The reader may think we are making grave charges. Let us say, without fear of refutation, they are too well known in the community that tolerates them. As a mere shadow of what lays beneath the surface, we would refer to the only independent speech we ever listened to in Charleston,--except when self-laudation was the theme,--made by G. R--, Esq., in one of her public halls a few weeks ago. Mr. R--is a gentleman of moral courage and integrity, and, without fear or trembling, openly denounced the corruption and demoralization of the police department. Even the enemies of his party, knowing the facts, appreciated his candor as a man, while they denounced the publicity, (for his speech was paraded by the press,) lest the fair name of the queen city should suffer abroad. A beautiful farce followed this grave exposition. The board of aldermen, composed of fourteen men of very general standing, remained mum under the accusation for a long time. Its object was to show up the character of a class of officials, whose character and nefarious arts have long disgraced the city. But in order to make a display of his purity, Mr. C--, a gentleman entitled to high moral consideration, chose to make it a personal matter; yet, not content with a private explanation given by Mr. R--, he made a call through the press. Mr. R--responded in a proper and courteous manner, acknowledging the due respect to which Mr. C--'s private character was entitled; thus increasing the ambition of the board generally, who, with the expectation of Mr. R--making a like acknowledgment to them as a body, (not excepting their honorable head,) made a demand in joint-officio. This being duly signalized through the columns of the Courier and Mercury, Mr. R--met it with a response worthy of a gentleman. He referred them to the strongest evidence of his assertions, in the countenance which they gave to a class of officials too well known to the community for the honor of its name and the moral foundation of its corporate dignity. Thus ended a great municipal farce, to prolong which the principal performers knew would disclose the intriguing scenes of their secondary performers. The plot of this melo-comic concern was in the sequel, and turned upon the very grave fact of Mr. C--having some time previous withdrawn from the honorable board, to preserve some very delicate considerations for conscience' sake. How much spiritual consolation Mr. C--realized through the acknowledgment of Mr. R--, or the honorable board in joint-officio from the firm admonition, we leave for the secondary consideration of proper wives and daughters.