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Letter to Editor
July 28, 1814
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A citizen protests the irregular appointment of vigilance committees for each city ward by a minority in the Council during a joint meeting, deeming the method novel and unauthorized, though approving the measure itself and hoping the appointees continue serving. Dated July 26.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
To THE Gentlemen,
I have seen an annunciation in your paper of the appointment, in joint meeting of the Council, of a committee of vigilance for each ward of this city. The measure itself is unobjectionable, if not indispensable. But the mode of the appointment was certainly very novel, and I think incorrect. A minority of each Board, uniting together, formed themselves into a general committee, appointed a chairman, and, besides what appears in the paper, adopted other measures, certainly not indispensable, which they had no more authority to have done, than a committee composed of you, me and three-or four of our neighbors. The false alarm having blown over, it is a proper time to protest, as I now do, against a proceeding which, though the urgency of the occasion may excuse, it cannot justify. Although I hope the gentlemen appointed will continue to serve in the capacity of a vigilant committee, I cannot but think the Mayor had as little right to appoint them in virtue of such authority, as the joint meeting, as it is called, had to authorise him to make the choice—though I do not know but, placed in his delicate situation, I might have acted as he has.
July 26.
A CITIZEN.
I have seen an annunciation in your paper of the appointment, in joint meeting of the Council, of a committee of vigilance for each ward of this city. The measure itself is unobjectionable, if not indispensable. But the mode of the appointment was certainly very novel, and I think incorrect. A minority of each Board, uniting together, formed themselves into a general committee, appointed a chairman, and, besides what appears in the paper, adopted other measures, certainly not indispensable, which they had no more authority to have done, than a committee composed of you, me and three-or four of our neighbors. The false alarm having blown over, it is a proper time to protest, as I now do, against a proceeding which, though the urgency of the occasion may excuse, it cannot justify. Although I hope the gentlemen appointed will continue to serve in the capacity of a vigilant committee, I cannot but think the Mayor had as little right to appoint them in virtue of such authority, as the joint meeting, as it is called, had to authorise him to make the choice—though I do not know but, placed in his delicate situation, I might have acted as he has.
July 26.
A CITIZEN.
What sub-type of article is it?
Political
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Constitutional Rights
What keywords are associated?
Vigilance Committee
City Wards
Appointment Authority
Council Minority
Protest Proceeding
What entities or persons were involved?
A Citizen.
The Gentlemen
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Citizen.
Recipient
The Gentlemen
Main Argument
the appointment of vigilance committees for city wards is a good measure, but the mode by a minority in the council was novel and incorrect, lacking proper authority; protests this proceeding while hoping the committees continue.
Notable Details
Joint Meeting Of The Council
Minority Formed General Committee
False Alarm Blown Over
Mayor's Delicate Situation