Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-12-11
WatertoWn Union League.

read and appro red new N ,nbsr5 admit ed
and dues co ec,e3
Pres't Moore drew The sIsentiou Of the
League TO TIE article ia lag. week D:s,o
cr0t signed A, 3, O. The writer was .n5-
taken in supposing that the written pap
handed TO the Aayor by ihe committee WI
a copy OF the resolution that appeared i.
ne minutes Of Nov. 23d 1t vas written
~ the PreSIden. a0i SIS intended as an
Instruction 10 Tie subject % that resolution
This error has been brought about entirely
through the irritabiiiiy OF ne President OF
the Council. Vice Pres't Deyy read the
following address:
Mr.. President and yfellop members Of tho
Union League-The railroad bond indebted
ness OF the city of Watertown has no equal
in this country, 1t stands unpar slleled. In
the first place the bond given TO the Mil
waukee and Water town Railroad Company
under the private and local laws of 1853
was loan of credit, and the city has not
received any consideration in return. In
the second place, the bonds we're issued and
delivered before the publication of the law,
and before the city had legal existence
and in the third place, instead of running to
the Milwaukee and Watertown Railroad
Company, as authorized by the act, they run
to Daniel Jones, private citizen who was
not a subscriber to the stock of the Railroad
company, and had no authority under said
act 10 make such-subscription.
The next class of bonds | call your atten-
ton to- is be Waterfowl and Madison
Railroad bond bonds issued under an act of
the Legislature of 1856, for which the city
was to receive 100000 in stock, these
aforesaid bonds were to be endorsed by the
railroad company to the holder of said bonds
They were issued and delivered by the City
Council 10 VIM. B. Hubbard, instead of the
Watertown and Madison Railroad Company,
as the law required
We find in Dec. 18th. 1855, a resolution
authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to
take back and exchange, and give duplicate
bonds OF the same amount, and payable the
same time for the above m entoned 5000, 600,
but the best part of the play is TO be per-
formed. The city clerk was under the i'm
preston that he had exchanged 1873 bonds
of $1,000 each, but n counting the exchang
ed bonds there only IT of them. There
is nothing in the proceedings of the conucil
to show how many. or at what time the OK
change was made. 1t may be mentioned
here that the President and Secretary who
had the first 5000, 900 in bonds were not in
Office when the duplicates or second issue
was given, although they are he same date.
The whole transaction and gambling opera
ton by our city authorities in Railroad
bonds may be summed up in the words OF
the poet, For ways that sre dark and tricks
that are vain, 'it puts the heather Chinese,
and japanese juggler at discount"
I, The recent decision Of Judge Conger in
the Circuit Court against the legality AMI
validity of the above mentioned bonds
must convince every candid man that there
is no court in this country having the re-
motest regard for Justice, Honor, or deem
cy, that will bold the city liable for the
above mentioned bonds, having a know
ledge of all the facts of the case before them.
The Common Coupcil exhausted all Is pow
er when the first class OF ponds were deiIy
cred, ami it was not in the power OF any
4 bondholier 10 restore that power by return
ing the first bonds. If so, the exchanging
Of bonds may be kept up the present time.
We are aware that some OF the courts hold
these railroad bonds valid, but we UNDER
stand them to say that If it was new ques-
ton, they would decide such bonds invalid
1t is to be lamented that the courts which
should be the safeguard of American liberty
and the rights OF the people will debase it.
self By giving wrong decision, becau So
some imbecile has done SO before Such
ruling or decision OF auy court is not only
dangerous, but it is disgraceful to the ends
/ of justice which the public interest 80 justly
demands.
How different the decision of that great
light" jurist and scholar, Judge Cooley, Cd
Michigan. In his decision on the validity of
railroad bonds, he said He WAS not en-
sarrassed by any previous decision of the
courts, that he would decide according to
the constitution and lave of Interstate, and
that be would NOT bliudly follow where
others had blindly led.
/ may mention here that the constitu.
ton of the state of Michigan and tho consti
tuition of the state Of Wisconsin,, regarding
the validity of railroad bonds, are substan-
TALLY the same
Mr.. President, We have a great duty to
perform, that is 10 stand united together
and earIessly but respectfully demand from
the courts the protection guaranteed to us
by the constitution and law of the state 70,
the protection of our homes and our fresides
1t is true the courts may disregard the right:
of an individual and take away his proper
ty, hut when it undertakes 10 sweep W hole
cit II of existence under the mockery oil
ia and turn over their property to bond
no. .ers, it becomes a serious undertaking
Ii tue shy locks will insist on their pound o.
flesh, they musr be careful not 10 draw one
drop OF blood.
1t is gratifying to know there are som;
judges who DO honor to their profession, fol
instance, Judge Cooley, of Michigan Judge
Conger, of Wisconsin Judge Beck OF Iowa,
These gentlemen and jurissS administer the
law Justly and feariessly, regard less of the
vicious presidents OF any imbecil e who hat
not the moral courage OF honesty to decide
between right and wrong They will moi
only com .nand the respect of the people Of
the present age for the correct, conceded
constitutional rule laid down by the con
stitution and law of the state for the pro
lection OF the people and private property
but they will leave an inperlshable record
after them to go down to posterity Whsn
ever their Names are mentioned the unborn
generation shall pay tribute of honor tC
the illustrious memory Of the venerable
dead P. DEVY.
The Executive Committee offered thu
following reso ution:
ResotU ed, That the President of the Unior
League appoint committee of three to pre-
pare petition to be signed by the tax
payers of the city of Watertown, to be pre-
scented to the Legislature for the relief
our city stands in need of Unanim ously
adopted.
Mr.. Davy, Mr.. Krebs, Mr.. Winkenwerder
were appointed.
Vice Pres't Dsvy FeAd the following ar
ticle:
IN the Democrat Of tha 9Th inst. there is q
communi cation signed A B. Z. The writer
seems to be Impressed with the idea that
the dignity OF J. r Moak, President of the
Council IS far above being approached by
any member OF the Union League or other
citizen unless he is in harmony with the
Holy Fam ly. That his Usefulness in the
city cannot be dispensed with, except with
the consent or the above named family
"Fhe idea, says The writer, "of appointing
a comm t.e to confer with the Mayor q nd