Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-07-26

1t being conceded that the Board Of Superb
sora haze the puwer 10 contract for crec;i ing q
Court House III 40 place except at the County
seat and that the contract Tor erecting such
binding at Dodgeyllie IS rom Ia Lpe, the cues
hon necessarily arises whether r1lat contract
ought to he carried our. Every tax-paver is
interested in knowing for what purpose and in
what manner The revenue of the County Is cX-
pended, ami he has a constitutional right 10 IN
@lst upon evety dollar which hc pays into the
County treasury being expended according 10
Jaw.
The Beard If Supervisors. are the mere repre-
-eutsJitcs Uf thc corporate and administrative,
power ot tie county hey possess uo fs.sss-i,
beyuuH those conferred 10y law TAcv entered
into "a coutrHc5 for erecting Court House M
DodgevIlic i Tic bellci ihaJ was Jhc County
seat. 1t j. nov ;1sceriaiucd b. the decision 81
ia, highest judicial tribunal m the State that
fhry We're iat,..lug under 4 mistake and ll;..
tltr contract is yuld.
II Is j,sc As bad legally aad morally TO carry
out au lii,cal contract a. 70 make oIic. Ia tLis
case The Board acC for tAe 9hole County ticy
have uo right 10 s4uaudes The peoples mon v
or TO divert Z tJo-a is proper and legitimate
non OF law ana Tie official oa;hs al the members
of the Board, ont would present an example at
reckless disregard of public duty that would
tend 10 subyett all confidence i'm represc5- att sc
power. The duty et He Board Is plalr one
10 decline further 10 act under the contract, il
having been entered into under a mistake of
Jaw.
There c'~ really be but one possible reason
for iutlhe proceeding at Dod.-eyilic right or
wrong; c'fni el the people oil The County to
take stock = IN Dodgeyill< for the purpose Of
eNtr-lu- HA Influence favorable 10 that point in
any tatGre election that may be held upon the
subject Of the removal Of HE County seat
DlLvc arcieXts may he made, bus this can be
,he solo and only rea9ai For tire Board OF
Supervisors u act for such cause. and under ex-
i9t.u5 circumstances. simply amounts to using
the funds vi Tie County for etect5oHeoriltg y,a--
poses. he PcrsUas composing L Lat Board are
ZehtleineH ui staining and oSVtcf.bIIty, and
We CANNOT tt'F Hr.!ltut cNterI-Ii. tie thuErIlt
dat they s. III lead thenlsel.cs 4.iue further
iu-ce II u tueFe local influence. We couce4e 10
them honesty Of purpose and uprlghtnes8 of
intention, IN milking the contract: we expcct
OF them observance Of the law rs enumerated
by the supreme Court, and Tire abroga,ion Of an
Illegal contract. 1t may be Slid, hat the con-
tract having been made Justice to the contract
ofs requires that 1t should be carried out This
argument las been partly answered already
b15J further ~ answer, we urge tbat the cou-
Tractors knew he risk that they run they knew
that the legality Of the election was questioned
and would be HQEatcd; they are supposed to
know what Tie law was; they contracted with
view 10 the law, and if with their eyes open
they rccklessly and wantonly entered into an
Illegal contract, they, by every principle of JUS
tcc, as well - by the rules of law, ruust suffer
the Consequences.
IL Is sad that at 4 meeting Of the Board held
0-tluE fhls luoatn, at DodgeyIIe not 1t the
County Seat, = required 81 law) hon. L. ".
JOINER was chosen temporary Chairman, and
tAd' IN order Mas iladc 20 pay the contractors
al Dodgeyllle toe whole, or some portion, OF the
$4,000 agreed 40 be paid by tie County for
Uuiii45 CoUrt House 1t DodgeyIilr. Justice
20 the gentlemen Who compose that body, le-
q"lres thtt we saou.., ;Aiuk, however hasty and
E-f - L,.,- rr,