Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-03-09
War in the Wing Camp,

A particularly rich scene was enacted at the
City Hail. on Saturday evening last. The oc.
casion was the regular 'whig caucus. for the
nomination of a candidate for Mayor. In
consequence Of some electoneering documents,
as well as street reports of corruption on the
part of our street commissioner, Mayor Bailey,
which had been zcalously circulated during
few days previous, there seemed to be gen.
eral expectation of some terrible scratching be-
tween the different stripes Of cats, and we be-
licve nobody was disappointed Some difficu.-
ty was experienced in getting Secretary to
stand-three or four declned-R. r. Haines,
with commendable spirit, finally consented to
act, when the business of the caucus began
to progress
Votes were now industriously circulated by
the representatives Of the several factions of
the universal wing party" but the most cas-
ual observer could not fail to observe that the
"Young Americas" were largely in the as
cendant, as was fully made to appear on the
counting up of ballots. B. c. Bailey was de-
cared the candidate, he having received l43
to all others As.
Mayor Bailey accepted the nomination in
speech suited to the occasion, in which he
briefly reviewed his course, and the gratifca-
ton he felt in receiving this evidence of the
This qualification was the more sincere and
heartfelt from the fact that there had been an
effort in certain quarters to injure his reputa-
ton by charging him with corruption, or over
stepping his legal limits. and mourning ex-
penses Unauthorized by the City Council, and
drawing money from the Treasury in payment
therefor, before any appropriation had been
made. These charges were entirely false, and
the speaker attempted to show that he could
not have drawn the amount alleged, had il not
been in the treasury for the purpose. Gle
was loudly applauded throughout his speech
Mr.. Hayden wished to know if the gentle.
man referred to anything contained in the re-
port of the finance committee if so, he was
prepared to speak in their defence.
Mr.. Shaw then proceeded to a vindication of
which is as follows. We copy from their pub
lshcd report:
+" Impartial justice to all concerned requires
a statement of the fact, that the very large ex-
penditure for Repairs of Highways was not
made by order Of the City Council but that
a large part thereof was expended by the Com
missioner of Streets without authority and
the members Of the City Council were reluct-
antly obliged to vote to raise money to meet
the liabilities which he had incurred without
their consent"
The Mayor replied, amid deafenng cheers
Of appreciation. He had always acted consci-
entiously, and never drawn money from the
treasury without depositing an equivalent
therefor.
Mr.. Hayden "smelled a rat" when Mr..
Bailey was first elected, and he read in the
Mirror that the new mayor would do very well
if he was not "headed off, by the City Council.
lie had, however, done all he could to assist
the administration in carrying out their plans
whenever they appeared reasonable.
Hon +. ii. Morse, another member Of the
committee, followed in pretty much the same
strain. He was slightly applauded.
Mr.. Bailey thought it showed lack of cour-
age on the part of the gentlemen, to attack
him all at once He should not, however,
back out. He remembered an occasion, when
on a committee, he threw the casting vote, and
was very insultingly asked by gentleman
",chat ,oard he repreSentedl" lie thought this
showed disposition aversO to that of render
ing assistance, to say the least.
Loud cries for adjournment now rent the air,
but above the din was heard the voice of Mr..
Morse, who proceeded amid cries and Kisses,
and calls for adjournment. While decaiming
at the top Of his voice, he frequently in
terrupted with cries of Louder" Louder
we can't hear =
The meeting then. broke up, md we retired,
fully convinced that the "old fogies" of the
whig party would generally obtain "leave of
absence from the Council for the coming
wear