The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-03-07
s;S For the Spirit of Democracy,
NUMBER X.

For the Spirit OF pemocracy.
se.s. y. NUMBER X.
s'@ Ma. Enrron-l formerly wrote some
numbers for your paper giving the cit
lizens Of Monroe County, some insight
into the workings Of the Canal system,
-asystem which sevepfolds their public
taxes, and can only live while shrouded
in darkness and which cannot BEAR the
light. Ny Fellow citizens may believe
me that II is a system of lavorltlsm and
partiality and private arrangement, and
particular intrigue and speculation, and
fraud and swindling and universal cur
ruption. How could it be otherwise!
Would not reason, whenever she has
fair play, pronounce. that halfa million
or million Of dollars borrowed by the
State and bestowed upon single
county or small district, would prove
too glittering prize to he safe for their
xirtue. The very struggle to obtain il,
is d snare for their integrity. Hence
the system commences wrong and tits
not wonderful, that it becomes vast
system Of corruption. Of,he strength
and perfection Of this system, your
readers may judge by the 10 loving
fact which is just as true as the records
of our courts.
"A board Of three appraisers was ap-
pointed to assess the damages IN the
Wabash and Erie Cana ,and one James
H. Forsythe a United States bankrupt,
who did not own a footof land upon
earth, was appointed their Secretary.
This Forsythe had formerly owned a
small tract Of land on the line OF this
canal at the mouth of Bad creek, in Hen
.ry county, but had sold and conveyed
tito james Durbin, with all rights and
privileges whatsoever. When the ap-
praisers came along in the spring Of
1843, Durbin demanded damages be-
cause the Canal cut off his mill and
left il on an island between the Canul
and the river, bat was willing toput up
with enough TO build him a bridge a.
cross the canal. This tie appraisers
absolutely and unanimously refused,
and made out an award in writing stat
ing the grounds Of their refusal. As
they lad awarded damages to other
neighbors, in like circumstances, Dur
bin was dissatisfied. and in the fall Of
lG43, he drew up a petition and was
about 10 present it to the Legislature,
when the appraisers, who Gid not like
much investigation, applied TO him and
persuaded him to drop his application
TO the Legislature, assuring him 'lia,
they would come round and reconsider
in the spring ofis44. But they took
care not TO go near him. In December
last, Forsythe went to Durbin and sta
ted that he was going to M'Cutchen-
willie where two Of the appraisers lived,
and he wished it, he Forsythe would
urge themto appraise his damages. OF
course Durbin consented and Forsythe
vert on and got two Of The appraisers
to make new appraisement, but no.
for DURBlN but for HIMSELF. And lei
it be remembered that he owned no
land, yet they put him on the record in
the list Of sufferers TO the amount Of
three hundred dollars, and stated in
their award that his land, which they
located at Durbins and no where else,
had been skinned Of timber, "both rail-
timber and building timber" When
Forsythe gothis certificate, he drew
an orderon Spencer, one Of the Beard
Of Public Works, got it accepted and
sold il, pocketed the money and went
to parts unknown. Durbin when he
found out the cheat, and not knowing
that the money was already paid. filed
hisanjunction bill in the court oi Com
mon Pleas here, in Columbus, to pre-
vent Spencer from paying Forsythe
and togetthe paymenlnade u himself.
All Il'these facts therefore appear upen.
Oathtogether with The further fact, that