"2. The south line will require more than double the amount of trestle work for the bridge. "3. The right of way by the southern route is much the most expensive. Even with the purchase of the Jackson foundry grounds (which will remove the abrupt curve in the upper route), the right of way will cost less than by the south survey, to say nothing of bringing the depot nearer the center of the village, and lessening the expense of trestle work; therefore "Resolved, That, for the foregoing and other reasons, the directors are recommended to take the northern instead of the southern route, for the proposed railway through the town of Jackson." Resolution Instructing Members of the Legislature. "Resolved, That we are opposed to the present oppressive law on our statute books relative to stock running at large, and we hereby pledge ourselves to vote for no candidate for either house of the legislature who is not pledged to its speedy repeal. "Resolved, That the secretary is instructed to furnish a report of this meeting, together with this resolution, to such papers as will bring the subject most generally before the people." Resolution of Thanks to the Officers of a Convention. The following resolution, presented just before the close of a convention, is put by the member who makes the motion-it being personal to the presiding officer. "Resolved, That the thanks of this convention are hereby given to the president, for the able, dignified, and impartial manner in which he has presided over its deliberations, and to the other officers for the satisfactory manner in which they have fulfilled the duties assigned to them." ETITIONS. A PETITION is a formal request or supplication, from the persons who present or sign the paper containing it, to the body or individual to whom it is presented, for the grant of some favor. It is a general rule, in the case of petitions presented to Courts that an affidavit should accompany them, setting forth that the statements therein made, so far as known to the petitioner, are true, and that these facts, by him stated as within his knowledge and that of others, he believes to be true. PETITIONS TO A CITY COUNCIL. The people of a town or city very frequently have occasion to petition their town authorities or city government for the granting of favors or the enactment of laws. The following are among the forms of petition to a City Council. terminates at Adams street, through blocks Nos. 10 and 12 in Hall's addition to, to Benton street, thereby making Walnut a nearly straight and continuous street for two miles, and greatly accommodating the people in that portion of the city. (Here insert city, state, and date.) [Signed by two hundred tax-payers, more or less.] Remonstrating against a Nuisance. Gentlemen: -Your petitioners respectfully represent that during the past summer John Jones has converted the barn located at No. 184 Monroe street, between Van Buren and Jackson into a slaughter house, which, with the decaying offal about the premises, produces a stench that is unbearable to the citizens living in that vicinity. In all respects the affair is a nuisance to the neighborhood, and we ask your honorable body to have the same removed. (Here insert city, state, and date.) orable body to appoint a night policeman to have supervision of the streets and alleys from Harrison to Walnut streets, on Broadway. (Here give city, state, and date.) [Signed by one hundred tax-payers, more or less.] PETITIONS TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE. Petition from Farmers, asking for the extermination of the Canada Thistle. TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE- The undersigned, citizens of County, respectfully [Signed by one thousand farmers, more or less.] Petition from Farmers, relative to Stock run- TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE- Your petitioners, residents and tax-payers of A of preventing the encroachment of others. At a low estimate, it is costing millions of dollars every year for this needless fencing. The man who wishes to keep stock may fence the necessary pasturage for the same, but to compel the farmer who does not have stock in any considerable quantity to keep up miles of fence, continually to rot down and be rebuilt, is an oppression which is causing many farmers to remain in poverty, who otherwise might be in comparatively independent cir cumstances. We, therefore, petition you to enact a law that will prevent stock of every description from running at large. (Here give county, state, and date.) [Signed by five hundred farmers, more or less.] Petition to the Governor, asking for Pardon. TO JOHN M. PALMER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS : The Petition of the undersigned Citizens respectfully represents: That on the ninth day of July, 1871, John Jones, of the city of Chicago, was convicted before the Criminal Court, in said city of the crime of manslaughter, and sentenced therefor to the State prison at Joliet, where he now remains, for the term of twelve years: that the evidence upon which he was convicted, as will be seen by the summary appended, was not altogether conclusive: that previous to that time the said Jones had maintained the reputation of being a peaceable and upright man and that his conduct since imprisonment, according to the letter of the warden, filed herewith, has been most exemplary. The said Jones has a family who need his support: and under the impression that the well-being of society will not be injured by his enlargement, and that the ends of justice, under the circumstances of the case, have been sufficiently answered, they respectfully implore executive clemency in his behalf. (Here give town, state, and date.) [Signed by, etc., etc.] PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS PLEASING variety in the routine of life is an occasional celebration. These are given often by certain societies, and comprise festivals, public dinners, picnics, excursions, reunions, etc. Fourth of July. A very appropriate day for a general celebration, in the United States, is the Fourth of July. In preparing for such a celebration, it is first necessary to appoint suitable committees to carry out the details of the work incident to such an occasion. This is done by calling a meeting of the citizens at some public place, "for the purpose of making arrangements for celebrating the forthcoming anniversary of American Independence!" which meeting should organize in the usual form, by the appointment of president and secretary. The meeting should consider the feasibility of such celebration, and, if it is deemed advisable to celebrate this anniversary, should appoint an executive committee of three, to have general supervisionof the whole affair, to be assisted by: 1. A finance committee, who will solicit the interested, at first, in the celebration, to make necessary funds. 