The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-04-28
town would ever be built in Clayt ton County
nearer the centre Of population, than Garna-

to"u "ouiu ever De OuliL III Ni2s toA Nouhty
nearer the centre Of population, than Garna-
villo.
The first movement that resulted in vote
upon the question of removal of the County
Seat from Ganavillo, came from Gutenberg
A law was passed at the request of that Town
about the year le47. according to my recoAec-
tion, by which vote was to be taken between
Ganavillo. Gutenberg and Elkader, the lo,rest
point on the first vote to be dropped and second
election to be held between the two highest
AT the first election, held in April, Garnavillo
came near beating both competitors. Another
election was held in May one month afterwards,
between Garnavillo and Gutenberg, they be-
ing the two highest on the first ballot, which
second election the vote of Elkader Township
was as follows 6arnaeillo 36, Gutt1ahesg12
Volga City (Spery) gave 50 votes for Gu,ten-
berg, none for Garna,ilo; every one Of these
voters for Gutenberg had to pass directly
through Garnavillo to get to Gutenberg.
Ihopc our friends at Elkader will not be too
hard ON the citizens of Garnavillo, Farmers.
burgh or Monona for voting for Gutenberg in
the late contest, for in so doing they have at
most but carried out the policy Of their old
neighbors.
, After the termination of that contest We had
comparative quiet in the county until the year
1855, when Elkader commenced manouvering
for the County Seat. Their best friends there
warned them of "agitation,'' But these men
Messrs. Davis and Thompson were deemed 'old
fogies' The citizens of the Town had, to Il
considerable extent, ranged themselves under
the lead of younger men, who seemed to fall
into the too common error among young men
Of the present day, that any want of strength Of
disposition may be amply compensated by a
liberal supply of guile. 1t is not to be wonder
cd at that such managers should displace the old
wheel horses that had never failed when
strength and durability were required, and place
n their stead that very singular pair made up
of the Chicago nag that had srotted in that city
against some Of Douglas best, and that cele-
brated Gutenberg woods colt, remarkable only
for flying the track. or turning short corner.
| Bat SO it was, evil counsels prevailed man
was selected by these managers for Co. Judge,
between whom and the citizens of Elkader
there was neither friendship nor confidence.
He was pledged (secretly) on tire County Sea-
question, then nominated by a Republican con-
vention and elected. Then con mcnccd series
of int:igucs and mano cuvers against Garnavillo
scarcely parallelled history, the aforesaid man
ayers thinking all the time they would be tie
gamers. But their Gutenberg co-adjutor
thought he was gamer, and the result shows he
was correct, for the securing the County Judges
office for two years, was the only tangible ad
vantage to tic whole operati n. need no.
give the whole history of the campaign, bn'
suffice it to say that Elxader secured the County
Seat, am willing to admit, by a majority oi
the people pTesss,.hut not because m aiority of
Seat, but because otlits s-v-.
to the canvass. In the northern part Of the
county large number of voters hoped that il
unsettling the County Seat they would unsettle
county boundaries. and consequently voted for
Elkader, but who upon the naked merits OF the
question of County Seat, were Garnavillo men.
In Clayton, as | was informed, number OF
business men voted for Elkader from the fact
that Garnavllo would prove a powerful campe-
titor of Clayton in the Butter d. Egg trade;
whether those fears have since been dissipated
l have not learned. In the west, by liberal
SUI ply OF money, teams were PRODUCED and all
voters brought out-whch was all right, but
fear some were Brought out that were not legal
voters in this may be mistaken. And lastly
thong not least of all, the Guttenbcrg manager
by his great personal influence in Jefferson
Tow nship, aided by his advantage Of position,
succeeded.in securing for Elkader in that Town.
ship all of eiqtt uo,es besides his own!
Thus, by hook or by crook, by the use of
illegitmate Arguments, the Introduction of
irrelevant issues and the liberal use Of money
majority of votes were secured for Eikader
Had there been fair vote taken on the naked
merits of the question, Garnayillo would then
have triumphed.
| Now what is our duty in Mcndon Township :?
am satisfied We cannot succeed and therefore
movement for National l regard as i'm
practicable. should be we'll satisfied with
Elkader but think it impracticable to lut that
point Up again. hope Elkader will not op-
pose any other point because that point opposed
her. and do not think this will be the feeling of
the people there or west of Elkader. Garnavillo
voted for Gutenberg in the last contest. 1t
was the interest of her citizens to do So AS
between Gutenberg and Elkader for the County
Seat, it seems to me that every sensible man
at Garnavillo who acts from interest rather
than prejudice, would not hesitate for moment
to vote for Gutenberg. On the question of
their interest there is but one side to the argu-
ment. and the Elkader mai. is unreasonable
and un ust who makes the vote Of that Town
ship for Gutenberg lretext for opposing Gar.
na,illo.
With the County Seat at Garnavillo the reo.
pie of McGregor, Monona. National, Elkader,
Elkport, Gutenberg and Clayton, when the
Roads were good could go daily to court and re-
turn in the evening, unless in case Of pressure
Of business in court
In conclusion cannot but believe that the
masses Of this county Will take hold of this
question with a determination that it shall be
speedily settled have no interest in the set.
tlemcnt of the question beyond that Of any citi
zen. have improperly Of any kind at Garna-
villo. ! shall never live there again. ! do
not think that any Town is to make much out
of the County Scat of this county, but if there
is anything to 30 made OFT of it, Garnavillo
has as strong claims as any other. That Town
had the County Seat some l3 years, and it wa,
unrightcously removed from it. and consequent
ly its claims are the strongest. But whilst | pro
pose GARSAvILLo, am perfectly willing te
unite with all parties desirous Of settling ths