Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-06-03
ence and iutsrestof the inhabitants" they
have entirely overlooked.
LONG TOM BOWLIN.
For the Maumee Express.


Sir,-The decision Of the
commissioners, in relation TO the county
seat, seems to have created good deal
of surprise among all parties. And !
am obliged to confess, that my own re-
fections upon the subject, have never
enabled me to discover, at least plausi-
BILE peason for their choice of location
for The seat of justice. l had supposed
thaEin the settlement of this question, the
RESPECTIVE merits of the several towns
upon the Maumee river, would be can
vassed, their claims adjusted, the acces-
Esibility of their position by the other
parts of the county would be looked in
70, and their prospects of future growth
and importance examined. had ex-
pected that the claim of the inhabitants
In all its parts would be heard, that their
convenience would be consulted, and,
that at least common justice would be
extended to them. Ihad supposed that
the judgment Of men versed in the capa-
bilities of our river for navigable purpo-
ses would be relied on, and that the uni
ted voice of the whole community as to
the value of the several points at which
towns have been built up, upon the river,
would have, at least, some weight with
the commissioners. | was MISTAKEN
Those gentlemen have discovered that
all the investigation heretofore made up
on the subject has hitherto failed in point
ing out the exact spot upon which the
great town of the Maumee is destined
hereafter to grow. AT this late day, il
has been left for Messrs. Newell, M
Donald and Gray, to say, that just one
half mile above Toledo, and few rods
from the north bank of the Maumee riv-
er, is to be the exact centre Of the larg-
est town in Lucas county. What evi-
dence have they of the fact? Did the
ancient forest wave its storm swept
branches in responsive movement to their
questioning upon the subject7 1t must
have been so, for there are no inhabitants
at that place, to give them that, or any
other information. There is not house,
nor, strange as it may seem, even
town plot, at the place, where, in the
plenitude of their wisdom, they have
placed the county seat. 1t is fact that
three men came to the Maumee river,
and by their united exertions, found upon
its banks one place upon which there
was no town plot. They were no com.
mon men, it is true. They were chosen
by the legislature of a State possessing a
million Of souls. They had their wits
sharpened for the operation. But did
they when they made the discovery,
pass on and leave their blessing upon
land, wishing for it fruitful seasons and
refreshing rainsl No they were men
of power--of judgment: grave--learn-
ed-gray haired men, and they said to
the people, "The banks of the Maumee
arc too valuable, for the dirty purposes
Of agriculture; they were intended for
the sites oftowns and Of cities, and we
perceive that you have just room here
for one more, therefore, we will that one
be made at this place."
But seriously !: what is there in the
place which they have chosen that
renders it more fitting for the seat Of JUS
tice Of this county, than are any of the
several fourishing towns upon the river?
Has it any Of those qualifications pointed
out by the statute as requisites in this
matter. 1t is far from the centre of the
county, and far from it should any of the
proposed alterations be made IN its boun-
darics. 1t has no peculiar excellence of
situation, such as would render it a desi-
rable location on any account. There
lis nothing in the manner in which the
population Of, the county is disposed,
which can offer the least excuse for the
choice, neither does the convenience Of
the inhabitants require so strange and
unthought Of a location Of their seat Of
justice.
1t is extremely difficult to treat this
matter seriously. If they have acted in
good faith upon the subject, how short
sighted must have been their calculations,
and how ignorant they must have been
Of the matters entrusted to them. They
have, in defiance Of the law of the State,
placed the seat of Justice Of this county,
far from the centre, ,ofthe county. They
have trodden upon the laws oftheir coun-
try, and set up their own judgment, in
utter defiance Of them. They have i'm
posed heavy tax upon large portion
of our citizens, and paid heavy premi-
um to others at their expense, without
any authority so to do. They have be-
trayed the trust imposed upon them by
the people Of this State, and have become
obnoxious to that censure which is due to
those who betray public trust and sac
rifice the interests of those who coniide