Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1860-09-02


Of the midnight ineendisTy.
Suppose that we were to quietly Yield to ne
unjust and degrading demands Of the city
council, thus carrying their action into prae-
teal effect. What would be she Inevitable
results Some months, at least, must necessarily
slapse before their proposed paid FIRE depart
ment could possibly 20 into efficient operation
even II II should finally succeed at all, and in
the meantime, half your city might be con-
sumed BY Ere, while no rel able means would
be at hand BY which to ex~tinguish the flames
II is to guard against this contingency, against
this certain result Of the foolish action Of The
city governors, that We still propOssto extend
our protection to those Of our fellow-eitizens
who desire it.
It may not be improper 10 examine the sub
Jet briehysupon the seors Of economy as the
present city council has made such astonish-
ing progress recently in that direction, It may
be that their action was. to some extent, in
duced by considerations Of that character
From a hssty estimate, we arc satisfied that
the expense Of starting and supporting Tor one
year a paid ERE department would not ran
/ short Of $4,000, and that its continuance 10
/ active operation would involve an annual eN-
p.pditure Of $4,000. Whs-ess heretofore q
srn less than $1,000 hss covered the annual
appropriations made By the city to each one
Of The FIRE companies.
This increase In ths cost Of csTyius forward
the machinery Of the city government may
seem an item Of trihing moment to those who
bav, the disposal Of the public funds. but to
these who appreciate The embarrassment
growing out Of our present corporate indebted
ness. and who feel the weight Of the enormous
taxation under which We are now g~roaning
Il is a subject Of much graver Importance. II
is not our purpose to make war upon any one
further than Is necessary for self-detsnse,
however deeply we ourselves may have been
wrongsd. We only ask for justice and fair
distinguishing more.
We propose to resort to no remedy for the
redress Of our grievances, other than a legal
and legitimate one, feeling that we viii be sus-
tanned BY every honorable, unprsjudieed, and
upright man.
For those members Of the council who have
defended US from false and unjust aspersion,
we feel tie protoundest respect and esteem,
and desire in this public manner, to express to
them our most grateful acknowledgement,
while for those who have purs-ed a different
course we have no further word Of ~censure,
but patiently await the time when We can mete
out to them a Just recompense at the ballot
box.
While the vile and Infamous falsshoods OF
which We complain, were only Pennsi BY ig-
norant and irresponsible scribblsrs, and re-
tailed to The public at a cheap rate By small
city rapers, we passed them BY with indifsr-
sncs. as neither had s~ufieieh, caste or stand
ing to impress the public mind with a belief Of
their truth. But when a body 80 respectable as
the city council should be, saw fit, By lie action,
to indOrss the ISLANDERS, and, in effect, to lake
under its protection the miserable miscreants
who circulated it, we felt called upon to brand
il with the infamy which it deserves. We
r now submit to your decisions, fellow-eitizens,
the questions at issue between ourselves and
those who have assailed US. We are still
anxious to serve you, but we cannot do so In
/ disgrace and while we are resting under the
stigma placed upon US By those in authority,
seconded by others less guilty than them, but
who have been misled BY the false position in
which they have placed Us. We invite your at
%tsntion to the following action taken by US at
our last meeting, as the board Of FIRE wardsns,
in which our future course is clearly defined
WHEREAS, The mayor and board Of alder
men Of the city Of Memphis, have Just issued
- = H. -gaNmaH~w - Nhu -
p7ct entered into Between them and the fire
/ department bg the ordnance Of 1859, unjust
and insulting to Us, and subversiye Of every
principle Of right and fair dealing. There
ResolpsS, That we repsi with scorn
and Indignation the false and slanderous
imputations cast upon ms BY The mayor
and board Of aldermen o. the city OF
Memphis in representing Us to be a public nut
sspes.a disgrace to the city and our organi-
zation, to be Of too dangerous a character 70
be longer confused.
Pesoluef, That we will no longer run as hre-
men in the service Of the city until their Of
fsnsive action Is withdrawn, our rights admit
ted and our feelings respected.
Resoluod, That we viii submit to the decis-
ion Of disinterested commissioners, mutually
selected, the adjustment Of all difference be-
twees ourselves and the city. Also the diyis-
ion Of all property Jointly held between US.
Resolref, That we will bold, a. any hazard,
that portion Of Joint the property that may Be
signed US IN the settlement.
Resolved, That we Immediately proceed 70
form a fremen's union for the protection OF
our own and The property Of our friends
Rss0luei, That we appoint a OF
/ i've 10 carry into effect the object set forth IN
the next preceding resolution by obtaining the
membership and support Of those friendly 70
the enterprise, promising them to protect
their property, as Par IS possible, from destrue-
ton bY FIRE.
The following gentlemen were named a. our
representatives as referred to in The second
foregoing resolution Col. A. H. Douglass,
II. c. Young, Henry H. Painter, A. C. Wurz-
bach, DR.. ". c. Bryan and Capt. H. Magsv-
nsy. A committee OF gentlemen has also been
appointed to carry into effect the suggestions
contained in the fourth resolution
II our cause is q lust one, we ask the public
to support and sustain Us. II they should de-
eide against US, not one murmur shall pass our
lips. Respectfully
GEORGE B GRAHAM. warden. Ere company No. Q.
NJ. WHTrsTTT. warden, IRE company No 3
J. II. HARTLET. warden, IRE clmpauy No
J. G. BARBOUR. warden, Pioneer NOOK aud Ladder
E,H wHJTsTrT, Chief e~srInser. Ere Department.
&c HOIST. Frst assistant representing are com
TaOs. DEMNANs. second assistant eaEin.sr.
Board Of Fire Warden.
l. C~UNNlNGHANs secrenry-