The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-05-17

many, tnat uTul CouSisteue abu J1~iS'oeS
administration of our borough affairs,
would be the result. Has that expectation
been defeated T! Does the sequel so far,
show nothing, but imbecility in the dis
charge OF official duty, and stolid disre-
gard of the expressed wishes of the pub
tic! Who, charges that neglect of OFF,
cial duty, in the estimation of some men,
is deemed matter of small moment, and
that C set Of men, who can deliberately
abuse public confidence, ere not fit to Gil
any station of public trust and response
bility? Who alleges that gross derelic-
ton of official duty implies not only abuse
of public confidence, but violates all
sense of honor, justice aud propriety, and
smacks strongly of u disregard of the SOL
emn obligations of official Oaths :! Echo
answers who!
Wepresume no man has back bone suf-
fcient to prefer suca charges against our
honorable and sagacious board of Com
mon Councilmen, but some are so lost tc
sense of propriety, so dead to the max
inns Of courtesy and exhibit such wan
ton disregard for the dignity of high Of
| fetal functionaries, as to enumerate some
instances of misfeasance and nonfeasance
upon the part of that highly esteemed and
honorable body. Now We wish to refute
these asseverations, and vindicate Official
merit from groundless aspersious.
1st-It is alleged "tbat heretofore ithas
been the practice, of publishing annually
the Borough ordinances, giving every cit.
izen fair notice of their several provis
ions. That the present Council have neg.
lected to do this, and the result is tha,
every citizen does as he pleases-in ig.
norance of them, with no exaction of pen
alties, &C." In answer to all this, we would
say, that the Councilmen have adopted
the old and well known maxim Of the Ro.
man law, Lsnorantia. .jHris, quod quisqate,
tei1et"r scare, memiHens excuSat, and that
their refusal to exact the penalties for
the violation of the ordinances, does inf
nate credit to their forbearance and mag
nanimity.
2d-It is alleged "that Main Street is
filed with enormous and unsightly heaps
of stone and dirt, reminding them of the
defences of the Allies, before the walls OF
SebastOpOl." Uponexamining the maps and
charts Of the military operations, in the
Crimea, we acknowledge the appositeness
Of the comparison, but we must not over
look utility. Any one can drive on a
good road, but it takes a good reinsman
to tack down main street, in its present
condition; and the public are under many
obligations for the rare opportunities Of
fered them of becoming profcients in that
art. Not only this, but the boys can in
dulge in that most pleasant and exhilara-
ting of Juvenile recreations, to wit: "hide
and seek" And making high places still
higher and low places still lower, many
little mud holes are formed here and there.
which will greatly relieve the minds of
anxioas mothers, as those of their chill
dren that have a peRchaW for piscatorial
pleasure, can sit on the the pavement in
front Of their doors and amuse themselves
by catching ta3-po1cs during the summer
months.
3d-It is charged "that Forge Cut has
been excavated at The lower end Of town,
1t an expense of several hundred dollars,
where the road was good enough before,
o the damage Of certain residents and
ION residents, whilst mean old rotten
ridge, in the very centre Of town is left
wholly untouched, where man and beast
ire liable hourly to break their legs and
lecks." We have no doubt as to the pow
II of the administration to cut through
be hill, but We have some misgiyings as
o their authority in leaving quite SO bold
shore in front of contiguous lots; and with
egard to the oJd bridge, it is presumed tina
alton al beings have sufficient discretion
o take care Of themselves, and if a horse
hould get bis leg or neck broken, Why
'it serves him right, be has no business
o be a horse"
4th. That "tbe Town Council have nc
elected or refused to repair the Jumping
If place, at the end of the pavement in
ront Of the Female Seminary, where al
most nightly, ladies are pitched unccre-
noniously into the gutter"
In answer to the fourth specification, /
We beg leave to say, that our City Fathers
lon't pride themselves upon their gallant
pirit of knight-erraDtry, and it matters
title to them who receives bruises 1acer-