Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-06-08

xens, Egg, the Mayor elect. Mr..
Cozzens then administered the oath to
the Aldermen and Councilmen elect.
A ierveut md appropriate prayer
was then offered by the Rev. MIR.
Adam.
Benjamin b. Rowland, Eco, was
unanimously re elected City Clerk ivr
the ensuing year.
Mayor Cozzens then deliver ed the
following
Inaugural nj Address.
Gentlemen of The City Council -
One year has now elapsed since the
organization OF our present City form OF
Government, aud in obedience 10 our
appointment, we are called together
this evening to commence a new term
in this experiment. which has 80 far
proved successful. l believe ! may say
IL has more than met the expectation Of
It's friends and given general satisfaction
to u people ; this could hardly have
been expected In a community OF SC
long stan ing as this, that il should
meet with universal favor ; people are
ever suspicious Of their rights and
privileges, whether real or assumed, and
iea r,ul Of the consequences Of the con-
centration oil power in a few ha lds.
In fulfilling the req iirements Of the
Charter, that the Mayor shall from time
to time make such comm rnicatons to
the City Council az he may think the
interests Of the city require, I proceed
on this occasion oil my inauguration 10
that Office, to lay before you and our
fellow citizens such general views Of
the nature and wants Of our city as my
experience and observation have devel-
oped.
During the year that has now closed,
our predecessors have had much 10
contend with in Abe organization and
adaptation Of a City Government to a
people who always, save the short peri
cd Of three years. during the last centu-
ry. have been accustomed 10 legisIate
in their own way, in general and often
excited town meetings, making laws
or repeating them at The pleasure OF the
few or The many. to meet any and every
individual case. just as the Indifference
or excitement OF tho people al The time
would dictate.
Much | understand has been accom-.
plished in arranging and changing these
various duties, and ascertaining The
wants Of a city government, in looking
up aud and investigating long slumber-
ing rights and privileges which as a
ow. have been SO long overlooked and
uncared Tor; thus increasing our yearly
income, and making judicious use OF the
properly belonging TO the city.
apprchend much yet remains 10 be
done in carrying out the advantages Of
a city form oil government-in making
it eficient-in consolidating many OF It's
various Offices and duties, and cstab-
fishing a thorough and methodlcal sys.
TEN Tor all its various operations. l
shall early call your attention to this
matter as we'll rs a revision Oi The laws
which have been Inherited from the
town, running back as they do, some OF
them, sixty or seventy years, or mort,
and presenting DIS complicated IA char
acter as can possibly be conceived ;
many OF them entirely obsolete, others
so meta norphosed, from Tine to time
as TO be perfectly incomprehen.
sIble, ~suhjectiny those whose duty it ID
10 execute them TO personal liability u
new and simple code OF well-diges,rd
laws, suit d to our present condition
should be enacted and published all
the old ones should be repealed ; thus
may the duties OF the citizens anJ The
authorities be better unders,o I'd, aid
prevent many violations OF law.
Your attention will be directed - Il
st,ll further investigation oil the righ's of
the ciIy encroachnents are contnu,
" being made on streets and highways
and at this time, while property is
advancing and CHI ingiDg hands 50 rap.
idly, It should be our duty to guard the
interests OF the city and save ourselves
from trouble and litigation hereai'er.-
The shore privilege, as ii Is called. Aas
been long enjoyed free and unmoles'ed
by our citizens as a N inherent right de-
rived from the first settlement and COLI
firmed by tie following Vote -
BY the General Assembly Of the
Body (Rhode lsland) March 9th, 1859,
it is ordered nhat all the sea banks be
Tree for fishing 10 the town Of Newport"
This right and the privilege Of the shore
has been continued by the old charter,
under which We existed 10 long, and
the constitution, down to the present
time. 1t becomes important to know
the extent Of thete rights, especially at
this time, as in several instances Oh
structions and objections have been
made and II nc notice is taken Of it,
this privilege II it 10 one, may be lost
forever. have no doubt that many OF
those who have been attracted hither,
and are last becoming identified with US
as citizens, have been Influenced TO do
SO in a great degree by their impress.
sions while walking around the shores
and banks OF our beautiful island. Such
being the case cannot believe that
those who have enjoyed this high privi-
lege are willing 10 raise = perpetual
barrier against the continuance oil a like
enjoyment to all who have a de sire
quietly 10 ramble where they eau be-
hold. unobstruc'ed. the wonders OF the
mighty Ocean and inhale its refreshing
breeZes.
Tee subject Of education and our
common schools commends itself so
powerfully to the consideration Of every
rejecting mind, and has been SO often
aud 30 faithfully presented 10 the atten-
ton of this community IN times past by
those taking a leading interest ia tins
great s bject, and more lately laid be-
fore ;he City Council and the public, by
my predecessor in thi Office. IN his
interesting communication made TO the
CIix Council, on tie 18th AprlL enlhodx.