Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-04-11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS


cannot better express myself to you, gentle
men--the retiring Mayor and Common Coun-
Gil, than by saying that you have done all and
more than was expected of you for our infant
city In agoyernment like ours. the highest APP
paudit that can be given to our public function
aries, is, swell done good and faithful servants. :"
This high commentator You have Justly merit
ed for the firm and quiet manner in which you
have discharged your duties the past year. The
year you have served has been one not calculated
TO present an easy access to public favor. Prov
idence did not SO abundantly favor the tolls of
the husbandmen as in years past. This has
affected the interest of the whole city. a debt
of some magnitude hung upon the city. The
taxes have been high and the people In debt and
anxious, on account OF the circumstances in
which they were placed. The demand for labor
has been small and wages low. Nevertheless,
an ornament to our city has been erected by pri-
vate munifcence. A fearful and fatal sickness
visited us the past season, attended with gloom
aud expense. Yet, notwithstanding all this, you
have reduced the city debt from upwards of six
thousand dollars to that of fifteen hundred as will
be seen by reference to the annual report pub
lished to-day; thus we see that tie condition of
! the finances Of the city is very tlatterng-the
city owing only aboat $1,000. With this state
ment OF affairs, every one of course is satisfied
and therefore more than contented with that pol
ICY and those measures which have brought
about this result. You have done much for our
active and efficient Fire Department, and above
all, You have been kind to the poor In fact,
while we look with appreciation and gratitude to
the faithful performance of your duties the past
year, we who now assume your places, look
with more solicitudc and fca7 to our duties and
though we have the light of your experience,
! nevertheless we shall always come to you with
becoming Difference and ask your advice and
counsel. The mantle that has rested so grace
fully upon your shoulders for the past year, now
falls lightly upon ours and we hope, with the
aid of your counsel and advice, to preserve it ur-
spotted during the present fiscal year.
Ladies! permit me to say, your presence on
this occasion, incIem3nt as the weather is, eali-
VEINS the scene, cheers our hearts and inyigor-
ates our hands on entering upon the duties which
we have just sworn faithfully to discharge
Though you do not deposit The ballot in the box
nevertheless your influence, as to tie veal or
woe Of its consequences is very great. You
have always been foremost in every good work
the last to torsakc and the first to proclaim clad
tidings. We noed your influence that we may
be the better enabled successfully to maintain
good order and promote the happiness Of all
May We merit Your smiles ana thus be cIcour-
aged in the discharge of our dlties.
Friends and fellow citizens permit me to re-
turn you my sincere thanks for the confidence
you have e,inced in placing me in the position
now occupy-thc chief executive officer of tie
city of Kcnosha. | hope you may never have it
to say that your confidence has been mispla-
ccd
1t is made my duty to maintain peace ana good
order, and see that the laws Of the state and or
dinancas Of the city are observed and executed
All should respect the laws, as they are the ba.
sis ofciviI society. As good citizen and a true
christian, every man will b. anxious to ay old cv-
cry thing which is unlawful. In the discharge
of these duties the countonancc and support Of
every good citizen is needed. If not granted,
then the laws will become as it were rope of
sand. Where the law is tramplcd under too,,
tyranny rules, whether it appears in the form Of
military dcspotism or of popular violence. The
law is TIE only sure protection of the weak, and
the only efficient restraint upon the strong
When imPartially and faithful. administered,
none is beneath its protection and none above its
control. You may be assured that to the best of
my ability and to the extent Of the power vested
in me, Shall at all tines, and in all places, take
care that the laws be faithfully cxccuted In the
| discharge Of this duty, soemnly imposed upon
me by the Charter and by my oath of Office,
shall shrink from no responsibility, and shall
| endeavor to meet events, as they may arise with
! tirmncss, as well as with prudence aud discretion
! Every citizen is, in great measure, the maker
or marrcr Of the peace and happiness of the COM
munity in which he lives. SO also of its rapu-
tation-itit Is bad who is to blame for it! If cv-
cry tongue is weary in cursing it, what may nat
urally be expected! The answer is in every
mouth. Then let US look we'll to our own, if VIC
do not, who can We expect will be the guard
ans Of cur reputation, or the hcraldcrs Of our
good deeds Gentlemen Of the Council Ii is
made my duty also to recommend to you such
measures as may be deemed cXpediont. Among
/ the first duties that will deyolve upon YOU, and
to which now call your attention, and recon-
mend to your immediate consideration, is that Of
carving out the wishes the citizens. 50 dcci-
dodly and empha'calIy expressed at the ballot
box on Monday last, in relation to the improve
provemcnt of our Harbor They have decided
to raise ten thousand dollars and by tax upon
the real estate Of this city and now ask you, as
their representatives, TO pass an ordinance levy
ING said tax; cause the same to be collected and
judciouoly expended for the purpose before al
Iuded TO. Ihopc there will be no delay in car
! ry,ng their wishes into effect. Philosophy has
accumulated Prcccpt upon presePt to warn US
against the anticipation Of future calamiiics.-