Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-04-22
DOMESTIC NEWS.



AN INCIDENT OF wILM1NGToN's HISTORY - INTER
RoaATINa CANDIDATES FOR THE LEaIsLATuRE.
A number OF our present readers may not be
aware that the bridge over the Chrisiana, at the
foot of Market street, was, some twenty year,
ago, a toll bridge, and it cost for ingress and
egress to the Southern part of our State from
25 cents to 81, 1,according to the number Of horses
to the vehicle Various Intellectual attempts han
at various times been made to get the bridge
made free but without effect. Iguoraat of these
previous efforts, Mr.. Francis Vincent then edi
tor Of the Blue Hens Chicken, seeing that il in
jured the trade of the city, commenced to agitatr
the question of purchasing it by the county, and
making it free. The Levy Court refused and
threw the matter out. The next election, ne
addressed circulars TO every candidate Tor the
Levy Court, formally asking them the ques'
tion. if elected, whether they would vote III
favor Of purchasing it and making it free, and
informing them that il they did not answer Ia
vorably, that he should print tickets with their
names left off, and do his best through his paper
to defeat them.
Some we're favorable, others unfavorable to the
interrogatories. Mr.. Vincent then printed tick
cts on which were alone the names OF those
pledged to the measure, and electoneered ior
them at the polls 1--WE then voted only at the CITY
ILL.,
in favor of freeing the bridge When the Legis-
lature met he got up petition and sent lt down
to them requesting the passage OF an act to give
the Levy Court the necessary power Tor that
purpose, but such was the opposition made by
the town of New Castle, and some other portions
of the county, that the Legislature reIusea tu
pass the act.
When this action was known to the citizens OF
Wilmington, it caused intense excitement. A
public meeting was hastily called, at which
indignation was expressed, and committee OF
citizens appointed which in conjunction with 2
similar committee of the Council, went TO Dover
to endeavor to get the Legislature to resclnd
their action. This the Legislature refused to DO
Mr.. Vincent then alleged that the Levy Court
had perfect right to purchase and make free
the Bridge without an act Of the Legislature
THIS view was held by all the Wilmington law
yers, but those of New Castle held contrary opin-
| ions The Levy Court who were all pledged TO
the measure, then offered to refer the matter to
| Judge Houston, then our Representative in Con
| gress. But MIR. Houston declining to judge or
the legality of the question, it was then left tC
| Judge Layton, who gave long written opinion
| lin which the question was agreed pro and con.
against the rights of the Levy Court to make thu
| purchase, without an act OF the Legislature ant
| thus the matter was ended for the time.
Nearly two years now rolled around. when th'
subject was apparently forgotten. There wa
almost a universal cry that it was useless to at
| tempt to free the bridge; that it would neye
| succeed. But this time Mr. vincent questlone'
beth candidates for the Legislature and Lev.
Court, whether il elected they would vote il
favor of the measure. Some made favorable
| and some unfavorable answers. Again he op
posed the election of those who opposed tn
freeing of the bridge, and succeeded in gettinI
| only those elected, both to the Legislature am
levy urt who we're inf favor, of carrying tn
matter through. Accordingly, when the Legis
lature met, the bill was hastily rushed throng
both houses the act was at once sent up to Ne'
| Castle, and an extra session of the Levy Cour
was called, the resolution to purchase it wa
rushed through like lightning, the money wa
raised, paid to the stockholders of the bridge
and in but little more than week after its IL
PRODUCTION into the Legislature, vehicles wer
| passing over it free from toll.
One Of the interrogatories addressed to Bas
sett Ferguson, candidate for the Legislature
and replied to in the affirmative BY him, ha
been shown us. Mr.. Ferguson resided at Bacl
bird, in Appoquinmink, and was weight
member, his avoirdupois being over 300 pound'
He was highly y-esteemed citizen, and the mer
tion of his name will awaken recollections in Ii
minds of many friends.