Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-07

positively that very hlgA oHcef oi me alhlS
has been arrested, to night ON the charge OF
being the medium through which the rebels
have been constantly obtaining important in
formation in regard to military movements.
Prominent persons here understood 10 be
involved in the same affair. The hour is TOO
late TO admit OF veri6cation OF the story, and
give it on rumor only"
KunuguratIOnEo OF the city Government for
1859.
The customary exercises Of the Inaugural
licn Of the city government for 1862 took
place in the City Hall, yesterday, at ten
o'clock A. 81 After prayer by Rev. MIR. Snip
pen, tie cath OF office WAS administered to the
mayor elect, Hon. 2. Emory Aldrich by the
retiring may or, lion. Isaac Davis. Mayor
Aldrich then administered the usual oaths Of
office to the several alderman and common
counclmen elect, after which he delivered the
following inaugural address =
MAYOR ALDhlcH's IEAuGUKAL ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the Board Of Abdomen and Of the Com
COEHct
No thoughtu man and loyal citizen can, at this
eyentful period Ia tue history OF country, enter
upon the administration OF any portion OF public
affairs, III however humble sphere, without u 1eel
ing OF deep sOcitude.
Fifteen months ago profound peace and general
prosperity prevailed Throughout the republc to-
day war Is agrant, raging along the entire border
marking the boundary between the loyal aud dis
loyal states, and not less, perhaps than mil of
men, called from the peaceful pursuits OF commerce,
agriculture, and the mechanic arts, aIrGyed in hos
tile hosts against each other, prepared preparing
to settle, By the stern arbitIaInent OF the sv I'D
questions which we had too confidently hoped wouid
nave resolved themselves i'll the peaceful and natural
progress OF our republic in its onward march TO
greatness ana supremacy among the nations of the
earth.
This great and disastrous change has brought with
II the long tram inevitably and aiWays IT.
tendant upon the Withdrawal OF large masses of
from The productive pursuits OF peaceful indus
try to the destructive arts OF war.
But the power OF the government and the patriot
ism OF the people have so far shown themselves
quite equal to the great emergency, and it is not
be doubted that they will continue 10 rise with every
new demand Tor men and money, until this most
unnatural and wicked rebellion shall be driven from
the Ialr helds OF the Union, ana That this gov
eminent, then free i'll fact us in NAME and when at
once inspires the admiration aud hopes OF the masses
OF mankind and the envy ana hatred OF tile few
who indulge the vain belief that they are born TO
rule ana dominate over the many, shall rise to
greater heights OF prosperity ana rehown than it has
ever before reached.
This dread ordeal through which we are now pass
ing has imposed and will continue to impose luou
the general gOycrnient upon the several states and
upon all towns aud cities. ieiyy losses and burden
OF taxation 10 which Americans have hitherto han.
PLY been strangers.
1t therefore becomes ALL and especially all who
are in any way called TO the administration oil pub
lie affairs, to practice che strlces economy in the
present. ana 10 PROVIDE Wisely ana Wen fof the iu-
ture; Tor when once there is appeal from law TO
from reason 10 II becomes
iofesee what year, month, or even ii day may
bring forth.
Oar own city, in common with the whole coun-
try, has experienced the sad effects of this change
from slate Oi peace 10 state Our leiiow
citizens in large Numbers have been called, rather
have voluntarily gone Tonh to the defence OF the
government and constitution formed by good and
patriotic men, and which bad ana TRAITORS are
seeking to subyert, and thus withdraw from MS
some portion OIL the productive energy and enter
prise which conrriDutng to the growth and
prosperity OF the city. Loss OF property, bankrupt
slat in Itl,t
suspension Vi some OF the branches of industry
when have heretofore tended largely to secure in
diyidua prosperity and promote the general welfare
astrous Change.
