USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
The discussions on this subject occupied three successive days, and called some of the first talents of the town into ex- ercise. Faneuil-Hall was thronged, yet every thing proceed- ed very orderly. Several questions arising, which were thought too important to be decided by hand vote, they were
367
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
postponed to be determined by the ballot on the final ques- tion. Every thing being matured, the meeting adjourned on Wednesday, to meet again on Monday. Jan. 7, 1322, to de- cide on the report as amended, when the result of the ballot- ing was as follows :
Whole No. of votes 4839.
1st Resolve .- Shall there be a City Government ? Yeas .... 2305 Nays .... 2006
2d Resolve .- Shall the elective United States and State Officers
be chosen in Wards ? ..
Yeas .... 2611
Nays .... 2195
3d Resolve .- Shall the City Council decide the number of Rep-
resentatives
Yeas .... 2690
Nays .... 2128
4th Resolve .- Shall the Town be a County, and have a Police Court? Yeas .... 4557 Nays ...... 257
5th Resolve .- Shall the name be altered from Town of Bos-
ton to City of Boston ? .. ..
Yeas .... 2727 Nays .... 2087
There was no little disappointment occasioned by this sult : the warm friends of a city had hoped for a larger ma- jority in their favour on the first question, and for a strong negative against the second : the opponents of the reform would not believe, till they had the demonstration, that the people of Boston would yield up their birth-right of self gov- ernment and self protection, for what some considered the mere tinsel of a name. The feature in the system, which more than any other circumstance saved it from being reject- ed, was that part which gave to the wards the right to choose overseers, school committee, and firewards. As those boards had heretofore been chosen, it had happened for the most part that all the members were selected from the political party, which for many years had been the majority of the town. Some of the minority thought the present offered them a fa- vourable opportunity to secure a portion of those boards to their own party : and that, together with the general desire to effect a reform in the justices' courts, and the belief that such a reform could not be effected, otherwise than in connection with the establishment of a city government, probably turned the scale.
The subject was forthwith presented to the legislature, and a law, framed on the principles of the report, received the signature of Governour Brooks, Feb. 23, 1822. The act re- served to the General Court the right to alter or amend the charter whenever they should deem it expedient : it also pro- vided that the charter should be void, unless the inhabitants of Boston should accept it by written vote within 12 days. The former of these provisions was thought by some to be
368
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
very exceptionable ; others considered it perfectly nugatory. The latter was in accordance with a proposition which had been offered to the town and rejected ; but those, who were gratified by this opportunity once more to attempt the defeat of the whole plan, were obliged also to submit again their fa- vourite feature (the choice of national and state officers by election in wards) to the hazard of a rejection. The final meeting took place on the fourth of March, when a decision was obtained in favour of the charter by a majority of 916, (2797 to 1881,) and in favour of election in wards by a vote of 2813 to 1887. The result was forthwith made known to the Governour, and he announced the fact by proclamation on the seventh of March.
-
CHAPTER LXII.
" The patriot Council met, the full,
The free, and fairly represented whole; For all they plann'd the holy guardian laws, Distinguish'd orders, animated arts, And with joint force oppression chaining, set Imperial justice at the helm."
PURSUANT to the direction of the charter, the Selectinen made a new division of the town into twelve wards, in such manner as to include an equal number of inhabitants in each ward, as nearly as conveniently might be, taking the last census made under the authority of the United States as a basis for such computation .* This was done on the 13th of March, and the various parties immediately proceeded to take the steps preparatory to an organization of the wards. There was no difficulty in finding candidates for all the offi- ces, together with large quotas of rallying-committees and vote-distributors. When the second Monday of April arrived, there was little doubt respecting the result of any of the elections,except that of the Mayor. A ticket for the board of aldermen had been framed on such principles as were calcu- lated to ensure its success : the various parties had each re- ceived a pledge that all should share the honours of that of- fice. But in regard to the chief magistracy of the City, it was an honour which could not be divided, and the contest
* The Act places it 'in the power of the City council-from time to time, not oftener than once in ten years, to alter such divisions of wards, in such a manner as to preserve,as nearly as may be, an equal number of inhabitants in each ward.'
