The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-05
INCORPORATING THE TOWN.

~ Il ucSUHy sN'S".-i aNC'iuduCt
with previous announcement, the Town Hall was
crowded at an early by our citizens, to listen to a
discussion on the merits and dement's Of lncorpo-
ration. Contrary to our better Judgment and in
c~iination, the editor Of this paper was called upon
to open the meeting on the subjective say con
trary To our judgment, because we believe the
press is The proper place for examining the bear.
ings of the question calmly and dispassionately
and that very little or no good can result from a
popular discussion, where clap-trap, anecdotes,
&c., whether appropriate or not. is resor;ed To,
to tickle the fancy and dazzle the judgment OF
men. 10 the remarks in which we had the honor
TO submit TO the meeting, we endeavored to divest
them OF every feeling of party, and appeal alone
10 The reason ut men. We had no victory to
galn-no triumph To accomplish, but to arouse an
enqniring spirit in the bosoms of the people, on a
question which equally interests nll-whether we
were successful or not, remains for lime To deter.
mine-the base Of our argument was what we
have here;of fore published.
Capt. Samuel Watts tonk grounds in opposi-
ton to Incorporation, in a speech of an hour and
a quarter, and although it was animated and well
received. we must confess that, to MS, his argu-
ment failed To bring conviction. In the openinp
remarks he took the high ground certainly
high ground for him, that all incorporafious
were an epl, because they gire enciusire priri-
teges TO The Jew, at The erpense Of The many"
Now, this is n doctrine we have always con,ended
Tor, against Capt. Watts and his party, and we
admit it to be sound doctrine, when applied to a
United States Bank. and other incorporated bodies
where, alone, the few are benefited; but it has
no force in the present instance where, by seek
ing for an enlarged and independent government.
a whole community are TO be benefited, and their
condition improved, without doing injustice to, or
curtailing the rights of any other body or number
Of men.
The picture he drew of the heavy expense
which the corpora ton of New York has to bea
was really terrific, not TO say any thing Of that o
Richmond. Well, we admit, if the enormous,
expense of conducting the municipal affairs o.
near half a million of souls, was To be immediate
iy saddIed upon SIX or seven thousand people in
it would very near break her dowr
under her present circumstances but we do no
think the gentleman took a fair view of the sub
jet, when he attributed that expense to the iteni
of " dignity" which, according to his idea. ba,
to be supported in New York. If we recollec
rightly. there is a debt of some eleven millions {,
dollars incurred by that city for the introduction
OF a plentiful supply of the first necessity of liz
into that city, which is not for a day, but for al
tlme-we refer to the Croton Water Works-
deduct the interest of that sum from the veorI
levy, and we will find it lessened onsiderablv-
deduct then the expense for other necessaries a.
life, night Hgh!, and so on, and we will find n
vnnnHac nraat ~ H.
reasonable, and much cheaper TO the Individual
than he could provide those comforts he no.,
enjoys. in his individual or isolated capacity
But if New York and Richmond find The burde,
Too heavy to be borne, why do they not throw i
off? The counties TO which they are respective
ly attached would he rejoiced to have the proner
ty OF these cities 10 lery upon for tares, when
ever a call was made by their State government.
for money. However, the gentleman's arpumeni
was only made for amusement, for before he hal
concluded, he admitted that such expenditpre
were necessary for the government of densel,
populated towns. and he looked forward to H.,
time with pleasure, when it would be necessar,
to incorporate Portsmouth, and when he, himself
would go for it. Thus We find, it is a mere oues
ton of time with him.
We were much gratifed with an admission
made by the gentleman, in reply to that portion
of orr remarks, where we alluded 10 the nronor
ton which The people of Portsmouth paid 10 Tho
revenues Of the Ferry that was-he admitte.I
that one halCof the whole amount received =, N
Ferry was paid by the citizens of Portsmouth
while the city of Norfolk, the balance of N.
county, and transient travel paid the balance
Now, the county has received in the last si.
years from the Ferry, by Capt. Watts W show
ing, some .forty.eight thousand dollars Will
there has been expended for The benefit of Ports
mouth only three thousand dollars in the sam
time; and consequently. forty fire thousand hi /;
been absorbed by the county. The building Ct
boats, &C., was referred 10 as absorbing a portion
of that amount, and charged to the credit of Ports
mouth. The Captain should have recollecte
that those boats were not built in Portsmouth. and
that a County Levy was exacted for the bene6
Of that Ferry, of which Portsmouth was taxe,j
her due proportion. Again, the public building
just erected, was another item amounting T.,
Sl9,OOO with which Portsmouth is also dobited q.
the speaker forgot that there was a loan wbic
the county has contracted of some thirieen fbou
sand dollars, TO pay for those very Public Build
ings. We ask Ohat has become of the foyfy
fUe thousand dollars ! and we urge upon OF r
citizens to take " The management Of their o,c
affairs into their oon hands, and, if need he
appeal TO the Legislature for justice. If thew d.,
not, we can assure them, in the forcible and class;
language of the Captain. that they will find tina,
a large portion of the industry of Portsmouth
will "siip their barqnes," and leave the propcrf
holders to mourn their short sighted policy an
dopIore the utter worlhlessDess of their proper,v