Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-02-22
q Q m muuiGatr0 .
Forthe McigS Co. Telegraph.
MidalIcDOrt correspondence.
"sMoKED OUT"


Mr.. Editor: The momentous question
is solved. The world may rest at ease.
We have Mayor--we are blessed Heaven
deliver us from all such blessings!) with a
Town Council. My article in the Isle-
graph of the 18th inst. produced quite a
Huttering in the municipal nest, and ruffled
the sleek feathers of the venerable fathers
to considerable extent. AS an evidence
of this, will just say that, in less than
twelve hours after the appearance of the
article in question, notice was posted,
calling meeting of "the Town Council
of the town of Middleport," on that
"wednesday evening! Who can describe
the mingled emotions of hope and fear
which, during all that weary day. agitated
the breast of your correspondent? What
was to be done? 1t was rumored that
reward was to be offered for the appre-
hension of one Brown" who had had the
audacity to expose their rottenness; and that
individual forthwith ''made his will" and
prepared 10 take his departure on "the first
boat" No outbreak, however, took place
during the day; the sun went down behind
The Western hills, as usual, and the event
full hour of meeting drew nigh. Business
was suspended, citizens held their breath
in anxious suspense, passing steamers
mufied their bells, and, amid a tumult of
conflicting emotions,
"They met-'iwas on a starry night.''
Incredible as it may appear, that embodi-
ment tof primeval simplicity and antiquated
fogyism, known as "the Town Council, {"
assembled! am informed, by the way,
that it is the first meeting at which quo
rum has been present for some three
months AS l have before remarked,
they met, and "then came the tug of war"
They rganized-discussed Brown, p
adjourned-went home would that they
had "stuck in the mudF" land retired
actually "'Dent to bed, like common men!
Let us hope that, after the troubles of that
day, they slept the sweet sleep of inno-
cence, and dreamed blissful dreams of a
happy country, where Gas one Of the men,
bers beautifully and pathetically remarked
"the citizens wade in mud neck deep"
and where the apparilion of no wicked
"Brown" shall come to disturb the quiet
of their repose. May they speedily arrive
at the haven of their hopes-and all good
citizens respond "Amen''
Since the publication of my first article,
l have become acquainted with some other
facts, which have a tendency to show the
beautiful workings of our municipal sys-
tenn. The first Marshal elected after the
incorporation of the town, shortly after
his election. called upon the Mayor and
proposed to enter into bonds for the faith
ful performance of his duty, which that
official declined to accept. stating that i;
was not the intention to enyorce any of the
ordinances which these "wise men, might
pass during the first year of their official
existence, and therefore, the Office of Mar
shal could be dispensed with! So it seems
that the one ordinance which they did pass
was never meant to be enforced, but only
10 blind the eyes of those not in the Sc
crels of the cabal!
Another instance: Nearly every resi-
dent Of Front Street, as l am informed,
signed petition to that body to pass an
ordinance prescribing the width and style
of pavements which they intended to
adopt, and protecting the same from the
encroachments of wagons, horses, &C.,
and they (the property-holders) would
forthwith pave that street at their own ex
pense. This petition was treated with ST.
lent conlempt-at least, no action was
taken upon it-and Front Street, togethe
with every other street in the place, is now
almost impossible. Oh, that we could
"-place in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascus naked through the''-MUD!
Various other instances of their short
comings are mentioned, which l may,
perhaps, refer to at some other time
They undoubtedly belong to that class OF
individuals who are described as sitting on
the shirt-tail of Progress and crying, "Wo,
wo!' and, unless they "mend their ways"
our "city fathers" will be likely tc realize
the truth eff the quotation
"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it'll
To have a thankless ehildl"
BROWN.
~-The N. Y. papers contain accounts