The Nevada journal., 1855-08-31
Oh Consistency !

Honest" John Bigler at the last sess
: ion of the Legislature, vetoed bill "grant
ing to A. G. Kinsey and others, the righ
to construct toll bridge across the Amer
lean river at Negro Barr also can ac
granting E. Dewitt and others, the ripht
to construct toll bridge across the Kla.
nah river"; and can act granting Geo
, NJ. Hanson and other the right to con.
, struct suspension bridge across Feathe,
river, on the ground of unconstitutionality
In 1854, he signed bill granting Josepl
R. Beals and others, the right to construct ,
toll bridge across the Pajaro River and alst
ian act "authorizing James Golden to collec
: tolls on q certain road"
In 1852, he signed bill authorizing More
head, Palmer, & Co., to collect tolls on a bridg,
across Trinity River" and a bill authorizing
Dennis Mooney to collect tolls on a ferry acros:
Trinity
Where is the difference in principle between
the latter bills signed and the former, retoedi
i But let US give him the benefit of his OWL
language. In his Veto of the "act granting
Kinsey the right to construct o toll-bridge
across the American River" he says:
This act grants 20 single individual, i'm
portant powers and privileges which, in the alb
sence of law, cannot be exercised and enjoyed
by individuals or partnerships and it is there.
fore regarded as in conflict with the spirit, il
not the letter of the 3lst Sec. of Art4 of the
Constitution, which reads as follows: "Corpo-
rations may be formed under general laws, but
shall not be created by special act, except for
municipal purposes"
The position assumed here, and the same is
reiterated in FIVE other subsequent vetoes, it
will be seen, is 'fhat pouerS and privileges,
arhih in the absence of ia,c, cannot be exercised
by imdiv'ducls or partnership, cannot be granted
By special Act."
Now in 1852, he approved the following
bills:
l. An act to authorize james L. Freaner to
construct a wagon road from the Sacramento
Valley to Oregon.
2. An act authorizing Stewart and others to
construct wagon road from Humboldt Bay
TO Sacramento Valley.
3. An act to authorize Allen and Burnham
to construct telegraphc wires from San Fran
cisco to Marysville, &c.
a An act authorizing Moody and Hart to
build q wharf in Solano county.
An act to authorize Morehead, Palmer &
Co., to collect tolls on bridge across Trinity
River.
An act to authorize Mooney to collect tolls
on ferry across Trinity river, or to substitute
toll bridge therefor.
An act authorizing B. F, Haley to erect
powder magazine in San Francisco.
! An act to incorporate the town of Oak
land, which contains q provision granting the
entire water front of said town as far out as
ships channel, to Horace w. Carpenter.
In 1853, he approved the following
An act to authorize Whipple and others
to build wharf at Crescent city.
10 An act amending the act authorizing
Moody and Heart to build wharf in Solano
county.
IL An act authorizing McAlpin and others
to construct q canal from Tulare Lake to the
San Joaquin river.
In 1854 he signed the following
II 4An act authorizing Murdoch and others
| to build wharf at Union Town, Humboldt
county.
13 An act authorizing Stephen Nurse to
build wharf in Solano county.
! IA IN act granting Joseph Beals and others
the right to construct toll bridge across the
Pajaro River.
| is An act authorizing James Golden to col.
Iect tolls on certain road in Sierra county.
l6 An act for the construction of q wharf at
Santa Barbara.
| II An act authorizing Caruthers to build a
turn pike and gravel road from Stockton to
Sonora and Columbia.
Is an act authorizing Wm Roberts and
others to build wharf at Bucksport, in Hum
boldt county.
! In 1855, the very session at which this prin-
ciplo was enunciated he signed the following
bl.s:--
10 An act to extend the time for the con-
struction of a canal from Tulare lake to the
San Joaquin River.
20 An act to extend the time for the con-
struction OF certain railroads.
q An act to authorize John j. Elicit to
consiructa canal across the overhowed lands
from Belmont to the Bay of San Francisco.
90 44r. act authorizing j. G. Ward to con.
struct wharf at Halfmoon bay in San Fran
cisco county.
% An act granting to the San Diego and
Giia railroad two leagues of land to aid in con-
structing said road
"a An act authorizing Darlington and 9th
ers to bald wharf in Solano county
25. An act authorizing certain Chinese
companies to sell and convey certain real estate
in the city of Sau Francisco.
Here then are no less than tuenfufre acts
approved by him at different times during his
administration which directly infringe the prin
ciple he above lays down. Are not each and
all these acts, Especial acts" and do they not
grant ''powers and privileges, which, in the alb
scence of law, cannot be exercised by individ-
uals or partnerships ?" Examine the princ.
pie he lays down above. for we have quoted it
in his own language. We would not be so un-
generous as to assert, or even suggest, that
perhaps the consideration, that the bills of the
last session, vetoed, were advocated by men
opposed to Broderick and Bigler for the q.
States Senate, and the Legislature which pass.
ed them Overwhelmingly the same way, might
possibly have entered into the causes which
awakened Executive wrath, and opened bis
eyes to the discovery Of new constitutional
lights. The facts, however, are so, and we
leave the public to draw their own conclusions
Certain it is that If we XeIe ON a inrv TO try