Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-10-05
From the Charleston Courier.

The disliclion between Bridge and Char.
ter, is just the same as that between hllney
Cotton Gin and Whitn.ys patent. The rnachlne
is the tangible P5i-4sRscIisio!c Object; the pa
tent is the privilege enjoyed by the inventor OF
using that machine alone. In facI, charter Is :
patent. 1t gives to man the sole right o
transporting passengers and msrrllar'lizc across
the river for limited time, just rs il he had
made discovery of the art Of bridge building
and had got law TO prevent any person using
his discovery without paving him for it. Mr.
SiuIlz really laOor,d under the deInslon that he
WAS an inventor, or something more, and rs ne
was the first man that had put up bridge at
augusta 10 stand, he concluded, and CAUSED .
GREAT many simple people to believe, that he had
an inaIienabIe and natural right TO The bridge
wll:cl, may account for what would otherwise
appear to bc very rrprrhrusiblc in his conduct
The mi stake Of Mcssrs. Jones and Kennedy
is TO suppose that mans bridge cannot be made
uscur by him unless he has i patent. 1t would be
lust is reasonable to argue That if Whitney had
not had Il patent, he would have had no right to
take money for showing people how to get 0u'
their cotton by machinery.
In their jusliicaion those gentlemen claim
for our State half the toll which the city OF Au'
rust have received since 1918, lis it 1t WAS al
unlawful thing for Il man 10 take toll when nc
has no charter. The distinction is between tax
inr toll which belongs TO another, and taking
toll to which no one else has any claim.
Now it is impossible for Mrssrs. Jones and
Kennedy 10 produce case, where man has
L.en prosecuted or convicted merely for taking
Toll. He NAV be sued for taking toll to the i'll
iurv Of 4 chartered bridge. But if there be no
! Lridme within three miles, and an individual will
h. n the expense of making Il bridge and ouer-
nr facilities for travel, he is entitled to compcn'
salion from those who Use his Improvement. a
nriva,e bridre is exposed to the competition oi
rivals; and what is more if some rival should
re, Il charter for his bridge, the owner Of the
private bridge will have to give way
The Legislature has hitherto considered that
BRIDGES and ferries are proper subjects of prolec.
lion 1t is thought that to ensure COOP bridges
il is necessary 10 project the business, and tc
prevent any man from competing with the OWL
er Of 4 chartered bridge, lest lie should from
competition be loser by Ills efforts 10 accommo'
date the public. But no one can find case OF
an authority to punish man for errcilnga bridge
fur III. public USE where there is no bridge.
The legislature have right 10 protect this
sp.ries of industry and they may grant char
ter =, u bridrc. which like !; patent exclude.
competiion, but what would the public think o
oiv;nn Mr. Iones Il patent for bis nei ghbors' in
yeu,i0u? Yet, that is just what they have done
TL,v have uiyen Mr.. Jones charter, authorizing
him 10 take toll for Il bridge belonging 10 the
Citvo Auuusta. In the worst times of history
among all the abuses which disigurc the govern
mrnl Of James the First, previous to the cee.
hra,ed act of Monopolies, 81. Jne. l. cap. g. nc
abuse so wanton as that committed by the lcgis.
la,urc of South Carolina, in 1853, can be brought
to liuht The act can only be- ascribed, to sur.
prise' |, was passed against the forms of the
! Constitution, without, three readings, in a thir
House: on the last night of the session and the
marvel is, that any one should be found hardy
enorph to virdcatc IN acl, which has found lis
wav INTO the Statute Bnok clandes.incly, in viu
lation of every principle of constitutional ia"
or private right,
So much for the law of the case. As an ut
tempt is made 10 justify this unheard of violation
of the ordinary principles of justice, as pro-
ceedinr called for by the policy of the State
some remarks called on that head will appear il
our next. NO MEMBER
Az ANSWER REQUEST ED-Thc question ha.
been asked why iii considered impulilc for gen
tleman to 60 into the presence of ladies in the
shirt sleeves, whilst it is considered in every way
correct for the ladies themselves to appear before
gentlemen without any sleeves at all?
A WHEAr-GRowIHG CoUNTRY.--Il is estima
ted that the Canadas will raise the present sea
CON 4, sprnlus of 100000 bushels OF wheat