The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-24
New City Government.

New City Government.
The members elect OF the new City Gov
eminent met at the City Council Rooms a
ID o'clock A. NJ. Monday. March Goth
1865. for the purpose Of organizing. TIT
Board Of Aldermen temporarily organized
James X. Clark IN the chair. and the Com
mon Council with F. Haxeltine in the chair
The two Boards then met in Convention anC
committee was chosen to notify CHARLES A
SHAW. Esq, Mayor elect, that the two
branches were in Convention and ready to 70
ceive any communication from him. The
Mayor elect came in and was introduced by
Hon. John Q. Adams, ex-Alayor, and the
usual oath administered. The Aldermen and
Councilmeu were then sworn in. and after a
prayer by the Rev. James NJ. Palmer, Mayor
Shaw addressed the Council rs follows:
MAYORS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the City Council:
We have assembled to-day in pursuance OF
the duties we have respectively assumed and in
accordance with the provisions aud requirements
OF law. The past can never be recalled; the
present Is given US in which 20 act; upon the
future the impress Of our actions will be indel.
IDLY stamped. Hence, standing rs We now do,
upon the very threshold Of n new municipal
year. Il Is cminently ht and proper that we
should pause and consider well the nature and
extent Of these duties
am not unaware that the official position,
TO which have personally been called. is nc
once the most honorable and responsible with
In the gin of our fellow citizens; and while
with heartfelt gratitude desire to acknow ledge
the great obligations under which am placed
by such unanimous manifestation OF their
confidence anil esteem, must acknowledge that
I approach the duties deyolving upon me, with
the deepest apprehension, aud full sense Of
my utter inability To meet their Just expecta
tons Neither am inscnsiblc Of the fact that
to NIL this Office even scceptably, the incumbent
must bring to IL degree Of experience, just
discrimination. learnin. and dignity, far trans
cending what possess, and which usually at
tach only 10 maturer years than have attained.
For these reasons | can readily see how that
what, under other circumstances, might prop
erly offer you in the official discharge Of my
duties by the way Of advice and suggestion,
may now be considered presumptuous and Of.
hcious. But, having entered upon the trusts
charged, IL does not now become me to shrink
from them; and, therefore, relying. as Tam con-
flent I may, upon your iudulgent kindness
and assistance, which fear | shall tax you by
requiring mt every step, shall endeavor TO per-
form my part, IL not acceptably TO all, at least
faithfully and to the best Of my ability.
The mariner iinis the deep, safe channel by
aid of the well wrought chart, the bold head
lands, and the lights placed for his guidance
while he is rendered doubly cautious by the
wrecks which strew the rocks and quicksands
ON his route. So in the voyage OF political
life, the examples OF the great and good are
perpetual landmarks and lights to guide US on
our way, while the bad and weak are but wrecks
lying stranded on the rocks of time. Well
drawn 10 the chart which must now. rs ever
heretofore, he my guide. Every line is well lie.
fined, every deceptive current fully explained;
every sunken rock and dangerous rect marked
out; every lee shore shown; drawn by n mas
tcr's hand, tried in many official voyages and
never found wanting; IL am wrecked Il will
be by the breach and not by the observance OF
its rules. But there are other guides,-bright
lights which win ever hereafter illume the path
way OF the timid or irresolute on this voyage;
lights which though now planted on far dis
tant shore and whose rays come to Us from
over the dark, cold waters of the river Of death
will shine on undimmcd forever, growing
stronger and brighter with increasing years
Yes, fortunate indeed am I. and will be al who
may come after me, that Gordon, q Tuck,
and Fairfield have gone before. Aye. f6rtu
nate evea in that others were unfortunate.
Gentlemen, we are associated together for no
purpose Of selfish sggrsndirement; TO CRAFTY
no personal ambition. The Offices we hold are
not merely sinecures or Idle honors; neither
have they been conferred solely rs political re
warls tor party services. The people, believ-
ing Il for their best interests, have called Us TO
.erxe theru anil t,laeeI THAR hiOhosf and ,,,,.t
important trusts in our hands; and, knowing
rs we do, that public service, nc best, is gener-
ally n thsnkless and unremunerative one. the
consciousness OF an honest discharge of du.
~ " the only and best reward We can expect.
II therefore will become US TO use the most Wig.
liant anil jealous care at every step, and 10 ex-
ercse the most scrupulous allegiance to every
when our time shall have past. aud aud our Of.
Acial course be ended. our deeds may commend
themselves to our own conscepces aud meet
the Just appreciation OF our constituents. Yes,
though Government may disregard the rights
of States. and though. as We have seen, State
may break It's plighted faith with towns and
cities, never let 10 be our reproach that this
atty. through the medium Ut It's present Coun
Gil. dill not keep good filth with and have re.
gard for the rights Of even her most humble
eitircn. ....
Ordinarily our duties would be comparative
IS limited and confined to the usual routine Of
city Affairs; but No live 10 extraordinary times
and our labors cannot reasonably be expected
30 he eoaAaed within tho common bounds.
Seithsr 10 u possible for me or any enc else,
now to predict. with any degree Of certainty,
what these labors may be; hence. rendering Il
impossible also to Indicate In advance what 20
oon should b taken. and necessitating the
Weaving of mach which must receive attention
npoe hs merits whenever Il may arise.
90 not deem u within my sphere, or proper
on the present occasion, TO enter into any
lengthy discussioa Of the affairs of the country.
neither do seek this occasion 20 fa,ten unon
and person. section or party any mea.urn -,
the blame o, responsibility Of our national mis-
fortunes and disgracc; still. when h = .. a..
into consideration that We are sending o,s -.
blood to be poured out like rain I'm dsssn oess
that Country, limited degree Of di.onss;o =,
aud inquiry can neither be considered im,,s","
Or 90 objectionable. But the time has arr,vl,,
when ne cannot u We would. wholly disr,c,r,i
ar ,lisconnect ourselves from these things. Ths
dsnoa at death and destruction stalks unrc.
strained through the land. and th. pages Of four
Years ~ our nations history stand deep dyed
~ irsiernal blood A civil war the most fear
f'"v destructive and humiliating known Co the
Latons OF the earth. shakes our whole politi.