The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-09
For the Grand Haven News.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
TALLMApaE, March 4, 1859.

even be noticed, much more initiated by
any of the subordinate Legislative bodies
in the State. Forty days spent in chang
ing individual names, passing party-kill-
ing registry law, and many moro needless
laws, has had its effect, already, on the
Legislature of Ottawa County. Truly a
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
II has extended in this direction and work
ed its way into our honorable Board of
Supervisors. noticed in your paper of
March I'd, a full report of the proceedings
of the Board, at Eastmanville, on Febru-
airy 25th, but looked in vain for some
comments from the editors chair. A few
minor points connected with that session
may be Of interest to your readers, and of
which you also may be ignorant.
Two Of the preambles to the call for
that meeting are as follows:
Whereas, BY the recent division of Ottawa
County the Office of Sheriff and the Office of
Prosecuting Attorney have become vacant the
incumbents being residents Of Muskegon county,
and
Whereas, By the said division the county
seat of Ottawa county, ut Grand Haven, has
been cornered' Significant "and become more
of a sided and inconvenient location than
heretofore for the people of the county forever,
&C."
"Thereforc special election is called
TO fill vacancies in county offices and to
remove the county seat, &C." This was
signed by seven Supervisors, all in Otta-
wa County. The Supervisors of "Muske-
gon County" had not been invited to par
ticipate-as the county seat could be
moved without their assistance. That
there should be no mistake in reference TO
the working of the Muskegon act, ain An
gel was despatched to Lansing to procure
simon pure, unadulterated copy. After
the meeting was called TO order by the
chairman of the Board the bill was pro-
duced with the great seal Of the State of
Michigan affixed; none believed it to be
bogus; the room was filled with men,
bers and Hobbies; fifteen Supervisors
were present; Grand Haven was well
represented; Mill Point was present;
Hons. I. Eastman, II. Pennoyer, and j.
Dalton were there; Ottawa Center was
on hand; and Lamont came down to see
the fun. The legality of the meeting was
first called in question by the lovers of law
and order by the reading of the following
section of the constitution, by Myron
Harris, of Tallmadge, Art. 4, Sec. 20:
"No public act shall take effect or be in force
until the expiration of ninety days from the
end Of tho session ut which the same is passed,
unless the Legislature shall otherwise direct by
a two-thirds vote Of the members elected to
each house."
This was supported by written opinion
on the proposed Muskegon election from
the Attorney General, which proved a
poser and delayed proceedings. "Save
me Cassius or l sink p and Cassius came
TO the rescue, reading portion of pri-
vate letter from John Ball Esq. TO Hon.
T. Eastman, in reference to the Muskegon
act. But the solcmnity of official oaths
"to support the constitution of the State
of Michigan" was suggested to their rec
objection, and horrid pegured skeleton
passing before their imaginations forbade
its violation. "Thus conscience did make
towards of them ALL" their native reso-
luton became sicklied DER and the enter
prise failed for want Of action. An adj
ournmont was finally carried after being
convinced the townships in the contem-
plated Muskegon County at present re-
main in Ottawa County.
Meanwhile the city people outside were
busy preparing for a grand demonstration
to celebrate the EASY victory of removing
the county seat. The stars and stripes
were quietly deposited in shady corner,
easy of access, 10 be produced at a given
signal; the halyards attached to the long
pole, erected on the grand plaza, in Ere
mont and Buchanan times, were made
free and clear; and innumerable cans of
oysters were kept in cool reserve awaiting
their destruction; the choicest vintage,