, 1840-04-18
FOR THE SALT RIVER JOURNAL.

zen of Pike. / have, since the days of my
youth, been an observer of passing events
and of the men from whom they originated
1t has been my most ardent desire that, oul
public affairs should be managed with pru-
dence, and with a strict regard to the welfare
of our state and county, and such | believe,
and may say, and am confident has been the
wish of every good member Of this commu-
nifty. Heretofore, we have had no good
reason to complain, or at least, have been
generally satisfied; but if reports are to be
believ wee even when raised by the most res
pectable individuals in our community, and
those who have the best right 10 know, we
have been imposed upon most shamelulIy by
some Of our incumbents in office.
That | may be clearly understood, and
that ms charge may not be considered gene
raj or vague, | come out with that boldness
which the subject deserves, and hold up the
transgressors If there be any, to the public
in the light they should be; moi that wish
to impugn any individual excoP' he deserve
it. 1t Is a duty ! owe to myself-to ouI
Icountry-and to our free Institutions. 1t is
a duty that each individual in Pike county
owes to those against whom the charges are
preferred, as well rs it is their duty to come
out amongst the people, walk in the light of
day, explain the matter TO them to their sat
isfaciion, Of it be susceptible Of such an ex-
planatiopO and cease TO keep dark on 4 sub
iecl that 50 much interests them. and SO inju-
rious to the honor of those concerned. The
officers 10 whom ] allude, are the junior
members Of our County Court, and the Clerk
of said court. The charges are these the
clerk is charged with having received some
three or four times as much fees for certain
services rendered, rs he was by law entitled,
and Of drawing the same out Of the state
treasury without n proper warrant from said
court ; thereby getting the auditor into ]
difficulty, who is said to have written 10 said
clerk concerning it, and requesting him to
send Immediately the proper warrant; TO
which he is said to have replied he had no
right TO use the seal of the court in his
private business. TIE auditor is said 10
have then Informed tie court Of the con-
due; Of their clerk, who is said 20 have deter
mined on the arrest of their clerk; but in
stead Of 50 doinr, they, or at lens; two OF
of them -(the senior Judge. honor to his
name and memory, stood on the side Of the
people, their money and their honor, and pro
tested agains, The proceeding had the matter
privately investigated, when the fact OF fraud
appca rcd :. rs large as life"
These, sir. are somc of the chargcS-and
it is 10 be feared, they are too true; yet the
honorable court thinks il advisable to keep
dark on the subject for reasons To themselves
understood. Perhaps it would be 4 condo
s~cension in such exalted dirnitics TO become
communicative to the people, who, most like
'ly in their estimation, would not be capable
of understanding such deep financial con-
Germs: and that it is enough for them to know
that they are taxed at the discretion of their
honor'S. and that such taxes must be paid
Such. | presume, must be the reasons for the
silence that prevails on the subject. If this
be not one of the reasons, why do we not
hear the iact declared TO the world Why
do not the Judges alluded to vindicate their
honor by making a public declaration of the
case 10 the pcople-that they may become
roconcilcll And why does not the clerk if
innocent, and capable Of shining, vindicate
himself against the charge OF having pocket
ed the earnings of the people villanously!
an very confident the cry was first
raised by the members of the court, and on
tha; ground, they are bound in honor TO them
selves and TO their clerk to set the matter at
rest by publishing the whole case to the
world. But perhaps one Of their reasons for
not doing so is, that they, (the court,) do not
conceive it to be a fraud. but mere accident
in the clerk and oversight in the court. If
This be the ground of excuse, it is evident it
is worse than none. But, the real objection
may be, that the case looks very suspicious
and that the people will look al the black
side OF the transaction TO the prejudice of
their clerk" who is, by-the-bye, their very
good friend" But, sir, | conceive this ex-
cuse also worse than none (; because, an in
vestigation into the records and papers OF
the court would show conclusively whether
this be the first mistake of the kind made by
the clerk; and if so, it might pass for a mis-
take; because, to them we are all subject
perhaps there can be mistakes found where
the clerk has lost thirty or forty dollars at
one time; this would at once speak volumes