The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-04
MONEYED CORPORATIONS

NJ pnhc meeting held sumo lime since in the
Town Hall, IAN the subject uf obtaining further
Incorporated privileges tor the ,nM nf Portsmouth,
II Will be- recolIecled tina, Capt. Watts. thinking
he was making a strong argument apains, the
movement, declared that all interpretations ,rere
great cells or curses and urged that. as one rea
son before the pe"ple, why he did not go, at the
present lime, Tor Incorporation, although. with all
its evils. he hoped the lime would come " hen he
shund he able to 90 Tor it too hut it is too much
after such declaration that he should he found
al the hfs' opportunity presenting bills for invest
I'M particular bndies with particular curse. when
what the whole people asks for cannot be obtained
from ,Le legislature, because opposed by their
representative in part" notwithstanding expe.
rlence has proved that all would be benrfirted by
such change in municipal government, and
that none could he injured, except one or two
ambitions aspirants who are luukIng 10 honors
which God and nature never intended they should
wear
la all seriousness ask our fellow citizens, if
they do not feel alarmed. at the building up these
exclusive bodies in our midst, who have the con
troll oil large SUNS OF money, and invested with
large rights To hold property, mnre especially
when these things are dnne secretly, and without
advisement with line people The Schoo COM
missioners of the County have heen incorp ora,ed,
and now those of the Town must be- Who has
been consulted advised with in this matter?
NOT THE PEOPLE. Immediately on the organi
cation of this hoard. with corporate powers, all
the property apperiaining to the Schnnls now he
longing the Town will be placed in their
hands, The taxes that drawn from every in
d'vldnal at the rate of 81. Il head, will 90 into
their CUTTERS the appropriation of large portion
of the revenue of the Ferry will also 90 there and
become vested rights" which will tramplei
subsequent legislation. and for that very object
we believe it intended by it's trainers and
originators Well, 10 carry on this corporate
power. new Clerks and Treasures will have ,o
he chosen. whose pay will of course demand an
additional tax from The buckets and industry of
the people: for this Boa:d of Commissions pro
dure nothing and still they must eat and they
VIII eat at the expense of those who are now
ground down with taxation. Think of these
things fellow. citizens now. and prevent further
encroachment upon your property and your rights
If y"u do not, the time will soon arrive when Won
will seriously regret it, We intended to pursne
this subject on another tack. hut we have said
These own views of this matter
and 1t is hut fair To say, that in n conversation
with one OF the present Commissioners whom
we highly esteem, as We personally do the whole
of hem, tie differs with rs entirely on The sub
jeci; and looks upnn the act asked of the eulsa
ture vitality essential 10 the permanenry and
prosperity Of the Schuns--and thinks il the only
way in " hich the property of the Schouls can be
Reserved for fund sacred tn the purposes of edu-
ca"n. Under The present Commissioners we
perhaps, would entertain M doubts as tn The cor
rect exercise OF The power, proposed To be vested
in ihPn, hut fear the future. and putting i'm
plIc faith in the truth Df the adage, that {" p,w
or Is always stealing from The many To the few -
we are j"nmus Of every transfer of power from
The great hudy Of the people, to inJivi&ua or spe.
cIal b'fieS, not subject to the salutary supervision
and check of the " hole