369
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
was warm between the friends of several eminent individuals. It was soon ascertained that the board of Aldermen would be filled by Messrs. Ephraim Eliot, Joseph Head, Bryant P. Til- den, Nath'l P. Russell, Joseph Lovering, Samuel Billings, Jo- seph Jenkins, and Jacob Hall. It was also ascertained that there would be no choice of Mayor, and it appeared from the official canvass that the votes were principally divided be- tween Messrs. H. G. Otis and Josiah Quincy .* The friends of the former gentleman immediately withdrew his name from the list of candidates for the mayoralty, and Mr. Quincy, in his own name, publickly declined the honour. The excite- ment on this occasion was excessive, but it rapidly subsided, and in the course of four days, the eyes of all parties were fixed on the Hon. John Phillips, as the man whose character would command a universal suffrage. He consented to the nomination, and at the next election (Tuesday, April 16th) re- ceived an almost unanimous vote.t
The first of May was appointed by the charter as the day for the commencement of the municipal year.# Suitable pre- parations were made in Faneuil Hall for the ceremonies of inducting the Mayor and other officers into their new stations. A platform, raised about two feet from the floor, was thrown from the selectmen's box to nearly the extent of the hall. On this the Selectmen of the past year, the Aldermen, and Com- mon Council elect were accommodated with chairs and set- tees, the floor being covered with carpets. Two of the galleries were filled with ladies and the Hall was crowded to excess. The Rev. Dr. Baldwin (as senior in age of the clergymen of the metropolis) addressed the throne of grace in prayer. Chief Justice Parker administered the oaths of allegiance and office to the Mayor elect, who in turn administered similar oaths to the Aldermen and members of the Common Council. The Chairman of the selectmen ( Mr.Eliphalet Williams) then rose, and, after an appropriate address, delivered the city charter to the Mayor, contained in a superb silver case, and the ancient act incorporating the town nearly two centuries past, together with all the books of records, title deeds, and documents belonging to the inhabitants. He concluded with a compliment to the wisdom and judgment, which had select- ed the gentlemen composing the present boards, for the pur- pose of putting into operation the new and untried system of city government.
* The whole number of votes was 3708, of which Mr. Q. had 1736-Mr. O. 1331-Thomas L. Winthrop, 361-Others 227.
t Mr. Phillips had 2500 votes : whole number was 2650.
[ An amendment, made Jan. 27, 1825, makes the municipal year to commence with the cal- enda r year from and after Jan. 1, 1226.
47
370
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
The address of the Mayor commenced with ample testi- mony to the wisdom of those institutions, which our ancestors established for the management of their municipal concerns, and to the intelligence and experience of our citizens, who had for so long a period meditated a change and exerted their influence to effect it. : He spoke in full terms of the abil- ity, diligence and integrity of the boards of Selectmen, justly denominated the fathers of the Town, and acknowledged par- ticular obligations to the board now retiring from office. His concluding observations give a fair view of the merits of the city charter, and at the same time exhibit, in strong light, the traits in the publick and private character of their author, which endeared him to men of all parties.
' Difference of opinion must be expected, and mutual concessions made, in all cases where the interest of a large community is to be accommodated. The precise form in which this charter is presented may not be acceptable to all, but its provisions have met the approbation of a large majority, and it will receive the support of every good citizen. Those who encourage hopes that can never be realized, and those who indulge unreasonable apprehensions, be- cause this instrument is not framed agreeably to their wishes, will be benefitted by reflecting how much more our social happiness depends upon other causes, than the provisions of a charter. Purity of manners, general diffusion of knowledge, and strict attention to the education of the young, and above all a firm practical belief of that divine revelation, which has affixed the penalty of unceasing anguish to vice, and promised to virtue rewards of interminable du- ration, will counteract the evils of any form of government. While the love of order, benevolent affections and christian piety, distinguish as they have done the inhabitants of this city, they may enjoy the highest blessings under a charter with so few imperfections, as that which the wisdom of our Legislature has sanctioned .- In my official intercourse I shall not encumber you with un- necessary forms, or encroach upon your time by prolix dissertations. In all the communications which the charter requires me to make, conciseness and brevity will be carefully studied. I will detain you no longer-than to in- vite you to unite in beseeching the Father of lights, without whose blessing all exertion is fruitless, and whose grace alone can give efficacy to the coun- cils of human wisdom, to enlighten and guide our deliberations, with the in- fluence of his holy spirit, and then we cannot fail to promote the best inter- ests of our fellow citizens.'
