Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-15

PU0tC meeting at IOTttdnd.-Ihe be-
nevolent and enterPrising citizens of Port
land have had public meeting for the pur
pose of taking into consideration the best
means of afordng general relief in relation
10 the high price of provisions and particu-
larly Of -four. The meeting was fully at
tended by the best citizens Of the place.
We cheerfully give place to the proceed
! ings. Let but the spirit Of kindness and de-
| done to alleviate the sufferingS of the poor.
At meeting of the citizens Of Portland,
held at the city hall on Friday evening, Jan.
81, 1887, Hon. Mark Harris was called TO
| the chair, and c. B. Smith was chosen sec
rotary.
J. l.. Megquier, Esq. from committee
appointed at preparatory meeting for that
purpose, reported the following resolutions;
which were unanimously adopted.
Resolved, That we regard the conduct Of
those who speculate for gain in the necessa
res Of life, and endeavorto amass wealth by
extorting money from the community, by
monopoIizing and withholding from the
market bread-stufs and other articles Of dali
ly necessity, as base, wicked and oppressive,
and worthy only of those who can, unmov-
ed, witness the distress and suffering of pow
erty and hunger
other articles Of provision, who purchase
and hold the same for the purpose Of extort-
ing exorbItant prices from the customers,
are obnoxious TO the just reprobation and
detestatlon of all honest and honorable men;
and that they deserve to be branded as I'M
just eXtortloners, and the cruel and inhuman
oppressors Of the poor, the widow and the
orphan,
Resolved, That those persons who, re-
gardless of the distress and suffering occa-
stoned to the poor and destitute, by reasons
of high prices Of the necessaries Of life, en-
gage in speculatlons to enhance the price
of -four, and provisions, or other necessary
} articles of living, by Withholding them from
the market, are unworthy of public patron
age, and ought to meet the marked disappro-
baton Of the community; therefore,
Resolved, That we will not ratronize
any persons in their business, whom We
know to be engaged in such speculations,
and that we will use our influence to induce
! others 10 withdraw all patronage from such,
? and 10 bestow it on those who, by their con-
duct, show that they are not Indifferent to
The sufterngs of the poor.
Resolved, That we will use, and that
we regard it as the sacred duty of the opu-
lent and Of those in easy circumstances, to
use all lawful and honorable means, to dis
countenance and discourage speculations in
= -four, which, though abundant in this city,
and amply sufficient to supply the wants of
the people, is held by its owners at a most
2 exorbitant price; and that we will, as far as
, possible, abstain from its use. until its own
ers will sell it at its fair and just value.
On motion, Voted, That the proceedings
y of this meeting be published in the newspa-
D pers of tIis city, and that 10000 copies Of
D the same be printed and circulated in the
9 city by committee of five from each ward
= Il which committee was subsequently, an
n nounced from the chair.
! On motion Of Mr. Geo. Ropes, it was
unanimously resolved, that Levi Cutter, U
Davis, w. w. Woodbury., c. Q. Clapp
- Albert Smith, Henry H. Body, and A.
Shaw, be committee 10 wait on the con
e signees of -four in this market, and request
g them to communicate Immediately with the
t, owners thereof, and require them either tC
4 allow it to be sold at fair price, or to pro
h vide for its reshipment
- On motion, Resolved, That during the
Z time we shall abstain from the use Of -four
II and resort to the use of corn-meal as sub
l. stitute, any merchant having the latter arti
e Gle ON hand, who shall rise in price on i;
Y shall be held in the opinion of this meeting
5, a second Shylock, and his name be held VI
IS to public scorn and detestation.
MARK HARRIS, Chm.
>. c. B. SMITH, Sec.