The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-17
For the New Era.
INCORPORATING THE TOWN.
Conclusion

TX
IConclusion.1
Mr.. Editor We were told. the other night.
at the Town Hall, by the gentleman who spoke
IN opposition To the further Incorporation of the
Town, to me, al least, one rather singular fact {;
and must say, that, at first, was very much
surprised at il, and | dare say that | might have
remained in doubt and surprise until this time, if
the same gentleman had not furnished us a KEY To
unlock mysteries of the kind. Tie gentleman
told us that all of the Magistrates from the
country were perfectly willing Cor the people Of
Portsmouth 10 extend The corporate powers of the
Town. Well, this part of the gen,leman's state
ment | could satisfactorily account for. because T
could well understand that the improvement, of
the Town OF Portsmouth would somewhat benefit
the people of the'County of Norfolk and. indie
pendent of all pecunisry considerations, | could
readily understand why the people of the County.
might sympathise in the prosperity of the people
of Portsmouth, for exactly the same reasons which
! should have for being pleased at any cause of
prosperity. which might happen To the people of
Norfolk County and | am sure that should
rejnice at such prosperity with a free good will.
But that part of the genileman's statement which
which surprised me so much was that willis,
every one of the Magistrates belonging to the
County were perfectly willing to the extension
of the Corporate powers of Portsmouth, that every
Magistrate who resides in the Town were oppospd
To it. Ii was this surprising unanimiiy among
Wings and Democrats which excited my wonder
so much. What did | say Wings and Demo.
Gratis; | ask your pardon, Mr.. Editor, for such a
gross mistake. [ should have said Whjus and
Democrat, for | have been told that there is I'm,
one Democratic Magistrate in our Town, whilst
there are nine Whigs-but this is a dipression. 7
said, was surprised at such perfect unanimitv
among the Magistrates of the Town upon n sub.
jecto Of such great importance. and upon which the
people OF the Town had been so much divided in
opinion, and while | was trying tn solve the pro.
blem. as to the cause of this united opposition
among the gentlemen Justices, the speaker han.
pened to get to that part of his remarks which
related Ia the new Ferry, which he ,houpht
would have To be gotten up, if the Town was
tnriher incorporated, and was trying 10 solve The
doubt as to which side the city of Norfolk would
lake, whether with the County or the Town .
and he remarked Is hut tell me which side her
interest lies, and then / will tell YOU which side
she VIII 60" Never was a listener relieved
from u botheIing doubt more promptly than | was
about The cause at the great nnanimity amongst the
gentlemen Justices, and | almost exclaimed alnud.
" Tell me ,Chich side their interest lies. and 7
WiH tell you ,Ohich side they piH 60"
have before stated, that the present authorities
OF the Town possess all the legal powers necessa
ny to place the people of the Town of Portsmouth
upon a level with the people of any other incor.
porated Town, with The single exception of the
''S'N W. ''NSh WI tiht IlCtI ana the wh0Ia
question now before the people, as to further In
corporation. simply resolves itself into this. Are
the people of the Town of Portsmouth sufficiently
intellis ent TO be allowed to elect their own civil Ma.
gistrates, or not Oar present organization is his.
We elect nine men as Trustees. who control the
expenditures of the Town, make laws for its reou
ia'lOn and tax our property; but they have no pow.
er 10 have their avs and regulations executed. and
we have ten civil Magistrates, whose tenure of of
flee is for life, irresponsible, and unremovabIe.
except by death and in that event the vacancy
Is hlled by the survivors, assisted by the Magis
tTates OF the country, and who are wholly indie.
pendent of The will, OF the wishes of those over
whom they have To act.
10 hold office in the United States, whenever
mat ONCE is conferred by the free and voluntary
choice of the governed, is certainly most honora
BILE hut To hold IN to office, or to acquire one
against the Will of the governed, is a species of
tyranny which ought not to be known in a com.
try protesting To he free. | deem 1t hardly neces.
sary to say. that when our Town becomes fully
Incorporated, the office of Magistrate will he sue
ceeded by that of Common Councillor, and their
powers and duties will devolve on those who are
elected by the people and when our authorities
are thus situated, they will soon learn, THAT
TO act well their part, there all the hOnor lies"
In conclusion, would say to the properiy bol-
deTS. ~ you wish 10 see the Town flourish. place
all The people upon the same p~la iforin uf freedom
and equality Of civil rights, as they are in all 9th
er Incorporated Towns in The United States. Do
this, and will venture to predict, that in less
than twelve months, we shall see a new face
upon every thing, and learn that The great and
good Ruler of The desrinies Of Men and Tow1s.
did not intend that our noble rivers, our spacious
%iIafbors, and our healthy and beautifully situated
Town, should always be the scene Of idle ina,rivi.
W. but that the time must come, when all these
advantages must be appreciated. That this soon
may be The destiny of your Town. is The ardent
WISH OF a LOCKER ON.
we believe our respected correspondent is yet
IN error Notwithstanding his own correction
Iherc Is not even one Democratic Magistrate in the
Town. There was some two years since two of
those rara acis in terra, but they resigned tho bonors
and burdens of office together.-Nep Era.