After the address, the boards withdrew. The Common Council was organized by the choice of Hon. William Prescott for President, and Mr. Thomas Clark (late town clerk) for Clerk of the Common Council, and the two boards in Convention elected Samuel F. McCleary, Esq. City Clerk .*
The first year of the city government passed away without producing any events of a striking character. There was no
* The Police Court was organized by the Governour by the appointment of Messrs. Ben- jamin Whitman, Henry Orne, and William Simmons, esquires, as Justices, and Thomas Power, Esq. Clerk. Its first session was held on the 20th of June, 1822.
The Police Act, so called, gives to this court jurisdiction in all cases theretofore triable by Justices of Peace ; makes all warrants issued by any J. of P. returnable before the Police court ; and provides that no fees shall be paid for warrants issued by a J. P. unless this court shall decide that there was just and reasonable cause for the issuing thereof, &o. &c.
371
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
cause of special complaint, and nothing occurred to excite special admiration. At its close, the Mayor together with the board of Aldermen (one member excepted) declined a re- election. Mr. Quincy was again solicited to consent to being a candidate for the mayoralty, and was elected on the second Monday of April, 1823. An entire new board of Aldermen was chosen, and a majority of the members of the Common council were also new members .*
The Mayor's inaugural addresss paid the merited compli- ment to the services of that high and honourable individual, who had preceded him in the office,t and the wise, prudent, and faithful citizens who composed the first City Council.
' Their labours,' said he, ' have been indeed, in a measure, unobtrusive, but they have been various, useful, and well considered. They have laid the foun- dations of the prosperity of our city, deep and on right principles .- A task was committed to the first administration to perform, in no common degree arduous and delicate .- In the outset of a new form of government, among variously affected passions and interests, and among indistinct expectations, impossible to realize, it was apparently wise to shape the course of the first administration, rather by the spirit of the long experienced constitution of the town than by that of the unsettled charter of the city. It was natural for pru- dent men, first entrusted with city authorities, to apprehend that measures partaking of the mild, domestick character of our ancient institutions, might be as useful and would be likely to be more acceptable than those which should develop the entire powers of the new government. It is yet to be proved whether, in these measures, our predecessors were not right .-
' In executing the trust,' he proceeds, ' which my fellow citizens have con- fided to me, I shall yield entirely to the influences and be guided exclusively by the principles of the city charter ; striving to give prudent efficiency to all its powers, endeavouring to perform all its duties, in forms and modes, at once the most useful and most acceptable to my fellow citizens. If at any time, however, through any intrinsick incompatibility, it is impracticable to unite both these objects, I shall in such case, follow duty ; and leave the event to the decision of a just, wise and generous people. In every exigency, it will be my endeavour to imbibe and to exhibit, in purpose and act, the spirit of the city charter.'
The new boards entered with alacrity upon the duties of their various offices. The course they pursued was such as to excite a general expression of admiration. The Mayor and Aldermen were re-elected in 1824, without any consider- able opposition; some extracts from the Mayor's inaugural address will furnish us with the best view of the transactions of the first year of his administration.
' The acts of the administration of the past year had reference to morals ; to comfort ; and convenience ; and ornament .- With respect to morals, there
The votes, for Mr. Quincy, 2504 : for Geo. Blake, Esq. 2179 : others, 81.
