Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-01-20
The Ncwbury Town Meeting.

The Ncwbury Town Meeting.
As the town meeting in Newbury
was referred to in our Nowbury letter
last week we publish the following COM
munication, 1t was evidently written
by person who stood on the "north
side OF the house" when division was
called. The columcs of the OPINION
will be open to n reply by "south-
slider" when the discussion will be closed
so far MS the paper j. concerned.
Ed
| saw in your paper an allnsion
to a Town Meeting held in New.
bury, on the Sth of January for the
purpose of appointing II committee
TO investigate the financial affairs
of our town. which are represented
as being in rather Il bad state, and
to hear the report of those of the
Auditors who had investigated the
matter. Now | will try and state a
few things which the writer saw fit
to omit for some purpose, and also
will describe our meeting as nearly
as | can recollcct.
This Richard Patterson is one of
the auditors, and he being undoubt.
eddy impressed with the opinion,
that our town affairs were kept in a
loose manner, (being convinced of
the fact probably by the report of
the selectmen last Year, took the
responsibility of looking into the
matter and finds them as the article
says, in an "awful condition." Con.
sequently petition for the appoint
ment of Il committe to assist the au-
ditors in looking up the matter, was
circulated, which received the sig
natures of over one hundred and
fifty taxpayers, among whom were
two of the auditors. This petition
while in circulation did not receive
a very warm reception ut the seat Of
Government in our town. While the
petition was circulating those Ot1ici
ais who get a large part of their
loose change from the tax payers,
had their deputies at work, who be.
gan to talk about going out and
dismissing tie meeting, saying,that
it was some of old PattersOns'work,
&c. The petition having been cir
culated, and having received the
before mentioned was
carried to the selectmen; they think
ing perhaps that it was doubtful
about their dismissing the meeting,
as easily as they first anticipated,
made change in the prOgrs mme.
A petition was DIR; WI up and
signed, to have a committee indie
pendent of the auditors, and the
deputies began to circulate the
names of some persons who would
make a good committee, who were
known to be in their favor, or had
expressed themselves to that effect.
They being of the opinion probably
that such a committee would not
hurt their eye, sight in looking for
the mistakes of their friends.
While the above was in progress
the officials lost no time in telling
the people tour books are all right,
and old Patterson has been figur-
ing all summer, and is talking that
way to get his pay" a great many
forgot that it was his business as
auditor to look into the affairs Of
The town were bulldozed into the
belief that it was so, and voted to
adjourn the meeting for which they
had signed petition to call.
The hour for the meeting came,
md with it the seat OF Government
md all of it's tributaries. The meet.
ng being called to order, u ballot
or moderator was demanded, which
'esulted in the election of a Goveyn.
,ent moderator by fair majority.
Che moderator elated with the pros
,ect of an easy victory, evidently
Judging from the majority he recei.
ed, began to push business. In Or
Ter to take time by the fore-top he
lad to imagine himself, both houses
If Congress, Chief Ma gistrate, Su-
,reme Court, Returning Board and
Jushings' Manuel revived. Deputy
). who happened to be one of the
ame school and a relative of one of
he Royal Family, made Il motion
o adjourn the meeting, sine die;
he moderator lost no time putting
hat motion, and as he says,I think
hat the rs had it, but being dispu.
ed, concludes to devide the house.
The moderator then says, all that
ire in favor of adiourning the meet
ne take the South side of the town
louse, and the contrary the North
de, which was done very quickly.
After looking over the crowd and
IppeareLtly fearing that there were
more OH the North than there were
N the South side, he began to ex.
lain thus; all that are in favor of
diourning the meeting take the
south side and the contrary the
lorth. After repeating this two or
hree times, and seeing no one
hanGe places he began to count at
andom the North side, declared to
he clerk seventy one, then took
'irds-eye view of the South side,
nd declared seventy-siX. In the
those Oh the North side
we're counted 10y towns man, who
TODD in a good position to see them
II, who made eighty six.
The vote was disputed the second
ime, and he was asked to appoint
oilers to count them, but refused
aging, "the chair shall decide"
,eader you can judge for yourself
'hether the town adjourned, or the
This was done no doubt
D get rid of hearing the report
'hich Patterson had made out af.
or carefully looking over the books.