Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-05-15
For ssThe Times -

Messrs. Sweatnam and Digges, why Mr.
Saltonstall was dismissed from the post o.
County School Commissioner.
Now, sir, we have known some men make
money by attending to their own business,
and but very few, or none, who have &C
quired either wealth or reputation by UNI
called for Interference in the affairs Of others
But presuming that this "friend TO Justice
is also friend of Mr.. Saltonstall, and makes
the enquiry with that gentlemon's approba-
ton, we will waive the unquestionabe right
we have TO treat him with the silent con-
tempt his article merits, and reply to his
interrogatories in manner as respectful, at
least, as they have been propounded.
We say, then, in The first place, that Mr..
Saltonstall was removed from the office of
County School Commissioner simply be-
cause he did not discharge his duties. This,
as far ns am concerned, at least, was the
sole cause. In the next place we can in.
form this respectful inquirer that the County
Court was unanimous in the opinion Of the
propriety Of Mr.. Satonstall's removal. And
while Judge Sweatnam and myself exer-
cised the right Of voting for Mr.. John F.
Williams, Judge Brown did the same, by
voting for MIR. Adam Hendrix; and, by So
doing, confessed his entire concurrence with
us in the propriety Of removing Mr.. Salton-
stall.
Having given reason for the action Of
the Court in this matter, which, we feel as
sured, will be satisfactory to every man not
demented by party animosties, or whose
mental faculties have not been benumbed by
the frost of eighty winters, we might be
content 10 stop here; but this "friend TO Jus
iice," alias Justicia, has furnished "data"
for few more words, which shall be said
as briefly as possible.
Mr.. Saltonstall, for aught we know, may
be graduate of Bethany College, and we
are quite sure that, though he did not make
a good School Commissioner, he sis gen.
tleman Of good character and standing in
society,"" But these things have as much
to do with the matters at issue as the ques-
tion whether the "friend TO Justice gradu-
ated at Leyden or Pekin or graduated at no
place at all. The point upon which the
whole affair turns is this: did Mr.. Soton-
stall discharge his duties as School Com
missioner, and, if he did not, had the County
Court authority TO turn him out of office and
appoint his successor? That is the question.
1t has been already stated that the Court
were unanimous in the opinion that he ought
to be dismissed from office, and hence the
balderdash which "Justicia" INDUCES in
about know noihings falls to the ground, for
if Mr.. S. had faithfully discharged his du-
ties, is it to be presumed that gentleman Of
Judge Browns known loyalty to his party
would have been willing TO dismiss from Of
flee rather prominent and aspiring mem
Der of that same party 10 which he belonged
without good and sufficient reusonp The in.
ference is plainly that he would not. The
only thing, then, to be settled, is the power
Of the County Court. The law giving that
court its Jurisdiction or authority over the
School Commissioner is in the following
words: "The several County Courts in the
State shall, at their November term in the
year 1853, and every two years thereafter,
appoint Commissioner of Common Schools,
who shall hold his office for two years, and
until his successor is appointed and qualified,
and shall also supply vacancies that may &C.
cur in said office by death, resignation, or
Otier,Uise." From this it would seem that
the County Courts have not only the power
to appoint but the power to supply vacan-
cies 10 matter how occasioned. The "or
otherwise" like my Lord Coke's "and SO
forth, meaneth agreat deal here; for it most
evidently contemplates vacancies which are
to be cccosioned by any of the causes speci-
ally enumerated-death or resignation. ri
the County Court has no power to remove
delinquent commissioner, will those gentle
men, who are so much exercised at present
upon the subject, tell us who has? Or are
we TO understand that this officer is entirely
irresponsible to any body except at the No
yember terms of the County Courts of every
alternate year? Do these gentlemen mean
to say that Commissioner can, from the
moment Of his election, fail utterly to attend
TO single one of the duties incumbent upon
him-that he can peculate the school funds
stay away from the field of his labors or
commit other malfsasance and yet not be
amenable to the body that appointed aim?-
This is doctrine hard 10 reconcile with the
profession of those democratic principles
about which these gentlemen have prated SO
long and loudly. But it seems they are not
agreed among themselves how the charge