The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-05
For the New Era.
THE PUBLIC MEETING.

Mr.. Editor - attended at the meeting which
took place at the Town Hall on Tuesday night,
fur the purpose of discussing The advantages and
disadvantages which might arise from the further
Incorporation of the Town of Portsmouth or, to
express the object of the meeting more clearly, it
was the ~propriety of more perfectly organising
the government of the Town. After some highly
appropriate and explanatory remarks by M. Gun.
bingham, | could bnt smile at some of the asser-
tons OF our joint Clown and County, Represen-
tatlve, for arguments they could not be called
and II ever saw any evidence of the truth of The
idea then brought forward by him, that man was
given the faculty of speech, that he might the
better conceal his thoughts, | think saw it then
and | had come To the conclusion, that the speaker
thought, that if ever a man was blessed with a
perfectly gullible auditory, that he was for I
must believe that without such an opinion of his
audience, no speaker would have venlured upon
such barefaced assertions as some of his were.
In proof of the truth of that belief, | will! bring
10 notice one or two of these build assertions, and
! cannot but believe that the orator will blush on
seeing them in print. He began by boldly as.
sertlng that all corporations were highly operni.
cIous in their effects hui in the course of his re-
marks said. that he had no doubt the time would
come, when it would be highly proper for The
people of the Town TO seek Incorporation; and
that he then would heartily join in it. Now,
MIR. Editor, | must believe that this idea of The
greatly pernicious effects of the Incorporation of
Towns is a new one, for since the World has
been populated, | do not believe that any large
number of People have ever conprepated 10
gether as a Town. without some kind of corpora
hon. or body polite. being resorted TO-, for their
protection, and better government; and nothing
Oul me belief before expressed, Of the Speakers
opinion OF the perfect guliibilily of his audience,
could have justified such an assertion.
he next went on to ask the people TO look at
the cities of New York and Richmond, and see
me terrible consequences there exhibited Of the
ehecis OF Incorporation, their great extragance,
pride, &c. | could not help coming to the con.
clnsIon, that this view Of the subject would pro-
ouce a diHefent Impression upon the people than
Inc speaker Intended when it is SO well known
mat so large a portion Of the friends and relatives
OF the people Of Dur uncharlered Town, are now
leaving them to seek employment in these dread
'uiIy injured corporation cities-and make them
come 10 The conclusion that they wished TO see
ihelr iown injured in The same way-but may
be wrong in this conclusion-the speaker is an
oO cainPaIgner in this field and knows best how
inuch 'he people can bear Of this kind Of warfare
PaflcuIarly as he was prepared with a plenty Of
'he uncllpn OF BtarRey TO dress their wounds, al
Ter as thought, these unfortunate thrusts.
Inc speaker then went on to tell Us that his
uesllnles were chained to The destinies Of Ports.
mouth whatever they might be, by pecuniary
interests and ties Of consanguiniiy but | inferred
ron the emphatic manner in which he expressed
himself, that he deserved largely the need of
praise ioF his patriotic determination to " sink
of SWIM with Portsmouth. would not have it
inferred that these few subjects were all that The
speaker touched upon. Oh no! there were many
other subjects touched upon, both in poetry
and prose much rant and buster, and I will saw,
some fine flights Of fancy-bul there was but
little else said that was at all pertinent to the
subject.
left the Hall, Mr.. Editor, under the impress
sion, that If such a speech as we had just heard,