Port-Gibson herald., 1845-09-11
For he Port Gibson Herald.
TO THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE BAYOU
PIERRE BRIDGES.


PIERRE BRIDGES.
|, l. Do you approve the contract made witt
] Mr.. Caruthers, for the building ofthose Bridges
If you do, it is believed that this contract lta,
been violated and will be defeated by the resoIu
ton of the Board ofPolice, requiring an endorse.
men on the warrants, intended 10 prevent THEN
negotiability. 1t is further in violation Of GOOD
faith to the contractor, who has, at much expen.
diture oftime and money, consummated this con-
tract as he reasonably believed, and returned to
his distant home to accumulate the material for
those Bridges
2. Are you willing to pay tax for raising the
fund to build these Bridges, and then to pay toll
for using them? Ifyou are, the Board Of Police
will regulate the tolls, and it is presumed will a.
doPt such rates as will bring in moderate and
reasonable profit on the investment. But fthese
Bridges are built BY individual enterprise, the
same Board Of Police will regulate the tolls there
on, and it is presumed will adopt such rates as
will allow to the owner moderate and reasona-
bic profit on his investment. You will thereby
save the original tax for raising the fund forbuil-
ding the Bridges But this is not ALL am one
ofthose who deny that the Board Of Police have
the power to exact toll over Bridge owned by
the county. The general powers conferred on
this Court are those which were formerly exer-
cised by the County Court. Among those pow
ers was the power to regulate the tolls allowed
by the Legislature to the owners and keepers of
Bridges and Ferries. But the County Court
could not grant Bridge Charter, nor had il the
power to build toll Bridges for the county. It
could build free Bridges only. Again, the Board
Of Police is authorised to levy county tax not
exceeding one hundred per cent on the state tax
Toll is a tax and assessment. 1t must necessa-
ry be uncertain whether it will moi exceed the
one hundred per cent on the state tax It is, be-
sides, not such levy as is provided BY the sta
tute. The probable consequence will be tres
pass by the toll receiver in stopping teams. and
an action against him by the owners thereof, and
refusal by the traveller to pay the toll or to
submit to be stopped. These are evils moi to be
hazarded in the exercise of usurped or questiona-
bic power.
3. Will you then give up the building Of these
Bridges, and adopt some other manner or open-
ing communication with the great thorough
fare to market? There are three others possible
the completion ofthe Rail Road, the improve
ment Of the navigation Of Bayou Pierre, and the
opening good public road to Bruinsburg or
Rodney. The first is believed to be possible but
not probable, the second most persons believe
impossible, and !, who once advocated it, do not
now think it probable, the third is perhaps less
difficult but to all three exists the weighty OBJ
ection that they will seriously iniure Grand
dulf, without commensurate advantage to any
other portion Of the county.
Weigh all these interrogatories dspassionate-
y, and if you are still in favor Of building the
Bridges and having them free, then join with me
n adopting the most eflicien. mode Of attaining
his end. believe this the most important To-
al or county question that has ever divided the
,eople ofthe county. l think it should be made
test question, as to candidates 10 It'll the Board
f Police and for the Legislature If the powers
the Board Of Police are insufficient, the oppo-
ents Of free Bridges will resort to the Legisla-
lre to supply the power. Ofthe present mem-
ers Of the Board of Police it is believed Messrs. !
Toward, Richmond & Moore are stauuch friends q
the free Bridge measure; Mr.. Dotson has been n
onsistentiy opposed, and the President Of the ! !
oard is by some esteemed fshy, or a trimmer. f
the candidates for the Legislature, Dr. Ross s.
an is presumed, from his location, to be oppos- q
to the free Bridge measure and /, ifno other, y
n unwilling to trust Mr.. Valentine. Let us :, =
en meet at the Court house, on Saturday, the ii
lth Of Sept, to adopt such concert of action as Il
i'll unite the friends of free Bridges, and of the 2
'osperity Of Port Gibson and Grand Gulf, and "
e convenience ofthe majority of the planters of m
e county. A.