in order that the citizens may fully understand their action in this case, that the communication of the Mayor and the action of the Council on this subject, together with this report, be published twice in each of the daily newspapers of the city.
Richmond, July 31st, 1864.
The report was read and adopted by the Council by ayes and noes, as follows, to wit:
Ayes.--Messrs Clopton, Crutchfield, Denoon, Griffin, Glazebrook, Hill, Randolph, Richardson, Stokes and Scott--10
Noes.--Messrs Epps and Walker--2.
and Clerk of Council.
Chamberlain's office,
Richmond, May 22, 1864.
At a meeting of the Council, held on the 13th day of June, 1864, the following communication was received from the Mayor of the city and read, to wit:
Very early in the morning on the 11th May, 1864, when a very large Yankee force, under the command of Gen. Sheridan, was very near the city of Richmond, and when every citizen who could hear arms was called upon to do so, I received a message from the Secretary at War, desiring so see me at his office. I immediately called upon him when he requested me to have assembled upon the Capital Square, as speedily as I could, all the police force under my control capable of hearing arms, and to keep them upon the Capitol Square. With this request I promptly complied by having the whole night and day police assembled at the City Hall, when I told them the object of my convening them, and where they were to be stationed, under my authority, and there to remain until discharged by me. They were then posted in the Capitol Square as a distinct organization. On that day, while there assembled, and at a time when the Square was filled with a large concourse of persons, I think about two o'clock in the day, I was called on by John J Green, in the City Hall, and asked whether I suffered hard playing in the Capitol Square by the police. I was surprised at the question, and I asked him what he meant, when I was told that some of the night watch were there playing cards. I immediately ordered him to go and order them to discontinue it, that such conduct was a disgrace to themselves and to the city. I heard no more of it until a later hour in the day, when I was informed that a controversy had taken place on the Square between Captain Pleasant and Mr Seal, upon the subject of the watch playing cards on the Square. I sent for Mr Seal to know what it meant, when Mr. Seal came before me and was asked what was the difficulty between himself and Captain Pleasant, he informed me that Captain Pleasant had approached him upon the Square and said to him that he understood he (Seal) was going to present him before the Grand Jury for playing cards upon the Square, to which be, (Seal) to use his own, words, said jocularly: "Yes, he was; and that the Mayor had forbid their playing cards on the Square." At which Captain Pleasant replied, with excitement: "You may take my commitments to the Mayor and tell him I will play cards whenever I d — d please and wherever I d — d please, in spite of Mr Mayor or Mr Seal." This was Mr Seal's first statement to me in my upper office. This statement was reformed by Mr Seal on oath in the Mayor's court room, where this matter was publicity inquired into, except Mr Seal then said he couldn't say positively that he (Capt Pleasant) used the word "damn." I deem it proper to say that Captain Pleasant dealer this statement in the Mayor's court, but did not deny his playing cards on the Square. And as I never had the slightest reason to doubt the integrity or veracity of Reuben T Seal, I believe this statement, and I should do it unconfirmed, but one of the watchmen present (James Kennedy) has informed me that he heard the same language.
Mr Stokes, of your body, and Mr Samuel Ellis, the Clerk of the Market, were present and witnessed much of this most unofficer-like conduct on the part of one of the police officers of this city, and the Chairman of the Committee, of Police attended the examination before me, and can doubt less correct any error that I may have fallen into in my recollection of the facts proved, all of which are not stated here, especially the statement made by Mr Ellis, whom I desire the Council to have before them, or any committee to whom they may think puoper to confer this subject, if the Council deem it necessary. This conduct of Capt Pleasant requires no comment from me, except to say that it is not the first instance of insubordination that induces me to believe confidently that, as Capt Pleasant is elected by the people as well as myself, he believes that he is not under my control or authority, either never having read or entirely forgotten the charter or the Police Ordinance of the city.
I call your attention to the 94th section of the newly amended charter, page 30, to the 7th section of the ordinance concerning police, where it will be found that it is the duty of every police officer to prevent, instead of committing, offences against the laws of the Commonwealth and ordinances of the city. And as I am the head of the police of the city, I deem it my imperious duty to prevent the recurrence of so disgraceful a scene as the playing of cards upon the Capitol Square by any part of the police of this city, especially upon such an occasion as this, and to cause the witnesses who saw it to be summoned to attend to give evidence before the next grand jury having jurisdiction over the subject.
After the hearing of this matter, and the examination of these proofs, I ordered the discharge of the six watchmen engaged in the card playing there, and said as I had no authority to remove or suspend Capt Pleasant, I would report him and his conduct to the Council for their action. It was at the time suggested to me by a gentleman standing by that these men were under the belief that they were there under military authority, and not mine, and whether I might not suspend the execution of that judgment, and let the execution of it await the action of the Council. How these men, of say of them, got the impression, which then for the first time came to my knowledge, I know not. It could not have been from anything. I said or did; but I yielded to the suggestion of the gentleman, and have not yet executed the order, but shall do it; for, upon mature reflection, I do not the how this can justify or this gross outrage of law, order and decency, were they under that belief.
I have just seen Mr Samuel Eltis upon the streets, (about ten o'clock to day,) and, though I thought I had a distinct recollection of it, asked him to repeat to me what he said when this subject was under my examination in the Mayor's court men, and confirming what he then said that he there saw--Capt Pleasant greatly excited, and using to Mr Seal, and handing him (Elits) his muscat, in a violent and angry
manner, said to Mr Seal that he was then ready to matter with him, there or anywhere else, and that such was the conduct of Mr Pleasant, that be (Mr Ellis) there declared that he ought to be taken and carried in the watch house. In this opinion I fully court or with Mr Ellis, and it was the deity of every police officer present so to have done.
I submit this conduct to pour honorable body to take such action upon it as you, in your judgment, deem proper. It give me no pleasure to make this report, but my official duty commands me to do it.
It was then resolved by the Council, that James S Pleasant, Captain of the Night-watch, be removed from his office for misconduct as an officer on the Capitol Square, on the 11th day of May last.
jy 25--2t
