The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-08-10

g~niza'ion, upon which the people mus,
soon make decision al the polls. We had
intended TO prepare an article upon the sub
iecf, giving briefly the outlines of the plan,
thu, such Of Ourreaiers as have no, The law
within roach nigh, a,lesst become aeqnain.
r." with its main features bat we fni our
otiec, 80 well accomplished in an article in
the Peoria Democratic Press, tina! We a,
once transfer il 10 our columns.
The proposed system is something with
which Ne are entirely Inacquainted, and
We need TO know more before We can uu.
aeitsse 10 discuss its merits. II il, we be.
lieve, substantially the same system which
is how in force in New York. Many Of our
citizens are from New York, and are doubt.
less acquainted viii! is operation-.its ad.
van'ases and disadvantages. We should
be harry 10 give the public the benefit o.!
their views upon it through our columns
Following Is the article Of the Press
At the next general election, the people
Of the several counties in this state. ~ i'll
vote for Or against township organization !;
and i, will become tine law ia counties. il
which majority Of he votes cas-, for or
against the measure, shall be in its favor
in which case, the law will commence to
operate on the first Tuesday Of April 1850
We Intended TO have publishe'l this law,
but lie Great length makes il impossible for
us 10 do so; we therefore call attention TO the
subject at this early day and shall attempt
h>.ss 10 give an outline Of its leading pro-
Visions, 10 enable ourreadcrs n form clear
idea Of the proposed change in our county
government i, is orr Intention however TO
pri,t ampt'si form hereafter.
The SEGrc, of the law is TO enable the
people more directly TO conduct their own
affairs every town being created a body
corporate and elecling its proper officers,
will do for itself, what, under the present
Law, is done BY the County Commissioners
| Count or what viii Le done 10y the County
Court i. the township organization be not
adopted. We Ike this feature Of the law /;
| II is essentially denocrslic it famiiarises
the people with the conduct Of public busi.
ness, secures Accountability and prevents
the GENERALIZATION Of power at the county
seat, which, whether real or not, has been
a matter Of jealous suspicion by the people
al large.
Under the law, there will lie in each
county as many towns as there are town.
ships according 10 the government surveys
fractional townships may be altache To
adjoining towns-thus, in our county there
would be twenty lone towns, which are {,
be named according to the expressed wish
Of the inhabitants. Each town as a body
corporate will have capacity
ls. To sue aud be sued IN the manner
prescribed in the laws of this state.
81. To purchase and hold lands within Il,
own limits, and for the use of its inhabit.
ants, subjec, 10 the power Of the general q.
semby.
Sd. To make such contracts, rarcha,,
and hold such personal property as NAV b,
necessary toshe exercise Of its oorpora,s
or administrative powers.
9TH. To make such orders for the dispo
sitlon, r'sr's.on, or use Of its corporal,
property as may be deemed conducive Il
the interests Of its inhabitants.
Al the annual town meetings, there are
to be chcsefrfne supervisor, one tugr
clerk, one a''eA 4. sne eesSe,or, 49,
stsI VI i"r s"1'"ce co1"'ss'oheis-V
highways, two Pnstables ,hwc justices q
the peace, os mnnt overseer' Of highways
as there are road districts in town, and 81
many pound masters a. the electors may
determine.
Tho dnties Of the several officers, eiver
in detail in The law, can be, for onr prcseu
purpose, easily inferred and il will be seer
thar each town will be little coverninen
OF its own-indeed in som-, it may happen
that there will scarcely be inhabitant,
enough TO fora government. IN which
case, some energetic citizen will be some
thing like busting lady in Kentucky wht
complained that she was master and mis-
freSs orersesr and Niger. This, however
cannot continue in country so rapidly i'm
proving rs ours.
The method Of holding town meetings
election of town officers, their qualification
and the tehuer Of office, and indeed ever,
thing pertaining to the new system are reg
I,,l, ,.,,t all &,