Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-30
Town Meeting in Guilford.

Town Meeting in Guilford. A Lively One, toO-A Strong Protest Against Further EncrOach ment on ssThe Peoples Oyster and Clam Beds'' Resolutions Adopted, a Committee Appointed and am Appropriation Made.
 Perhaps the old Town House in Guilford never held 8 larger number of citizens or wit messed meeting SO full of interest with such | unity of feeling as it did yesterday. The | meeting was held to protest against the fur l ther encroachments upon the 'snatural oyster | and clam beds that belong to the people of the State, and to petition the General As- sembly to take no action that may leave the peoples grounds open to further encroach- xpents by private interests and oyster compa- nies No one could doubt but that the citi- of Guilford meant business in this mat ter, and they declared themselves entitled to fight what they deem great wrong until it shall be lighted.
 The meeting was organized by H. E. Nor ton, Esq, as chairman. The call of the meeting was read. Among the petitioners were some of Guilford's most prominent and influential citizens. Resolutions were pre- scented as follows and were adopted
 Resolved by the citizens of Guilford in town meet That the recent legislation under which private in divduals and corporations have obtained exclusive and permanent control of vast areas of natural clam and oyster grounds, viz the rivers, and bays along the of this state unjust in principle and injurious in it's operation to important and valuable privilege long rightfully held exercised by 1 large majority of the people of this State.
 as will provide for asystemstc comprehensive | yey Of the sheDfsh-produeng grounds within m me rights of the public in and to such grounds, and for the purpose of ascertanng the extent and value of vate individuals and corporations for propagation | and cultivation of shellfsh.
 town to oppose any and all further legislation that will restrict tend to restricts the existing rights of the public in taking native shsllsh from the waters of the towD and to solicit and encourage such m b 6 ubs d
 That committee to consist of five citizens appoint
 
 with and in aid of the expressed sentiments of this | cries if deemed necessary.
 That sum not to exceed hundred dollars be ap- propriated, and expended if found necessary, under the direction of the committee for the purpose of securing and protecting the public right to fish for
 That the sum of hundred dollars appropriated ury. ~ '-O- W F--- 0>-' > 0
 The committee appointed under the 4th resolution were: Wallace H. Fowler, James A. Dudley Edwin A. Leete, Reuben l.. Fow- Ter and B. O. Bishop. The first two named are Representatives and the last one is First Selectman.
 The resolutions were adopted separately. The first resolution passed, and citizen aros @ and said, it is customary for those introducing resolutions to make some remarks explaining them. He said the whole thing was uncalled for, that we had oyster laws enough, that the people might petition much as they pleased, but it would be useless that committees would be fixed that the Legislauture would stand for the oyster companies as the Hayden jury, II to 1. His remarks called out one of Guilford's- young citizens, who spoke as fol lows t'Mr. Chairman, came here to-day with no intentions to say anything there are older ones here who can better explain this matter than myself But the challenge just given does not allow me to sit still. was one who hada hand in introducing those resolutions. I am not ashamed but rather proud to be one of that number. I am not an oystermau. My means of getting liveli- hood are not endangered. 1 never expect to go to the sea for living. I have no axe to grind no money to make out of it, but nev- ertheless my rights and privileges as a citi-
 
 townsmen are in danger. The rights of the people of the State are in danger, and I be- Ii eve this large gathering of citizens feel the same that they with me and the great mass of the citizens of the State believe that the privileges of the sea are free and belong to the people, that the State has no right to dispose of them, or private interests to possess them that the State has but one duty, and that is to protect them for the people. Were it not so, the grabbing of these valuable acres would have been done half century ago or more, and not have been new thing of the past stand squarely on his feet here or anywhere and say it is right Let us look into this mat ter and see if it is all scare. score of years ago or more Connecticut shores were lined yielding abundantly, and all that the people wanted. What is their condition to-day? Most of them are claimed as private property as man claims his farm, and the oyster beds that are not so claimed have been robbed to furnish seed for those private beds In an adjoining village am ! told that poor man cannot catch even meal of clans upon the shore. It is gaining ground. These men of means are not only seeking the whole, but they are seeking the protection of the State, as they pretend they hold their possessions now under State law. They make a plea for what they are doing that it is the only way that these shellfsh will be sufficient for the demands of the people that were it not for this private cultivation of oysters the price would be beyond the reach of ordinary people. Do we be- lieve it No. Right in our own East river, where it is claimed the seed, as we'll as the quality of the oyster, cannot be excelled, is good illustration. Is there a citizen of Guilford that believes that the seed taken from the river and put on private beds has ever produced one half the number of bush els of oysters that would have been produced by the same seed left where it originated No. They tell you that the back towns demand that the State receive 8 revenue from these valuable grounds. Who is making this plea for the back part of our State These same men who hope in g few years to stand against these shores and say all these are mine. Are not our shores lined continually with people from our back towns enjoying these privileges? Are they not, like us, interested in this matter Yes. It is humbug. The State would not make one cent. I do not believe it would derive enough to pay the new officials created. Now then we are told by one of these oyster ground owners that we cannot help ourselves. We shall find that the oyster companies have looked after Legislative committees That may be. We know ourselves, from what we have seen, that the Oyster Commission is en- tirely in the interests of the oyster compa- nies. When we are told by one of them that he wants to hear nothing about the peoples rights we are led to exclaim, who is the State of Connecticut, who its rightful rulers? Is it not the people? When the people do not rule then are we not free. Let us believe that the people do rule. Let us go to the people with our grievances; believing that the people will right them. Again, let me say that tho rights of the whole people are in dan ger, and especially are the poor mans rights in danger. This is why I am in this thing, and for this reason I will help fight it till it is lighted"
 The meeting was very enthusiastic one, l and many remarks were made that were to the point. One of the oyster bed men made the l statement that it would be found that Bark hamstead had right in these matters. A | man in the house arose and said: 'T agree with the gentleman who has just spoken. That \ is just what we want We don't want it all ! staked of so that Barkhamstead cannot enjoy these privileges, but we want it so that Bark | hamstead can come down here and bathe in these waters and catch these shellfsh and enjoy the privileges of the sea without being | told that they are treSpassers.