The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-06-12

PUBLIC 8U0s
At meeting Of the Peopsuy heldsss on
Fifth street. Ard oshess, held d ths Court
House. in the city Of Davenport. wednss
dsy evening. June lesh. 1857. pursuant "a
sdjournment.
Harvey Hsehss vas called TO the chair
and D. D. Shelly was elected Secretary.
The Chairman stated the object Of the
meeting, when the report OF Committee
| appointed at former meeting being called
tor, Mr.. Plummer, chairmsn Of said commit.
tee, responded verbally, that the committee
waited upon the City Council. at their meet
ing on Monday, 9Th inst. with renon'
STRANGE signed b, property owners on Fifth
stree, against the action Of the Council In
the mater OF releasing the NJ. 4 n. r. X
Co. from their obligation to pave or macad
amize said street, &c. together with resols
ton. psssed at the meeting held il IN,
Court House. Saturday evening. 9Th inst.
The Council having granted Mr. p. per
mission to address the Board, he proceeded
in brief manner 10 lay beiore them the
objec, af their visit. sni while reading ths
resolutions the Mayor called him TO orde.
and . motion passed the board, that any
further communication should be made ia
writing, whcreupon the committee retired.
Motion TO receive report and discharge
Committee.
Mr.. Pst,en objected to reception OF report
unless reduced 10 writing. Some remarks
OF Mr.. Pattcn's drew forth some expression
OF feeling. wherenpon the chairman request
| ed gentlemen to confi0e themselves TO the
question before them. and lei the proceed.
inss OF the meeting be conducted with ~
much moderation ss possible. Alter some
further discussion the report was received
and committee discharged.
Dir. Coll,ns being called upon, rose sud
excused himself. from addressing the meet
ing. and called Tor Mr.. Willard Barrows
who responded in the following language
FELLow CITIZENS II 10 Lut seldom tina
! appear before you, whatever the occss,o,
may be, out to nisM-I want no apology
neither do l believe there 10 q lover uf hu
man rights Or Of human liberty here. tbs
nceds an excuse to be here tonight. VIII,
let me ask. are We hero tonight 7 l q
| ashamed 10 answer the question, feilo,
citizens. an almost ashamed 10 own thi
- the city OF my adoption. whom I tell 70
that our prayers and petitions have bee
spsrMd b. her present Council. and Y
treated - slaves and b.ggars We CO,
not be heard before the City Council
Davenport any more and we are ga,here
here tonight not % much to express on
indignation ~ the recent course pursued b
that body towards Us, but to devise rs,
and means To secure our rights against
mos, gross, oppressive and tyrarnical usurI
alton OF authority by our p esent rulers
But, fellow citizens. II may ba we'll for Y
to inquire what has led to this state .
things and caused 50 much excitement or
anxiety about our rights ! cannot te
you any better than BY referring to III,
wonderful and rare document recently pr,
scented 10 the citizens Of Davenpor, by b
Honor the Mayer. uton the subject Of Fin
street and the Railroad Company. Il wouI
b. useless 70 repeat Il here ito langusg
10 well understood. The citizens in gene
raj, aud those particularly who were inter
esied in 9th street, hailed this message q
a delvefancc from bondage, and his Homo
the Mayor was lauded - dnsinteres,ed On
just officer in the administration Of out law,
worthy tho trust reposed in him. tn
wishes VI HE Honor were carried out BY IN
City Council immediate prosecution VIZ
ordered. lojunctions then were the osds
o. the day. and the dawaiog OF better da
began 10 appear. But 10 oil ct once i
the spacious csrpesed Hslls Of the Presi
dent's room in the Depot. meeting Of th,
Directors Of the NJ. & M. n. X. Co. wa
held! The miil,onsires VI N. Y. wer,
here, and the CONSERVATION aud surprise o.
this august body wss amazing, when they
were told Of the ungrateiu. aud unbecomina
acts Of our cilisens in demanding Of tbs
company . tul6lmen, OF their contract
another. and new humbug vas started &c
brighten ~ into measures proposed BY the
Company. And the maenanimous sum o
forty Aossssd datisrs was offered 10 the Cit,
Council 70 release the Compsny from
their contract to grade aud pave 9Th street
and allow them to put down another tack
All this was ia!r enough, perhaps. upon IN,
part Of the company but that our Cit,
Council for one moment should entertain
'ueh proposition. is surprising. After tn,
long aud repeat ed abuse OF this Compan,
towards the city in not complying viii
their contract. the proposition should hsv,
ecsa spsrned ss an insult / To be release
from Contract OF three yesrs sianding, III
estimated CO., Of which had been held 4
one hand'ed sad hjts lAossssl dollsrs, for III
mere sun OF J9iy aOusssd do,ls,s paysbI
~ bonds upon IN uLmsds portion OF the r
x. west, tina, might be years before IN
b,nds would be worth City cents on III
dollar But what was the action of m
CITY Council I His Honor the Msvor A.,
exaibits a wonderful skill In turning some
sets. and most Of the Council are four
good ~ still vsulting.
Some Of the msmbess seemed 10 be ,ake
by surprise and needed considerable ,ssi,
ing which. in ths hurry Of proceedings hs
probably been omitted.
Motions were made % table the propos
ton un'il ths next meeting Of Council, b,
u could only be left until the neg, d.,
The case seemed very urgent ia the d,
age II the bill and II IN ea,ly se.sio,
The next day the bill sAs passed, and FIJI
stree, was .old for mess OF pot,ses. 4
this singular and unexpected move Of Il
Council. toe cisisens Of Davenport bsrsu
alarmed. The owners Of land GA Fiji
street iosnd themselves swindlsd BY III
very body from which they had rsh,
expect protection. They Immediately D
'itioned Council To be placed back upon n
| same ground thev weve n,evi,,us - 81 .