The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-04-13

Previous 10 the meeting being organized
by The election Of a Moderator, r. M. Chap
man Esq, made speech Directing 10 The
legality Of the call, Of nearly half an hour
in length. The proceedings Of the meet
ing have occasioned some street talk, and
we seem 10 be called upon 10 say a wor d
about the matter. The meeting was called
by the Mayor and Aldermen, acting as
Selec,men, agreeably 10 The provisions Of
the Statute. Mr.. Chapman objected 10 the
legality ofthe call because the agents Of the
last year did not call the meeting, and be.
cause the District in 1916 voted that meet.
ings should be called by the agents. We
have no doub, bu, Mr.. Chapman was sin.
cere in his belief Of the Illegally Of the
call, but the time Of urging his objections,
was hardly the proper one, and we are con.
fident that in the urging Of his objections
he overlooked the fact that Selec,men can,
on application Of a specified number Of vo.
tiers, call District meetings as well as agents.
In fact meeting was called in this way sub.
scquent to the vote Of 1916, and in the pres
ent case, the Mayor and Aldermen had no
other conrse 10 pursue, as the old agents, or
one Of them, when conferred with, If moi
absolutely declining 10 join in the call, was
doubtful Of his authority 10 do SO, and this
le6 the Mayor and Alderman no other al
tentative but 10 call the meeting themselves.
So far as the allegations are concerned,
that those who were opposed 10 the holding
the meeting were not allowed time 10 state
their objections or explain their positions,
there is no ground for them. Mr.. Chap
man was allowed TO state his objections and
did so, again and again, and il was not un-
Ill the meeting had become wcared with
objections mace at an improper time, that
!, proceeded 10 the choice OF Moderator,
and it is equally untrue, that there was any
desire, or course taken after The meeting
was organized, TO prevent the free expires.
sion Of opinion. Those who thought the
call illegal, and who desired TO make ex-
plantations, were allowed 10 speak a. all
times when motions were pending, the
Moderator only insisting that discussion
should be waived while the balloting was
going on, and to give opportunity 10 declare
the result Of ballots. In point OF fact the
directors occupied The larger part Of time in
stating their objections, and if they failed TO
make others see as they did, The fault is moi
from any restrain, pu, on them in the mat.
ter Of speaking. We should not have al.
luded 10 this matter had il not appeared 10
be necessary, 10 correct erroneous impres.
sions, which have found their way into pub
lie print, nor do VICTOR any purpose of call
ing in question the motives Of Mr.. Chapman
or those who acted with him. None con
regret more than ourselves, that anything
should have occurred calculated to wound
the feelings Of any gentleman, however or.
roneous may have been his position, or how.
ever wrong he may have beon in his selec.
ton Of tho time for urging them. So for Us
tho legality Of tho meeting is concerned, wo
had no doubt Of its conformity to the re.
'quiremcnts of the law, aud wo could not
conceive why any person, fully conversant
with all the circumstance under which Il
was called, should be persuaded it was 9th.
erwise.