Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-02-16

DEBATE IN COUNCIL.

Dalc III OOuticti Ola TIC DIN io iASoi Po'0'o
the village of Southport.
Then the Council was resolved into COM
mittee ofthe whole, Mr.. Collins in the chair,
for the further consideration of bill No.20,
of r y ''entitled bill TO incorporate
the village of Southport"
The amendment proposed on Saturday,
was renewed and adopted.
Mr.ARNDT then moved TO amend by
striking out the Goth sec. OF the bill, which
is as follows:
Sec. 90. Whenever majority of the
electors possessed Of a freehold estate,sh
deem it necessary for the health and inter
est of the village of Southport, TO open the
south mouth of Pike Creek, the Trustees
aforesaid may levy q tax Of not exceeding
ten thousand dollars i'll any one year,upon
the assessed value Of all the real estate in
said village, said tax shall be expended
under an ordinance, in opening said mouth
and keeping the same open, agreeable 10 a
plan which has been or may hereafter be,
submitted by the General Government
Provided, that the tax shall be collected,
land sold, and subject TO the same redemp-
ton as is provided in Sec. II Of this act."
He said he dil not know Of any necessl-
ty for such provision. He had always
heard that Southport was very healthy
place and had never seen any thing in Capt
Grams report which gave him reason 10
believe that any such improvement was
necessary TO secure the health OF the town.
Mr.BULLEN said in opposition to striking
out the Goth section Of the bill, and in an
b, riy IF ttlo or n
Brown, that he was surprised that that gen.
tleman had felt himself called upon 10 in
troduce the Secretary or even the name OF
Capt Cram, as they had not been alluded
to in the discussion Of this bill, and had
nothing to do with the subject under con-
sideration. All he had to say Of that Co.
yernment officer, was that no was not
resident of the village of Southport, and
had no pecuniary interes. there 10 subserve,
by employing his official influence in fa-
yor of that point. The town Of Southport
had never been benefited by the appropri-
alton Of dollar for any object connected
with its prosperity. The citizens Of that
town have had 10 rely upon their own en-
terprise, public spirit and private resources,
to carry forward their improvements and
to defray the expense of light houses, 60
vernment surveys, roads, bridges, &e.-
The expense Of these and other improve
ments, had hitherto been sustained by the
people, by voluntary association and sub
scription; which in practice had been
found 10 operate unequaily upon the inha-
bitants. Attempts had also been made by
the citizens OF that village, by voluntary
association and negotiation, TO raise much
larger sums shan are authorised by this
bill, for the purpose of making such inn
proyements by dredging and the erection
Of piers as the commercial interests OF the
place demanded, and as would insure the
ultimate completion of 4 harbor at that
point, but have failed, not by reason of the
opposition Of the people TO the proposed
improvements, at their own expense, but
because OF the difficulty Of adjusting the
details Of the plan and the principle ofequa-
lization in carrying it into effect. These
difficulties would be obvated and the de-
sired objects secured by this bill which was
repaired by the citizens Of that town. II
had been freely and thoroughly discussed
bv them, and was The result of full con-
sideration Of their local circumstances and
wants at several successive meetings, nu-
merously attended, and composed Of men,
many Of whom, in point of character for
legal requirements and business talent
might be compared without disparagement,
with the members Of this or any other le-
gislatve body. He repeated that the in
habiiants of that town had, after giving
the provisions of the proposed charter n
full examination and discussion, and made
il entirely satisfactory to themselyes,agreed
unanimously to ask the Legislature 10 enact
it into a law and he was surprised to SEQ
any gentleman move to strike out the Goth,
and the most important section of the bill.
The powers which the charter conferred,
were carefully guarded. 1t would be seen
by reference to the section, that no more
than one per cent. can be raised upon the
assessed value Of the real estate OF the
town, for corporation purposes, without
the express direction Of majority OF tho
electors Of the town; and in that case not :
to exceed two per cent. and ne ventnred
20 saw that the people of Southport had Tor
the last two or three years, paid annually,
by voluntary contribution, more than fou.
times the sum that could be assessed un
der the power to levy one per cent. for
nublc improvements, and objects connec-
led with the growth Of that village, iHde-
pendent oil the county taxes and the amount
they have paid in gifts Of benevolence.-
But the gentleman seems to suppose that
that there is something covered up,or some