Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-19
LITERARY CADET
PROVIDENCE. SATURDAY. APRIL 10.
MUNICIPAL. 1.-THE CITY," &c.


We beg leave to call the attention Of tho
citizens Of the town, to the consideration Of a
subject, of no small consequence, and upon
which they will be called TO act, in June next, +,
aud to decide with prudence and discretion.
! The subjec, to which We allude, is that which
relates to the alteration of the manner of con-
ducting our municipal affairs; and it proposed
that We shall obtain charter Of incorporation, +,
and establish a city GO, ernment. A committee
has already been appointed, 10 report, at the
next town meeting, a city charter, which will
then be laid before tho people for their accep-
I tance.
jcct Of more importance to the citizens Of
Providence, has been agitaied, and whilst it is
admitted, that there are many who are opposed
TO change, it is believed, that a large ma jori-
" Of tho citizens are in favor of The creation of
city government, and are prepared for its
! adoption. Bat before any thing Of defnive
nature be done in relation to the affair, it is
/ hoped that tho subject will 10 duly considered
I
measures may be adopted, tending TO generate
/ disqu', tudes, hear.hurnngs and animosltes.
! The advantages, which would be derived
| from change Of government, are nun,erous
and palpable, and will, as we bolicve, 30 ac-
kno"ledged by all who give the subject an
( attentive and candid consideration. In the
( first place, it will establish a mode of judicial
/ proceeding, which will do away, tho thousand
minor cases of litigation which are now
brought before Justices Of the Peace, and too
oilon decided without proper consideration Of
! their merits, and thus involve hundreds in diff
/ culiies and useless expenses, which can, and
| should be avoided. Ia the second place, it
Will establish Il municipal government, which
Will be far more rapid in its operations, than
| the one we now live nnder;- it will create a
| kind Of discipline for the general mana cement
o! our domestic conterns that a; present is
unknown 10 us, and for the want Of winch, we
! are every day subjected TO vexations and diff
culties, which are 50 well known ard felt, that
"e deem 1t altogether unnecessary to chumer-
alto them.
! II is, however, irn possible 10 say, what will
( be the actual result Of the establishment of
this kind Of government, since We are not yet
! advised Of the features Of its constitutions, but
if they be al all like those Of other cities, the
most beneficial consequences must certainly be
realized; and in forming our opinions, thus
far, we arc guided exclusively by conjecture
Those who arc opposed to the establishment
Of a city goveru'nent, base their opposition on
! principle, and urge, that such n form Of mu-
nicipal pohy, is at variance with our plain re-
| publican notions. and say, that il will counte-
/ nancc and encourage arIstecratical feelings
! and preJudiccs, and originate offices, which
will generate distinctions in society, which we
should not be ready TO counicnancc.
! Whilst We pay great respect to the opinions
of others, and would not inconsderately or
cavalerly treat their positions, we must avow,
that We cannot for the souls Of US, perceive the
business of their conclusions, or apprec cate
their fears To our minds, city, is not more
obnoxious to these objections than a town
|
| people, aud in the same manner that our
present town council is; and as for ITS creating
distinctions in society, the assumption is ab.
surd and ridiculous. 1t is true, that We shall
| create a Mayor;--hut he too will be nothing
more than n man;-hc will be tho servant Of
the people, and they will continue him in the
office, so long as he faithfully serves them, and
honestly discharges the trusts, that arc COM
mitted to his care and though he be a Mayor,
| we shall not be compelled to worship him or do
him reverence. He will be man, precisely;
and nothing more or less than a man, and q
neignbor We shall also have Aldermen
L" honest, fat, jolly faced Aldermen but they
will stand in the relation TO us that othor men
! do;-thcy will not be decorated with stars and
! garters, or vested with tho alarming pow wer
Of tyrants, and we shall not be required to bow
the head or bend the knee TO them; we shall
be required TO treat them as we treat other
! men, and when their services are no longer
wanted, why, we shall remove them from Of
! fee.
Those gentlemen, who are opposed to the
I change, raise another obje eciion, and entertain
a fear, that the taxes Of the town, will be in
creased TO an alarming extont, 10 support a
city government. This objection we cannot
believe to be good. and are of an unequivo-
cal opinion, that the actual expense of our mu.
! nicipal government, will rather be diminished
,han increased. We arc not advised, as TO
tho exact amount Of our town expenses at this
moment, but a,c informed by gentleman Of
great intelligence, and who has given the sub