The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-01-23
INCORPORATION
We would ask The attention of our town readers
10 the following communication:
For the New Era.


Mr.. Edtor-Si The Resolutions adopted
the 9th January, 1916. by meeting held in.
Norfolk County, having appeared in the Norfolk
papers, with the design of Influencing, no Doubt
the action of the Legislature upon the question of
In c"rp"raIing the Town of Portsmouth it may
be proper 10 besow upnn them some little a,ten-
ti"n. la The frs, those resolutions it is urav.ly
announced that We oi the Town Of Portsmouth,
have the undouhted rgh, to petition. Thank
YEN. gentlemen. for the magnnnimons admission
We hare The right TO petition? Yes. thanks
God and "nr free institutions. we have ,ha, riuht
and that quite independent, of the self constituted
Legislators of Norfolk County But this re>olu
ton gnes on tn declare. nur do We of The county
desire that she. (Portsnruth) remain part of
us any longer than il may be to he interest of
both tn do ST." What extreme condpscensiuni
IL Ia not desired that Portsmouth should remain
united with the other portion Of the county unless
i, he for the interest "f ALL yet the following TO
solutions 30 on In declare, that the town NAV
have paid the larger portion uf fsrliage, and
though II be fact that the property of the county
viz: court house jail. Ibis, wharves. buats, Sc,
&c, have been purchased almost wholly from the
proceeds of that same ferry or in other wo ds,
abou, three fuur,hs from the buckets of the people
OF Portsmouth,. vet il is pfpposterous for them to
claim any portion of their o,on in case they be-
come Incorporated We must give up all because
we believe we can better manage AFFAIRS than
the Magistrates of Norfolk County for us. This
reminds us of a certain firm. which having made
money mainly by the exernn of one of the mem
bers, upon his desiring no longer To labor for the
henef, of The drcne. was soemnly told he uuh,
quit as suon as he pleased, bu, that he should
take none of the partnership property with him.
We may leave when il is for our interest, hut
IT We do quit we are To give mp all have paid
Tor public property. and consent 10 be fnrerer
iaTed for the exclusive benefit of the cuun,v
We have for series "f years paid in the shape
of ftrriage, very large portion of the expenses
of the county. In addition To this, we mus, de-
fray all our own expenses for streets. bridues.
wharves. Sc, SC. AID when we ask to be re-
lieved from snch extoriions, we ire told that il is
preposterous The payment of money, it
would seem, is 10 he regarded az giving no title TO
the property purchased with the same "srhe
right to the ferry is right vested in the County
of Norfolk from the foundation of the govern.
ment." Then. because this ..uesied sighL' has
been for series of years, the means by which
bridges have heen built, and nearly all of the
expenses of the county paid ont of the pockets of
The people If Portsmouth, " ii is at war with
the plainest principles of Justice and honesty for
tl,e people Of the town to claim one half of The
public property when incorporated" Though it
cannot be denied that they have paid the indirect
tax by which the property has been purchased al
what has been paid by the remainder of The county
Ii is believed To be good, republican. and CON
slItui0nal doctrine that the burdens of the govern
ed should be borne equally. Bu, certain loud pre
lender, TO repubcanism seem to have discov
cred that 1t is unjust and unreasonable for those
who have been taxed and oppressed, that others
might avoid taxation, and all the burdens of coun
t. governments should ask To be relieved there
from, and 10 share in The use of their o,sn mo
ney Posted rights is but sorry plea for in
justice. And we ask, is not there plenty of room
for an additional ferry? Let us share the bene
fit of OR own money expended in ferraee, and
the county hers.
The sorry of $500 paid to the town for
the nse If wharf, the parting with which in
vOIved The necessity Of expanding some $4,000
f'r another TO answer the same purpose for the
town. " bile some 50 to $1,000 are annually an
Piled for the benefit of the comfy presents in .
deed for the acli"n of Legislature. dis
posed To enact laws that shall equally protec, and
encourage. and if burdens must he borne. eouallv
burden all. Where is the justice in loading The
people of the town. not only with the enormous
taxPs resulting from her Indebtedness, but nd,
recily compelling her citizens 60 paw in the firm