Year: 1859




EprroR DEMOCRAT Il was very much graf
tied yesterday morning to read your Just
and liberal remarks upon the Free Bridge
Bill now before the Legislature. How any
sensible man like Mr.. Wheeler could ever be
induced to introduce and advocate such a
bill is a mystery to me. l am not at all as.
+onished that Mr.. Parks should advocate the
bill, because it is in perfect keeping with his
we'll known views on the Railroad. As for
MIR. Vaughan, he ought to be excused for
whatever he may do in the Legislature this
session, for the reason that he has not yet re-
covered from surprise at his own election.


But you are perhaps not aware that four
ffths of the people of Sutter county are op-
posed to the building of the bridge upon the
plan proposed2 Yet | think this is true
They make no stir about it because they
know the bill is unconstitutional upon two
grounds,


First: Because it interferes with vested
rights


Second; Because the taxation proposed is
not uniform.


If the people of Sutter had any idea that
.uch stupid bill could be rendered effective
land here / must beg pardon of the learned
gentleman Of Yuba county who drew the
bill.-neither Mr.. Parks nor Mr.. Vaughan be-
ing able to draft bill, they would send such
a petition down as would shake not only the
immediate projectors Of this foolish scheme
in their boots, but would also give gentle
oscillating motion to the very dsinterested
individual who owns land lover the way,
and who merely offered to '-dondte"-mind
YOU d-o-n-a-t-e one thousand dollars now
don't get frightened) not to any individual in
the whole universal world, but to the new
Bridge-in its isolated neuter gender and sin
gular number capacity as Bridge


Permit me here to remark that Mr.. Wheel
er has many friends in Sutter who most sin
cerely hope that his being remotely interest
ed in farm there per auter Uie, has no i'll
fuence whatever in causing his support Of
the measure. But should any fastidious in
dividual be after a reason why the bill should
not pass, you may say to such that. besides
four or FIVE reasons which will save back
like Cesar did his six cohorts,-I will now
give you the following. thus:


First The sole right to build and keep a
bridge at the point proposed, is legally YES
ted by Act of the Legislature in private par
ties.


Second; The taxation proposed cannot be
equal. Persons of little means living near
the bridge and constantly using it, will not
be taxed as much as persons of means living
Mt distance who scarcely ever use the bridge
And other counties using the bridge as much
or nearly so, as Sutter. pay nothing.


Third: The people of Sutter do not want
it on the plan proposed. The bill taxes them
without their consent.


If this last reason be untrue then why do
the projectors-Parks and Vaughan-refuse
to submit the bill to the vote of the citizens
of Sutter countyP


should become tedious were 1 to attempt
to show that the bill makes no adequate pro-
vision to keep the bridge in repair nor to ex
tnguish the debt which will be incurred in
the building. The rate Of taxation proposed
will be charged for the balance due the con.
tractor after the first year. All Of which, in
the language of Grand Juries, is respectfully
submitted. SUFFER-.