CORRECTION

A story Wednesday on Page 1B mischaracterized Peter Eichenberger's stance on the Josephus Daniels statue in Nash Square. Eichenberger, who had suggested moving the statue to The News & Observer property in his October column in The Independent Weekly, asked the Raleigh City Council on Tuesday instead to erect a second statue of a notable African-American from Raleigh, John Chavis.

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RALEIGH -- Nighttime hearings at City Council tend to focus on the tidbits of urban life: mysterious $750 water bills, loud noise from the go-kart park, a resident's request to move five graves.

So eyebrows raised a bit higher Tuesday night when school teacher Linda Barnes asked the council's support in impeaching President Bush.

And Independent Weekly columnist Peter Eichenberger urged moving Josephus Daniels' statue out of Nash Square as justice for the publisher's racist past.

And Steve Noble sought -- and received -- permission for an all-Christian nativity scene in Moore Square downtown -- a 15-foot manger draped with biblical scripture.

Not a snoozer of a meeting.

Public hearings before the council serve as a free-for-all and rarely involve a vote.

Of the three hot-topic items, only the nativity scene drew council action.

This is the second year that Noble, chairman of the Christian group Called2Action, asked to put up a display.

Last year's, though, included reindeer, Christmas snowmen and a menorah. Noble said that version was meant to get the ball rolling and that this one will be strictly Christian. "And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save people from their sins," one verse from the book of Matthew will say.

"We're asking people to give Jesus the best gifts they can: Their hearts," he said.

The council had no comment. City Attorney Thomas McCormick said there is no trouble with a Christian display on city land because the city is not endorsing it and any other group could put up its own.

"They're welcome to put out what they want," said council member Jessie Taliaferro. "Another group could put out their symbol of the season."

Barnes' reception wasn't as warm. Representing the Grassroots Impeachment Movement, she made her second plea for impeachment, stirred on by news of torture and secret prisons used in the war on terrorism.

She brought about 15 people seeking an investigation into high crimes and misdemeanors but got no response.

Mayor Charles Meeker said he appreciated the sincerity and depth of her feelings but that the council may not feel such action in its best interest.

"What about your duty to uphold the Constitution?" she asked. "Does that come into play?"

She sat down to the council's silence.

"It has been our policy to stick to things we can control," Taliaferro said later. "And we have a plateful."

In an October column, Eichenberger brought up moving the statue of Daniels, longtime publisher of The News & Observer, for his role in the 1898 Wilmington race riots that caused the slaughter and banishment of black citizens.

"Every time I walk by that statue, I give a shudder," he said. "It was a coup d'etat in no small way. Civil government was overthrown."

Council members suggested adding a statue to the park -- something positive to counteract Raleigh's uglier history.

"I certainly do condemn the atrocities," said council member James West. "But at the same time, ... it's much easier to tear things down, to relocate, than to build things up."

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. It was a busy 90 minutes.