American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-05-10

For the american Watchma,l.


Having attentively perused all the publications
made in consequence of the dssention which took
place in the levy court at the last February term-
First. the Protest Of the members of the minority
charging the majority with improper conduct on
the introduction of motion made by one of that
minority, for an appropriation of money to rebuild
q certain bridge over Redclay Creek. Secondly,
the defence of the chairman in support OF his con-
duct in that business, by way of palliation for the
outrage he was charged with committing on the
laws of decorum in deliberative discussion and
Thirdly, d. Vatson's narrative, whose statement Of
facts carries strong evidence of candor with it, and
gives it title to confidence, as it DON'T materially
contradict any thing heretofore published on either
side Of the question in debate.
Now it was we'll known that by recent event (the
uncommon flood) many OF our bridges lad been
destroyed and that application would be made for
money to reinstate them. Those members who,
living out of the reach of the of distress occa
stoned by this circumstance, (the chairman being
one of that number) had imbibed notion that they
would nor grant or pay any thing TO aid the upper
hundreds. They took shelter under the doctrine of
their old Newcastle member of that Board, so fam
GUS for his talent in expounding the law for suting
his purpose and being congenia with their inter-
est gave it such additional zveght in the balance of
their opinions, that they finally refused giving any
grant on that head Marx the sequel, from B. Wat.
sons statement
CAT the commencement chairman was appoint
ed and the bye laws, as usual, read. Upon motion
a committee was appointed to draft new set of bye
laws, or revise the old ones as the case might re-
quire" Now it is evident (as the sun at noonday)
that new set of bye laws was necessary to carry
into effect their future purpose, and that code was
20 empower the chairman to vote in all cases-not
be confined to give balancing vote on tie land
this was the tenor Of the code of bye laws, re-
ported, but NOT yet adopted, they lay over for u-
ture consideration. The following day the motion
was made for the appropriation TO rebuild the Red
clay Creek bridge, (as stated by b. Watson) and
before this motion was acted on, an attempt was
made to have the nezv Of bye LazUS PASSED, which
ultimately failed The bridge question was still
before the CORTLAND the old bye laws emitting the
chairman to vote in OF tie only, were yet in
force, as no others were in existence as laws. The
chairman resigned the chair TO defeat the object Of
that motion, as he had not yet got his new code into
operation, to enable him to vote it down :" 1t so
happened at this time that the members in favor of
bridges had majority under the old system OF bye
laws" The chairman being opposed to bridges had
no other way to defeat the object of grant. " An
absent member was sent for by the majority, next
morning; and every thing was carried they desir-
ed" 1t seems they then obtained their wishes that
was, to adopt that selfish maxim, if we are well,
all is we'll" B. Watson further says" AS your
paper will probably be filled with essays on the sub
Ject Of bridges, will merely observe that law equi
~, justice and the general good, all confirm me in
the opinion that all bridges roads of considerable
publicity, laid out and approved in regular man.
ner, ought to be supported at the common ez1sense
OF the county. sincerely hope that the legislature,
at their next session, will enact laws that will put the
contention at rest, the crisis appears to have ar
rived when something must be done in this case"
l.. McLane's opinion on this head is now before
The public; and that together with the justice and
sound policy of the case ought to settle its legality
and having been acted on for sixty years and up
wards with salutary consequences, would over-rule
all selfish views with men Of sound discretion. But
we have so many unfit characters in places of trust,
some by stratagem and overweening conduct, and
others that are short sighted and selfish and readily