The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-08
Democratic Co. Nominations.

The Democrats, at their Convention on
Saturday last, nominated the following Tick
ct: For the Legislature Cyrus Franklin, and
James Daggett; For County Judge, J. H.
Flint for Treasurer and Recorder, VIM. j.
Ross; for Sheriff, Lotion E Gray for Super
intendent ofSchools, Geo. d. Hackworth,
and for Coroner, G. g. Packard. No nomi-
nation for Surveyor was made.
We have no time now to comment on
those nominations. We don't say that they
were not fit to be made-on the contrary
some of them will do as well as any. We
do not think them just the men that, under
all the circumstances, ought to be elected to
the offices for which they are nominated.
One word only, in relation to Judge
Flint, who is nominated for the most impor-
tant Office in the county-an office of i'm
mense responsibility-one requiring finan-
cial ability, firmness, independence and in
tegrity of the highest order. Judge Flint
is the present incumbent of that office, and
has filled it for two years. A candidate fol-
re election and candidate of party who
are now making such loud professions of
economy in public expenditures. it will be
proper for the people to examine into the af-
fairs of this county by way of ascertaining to
what extent Judge Flint has proved himself
a prudent, economical and safe County
Agent. The Office he holds is, in its nature,
without any checks or balances, and about
it the people can know very little, except
what the Judge may choose to tell them. he
being his own auditor, and sole custodian of
the records.
| Now, as a taxpayer. we should like to
know all about the affairs of this county,
Some facts we have, and the inference we
draw from those facts is, that the economical
pretences of these Democrats have MT been
applied in practice in this county. The facts
we know, and which we will mention here,
as facts which every citizen has ready access
to, are: That the taxes levied for county
purposes by Judge Flint are nearly -four
times more than those levied by the Repub.
licans for State purposes, which latter, &C.
cording to all their speakers and presses, are
oppressively high. For instance, the levy
this year for county purposes, exclusive OF
School, Road, and Poll tax, is $l6,747 IS;
while the State tax is only $5, 2O7 SO, less
than one-third. The disproportion last year
can be ascertained very easily. Only let the
people look up their tax receipts, and they
will find it there. in black and white Be.
sides this, everybody knows that County
Orders flood the county, greatly deprecated
in fact scarcely saleable at any price.
! Now it seems to us that the people will
consult their interests and pockets by looking
closely into these matters, while the canvas is
going on, and not be influenced by any of the
clap-trap that has no possible relation to finan.
ca interests of the county We hope that
Judge Flint will let the people know more in
detail than he las yet done, how it happens
that, with very small debt to pay off the
Court House and Jail built and nearly paid
for, with few other public improvements tt
provide for, the taxes in this county are so
enormously high! A statement as full as the
one the Republicans make on the opposite
page in relation to st te affairs, would, just
at this time, be interesting and valuable t.
the people of Wapelu County.