Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1850-10-30
77TOTHE VOTERS OF PIKE COUNTY:

7TOTHE VOTERS OF PIKE COUNTY:
FELLOW -CIr1zENs:--
i. known to you all, that in the year ls41'
WA, nv vour favor elected to the Clerkship OF the
County Court. That Office then devolved upon
the incoming officer certain duties and response
bilities for the period Of six years, from the first
day of January, ls4s, for the faithful perform
apce Of which he was required to give penal
bond in the SUN of twenty thousand dollars and
upon that condition it was expected by him. and
by the people of the County, that he should en-
;ov the profts of the Office as il then existed for
the period to, which, by their kindness, he had
been elected. In accordance with that expecta-
tion. gave the bond. and made arrangements for
the discharge Of those duties for that period
For two years and some months of that time
have discharged those duties-how well and how
faithfully, have no desire to judge, but would
leave it for an honest and unpreJudiced commit
nity to decide. Since my election, and before
the veriod for which was elected has expired
q new Office has been crealed, which takes from
lne the duties, and, consequently, the emoluments
of which l had expected to be the recipient
For this new Office, the Judgeship Of the Pro-
bate Court, am now candidate. 1t has been
correctly stated to you that its duties are highly
re.pousibIe-that all the estates Of the County
must once in generation pass under the super
vision of its officer; and l fully concur in the
opinion, that honesty and capacity should be con.
sidsred by the people the first great requisites in
the selection of Probate Judge. By those test,
alone, / am willing to be tried in the canvass
It Is true that make no pretensiOns to greatness
of intellect; nor does it become me to arrOgate
tomyseH an honesty of purpose superior to thai
Of nv competitor, or of any other good citizen
Ny acts as public officer, while in the dis,
charge Of many of the duties which must neces'
sarily dsvolve upon the Judge Of Probate, have
i. been, and now are, before the people. ! must
say, however, that feel conscious pride ir
the knowledge that, with my humble capacity,
have never yet entered on record judgement
Or an order Of Court, which has been objected
to for insuficiency or want of legal form; and
fhat every act of mine in vacation, as Clerk Of
Chs County Court, has been unanimously ap.
proved and confirmed by the Court which sal
above mo. That isths best guarantee that car
givefcr the faithful discharge Of the duties ol
Judge Of Probate, if the people should kindly
tlet me to that Office, to the emoluments of which
Twas, q said before, elected by them in ls47
Er six years, from andaftsrthe first day of Jan.
nary, 1S4s. IF elected and allowed to serve AZ
Judge Of Probate for the first term of four years
I.haH have bean recipient of the smolumensl
q he Oaies only for few months longer thar
'ths time for which was elected and gave bono
in ls47. But the public good should be witt
ths Psopis theArk great esasideration. II they
shouh think That I sn incompetent to the dis
charge d, the dutie, Of the Office, they ought no
70 cast their votes for me. but shoald cast then
ler sons one Of greater experience in the bu,i
~ q ths oaice, and Of more enlarged capacity