Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-03-18
The +" 1000" Circulars ! /!


thousand and one" circulars, that were struck
off by this press, last week, addressed to the
citizens Of Ottawa county, from Eastman
VILE" We have perused the document, care
fully, to find some good argument for their
side of the question, and, from the authors
reputed ability in welding the pen, are some
what disappointed. "Eastmanville COM
mences with informing us they had been qui-
ct, retiring and inactive from faithlessness,"
until the Supervisors gave notice they shold
act decisively in January upon the question.
This certainly has the appearance of COM
mendable modesty, and there may be many
who think it true; but let us see how quiet
and inactive they have formerly been. We
call the attention of our readers to the pro-
ceedings of the Convention to revise the con-
stitution of this State, held at Lansing, in
June, 1850. T. B. CHURCH and RIx ROBIN
SON were Delegates from Kent county, and
TIMOTHY EASTMAN the Delegate from Otta-
wa, and in the records from that Convention
we find nothing from EASTMAN, upon any
question, except upon the removing of county
seats. In the Convention Debates" page
347, he offers to amend section nine by add
ing " except in the county of Ottawa" after
the word "seat," in the first line. The sec
ton, at the time of his proposed amendment
read, /" No county seat when once established
shall be removed until the place to which it
is proposed to be removed shall be designated
by majority of the Board of Supervisors Of
said county, and two-thirds of the qualified
electors shall have voted in favor of the pro-
posed location, in such manner as shall be
prescribed by law" He accompanied his
amendment with long speech, setting forth
the difficulties of removing county seats, DC,
and closes by Withdrawing his amendment
and offering the following substitute for sec
ton nine:
"The Board of Supervisors may determine
when the county seat, not located centrally in
the county, ought to be removed and notify
the Governor of such determination; whose
duty it shall be to appoint, forthwith, three
competent and disinterested persons, not resi-
dents Of said county, to relocate the same,
as near the geographical center perfectly dis
interested y as may be found practicable or
convenient for all the inhabitants thereof;
which relocation shall be approved or reject
ed by major vote of the electors of said
county, given at the next general election
held thereafter" This was decided out of
order, and no discussion ensued. This was in
the committee of the whole, and is the first
instance of his inactivity" in county seat
matters
On page 5ll, the article entitled, County Of
fcers and county government, being under con-
sideration, "Mr. Eastman moved to strike ont
section nine," and said it was his wish that
said section should be stricken out, and that
nothing should be inserted in its place; but
if 1t was deemed best by this body that some
rule be adopted to regulate these matters, he
would offer a substitute" which was the one
above, emitting the geographical center
Again he sets forth the justice of his "sub
stitute," and the injustice and iron rule" of
section nine, and, being in order this time, is
followed by others pro and con. Mr.. CHAPEL
moved to amend section nine by striking out
" two-thirds," and inserting "amajority," and,
also, by striking out I" a majority" and insert
ing two thirds" which elected much discuss
ion and was finally adopted, which is our pres
ent law, viz: two-thirds of the Supervisors to
locate and majority of the electors to sane
ton or affirm. The question then REQUIRED
on EAsrMAN's motion to strike out, when he
is the third time inactive" and argues geo
graphical center, ina somewhat lengthy and
able speech, and again he is unsuccessful
We hear nothing from him again upon any
subject until we come down to page FOL,
where he calls up his motion to reconsider
the vote by which the article entitled County
Officers and County Government was passed"
Not satisfied with his former inactivity" he
makes the fourth, and last, and best effort to
his murdered hobby; and again
he is unsuccessful, for 4" the yeas and nays be-
ii Il. l.. ,1n~ |