The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-03-27
From the McEvsnsviM Mtsligsnesr.
MONrOUR COUNTYI!i

repetition al this m II is well known
that this diminutive county was brought in.
to existence by the most corrupt and dishon
orable meapo IiR Legislative course of
Traitor Best, is without a parallel in the an.
nails of Legislative fraud, treachery, corrup-
lion and political rascaliiy and meanness.
Aher a long contest between public jus.
tice and local interest, ii was decided moi on
ly by Legislative enactment, but by the
voice Of the People of Columbia county,
constitutionally expressed through the ballot
box, that the Couaiy Seat should be remov-
ed from one corner to the centre Of the coun-
ty. In accordance with this decision of the
Legislature and the majority of the voters in
Columbia county, the people of Bloomsbury
and vicinity erected almost at their own ex-
pense, a splendid Court House, SheriG's
House and Jail and the seat Of Justice was
removed 10 that place.
Traitor Best, in order to deceive the PEG.
Pile and get into the State Senate, came be.
fore the County Convention and gave a SOL
emn pledge in writing, that he was opposed
to any ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Columbia county,
and thai he yeald not do any thing to- pre-
vent the removal of the Coukty Sea; from
Danvilleto Bloomsbury, MOI to prevent the
removal law from being fully carried out,
and that whether 10 or out of office, he
would use his talents and influence to sus-
tain be principles and usages of the Demo.
cratic party. Unfortunately this pledge so
far blinded the County Convention of Col.
umbia, that they gave him the nomination
for Senator by a small majority over Mr..
Buckalew. After some ~demuuing on the
part of Luzerne county, this nomination was
finally agreed to by that county and Traitor
Best was elected TO the State Senate.
The fact is notorious that Traitor Best had
hardly taken his seat in the Senate before
he violated his pledge. He began by pla-
cling distractions in the way OF the removal
act, and then betrayed his constituents, and,
sold himself TO the Wings 10 get them TO
help him divide Columbia county against
the will of the majority of the, citizens. But
the browning act Of his treachery, corruption
and r~ascality was perpetrated during the last
Session Of his traitorious career. II 80 hap.
pened that he held the balance Of power in
the Senate. There were sixteen Democrats
and sixteen Wings and Traitor Best in the
Senate. Mr.. Brawley was the Democratic
candidate for Speaker of the Senate. Traitor
Best by bargain and sale with the Wigs,
secured the whole sixteen Wing votes fof
himself, this with his otrn vote placed him
in the Speakers Chair to the exclusion Of the
Democratic candidate.
Traitor Best was now in a position which
gave him the power TO control the whole
Legislature and even stop the "wbeels Of
government and SO effectually did he use
tt.is power sts~.%ho ordinary h.a-iness of the
Legislature was kept back and no, permitted
to be transacted until Traitor Best'a Montour
County bill was passed. BY this base, cor.
rupt and dishonorable means, Traitor Best
kept the Legislature in session about six
weeks over the usual time at an expense of
over four hundred dollars a day, which in
justice to the State he should be compelled
to refund. But finally in order 10 get bills
that were absolutely necessary 10 be passed,
acted upon, Traitor Best's Montour county
bill was permitted to pass by being hooked
to the tail end of another bill and | believe
it passed without some of the members
knowing il.
There is moi and never has been the least
necessity for a division Of Columbia CO unity.
The county was not large before its division,
aud it lays compactly together, or in such a
shape that it is convenient for the people
from all parts of it 10 attend Court at Blooms.
burg few of them have over twelve or fit.
teen miles to 60 from Dansille it is only
ten miles.-ADd there is every accommoda.
ton in Bloomsbury to entertain all who may
have business al Court. By dividing Old
Columbia it makes two very small counties
ard blo,s out the 'Star of the North" that
nsed to roll up her sixteen hundred majority
for the Democratic candidates. There is
not the slightest necessity for such a suicidal
course.
1t Is alleged on the part OF Montour, that
it would be unconstitutional TO repeal the
Montour County bill, after the county has
been organized, Sc. That is all nonsense
our laws are not like ''the laws Of the Needs
and Persians which alter not" There is not
and should not be any thing to prevent one
Legislature from repeating the acts of a for
mer Legislature, when ever justice requires
it. I, is true as a general thing laws should
not be repealed under their effects and ad'
vantages have been fairly tested. speak
of laws that have been fairly ard hcnorably
enacted but when bills like this Montour
county bill, are passed by fraud, bribery and
rascalily, let them be repealed as soon as
possible, and the disgrace ex ,ungsd from
our Statute Books.
II !, also alleged on the part of Montour
county, thai j; would be unfair to re.anrex
hem to Columbia county, after they have
maid the State license for tisir New County
and been 10 the expense of fitting up lneir
Public Buildings. With regard to the state
license for their New County, it is but a very
small item compared to what their new
county has cost the State. And as 10 their
expense in fitting up their Public Buildings,