Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-25

| here Ii the meeting was not 10 result III
childs play and fzzle, the chair would APP
point five substantial and intelligent gentlemen
| If such could be found in the city-not men
merely whose words were as good as their
bonds. for though his word was as good as his
bond it would not pass at Corse's banking
house, and was not worth cent at the First
National and Citizens Banks-who would take
the whole matter in charge. He did not want
| a committee to be going around taking up sub
scriptions for the building as though their OBJ
iect was to bury dead horse. The fire so much
| deplored was not a calamity. 1t would be a
glorious blessing for lis to have suitable build
inc erected in the place of the old one destroy
ed. From the portion he had occupied there
was only one oxit, though used by all the mar
ket people. He was willing to have his taxes
increased, in order that the building might
be erected, for when completed it would increase
the value of all the other property in the city.
| lie did not come to make fuss or TO disturb
the harmony Of the meeting.
| Capt. j. NJ Steuart said he understood, and
he believed it was generally understood. that
the meeting had been called for the transaction
| of business He hoped therefore that its pro-
ceedings would not be disturbed or turned into
ridiculc If there were times and places and
themes for ridicule. certainly this was not one
of them The associations connected with the
loss the city had sustained were dear to his
heart, to the heart of every true Aexandran;
and might his tongue be palsled before he
would speak lightly of the things that bound
us to the past He sincerely hoped the meet,
ing would proceed to business. Let rs attend
to the matter in hand at once. and strike While
the iron is hot. he was glad the gentleman
who ) had preceded him wanted something
practical done: hoped he would head subscrlp-
ton paper, and if he did. he, the speaker
would follow him.
Mr.. Snowden, IT,. replied to the objections
OF Coils. Ball and Steuart. He thought that If
subscription was taken up for stecp!e that
that amount would only be raised and ~ more
while if the citizens were willing to subscribe
more, all over and above the amount necessary
for the construction Of the steepe and clock
could be appropriated to the new building,
thus relieving the corporation of that much adj
ditional tax. He was opposed to raising another
committee as that would seem to reflect upon
the Finance Committee Of Council, in whose
intelligence and ability he had the fullest con
6dence. and whose pcrogativc it was to see to
the raising Of funds already offered through the
PROPOSITION of Gen. NJ D. Corse. He dep
rlecated the illusions made to the old stecplc
and bell by COL Stuart. and argued that there
was Il sentiment involved which affected the
whole community. and would show itself when
the time for help came.
Gen. NJ. d. CorSe said that he had been all-
thorzel by Il public spirited gentleman to al
vance thirty Or forty thousand dollars 1T seven
per cent gold for the purpose OF rebuilding the
Market House 1t was not his the speaker :.
individual offer. but he WIS willing to contrib
ute his mite.
Mayor Latham said that probably needless
exception had been taken at the remarks oi
Col. Stuart. They had, he WAS certain, been
made with no idea of disturbing the meeting.
but ideas were very sharp things sometimes
inducing one TO think that three or four can
dies We're burning when only one was lighted
and at others making man think that bricks
had been thrown against his head when in fact
| his head had hit the bricks The two gentle
men who had responded to Col. Stuart had,
he thought been rather severe. He. the
speaker had some sentiment. and though lie
had no poetry in his soul, could appreciate it
when he saw it in print. He knew too that
others he saw around him had enough scnti-
ment to induce them to contribute tn the Oh
icct in view. and when the contributions We're
made he hoped that they would be placed I'M
der control OF the Finance committee OF the
| CITY Council, than whom nobody could manage
them better. lie did not think COL Stuart
had Intentionally reflected upon the Finance
committee, but the Colonel must have his say:
and must have it his own way-that $ poetry
and he, the speaker. was always prepared to
listen to him il he did not always believe what
he said. Captain Steuart had misunderstood
the Colonel He had gotten lis all in a good
humor and when he concluded he, the speaker,
felt like contributing thousand dollars
Mr.. Geo r. Shinn-Why, because he had
| finished?
Francis Miller. est. said that if Col! Ball had
felt some dtfdcncc in addressing the meeting
on account Of his having been recently mi
grated here. he, the speaker, experienced the
same sensation from having recently cmigrated
from this city. but, like the Colonel his diff
ience would not deter him from making few
remarks From the debate to which lie had
listened there was L division OF opinion
concerning the achievement of the object upon
the accomplishment Of which all are agreed.
There were two sets of minds striving for the
same result though by different mcans--scnti-
ment and substantial interests. But these
means do not necessarily conhict-did not in
his mind If the sentiment aroused by the
destruction Of the old stccplc, certainly the
most beautiful he had seen in the western hem
isphere, would induce liberal contributions for
the purpose Of rebuilding il, that was Ito
| reason why Col. Stuart 5 suggestion that Il cOnl-
mttee of five of the best men in this city be
appointed to consider the means by which to
raise the amount required to rebuild the Mar
ket House should not be adopted unless it was
conceded that the best men are in the City
Government He did moi think better thing
could be done, and the suggestion was deserv-
ing Of all credit. The proposed committee
could not act but could recommend action and
he could sec nothing to prevent their appoint
ment. If sentiment prompts the rebuilding
of the steeplc. substantial interests demanded
the erection Of the Market House, and the
two motives were not antagonistic. The speak
err was also in favor Of striking out CT the res
olution the words, Indebtedness of the Corpor-
alton.
Other gentlemen briefly addressed the
meeting, urging entire harmony and united
action, in any measures which may be adopted
to aid in the erection Of the public buildings
both ne . nottar If fnnlinp In yi.u- ,4' IL