The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-20 00:00:00

gorresponbenrt.

THE NEW HIGHWAY ACT.
To the Editor of the Dorset Covail Exprus and
Agricultural Gazeitt.

Six,-1 was forcibly struck with the contrast in
the howling articles which appeared last week in the
Dorchester papers on the New Highway Act. While
that which appeared in your journal wee plain, argu-
mentative, oonvincing, bearing the very impress of
truth and honesty of purpose ; that of the Chroniek
was of the very opposite character, being simply a
faint denunciation of something it is quite evident
the author knew nothing about, bearing the true
characteristics of sycophancy—a pandering to the
prejudices of those who have an idea that every-
thing DOW must necesesily be productive of [DUl-
chief, • vile tirade against "Official Whiggery,"
to please • few blotted Tories, whose ideas are as
perverse, limited, and obtuse as those of the writer.
Your contemporary possesses one remarkable thane-
tensile—namely, of denouncing everything savour-
ing of liberalism, and of extolling everything
odouriferous of Toryism, Nothing that ever
emanated from • Liberal ministry or a Liberal M.P,
was good; while nothing ever done by a Tory
ministry was had. It also possesses the happy
knack of shelving every unpopular measure upon
"those d--d Whigs," as Dr. Johnson used to
term them. Thus, a few months since, when the
Chronicle found out that the new Irma laws ware
likely to become unpopular amongst its subscribers,
it denounced time Act as a " Liberal measure,"
although it was introduced into both Houses by
Tory members, opposed by the Government, but
carried nevertheless by large Tory majorities.
Crude and indigestible as that Act may now be, it
would be still worse but for the Liberal opposition
which it met while passing through Parliament;
while not the slightest credit is due to your con-
temporary for having in any remark of bill own
called public attention to the subject. With
regard to the New Highway Act, your contemporary
mamma that the surveyor will ride rampant over the
Highway Board, in opposition to anything which
those composing that Board may direct to the con-
trary, extend the width of roads that are already of
ample dimensions for the purposes required, and con-
vert them into something approaching turnpikes.
But if this is to be so, of what use is the Board?
Did it not occur to the Chronicle that if their ser-
vant acted contrary to his instructions, the majority
of the members could give him • quietus by writing
out his discharge? But 0, says your contemporary,
it will be to his interest to spend money, "since,
according to the New Act, the unfortunate pariah
will precisely be involved in contributing to the
dreaded 'common charges,' whence he derives his
emolumenta, in proportion to the amount that
happens to be expended upon the highways." Now,
Sir, this sentence proves incontestibly, that your
contemporary Ira either never read the New High-
way Act, or, that having read it, be had not suffici-
ent common sense to understand it. But where is
it laid down that the Surveyor is to be paid a per
onstage on the money he lays out? Yet this is one
of the assumptions here put forth, else why should
it be the interest of that officer to " involve" s with
in large contributions. Again, the Cdronick takes
it for granted that the maximum amount allowed
by the Act will be sure to be expended. Now, sir,
I take it for granted that the parishes will take care
to send business men to the Board—men whom
they believe well qualified to look after the in-
terests of the ratepayers, and who poreue sufficient
common sense to know what is and what is not
right, and for their own oaks, as wall as for the
lakes of their brother pertabiortere, they will apply
the Act as " gently and leniently" as is consisteat
with their duty. It is • piece of supseerogatorY
Doseeele be my that" the Aist is esgeble of Walt

rendered an intolerable MB ictioa." Does your oon•
tampon.a. v know of a single Act of Parliament (bat is
not capabl e of being render, don intolerable infliction,
if carried , nit to extreme ! Really, sir, your con-
temporary, if his article were analysed and its
absurdities pointed oat, on ild be made to show that
he bailie up in the landows minas being little better
than a parcel of donkeys, and the farmers so devoid
of gns Mlle as to be • wholly incompetent for
the duties th et would do e olve on them am members
of a Highway Board.„ 1 arn truly surprised that
those to whose limpidness he seeks to pander don't
see through his artful dos was, and kick him from
the high pedestal on wine It be has perched hiniself,
finor phuiettiassnguhuiimpmtaioa a t'rtht" their guide and director,
he ir ignorance and
looms-
petency. Why, sir, it will be for the largeet rate-
payers, who will form the majorities of these
Boards, to direct, Muir own affairs as they bat, with
this advantage. Hari may b ave a competent person
to perform what is inks they direct, and I will
leave it to anyone to judge whether a thing done by
a person who knows his business is not as likely to
be done as economics dly and well, as by those who
are often appointed uthose duties under the pre-
sent 'getout.
I am. Sir. pears obediently,
A TENANT FARMER.
---
COLENSO, HIS CON F MUM AND THE "DORSET
eoI3NTY OIRONICLE"

