Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-04-01
G. O M M u " I @ n II I 0 ~
Mr.. BARNS, Publisher of the Times,

inco0 writer of the three column labored es-
say upon the $4,000 and /" circulars, occu-
pying the place of an editorial in your paper,
OF March 18th, also got off the epilogue up
on the piece headed "Facts for the Peo-
ple"-" Wait, Doctor, until he returns from
New York." meaning, no doubt, until after
election is over, before you set forth these
facts for tie people, so that his structures as
to the exposing of the remarks of private
individual might have some show of appropr-
ateness, as then no public benefit could ac-
crue from it, only personal spite. Yet is it
not well understood by many ear witnesses
that the Lamonters are untiringy active in
disseminating the same principles, and every
specious argument to operate on the feelings
aud prejudices of the less wary, both in pri-
vate and in the market place, to vote against,
as we believe, public equity, public justice and
their own interest. We have yet to learn
that to expose the true merits of this ques-
ton in fair and open manner, is to be deem
ed by the candid as "ungenerous," as we did
not design " to exaggerate or set down aught
in malice" But, Sir, what can we think Of
being "hard up for argument" when your
incog Editor takes no note of the main state
ments and facts set forth in the circular of
4" Eastmanville," but eagerly seizes upon an
incidental expression and labors thro' some
thing over a column of your paper to prove
that because Z. Eastman, as Delegate in the
Constitutional Convention, seven years ago,
made proper exertion to strike out or amend
that "iron rule" sec s, art. Co. Officers, &c,
on the ground that no one-sided county seat
could ever be moved under such restrictions
when once located, charges "falSe aSser-
tons" upon Eastmanville," for saying that
{" the citizens of Eastmanville had been an
actiye from, faithlessness heretofore, until
they saw the strong vote of the Board in Oc-
tober, coming within one or two votes of fix
ing the site at Ottawa Center upon the
stated question of "shall your county scat
be removed from Grand Haven?" meaning
only that Eastmanville and its citizens had
been unbelieving that the vote of two-thirds
of the Supervisors could be combined upon
any one place before their October session.
[" Can any one doubt that he," the Delegate,
"foresaw this present movement" While in
the Convention, seven years ago, he then said
it would be utterly impossible under this
constitutional restriction ever to remove a
county seat, where, like rays radiating from
center, the influence of those who hold office,
who necessarily reside there, together with
the power exerted by the business influences
that naturally spring up in and around these
points, with the jealousies that never fail to
be stirred up in the several localities claiming
it around the central and proper point for it,
certainly would render any removal hopeless"
If this was his view of this provisional sec
ton at the time of its adoption, well might
he and the citizens of Eastmanville be some
what faithless as TO the possibility of remov-
ing the site from the Haven, and consequent
ly remain somewhat inactiye. So much for
the Z" false assertions" point.
Incog then "passes over his arguments" in
the circular and seizes the next point" to
which he devotes column and half more
to prove that Il. Eastman, among other things,
did agree " to donate AS much toward county
buildings as any others will at any other
point" Not wishing to insinuate that In
cog willfully designed to make a false asser-
tion--this offer came from Galen Eastman,
who remarked "that he did not hold out this
as BRIBE, but if the Board should fix the
site at Eastmanville, and should think it an
object for the county to exact it, the citizens
of his place would be as liberal as their neigh
bors; but he presumed any paltry sum prof
fered in this way would not bias the Board,
one iota, from fixing the site where it would
now and prospectively best convene the pco-
pie of the whole county," and when Ferry,
Albee & Co. offered their $4,000 block, and
$500 in cash, Mr.. Hazeton, after the vote
was obtained for Eastmanville, very properly
proposed to limit Eastman's donation to $500
that being as liberal as any of his neigh
bors-which sum T. Eastman afterwards
Joined with others in bond to pay. But
which amount, in a very pithy syllogism, In
cog asserts, out of sight of contradiction. was
very grudgingly "compressed" out Of East
man and further, that the $500 voluntarily
offered by Ferry & Co., was better than the
$500 offered and accepted from Eeastman!
Thus two and half columns of the pre-
oious Times are done for, and surely all are
fully convinced that if this incog would as
sumo real cog-no-man, as he seems to be
somebody, he might hopefully compete for
Professors chair Of mathematics, metaphys-
les and split-hair syllogistics, in the CONNER
cial college that must eventually grow up in
the great commercial emporium of Ottawa
county. for ages TO GOMEZ Bring him out,