Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-03-23
NO. 5.
For the Evansville Journal.

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: Mr.. CHANDLER: : = - = =
i SIR-We have read the communication in the
Journal ofSaturday, purporing to be report of the
proceedings of the Common Council, at its late
sion, for the letting ofthe contract for the construc
ton of our City wharf, signed Willard Carpenter.
I This article contains but one thing that
prepared expect after looking the signature, viz
smattering Of truth interviewer with the texture of
garbled extracts and misrepresentation of which it
is made up. After serving with him in the Council
for near twelve MONTHS and Witnessing the various
maneuvres and intrigues whichhe has made use OF,
for the purpose of accomplishing entirely selfish ends,
we unprepared expect truth, even its SEM
blance, over his signature, in connection with this
matter. Mr. Carpenter sets out with the proposition
that 1.-TWO at least OF the Councilmen, appeared not
representatives of the interests of their respective
wards, hut as the pettfoggers Tor one of the compa
MES proposing for the work. and represents them,
in his opinion pledged the support of that proposl-
ton before it came before the boards This, Mr.. c.
knows tobe statement as groundless and false as
it would be on our part to call hima Councilman of
truth and honesty, which we should blush to do
in this community. We do not believe there was a
/ Councilman on the board that misrepresented the
interests of their constituents in this or any other off.
City to selfish ends, except the honorable gentlemen
from the Sd ward, who did on at least occasion,
run so far and determinedly their wishes
as to elicit from them written request, numerously
signed to change his course resign the trust they
had con6ded to him. Does the interest of the Sd ward
require 18th ward to be annexed in order to give
preponderance Of the board below Main street, We
think not, and then AK the gentleman from the Sd
ward whose interests he was representing when he
made the effort, and that by very honorable means
to have 7th ward annexed ~ 81 6s..,.s...
Will the once honored Councilman from the Sd
ward please explain his course in this to his
constituents Will he also explain his conduct and
the part he performed, rather the parts he perform
ed in the purchase of the river front from Mansels
heirs, and from Mr. Hornby9 Was he or was he not
personally interested in this purchased Did he or
did he not aid and further the interests the City
this purchaser As the gentleman stands in no very
envabe ight in connection with these transactions,
we think ii his duty alike himself and his consti
tuents, to define his positions. Any charge of want
of fidelity the part of the other Counclmen comes
4 with bad grace from so rotten source, from one
whose unceasing endeavors by means both 1--WE were
going to say honorable and dishonorabe, but will
nit the first as being self evident contradiction when
used in such connecton,) has been further every
measure that for the interest of the lower end of
town exclusively and to defeat every measure that
could benefit the upper end oftownt part of which he
mis- represents either directly or indirectly Somuch
for the Councilman from the Sd ward; we drop him
here, and hope will not be compelled to take him
up again, and only regret that called upon TO
have anything further to do with him in public
pacity, after the twelve months experience which
are happy is about to terminate. i# 1i H
Concerning the nature of the contract referred to- 1t
is perhaps unnecessary for us to say anything, mas.
much as we have authorized its publication. 1t can
best speak for ITSELF 1t rendered less necessary for
us to dwell upon that matter, inasmuch as most of
the citizens fully acquainted with not only tho
coutracitsel but with The nature of the other propo-
sitions The state of the finances and credit of the
City, and total inability consistently to accepo Of
any other proposition that submitted and the ci-
tizens, with the exception ofas hopeless If not as fac
tious minority opposed it the Council,) have
only expressed their appreciation of this act, but
they heartily congratulate the City upon her
in effecting SO happy arrangement But perhaps
it might be WE'LL before leaving the subject to barely
mention Mr.. Carpenters proposition. The Council
it will be remembered had previous session. after
proper surveys, estimates and recommendations from
competent engineer, agreed upon and located the
wharf, extending it from the upper side of Walnut st.
to the middle ofDivision. They had caused the es-
Inmates to be published Tor the information of such
might wish propose for the work. They had agreed
to let the work, and appointed commissioners the
part of the City, advertise for, and receive sealed
proposals for the work, up tillthe first of March, when
they to be opened and acted upon. Inpursuance
of this previous arrangement the Council met at the
earliest practical period after the first OF March, and
proceeded TO the work. The sealed propositions were
opened and read and on the second day, while under
/ consideration Mr.. Carpenter, one.of the Council
whose duty II was to act the part of the City, and
who was prohibited from personal contract with the
City either directly indirectly, Thy oath of ofce>
comes In with an open proposition, in which he pro-
posed to build one block, purchase 1000 worth Of
bonds, sc. These statements are made only TO show
the manner ofthis proposition and Mr. Carpenters
personal connection with 1t. But what was the ma
ture of this proposition! 1t was that City which
unable unwilling to pay per cent. interest
on her bank debt of 5000, whereby she might
her note and credit, TO issue bonds to the amount
OF from % TO $50 900 least, drawing per cent
per annum interest, payable semi-annually and to
tall due in II years, the interest which woulp
amount in the II years to 100 per cent and Mr. Car
| pener going to be magnanimous as TO take
$4,000 OF the bonds at par and commence this great
/ work upon this sum- A striking similarity between
this and the preliminary steps by which our State
crept into her once hopeless condition. with the ex-
ception, that the bonds portion drew only 6
per cent, and portion only of one per cent. whilst
our City bonds were to draw ten per cent payable
semi an nuay. We would be glad to see all the
propositions published at length, and would be happy
to ma Ike fellow-cizens fully acquainted with the
facts in full land if possible the motives that actuated
each and every person concerned) if time and space
would permit but will drop it here for the prt sent,
hoping that each and every citizen will feel his du
ty, well as interest," to make himself acquainted
with this transaction well every of their rep
resentatives to whom they confde their interests.
4 L. L. LAYCOCK.
Il f SILAS STEPHENS
/ 5s - s.,.s. THOS SCANTLIN.
/ c. NJ. GRIFFITH.
i THE following estimate made by the Mayor
and handed us, with request Il at append il 90
Il the article above:l
Amt of contract price 500 $1,000 90