sui ueitheI the courage nor the patriotism of our
citizens mas ailed and after the rst rude shock of
arms lett time tor reflection, of enterprise. CON
templauns the altered condition Of affairs, directed
their energies into new channels OF industry. and
there's already marked revival in the business OF
the city An abundance OF all the necessary COM
forts OF lie has crowned the year that has just
closed and there has been comparatively little SUIT
1ering, apart from the already enumerated,
beyond tnat which seems almost necessarily incident
10 the present imperfecty developed condition of
human society Ma wasting disease has been eMtel-
svely prevalent in our midst but good health rather
has been our happy lot. Our pubnc schools, public
charities. and ali public institutions have ell
couneTed no serious interruption, but have all been
caFried forward with characteristic energy, beneyo.
lence, and success and, Notwithstanding the great
uncertainty that hangs over the immediate future,
and the threatening aspect of our national affairs Il
general cheeriuIness and hopeiulness peryades
community
We shall undoubtedly be required to contribute
much more largely than before to the support
Of the general government and state and municipal
taxes may range higher than they have Tor many
years past il not higher than ever before since orr
government was 1irst founded. The most careful
ana strict economy should therefore be practced i'll
all appropriations and expenditures OF the public
money.
1t is under these circumstances, gentlemen of the
city council. that we nave been selected by the free
sutfrages OF our fellow citizens to administer Tor
them not Tor ourselves, their municipal affairs dur
ing the current year. And we are now assembled
in this hall for the purpose OF completing the usual
and necessary organization OF tine municipal govern
ment, aud having complied with the prescribed
forms OF law, 10 enter al once upon the discharge OF
our public duties The sphere O these duties Is not
large, but proper performance OF them is not init
maIely connected with the welfare OF those whom
called upon to serye they may at times be
irksome ana perpieXing, but having been undertake
ity and with sole reference 10 the public good
Happily for US, these duties all defined anu reg
ulated by the General Statutes of the common.
wealth, or By the city ordinances We hayese
ly solemnly sworn, faithfully and inpartially, to
perform the duties that belong 10 our several sta.
lions, and know of better safer rule tor the
conduct OF public officer, than first to make him
sell thoroughly acquainted with the obligations he
has assumed, and then firmly and dispassionateiy
discharge them, without tear favor and without
hope OF any bigger reward than the approval of his
own conscience and the approval of loyal and law
abiding citizens We have not been elected, that
am aware OF, upon any particular issue but it is
quite certain hat our fellow citizens will rightfully
expect that our execution o. the trusts committed to
will be comprehensive the oaths have
taken. and the laws and ordinances prescribing our
duties
Among the objects that will claim our attention
public schools, the glory OF free state and
the highways and Streets which are truly regarded
as sure indlces Of the progress and cultivation of
community, the shade trees which border nearly all
principal streets, and add much to the beauty
and comfort of our fair city, the poor who have
ceased 10 be able to for themselves the Public
Library, whose principal founder still dwells among
us, ana is annually adding to his original munifcent
gift, and whose name will be held and hOnored in
grateful remembrance until the love of reading
shall ceaseo be of the purest sources OF enjoy
ment and the light OF science becomes extinct Tho
families of the gallant men who have gone from
midst, to uphold and protect all thar makes homes
and lie here desirable must he literally and gener-
to add to the comfort and efficiency of soldiers
in the field, or for the sick and wounded Of own
men, we must not with an illiberal hand withhold
the needed assistance.
All causes injurously affecting the public health
or morals or tending to a disturbance OF the public
be done by reasonable exercise of law, should be
abated.
There is a large class of evils, not to say vices ~
ing quite hey 0nd the sphere municipal law, and
wholly within the province Of morals, with which
we as public officers can have nothing to do.
And perhaps The success of a municipal admins"
tration depends, as much as upon any one cause,
upon the clear comprehension OF the true limit be-
Hond which the operation OF positive law cannot lie
ureed and hey ond which moral and religious inhu-
euces alone must be relied upon to correct abuses,
though there is another principle quite too often for
gotten by men in places of power and influence and
That is that although the sphere of law does not
brace the whole ieid of morals, yet morality does
extend over the whole sphere Of law, and, in TACT,
ali light government and laws rest upon and spring
from some moral principle; and that, Therefore a
public officer does not cease to be moral because