The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-09-09
III | S e Z l. L A N E @ U S.
IFoR THE Cecil WING.

M. Editor:
Civil government was ns!l-
tuicd TO promote the good Of mankind,
and our own Republican form is .uppos-
cd to produce, and if duly and properly
administered will produce the greatest
happiness, to ha largest number for the
longest period of time, but if this itnda-
mental principle is cast aside, thrown
down, troddtn under foot, and the eXal
tation of party, Of sections, or Of lavorles
Is allowed 10 intervene, then a republic
becomes, perhaps as odious as any other
form of government. am led to these
reflections, Mr. Editor, from having lately
received visit from the Sheriff of this
county, the first in "a long life, summon
ing me TO answer The State OF Mary land,
for keeping gates on public road, when
they may have been standing before was
born, and am credibly informed, some
dozen of my nelghbots have likewise
been summoned.
am led to enquire why. and how is
this2 In the retirement which have cho-
sen for myself; ''along the cool sequested
vale of life" have not intended, nor am
] conscious OF having violated the Laws
of my country-but on the contrary.
have sIudiously of late years, cultivated
the arts Of peace, avoiding as far as lay
IN my power, giving any offence either /"
the civil authorities. or to my fellow men.
and now to be dragged from my home, Il
long dlslance--at an lncOnveulent season.
much against my inclination, to answ6 /
the complaint not of the State, for have
given no offence, but the capricous and
miscellaneous pique Of some ignoran, grand
Juror, whose name it may be stands high
on the criminal docket, and who verify
ing The old adage, that "Misery loves
company" prefers to crafty his maIig-
nifty by hunting up in imaginary causes Of
offence against his neighbor, what am
now 10 complain of.
i.eIus inquire moment. into this gate
affair, which is shortly to attract such
Important nolice.-About the year 1927
or '2S, the Legislature enacted a law
w 81 h forbid the erection of gates upon
-.'. .nblIc roads of this county, but wise
y and properly provided that in the first
.,ec ion district, which by the bye, can
Ao. do without them, permission should
.' rIven to any one, applying therefor, to
g. Levy Court, to erect them-and for
o.. 3ndlug against the Statute, any person
can pre- ~ the delinquent to "a justice OF
the peace, who has power to fine, and hall
the fine goes to the ln!ormer-but no law
was made nor could, presume, be con-
stiiuIionally made-aflecl in the slight
est degree, those gates which previously
existed-lor believe il is principle in
Law. that no Uses shall or can be claim
ed, or any rlght whatsoever exercised
over the property OF another without ade-
Quata compensation The State nor an
individually hold cannot deprive me of any
advantages possess, in my property,
without paying me therefor. Now Sir
put strong case to you for the benefit
of the public:-My neighbor owns very
large washed ON three sides by the
waters of the Chesapeake, of course upon
point Of land stretching into the bays
public road was laid out some 60, SO or a
100 years ago-right down to the point
and ,me nominal damages allowed to
the owner, the object of thus making 6
public road, tradition says was to provide
public landing, by which the farmers
could without hindrance ship their crop.
abr, al in vessels, but from considerations
which it is here deemed unnecessary &c
point onr,-the current of trade has set i,
other directions. and | may safely asser
that upon this road, Ten persons do no
annually travel Save and except those