The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-07-12
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/" TOWN TALk."
"THE CRY Is STILL THEY COME

ttpeo, NO lheu lHouSub you uau uetelIulucu
to end useless controversies, because we
were convinced that adjective argument was
your only forte. But in your last issue
appears different style of writing, which
inate distract, which has received from
you the countenance and support of your
excellent pen and paper, without a thought
as to it's correctness.
Why was it that in the labor of commend
ing the moral effusion of I" Lamp Lighter"
you took occasion to "bring forth " THIS
ridiculous ethical mouse % alt is hop
ing against hope for town to prosper
which is regarded legitimate subject of
prey by them who happen to be placed in
authority" Poor town! We are not ap-
prised by you what bearing this has upon
the question under consideration. How do
you reconcile in that connexlon the words
Legitimate and "prey?' You had
better stuck by your adjectives and left
ethics to Lamp Lighter
&c Lamp Lighter - lays down PROPOSE
tions and jumps at conclusions, without
first considering their truth, Or even at
tempting to demonstrate and apply them.
| You, Mr.. Editor, call them well consid-
cred and {" couched in mild terms" Is it
considerate to charge that "the persons
who are and have been in power, imagine
and have imagined themselves invested
with authority possessed only by the Leg
isature; act like masters and not like SER
vants?' They, as matter of course,
acted with that authority, possessed by the
Legislature, which was delegates to them
by it.
Has Lamp Lighter" ever been COM
missioner If so, we are informed by him
what he imagined, and how he acted; but
there are many worthy gentlemen who
have served the town since the incorpora-
ton thereof, who will scarcely be compli-
mented by such imaginary charges. Still
we have the sweeping assertion without
single rational fact to support it.
Mr.. Editor, will either Lamp Lighter"
or yourself, point to single instance where
this OF any other Board of Town Commits
sioners exceeded the authority conferred by
the Legislature, no matter what they I'M
dgined themselves? The present, as we'll
as all preceding Boards of Town Commits
sioners are, and have been, the servants of
the law, which makes them the servants of
the people; not the servants of individuals
to do their bidding without regard to the
rights of others. There are few men,
bers of every community, particularly of
this, who would like to play the tyrant,
and have others pander to their greatness,
and because Clamp Lighter" and a few
of his kind are not permitted to "lord it,"
they want the act of incorporation re-
| pealed.
| Again, "this extracting Of money from
the pockets of others contrary to law and
against their will, and expanding it with
prodigality, they call public spirit" In
deed! Who are they. Some indefinite
personages; no doubt the offspring of the
aforesaid imagination. Who extracted
money from your pocket contrary to law
you might have paid taxes against your
! VIII, ho uOuDt you nave, puo
CONTRARY to law?' If we admit your
whole proposition, what would be your
position as a public writer? The man who
would tamely submit to such "durance
vile, would not have much weight with a
| community. Mr.. clamp Lighter" this is
rather a late day to proclaim your want of
/ spirit. Can Lamp Lighter" or any one
else, show an isolated instance, where the
last Board expended public funds for their
own private benefit - If so, let us have
it, and we will then admit that it was com
posed of intriguing and willy citizens"
But how do you reconcile the intriguing
and willy" with the following? THE per
sons who are elected are selected before
hand by bailtf to whose support they are
pledged" Would they be g" intriguing
and willy" and still be governed by 4 bail
| if, who again governs the voters;-that
select the Intriguing and willy? Il don't
say much for tho voters. If they possess
the character you would give them, why
owe their election more to the balilf, than
to their intrigue9 What has the bailif to
do with accounts and vouchers of the Com
missioners? We apprehend about the
same that you would, with a bill for lamp
lighting after it had passed the Board and
been paid by the treasurer
You should be satisfied of the truth of
your different propositions before you pre-
sumo to draw differences from them.
| For example, "they have made all assess
ment in violation of law as to time and
amount of assessment" There is no time
fixed by law in which the assessment shall
be made; but it 1oas made in accordance
with law, clamp Lighter" to the con-
trary, notwithstanding. The assessor dis
charged his duty faithfully and well, and if
there are individual property holders here
and there agrieved by too high an estimate
being placed upon their property, why they
have their remedy. But that remedy is
not by publishing falsehoods under the garb
of injury. The truth will not suffer by
PRONUNCIATION, and our advice to Lamp
| Lighter " is that he promulgate it without
fear, favor or affection; a just community
will protect him,-he shall be subject to no
more indignites- extracting money
from his pocket, " contrary to law
Finally" the Town rulers have directly
disregarded the provision of the law with
respect to the repair Of engines" This is
the most extraordinary piece of forid ias-
potence ever imposed upon the eyes or ears
Of any community. 1t is impudent and
presumptuous, because it is untrue
Lamp Lighter" must inform himself
before he charges malfeasance in office.
The engines were put in good repair by the
last Board, at an expense to the town Of
nearly 500. So the Clown rulers look
upon the peoples money as their own," do
they? This is one of the best arguments
that coulG be furnished against your writ
ings. If they treat it as they would their
own,' they would scarcely be imprudent
in expanding it. clamp Lighter" dare
not charge that they embezzled it-even