The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-04-15
Fof the csdi1 Democratic scntinel
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Mn. RDrToR:-l suppose it is your intention
and desire for the benefit Of the public to record
the news Of the day. had expected the mat.
ter which desire to give some Publicity through
your columns, would have been noted By your
seifere this, as it took place in your town, and
you are generally on the look out refer to
the case Of the school directors Of Rumley
township against Michael Sawvel and others,
tried in your Court at the last term. Thiscase,
In our township created considerable excite
ment and interest, both ON account ofthe novel;
" Of the suit, aud the charitable spirit that
caused Il to be instituted We have nothing to
say against the attorneys employed to prosecute
it---that is their business. MeMath and Lew
ten were the attorneys for the Beard Of Bluca-
ton, and Means aud EsteP FOR the defendants.
We never heard ofsuch suit being brought up
before; but it is not to be supposed that out here
in Ruinley township We should hear Of every
thing. II then, Mr.. Editor, you ever heard of
the IKE, our citizens would be glad to know it,
In these wild regions it always has been the
custom, as the good old holidays rolled around
each year, for the teacher to manifest his kind
ness and generosity to those who have been
drinking deep Of the fountain of knowledge is
suing from his lips, by giving them a'treat. If
this should not be done amicably, the boys well
understood the remedy and barred him out;
then followed truce--a parley-articles ofpa-
cification ending with the ''caving in" of the
teacher, and the surrender of the castle by the
scholars on the other hand. This custom, it is
now said, is barbarous-the remnant of heath
cnish age. doubt that very much; but ifit be
50, We must drop il, and keep up with the spirit
Of the age. Now ifyOu, in Cadiz say It's bar
harous, there is no use talking;' for you knO,0.
The lawyers talked something about custom
making the law, we'll this is surely custom and
pretty old one. But then the Judge said that
q custom, to be good one, must have existed
50 long that the memory ofman could not run
tshind it, or something like that.
Now as TO the facts this case happened
TO have some knowledge, and to speak plainly |
think it was pretty suit, not instituted for the
public good but to vent private spite and malice.
And let not your readers suppose that the good
citizens Of Rumley township gave countenance
to any such proceedings. have no hesitation
in saying that three -fourths of them were op-
posed to it. The teacher refused to treat in
our district, and upon his refusal the boys ap-
piled the usual remedy and barred him out
Michael Savvel, who has soul in him as biz as
sll the Board put together, told them to keep
him out and be treated but to do no damage
and he would be accountable. He is a local di-
rector. For this he was sued, together with a.
bout one third of the scholars engaged in barring
him out. The Board appointed committee to
pick out what ones to sue. The boys, it ap.
pears, broke two hinges, worth three cents each
and injured the lock Of the door to about &c
cents---this they offered to fix; but the Board
would not agree to that. They solemnly re-
solved that they would take ten kol2ars by way
Of compromise, but that they thought they
ought legally to have fifty. The boys, of course
refused to pay any such sum. The they re
solved that they would send the boys and Mi
chael Sawyel, (and particularly Michael Saw
.vcD tn the Peaitentiary. 1t was terrible of,
fence, great deal worse than horse stealing in
their eyes. They thereupon appointed COM
mittee to 20 to Cadiz to see the Prosecutor and
take measures Is send them on their journey
But the Prosecutor knowing the law little bet.
tor than the Board, informed them that the
crime of barring out' although "barbarous,
had not yet been made pententiary offence by
the laws Of Ohio. They were very much griev
ed ut that, and concluded that they could ge
nothing but money, that they would get a
much Us they could Of that. They Therefore
stated in their petition which heard read a
Court, that they had been damaged by the act
ofthe defandauts to the amount ofdtree hnndrec
dollars, and then swore that the statements il
lie petition were true. Tho lawyers said tina
when you swore to the petition, and that it wa
true, you swore with skip" and jumped ov
or the three hundred dollars. | confess can
understand these legal "Skips' and jumps.
think that looks very much like whole.
would seem like common sense that when
man signs piece Of writing, and swears that
is is true, that he means what he says One
the witnesses, who had some i'll will towar
part ofthe defendants, swore that the damage
in his opinion, amounted to fen dollars, and a ju
~ of twelve men, on their oaths, that it did nc
exceed ONE dollar; and that was their verdic =
The Board were after money, but it appear
they did not get much Of that They hay
gained no credit in our township. can assur
YOU. But we do not intend to drop the geo
old custom of treating on Christmas. If til
custom Is not law within ITSELF we will make
part Of the contract with the teacher that h
must treat. Ifhe wont do that he need nc
come into these parts. We would like to hay
this generally understood; for whatever opinio
others may have about civilization, barbarisi
&C.; we intend to consider him who is too sting
20 treat. as barbarian, and him who will, as
scholar and gentleman.
A CITIZEN
sf ofRtmley 10tcnship.
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