[The following letter, wkich gives us a very good
idea of how the Willi/ a re worked behind the scenes,
is (runs our con purer r. tte Skerborne Journal] :
' • -

-
To the Editor 0/t toe Sherborets JoarneL
fils, will thank you to publish in your next im-
pression the enclosed legit C. explaining *correspondence
which bins risoeutly taken plate between the Editor of
the Dorset aunty Chronic te sod your humble servant,
enclose soy card.— CRUSE EXPERTO.

To the Editor of the D orset County Chronicle.
I write not in anger, bu t from a sense of ditty to
the public. As you have d. iliberately chosen to break
faith with " Crede Experto, " he has no alternative but
to show up your double dealing to the county at large,
through the original Dorshe ales Journal, which deco-
lat,d through Dorset/biro loi ig before the Dorset County
Chronicle was ever heard ol So fax from its being
" from en Angry Correspondent," I shall ajos fro.,
your own letters that " • Constant Reader" in the
last Chronisle was sea for publication, by egreement
hetween us, that you might have a loop-hole wherewith
escape from the false position into which you had
i inveigled. This is clearly proved by your answer
bem
-•rivate note of waniiiir from me, the very drst
S° •• of which ruts thin —" My mon feelings and
ws,_°77.l nu have, strange to say, led me to the same
°°""'"" .‘a ' Credit Raperto.'" And then you add, by
conchs:tete thatiyou have beam led to mit ocintrary to
way of ara 'out and wishes by the head partner of
I your owe her trustworthy anbecriben (no doubt
' the beet, I
at Yle' se ' quote your own words I.
. •oua ggIMI.
the parenthesis'.ll) .riengi-' warning was not simply
that von were WOO* .1
the a,:w Year with • fsasilak
reply te t that you were doing
won admitted both of
so from secret eediptillse.'• - • .
I
these points, and modelled f• n'y rtn°".:°ll you from
A Consteet the dilliculty by insertiftg ladte-a of
Meader." After this expifie sotalsteta• 7011. b. 7.1
the
letter, " From an Angry elorresponde% ,
deavour to justify yourself, ant Oro.. me '•
with this foot-note :—" It is OW that great rOurkui_
due to an old and esteemed supporter that k• BSta
insert communication.-101701." COIACt
double-dealing humbug of a hireling of the premem
exceed this piece of audacity! Yet. When I Sea
this editor that he was adverthing the heresies of Elk.
Colenao in the moat prominent part of the Dorsal
County Chronicle, he replied. " As for advertising the'
book, I shall not again fall into the error into which I:
fell, and for which I take shame to myself as • puldio
Journalist, in regard to' Essays end ieviemi„' on that
score." There m yet another passage that surpasses
this in absurdity. When I hinted to you that self-in-
terest might be the motive, mark the reply : " I ant,
to tell you the truth, pretty nigh disgusted to think
that I may owe to it (the Moule-dodge) • good many
new subscribers"—not considering that, at the same
time, you might lose twice,, many" old and esteemed
supporters," through disgust, if the curtain drew up
and disclosed the working of the dodge, by a peep be-
hind the menet. There are pavers] other pasaagee yet
to be produced, even atill more &amain( and instructive
to the public; but to prevent the possibility of misre-
preeentation, the fairest course will be, tor the whole
correspondence between as to be ungarbled,
that the county may decide for themselves who ars the
secret Editors of the Dorset County Chronicle. For my
own part. I should much prefer this open, plain-deal-
ing course, to being obliged from a MOM ittStiC• and
duty to the public, to give what nright be thought •
one-sided view of many other parts of your letters,
which cannot now be concealed by
CRIME EXPERT°.