The Aldermen were Messrs. Caleb Eddy, Daniel Baxter, David W. Child, Stephen Hooper, Joseph H. Dorr, George Odiorne, Enoch Patterson and Ashur Benjamin.
i Mr. Phillips lived only a few weeks after his retirement from the office of Mayor. He was seized with an attack of angina pectoris while attending his publick duties on the day of General Election, May 28, 1823, and his death took place on the following morning. He was in the 53d year of his age.
1
372
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
had existed in one section of the city an audacious obtrusiveness of vice, noto- rious and lamentable ; setting at defiance not only the decencies of life but the authority of the laws. The evil was met in the face .- In spite of clamour, of threat, of insult ;-- a determined course was pursued The whole section was put under the ban of authority. All licenses in it were denied, a vigorous po- lice was organized, which, aided by the courts of justice and the House of cor- rection, effected its purpose .- These measures did not originate in any theo- ries or visions of ideal purity, attainable in the existing state of human society, but in a single sense of duty and respect for the character of the city .- The expense, by which this effect has been produced, has been somewhat less than one thousand dollars ; an amount already, perhaps, saved to the community in the diminution of those prosecutions and of their ,costs, which the continu- ance of the former unobstructed course of predominating vice, in that section would have occasioned.
'The next object of attention of the City government was the cleansing of the streets. In cities as well as among individuals, cleanliness has reference to morals as well as to comfort .. Sense of dignity and self-respect are essentially connected with purity, physical and moral. And a city is as much elevated as an individual by self-respect. To remove from our streets what- ever might offend the sense or endanger the health was the first duty. To do it as economically as was consistent with doing it well, was the second .---
'The widening of our streets as occasion's offered was the next object, to which the attention of the city administration was directed ; and the one in- volving the greatest expense. The circumstances of the times, and the enter- prize of private individuals opened opportunities, in this respect, unexampled, in point of number and importance .- The administration availed themselves of those opportunities, as a matter of duty, in the actual condition of a city so extremely irregular and inconvenient as is Boston, in the original plan and projection of its streets. Important improvements have been made in Lynn, Ship, Thacher, and Mill Poud Streets ; in Hanover, Elm, Brattle, Conrt and Union Streets ; in Temple, Lynde, Summer, and Milk Streets ; in Federal, Orange, Eliot, and Warren Streets.
' Another object of attention during the past year has been the drains .--- The principle adopted was to take all new drains into the hands of the city ;- to divide the expense as equally as possible among those estates immediately benefitted ; upon principles applicable to the particular nature of this subject, and retain in the city the whole property both as it respects control and as- sessment.'-
' A new Mall has been nearly completed on Charles Street, and all the missing and dead trees of the old Malls, the Common and Fort Hill, have been replaced with a care and protection, which almost insure success to these orna. ments of the city.'-
'Two objects of very great interest to which the proceedings of last year have reference, remain to be elucidated. The purchase of the interest of the proprietors of the Rope Walks, west of the Common ; and the projected im- provements about Faneuil Hall Market .- In consequence of the exclusion of the water by the Mill Dam, a tract of land has been opened either for sale, as an object of profit, or for use, as an object of ornament, with which the rights of these proprietors absolutely interfered. It was thought that no mo- ment could be more favourable than the present to secure a relinquishment of those rights. An agreement of reference has been entered into, with those proprietors, and the amount to be paid by the city for such relinquishment, has been left to the decision of five of our most intelligent, independent and confidential citizens.'-
'Touching the projected improvements, in the vicinity of Faneuil Hall Market, not only the extreme necessities of the city, in relation to space for a market, have led to this project, but also the particular relations of that vicini- ty have indicated the wisdom and policy, even at some risque and sacrifice, of bringing together in one compact, efficient, and commodious connexion, the northern and central sections of our city, so as to facilitate the intercourse of business and enterprize between them, and bring into market, and into use, and into improvement, parts of the city, at present old, sightless, inconvenient, and in comparison with that competency, which must result from a judicious arrangement, at present absolutely useless. Both these measures of the City
373