2. A committee on grounds, to select a suitable place for holding the celebration, furnishing speakers' stand, seats for people, etc. 3. Committee on orator, who will provide speakers, reader of Declaration of Independence, etc. 4. Committee on music, to provide band, singing by the glee club, etc. 5. Committee on procession, who will induce the various societies, and a representation from the different trades, to appear in street procession, along with a representation of the different states in the Union. 6. Committee on military display, who will organize any military exhibition that may be thought advisable, take charge of firing guns, etc. 7. Committee on fireworks, who will attend to the arrangements for such exhibition in the evening. 8. Committee on amusements, whose especial duty it shall be to organize such street display of burlesque, etc., as will entertain and amuse the people. The executive committee may appoint the president of the day, the necessary marshals, and arrange for additional attractions and novelties calculated to secure the success of the celebration. Let these arrangements be made three or four weeks before the "Fourth." Now, let the executive committee thoroughly advertise the list of committees, and what it is proposed to accomplish. In the meantime, the finance committee should report to the executive what amount of money may be relied upon, and the committee on orator should report the names of their speakers, while the various other committees will report what the attractions are to be in their several departments. Then the executive committee should prepare their posters and programmes, descriptive of what strangers from abroad will see who attend the celebration, and crowds of people will come from near and far. It is not necessary for many people to be the same a success. The resolve by one person to have a grand celebration, who will call a public meeting, associate with himself two others, as an executive committee, and follow by the appointment of the necessary committees, publishing the whole to the world, and going ahead, will generally make a very successful celebration. In the smaller towns so many committees may not be necessary, but having a good Executive Committee, the work is made much lighter, by being distributed among a good many persons, though it will always devolve upon two or three individuals to carry the affair through to a successful conclusion. Public Dinners. The same regulations, to a certain extent, as in the Fourth of July celebration, may be observed in other public entertainments, though it may not be necessary to have as many committees. Where it is resolved to give a public dinner to a distinguished man, the first move is to extend to the person an invitation, as numerously signed as possible. If he accepts, he either fixes the day himself, or leaves that to the option of the party inviting him. In the latter case, they designate a time that will best suit his conveni ence. Arrangements having been made thus far, committees may be appointed on table, invitations, toasts, etc., the affair being conducted according to the etiquette of such occasions. Picnics and Festivals. These social entertainments, which are usually conducted in the interest of certain societies, are mostly pleasant affairs in proportion as they are agreeably conducted by the managers. They should be especially noticeable for the absence of all formality, jollity and mirth reigning supreme. If another committee is appointed, outside of the executive, let it be a committee on fun. For the Thanksgiving Festival. "Our opinion on the Eastern Question: We agree with Russia, that Turkey ought to be gobbled.” "The health of our venerable host: Although an American citizen, he is one of the best Grand Seniors that ever presided over Turkey." "Thanksgiving: The magnetic festival that brings back erratic wanderers to the Old Folks at Home." "The thanksgiving board: While it groans with plenty within, who cares for the whistling of the wind without." "Thanksgiving: The religious and social festival that converts every family mansion into a Family Meeting House." "The Wooden Wedding of our Friends: And may all the children be chips of the old block." "The Hero and Heroine of this Wooden Festival: May they flourish like green bay trees in their youth, and retain all their pith when they become elders." For the Tin Wedding. "The Golden Rule of Matrimony: Marry the first time for love-the second time for Tin." The Fair Bride: She blushed at her first marriage, but she shows more metal to-day." "Tin Weddings: And the bright reflections to which they give rise." BAKER COL Public Meetings. HOW TO CALL, ORGANIZE AND CONDUCT PUBLIC ASSEMBLAGES. Duties of Officers, Order of Business, Introduction of Resolutions, and Parliamentary Usages in the Government of Public Gatherings. HE people of every community, in order to introduce laws, regulations, and organizations by which they shall be governed and benefited, find it necessary to meet from time to time in public assemblages. Thus, before a school can be established, it is necessary to have a meeting of the citizens, to take the preliminary steps towards obtaining the school. Before a church organization can be had, a meeting of persons favorable to such proceeding must first take place, to secure sufficient concert of action to accomplish the object. To obtain unity of sentiment, and harmony of action, in the carrying forward of any important enterprise, the people must be called together, and the minds of a sufficient number directed into the desired channel to effect the contemplated purpose. In educating public sentiment, calling the people together, and introducing the resolutions that shall embody the sense of the meeting, much written business is required that may properly be considered here. To show the manner in which a meeting is convened, called to order, organized, and conducted, we will take a political gathering as an example. To illustrate: William Jones, who lives in the town of Monroe, being a zealous politician, is desirous of having a republican meeting in his town, just before election. He, therefore, consults with John Belden, Arthur Bennett, George Moody, and others, who have a certain influence, as to time and place. Arrangements are also made with two or three persons, accustomed to public speaking, to address the meeting. Notice is then given, by written placards or printed posters, as follows: "Republican Meeting. ALL CITIZENS of Monroe, who favor the principles of the REPUBLICAN PARTY, are requested to meet on THURSDAY EVENING, OCT. 1st, at the TOWN HALL, at SEVEN O'CLOCK, to take such action as may be deemed best to promote the Success of the Party in the COMING ELECTION. The Meeting will be addressed by the HoN. WILLIAM SPENCER, THOMAS HOPKINS, Esq., and OTHERS." The projectors assemble at the Hall early, and decide, from an examination of the audience, who will make a suitable presiding officer, and secretary, or these persons may be selected |