The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-04-10
The Hsfala Of freedom
The Shawnee Coan.v court House.
We call the attention Of our readers

The Shawnee County corrt House.
We call the attention Of our readers In
Shawnee County to the following
Now that the election is over and al full
set of county officers are chosen, we trust
that the sfrairs of Shawnee county will be
fully investigated and published, and such
course adopted az may be in accordance
with the public honor, and strict justice
towards all parties. Owing to the jealousy
of some rival towns and the disorganizing
character of the teachers of some poliE-
clans, q disposition IS manifested in certain
localities to follow the example of those
distinguished slave States, Mississippi and
Arkansas, and repudiate public debt con-
tracted IN good faith in accordance with
the express requirements of public STAT
uies.
In August, 1855, the Legislature passed
a law constituting Boards of County Com
missioners or "Gounty Tribunals, y to trans
act public business for the several organ
lied counties. For Shawnee county,
William O. Wager, pro-slaFery, was APP
pointed Probate Judge, and William Yo-
cum, pro-slayery, and Edward Hoogland,
Free State, were appointed County Com
missioners.
Mr. Hoogland accepted the appoint
ment because at that time ne believed, as
he has always believed since, that the true
policy for the Free State men to pursue
was to accept, take and control all the
offices they could get, and use their Off
cial influence for the promotion of the
welfare of the whole people-for the
preservation of the rights Of all. True,
this policy was condemned by the. Big
Springs Convention in Oct, 1855, bnt was
subsequently, approved by the Gfasshop-
per Falls Convention, which secured to
the Free State party the control of the
Territorial Legislature, showed the change
In popular sentiment. that two years had
effected and placed the correctness of DIR.
Hoogland's position beyond controversy.
During the session of 1856, the Legis-
lature established county seats, and pro-
vided for the erection of public buildings.
Tecumseh was then IN the hands of men
who sympathized with the pro-slavery
party, and was selected as the county
seat for Shawnee county. It now con-
tains large majority of Free State yo-
ters.
Chap. III, sec. 80, laws 1856, defining
the powers and duties of county tribunals
says, "they shall provide ways and means
for the erection of all public buildings
necessary for the transaction of county
business, they shall cause to be erersed OF
otherwise procure for the several counties
suitable court houses, jails, clerks offices,
and other public buildings deemed ne
cessary."
Chap SO, vests counties with corporate
powers, provides for acquiring fee simple
title to real estate, and provides the man.
ner in which county buildings may be
contracted for.
Accordingly the County Tribunal, in
September, '55, negotiated with the Te-
cumseh Town Association for the neees-
sary grounds and advances. The nego-
tiation resulted in the present contract
with the Association for The erection of
the building now standing on Court
Square. The Association agree to give
Court Square, containing nearly an acre of
land and two valuable lots on the square
adjoining, to the county free of expense;
and further agreed to do the brick work
necessary for the completion of the build
ing, including the furnishing of all labor
and materials, at S12 per thnnSa..d. cen
any ITe MAKE Is bvster-o0Irtreet to-day, In
any part of the Territory? The Associa-
ton agreed to take county bonds in pay
ment-said bonds payable in future.
With Mr.. l. IL. Carter contract was
made in October, 80, for the materials
and wood work for the building, complete,
including cupola, vane, &c, for $3,213,
payable in county bonds.
The civil war took place in 1856 before
the building was finished, and the work
men were obliged to leave. It being an-
just to expect the contractors to run the
risks of the war-especialfy as q force
from Topeka came here aad carried of q
large amount of property-the building
was accepted by Judge Yager and Judge
Yocrlm, as far as completed. Mr.. Hoog.
land was then in New York. He wa,
absent from 1st July until LIST November
SO. During his absence portion of TIM
county bonds due were issued to the TIE
cumseh Town Association and to Dir
Garter. By consent the further prosecu
ton of the work was temporarily suspen
ded. In February, SO, the Legislator,
passed an act confirming the proceedings
of the County Tribunal and provided tina
taxation upon the county for the paymen
of said bonds shall not, at aay time ereee.
ONE THIRD OF ONE PER CENT. per anRua
OF course such a tax would hardly b
felt. The bonds will necessarily ru1
some years and not be heavy burthel
upon the present population of the coun
ty.
In September, 81, the County Tribuna
ordered the contractors to be notified tt
complete the work. The contractors de
manded the interest upon their honds.-
1t was not paid-the treasury contained
"no funds" Although the demand wa
made, tits hardly necessary for US to ado
that the actual payment of the money
was not expected.
In june or July last, when the excite.
ment was up in Douglas, Leavenworth
and other counties in regard to the eollec
ton of taxes, and the danger of the re
newal of warfare was imminent, (as Wal
ker and Stanton did not then know quit,
as much as they learned afterwards con
corning Kansas affairs, a proposition wa:
made in the Board of County Commits
sioners to proceed with the levying ant
collection of taxes in this county in &C
cordance with the declared policy ant
instructions of Gov. Walker. Mr.. Heog
land opposed the measure and the BoarC
finally unanimously agreed not to do any
thing that might have tendency to dis
turb the peace and good feeling and pros
perity that was then evidently pervadins
the county and on the increase, especially
as it was desirable to keep all things quie
in order to attract immigration. In Doug
las county different course was pursuct
and resulted in Walkers foolish atteulp
to check the people of Lawrence. by sta