Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-11
REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT.


have caused a large railroad debt,
as unjust as lawless. The taxing power
was not given by the old Constitution for
such object, nor 10 such hands, and if it
were given the first vote cnly was allow
able. The second was an act of tyranny;
worrying the poop lie into subsection to rail
road interests. (Abuses of this sort made
the Revolutionary fathers make constitu-
,ional provision against trying a person
more than once for the same offence.)-
Persevering knavery will worry down the
innocent, who seldom work very hard to
protect. themselves; because they rely on
The Justice nf their cause, and think that
God, rather than the Devil, rules the world.
The same influence that robbed the peo-
pie (the tax-paycr<) to make a railroad to
Beliaire, now seeks to thrust its hands into
their pockets to embeliish that locality with
fine public buildings; costly, OF course. for
the object is to give importance to NE town
plat. The influence that could effect a re-
moval will continue to act in erecting
splendid ard costly public buildings; for
the object is to benefit a town plat. 1t is
moIpsily asked if St. Clairsvilie is not ben
Gifted by retaining the county seat. Ger.
tainly, but her people have paid TOR those
benefits, such as they are. by paving an in
creased price for their property-by paying
high taxes on property assessed high on ac-
count of the coun.y seat being there. The
taxpayers in and TO- miles around St.
Clairsvllle would have reason to complain
of most wanton injustice in removing the
seat of justice, and they think they haze
good reason to complain Of the unreason-
able agitation of the question; Cor whoever
viii lake The trouble 10 make the calculation
will find that st. Clairsville is not two and
a half miles from the centre of population,
though not at the geographical centre. The
roads converge towards il. The National
Turnpike passes through it from West to
East. The Central Rail Road comes within
five miles Of it N the South. The Rail
Road along Wheeling creek. when made.
will come within three miles of il on the
North, BY one survey, and by another only
some sixty rods. The roads from it towards
the Sou b and North pass the creeks SO far
from their mouths that there is no need of
ascending very steep creek hills, ard these
roads are generally of a good grade. A.
the creeks approach the Ohio River they
cut deep into the earth. causing very high
hills, which hills would compel the peepie
of the Southern part of the county to seek
BeilaiFe by the river bottom, along the side
OF the railroad from Marietta. Horses from
the interior would generally break their RI
ders' necBs on the route. Even if they fol-
lowed the roads towards ST ClairsvilIe nm
til within six miles of St. ClsirsvilIe.
and then turning East Own Nina.
hons creek along the side Of the Central
Ohio Railroad, the chances Of a safe arri-
Val al the iown Plat would not be much bet.
ter. 1t would soon be found that the pub
lie convent nee required the coroner TO re-
side at Be!laire, il not on the town plat vet
very near it, Those who might attempt to
reach the town plat by the National turn
pike, would have to leave their horses at
Bird port, or risk their necks some five
miles along the side OF the railroad, where
in many places if a horse SHES off a few
feet the rider would pass into the midst of
revolutions over steep banks. But these
iisconveniences and dangers, prospective
taXations and invasion Of vested rights,
worrying of laboring (nut specularinp) tag
payers, &c, with unreasonable agitation, is
just nDthing at ali compared with the pros
perity OF this IN schie,ous town plat.
"'Tis luckless not reproachful to he
wronged." But we hope our interests will
not be triGed with, at least, BY the LegisIs-
ture; that they will inspect a map of the
county; Eote the number of votes given oy
each township; n~te the roads, and their
directions, also the course of the creek, and
position of said town plat, and that of ST.
Clairsville.
A few, perhaps one twentieth, of the pop.
"ulatiun could pass, with convenience. TO
Beilaire on the existing railroad; but far
mers must keep horses; and keprinc they
might as well use them, as paw III ee cents
a mile. The difference between saving
three cents and paying it out, is six cents
to the pocket, according to DR.. Franklin
and all other economists. Nineteen-twen-
tieths of the people, therefore, viii find it
to be their interest to go to the county
seat by horse, if they reside more than
three miles, or convenient walking distance
| c-o,, ,bo r,I,n.J T., -
about three miles frGm Bellaire, would.
rather than incur the taxes of removal Of
the county seat. prefer to leave it where it
is, if he consulted his own interest; for he
on an average would have 10 20 10 the
county seat but once a wear, and having tn.
get up his horse and break a day, he would
as lief ride a 'ew miles further, when once
mounted, as TO have several do liars per
year o. additional taxes to pay fnI manv
years For n;ne;cen-twentieths of the peo-
pie B'l.airr & more difficult to reach than
St. t,lair,ville. The interests of the PEG.
pie then. independent of cost, requires this
UH enough to be let alone. Besides. to
grant a vote to these agitators, will bring
out many an ugly brood Of similar expert
mentors in o'her counties. | have not room
t. say all | might say in illustration of the
honesty of the agitators; but there Gas seen
on one of their petitions the name of a
substantial farmer residing about two miles
West of 81. Clairsvii'e. lie was askhd if
he desired j To b removed No, indeed. he
replied. Why then did you sign the petit
ton! ] signed it because they told ne it
was TO De removed from ST. Cla;rsville to a
certainty, and wished me TO say whether |
desired it moved To Bellaire or Belmont
By signing il ! only meant to say | prefer
red Belmon: to Bellaire. ! am opposed to
It's removal from S: Clairsvilie, Of course.
u.
@There are occasions when even the
healthiest peop'e need medicine, the cham
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