Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-09-21
TEE AueusTa BRIDGE. NO, 1.

Mr.. Carroll, of Edgefied has come before the
public to answer or oppose the temptest OF ex-
clamation, as lie calls it, with which the late
legislation on this subject has been received in
the city of Augusta. The sort OF feeling eX.
cited in Augusta, generally attends on aets OF
spoliation, and is generally more vehemently ex-
pressed by the sufferers, than by those who have
no interest in the matter. With Mr.. Carroll's
AGENCY in procuring the questionable act we
have nothing to do. He doubtless is satisfied
in his own mind, of the delicacy AMI perfect
,ropriety of his course; the uniform tenor OF
his life will not admit of doubt of this-and if
there is deAexion in his Legislative experience,
from the right line, no one who knows him Will
ascribe it to anything but m error of Judgment.
The responsibility of this act is with the Legs,
lature and the dissatisfaction which it has created
is not continued to Georgia or Augusta u Mr.
Carroll, or any one ese can remove that dlssatls-
faction, he will gain a great triumph over poPu-
lar sentiment We mean to inquire how far he
has succeeded in reconciIing to the public con-
science, the transfer of the Augusta Brldge
from the city of Augusta to his clients, Mess:s.
Jones g. Kennedy.
The great point which he labors 10 establish is,
that the bridge belonged to the State. Now let
rs ask whether it would be right to give the
bridge 10 Jones and Kennedy, even if it could be
proved that it belonged to the State? Suppose
the State to have erected this bridge, and built
it with the public money OH the public land =
would it be right or proper to give 1t way ,or
private purposes? for the purpose Of enrichlng
favored individual with large income from an
investment of money taken out OF the treasury
The State built road once. 1t would have
sounded monslruus to propose to give that road
rs q reward for the merit Of All influential men,
ber, and allow him to take toll for private gain
and profit at the expense Of the community.
Why not buy plantation for the popular favo-
rite? 1t would not make any difference in
nrinciple whether the money was employed in
bulldog him bridge or buying him farm.
The answer will, probably be that The State
paid nothing for the Bridge; and light come
light CO." treasure that cost nothing needs not
be econom-ed.
But The Bridge did cost the people of Augusta
something. They bought and paid tor 1t from
shore 10 Shore. Even by the partial statement
of MIR. Carroll this is admitted, for he does mol
ignore the purchase, under the sale made by the
Il. S. Court. He knows too, that Shul,z and
NIcKinne were paiitwiee for.!hs properly, and !
recorded Judgment of the Courts of the United
States and the Court OF Equity of this State
three times pronounced on solemn arguments.
Concedng then, for the sake of argument, the
great point conendcd by Mes>rs. Jones and
Kennedy, The case stands thus The city ol
Augusta have held the property 20 years and
upwards, by purchase and claim of title; but
there is in that title Il flaw, by reason OF which
the State of Soutll-CuruIiua has the legal right
And OH The strength Of that flaw in the title OF
the city of Augusta. the State of South Carroll,
NJ auihorises Jones and Kennedy 10 eject them
from half their property, and make The most ol
it for their own benefit.
Is it any wonder that the city of Augusta finds
something offensive in setting up claim against
long. peaccable and recognized possession! and
aomelhing worse in proceeding to change the
possion without trial? The anger felt in
Georgia is the natural expression of indignation
against high handed jusice-a species OF inter,
ference with The right of possession, which IN
higher circles is called spoiation but among
tue common people, robbery.
Op their own showing, therefore, the grant oi
the Augusta Bridge TO Jones q Kennedy. is q
betrayal of the public interest at the shrine Of
private gain, so far as we, the constituency Of
the gentlemen, who passed the act concerned
and 50 far us the State of Georgia is concerned
it is the assertion of an offensive claim in the
most insolent manner The value of that flaw
which it is supposed that Messrs Jones T. Ken
nedy have discovered in the title of the city o.
Augusta, will De discussed hereafter.