Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-06-11

make it adequate for tho passage of tho water.
would seem to n reasonable man an unoxccp,ion.
able proposal This is fair specimen of the
candor of the gentlemen in his criticism. II is
said also that the Board required to DO allowed TO
place the locks at such depth rs they should
think proper 1t was obvious that the gentle
men 'oere not the proper persons to fir the locks,
because they had shown that they would take
all, and leave the public none of tho water. II
was considered by the board, that having surreu-
rendered so much in The true spirit of concilia-
| tton-making a new Gam-supplyng double
quantity of watcr-placing the locks at a point
beneficial to the millers and solely for their ac
commodation-givingt them the whole extent of
the canal for muchipcsy and the entire control of
the whole body OF water passing by their works
to come to the locks-the directors did seriously
think that after surrendcring so much, thew
might ask small privilege of placing tho locks
where and how they might think the interest Of
the Navigation would demand As the Eormer
was sample of tho gentiemens candor in crit
cism, so is this specimen of his genreosstv !,
proposals. But it is said, the Board refused tn
guard against any pr6aJic injury, although they
proposed topay for actual damages, if any should
occur true they did not wish to multiply points
OF collision and such possessed no certain
standard for adjustment, but they were willnc
10 indemnify for damage done. This, they To,
ally thought sufficient. Exception too, is take.
10 the manner OF settling accidental and future
damages, as being uncertain, underlined and liza
ole TO delay. The Board, consisting of plain far
mers' did believe that parties consenting TO set
tie matters in difference by agreement among
themselves or by commissioners would afford n
| sufficient prote ction to their rights
Indeed they would have supposed that the ex
perience of the elder member of the firm. in {,
! matter lately decided at Fluvanna Court House
| would have led him to consider a Court of com.
missioners as a tolerably prompt and efficient
tribunal for the protection of rights against en-
| croachment.
The positions thus assumed and contended for.
says the gentleman, by tho Board, left the own.
ers OF the mill to infer, they could do nothing
else, that in the estimation of the President and
Directors, they had no right at all, except such
as must yield to the all absorbing and paramount
interest OF navigation-even to the total destruc-
ton of their property. Can this sentence spring
from the gentomen's sense of Justice, capdor
| and truth: Or is it produced by some mental
hallucination engendered by too great leanino
| to his own pirate personal interests The
Board will believe that the obqutics and devi
atoms from candor and fair dealing. in the adj
| dress are the fruits of an overstrained estimate
| oil the gentlemans own rights and of iaundc-
| Ell inspection OF the rights of the commun ity.
The last paragraph compounded of eulopium
on private enterprise and Communications ON
public spirit and patriotism, shows through tho
iiImSV Df its
and private profit are the keystone to this whole
composition, and the bitter pill by which the
public is to be dragged out of its rights is to
be guided with the glittering metal OF the Shad
well market. The valuable market which the
farmers will find for their wheat at Shadwell, is
to atone for every sacrifice which the peculiar
interest of the Shadwell Millers may call upon
the community to make-and this monopoly of
the large wheat crops of the County by these
individuals at the Mills is to be secured by flat
toring appeals to the magnanimity ofthe citizens.
| Competition is the life and soul of the prosperi-
ty of the farmer.
The Board wish to throw no impeachment in
The way OF individual enterprise !; but to sur
render, to the owners of these mills the RIGHTS
OF the Public, to the free navigation of the Raj
wanna and the entire monopoly of the wheat
trade of Albemarle, savors too much ola aoIon;oI
policy, and demands sacrifice which cannot be
be made, The Board have very reluctantly
yielded TO the necessity imposed on them by the
address of the gentleman, of exhibiting to the
public fair and condid statement of facts The
discussion, on their part is here cosed-thev
will hencetorwad pursue the line Of their duty in
the conscientious discharge of the trust reposed
IN them
BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
" tie Rtcanna NaUigation Co.