Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-05
VIRGINIA LEGIsLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELE(;9TE,S.

A<ottcTy LOT Inc purpose OF m Of Onau
to complete the road leading from Staunon to Par
kersburg.
On motion of Mr. Miller of Powhatan. Friday the
Sth, was appointed for the election of Treasurer
for I2 months.
! On motion Of Mr.. Robertson of Petorsbarp. the
committee of courts of Justice were instructed to
enquire into the expedency of detaching the coun-
ty of Charlotte from the 5th and attachipu It to
the 9th Judicial district.
Reports made by Mr.. Hill, from the COM
mttee OF propositions and grievances, by Mr. w te
OF Hockbridgo from that of Roads and Navigation,
and by Dir. Gilmer from the committee of Revolu-
Ensrossed bills Prescribing certain regula
tons on the James River Canal 3 Auihoiising
commissioners to raise sum of money by Lottery
for purposes therein mentioned. 3. Changing tho
time OF holding the quarterly conrt of Mason. L.
Divorc'ng Elizabeth Lynch of Wythe, from her hus-
4 band James Lynch-wcre read a third time and
passed.
/ Mr.. Cabell presented petition from james Irbv
OF Plttsyvana tor a pension-hIr. Bosher, of Ame-
1a, one from John Chailn to be reimbursed sum of
moncy-Mr. Scott from Halifax for an an
preparation from the Literary Fund-AIr Campbell
OF Bedford, from Bedford, for a new Warehouse
Tor Tobacco in interchangeable. Davis of Allepha
ny, from Allegheny, respecting alterations in the
| location of the kanawhu Turnpike,
| resolution from tho Committee of Propositions
and Grevances, declaring reasonable, the petition of
certain inhabitants of Richmond, ChesterfIed Anne
liza, Powhatan, aud elsewhere, praying for the iu-
corporation OF company TO new bridge
across james River, from Richmond to Manchester,
having heen read,
| Mr.. Williams of Henricn, novel to amend the re-
solution by striking ont 'reasonuhle" and inserting
| BE rejected"
| MIR. Burfoot opposed tho motion to amend, at
longth, and entered into detail of the public ndvon-
tages which would from the erection of new
bridge, iii the establishment fcompeton aud in the
reduction of tolls. Mr.. B. adduced number of facts
to shew that the tolls of Mnyos Bridge were oppres-
sive and that the proposed bridge would effect re-
duction of tho cost nov paid by the public in getting
to market, of eleven twcfths. lie denied that The
! a tAn nr0ty rOff1
infringement of vested right in the persons of the pro-
pricors of Moyos Bridge, that Mayo had been qi-
ven tho privilege of building his bridge for his own
benefit, but for that of the public. That Mayo onrbt
10 be compensated, he aaptted-but this he conren-
Yded, had long since been done, and that bad been
fso adudged by the General Assembly in 1914, at
the time that Trent was given the privilege of con-
sirncting his bridge. If compensated for his risque
and =eXpense ia Gil, E.a4ins.i he was comptn-
ed now, and in confirmation of the fact that he had
been amply compensated Mr.. B. stated the rernarka
bic fact, that Trent had acknowledged, that i'll eight
months afer the construction of his bridge which
had cnst $4,000 he compensated by tolls. Mr.
Burtoot adverted with severity, to the monopo
y of ell the facilities of passing James River, Contts
Eefr, and Trets Bridge, i'll the hands of the pro-
pretors of Mayo's Bridge, and its oppressive effect
upon the town of Manchester and adjacent country
tracing the decline of Manchester il considerable
degree to that cause. The emoluments nocruing to
the propretors of that bridge, ho aedged be ex-
cessive and oppressive, and wholly disproporionate
to anybenedt conferred by the bridge upon the pub
proprietor Of Mayos Bridge, more capta and popu-
aton bad deserted Manchester, than for length Of
time before. Fhe coal trade from Chesterfield of
necessity, Mayos Bridge, and the tolls of
single wagon bringing 72 bushels of coal, amount
ed IN the year to the enormous Of $3.50. This
was 10 per cent upon the gross value of the cono-
dity; an amount exceeding perhaps the clear profit
of the collier, and that for distance of few hun
dred yards, and higher duty than was paid on the
coal from the pits above that descended James River
This state of facts Mr. b. considered mons; rous and
oppressive. The daily receipts of tolls at Mavo's
Bridge, was stated by evidence, to amount in 1919
II, to 11O!-nmoun'ing per annum to S40,15o-and
twenty-five per Cent may Justly be added to the est-
mate of18l4, swelling the annual amount of tolls to
upwards OF $4,000 per annum, result astonsh-
ing, that hlr. b. declared hrs amazement at it.
Was 1t possible. that the proprietors had not been
compensated for their expenses in building
Mayo's Bridae2 MIR. B. cloquenly adverted to the
oppressive influence of the tolls upon the poor and
the prosperity Of the country, and as it was
beyond the power Of the Legislature to re-
dnce them, secured us they were by charter,
there was no remedy for the grievance, but by es-
tabllshing competition, and thus compelling the ow-
ners to reduce the tolls to what they could afford to
receive. Phis wsuid redress the evil, experiences
had sheWn III the of Frents bridge, while it
was kept up independently Mr. Burfoot denied
that any exclusive privilege monopoly had been
granted TO Mayo, that it would be any infracion
Of his charter, TO concede now privilege. His
charter granted, notwithstanding the privilege
of Coutts Ferry, and 1'rents had been granted in
1914, understanding tfe same claim to exclusive
privilege, set up then as now, by Mayo These were
precedcns the side of the application and num-
Der ofothers were cited by Mr.. Burfoot. It plainly
appeared that public convenience only had been
suited i'll all these cases by tire Legislature, and that
MIR B. commended was the only consideration which
the Legislature ought to entertain. Phs the
great principle that pervaded institutions, and
were The Immortal Shakespeare Milton to reap
pear the fruits of their genius could not be monop-
oliZcd BY them TO- than II years. The disco
very Of the power of steam, important in the his
tory of mankind did entite Fulton to perpetual
monopoly but the proprletors of Mayos bridge built
some DO years ago, were 10 retain their privilege in
Perpetuty!
I Mr.. Atkinson Of Halifax, epquifed if the tolls of
the new bridge would be reduced in the degree fthe
oppressvencss of the tolls over Mayo's bridge?
} Mr. Burfoot replied, that that would be left to
, the Board of Public Works.
Mr.. Williams of Henrico, followed in reply to
Dir Burtoot, aud III opposition the petition. He
stated that his private interests in OPPOSITION