The New York herald., 1872-11-21

QaDltanta, and mas all the appearance tnaC ploco
would have sontaining@a . weli-to-do community.
The peculiar feature Of Greenvilie Is the number
and length Of its Streets which, in an area of some
thousand acres, are near sixty miles In
length. Some OF them are paved and
some are improved, but either way you cannot
move step in the village without streets con-
fronting you. They run every way-in Q straight
line, In diagonal line, in o crooked line and
cross line. There are streets where there are
houses and streets where there are no houses;
streets by New York Bay and streets by Newark
Bay; streets anywhere and streets everywhere.
Ever since the foundation OF the village until
quite recently peace has dwelt within its borders
and brotherly love has existed between its nhabi-
tants. 1t is true there had been some chickering's
between -
THE RIVAL POLITICAL PARTIES,
but when the elections would be over tranquility
would return again and all would 60 merry as
marriage bell. But change has come over the
spirit OF the dream. Instead OF the peace that has
30 long prevailed ominous mutterings of war are
heard on all s!des lynch law and bloodshed are
openly threatened, and except some good angel
lntervenes Creenvile will fall from its high estate
and become refuge for all who are quarrclsome
lll who are discontented and oil who don't want
to pay taxes.
The cause Of this sad trouble all grows out Of
tho unlucky streets. In the year 1859 Commits
sion was appointed TO lay out and construct all
the streets and roads in the township. The Com
mission was "authorized and empowered to lay
down and name all streets and avenues as they
may deem expedient for the wants OF the city,"
provided always that the inhabitants of Green.
vile petition for the opening Of such streets.
Armed with these powers the Commission pro-
peeded to work. 1t seized upon property in
nM directions made numberless AR arrange,
offended the inhabitants generally. that
serious outcry was raised last year by the Green
vilteS to Oust the Commissioners from office. This
they failed to do; but the law was considerably
etered, and the people were given an appointing
power over the COmmlssioners An election no was
b.; N. v. vreeland, Samuel Bostwick and Fred
erick Shannon elected. The opposition claim that
or three hundred New York and Jersey City
Eoughs, who were brought on to Greenville to re-
cord their votes. The new Commissioners were
MEMBERS OF THE OLD BOARD,
and their new lease Of power embOldened them to
make fresh efforts ana gigantic schemes Tor the the
citizens did not attempt to place any check upon
their schemes until the tax bills for the present
raised. The rate OF taxation haa risen from nine
ty-eight cents on the 500 to So 10 on the same
amount. making q clear addition Of 800 per cent.
This was more than Jersey patience could stand.
The citizens determined to adopt strong measures
and, II possible. nip the arbitrary proceedings of
An Indignation meeting was called, and on the
29th OF October 1t was held in Schirmers Hall. DR..
Joseph +. Finn was appointed chairman, and as the
result OF the proceedings committee, called the
Town Committee, was appointed to search into
the cause OF the extreme taxation and the enOr-
tee had been some time at work investigating the
difficulty call was made upon Mr.. Seymour, the
ne Of the the should sas
mitted for examination. This the President firmly
refused to do, as he said he did not wish to
have his accounts Overhauled by rabbe;
but II a smaller committee was appointed he
would have no hesitation in complying with the
demand. A committee OF five was then appointed,
days the gentlemen comprising the committee
claimed that they had discovered an error to the
amount OIL 900 in the local tax In excess OF the
amount made out by the City I, easurer. This was
the eliminating point OF the Commissioners in
night, and resolutions were adopted calling upon
the Commissioners to resign. This they refused to
do, and It was apparent to every one that open
warfare was inevitable.
Another meeting was held on Tuesday night,
which was
ANxIousLY LOOKED FORWARD TO
by both the Commissioners and the discontented
ones 1t was anticipated by some that violence to
the Commissioners would be used, and their meet.
street, was filled with the warllke residents Of
Greenville. meeting Of the Board was being held
81 s se 70 N IN the
last meeting, but he was interrupted by the en-
trance Of delegation from the citizens meeting,
at the head OF which was Mr. Andrew Van Horn, q
prominent leader Of the opposition. He presented
copy Of resolutions again calling upon the e mem @
ss s'' this is time @ began began to % look exciting as
the crowd who filed the room were
very bessrens in their heir demsanor & No breach r Of
clusion OF the reading the greater portion of the
people adjourned to the citizens me citing at the
left the members OF the Board voted that the
resolutions be unheeded and returned to the
senders and signers Of them.
In the meantime the peoples meeting was being
proceeded with at the Belvidere House, and when
the action of the Board became known the excite
ment and indignation were great, and there were
loud cries Of "Tar and feather themr Lynch
themp' &C. Incited by q speech from Mr.
Van Horn, the Chairman OF the Conference
Committee-who suggested the propIiety OF pulling
the bloody guets out OF the Commissoneis-the
mob started to the Board room, prepared to act
upon the suggestion, but they found upon their
arrival that the birds IDS had down. ana that the build
looks, frenzy In their eyes and
VENGEANCE AT THEIR HEARTS,
the crowd started In the direction OF Mr. Seymours
house. They found on their arrival that Mr. sey.
mour, anticipating their visit, mad telegraphed to
Sheriff Reinhardt for assistance. which was fur
nished In the shape OF posse OF deputy sherlIrs,
suaded the mob from any breach under pain Of the
penalty Of the law. This unexpected opposition
had the desired effect, and the mob departed,
thinking that discretion was the better part OF
valor.
During their visit the meeting at the Belyldere
advice OF the more prudent members the intempe-
rate and summary measures which had been
threatened had been for the time abandoned. Not
withstandlng this the residences OF the members
OF the Board were guarded by deputy shcrils dur
Ing the night.
HERALD reporter called at the Board room to
get the Commissoners' story, and found q number
OF engineers and clerks at work busily engaged in
erecting new streets In imagination. The following
Is the version OF the affair that Is given by the
Commissioners They say that, ever since
the Board was created, the inhabitants
or portion OF them, have been incessantly grum-
bling at what they considered the unnecessary ex-
pense that was being entailei upon them. They
did notwant the old streets improved or new ones
created, and objected TO all attempts made to I'M
prove the village. The City Treasurer says they
complained OF everything, no earthly measure
that was devised by the Board meeting with their
sanction when It was begun, although they would
petition for " before. The increased taxation this
year ID accounted for By the fact that the interest