, 1841-06-12
FOR THE JOURNAL.

FOR THE JOURNAL.
Mn. EmToR:-I was verv much surprised
i lew days since to learn that q number OF
citizens IN and around Paynesville, had signed
the petition for 4 removal of the County
Seat from Bowling-Green to Louisiana, and
as understood upon the ground that they
would be more likely to get 4 new County
struck of from Pike and Lincoln counties by
taking that step. Now sir, | would take it
rs a great favor if any man would show me
upon what principle the chance of getting
L new county would be increased BY remov-
Ing the county seat 10 Louisiana. It may
probably answer very well for the citizens
of Louisiana to hold this out idea with the
view of inducing the honest, (but unlhinkingl
portion Of the community to sign their petit
tons But let us see what is the true state
OF the case. Are the citizens Of Louisiana 50
kind and benevolent to those dear people
that they would give them their support in
that matter. Is it possible that the citizens
OF Iaynesvillc can be made 10 be-
lieve that these men will act so contrary TO
their OWN interest rs to suffer so large
and fertile, 4 portion Of our county to be
aiken fOm Us if they can prevent it! No
liz. let them get their ends accomplished and
| venture TO assert that their will not he an
individual Within eight miles OF Louisiana.
who would be in favor OF that measure, nor
do | believe that any man IN the county
could be elected toofIicc Were he to come out
in favor Of TINT measure. There is another
matter too which the citizens of GAINESVILLE
should take into consideration. Ii is well
known Ia those who no iced the Journals of
our Legislature at It's last Session that there
were fifteen new counties formed. each cntI-
tied by Law TO ha'f tn, number Of rcprcscn-
~taiivcs that Pike county Las. Is il probable
therefore t'at these comics which arc thin.
Is populated. and are now Croaninr rnlcr
tavrS for tie erection of county buildings
(althnu"h their Territory is as large Is ours
would be In favor Of new Counties. when with
all the nd Of 4 large Territory they are OPP
pressed withtaxcS necessary for coun:y purPo.
scS. Let The question | c askcd whether or not
Pike County fifteen wears AGO. would nave
been in favour Of reducing her limits. Now
sir. ] have been 4 resident of this county for
ten years, and know that it is only within
the last few years that this matter has been
al all agitated, and we may safely say that
three tuurths OF the counties IN Missouri. are
now In about the same condition as regards
population that Pike county was at that time.
In addition 10 this ii should be remembered
that Il majority of two thirds of the Legisla-
tive IS necessary 10 alter the constitution,
and it is impossible that this can be eilec.
ted until the state is so filed up that 1t
would he 20 the advantage of two thirds of
the whole TO have the Constitution 50 amen
ded. Il is well knowna also that m attempt was
made lest was to alter the constitution in refer
ence 10 the formation Of new counties
and which failed by an overwhelming ma
%loritv, so that this matter may be considered
as settled at least for many years to COME
1t is supposed by n great ma jority ! am told
that this new county can be made without
altering the constitution, but a few minutes
examination OF the map of the county will
convince anv man that Pike county has now
barely her constitutional limits. These sug-
ccstions arc merely thrown out with n view
Of bringing this matter under their consliera-
ton that thew may not (without reflecrion)
do great injustice to a majority Of their iel-
low citizens without benefiling themselves.
JUSTICE.