Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-01-20
THAT Town House Again"

SAYRRooK, Jan. 14th, 1879,
Editor Telegraph;
In my last communication ! gave some en-
couragement 10 those who are interested in
our township affairs, that would at some fu-
ture and convenient time, say something
further of our town house difficulties. II was
my intention then to have reviewed tho evi-
dence offered in the Injunction suit RECENTLY
tried in the Court of Common Pleas before
Judge Chaffeei to have reviewed the argue
ments OF Counsel and the opaion Of the
Court for the benefit of those who were not
favored with an opportunity of hearing the
trial. But your treatment of that communi-
| cation, Mr.. Editor, leads me to expect, if l at
tempt to fulfill my promise, must submit to
having it trimmed 10 suit the fancy of one
whose sympathics are not apparently neutral,
and seem to run in direction adverse to the
views of the writer of this article. OF any
mans views or sympathes ! haYe no right to
complain. But 1t seems to me, thai th" Judge,
under whose direction the evidence goes to
the jury, should have no visible sympathy,
and should deal even and exact justice To.
both parties,
Knowing how deceptive appearances somo-
times are. how easily it is to be mistaken, and
withal possessing :orgiving spirit. | do not
suffer any angry thoughts to have place in
my heart Ihaye no disposition To load the
FOLD flint lock blunderbus" if am to be COM
PEELED to submit to have the charge drawn be-
iDre ! am permitted tn "draw bead" on
"south Ridge" the giant physically and the
dwarf metaphysically, who acts rs his armor
bearer, and the town house R0nsprators and
| their Sepoy allies. Feeling that | am not at
liberty TO defend myself, and the CAUSE ad-
! yocate, under the plea of excluding personali-
ties, must be excused from any attempt to
yentilate these, and some other topics had in
my mind.
shall make no defense of the 'prpminent
individuar whom "South Ridge" has attempt
ed to lampoon. That individual, if lie has
any existence outside the Imagination of
"South Ridge" must take care of himself 1t
is matter of equal indifference to me, wheth-
er the "prominent individual is clothed with
"lion skin or calf" ] shall not be drawn
aside from the town house question to discuss
matters in WHICH neither myself or the people
Of the township have any interest. can as
sure you. Mr.. Editor, that it is no part of the
character Of the Lion, TO rise from his lair,
shake his name and roar" when no enemy als
pears in the field but that miserable, contempt
ible. lopg-eared beast, that GOD, in a moment
of wrath, made and intended as caricature
upon the entire animal kingdom. l have no
answer TO the gross personalities of South
Ridge" in your last paper II were inclined
to indulge my fancy in this direction, l beleye
I could make some applications TO the backs
of some who sojourn at Ku Klux corners, that
would blister and burn to the bone and ]
think one could be made that would penetrate
the hide of rhinoccros even, and it may be,
Jingle the spinal marrow, Does South Ridge"
see the point? But leaye such work to those
whose tastes and appetites fit them for SERVICE
in such channel If lampooning and carica-
lures are to be the order OF the day, presume
some person can be found who has turn in
that direction, WHO will be willing to meet the
public demand, 1t is possible South Ridge"
and his friends, may find when they have done
their best. that the ability to excel in biogra,
ply and painting in the township has not
been entirely exhausted. Some history pieces
might be "put up" that would sell well singy,
in pairs or in family groups. If anything
was lacking, a Hiberpian description could be
attached.
Those who have been tayerable to the pro.
lect of building \ town house. haye industri,
ously circulated, at home and abroad, the as
strtiop, that the township had no place for the
transaction of Its business. "South Ridge, ip
your last issue. virtually asserts the same thing,
Saybrook. to-day, has q more commodious and
convenient place for the transaction of all
township business than Ashtabula, while the
latter township far surpasses Saybfook in
wealth. population, &c, That Saybrook has o
house for township purposes, now propose
to show from the record. Iquote from a Ger,
tilted copy of a lease from District No. 4, and
dated April 2lst, l64O, TO the trustees in Office
at that date. The directors "eased unto the
said Josiah DAVID Crosby and Andrew Wal
ton and their successors in office. the use of
the school house in said district. to hold cleo
lions and town meetings in, and for all other
town business so long as said trustees or their
successors in Office, may wish to occupy said
school house for the purposes aforessid'."-
"That the township shall not be put to any
expense in keeping said school house in re-
par.f Fshall occupy said school house for
the purposes aforesaid, free from taxes of ev-
cry description, so l9ng as the present house
shall last"
Fhis lease, as any one can perceive, vests an
interest in the IeWnship Hntil the house shall
be destroyed by fire, aF Fqt down in its place,
The township was pAdeF NO obligation, by
the terms Of the lease, ta make any repairs on
the house. Fhe i9wnship, governed by 4
sense of justice, voluntarily, spd without le,
gal obligation, furnished the means to repair