enimore Cooper." The meeting was accordingly held. There was little
difference of sentiment among those present. All were animated,
according to the newspaper reports, by the determination to use the
Three Mile Point without being indebted to the liberality of Cooper or
any one else. Stirring speeches were made. Two or three persons were
anxious to delay any action until the question of title had been (p. 145)
examined. This proposition was deemed by the immense majority of those
present to have a truckling character, and consequently met with no
favor. The meeting, accordingly, found immediate relief for its feelings
in the usual American way, by passing a series of resolutions. The vigor
of these was out of all proportion to the sense. The disposition to defy
Cooper shot, in some instances, indeed, beyond its proper mark, and
extended even to the rules of grammar. After reciting in a preamble the
facts as they understood them, the citizens present went on to express
their determination and opinions as follows:--

"Resolved, By the aforesaid citizens that we will wholly disregard the
notice given by James F. Cooper, forbidding the public to frequent the
Three Mile Point.

"Resolved, That inasmuch as it is well known that the late William
Cooper intended the use of the Point in question for the citizens of
this village and its vicinity, we deem it no more than a proper respect
for the memory and intentions of the father, that the son should
recognize the claim of the citizens to the use of the premises, even had
he the power to deny it.

"Resolved, That we will hold his threat to enforce title to the
premises, as we do his whole conduct in relation to the matter, in
perfect contempt.

"Resolved, That the language and conduct of Cooper, in his attempts to
procure acknowledgements of 'liberality,' and his attempt to force the
citizens into asking his permission to use the premises, has been such
as to render himself odious to a greater portion of the citizens of this
community.

"Resolved, That we do recommend and request the trustees of the Franklin
Library, in this village, to remove all books, of which Cooper is (p. 146)
the author, from said library.

"Resolved also, That we will and do denounce any man as sycophant, who
has, or shall, ask permission of James F. Cooper to visit the Point in
question.

"Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the
chairman and secretary, and published in