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Government, relative to the Rope Walks and to Faneuil Hall Market, will ne- cessarily lead to what, to many of our citizens, is an object of great dread, a city debt.'-' To create a debt is a power, vested by our charter, in the City Council. Now this, like every other power, is to be characterized by its use. ' The destinies of the City of Boston, are of a nature too plain to be denied, or misconceived. The prognosticks of its fature greatness are written on the face of nature, too legibly, and too indelibly to be mistaken. These indications are apparent from the location of our city, from its harbour, and its relative position among rival towns and cities ; above all, from the character of its inhabitants, and the singular degree of enterprize, and intelligence, which are diffased through every class of its citizens. Already capital and population is determined towards it, from other places, by a certain and irresistible pow- er of attraction. It remains then, for the citizens of Boston to be true totheir own destinies ; to be willing to meet wise expenditures and temporary sacri- fices, and thus to co-operate with nature and providence in their apparent ten- dencies to promote their greatness and prosperity ; thereby not only improv- ing the general condition of the city, elevating its character, multiplying its accommodations and strengthening the predilections, which exist already in its favour ; but also patronizing and finding employment for its labourers and mechanicks. It is true the power of credit, like every other power, is subject to abuse. But to improve the general convenience of the city, to augment its facilities for business, to add to the comfort of its inhabitants, and in this way to augment its resources, are among the most obvious and legitimate uses of that power, which doubtless, for these purposes, was entrusted to the City Council.'- -
The labours of the city government during the year, which commenced with May, 1824, were chiefly devoted to the completion of the plan, and the accomplishment of the im- provements in the vicinity of the market. An effort was also made to advance a project for an improvement of the flats at the bottom of the Common ( which the city obtained at the price of 50,000 dollars,) but it was discouraged by a vote of the inhabitants in town-meeting. Publick attention was also excited to a difference of opinion between the city coun- cil and the board of overseers of the poor, relative to the powers of each, in the government of the Alms-House and House of Industry. A plan was submitted to the people pro- posing that the choice of that board should be vested in the City Council, but a vote could not be obtained for an altera- tion of the charter for that purpose .* A new organization of the Health department took place, by which the duties here- tofore performed by 12 persons, one resident in each ward, are transferred to one Health-officer, and the regulations of
* The alterations, that have been made in the charter, are by Acts of the legislature, Jan. SO, 1823, authorizing the Mayor and Aldermen to increase the number of engine men ; Feb. 23d, authorizing City Council to choose nine directors of the House of Industry,&c .- June 10, 1823, authorizing Council to elect the Mayor and Aldermen surveyors of high ways .- June 12, 1324, an act regulating the house of correction and the form of actions under the by-laws, and to provide for the filling of vacancies in the board of Aldermen .- Jan. 27, 1825, act to alter the time of commencing the municipal year. June session, to abolish the board of fire- wards and organize a fire department : and by an order of the City Council, March, 22, 1824, the charter is so amended that vacancies in the office of Ward clerk may be filled whenever they occur.
1
374
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
quarantine made more conformable to the views of enlighten- ed experience and less burdensome to the commercial com- munity.
Previous to the expiration of this year, one of the alder- men, Mr. Hooper, had deceased, and two others, Messrs. Eddy and Benjamin, had ceased to officiate : the remaining members of the board it was understood would decline a re- election. A Union ticket was however formed, which bore the names of two of them. All the gentlemen named on it were elected by large majorities : five of them declined the service, and the vacancies were filled at a subsequent elec- tion .* Mr. Quincy was re-elected to the mayoralty by a vote almost unanimous. More than half of the common coun- cil were new members. These boards will continue in office until the first Monday of January next.
CHAPTER LXIII.
" The city rear'd In beauteous pride her sky-encircled head."
IT was anticipated with much certainty by the advocates for a city government, that the change would produce a fa- vourable effect on the interests of the city, in relation to pub- lick improvements. That anticipation has not been disap- pointed. Individuals have been more active in putting their private estates into better repair, several companies have as- sociated to make extensive alterations in adjoining lots,t and the city has undertaken a magnificent project in the neigh- bourhood of Faneuil Hall market.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.