Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-31
Mayors Address.

Governments: ~
City Council IF Bah and fellOi0-citizsns
Called as am, under peculiar circun-
stances, 10 preside over your municipal af-
fairs for the short period of one year, enter
upon the duties connected herewith, with
full confidence that you win aid and assist
me in the discharge OF those duties, BY your
knowledge and experience. {,
Having never sought the place, either by
word or nct, feel humbly grateful 10 my
tellow-citlzens for this expression of their
confidence, and il shall be my determination
10 justily'il by a faithful and fearless dis
charge of all and every duly assigned me-
/ would bumbiy ask my feli0w-c itizens to
bear in mind that man is not perfect, aud /,
perhaps, the least 50 OF all men. You can
not expect everything 10 be executed TO the
| pleasure OF all, even If all men thought alike
therefore you must pardon me ii 1 should
seem to err. Under The providence of God,
| will endeavOr 10 perform the duties per-
tanning to the Office with my utmost abilities,
| honestly doing what | think is right and
! just, and for the greatest good of the great
| est number.
! This city is in its infancy, and cannot be
expected TO lake name, place and standing
among older, larger and richer Cities for a
long time TO come. Yet improvements can
be made, by slow degrees, every year. We
can accomplish something every day, with
industry, economy, perseverance and deter
mlnaton. We can thus, 10 few years, rise
10 a level, and mot with a spirit of boasting)
trust above many other places. This, how
ever, will depend very much upon the dlspo-
sltion which will be manifested by the gen.
|
of the city, and The confidence and support
| gwen them by their lellow-ciizens. They,
| all working together, can accomplish much.
| The laws by which we are placed here,
and under which we are 10 act, were made
| not for our particular benefit, butlor the ben
| eft Of The whole city. That being the fact,
| the first thing for US TO know is, what The
people want what their necessities require,
| what their luxuries aud taste require.
The first, their necessities, we are bound
TO provide for.
| Tie second, their comforts, is almost our
| equal duty.
| The third, their luxuries and tastes, is the
hardest 10 decide, and will require our pro-
toundest consideration. These duties should
be performed with economy and discretion.
The easiest part TO ACT, is 10 SIT in these
armed chairs and perform The legslaIi
part. But when we come 10 execute, then
| is the task.
1t is made my duty by the third section Of
our Charter not only al this time, but from
time 10 lime, 10 suggest 10 you such i'm
provemenls and matters as may occur 10 my
mind, for your consideration and delIbeIa-
| ton, and here assure you, | viii co-ope-
rate aud act with you, IN all and every matter
which may appear for the Interest OF our
| growing city.
| The first matter which suggests itself TO
NV mind aud calls for your deliberaIion, Is
that Of tie Finances Of the city, its resources
and its expenses. In order 10 come at this
with any degree of accuracy, we must look
back upon former administrations and see
what has been done, and what il cost 10 do
4 1t. This is our first duly, in order 10 know
what we can do, with safety 10 ourselves,
and our constituents.
You who have been ia these places the
previous year, perhaps know all about il, but
| | do not. Therefore, in order hat we may
act together, you will have the goodness 10
make all the necessary enquiries Ihroug h The
proper committees, aud make such reports
as you deem proper.
The next and perhaps the most important
object for our consideration and attention.
should be the education of The young, for on
that depends our future prosperity. No
country can preserve It's free Institutions, ex-
cept through knowledge, disseminated in the
youthful mind-cultiyated 10 manhood, and
made ripe in old age.
A high regard for the primary schools
should be cultivated in every breast, aud
great care should be taken to select compe-
tent school committees, well qualified, both
by education and talents, 10 make them ia.
ml!iar with their duties, and capable of per-
forming them with ease, comfort and pleas
ure both 10 themselves, the children, and
schools they visit. One of the most impuf>
lant qualifications after education, in a com
mitteee, is that he may have the capacity to
approach the schoor with a familiarity oil
comp panonship, and not as tyIant. An.
other is, that lie has the knowledge Of hu>
mal nature in such degree thar lie will be
able 10 select such teachers as are best cal
culated 10 promote confidence between
themselves and The scholars, in love and not
in fear. In my opinion il would greatly add
to the interest and well-being Of schools, il
the city council should visit them as body
and not as individuals. Although we may
not be SO well versed In matters OF educa-
ton rs the committee and teachers, or even
some OF The scholars, yet our cOuntenance
aud attention would greatly encourage both
teachers and scholars, and thereby he Of es-
senIial service.
Il is very easy TO follow in the footsteps OF
illustriCus predecessors, but pIeposterous 10
advance a new idea To enter upon a new
and untried project is deemed by many com
pletely disastrous TO the interest OF place or
city and may be denominated by some, as
leaving the good old government of Samuel
and striking off into the track of Solomon.
Be it so. will venture upon that untried
path, and leave the result TO lhe government
Of Samuel, enher 10 carry out or reject.
Our schools are reported to be good, the
ruth of which admit. Is that any good
and sufficient reason why they should not be
improved? that education should not be so
adapted as to meet and fulfil the wants OF
all!
Many youth educated in our CITY schools.
leave them for the common and uncommon
pursuits Of life, without any other opportuni-
ties Of education, prepared or uuprepared for
its duties. | would simply inquire, is the ed
ucation thus taught and received, The very
best kind 10 prepare person 10 perform his
duties in life TO lhe best advantage {? Is the
teaching in our schools the best calculated
Tor youth that is hereafter or immada tely
to become an Agriculturist? the only and
best kind for mechanic the only and hest
kind 10 prepare youth for Sea-aring life
The only aud best kind for Merchant? a
| Civi Enoinepr2 n MachiniAf or Architact }