The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1851-07-10
TO the Editor of the Ecanspi1ls Journal

To the Editor Of the Esaaspiils Journal
Al the next August election the people of
this county will be called on to vote upon the
question, whether or not the present public
square in Evansville shall be sold. and ne W
site for the court house and other public build.
ings procured. 1t is important, that The people
should understand fully the consequences
that may result from their decision. before
they are called on to decide. The law az.
thorizng vote to be taken was passed last
winter, in consequence Of petition sent up
by the Board of Commissioners. 1t singu-
lar and extraordinary in several respects. 1t
names three gentlemen, not citizens Of the
county, whose duty it will be toselect a new
site for court hons'. il the people vote i,
favor Of selling the present public square !;
and they may locate it within the corporate
limits Of the city OF Evansville, or in any en-
ldrgement of the city. or at any place within
one mile of the present court house. or Oh the
county seminary tract. And il The site Sc
iected be outside Of Evansville, they must
change the seat Of justice from Evansville to
the site so selected. The prescribed limit
one mile extends west nearly TO PIGEON
Greek, north nearly to the new poor house,
east be, ond EN- ,nuel Hul's residence, and
south near MIR. PARROTS residence and any
place within that limit may be selected. aud
when selected, that place will be the seat OF
Justice. whether in Evansville or any other
town or not. evansville is aud Away has
been the county seat oil tins county, aud in
order 20 have The county sea, located AT Ev.
ansv'Ie, the propriesors gave TO the county
the public square, now worth some sixty or
seventy thousand dollars, and nineiy-six lots
besides, now worth probably 100000; and
good faith 10 the proprietors, anu all Others
claiming under them or owning property in
Evansville. requires that Evansville should
continue TO be the county seat.
II the proposition were made directly, to
change tile county seat. and the people called
Oh to decide the question by a vote, nine
teilhs Of them would vote against change.
to The purpose, il The Intention had been 10
practice d fraud uIo".ih people. They are
not called OIL TO vote upon the question
whether The county seal shall he cha. ged or
mol. That matter is kept out OF view at the
polls. and il is we'll known that but lew OI
the voters will ever See the law itself and
thus learn the Consequences OF an atfi m uivc
vote. They only asked wh,i her they
are in iavor oil selling the present public
square. Aud they will be tolI that il wi!
sell Tor sixty or seventy thousand dollars =
enougi, 20 build Court house, jail, clerks OIL
five, auditors office, tIeasurers .tlicr ,&c-all
tine, substantial, iire-prooi bui .dIngs, aud all
this without taxation. AnLmby such argu-
menls, the people can be Induced to vote Tor
selling the old square, the selection ol "a new
ate and ia all probability change oil the
county seat will follow necessarily, whether
the people are wiling or not
Although. l am la favor Of selling the OLD
square, aud erecting with the money arising
from tile sale, good substantial public buiid-
Jugs am opposed 10 selling under the law
under consideration, until it is amended 50 as
10 require The public buildings to be within
the corporate limits vi Evansville, or on the
SEMINARY tract, Which Is situated at the cor
ner oil Nam aud Eighth streets, or at ltas,
until the question Is directly presented to the
people, whether or not the county seat sIia.i
be changed.
Lest ehould be understood as censurny
the County Commissioners, it Is proper to
cay that they do not now remember exactly
the language of their petition, but say that
II change oil the county seat was not thought
oi at the time, nor did they contemplate ii
grant Of power to themselves or any other
body Of men, TO change the county seat.
NJ.